Patents Examined by Paula A. D'Agostino
  • Patent number: 10607440
    Abstract: A gaming system for playing a modified version of a card game among a dealer and a plurality of players utilizing respective computer systems arranged in a client-server relationship, the gaming system includes at least one server system operable to play the card game as the dealer, the at least one server system comprising a processor, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for managing the one or more games, and a plurality of client computer systems operable by respective players, the plurality of client computer systems each comprising a display, a processor, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for receiving inputs from a respective player to generate game events and transmit game events over a computer network to the at least one server system, the network providing communication between the at least one server system and the plurality of client computer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Mark H. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 10589162
    Abstract: A sports ball for communicating to an external electronic device various parameters related to an impact with a sporting implement, such as a golf club. The sports ball comprises an outer resilient shell within that is contained a resilient core. An electronic circuit comprises at least one sensor, a transmitter, optionally a light-emitting diode, and a power source. The electronic circuit is cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core. The electronic circuit is adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter. The at least one sensor is taken from the group of sensors comprising: a GPS receiver, a multi-axis accelerometer, an orientation sensor, an altitude sensor, and a microphone. The transmitter may be an RFID chip that passively transfers data from the at least one sensor and a unique ID number of the sports ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Jason Koo
  • Patent number: 10282944
    Abstract: A marketing bonus system and method for use in one or more casino establishments for awarding a prize to a player who is a member of a loyalty program and has a player card in active use at an eligible electronic gaming machine. The marketing bonus system and method randomly selects a player for an award. It may be configured to offer multiple bonuses across the floor of a casino or other gaming establishment at any given time. Players are notified prior to a bonus being awarded so that they may insert their card into an electronic gaming machine on the casino floor in the area where the bonus is active and be eligible to win. Awards are offered to eligible players at electronic gaming machines such as slot machines and video poker machines, but may also be offered on other types of devices that are in active use such as general purpose computing devices connected to the system over a network such as the internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Umpqua Indian Development Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Michael Rader, Shawn R McDaniel
  • Patent number: 9734657
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes a display unit and has a display support structure that extends substantially vertically from a horizontal support base. The display unit includes a flat-panel display screen having a width (W) and a height (H) wherein W/H is at least 16/10 The display unit is rotatable about a horizontal axis located in a plane substantially parallel to the display screen wherein, a player's angle of viewing the display unit may be adjusted by vertical translation of the display unit on the display support structure, over a vertical range of motion, and by rotation of the display unit about the horizontal axis. A front face of the display structure presents, in a region proximate to the vertical range of motion, a concave side of a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William Wells, Chan Griswold
  • Patent number: 9329002
    Abstract: The present invention features a dart board comprising a digital target display ring (DTDR) surrounding a target area. The DTDR is operatively connected to a controller with a microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor is configured to (a) receive an input signal from an input device when the input device is actuated, and (b) generate an output signal to the DTDR for the DTDR to display a unique graphic according to pre-programmed commands for the actuated input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Krzewicki, David Allen Hopkins
  • Patent number: 9289677
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe used in the play of the casino table card game of blackjack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver M. Schubert, Attila Grauzer, Justin G. Downs, III, James V. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9135782
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine and a control method therefor, having a new entertainment characteristics, a slot machine 10 of the present invention, when a “BONUS” symbol 250 associated with a pick-up bonus game is selected, receives selection of any one of twenty little pig's noses 210 displayed. Then, a benefit associated with the selected little pig's nose 210 is awarded. When the benefit to be awarded is a “stick house” 218 which means “step-up”, a step-up occurs to the stick house stage and the expectation value for a payout is raised. Thus, when one little pig's nose 210 is selected out of the twenty little pig's noses 210 displayed in the stick house stage, the payout amount of the benefit associated with the little pig's nose 210 is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9039535
    Abstract: A dynamic competition tool varies the competition level that one or more competing users experience while working to reach a goal or objective. The dynamic competition tool receives performance information from each of a number of activity stations with which respective users may interact to achieve a goal. The dynamic competition tool commands a user interactive device within an activity station to vary the level of difficulty experienced by the user of the interactive device as that user progresses toward the goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Jensen Boss, Michele Palladino Brignull, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Anne R. Sand
  • Patent number: 8876606
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a digital identity or profile in a gaming console that communicates to a remote service. A “Gamer Profile” is created that serves as a building block for services and applications that aim to create a social community of gamers and grow relationships among players. In accordance with the present invention, the Gamer Profile is the entirety of information (e.g., metadata) related to a specific user. The Gamer Profile is developed from a set of services that collect and expose this information in a meaningful way to the community. Feedback information may be included that is provided by other users to further enhance the profile. The Gamer Profile also provides for personalization such that users can customize their gaming experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michal Bortnik, Scott Henson, Patrick W. O'Kelley, II, Johan Peter Hansen, Ling Tony Chen, Jerry A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8562422
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of bets, in which each bet defines a respective amounted wagered, a respective area, and a respective weather-related event. Data that represents the plurality of bets is displayed. An outcome of a weather-related event is determined and at least one winner is determined based on the bets and the outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventor: Howard W. Lutnick
  • Patent number: 8506379
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display, a game player input means and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller controls play of a game in which a winning game result causes a prize to be awarded to a game player. The game comprises an interactive sequence related to a tournament in which a representation of a first video-player of one team is displayed. An action of the first video-player to be executed is selected by the game player via the game player input means and the game controller selects an action to be performed by another video-player. Depending on an outcome resulting from the selected actions, an award is made to the game player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Scott Christopher Olive, Naomi Glasson, Brett Mezen
  • Patent number: RE43037
    Abstract: A gaming device of the type wherein a play generates one of multiple possible outcomes having reverse payout information. The gaming device comprises a memory device containing a first set of data correlating possible outcomes to a first set of payouts and a second set of data correlating possible outcomes to a second set of payouts second set of data correlates a majority of outcomes to positive payouts and the first set of data correlates a majority of outcomes to other than positive payouts. The gaming device also includes a payout selector indicating which of the first set of data and the second set of data the gaming device is to access. In an alternate embodiment, the gaming device includes a memory having only the second set of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Thomas M. Sparico