Patents by Inventor Tonja M. Ferry
Tonja M. Ferry has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9852580Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 9600968Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Yuliya Hungate, Christina Evans, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 9558630Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander C. Cohen, Tonja M. Ferry, Adam Koby
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Publication number: 20160098895Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Publication number: 20160055714Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Anthony J. BAERLOCHER, James A. VASQUEZ, Tonja M. FERRY, Erick T. CHING
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Patent number: 9224266Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Publication number: 20150317879Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander C. Cohen, Tonja M. Ferry, Adam Koby
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Patent number: 9092941Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander C. Cohen, Tonja M. Ferry, Adam Koby
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Patent number: 9005015Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 8864575Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 8814648Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Yuliya Hungate, Christina Evans, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Publication number: 20140206431Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 8753197Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards, wherein at least one gaming machine may be provided a plurality of bonus awards.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: IGTInventors: Carl V. Kniesteadt, Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 8556710Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards, wherein at least one gaming machine may be provided a plurality of bonus awards.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: IGTInventors: Carl V. Kniesteadt, Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Publication number: 20130231178Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 8430747Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards, wherein at least one gaming machine may be provided a plurality of bonus awards.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: IGTInventors: Carl V. Kniesteadt, Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Publication number: 20120283006Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Yuliya Hungate, Christina Evans, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Publication number: 20120276986Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Yuliya Hungate, Christina Evans, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 8251791Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Yuliya Hungate, Christina Evans, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
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Patent number: 7892093Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards, wherein at least one gaming machine may be provided a plurality of bonus awards.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: IGTInventors: Carl V. Kniesteadt, Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching