Patents Examined by Aaron Capron
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Patent number: 7351145Abstract: A gaming method and apparatus enabling a casino to track the average amount that a player bets at a gaming table, the total amount of player bets at a gaming table (handle) and the players win/loss experience, by measuring and recording into an electronic file each players bet at each betting station of each table a player frequents. The exact amount of each players bet will be measured by the total chip weight of the relevant bet via assigning a specific weight to each chip denomination wherein no two groups of chips in which a total number chips are different from one another have the same total weight, even though their monetary value may be the same.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: MAO, Inc.Inventors: Marvin A. Ornstein, Richard B. Hanbicki
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Patent number: 6837788Abstract: A dual wagering game method for one or more players based on simultaneous participation in two mutually exclusive game components with a payoff being the product of the game component outcomes. Wagers are made in both a repeatable base game component and a nonrepeatable bonus game component which components are mutually exclusive. The outcome of the bonus game component results in a multiplier value. Winnings from repeated plays of the base game component are accumulated until a game ending event occurs and the player receives a payout of any accumulated winnings from the base game component multiplied by the multiplier value determined in the bonus game component.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2001Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: IGTInventor: Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 6814667Abstract: An electronic toy gun for a toy shooting game includes an infrared beam emitter, a trigger, a game data input device, and an internal processor. The infrared beam emitter is configured to emit an encoded infrared beam. The trigger is configured to activate a state of emission of the infrared beam by the infrared beam emitter so as to indicate that a weapon is being fired. The game data input device is configured to receive game data input from a user. The internal processor is configured to receive the game data input from the game data input device and to cause the infrared beam emitter to emit an infrared beam that is coded with one of a plurality of codes based on the game data input.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Inventors: Robert W. Jeffway, Jr., Adam Kislevitz, Steven R. Casino
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Patent number: 6805633Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting the sound volume of a gaming machine based on the ambient noise level to an appropriate level. The gaming machine may implement an open loop control algorithm when the machine's sound output is inactive as determined, e.g., by software, or by analyzing samples from a soundboard. A closed loop control algorithm may be implemented when the gaming machine is active. Alternatively, the machine may implement only an open loop algorithm that provides volume adjustment only when the machine's sound output is inactive, in which case the adjusted volume is maintained through an active period, then adjusted again at the next inactive period. A saturation back off feature prevents the sound level of the gaming machine from escalating to, and remains at, a maximum, saturation level.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Marvin Arthur Hein, Jr., James W. Morrow, Thomas B. Cannon
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Patent number: 6805631Abstract: A game system executes a game in which game elements appear in a progress of the game based on a predetermined appearing rates determined for each game element and the game elements are collected. The game system includes: a condition judging unit for judging a certain condition associated with the game at the time of starting the game; and an appearing rate varying unit for varying the predetermined appearing rate only for specific game element based on a result of the judgment by the condition judging unit and for permitting the specific game element to appear in a progress of the game based on the varied appearing rate.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Konami CorporationInventor: Tadakatsu Izumi
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Patent number: 6802772Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to conduct a game associated with a physics simulation, the physics simulation being adapted to generate a game result based on a set of input parameters. According to one embodiment, a game condition associated with a game to be played by a player is established. For example, a three-dimensional terrain associated with a golf putting green may be established. It is then determined that at least one set of possible input parameters to the physics simulation will produce a successful game result given the established game condition. For example, it may be determined that a player can use his or her mouse to provide a set of inputs parameters to the physics simulation such that a simulated golf ball will reach a simulated golf hole based on the three-dimensional golf putting green terrain.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2000Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Walker Digital, LLCInventors: Adrian E. Kunzle, V. Maximillian Garcia
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Patent number: 6802776Abstract: A gaming system (10) utilizes a game designation generating component (16), a gaming establishment component (11), and a set of predefined bingo card representations. Each bingo card representation is stored in electronic format as a data structure or data record defining a predefined pattern of game designations chosen from a pool of available designations. The game designation generating component (16) generates sets of game designations from a pool of available designations. The method employed in the gaming system (10) includes pre-matching the bingo card representations to a given set of game designations to produce a matched card set. This pre-matching occurs prior to the sale, distribution, or assignment of card representations to players in the game.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.Inventors: Clifton Lind, Gordon T. Graves, Gary L. Loebig, Jefferson C. Lind, Joseph R. Enzminger, Rodney L. Willyard, Robert Lannert
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Patent number: 6796898Abstract: An improved insurance wager for Blackjack includes defining an insurance outcome set containing two or more predetermined holdings and an insurance payout associated with each holding. Each player makes an initial wager and the Blackjack game is dealt in a fashion known in the art. The insurance wager is available if the dealer's face-up card has a predetermined value, optionally ten. After each player completes his hand or busts, the dealer forms a final hand by hitting or standing according to the conventional rules of Blackjack. If the dealer's final hand is within the insurance outcome set, remaining players are rewarded based on the player's insurance wager without regard to the player's final hand. Otherwise, the player loses the insurance wager.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2001Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Inventor: Mike Timpano
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Patent number: 6783456Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for interactively playing a lottery-type game among a number of players. In one embodiment, this is accomplished on a network of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller. An objective of the game is for a player to select the number closest to the randomly selected number that represents the winning number for the lottery game. This is a significant departure from the prior art, in that the game of the present invention does not require an exact match to produce a win and in that the game results in a win for every drawing. Thus, the lottery-type game of the present invention improves the gaming experience for the player, which will result in prolonged and more frequent play, thereby maximizing revenues for the operator of the game.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Scientific Games Royalty CorporationInventor: Michael L. White
