Richard Ben Rowe

US Patent:

6394907, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Aug 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/648382

Inventors:

Richard E. Rowe - Reno NV

Assignee:

International Game Technology - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F 1300

US Classification:

463 42, 463 25, 463 20, 463 16, 273143 R, 902 23

Abstract:

A disclosed cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse provides clearinghouse server including a network interface allowing the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse to communicate with a number of gaming properties and a processor configured to enable the validation of cashless instruments at a gaming property different from where the cashless instrument was generated. Methods are provided at the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse and at the gaming properties that enable cashless instrument transactions across multiple gaming properties. In addition, methods are provided at the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse that allow 1) progressive games based upon cashless instrument transactions and 2) multi-site gaming promotions using cashless instruments.

US Patent:

6406023, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Jan 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/492512

Inventors:

Richard E. Rowe - Reno NV

Assignee:

International Game Technology - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F 100

US Classification:

273292, 463 12

Abstract:

A physical card game or electronically simulated card game is provided in which each of one or more players received cards which define two or more card hands, with at least one card in common. In one embodiment, the initial cards are arranged in a rectangular array with rows, columns and/or diagonals of the array defining the hands. Each hand can be played and/or evaluated using certain aspects of blackjack, poker or other traditional card game play or evaluation. At least some prizes or top winning outcomes for a round of play must include winning outcomes from at least two, and preferably from all, of the hands played by a given player. The relatively low odds of achieving highest-winning combinations on all hands makes it feasible to provide the game with relatively large prizes associated with such low-probability outcomes. In one embodiment, certain subcombinations of a players cards, such as all initially-dealt cards, are evaluated for instant win combinations. In one embodiment, one or more additional cards may be dealt for use in defining some or all of said instant win combinations.

US Patent:

6645077, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Dec 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/746944

Inventors:

Richard E. Rowe - Reno NV

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F 924

US Classification:

463 42, 463 25, 463 43

Abstract:

A disclosed gaming terminal data repository may be used to store game software components, game software component information and gaming transaction information for a plurality of gaming terminals owned by a plurality of gaming entities. The repository may store the game software component information and the gaming transaction information in a database partitioned according to the different gaming entities in a manner allowing a game software component configuration of a particular gaming machine to be easily analyzed and modified. Using various update triggers, game software components for gaming terminals connected to the gaming terminal data repository may be automatically updated. The gaming machines, configured or designed to receive game software components from the repository, may present game play using a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and the game software components received from the repository.

US Patent:

6675152, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Sep 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/660984

Inventors:

Bhavani Prasad - Reno NV
Marc Espin - Sparks NV
Richard E. Rowe - Reno NV

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

705 64

Abstract:

Systems and methods for protecting transaction information stored in a database of a gaming network. To accomplish this, a transaction signature is generated each time the user completes a transaction on a gaming machine. The transaction signature is generated using transaction information from a particular transaction. The transaction signature and transaction information are stored together in a network database. Upon subsequent access to the transaction information in the database, the transaction signature for the transaction information is recalculated based on the transaction information at that time. The new transaction signature is then compared to the transaction signature previously stored. Any differences between the two transaction signatures may be used to signal unauthorized alteration in the database transaction information.

US Patent:

6682421, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Apr 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/544884

Inventors:

Richard E. Rowe - Reno NV
Michael M. Oberberger - Reno NV

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F 1300

US Classification:

463 25, 463 39, 463 29

Abstract:

A disclosed hand-held device provides a game service system having a wire-less communication interface, a display screen and a microprocessor which generates a number of game service interfaces on the display screen. The hand-held device may input ticket voucher information and communicate with a remote transaction server such that a ticket voucher may be validated. Additionally, the hand-held device may be used to provide a variety of gaming services using different game service interfaces provided on the device. These hand-held devices may be checked out by a game service representative in a secure manner such that the game service representative may roam a game playing area and provide various game services to game players in the game playing area using the hand-held device. These game services may include ticket validation, a prize validation, food services, accommodation services or a gaming operations services.

US Patent:

6722985, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Apr 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/838033

Inventors:

Steven G. LeMay - Reno NV
Richard E. Rowe - Reno NV

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

G06F 1700

US Classification:

463 29, 463 46, 273148 R, 273148 B

Abstract:

A disclosed player tracking unit utilizes a memory arranged to store a plurality of different communication protocols allowing the player tracking unit to communicate with a plurality of different types of gaming machines and a plurality of different types of player tracking servers. The player tracking unit may contain many different types of player tracking peripheral devices such as card readers, key pads, displays, bonus buttons and biometric input mechanisms. The peripheral devices contained in the player tracking unit may be accessible to the master gaming controller on a gaming machine and may be utilized by the master gaming controller for other gaming applications. The player tracking unit may be designed with a standard housing and standard device layout allowing the player tracking unit to fit in many different types of gaming machines with minimal modifications to the gaming machine or the player tracking unit.

US Patent:

6852031, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Nov 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/718974

Inventors:

Richard E Rowe - Reno NV, US

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F013/00
A63F009/24
G06F017/00
G06F019/00
A63B071/00

US Classification:

463 29, 463 1, 463 25, 463 43, 463 47, 2731381, 2731382, 273139, 273148 R, 235375, 235380

Abstract:

A disclosed smart card includes a processor and memory configured to execute a number of gaming applications, such as a bonus game application, a progressive game application, a voucher application and a paytable application, and communicate with a master gaming controller on the gaming machine. Gaming instructions, generated during the execution of one or more of the gaming application on the smart card, may be used to affect game play on the gaming machine. The gaming instructions for various gaming services may be supplied to gaming machines operating in a “stand alone” mode or gaming machine connected to some type of dedicated network. In addition, the smart card may store game components including audio game components and video game components that may be downloaded into a gaming machine and incorporated into a game presentation on the gaming machine. The smart card may be utilized at many different venues including casinos, hotels, bars, restaurants and retail stores.

US Patent:

6866586, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

Nov 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/993163

Inventors:

Michael M. Oberberger - Reno NV, US
Richard E. Rowe - Reno NV, US

Assignee:

IGT - Reno NV

International Classification:

A63F013/00

US Classification:

463 42, 463 25, 463 20

Abstract:

A disclosed cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse provides clearinghouse server including a network interface allowing the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse to communicate with a number of gaming properties and a processor configured to enable the validation of cashless instruments at a gaming property different from where the cashless instrument was generated. Methods are provided that allow a plurality of cashless gaming devices located at different gaming properties to communicate with one another via the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse in a secure manner using symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques. Further, to reduce the possibilities of theft and fraud, the methods allow a receiver of a message to authenticate an identity of a sender of a message.