Patents Examined by Jeffrey Wong
  • Patent number: 8382568
    Abstract: A variation of casino blackjack. The player can have the option to split any two cards whether they are identical or not. The player can also double down and receive a double down card, and if the player does not like his or her double down card, then the player can discard the double down card and receive a second double down card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Geoff Hall
  • Patent number: 8376823
    Abstract: A plurality of players participate in a primary video poker game. Anytime a player is dealt a natural Three-of-a-Kind, the player's on screen counter will be incremented by one unit. Whenever any player achieves an on screen counter that has reached three units (meaning that player has experienced three dealt Three-of-a-Kinds), then the bonus round occurs, which is three separate stud poker hands. The player who achieved the three Three-of-a-Kinds that triggered the bonus round plays all three of the bonus round hands. Any other player who has a counter of two when the bonus round is triggered, gets two of the bonus round hands, Hand One and Hand Two. Any other player who has a counter of one when the bonus round is triggered, gets one of the bonus round hands, Hand One. Any player whose counter is still at zero does not play in that bonus round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ernest Moody Revocable Trust
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Maureen Wood
  • Patent number: 8371917
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a variation of a blackjack game. If the dealer's up-card is of a predetermined card, then the dealer will automatically reveal the dealer's hole card, thereby providing the player with additional information. If the player's initial hand comprises a predetermined hand or hands, then the player can earn a bonus which can be multiplied based on a multiplier associated with the dealer's up-card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Geoff Hall
  • Patent number: 8360836
    Abstract: In a gaming device, an input receiving unit receives an instruction input to specify a position where a moving object is to be arranged. The moving object is movable in a predetermined pathway. A memory unit stores, for each of a plurality of timings, a timing and a position where the moving object is to be placed at that timing in association with each other. For each of the plurality of timings, a sound outputting unit determines whether a position stored in the memory unit in association with a timing matches a position specified by a latest instruction input received by the input receiving unit. When the positions match, the sound outputting unit outputs a sound associated with the matching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Takehiro
  • Patent number: 8360837
    Abstract: Embodiments for a system and method for establishing a plurality of MMA fantasy leagues to a plurality of participants utilizing an automated web-based platform are disclosed. In each embodiment, participants register into the web-based platform in order to create or join a fantasy league organized to play an MMA fantasy fighter game in accordance with game rules, including scoring metrics based on the outcomes of real-world MMA fight events; holding period, transactional (add/drop), or fight quantity restrictions; a predefined course of time; and a predefined method of victory. Participants can draft fighters from real-world MMA fighters to create fantasy teams. Depending on embodiment, league winners may be determined by total points scored throughout the season or just during a final playoff period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Qais Jamal Sediq
  • Patent number: 8342927
    Abstract: A method for conducting a community wagering game on one or more gaming devices comprises receiving a first wager from a first player and determining a first modifier associated with the first player based upon play of a first base game. The method further comprises triggering and displaying a community gaming event comprising a competition and determining a finishing order of a plurality of participants in the competition, the plurality of participants including at least first and second participants. The method further comprises associating the first player with the first participant, determining a first prize value for the first participant, the first prize value based upon the finishing order, and awarding the first player a first award comprising the first prize value as modified by the first modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Peter W. Flemming, Jeremy M. Hornik
  • Patent number: 8337289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming and/or entertainment device having a plurality of wager fields which can be covered individually or group-wise by a wager of a player, as well as having a plurality of winning fields of which one or more can be selected by means of a winnings determination means. Bet display means are provided at the winning fields for marking the winning fields which produce a win according to the bets made, with a detection apparatus being associated with the wager fields for the detection of the wager fields respectively covered by a bet and with a control apparatus being provided for the control of the bet display means at the winning fields in dependence on the wager fields covered by bets and detected by the detection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Novomatic AG
    Inventor: Oliver Bartosik
  • Patent number: 8317607
    Abstract: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and an authentication module. The authentication module is operable to authenticate one or more used partitions of a non-volatile storage volume using a first authentication method and to authenticate one or more unused sections of the nonvolatile storage volume using a second authentication method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Luis Shimabukuro, Anussorn Andy Veradej, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 8317609
    Abstract: A method and system for verifying the continued presence of the same player at a gaming machine is provided. The system comprises a device for continuously obtaining verification data samples, wherein each verification data sample relates to one or more physical features of a first player. A subsequently obtained verification data sample is analyzed to determine whether it is substantially similar to a previously obtained verification data sample. If the subsequent verification data sample is substantially similar to the previously obtained verification data sample, then the system determines that the first player continues to be the same player present at the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Morrow
  • Patent number: 8308541
    Abstract: A gaming machine for a betting card game including a main card game and an auxiliary card game and a method of controlling the same, including: by a controller, accepting a bet of a first wager for participation in the main card game; accepting a bet of a second wager as an option for participation in the auxiliary card game; determining an outcome of the main card game in accordance with a game rule for the main card game on a basis of at least two cards being displayed and disclosed for the main card game after termination of acceptance of a bet of the first wager; and determining an outcome of the auxiliary card game in accordance with a game rule for the auxiliary card game on a basis of first and second cards being displayed for the main card game after termination of acceptance of a bet of the second wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroki Munakata