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Patent number: 6761635Abstract: A photo-receiving unit of an entertainment device stores commands sent from a remote controller into a buffer memory. A main unit of the entertainment device incorporates the stored commands at regular intervals (such as once in every vertical synchronization period) and the individual portions of the main unit, or the peripheral devices connected to the main device, are controlled based on the incorporated command. As a result, the user can operate the main unit or peripheral devices with a remote controller not originally meant for the entertainment device.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Masanori Hoshino, Koji Hamada
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Patent number: 6755738Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display 14. The game controller is operable to play a game 16 of bingo wherein the display 14 displays a plurality of bingo cards simultaneously, at least one of the bingo cards being selected by a person playing the game in order for that person to play the game of bingo.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.Inventors: Naomi Glasson, Philippa Graham, Amanda Emmett, Colin Fong, Christopher Stevens
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Patent number: 6752720Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming system includes a mobile remote control vehicle. The mobile remote control vehicle communicates wirelessly with a control unit, and may be operated outside a line-of-sight (LOS) of the control unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2000Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Edward O. Clapper, Greg E. Scott
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Patent number: 6752718Abstract: A game program realizes a role playing game using cards with originality and amusement. In processing for selecting a scenario, a character is solicited to obtain three scenario cards in advance. Any of the scenario cards is selected from the three scenario cards according to operation of a player. When any of the scenario cards is selected, game development processing based on a scenario of the selected scenario card is executed. Subsequently, it is determined if conditions for clearing a scenario, for which the game development processing is executed, defined in the scenario in advance are met. The game development processing based on the scenario continues to be executed until the conditions for clearing the scenario are met. When the conditions for clearing the scenario are met, games based on scenarios of the remaining two scenario cards are developed.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square EnixInventor: Akitoshi Kawazu
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Patent number: 6749511Abstract: The subject invention includes a host site which is accessed by a participant directly or through a hyperlink from a sponsor site. The host site includes an application which is activated to run a promotional applet on the participant's computer. The promotional applet creates a graphical user interface (GUI) which is used to play a promotional game which requires the participant to browse through a plurality of sponsor sites in order to find and match a number of indicia embedded therein. Once a participant has matched enough indicia to satisfy a winning criteria, the participant is awarded a prize.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Inventor: Adam S. Day
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Patent number: 6749503Abstract: A game system enables continuation of a game after the game is ceased. The game system starts to reproduce a game screen of the state before the game is ceased and to start to continue the game after the screen results in a game ceased state.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha SegaInventors: Takayuki Kazama, Hiroyuki Sasaki
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Patent number: 6749505Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate game play. According to one embodiment, game information associated with a game to be played by a player is determined. For example, a putting green contour may be determined for a computer-based golf game. It is the arranged for altered game information to be indicated to the player and for the player to play the game in accordance with the game information, wherein the altered game information alters game play by an automated game playing device more than game play by a human player. For example, the contour of the putting green may be altered before being transmitted to a remote player device.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2000Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Walker Digital, LLCInventors: Adrian E. Kunzle, V. Maximillian Garcia
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Patent number: 6746329Abstract: The present invention consists of a method of displaying games related to slot machine games. The method consists of: 1) using a three-dimensional structure as the basis of the display of The method with the primary plane of the three-dimensional structure as the center attraction of the screen of the electronic gaming device and the secondary planes around, 2) displaying the basic playing structure of The method on the primary plane, 3) allowing gamers to place bets on the primary plane and on other secondary planes, 4) starting The method with the display of moving symbols on all the different planes of the three dimensional structure until they are stopped, and 5) awarding prizes to The methods in regard to the bets placed in The method on the planes of the three-dimensional structure, therefore in regard to the different represented planes.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Labtronix Concept Inc.Inventor: GĂ©rald Duhamel
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Patent number: 6736724Abstract: A character-group battle method, recording medium and game device for realistically expressing a group battle through a series of operations are provided. It is determined whether or not there is an enemy horse soldier belonging to an enemy army inside the enemy-search area that has been preset as the range of view of the object horse soldier (S406), and when it is determined that there is an enemy horse soldier (S410, 416, 428), then it is determined whether or not that enemy horse soldier is capable of engaging in battle with the object horse soldier, and when it is determined that battle is possible, then that enemy horse soldier is identified as an enemy that the object horse soldier must do battle (S440), so the object horse soldier approaches the enemy horse soldier until the enemy horse soldier is inside the battle area of the object horse soldier.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2000Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Koei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichi Erikawa, Jumpei Tsuda
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Patent number: 6729961Abstract: A method for displaying an interactive game having a pre-determined outcome (e.g. a game of finite poker) displays an initial hand of cards, receives a player-specified designation as to which cards are to be held and which are to be discarded, and then displays an intermediate hand generated in accordance with the player-specified designation. Then a final hand is shown, and in those cases where the player-specified designation (Hold/Discard) is inconsistent with a transition from the intermediate hand to the final hand, an entertaining display is shown, such as a sequence of alternative playing cards. In some cases, the initial hand is a winning hand according to a predetermined payout schedule, and the final hand is a winning hand with a higher payout than the initial hand according to the same payout schedule. The disclosed methods can be used with other games, including reel-type games.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2000Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: IGTInventor: Norman H. Millerschone
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Patent number: 6729956Abstract: A gaming apparatus may comprise a display apparatus capable of generating video images, a value input device capable of allowing the player to deposit a medium of value, and a controller operatively coupled to the display apparatus and value input device. The controller includes a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, where the controller is programmed to monitor actions by a player during use of the gaming apparatus, determine a potential game parameter based on monitored actions, and operate the gaming apparatus and display images on the display apparatus responsive to the determined potential game parameter. The potential game parameters may include likely current wager values for the player, player game selection preferences, and selection of pay tables for the player.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: IGTInventors: Bryan Wolf, Craig A. Paulsen