Patents Examined by Damon J. Pierce
  • Patent number: 11563513
    Abstract: Described herein are, among other things, techniques, devices, and systems for streaming pixel data from a host computer to a wireless display device with low latency. In some embodiments, a user mode driver is executed in user mode of the host computer to configure a wireless network interface controller of the host computer to operate in a low latency manner. The display device may use a Forward Error Correction (FEC) algorithm to reconstruct a frame from the data packets it receives from the host computer. Also disclosed are techniques for scrambling the transmission of a series of data packets using different antenna configurations, as well as setting a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) rate based at least in part on the amount of pixel data to be transmitted to the display device. The display device may comprise a head-mounted display (HMD) that renders virtual reality (VR) game imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventor: Charles N. Lohr
  • Patent number: 11547940
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically generating event cards from message streams is provided. A system receives a message of a sequence of messages from a content source, determine, from the message, the game condition of the game, compare the game condition with a previous game condition and determines events that occurred in the game based on the message and the comparison. The system can determine, for each event of the one or more events, an event type and individual player contributions of one or more players and assign, for each event of the one or more events, to each player that contributed in the event, a points allocation corresponding to the player's contribution in the event based on the points assignment policy and the event type. The system can generate event cards and transmit the event cards to emote devices according to a content filtering policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DraftKings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kesack, William Hester, Jessie Haffey, Jonathan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11547932
    Abstract: A game controller is configured to selectively pair with a companion device using a first communication protocol and one or more gaming systems using a second communication protocol. The game controller is configured to send a pairing request to the companion device using the first communication protocol based on companion-device pairing data stored in a storage subsystem of the game controller. The game controller is configured to send a pairing request to a last-paired gaming system with which the game controller last paired using the second communication protocol based on gaming-system pairing data stored in the storage subsystem. Responsive to the game controller being unable to pair with the last-paired gaming system and while the game controller is paired with the companion device, the game controller is configured to send an error notification to the companion device using the first communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Perry Victor Lea
  • Patent number: 11538303
    Abstract: A tabletop display is provided, having a tabletop surface and a monitor spaced from the tabletop surface and angled obliquely with respect to the tabletop surface. The monitor defines a front, display surface and an opposing back surface. The tabletop display also includes a column extending from the tabletop surface to the back surface of the monitor, an input mechanism comprising an input aperture spaced from the tabletop surface, and an output mechanism comprising an output aperture spaced from the tabletop surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Bruce Urban
  • Patent number: 11534681
    Abstract: A system and method of displaying, on a touchscreen display of a mobile device, a virtual game controller having at least one virtual button configured to control multiple actions of an avatar representing a player within a video game executed by a remote gaming server. The player's interaction with the at least one virtual button is received through the touchscreen display and used to generate a control signal based on the received player interaction, the control signal being interpretable by the video game as an instruction to perform multiple actions in the video game. The control signal is transmitted from the mobile device for receipt by the remote gaming server executing the video game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Phi Hoai Dang
  • Patent number: 11534686
    Abstract: A game control device includes a processing module, at least one button, a signal transceiving module, a time pulse generation module, and a communication module, which are electrically connected to the processing module. When the button is pressed, the processing module generates a corresponding button code, and uses the current clocking time as absolute pressing time, and generates a button packet including a button code and a pressing time. The processing module sends the button packet via the communication module. A game system includes a server and a plurality of hosts, which are connected through the Internet. The hosts are connected to the abovementioned game control devices respectively. Each host receives the button packet sent from each game control device, and sends the button packet to the server. The server determines the press order of the each button according to the absolute pressing time in the received button packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ZEROPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chiu-Hao Cheng
  • Patent number: 11538308
    Abstract: A method of determining rewards due to a player playing a regulated gaming machine may comprise providing a game configured such that a plurality of games assets within the game are configured as a corresponding plurality of Wagering Opportunities, the game being further configured to have an overall minimum return to player (RTP) and an overall maximum RTP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: AKKADIAN ENTERPRISES
    Inventor: Michael M Oberberger
  • Patent number: 11534693
    Abstract: An example of an information processing system gives an in-game virtual reward associated with a first designated game stage to a user on condition that a result of a first game played by the user satisfies the reward giving condition. The information processing system gives the in-game virtual reward associated with a second designated game stage to the user on condition that a result of a second game played by the user satisfies the reward giving condition. Regardless of whether an in-game virtual reward is given based on the result of the first game played by the user or the result of the second game played by the user, the information processing system changes an in-game element in the first game mode from a state where it is not permitted to be played by the user to a state where it is permitted to be played by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosuke Yabuki, Yugo Hayashi, Shinya Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11517827
    Abstract: A gaming system provides one or more arcade gaming devices in wireless communication with a central server via a network. Each arcade gaming device is configurable as a cabinet arcade gaming device with an upper gaming unit coupled to a pedestal, or alternatively as a tabletop arcade gaming device for positioning on a tabletop or other surface without a pedestal. Games may be downloaded using the arcade gaming device or from a gaming application on a mobile computing device directly to the arcade gaming device via the central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: iiRcade, Inc.
    Inventor: Jong-Wook Shin
  • Patent number: 11517820
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for operating a computer game. It can include identifying a playing user and one or more other users; storing user information about one or more other users and the game progress information of those other users; determining whether any of the other users satisfy a predetermined condition based on their game progress information; identifying any of the other users that meet the condition and qualify as substitution-target users; displaying the substitution-target users to the playing user; obtaining input from a playing user indicating the selection of at least one substitution-target user; allowing the user to play the game, and obtaining a result of a game played by a playing user on behalf of a substitution-target user, with said game being one available to the substitution-target user; and updating the game progress information of the substitution-target user in accordance with the result of that game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GREE, Inc.
