Patents Examined by Jeffrey Wong
  • Patent number: 8905849
    Abstract: According to particular embodiments, virtual trading cards including virtual statistics or characteristics of a virtual, game-based representation of a real-world sports player or other character, are updated periodically to reflect changes in a player's real-world performance. Adjusting the virtual characteristics using real-world performance causes the characteristics of the sports player's virtual trading card to change in a virtual environment as does a corresponding player's video game performance. Characteristics of team members are variable based on characteristics of other team members and opposing team members or other competition factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Franklin Coppersmith, III, Andrew Thomas Busey, Jeffrey Michael Petry
  • Patent number: 8894494
    Abstract: A system for allowing a user to remotely access a game includes: a game console; a remote console client configured to receive a game control signal; and a remote console server. The remote console server includes an audio and video encoder configured to receive an audio output and a video output from the game console and to convert the audio output and the video output to a network packet. The remote console server also includes: a game controller emulation unit and a network interface configured to send and receive the network packet. The game controller emulation unit is configured to receive a game controller signal from the game console and to send the game controller signal to the remote console client and to receive a game controller input from the remote console client and send the game controller input to the game console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Elbo, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Anthony Walker, Oswald Anthony Becca
  • Patent number: 8882591
    Abstract: A game apparatus obtains a captured image from a camera, and repeatedly executes a recognition process on the obtained captured image for recognizing a predetermined object included in the captured image. The game apparatus repeatedly generates and displays a synthesized age obtained by synthesizing an image of a virtual object generated by using a process result of the recognition process with a captured image which is a subject of the recognition process. Here, if the recognition process fails, a captured image which is a subject of a recognition process which has succeeded before is synthesized with an image of a virtual object generated by using a process result of the recognition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Kawamoto, Shinji Kitahara
  • Patent number: 8882593
    Abstract: An exemplary game system and the like which do not impair ease of playing a game are provided. The exemplary game system displaying a scene including a predetermined object located in a virtual space includes: an object locating section configured to locate a polygon model as the object in the virtual space, the polygon model including a first portion and a second portion set to correspond to a surface which can be determined as a hidden surface in the first portion on the basis of a normal vector; a game processing section configured to perform game processing; a transparent processing section configured to increase transparency of the first portion of the object when a predetermined condition is met in the game processing; and a rendering processing section configured to render the first portion on the basis of the set transparency and to render a polygon of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8876598
    Abstract: System, methods and apparatus for presenting media in a wagering game machine are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an internal media request from a component of the wagering game machine and receiving an external data signal from outside the wagering game machine. In the embodiment, the method also includes preparing media based on the internal media request and the external data signal and presenting the media on media presentation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Loose, Wayne H. Rothschild
  • Patent number: 8870659
    Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for operating a gaming device of a casino gaming network. In at least one embodiment, the gaming device includes a tournament manager and a first meter. In at least one embodiment, the first meter is operable to: receive a first meter update request for changing meter state information and/or meter data associated with the first meter; determine whether at least one condition exists for denying the first meter update request; and/or prevent execution of the first meter update request in response to a determination that at least one condition exists for denying the first meter update request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Larry House, William Brosnan, Paul Neil Hunt, Robert Breckner, Warner Cockerille
  • Patent number: 8870664
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic gaming machine comprising at least one identification unit for a player, having a housing, a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a unique identifier of the identification unit, and at least one touch sensor, which causes the transmitter to transmit the identifier when the housing is touched; and an electronic gaming device for a multi-player game, comprising a touchscreen for controlling the game and a receiver for wirelessly communicating with the identification units of the players; wherein the gaming device comprises a correlator, which correlates a contact of the touchscreen with an identifier of an identification unit received by the receiver of the gaming device over time in order to assign the contact to said identification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Leczek, Michael Gantner, Robert Kostenzer
  • Patent number: 8851972
    Abstract: A gaming device having multiple interacting independently operated symbol generators, such as wheels. In one embodiment, each wheel includes a plurality of sections that are associated with a plurality of different outcomes which are displayed to a player. One or more of the wheels are activated, either sequentially or simultaneously and the results of the wheel activations influence one or more subsequent wheel activations. Upon a terminating event, an outcome based on the results from one or more spins of one or more of the wheels is provided to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Rodgers, Bayard S. Webb, Hans Elias, Zeke Brill
  • Patent number: 8845426
    Abstract: An example input processing system includes a controller device and an information processing device. The controller device transmits data representing an input position on a predetermined input surface and a detection result of an inertia sensor unit to the information processing device. The information processing device calculates an attitude of the controller device based on the detection result of the inertia sensor unit, and sets a predetermined surface in a virtual space so that an attitude of the predetermined surface changes in accordance with the attitude of the controller device. A first image representing an area in the virtual space including a position of the surface is displayed on a predetermined display device. The information processing device calculates, as a position in the virtual space, a position on the surface determined by the input position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Ohta, Kazuhiro Musa
  • Patent number: 8827807
    Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a hardware configuration in accordance with the detection of the presence or absence of hardware modules on a wagering game machine. Various services are selected base on the hardware configuration, where the service selected provides an interface to a wagering game. The services provide an abstraction of various functions provided by various hardware platforms upon which the wagering game may execute, and take into account differences in the platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjan Dasgupta, Vernon W. Hamlin, Mark J. Saletnik
  • Patent number: 8821281
    Abstract: Screen plane coordinates of a plane of a game display screen relative to a location of a game sensor are determined. A location of a user relative to the location of the game sensor is determined. An orientation of the user relative to the plane of the game display screen is calculated based upon the determined screen plane coordinates of the plane of the game display screen relative to the location of the game sensor and the determined location of the user relative to the location of the game sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Eberwein, Erik A. Kirk
  • Patent number: 8814690
    Abstract: A game machine (10) includes a card interface (11) configured so that a magnetic card (20) is detachably attached thereto, an element (12) to record a card ID generated on the basis of time information specifying the date and time when the magnetic card (20) is attached to the card interface (11) in a magnetic data recording area (22) provided in the magnetic card (20), and an element (14) to print an access code uniquely obtained by the calculation of a predetermined function based on the card ID in a printing area (21) of the magnetic card (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
    Inventors: Yusuke Shimizu, Hiroshi Masui, Toru Ikebuchi
  • Patent number: 8814645
    Abstract: Method and system for playing a poker game that comprises receiving a wager from a player for a hand. Cards a dealt from a deck of cards either in an entirely face-up or entirely face down position. The player progressively selects cards from one or more sets of selection cards. Any selection cards that are not selected are removed. After the hand is completed, a ranking for the player's hand is determined. The player is paid an amount based on the ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua Hanson
  • Patent number: 8814651
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a game in which symbols can be selected more than once. In one embodiment, the gaming system initiates a play of the game, displays a plurality of different symbols, and receives a selection of at least one of the symbols to form a player symbol set. The gaming system randomly selects a designated quantity of the symbols to form a gaming system symbol set. Each of the symbols can be selected more than once. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player symbol set with the gaming system symbol set, and provides any determined awards. If an additional award opportunity triggering event associated with the gaming system symbol set including a plurality of instances of a same one of the symbols occurs, the gaming system provides an additional award opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, James M. Cole, Bradford D. Brown, Ross D. Wenker, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Robert W. Ruymann
  • Patent number: 8771084
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a gaming and/or entertainment device having at least one screen which is adjustably arranged at a device panel. In this respect, the invention in particular relates to a multigame table having a plurality of player positions at which one respective screen is arranged at a table panel and/or desk panel. In accordance with the invention, the at least one screen is adjustable between a lowered position lowered into the device panel substantially without projecting over the device panel and an operating position protruding out of the device panel. The lowered position can in particular serve as an idle position in which the respective screen is so-to-say not in the way and a substantially planar device surface, in particular a table surface, can be provided. In the named lowered position, the screen can optionally be lowered beneath the device panel and the corresponding cut-out can be closed by a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Novomatic AG
    Inventor: Marek Gawel
  • Patent number: 8690679
    Abstract: A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Lee M. Amaitis, Joseph M. Asher, Robert F. Bahrampour, Darrin M. Mylet, Alan B. Wilkins, Howard W. Lutnick
  • Patent number: 8684843
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game and a controller. The controller is configured to base eligibility of the handheld gaming machine for a game-related feature at least upon a location of the handheld gaming machine and/or a proximity of the handheld gaming machine to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8662976
    Abstract: An exemplary game system and the like which do not impair ease of playing a game are provided. An exemplary game system for performing game processing includes: an operation processing section configured to control a player character in a virtual space on the basis of an operation of a player; a condition determination section configured to determine whether or not a positional relationship between the player character and a predetermined object meets a predetermined condition; and an adjacency processing section configured to perform a process which makes the player character less likely to be close to the object, on the basis of the determination of the condition determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Okamura
  • Patent number: 8651957
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an interactive gaming system is disclosed. At least one interactive social gaming community allows a plurality of users to engage in a wagering contest against a single entity. An initial amount of gaming units associated with an initial user investment is allocated to each user. A payout table is dynamically generated and includes at least one threshold amount of gaming units associated with rewards available to the user. A bet request signal received from a user is automatically reconciled with an outcome of at least one type of contest occurring during an active gaming period. A user account is updated by modifying an amount of gaming units in a user account based on a result of the at least one type of contest and determines if user has earned the reward associated with the at least one threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Paddy Power PLC
    Inventors: Justin Edward Goldman, Robert Daniel Shedd, Alan David deLevie, Jonathan Beatty, Simon Keating, Daire Manning, Catherine O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 8632406
    Abstract: A disclosed a player tracking unit provides a multimedia interface with a display and an interface to one or more sound projection devices and a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files for output on the multimedia interface. The player tracking unit may provide menus of audio and video programs, such as a menu for a musical jukebox or a menu for a video-on-demand service. Using a “TV-like” interface, a user may be able to select a program to output on the multimedia interface and control playback features of the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hedrick, Binh T. Nguyen, Mike Kinsley