Patents Examined by Damon Pierce
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Patent number: 9734481Abstract: The present application provides a system which determines, when the same data is read for a predetermined consecutive number of times from the chip placed in the bet area, that reading of the bet area is successful, while determines, when the same data is not read for a predetermined consecutive number of times, that reading of the bet area is unsuccessful, and terminates a reading process for the bet area when it is determined by the determination unit that reading of the bet area is successful, or performs a reading process for the bet area when it is determined by the determination unit that reading of the bet area is unsuccessful.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuki Emori, Shinsuke Yamaguchi, Toru Sugawara, Kouichi Matsumoto
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Patent number: 9724588Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed towards collecting and recording sensor data pertaining to physical contact experienced by players in a contact sport (e.g., football). The data can be collected and recorded through the use of one or more sensors worn by the player. In some cases, the sensor data can be associated with in-game video recordings of physical contact experienced by the players. Information about the physical contact can be displayed for users to view via a graphical user interface. Warnings may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: PROSPORTS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: John E. Cronin, Nick Reasner, Maxx Thomas Garrison, Demaurice Fitzgerald Smith, Ahmad E. Nassar
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Patent number: 9717981Abstract: Augmented reality and physical game techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an indication is received by a computing device of a location of a physical gaming piece of a game. An augmentation is computed based on the indication by the computing device to be displayed as part of the game. The augmentation is displayed by the computing device on a display device that is at least partially transparent such that a physical portion of the game is viewable through the display device concurrently with the augmentation.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Steven John Robbins, William J. Westerinen, Lisa M. Hanson, Sung Ho Son, Richard J. Wattles
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Patent number: 9713771Abstract: An example device includes a touchscreen and a processing system in communication with the touchscreen. The processing system is configured to perform operations including detecting a touch-on position on the touchscreen, setting a reference position based on the touch-on position, continuously detecting subsequent touch positions on the touchscreen after detecting the touch-on, and continuously performing operations based on one or both of a direction and a distance from the reference position to the subsequent touch positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keizo Ohta
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Patent number: 9715792Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for awarding gaming payouts in slot games are provided. Embodiments are directed to initiating a reelspin and moving at least one modifying symbol to a new symbol location. If a predetermined symbol appears in the new symbol location as a result of the reelspin, the predetermined symbol is replaced with the modifying symbol.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Inventors: Bradley Berman, Chad Shapiro, Ryan Strand, Sara Minor
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Patent number: 9711005Abstract: A gaming apparatus comprising a number of mobile gaming devices and gaming means to provide wagering games to players using the mobile gaming devices. The apparatus comprises at least one credit entering device for entering credit in association with the respective mobile devices, wherein the credit entering device has means for detecting the identity of a mobile device presented to it for crediting and means for receiving a credit amount to be associated with the presented mobile gaming device, and wherein the gaming means includes a memory for storing a respective credit amount in association with identifying data of each respective mobile gaming device.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: TCS Jon Huxley Europe LimitedInventor: Nicholas Richard Baker French
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Patent number: 9707476Abstract: A starting location for the mini-game is chosen in the legacy game state. A snapshot is generated of that location. Once the snapshot is taken, trigger events are identified. Triggers corresponding to the trigger events are identified. A mini-game script is generated using the snapshot and triggers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Brian Michael Christopher Watson, Victor Octav Suba Miura, Jacob P. Stine, Nicholas J. Cardell
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Patent number: 9697689Abstract: There is disclosed a gaming machine having a plurality of jackpot prizes associated with it, a player's eligibility to win one of the plurality of jackpot prizes being dependent upon an amount wagered. In a one aspect there is provided a gaming machine having a game control means arranged to play a game, a bet selecting arrangement for selecting one of a number of predetermined amounts to wager on the outcome of the game, each of said predetermined amounts to wager having at least one dedicated jackpot prize associated with it, a first display means configured to display the outcome of said game, wherein in the event that a predetermined winning event occurs said game includes the award of at least one dedicated jackpot prize associated with a respective selected predetermined amount wagered on the game.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Chi We Chim, William George Cormack
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Patent number: 9682322Abstract: A display unit that displays a player character and a plurality of types of panels in a tile manner as a game image, and an input unit that receives an input of selecting the same type of adjacent panels of the plurality of types of panels starting from the player character as a starting point, in each turn. An effect on the game is provided according to the type of the panels, the input of which has been received in the input unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: DENA CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshinori Suzuki, Makoto Yamaguchi, Masatoshi Inagawa
