Patents by Inventor William C. Little

William C. Little 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: 11439264
    Abstract: A housing has a first end and a second end, an inner surface of the housing defining a channel that is configured to slidably receive therein a food product. A food product motivating mechanism is configured to engage a food product, the food product motivating mechanism being slidably receivable in the first end of the housing, the food product motivating mechanism and the housing being configured to cooperatively slidably urge a food product from the first end of the housing toward the second end of the housing. A rotating cutting mechanism is removably attachable to an outer surface of the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being configured to rotate about the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being further configured to cuttingly engage a food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Prota Labs, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Little, Kyle A. Buzzard
  • Patent number: 11087592
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Reid M. Weber, Erik B. Petersen, Adrian R. Marcu, William C. Little, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 10607437
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William C. Little, Daniel J. De Waal, Vincent S. Manfredi, Bryan E. Bullard, Cara L. Iddings, Richard J. Schneider, Steven G. LeMay, Nichole M. Beaulieu, David A. Gipp
  • Patent number: 10497204
    Abstract: A method for tracking an event of an externally controlled interface (ECI) is described. The method includes generating the externally controlled interface independent of an outcome of a wager-based game regulated by a regulatory authority, and logging the event of the externally controlled interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Reid M. Weber, William C. Little, Steven G. LeMay, Adrian R. Marcu, Warner R. Cockerille, IV, Nicole M. Beaulieu, David A. Gipp, Daniel de Waal, Vincent S. Manfredi, Bryan Bullard, Cara L. Iddings, Richard J. Schneider, Glenn Keith Russell, Jacob Graham, Gregory A. Schlottmann, Richard E. Rowe, David C. Williams, Kurt M. Larsen, Jae Man Yi, Erik B. Petersen
  • Patent number: 10455283
    Abstract: Techniques for allowing a gaming machine to exercise control over a picture-in-picture device (PIP mixer). A gaming machine includes a display device, a master game controller, the PIP mixer, and a PIP control interface. The master gaming controller is configured to execute a wager game, send a first video signal for the wager game to the PIP mixer, and send control instructions for controlling a display of one or more PIP windows to the PIP mixer via the PIP control interface. The PIP mixer receives the first video signal and a second video signal from an external source. The PIP mixer is configured to create a composite video image that includes display data of first video signal and the second video signal in PIP windows based on the control instructions. The composite video image is displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, William C. Little, Adrian R. Marcu
  • Publication number: 20190313830
    Abstract: A housing has a first end and a second end, an inner surface of the housing defining a channel that is configured to slidably receive therein a food product. A food product motivating mechanism is configured to engage a food product, the food product motivating mechanism being slidably receivable in the first end of the housing, the food product motivating mechanism and the housing being configured to cooperatively slidably urge a food product from the first end of the housing toward the second end of the housing. A rotating cutting mechanism is removably attachable to an outer surface of the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being configured to rotate about the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being further configured to cuttingly engage a food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: Prota Labs, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Little, Kyle A. Buzzard
  • Publication number: 20190244478
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Reid M. Weber, Erik B. Petersen, Adrian R. Marcu, William C. Little, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 10235832
    Abstract: Bonuses such as progressive bonuses are based on the activity of many players playing at many machines. The machines may be made by different manufacturers and run different games. Prior diverse arrays of such machines relied on a hardware slot machine interface board (SMIB) that acted as a master and transmitted game activity to remote servers. A disclosed embodiment virtualizes the SMIB. In one implementation, protected processes allow for real time meter creation and destruction within different games, even after the game software has been certified and the hash cannot change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William C. Little, Daniel De Waal
  • Patent number: 10229556
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Reid M. Weber, Erik B. Petersen, Adrian R. Marcu, William C. Little, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 10169950
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaining machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William C. Little, Daniel J. De Waal, Vincent S. Manfredi, Bryan E. Bullard, Cara L. Iddings, Richard J. Schneider, Steven G. LeMay, Nichole M. Beaulieu, David A. Gipp
  • Patent number: 10152846
    Abstract: A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming machines may be configured to provide bonus games with persistent. The gaming machines may be configured to allow a player to enroll in bonus game with persistence and generate a record locator, such as printed ticket that allows a record of a state in the bonus game with persistence to be accessed at a later time. A server coupled to the plurality of gaming machines may maintain records of various states in the bonus game with persistence. When a valid record locator is presented at a gaming machine, these records may be checked out and updated via game play at the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Daryn G. Kiely, William R. Brosnan, Richard Glasser, Adrian R. Marcu, Erik B. Petersen, William C. Little, Jeffery S. Shepherd, Bryan D. Wolf, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 9959702
