| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| RE40186 |
Method and apparatus for generating a coupon |
March 25, 2008 |
| A POS terminal generates a purchase price of a purchase, and generates a rounded price. The rounded price may be, for example, the lowest whole number greater than the purchase price. The POS terminal then calculates a round-up amount (change due the customer) as the difference between t |
| RE39817 |
Gaming device for operating in a reverse payout mode and a method of operating same |
September 4, 2007 |
| A gaming device of the type wherein a play generates one of multiple possible outcomes having reverse payout information. The gaming device comprises a memory device containing a first set of data correlating possible outcomes to a first set of payouts and a second set of data correl |
| RE38733 |
Method and apparatus for motivating players to return to a casino using premiums |
May 10, 2005 |
| A method of motivating players to return to a casino includes receiving a request to convert a predetermined value of casino currency to cash. Upon the receipt of the request, a premium value is calculated based at least in part on the predetermined value. Subsequently, the customer is p |
| 7627496 |
Systems and methods for vending machine customer account management |
December 1, 2009 |
| Some embodiments are associated with providing, establishing, registering, administering, and/or managing vending machine subscription accounts. In some embodiments, third parties may administer and/or manage subscription-vending accounts associated with customers. |
| 7613631 |
Method and apparatus for managing subscriptions |
November 3, 2009 |
| A subscription system allows a customer to establish a subscription to a product with one or more retailers (e.g., by establishing the subscription through a controller or central system). In one embodiment, a subscription is established by receiving a request to establish a subscrip |
| 7607981 |
System and method for remote automated play of a gaming device |
October 27, 2009 |
| A method according to one or more embodiments of the present invention provides for initiating an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of games, and receiving a first signal including a video representation of the automated session. The method also |
| 7606729 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating the play of fractional lottery tickets utilizing point-of- |
October 20, 2009 |
| A store controller determines a monetary value, such as an amount of spare change due to a customer, and allocates a portion of a lottery ticket for the customer. The portion is based on the monetary value, and may be, for example, equal to the monetary value, or may be the monetary valu |
| 7605840 |
Internet surveillance system and method |
October 20, 2009 |
| A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location to be monitored; |
| 7602414 |
Internet surveillance system and method |
October 13, 2009 |
| A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location to be monitored; |
| 7596260 |
System for image analysis in a network that is structured with multiple layers and differentiall |
September 29, 2009 |
| Disclosed herein are systems and methods for facilitating the usage of an online workforce to remotely monitor security-sensitive sites and report potential security breaches.In some embodiments, cameras are configured to monitor critical civilian infrastructure, such as water supplies a |
| 7593033 |
Internet surveillance system and method |
September 22, 2009 |
| A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location to be monitored; |
| 7588495 |
Method and handheld apparatus for facilitating remote play of a slot machine |
September 15, 2009 |
| A method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving an indication of play of a slot machine associated with a remote player. At least one handheld device that is associated with the remote player is determined, and a signal is transmitted to the |
| 7587334 |
Method and system for processing supplementary product sales at a point-of-sale terminal |
September 8, 2009 |
| A POS terminal determines an upsell to offer in exchange for the change due to a customer in connection with a purchase. The point-of-sale terminal preferably maintains a database of at least one upsell price and a corresponding upsell to offer a customer in exchange for the change due |
| 7587333 |
Method and apparatus for vending products |
September 8, 2009 |
| A method and apparatus is disclosed for advancing the sale of vending machine products. The invention enables selling products without revealing the identity of the product. By concealing the identity of the products from a consumer prior to receiving payment, the present invention p |
| 7582012 |
Methods and apparatus for lottery game play aggregation |
September 1, 2009 |
| According to one embodiment, a player may accumulate occurrences of a bonus symbol over at least two outcomes. The player may be allowed a bonus if a running count of the occurrences is at least equal to a predetermined number. According to another embodiment, a player may accumulate |
| 7577496 |
System for vending physical and information items |
August 18, 2009 |
| A vending machine handles a purchase transaction by receiving a payment, receiving a product selection from the customer, and dispensing the product indicated by the product selection. As part of the same transaction, the vending machine offers an information item such as an audio re |
| 7563167 |
Gaming device method and apparatus employing modified payouts |
July 21, 2009 |
| The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a "jackpot only" pay table. The player may choose to accept the gaming device's offer to switch from using a conventional pay table to using a pay table tha |
| 7559838 |
Gaming device and method of operation thereof |
July 14, 2009 |
