Patents Examined by Ronald Laneau
  • Patent number: 11577153
    Abstract: A system and method for providing instant games in both physical scratch-off and virtual forms wherein at least a portion of the winning value of the instant game is determined by a plurality of planar layers with the concordance of the planar layers determining value enhancements. The distribution and composition of the concordance of the plurality of planar layers is configured to ensure compliance with a predetermined prize outcome prize fund.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: IGT Global Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Lucci, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr., Jeffrey Schertzer
  • Patent number: 11574214
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, training a decision scoring model for an e-sport based on historical data for the e-sport. In various embodiments, the decision scoring model may be trained based on the historical data and on metadata associated with the e-sport. Some embodiments can include identifying a plurality of candidate in-game decision sequences based on decision parameters for a gameplay decision of an ongoing gaming session and a gaming session history for the ongoing gaming session. Various embodiments can include applying the decision scoring model to rank the plurality of candidate in-game decision sequences. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Subhabrata Majumdar, Rajat Malik
  • Patent number: 11574523
    Abstract: Gaming devices, and methods for operating them, are provided that may display an attract mode display that includes one or more bonus markers and a plurality of denomination markers. One of the denomination markers may be highlighted, and a bonus prize associated with a bonus marker and the currently highlighted denomination marker may be determined and displayed in a region of the display associated with that bonus marker. The display may be controlled to display a denomination transition in which the highlighted denomination marker reverts to a non-highlighted representation and the next denomination marker is highlighted. In conjunction therewith, a bonus transition may be displayed in which the bonus prize displayed in association with at least one bonus marker is changed to a bonus prize associated with both that bonus marker and the newly highlighted denomination marker. Such operations may be repeated one or more times, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Marc Mayo, Claire Mileto, Lauren Chapple, Geoffrey Richardson
  • Patent number: 11568716
    Abstract: A game method and system involving distributing a plurality of cards to participating players, receiving player selections to divide the cards into a plurality of final hands with each final hand being associated by the player with a preset designation, comparing the ranks of the final hands to determine a point total for each player and awarding an additional amount of points to each player having the highest ranked hand of any player for each of the preset designations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Steven Klinghoffer, Neil Monastersky
  • Patent number: 11562626
    Abstract: A system and method provide automated guild-dependent variation of in-game capabilities available to player in an computer-implemented game. An in-game capability is made available to the player in inter-guild competitive gameplay, for example comprising an object-specific ability associated with the game object, such as a collectible card. A value for a variable attribute of the in-game capability is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on one or more guild metrics for an associated guild of which the player is a member. The one or more guild metrics may include guild size and activity levels of guild members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Reid Tinsman, Michael J. Engle
  • Patent number: 11554313
    Abstract: A controller is configured to obtain first image data from a camera associated with a ticket processing apparatus; transmit the first image data to an application server; receive, from the application server, a dispense command for the ticket processing apparatus; cause the ticket processing apparatus to dispense, based on the dispense command, a ticket having a scratching area; receive a user-provided scratching command from the application server; and cause a robotic scratching device to scratch, or remove an opaque substance from, the scratching area of the ticket in accordance with the user-provided scratching command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: PAYRANGE INC.
    Inventors: Paresh K. Patel, Michael Kitchen
  • Patent number: 11554314
    Abstract: A controller is configured to obtain, from a first camera associated with a ticket machine, a first image stream; transmit the first image stream to an application server; receive, from the application server, a first command for the ticket machine; cause the ticket machine to provide, based on the first command, a ticket having a scratching area; receive a user-provided scratching command from the application server; and cause a robotic scratching device to scratch the scratching area in accordance with the scratching command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: PAYRANGE INC.
