Mark S Ross

US Patent:

8043153, Oct 25, 2011

Filed:

Dec 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/318343

Inventors:

Mark Ross - Las Vegas NV, US
Gene Bond - Las Vegas NV, US
Jay DeGarmo - Las Vegas NV, US
Aimin Cong - Las Vegas NV, US
Rolland N. Steil - Las Vegas NV, US

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 16, 463 20

Abstract:

In accordance with a game method, game information regarding one or more player selectable elements and awards associated with those elements is generated and stored. The player selectable elements are displayed and a player is permitted to select one or more of those elements. Each selected element is destroyed, unmasking or triggering an associated award. The award may be a monetary or credit value, symbol or secondary event. A secondary event may comprise an explosion or chain reaction destruction of other un-selected elements, which elements are unmasked to reveal associated awards or trigger additional secondary events. The game may be presented on a gaming machine, and may comprise a primary game or bonus round of another game.

US Patent:

20090291757, Nov 26, 2009

Filed:

May 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/124264

Inventors:

Scott T. Hilbert - Sparks NV, US
Mark S. Ross - Las Vegas NV, US

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 31

Abstract:

A gaming machine is provided including a display unit configured to generate video images, an input unit, an ambient light sensor, and a controller coupled to the display unit, input unit, and ambient light sensor. The controller is configured to receive physical characteristics of a player via the input unit, determine an ambient light level of an environment of the gaming machine based on a signal generated by the ambient light sensor, determine a desired brightness level for video images based on the determined ambient light level, determine a desired contrast level for the video images based on the received physical characteristics or the determined ambient light level, generate display settings for the video images based on the determined brightness level and the determined contrast level, and display the graphics to the player via the display unit using the generated display settings.

US Patent:

20130303265, Nov 14, 2013

Filed:

May 14, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/471157

Inventors:

Cameron A. FILIPOUR - Las Vegas NV, US
Mark S. ROSS - Las Vegas NV, US

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F 13/10
A63F 13/12
A63F 13/00

US Classification:

463 25, 463 20, 463 42

Abstract:

A processor-based gaming machine or system running traditional wager-based primary games includes a secondary game component that provides a secondary game associated with the primary games. The secondary game includes persisting credits having a monetary value that remain across the play of multiple discrete primary games. The persisting credits can be cashed out by a player at any time, and have a value that can rise, fall, or remain constant based on the play of each discrete primary game. The secondary game can involve a themed game where players develop and maintain virtual entities and/or vanity items or statuses. Persisting credits and vanity items can persist across multiple primary game plays and separate gaming sessions, and may be available on separate social gaming venues. Systems can include a remote server that administers the secondary game and a database that stores player profiles for customized secondary game progressions.

US Patent:

20140045579, Feb 13, 2014

Filed:

Aug 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/568837

Inventors:

Cameron Filipour - Las Vegas NV, US
Vincent Smith - Las Vegas NV, US
Mark Ross - Las Vegas NV, US
Craig Schaefer - Las Vegas NV, US
Brian Johnson - Las Vegas NV, US

International Classification:

A63F 13/12

US Classification:

463 25

Abstract:

A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine, may be configured to execute an interface. The gaming machine may be configured to receive, a plurality of times, player input to play a first wagering game on the gaming machine. The gaming machine may be further configured to generate, each time the player input is received, game results for the first wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to generate game results for a second wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to present an animation of the wagering agent engaging in wagering activities.

US Patent:

20210035408, Feb 4, 2021

Filed:

Aug 17, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/994871

Inventors:

- Las Vegas NV, US
Vincent Smith - Las Vegas NV, US
Mark Ross - Las Vegas NV, US
Craig Schaefer - Las Vegas NV, US
Brian Johnson - Las Vegas NV, US

International Classification:

G07F 17/32

Abstract:

A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine, may be configured to execute an interface. The gaming machine may be configured to receive, a plurality of times, player input to play a first wagering game on the gaming machine. The gaming machine may be further configured to generate, each time the player input is received, game results for the first wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to generate game results for a second wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to present an animation of the wagering agent engaging in wagering activities.

US Patent:

20200098223, Mar 26, 2020

Filed:

Sep 20, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/576861

Inventors:

- Newark DE, US
Mark S. Ross - Las Vegas NV, US

International Classification:

G07F 17/32
G06Q 30/02
G06Q 50/34
H04N 7/18
G06K 9/00

Abstract:

Disclosed are a system and method for the application of filtering in the collection and application of facial biometrics to a number of problems common to the vending and gaming environments. A succession of video frames of a scene are analyzed to determine if one or more faces are present. If so, the face most relevant to the application based in its position in the scene is selected. The selected face in each of the succession of video frames is then quality rated according to certain criteria to select the best frame for computing a biometric value of the selected face. One the biometric value has been computed, the value may be compared against a database to determine if a biometric value for a matching face was previously stored. If so, the quality rating of the new image and a quality rating previously stored with the stored biometric are compared. If the new image has a higher quality rating than the stored quality rating, the new biometric replaces the stored biometric and its quality rating replaces the associated quality rating in storage. The biometric may then be applied to solving problems of patron analytics, patron loyalty, security and the like.

US Patent:

20170221310, Aug 3, 2017

Filed:

Apr 12, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/485965

Inventors:

- Las Vegas NV, US
Cameron A. Filipour - Las Vegas NV, US
Mark S. Ross - Las Vegas NV, US
Joseph Masinter - Las Vegas NV, US
Shara C. Miller - Oakland CA, US

International Classification:

G07F 17/32
G07F 17/34

Abstract:

A gaming system including one or more group event eligibility sequences. Each group event eligibility sequence is associated with a set duration. In these embodiments, if one or more players at one or more gaming machines collectively satisfy a group event eligibility threshold within the set duration of an initiated or triggered group event eligibility sequence, the gaming system determines that such players are eligible to participate in a group event. For the group event, the gaming system provides one or more group event awards to such participating players.

US Patent:

20160196721, Jul 7, 2016

Filed:

Mar 15, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/070738

Inventors:

- Las Vegas NV, US
Vincent Smith - Las Vegas NV, US
Mark Ross - Las Vegas NV, US
Craig Schaefer - Las Vegas NV, US
Brian Johnson - Las Vegas NV, US

International Classification:

G07F 17/32

Abstract:

A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine, may be configured to execute an interface. The gaming machine may be configured to receive, a plurality of times, player input to play a first wagering game on the gaming machine. The gaming machine may be further configured to generate, each time the player input is received, game results for the first wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to generate game results for a second wagering game. The gaming machine may also be configured to present an animation of the wagering agent engaging in wagering activities.