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William C. Little, Daniel J. De Waal, Vincent S. Manfredi, Bryan E. Bullard, Cara L. Iddings, Richard J. Schneider, Steven G. LeMay, Nichole M. Beaulieu, David A. Gipp
  • Patent number: 9685034
    Abstract: A system for interfacing with a third-party application is described. The system includes a third-party device, a server-based system configured to communicate with the third-party device, and a gaming device configured to communicate with the server-based system to display content of the product or service. The gaming device is configured to generate an outcome of a wager-based game independent of the content that is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Reid M. Weber, William C. Little, Steven G. LeMay, Adrian R. Marcu, Warner R. Cockerille, IV, Nicole M. Beaulieu, David A. Gipp, Daniel De Waal, Vincent S. Manfredi, Bryan Bullard, Cara L. Iddings, Brad Robert Steinbach, Richard J. Schneider, Glen Keith Russell, Jacob Graham, Gregory A. Schlottmann, David C. Williams, Kurt M. Larsen, Jae Man Yi, Erik B. Petersen, Kevin M. Higgins, Gregory H. Parrott, David L. Salls
  • Publication number: 20170150216
    Abstract: Techniques for allowing a gaming machine to exercise control over a picture-in-picture device (PIP mixer). A gaming machine includes a display device, a master game controller, the PIP mixer, and a PIP control interface. The master gaming controller is configured to execute a wager game, send a first video signal for the wager game to the PIP mixer, and send control instructions for controlling a display of one or more PIP windows to the PIP mixer via the PIP control interface. The PIP mixer receives the first video signal and a second video signal from an external source. The PIP mixer is configured to create a composite video image that includes display data of first video signal and the second video signal in PIP windows based on the control instructions. The composite video image is displayed on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, William C. Little, Adrian R. Marcu
  • Patent number: 9564000
    Abstract: Techniques for allowing a gaming machine to exercise control over a picture-in-picture device (PIP mixer). A gaming machine includes a display device, a master game controller, the PIP mixer, and a PIP control interface. The master gaming controller is configured to execute a wager game, send a first video signal for the wager game to the PIP mixer, and send control instructions for controlling a display of one or more PIP windows to the PIP mixer via the PIP control interface. The PIP mixer receives the first video signal and a second video signal from an external source. The PIP mixer is configured to create a composite video image that includes display data of first video signal and the second video signal in PIP windows based on the control instructions. The composite video image is displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, William C. Little, Adrian R. Marcu
  • Patent number: 9530276
    Abstract: When the player identifies herself to a gaming machine at a casino, for example by inserting a player tracking card into the card reader, she is, at generally the same time, logging onto a game provider's backend system (the game provider being different from the casino operator). This concurrent sign-on to the game provider's system is done in a non-intrusive, transparent, and passive manner. The player is not distracted from the normal steps leading to game play on the machine until she is ready to redeem points with the game provider or for some reason additional authentication is needed from the player. By virtue of this single sign-on to the game provider network, in addition to continuing game play across different casinos, the player can publish events to the Internet, such as on social networking sites, take advantage of offers targeted specifically for her, or facilitate responsible gaming programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Erik B. Petersen, Kevin M. Higgins, Steven G. LeMay, William C. Little
  • Publication number: 20160358416
    Abstract: A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming machines may be configured to provide bonus games with persistent. The gaming machines may be configured to allow a player to enroll in bonus game with persistence and generate a record locator, such as printed ticket that allows a record of a state in the bonus game with persistence to be accessed at a later time. A server coupled to the plurality of gaming machines may maintain records of various states in the bonus game with persistence. When a valid record locator is presented at a gaming machine, these records may be checked out and updated via game play at the gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Daryn G. Kiely, William R. Brosnan, Richard Glasser, Adrian R. Marcu, Erik B. Petersen, William C. Little, Jeffery S. Shepherd, Bryan D. Wolf, Steven G. LeMay
  • Publication number: 20160260283
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: William C. Little, Daniel J. De Waal, Vincent S. Manfredi, Bryan E. Bullard, Cara L. Iddings, Richard J. Schneider, Steven G. LeMay, Nichole M. Beaulieu, David A. Gipp
  • Publication number: 20160253864
    Abstract: A method for tracking an event of an externally controlled interface (ECI) is described. The method includes generating the externally controlled interface independent of an outcome of a wager-based game regulated by a regulatory authority, and logging the event of the externally controlled interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Reid M. Weber, William C. Little, Steven G. LeMay, Adrian R. Marcu, Warner R. Cockerille, IV, Nicole M. Beaulieu, David A. Gipp, Daniel de Waal, Vincent S. Manfredi, Bryan Bullard, Cara L. Iddings, Richard J. Schneider, Glenn Keith Russell, Jacob Graham, Gregory A. Schlottmann, Richard E. Rowe, David C. Williams, Kurt M. Larsen, Jae Man Yi, Erik B. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20160225228
    Abstract: A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn't alter the play of game of chance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Reid M. Weber, Erik B. Petersen, Adrian R. Marcu, William C. Little, Steven G. LeMay