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Patent number: 9682317Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: TimePlay Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Ira Hussman, Jon Hayes Snoddy, John Andrew Race, Mark Rider
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Patent number: 9675880Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TimePlay Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Ira Hussman, Jon Hayes Snoddy, John Andrew Race, Mark Rider
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Patent number: 9675879Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TimePlay Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Ira Hussman, Jon Hayes Snoddy, John Andrew Race, Mark Rider
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Patent number: 9679439Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing and authenticating usage of features of gaming devices are presented. In accordance with some embodiments, the methods and apparatus may facilitate an offer engine for providing one or more offers to a user of the gaming device, wherein an offer comprises an offer for a payment to be made to the user in exchange for an action by the user, wherein the one or more offers are distinct from indications of awards the user may qualify for during play of a game playable via the gaming device. In one embodiment the methods and apparatus may provide for determining whether to adjust the first feature based on the measure of performance.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: INVENTOR HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Russell P. Sammon, Scott T. Friesen, Michael D. Downs, Steven M. Santisi
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Patent number: 9662570Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication mans for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: TimePlay Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Ira Hussman, Jon Hayes Snoddy, John Andrew Race, Mark Rider
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Patent number: 9656169Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying a graphical representation of a player type profile. A respective player type profile may be generated for each of a plurality of users of a virtual environment that characterizes each user by a predominant player type. Player types may be defined by the designers of the virtual environment. The player type profile may be generated by logging the actions performed by the user when connected to the virtual environment and then analyzing the actions to determine the best characterization for the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: John Holbrook Crocker, Bob Hickman, Allan D. Jones, Jr.
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Patent number: 9659440Abstract: A gaming device provides a single player poker game including one or more opportunities for forming player hands. In one embodiment, for a play of the poker game, a player places a wager on each of a plurality of player hands. The gaming device provides the player with one or more opportunities to fold one or more of the player hands and withdraw the wager associated with the folded hand. A number of community cards are dealt. The gaming device determines and provides any awards associated with a ranking of each of the remaining player hands according to a paytable.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul Baker Stroube, Steven Joseph Bazyl
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Patent number: 9652735Abstract: The present application provides a system which includes a registration unit which reads data from the chip located within the communication range at a first timing via the antenna, and registers the data in the database, an updating unit which reads data from the chip located within the communication range at a second timing which occurs later than the first timing via the antenna, and updates the database based on the data read, a determination unit which reads data from the chip located within the communication range at a third timing occurring later than the first timing via the antenna, and determines whether or not data of a chip other than the chip read is registered in the database, and a communication unit which, when it is determined by the determination unit that data of a chip other than the chip read is registered in the database, communicates individually with each chip other than the chip read.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuki Emori, Shinsuke Yamaguchi, Toru Sugawara, Kouichi Matsumoto
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Patent number: 9643083Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: TimePlay Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Ira Hussman, Jon Hayes Snoddy, John Andrew Race, Mark Rider
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Patent number: 9647869Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to providing a method and system for presenting users with the ability to host a virtual world especially one that is capable of being used in a game based environment for teaching and learning, and more specifically to improving ease of customization, enabling on-demand-usage and facilitating content sharing for hosting private virtual locations on virtualized servers specifically so that multiple discreet virtual worlds can be hosted (automatically and remotely), started or removed on one or more servers simultaneously and independently of each other without affecting the other hosts.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: PLAYWARE STUDIOS ASIA PTE LTDInventor: Siddharth Jain
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Patent number: 9636575Abstract: A mobile terminal, a control method for mobile terminal, and a program that make it possible to enjoy a game even in a situation in which only one hand can be used. A mobile terminal according to the invention is a mobile terminal used in a game. The mobile terminal according to the invention includes a detection unit configured to detect an orientation of the mobile terminal and a control unit configured to change over a manipulation mode of a game depending upon the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: NEILO INC.Inventor: Takeshi Hirai