Patents by Inventor Tracy Powell

Tracy Powell 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).

  • Patent number: 10008071
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for using a central determination system with multi-play gaming machines having sub-games and with gaming machines having a base game and a bonus game. A seed value is provided for each of the games (i.e., each of the sub-games or the base game and the bonus game). This ensures that all possible game outcomes may be displayed for each of the games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Meng Oh, Steven G. LeMay, Wei Yang, Eric Rasmussen, Joshua Robinson, Yu Chong, Wensheng Liu, Paul W. Bolton, Nick Scheffel
  • Publication number: 20150105143
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for using a central determination system with multi-play gaming machines having sub-games and with gaming machines having a base game and a bonus game. A seed value is provided for each of the games (i.e., each of the sub-games or the base game and the bonus game). This ensures that all possible game outcomes may be displayed for each of the games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Meng Oh, Steven G. LeMay, Wei Yang, Eric Rasmussen, Joshua Robinson, Yu Chong, Wensheng Liu, Paul W. Bolton, Nick Scheffel
  • Patent number: 9005005
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to sets of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein separate pay tables and bingo pools are formed according to the number of paylines played on slot-type game themes and/or the number of hands played on poker game themes. In some such implementations, players will be limited to predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played, e.g., only 1, 3, 5 or 9 lines. In alternative implementations, a player's options regarding the number of lines played will depend, at least in part, on how many other players are playing any given number of lines on a slot game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Justin M. Krum, Bryan D. Wolf, Ali Saffari
  • Patent number: 8932129
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for using a central determination system with multi-play gaming machines having sub-games and with gaming machines having a base game and a bonus game. A seed value is provided for each of the games (i.e., each of the sub-games or the base game and the bonus game). This ensures that all possible game outcomes may be displayed for each of the games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Meng Oh, Steven G. LeMay, Wei Yang, Eric Rasmussen, Joshua Robinson, Yu Chong, Wensheng Liu, Paul W. Bolton, Nick Scheffel
  • Patent number: 8475257
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to a common set of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein electronic gaming machines presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes are linked to a single bingo server. By linking many participating electronic gaming machines to a single server, some implementations of the invention allow all of the progressive contributions to be pooled into one large progressive jackpot, thereby making the game more attractive to players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lesley Bienvenue, Bryan Wolf, Ted Gail, Tracy Powell, Justin Krum
  • Patent number: 8262451
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping pay amounts for a variety of Class III game themes to a common set of bingo pay amounts. Each Class III game theme may cause a different type of entertaining display on a gaming machine when bingo is played, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each Class III game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations allow flexibility in matching the probabilities of bingo outcomes and Class III game outcomes by mapping ranges of Class III pay amounts to a single bingo pay amount. Some implementations provide a system wherein electronic gaming machines presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes are linked to a single bingo server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Justin M. Krum, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120040733
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to a common set of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein electronic gaming machines presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes are linked to a single bingo server. By linking many participating electronic gaming machines to a single server, some implementations of the invention allow all of the progressive contributions to be pooled into one large progressive jackpot, thereby making the game more attractive to players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Lesley Bienvenue, Bryan Wolf, Ted Gail, Tracy Powell, Justin Krum
  • Patent number: 8070579
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to a common set of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein electronic gaming machines presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes are linked to a single bingo server. By linking many participating electronic gaming machines to a single server, some implementations of the invention allow all of the progressive contributions to be pooled into one large progressive jackpot, thereby making the game more attractive to players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lesley Bienvenue, Bryan Wolf, Ted Gail, Tracy Powell, Justin Krum
  • Publication number: 20110223991
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for using a central determination system with multi-play gaming machines having sub-games and with gaming machines having a base game and a bonus game. A seed value is provided for each of the games (i.e., each of the sub-games or the base game and the bonus game). This ensures that all possible game outcomes may be displayed for each of the games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Meng Oh, Steven G. LeMay, Wei Yang, Eric Rasmussen, Joshua Robinson, Yu Chong, Wensheng Liu, Paul W. Bolton, Nick Scheffel
  • Patent number: 7753774
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to a common set of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. In order to more closely match Class III game play, some implementations provide a system wherein the hit frequency of a bingo game will be modulated according to Class III game options selected by a player. The options may be, for example, paylines of a simulated slot game. In preferred implementations, this modulation is accomplished by varying the number of bingo cards provided in the underlying bingo game according to the options (e.g., the number of paylines) selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ted Gail, Bryan D. Wolf, Tracy Powell, Justin M. Krum
  • Publication number: 20070161423
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to a common set of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein electronic gaming machines presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes are linked to a single bingo server. By linking many participating electronic gaming machines to a single server, some implementations of the invention allow all of the progressive contributions to be pooled into one large progressive jackpot, thereby making the game more attractive to players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Lesley Bienvenue, Bryan Wolf, Ted Gail, Tracy Powell, Justin Krum
  • Publication number: 20070155471
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to sets of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein separate pay tables and bingo pools are formed according to the number of paylines played on slot-type game themes and/or the number of hands played on poker game themes. In some such implementations, players will be limited to predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played, e.g., only 1, 3, 5 or 9 lines. In alternative implementations, a player's options regarding the number of lines played will depend, at least in part, on how many other players are playing any given number of lines on a slot game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Justin Krum, Bryan Wolf, Ali Saffari
  • Publication number: 20070155472
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to a common set of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. In order to more closely match Class III game play, some implementations provide a system wherein the hit frequency of a bingo game will be modulated according to Class III game options selected by a player. The options may be, for example, paylines of a simulated slot game. In preferred implementations, this modulation is accomplished by varying the number of bingo cards provided in the underlying bingo game according to the options (e.g., the number of paylines) selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Ted Gail, Bryan Wolf, Tracy Powell, Justin Krum
  • Publication number: 20070155473
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping pay amounts for a variety of Class III game themes to a common set of bingo pay amounts. Each Class III game theme may cause a different type of entertaining display on a gaming machine when bingo is played, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each Class III game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations allow flexibility in matching the probabilities of bingo outcomes and Class III game outcomes by mapping ranges of Class III pay amounts to a single bingo pay amount. Some implementations provide a system wherein electronic gaming machines presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes are linked to a single bingo server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Justin Krum, Bryan Wolf
  • Patent number: 6409595
    Abstract: A keypad assembly and method for use with a card reader adapted to receive and read a player identification card therein. The keypad assembly includes a keypad mechanism having a plurality of keys to input data, and a feedback mechanism coupled to the keypad. A validation device is provided which is adapted to determine the validation of information relating to the identification card upon reading thereof in the card reader. The validation device is further operably coupled to the feedback mechanism to visually inform the Player that the information relating to identification card has been validated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: International Game Technology
    Inventors: Mark Uihlein, Robert H. Carson, Jr., Tracy Powell