  • Patent number: 8303395
    Abstract: A gaming machine has display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means An underlying game is played in which one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets. Each set containing a plurality of prize outcomes, from which prize sets a prize is to be drawn and awarded to the player, typically by a random process. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected by the player from the two or more different prize sets. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin or simulate spinning before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome won by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Edgar Pau, Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 8282499
    Abstract: A method, system and golf ball are provided to determine the deceleration of a golf ball and, in turn, the speed of a green. The system may include a golf ball and an offboard display device. The golf ball may include a golf ball body, a motion sensor disposed within the golf ball body to measure acceleration of the golf ball along each of three mutually perpendicular axes, and a transmitter disposed within the golf ball body to transmit data representative of deceleration. The display device may include a receiver to receive data representative of the deceleration of the golf ball from transmitter and a display to provide a representation of the deceleration of the golf ball. At least one of the golf ball and the display device may include a processor to determine deceleration of the golf ball based upon the acceleration measured by the motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: David B. Rankin
  • Patent number: 8282490
    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: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8282482
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for virtual martial arts sparring using a network. The system includes a user terminal, a network server, data management means, and a network administrator terminal. The user terminal accesses the Internet to exchange user information with a network server, receives sparring partner information to retrieve and select a discipline, a grade, an area and sex-specific sparring conditions, receive sparring progress information according to the selected sparring condition, and perform a sparring function. The network server includes user information management means, sparring partner information management means, sparring progress information management means, image information management means. The data management means includes a user information database (DB), a sparring partner information DB, a sparring progress information DB, and an image information DB, and inputs and outputs the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Sang Bum Yun
  • Patent number: 8282477
    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: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjan Dasgupta, Vernon W. Hamlin, Mark J. Saletnik
  • Patent number: 8282481
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for virtual martial arts training using a network. The system includes a user terminal, a network server, a data management unit, and a network administrator terminal. The user terminal exchanges user information with a network server, selects a training discipline and grade or an examination discipline and grade, and transmits a difference value and a correction value together with a user motion image. The network server includes user information management means, training information management means, examination information management means, examination and determination management means, image information management means, and communication means. The data management means includes a user information database (DB), a training information DB, an examination information DB, an examination and determination DB, and an image information DB, and inputs and outputs the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Sang Bum Yun
  • Patent number: 8251804
    Abstract: A linked progressive wagering system, comprises a first progressive wagering subsystem comprising X jackpots, each of the X jackpots displayed on a first meter. The system further comprises a second progressive wagering subsystem having Y jackpots, each of the Y jackpots displayed on a second meter. The system further comprises at least one wager input device, a progressive pool, and at least one controller. The at least one controller is operative to (i) receive a signal from the at least one wager input device of receipt of a first wager on the first progressive wagering subsystem, (ii) generate an increment, the increment comprising a portion of the first wager, (iii) transfer the increment into the progressive pool, (iv) add a first increase equal to the increment to the X jackpots, and (v) add a second increase equal to the increment to the Y jackpots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8251818
    Abstract: A reflex training system operates on a computer or other processing system, having hand and foot controls for response to stimuli. The use of a computer allows the system to be portable and used in a variety of locations. The system is highly configurable and can be used for training for individuals having different needs and at different levels. The configurability relates to the types of stimuli presented to the user, the types of responses required by the user, and the characteristics of different levels. The system provides a variety of reports relating to performance so that progress can be reviewed. The system can be operated on-line to create a community of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Reflex L.L.C.
    Inventors: Todd Dunn, Gopinath Venktatramanan
  • Patent number: 8241912
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a primary display that displays a randomly selected outcome. The gaming system includes a multi-touch input system having a multi-touch sensing device, a memory, and a local controller. The multi-touch sensing device includes an array of input sensors that detect a multi-point gesture. Each sensor detects a touch input made by a player of the wagering game. The memory includes gesture classification codes each representing a distinct combination of characteristics relating to the gesture. The local controller receives data indicative of at least two of the characteristics related to the multi-point gesture and determines whether the data corresponds to any of the gesture classification codes. A main controller is coupled to the local controller to receive the gesture classification code responsive to the local controller determining that the data corresponds to a gesture classification code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy C. Loose
  • Patent number: 8231467
    Abstract: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio module. The audio module is operable selectively reduce the information content of a digital audio signal based on available audio resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Radek