    Inventor: Hidenobu Arai
  • Patent number: 11517818
    Abstract: A processing method, rendering method and device for static components in a game scene are provided. The rendering method includes: a parent model corresponding to a plurality of static components is loaded, the parent model comprising at least two sub-models corresponding to at least two sub-components, and information of each of the at least two sub-models is recorded in a model file of the parent model; a scene global identifier of the at least one sub-model marked as hidden in the parent model is determined, wherein the scene global identifier includes identification information of each of the at least two sub-models in the game scene; and at least one sub-model not marked as hidden of the parent model is rendered in a preset manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NETEASE (HANGZHOU) NETWORK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongdong Wu, Jinwu Huang, Zhirong Du
  • Patent number: 11514141
    Abstract: A method for verifying a discovery of a geocache positioned at one or more physical locations is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first location information corresponding to a first geocache located at a first physical position; receiving from a user device a target credential corresponding to the geocache, wherein the target credential comprises a dynamically varying identifier associated with the geocache; determining a validation credential associated with the geocache; comparing the target credential with the validation credential; and determining whether the geocache was discovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: VERICACHE, INC.
    Inventor: Jacin John Steele
  • Patent number: 11504611
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved controller (10) for a games console. The invention is a games controller (10) that is intended to be held by a user in both hands in the same manner as a conventional controller (1). Additionally, the controller of the invention (10) may comprise the same controls (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) as a conventional controller (1). The controller of the present invention (10) is advantageous as it additionally comprises two additional controls (11A, 11B, 11C, 11D) located on the rear of the controller (10) in a position to be operated by the middle fingers of a user (12). The additional controllers (11A, 11B, 11C, 11D) may be paddle levers and may replicate the functions of one or more of the controls (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) located on the front or top of the controller (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ironburg Inventions Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Burgess, Duncan Ironmonger
  • Patent number: 11504627
    Abstract: A server executes various controls for teams, each of which has at least one player, to have a matchup with each other, and manages each team, including change of a team during the game, record of each team, players and a number of players belonging to each team, and duration of a team. Further, the server determines, during the matchup game, whether a team item acquisition condition is satisfied based on the record of each player who belongs to the team and the like, and allows the team that satisfies the team item acquisition condition to acquire a team item which provides an advantageous effect in the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Oe, Tetsuro Shimizu, Yosuke Katsuki
  • Patent number: 11501599
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine and method having independently operable game display windows comprising independent displays and controls to play a game individually or as a group game between or among players. The electronic gaming machine comprises a video display and a game controller configured to display on the video display a first set of reels and a second set of reels, control the video display to initially synchronously spin pairs of first and second reels to a stop, and, upon a potential trigger condition being met, control the video display to asynchronously spin pairs of first and second reels to a stop. The game controller is further configured to control the video display to move a special symbol on the video display in a direction opposite to an evaluation direction towards an evaluated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Oliver Crispino
  • Patent number: 11501600
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for overlappingly providing each of a first game utilizing a set of mechanical reels and a second game utilizing a video display device. In these embodiments, upon a displayed event associated with one or more of the mechanical reels of the first game, the gaming system triggers one or more features of the second game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas Humphrey, William J. Bussick
  • Patent number: 11495095
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for a skill-based reel game that includes a sequence of letters and a game grid size are described. During a game session, a randomly selected plurality of letters are associated with a plurality of letter display elements. A game processor determines whether any of the plurality of letter display elements form a winning sequence of letter display elements that spell a word stored in a word database. The player then identifies the winning sequence with player input, such as selecting the sequence of letter display elements on a touchscreen. When the player input is received by the game processor within a preset time period, the player is awarded a game session prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Gregory J. Cohen
  • Patent number: 11478713
    Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for automated detection of emergent behaviors in interactive agents of an interactive environment. The disclosed system represents an artificial intelligence based entity that utilizes a trained machine-learning-based clustering algorithm to group users together based on similarities in behavior. The clusters are processed based on a determination of the type of activity of the clustered users. In order to identify new categories of behavior and to label those new categories, a separate cluster analysis is performed using interaction data obtained at a subsequent time. The additional cluster analysis determines any change in behavior between the clustered sets and/or change in the number of users in a cluster. The identification of emergent user behavior enables the subject system to treat users differently based on their in-game behavior and to adapt in near real-time to changes in their behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Bradley Dills
  • Patent number: 11471765
    Abstract: A computer simulation controller such as a PlayStation® Dual Shock® computer game controller has a touchpad to input text with a “palm graffiti” or “unistrokes” type alphabet. As each letter is drawn, it is saved as a file such as a postscript file which is basically a story of the cursor coordinates (started at (1,1) move to (1,3) etc. From there, plural (e.g., fifteen (15)) coordinates (even distribution) are sampled across the set of coordinates to obtain the cardinal directions (N, NE, E, etc.) between them, which are encoded for data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Sony interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sherry, Steven Osman
  • Patent number: 11458394
    Abstract: A system and method for improved targeting of a long-range object in a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game is provided. Initially, a touch gesture is received at a tool selection area of a dynamic image provided by the MOBA game, enabling a user to select a tool (e.g., an ability, a virtual weapon, a spell, or the like) to target an object within the virtual world. Next, a second touch gesture is received at a mini-map of the virtual world causing the dynamic image to be automatically adjusted from a perspective corresponding to a character controlled by the user to a perspective representing the location selected within the mini-map. Finally, a third touch gesture is received at a targeting tool providing a target range of the selected tool within the adjusted dynamic image and the user can more precisely and accurately target the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Riot Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Longqiang Zhang, Alexander Nixon Huang, Kam-Wing Fung