Patents Examined by Kang Hu
  • Patent number: 10796523
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gaming device and an electronic device interface. The gaming device includes a housing having an least one outer surface. The electronic device interface is removably-secured to the at least one outer surface of the housing. The electronic device interface includes connection hardware directly connected to an external power source. The connection hardware is fixedly-disposed within a cavity of an electronic device port of the electronic device interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Perfected Player Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Brian Eby, Hugh Flack, Anthony Williams, Adam Suliman
  • Patent number: 10769890
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a game of chance operable upon a wager by a player includes a plurality of reels associated with the game of chance. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of reel positions to generate a symbol thereon. The gaming machine also includes a display comprising a defined plurality of positions to present a symbol thereon for each of the plurality of reels. The gaming machine further includes a processor programmed to generate a spin of the plurality of reels, resulting in a play area. The processor is also programmed to identify a splitting symbol in a first position on the play area, thereby activating the splitting symbol. The processor is further programmed to determine a second position on the play area that includes a splitting symbol as a result of the spin, and to display an additional splitting symbol in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VIDEO GAMING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lyndsay Nelson, Ryan Cuddy, David Stoveld
  • Patent number: 10755529
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a multi-hand video poker game in which the hands are displayed as an arrangement. One or more modifiers are applied to at least one row or column of the arrangement. All the hands are evaluated against one or more paytables and awards are determined. The awards for the hands that have applied modifiers are modified based on the respective modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bradford Brown, Wendy O'Steen-Wilson, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Gerardo Marquez, James M. Cole, David Howe
  • Patent number: 10751598
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods, computer-readable media and article of manufacture related to measuring, analyzing, and sharing golf swing and ball motion characteristics are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Roger J. Cottam, Paul D. Wood, Erik M. Henrikson, Alex J. Hope
  • Patent number: 10741024
    Abstract: A gaming system implements a method of gaming. The gaming system includes one or more gaming devices configured to enable a player to place a wager for play of a wagering game, and each gaming device includes a player tracking/marketing module (PTM). A plurality of avatars are selectable by a player, and after receiving one or more inputs from the player relating to the avatars selected and credit allocation for each selected avatar, one is designated as the active avatar for game play. The system receives, via a credit input mechanism, a credit wager to initiate play of a wagering game, and in response to a user input triggering game play via the gaming device, the PTM records credit wagered for game play against the active avatar. Moreover, in response to a winning outcome occurring in a game outcome for the triggered game play, the PTM records any award for the game outcome against one or more avatars in accordance with allocation criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Nicholas Bennett
  • Patent number: 10741006
    Abstract: An augmented reality method for providing player action recommendations in real time includes generating a live video signal of a scene associated with a field of view of a user, wherein the scene comprises at least one gaming element associated with a game having a plurality of game rules. The method further includes determining, based on the live video signal, at least one value for each gaming element of the at least one gaming element in real time. The method further includes determining, based on the at least one gaming value and at least one of the plurality of rules, a player action recommendation in real time. The method further includes displaying an indication of the player action recommendation to the user in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael Russ, Lukas Angermayer, Gerhard Pichler, Stefan Koller, Elisabeth Kiss, Caprice Mitterhoefer, Martin Lasser, Julia Ines Lerchbaumer, Petra Wagner
  • Patent number: 10737174
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes a display having a display surface configured to provide stereoscopic 3D viewing of at least a portion of the game. The portion of the game includes a 3D interface element. The EGM further includes a locating sensor that generates an electronic signal based on a player's location in a sensing space. The EGM includes an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic field. At least a portion of the ultrasonic field is located in the sensing space. The EGM also includes one or more processors configured to: identify a location of one or more player features based on the electrical signal from the locating sensor; determine that the location of the player features is associated with the 3D interface element; and control one or more of the ultrasonic emitters based on the identified location to provide tactile feedback to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: IGT Canada Solutions ULC
    Inventors: Fayez Idris, David Froy
  • Patent number: 10733848
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a wagering game with a bonus card feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Ernest W. Moody
  • Patent number: 10729973
    Abstract: Sensor parameters in a remote game peripheral are dynamically. The remote game peripheral may contain one or more sensors that measure the motion of the remote game peripheral via at least one sensor. This information is communicated to a game server. The game server then determines if the sensor sensitivity setting is appropriate for the expected motion of the remote game peripheral at that point in the game. The game server may, at any time during game play, transmit a sensor sensitivity adjustment to adjust the sensor sensitivity level setting to one that is likely to capture the motion of the game peripheral with minimal loss of data. The dynamic adjustment of the sensitivity level may also be used to provide corrective feedback to a game player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Eric P. Filer, Loren Douglas Reas, Vasco Rubio, Dennis W. Tom
  • Patent number: 10733832
    Abstract: A gaming machine having a display to display symbols at a plurality of display positions and a plurality of prize identifiers. The gaming machine also includes a game controller to cause a display to display a plurality of symbols at the display positions and visually moves a number of a plurality of prize identifiers at a first speed. If a trigger condition occurs with the displayed symbols, the game controller selects a prize identifier of the prize identifiers to be upgraded while visually moving the selected prize identifier being upgraded at a second speed onto the display. The game controller completes the upgrading on the display while the selected prize identifier is being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Liam Sanders, Matthew Chan, Amy Batsiokis
  • Patent number: 10709963
    Abstract: A game system comprises a game progress control unit which allows a plurality of games to progress, a win and loss history managing unit which manages a win and loss history of each of the plurality of games, and an image generating unit which generates a game image comprising a win and loss history image representing the win and loss history. The win and loss history managing unit determines whether the win and loss history meets a predetermined highlight condition, and allows highlighting to be performed on the win and loss history image corresponding to the win and loss history determined to meet the highlight condition. This allows intuitive recognition of any of a plurality of games that has enhanced expectation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SEGA SAMMY CREATION INC.