| A gaming device such as a video based gaming device provides a player the ability to modify at least one element of the gaming device. The gaming device may then modify other elements to ensure a desired house advantage. The probability of occurrence for one or more outcomes, the pay |
| 7553235 |
Method and apparatus for outputting a result of a game via a container |
June 30, 2009 |
| A method and apparatus is disclosed that documents and authenticates cap removal data. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus measures a parameter indicative of the number of times that a cap has been removed by a user. The apparatus also encodes at least the |
| 7553234 |
Method and apparatus for outputting a result of a game via a container |
June 30, 2009 |
| A method and apparatus is disclosed that documents and authenticates cap removal data. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus measures a parameter indicative of the number of times that a cap has been removed by a user. The apparatus also encodes at least the |
| 7549920 |
Gaming token having a variable value |
June 23, 2009 |
| A system installed in a casino allows gambling chips in the casino to have variable values. Each chip has an electronic circuit installed in it to store a chip identifier and data indicative of a value currently associated with the chip. Slot machines and other devices are arranged to |
| 7547251 |
System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals |
June 16, 2009 |
| A system and method for performing integrated lottery ticket and merchandise transactions using a point-of-sale terminal that generates a single sales receipt containing all pertinent lottery ticket and merchandise transaction information. The lottery tickets generated include fracti |
| 7546277 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically managing vending machine inventory prices |
June 9, 2009 |
| The present invention is a method and apparatus for automatically managing a price of a product in a vending machine. The method and apparatus is disclosed for implementing dynamic price adjustments at various times including after stocking, after a sale of a product and at periodic |
| 7542919 |
Method and apparatus for selecting a supplemental product to offer for sale during a transaction |
June 2, 2009 |
| A method and apparatus a user or other customer, controller, point-of-sale terminal, etc. to conduct a transaction for the purchase of one or more products and/or services, during which a supplemental product or service to offer a user during a transaction, either in addition to the prod |
| 7536349 |
Method and apparatus for processing a charge applied to a financial account |
May 19, 2009 |
| A billing server receives charge data from a card authorization terminal. The charge data indicates a transaction amount, such as a purchase price, and a first financial account, such as a credit card account. The billing server determines a second financial account that corresponds to t |
| 7533810 |
Game presentation in a retail establishment |
May 19, 2009 |
| A game presentation such as a virtual slot machine is displayed by a display device associated with a point of sale (POS) terminal. The game presentation includes images of products for which product identifying codes are entered at the POS terminal. The game presentation indicates to |
| 7526440 |
Method, computer product, and apparatus for facilitating the provision of opinions to a shopper |
April 28, 2009 |
| In accordance with one or more embodiments, a system determines an image, selects a panel of participants, and outputs the image to each of the participants of the panel of participants. The image may be an image of a garment a shopper is considering purchasing, an image of the shopper |
| 7524245 |
System and method for securing electronic games |
April 28, 2009 |
| A game server is provided, the game server comprising a processor and a storage device coupled to the processor. The storage device stores instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method comprising: generating a first signal; transmitting an encoded first sig |
| 7524244 |
System and method for remote automated play of a gaming device |
April 28, 2009 |
| A method according to one or more embodiments of the present invention provides for initiating an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of games, and receiving a first signal including a video representation of the automated session. The method also |
| 7523045 |
Method and apparatus for a cryptographically assisted commercial network system designed to faci |
April 21, 2009 |
| The present invention is an expert matching method and apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an expert request. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a contro |
| 7519836 |
Method and apparatus for the secure storage of audio signals |
April 14, 2009 |
| A method and apparatus for recording audio so that the recording can be authenticated as to both content and time of recording is provided. The system may be implemented as a central server that is accessed via one or more telephone lines, or as a stand-alone unit. The system operates by |
| 7513825 |
System and method for applying lottery multipliers |
April 7, 2009 |
| A system, method, and ticket for a lottery player to increase a payout received for winning a lottery game is disclosed. A request to purchase a set of play indicia (e.g. lottery numbers) and to associate the play indicia with a multiplier is received from a player. Data relating to the |
| 7509268 |
Method and apparatus for selling subscriptions to periodicals in a retail environment |
March 24, 2009 |
| A system comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a POS controller, a retail subscription system. The POS terminal allows a cashier to enter subscription sales data into the POS controller. The POS controller maintains databases on available subscriptions and produces databases cont |
