Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080249879 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO INCORPORATE GAME PLAY INTO PRODUCT TRANSACTIONS - A method for providing a product is described in which a selection of a product is received from a customer, a game is selected by the customer, the customer provides his credit card number, the customer plays the game and an outcome is determined. If the customer wins, the credit card is charged a game fee, if the customer loses, the credit card is charged the price of the product. In either case, the product is then provided to the customer. | 10-09-2008 |
20080300051 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AN ACCOUNT TO FUND BENEFITS FOR A PLAYER - In accordance with one or more embodiments, an account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in an increase in the balance is a player's obtainment of an outcome that corresponds to both (i) a first payout that is displayed on a payout schedule of the gaming device, and (ii) an amount by which the balance of the account is to be increased. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in a disbursement is the obtainment by the player of a predetermined number of consecutive non-winning outcomes. Thus, in one or more embodiments, currency may be accumulated for a player during a gaming session of the player and utilized to fund payouts provided to the player at times in which the player may be becoming discouraged and contemplating discontinuation of play of the gaming device. | 12-04-2008 |
20100023463 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND MARKETING SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - The invention includes a process for providing incentives to sources to participate in interviews. Transcripts of interviews conducted according to a protocol are created that are saleable via, for example, the Internet. The protocol includes inserting tags into the recording to identify characteristics of the content of the recording. Further, the invention provides a method for redacting the recording using the inserted tags to generate a saleable version of the recording. The tags are used to exclude certain inappropriate content and to generate meta-data regarding the recording for marketing the recording. In some embodiments, interview participants may be compensated based upon sales of the recordings. Some embodiments of the invention include a recording device, a controller, and a user device. The recording device may be used to record an interview session between an interviewer and an interviewee. The recording device may communicate with the controller to convey the raw transcript of the interview session. The controller may include redacting software for modifying the interview transcript, and a voice recognition module for assisting in the redaction process. The voice recognition module may also assist in the creation of meta-tags describing the modified recording of the interview. The controller may further comprise a server for hosting Web pages. A user device in communication with the controller via the Internet may allow a user to peruse Web pages displaying the meta-tags and links that allow purchase of copies of associated interesting portions of the redacted interview transcripts as hosted by the controller. | 01-28-2010 |
20100248821 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING PLAY OF A GAMING DEVICE WITH A PLURALITY OF BALANCES - In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for receiving an indication of a wager, determining at least one balance of a gaming device having a plurality of balances, the at least one balance being associated with the wager, and determining an outcome of a play of the gaming device based on the at least one balance. | 09-30-2010 |
20100331068 | GAMING DEVICE FOR A FLAT RATE BLACKJACK GAME PLAY SESSION AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed. During the play, payouts are made either directly to the player in the form of coins or indirectly in the form of credits to the player's credit account. | 12-30-2010 |
20110130188 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING PLAY AT A GAMING DEVICE BY MEANS OF THIRD PARTY OFFERS - In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an offer is presented to a player (e.g., at a gaming device or a table game in a casino). The offer defines a benefit to be provided in exchange for the player's commitment to an obligation defined by the offer. The offer may be provided once it is determined that a condition of a gaming device satisfies a predetermined criterion. The benefit defined by the offer may be provided to the player and/or to one or more associated persons designated by the player. | 06-02-2011 |
20110306405 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING GAME SESSION INFORMATION - According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a contract is established for a session comprising two or more plays of at least one gaming device. Information about the game play session, such as outcomes generated at the at least one gaming device, is communicated to a player device. The information is presented to a player via the player device. | 12-15-2011 |
20120088575 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AN ACCOUNT TO FUND BENEFITS FOR A PLAYER - An account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit. | 04-12-2012 |
20120115587 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AN ACCOUNT TO FUND BENEFITS FOR A PLAYER - An account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit. | 05-10-2012 |
20120196667 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OUTPUTTING OUTCOMES OF A GAMING DEVICE - In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for outputting an outcome for a game of a gaming device is presented, wherein the method comprises first outputting an apparent outcome for the game and then outputting an actual outcome for the game. In one or more embodiments, a benefit corresponding to the apparent outcome may not be provided to the player playing the gaming device. For example, a hopper may be prevented from dispensing a payout associated with the apparent outcome. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a character (e.g., an animated character) may be displayed as changing the apparent outcome into the actual outcome. | 08-02-2012 |
20130231176 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING A GAMING SESSION - A method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed. During the play, payouts are made either directly to the player in the form of coins or indirectly in the form of credits to the player's credit account. | 09-05-2013 |