    Inventors: Yuichi Takasaki, Takashi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10706689
    Abstract: A gaming system including a plurality of concurrent or overlapping game plays. Each concurrent or overlapping game play is associated with or otherwise configured to activate one or more symbol generators, such as one or more wheels. Following a determination of which of the games to concurrently or overlappingly play, the gaming system activates each symbol generator associated with each concurrent or overlapping game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: John H. Zielinski, Erick Ching, Stephanie A. Sur, Lin Fengxing, Boris Hallerbach
  • Patent number: 10699533
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller generates a skill event associated with the skill-based wagering game and randomly selects a skill event record associated with the skill event from a database. The controller receives a player's selection input from a user input device in response to the displayed skill event, determines a player skill level value based on the received player's selection, determines an award value included in the selected skill event record based on the player skill level value; and adjusts the credit balance based on the determined award value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
  • Patent number: 10675531
    Abstract: A mechanism for refilling an electronic game board after game elements of different game types, for example those referred to as ‘clickers’ or ‘linkers,’ have been removed through play. In these games, a player must identify a group of matching game elements on a game board, select (or click on) a game element within the group. This causes the group of selecting matching game elements to be removed. A refill process is then executed to replenish the game board with new game elements. When competitors at remote devices are playing the same game board, there is a requirement to keep the game board aligned as play progresses. The present invention addresses the latency problem by enabling independent refill at respective computer devices which are engaged in a competitive game. The refill process may also be utilised on a single computer device where a single player is playing a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventor: Bjorn Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 10661190
    Abstract: An interactive play device, method and apparatus, is disclosed that includes means for generating a plurality of interactions, input control mechanisms, means for storing responses to interactions, and control means to select the next interaction based on memorized responses. This invention provides a new class of interactive play devices, which is founded on personalizing a play device so that its current functionality is based on how the player has interacted with it in prior playing sessions. The invention also discloses a doll device and a car device, which operate in a plurality of states that mimic human behavior. Further, the specification describes a game during which the player is challenged to transform a play device from an initial state to a desired state by providing appropriate responses to interactions initiated by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Interactive Play Devices LLC
    Inventor: Nabil N. Ghaly
  • Patent number: 10650644
    Abstract: A computer device and method for moving game components are provided. The computer device comprises: at least one data storage device to store game data for a game; a display device to display at least one three-dimensional game component of the game; at least one data capture device to collect player movement data, wherein the player movement data defines movement of a player of the game, wherein the data capture device includes a camera, a sensor or other data capture electronic hardware; and at least one processor configured to: 1) transform the player movement data into data defining game movement for the at least one game component; and 2) generating movement on the display device of the at least one game component using the data defining game movement; wherein the at least one data capture device is configured to collect player movement data associated with movement of the player's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: Brian Comeau, Vicky Leblanc
  • Patent number: 10646773
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and computer systems for gameplay operations related to a puzzle-based game. In one example, a method can include identifying a puzzle for use in a jigsaw puzzle application, the puzzle comprising a set of puzzle pieces forming a puzzle image. The puzzle is divided into a subset of chunks including mutually exclusive sets of interconnected pieces. The puzzle is presented to a player, where the presented puzzle illustrates the set of puzzle pieces and includes prompting the player to select a particular piece as a starting piece. In response, the chunk associated with the particular piece is identified. An area for solving the identified chunk associated with the particular piece is presented, where the area includes a solution area for solving the identified chunk and a player hand area for providing potential pieces for solving the identified chunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KingsIsle Entertainment Incorporated
    Inventors: Carl Henry McKevitt, Albert Gallatin McDaniel, V
  • Patent number: 10625150
    Abstract: Based on first data corresponding to at least one of a motion and an orientation of a first game controller and second data corresponding to at least one of a motion and an orientation of a second game controller, it is determined whether or not the first game controller and the second game controller are attached to an attachment, and based on the result of the determination, game processing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichi Obayashi, Hiroki Omosako
  • Patent number: 10617948
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system of collecting and refining information that may include requesting user inputs and recording user inputs to provide outputs of high purity and high value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Unonimous, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew N. Schwarck
  • Patent number: 10569162
    Abstract: A removable joystick for use with a video game controller includes a base shaft that is coupled to a joystick unit in the housing of the video game controller so that the proximal end of the base shaft extends to a location at or below an outer surface of the housing. A top shaft assembly is removably coupleable to the base shaft via a quick disconnect assembly. The top shaft assembly includes a top shaft with a proximal end that removably couples to a joystick ball, and a collar that is spring loaded and movably coupled to the top shaft and has a flange that extends outward from the outer surface of the collar. When the top shaft assembly is disconnected from the base shaft, the flange of the collar engages and retains a dust cover disposed over the collar to inhibit misplacement or loss of the dust cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
    Inventor: Bradley M. Strahle