| 7503851 |
Budget-defined flat rate play contract parameters |
March 17, 2009 |
| According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and/or articles of manufacture are associated with operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session or contract costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session or contract spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a |
| 7499769 |
Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups |
March 3, 2009 |
| Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least one inventory group |
| 7496537 |
User-generated traveler's checks |
February 24, 2009 |
| A system and method for issuing traveler's checks at a user's home or business using the purchaser's own computer system to allow the user to obtain traveler's checks at any time, in any denominations and without having to travel to an issuer location. User information, including a u |
| 7496523 |
Method and apparatus for defining routing of customers between merchants |
February 24, 2009 |
| A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses |
| 7494417 |
System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals |
February 24, 2009 |
| In accordance with some embodiments, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatus are provided for receiving a request for a lottery ticket, the request including a purchase amount that is less than a price of a full lottery ticket. A fractional amount of the full lottery ticket is |
| 7494416 |
Method and apparatus for providing insurance policies for gambling losses |
February 24, 2009 |
| A method according to some embodiments of the present invention provides for a game server to receive policy requirements of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy from a terminal. The game server determines a premium amount based on the policy requirements of the user and transmits |
| 7493267 |
Method and apparatus for compensating participation in marketing research |
February 17, 2009 |
| A method for gathering marketing information from a player including transmitting a marketing question to a player proximate in space to a compensation dispensing machine, receiving a response to the marketing question from the player, and transmitting a signal to the compensation di |
| 7485040 |
Methods and apparatus for advertising in gaming device |
February 3, 2009 |
| In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method provides for determining data associated with a player of a gaming device; determining whether the data meets at least one established criterion; and providing an offer to the player if the data meets the at least o |
| 7484172 |
System and method for providing a customized index with hyper-footnotes |
January 27, 2009 |
| According to some embodiments, a method may include providing a periodical index customized for a subscriber. The method may comprise, for example, determining first data corresponding to content of at least one issue of a periodical, determining customized index data, in which the custo |
| 7483670 |
Method and apparatus for educational testing |
January 27, 2009 |
| Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for computer-based evaluation of a test-taker's performance with respect to a reward threshold. A performance assessment of the test taker can be standardized or customized, as well as relative or absolute. The system allows a parentally-controll |
| 7479060 |
System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals |
January 20, 2009 |
| A system and method for performing integrated lottery ticket and merchandise transactions using a point-of-sale terminal that generates a single sales receipt containing all pertinent lottery ticket and merchandise transaction information. The lottery tickets generated include fracti |
| 7476542 |
Method and apparatus for video poker using alternate draw strategies |
January 13, 2009 |
| In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided that comprises determining a first strategy for play of a game and a second strategy for play of the game, selecting at least one final outcome of the game that cannot result from the first strategy |
| 7476153 |
System and method for remote automated play of a gaming device |
January 13, 2009 |
| A method according to one or more embodiments of the present invention provides for initiating an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of games, and receiving a first signal including a video representation of the automated session. The method also |
| 7473177 |
Method and apparatus for providing credits for game play |
January 6, 2009 |
| Systems and methods are provided for offering a voucher which is redeemable for credits at a casino. The voucher may be redeemed for a first value of credits. One is charged a second value for the voucher, in which the second value is less than the first value. If the person is purch |
| 7467999 |
Method and apparatus for outputting apparent and actual outcomes of a gaming device |
December 23, 2008 |
| 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 |
| 7467745 |
Billing statement customer acquisition system |
December 23, 2008 |
| A customer acquisition system is disclosed that allows an offeror service provider to acquire new customers by making acquisition offers to customers through the billing statements of other businesses ("billing statement issuers"). An "acquisition offer" is an offer by the offeror se |
| 7458892 |
Systems and methods for facilitating play of a casino game via expiring prepaid plays of the cas |
December 2, 2008 |
| In accordance with at least one embodiment, an expiring prepaid casino account is disclosed. The expiring prepaid casino account has associated therewith an amount of money, time, and/or game plays. The amount of money, time, and/or game plays expires in predetermined portions over a |
