Patents Examined by Jasson H. Yoo
  • Patent number: 11183012
    Abstract: A system including an image sensor that captures image data of a gaming table and a player area, and a tracking controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The tracking controller detects a player and a token set from the captured image data by applying an image neural network model to the image data to generate at least one key player data element for the player and at least one key token data element for the token set, generates a player data object representing physical characteristics of the player based on the key player data elements, links the player data object to a player identifier of the player, generates a token identifier based on the key token data elements, and links the token identifier to the player data object based on a physical relationship between the player and the token set indicated by the key data elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrin Eager, Bryan Kelly, Martin S. Lyons
  • Patent number: 11167213
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a handle portion, a tracking arc that is fixed to the controller body, and a hand retainer configured to physically bias a user's palm against an outside surface of the handle portion. A plurality of tracking sensors is disposed in the tracking arc, and are responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic system. An array of proximity sensors are spatially distributed around the outer surface of the handle portion, and are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outside surface of the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Eric James Hope, Philip Bryan, Scott Richard Britt, Scott Nietfeld, Claire Michelle Gottschalk, Jeremy Slocum
  • Patent number: 11161036
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a computer device a plurality of stimulus signals generated by one or more gaming accessory devices of a gamer controlling a gaming application, generating a plurality of gaming stimulations based on the plurality of stimulus signals, generating a plurality of gaming action results from the gaming application responsive to the plurality of gaming stimulations, combining the plurality of gaming action results and the plurality of gaming stimulations to generate a plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer, and transmitting to a social network the plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Kim Rom, Jeffrey Nicholas Mahlmeister, Jacob Wolff-Petersen, Bruce Hawver, Francis Arnold Grever, Tino Soelberg, Christopher John Nicolella
  • Patent number: 11107331
    Abstract: A gaming system has a plurality of reels. Each reel has a plurality of symbol locations. The gaming system is in communication with one or more processors. The gaming system involves the selection of a symbol location on a first reel of the plurality of reels. The selected symbol location is associated with a first type of symbol. At least one additional symbol location is added to the first reel at a location adjacent to the selected symbol location. Each additional symbol location is filled with the first type of symbol to create a first clump of the first type of symbols. Alternatively, the gaming system determines a number of additional symbol locations that are added to the first reel adjacent to the selected first symbol location. The gaming system then fills the additional symbol locations with symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Allon G. Englman, Michael W. Mastropietro
  • Patent number: 11045720
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus including a touch sensitive user interface and a processor. The processor is configured to detect a first contact at a first position on the user interface, determine a movement of the first contact from the first position and if the movement is less than a predetermined movement threshold, when a release of the first contact is detected, move a first object on the user interface from an initial position on the user interface to an area at or near the first position. If the movement is greater than the predetermined movement threshold to identify a second position corresponding to an area near an end point of the movement and when the release of the first contact is detected, execute an action on the second position from the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Supercell Oy
    Inventors: Touko Tahkokallio, Jonne Loikkanen, Jon Franzas
  • Patent number: 11045724
    Abstract: An inventive gaming machine is disclosed that includes a floating, mid-screen input deck positioned facing an active display region. The gaming machine positions the input deck relative to the active display region such that a part of the active display region extends below the input deck. The gaming machine implements a large active display region within a relatively compact envelope. The gaming machine further provides an ergonomically superior gaming machine configuration that enables a player to view the full extent of the active display region while requiring minimal head and eye movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert James Glenn, II, Christian Louis Castro, Paul Michael Lesley
  • Patent number: 11037404
    Abstract: Various aspects are described for utilizing achievement-based paytable unlock techniques in one or more hybrid wager-based gaming environments. Additionally, various embodiments of wager-based math models are described herein which may be used for conducting wager-related activities in one or more types of wager-based games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SYNERGY BLUE LLC
    Inventors: Georg Washington, Joe Serra, Michael Oberberger
  • Patent number: 11029134
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting hits to a target carrier and taking corrective measures and/or for detecting hits to a target carried by the target carrier may include one or more sensors or cameras disposed in conjunction with the target carrier. The target carrier may be provided with a processor in communication with a sensor, and the processor may also be in communication with a motor and/or actuator of the target carrier. The sensor may be able to sense hits to the target carrier and send a strike signal to the processor in response to such hits. The processor may then take corrective action, such as causing the target carrier to return to a home position, cause the target actuator to turn or edge the target, and/or send a signal to the range operators that the target carrier has been hit. The target carrier may also be provided with a camera for visualizing a target carried by the target carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Action Target Inc.
    Inventors: David Sharp, Todd Rupper
  • Patent number: 11011013
    Abstract: A physical system supports a method on a surface of a gaming table for reception of markers identifying placement of wagers on a series of sequential random outcomes. There are a series of distinct adjacent areas for receiving markers indicating wagers on the series of sequential random outcomes. Each distinct area has a surface area sufficient to accommodate a marker indicating wagers from a single player. Associated with each area is an indicator of a degree of progression through a sequence of random outcomes. The indicator of a degree of progression changing after each sequential outcome. Any markers present on a distinct area moving relative to a last indicator on which any marker was present to indicate a change in a degree of progression in the series of sequential random outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Robert McKee
  • Patent number: 11011019
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods which utilize one or more persistent supplemental awards to dynamically modify or otherwise alter one or more awards associated with one or more game outcomes of a paytable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas Humphrey, Benjamin Holsclaw, Kera Skillings
  • Patent number: 10987588
    Abstract: The present specification describes an assistive tool that facilitates the design of video games to achieve a true randomized, non-biased and neutral gaming environment that is bounded so that extremes of disincentives and excess incentives are avoided. In one embodiment, the tool allows for simulation of game environment and generates variables that enable reward acquisition by players. In one embodiment, the tool allows the game systems to be defined in such a way that an agent, such as an artificial player implemented by a computer program, can interact with the game environment. In one embodiment, the present tool uses generative models driven by data from previous versions of a game to define the behavior of such agents in simulated games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Parker E. Lowrey, Christian K. Widmer, Brian S. Feldstein, Stephen A. Lang
  • Patent number: 10987573
    Abstract: A method including receiving at least one of touch data or force data representing a touch input received at the controller, determining one or more model(s), generating image data using the one or more models, the image data representing at least a hand gesture corresponding to the touch input received at the controller, and transmitting the image data to a virtual reality (VR) environment for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Joe van den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 10991208
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines configured to conduct one or more games and a management computing device communicatively coupled to the gaming machines. The management computing device receives indication of a gaming session initiating at a first gaming machine of the gaming machines, identifies one or more gaming machines associated with the first gaming machine from the gaming machines, transmits a disable command to the one or more associated gaming machines that prevents the one or more gaming machines from initiating gaming sessions, and in response to determining that the gaming session at the first gaming machine has concluded, transmits an enable command to the one or more associated gaming machines that enables the one or more gaming machines to initiate gaming sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Dutt, Karthikeyan Elangovan, Muthukumaran Palanichamy
  • Patent number: 10974149
    Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for controlling movement in a video game. The method includes rotating a camera angle in a virtual world to change a viewpoint of a character. The method also includes populating a movement control interface with selections corresponding to points of interest in the virtual world in response to rotating the camera angle, the selections changing based on the viewpoint. The method also includes selecting a point of interest from the movement control interface by toggling a selection corresponding to the point of interest. The method also includes moving the character to the point of interest in the virtual world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Seropian, Scott Cameron, Timothy Michaels, Sean Michael Kearney, Jason T. Pecho, Justin Taber
  • Patent number: 10943430
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for registering a player account using third party user information include scanning, by a scanning device, an encoded identifier associated with a first server and transmitting a request to access a player account of the player to the first server based on the encoded identifier. In response to an indication that the player account does not exist, the user device causes a second request message to be transmitted to a second server operated by a third party provider to access a user account associated with the player. The second server transfers user information associated with the user account to the first server. The user device next transmits an account registration message, which includes an instruction to create a new player account associated with the player, to the first server. Based on creation of the new player account, the user device accesses the player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Erik Petersen, Kevin Higgins, Xiangyu Song
  • Patent number: 10940394
    Abstract: In an exemplary game device, a first communication game unit enables a first user to play a game with a second user via near field communication. A second communication game unit enables the first user to play a game with a third user via Internet communication. A display control unit displays a screen showing information on the second user, the first user having played a game with the second user using the first communication game unit, and information on the third user, the first user having played a game with the third user using the second communication game unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinpei Kiwada, Xizhou Xu
  • Patent number: 10933311
    Abstract: Method for generating collectible media content items based on location information starts with processor receiving location information from location sensor coupled to first client computing device. Processor causes a map interface to be displayed that includes avatar of first user at a location based on the location information and a subset of a plurality of collectible items associated with geographical coordinates. When the first client computing device is determined to be within predetermined distance from a selected collectible item, processor causes front facing camera view to be displayed on the first client computing device, causes lens corresponding to selected collectible item to be applied to the front facing camera view, and causes the image of the selected collectible item displayed on the front facing camera view to change. Lens includes image of the selected collectible item that is overlaid on front facing camera view. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Brody, Jill H. Cohen, Bryant Detwiller, Alexander Fung, Evan HK Lin, Walton Lin, Kimberly A. Phifer, Alexandre Valdetaro Porto
  • Patent number: 10926169
    Abstract: In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems, methods and devices for providing collaborative use of computing resources in videogame execution are provided. A list comprising an identity of a plurality of mobile games executable on a mobile computing device (e.g., smart phone, tablet) and controllable, on the mobile computing device, by one or more input devices for a primary computing device (e.g., personal computer, game console) may be surfaced. A selection of one of the plurality of mobile games may be received. The mobile computing device and the primary computing device may be paired. A video data stream of the selected game being executed on the mobile computing device may be received. The video data stream may be displayed on a display device associated with the primary computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Meir Ben Itay, Shrey Nitin Shah
  • Patent number: 10916086
    Abstract: A gaming system including a housing and a wheel assembly supported by the housing, the wheel assembly including a frame, a rotatable wheel supported by the frame, and a hub supported by the frame and positioned in a central opening defined by the rotatable wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Brien Edick
  • Patent number: 10908812
    Abstract: Content of an application is presented for display. A virtual controller module receives information relating to keyboard characters for controlling operation of the application. The virtual controller module presents, based on the received information, a first set of buttons for display, where the buttons are to control operation of the application, and where the buttons are mapped to corresponding ones of the keyboard characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: William Alexander Cheung, Tudor Coman, Matthew Nicholaos Staikos, Michael Thomas Winkler