    Inventors: Paresh K. Patel, Michael Kitchen
  • Patent number: 11557171
    Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for peer-to-peer wagering includes selecting a wagering game and wager on the game, present a list of identified users, enable the user to select one, transmit terms of the wager, receive payment from the user, determine if the selected identified user agreed to terms of the wager or made a counterwager, transmit the terms of the wager to a third identified party if the selected identified user does not agree, determine if the third identified party agreed to the terms of the wager or made a counterwager, receive payment from the selected identified user or the third identified party, link an agreed wagering activity of the user and either the selected identified user or the third identified party, automatically place the wager on the game, and settle payment of the wager after the game occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kutt, Inc.
    Inventor: Simeon Harmon
  • Patent number: 11547928
    Abstract: A controller is configured to obtain first image data from a camera associated with a ticket processing apparatus; transmit the first image data to an application server; receive, from the application server, a dispense command for the ticket processing apparatus; cause the ticket processing apparatus to dispense, based on the dispense command, a ticket having a scratching area; receive a user-provided scratching command from the application server; and cause a robotic scratching device to scratch, or remove an opaque substance from, the scratching area of the ticket in accordance with the user-provided scratching command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: PAYRANGE INC.
    Inventors: Paresh K. Patel, Michael Kitchen
  • Patent number: 11545005
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a game of chance. A gaming system includes one or more game displays, a user interface, at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance and memory in communication with the at least one processor. The game of chance including a two-part game wherein at least one part of the two-part games includes a video reel game and includes the generation of random sub-events wherein two or more of the random sub-events are required to trigger another game part including a bonus game, a secondary game, a free game round, a “hold and spin” round, or other game event. The plurality of sub-events required to trigger another game part serve to reduce the frequency of significant player “cold streaks” during game play. The game of chance including an option for players to advance/skip RNG outcomes thereby changing future game outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric Colvin
  • Patent number: 11538305
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a wagering game at a gaming table which includes receiving wagers, forming a group of community cards from a unique set of randomly-ordered physical playing cards or simulation thereof, and determining the outcome of wagers received wherein at least one wager is determined by comparing a first card of the group of community cards with a first wager winning criteria and at least one wager is determined by comparing the group of community cards including the first card with a second wager winning criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventor: Russell Hamilton
  • Patent number: 11534690
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of this specification, there is disclosed a computer implemented method comprising: training, based on an initial behavior goal and using reinforcement-learning, a reinforcement-learning model for controlling behavior of a non-playable character in a computer game environment; converting the trained reinforcement-learning model into a behavior tree model for controlling behavior of the non-playable character; editing, based on a user input, the behavior tree model to generate an updated behavior tree model for controlling behavior of the non-playable character; and outputting a final model for controlling non-player character behavior for use in the computer game environment, wherein the model for controlling non-player character behavior is based at least in part on the updated behavior tree model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Meng Wu, Harold Chaput, Navid Aghdaie, Kazi Zaman, Yunqi Zhao, Qilian Yu
  • Patent number: 11521463
    Abstract: Systems and methods that enable a player to place a wager on a historical horse race, wherein if the wager is determined to be a winning wager, a win amount for the winning wager is randomly selected from a pool of win amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, Dwayne Nelson
  • Patent number: 11517793
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a server processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the server processor with time stamps. The server processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SPORTSMEDIA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gerard J. Hall
  • Patent number: 11521457
    Abstract: A networked computer system for use in a casino property is described herein. The networked computer system includes a near field communication (NFC) reader coupled to a gaming device and a player tracking server. The player tracking server is programmed to receive an NFC signal including a user ID, access a plurality of user account records and select a matching user account record having a corresponding user ID matching the received user ID, retrieve account information included in the matching user account record, and display the account information on the gaming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Sepich, Thomas E. Soukup, Jeffrey George
  • Patent number: 11517825
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for autonomic cloud to edge compute allocations in a sports fantasy league trade transaction. The computer implemented method includes, in one embodiment, calculating, based on an expected return associated with each player on each of a plurality of teams in a fantasy sports league, a valuation for each player. An embodiment includes determining a positional need for each of the plurality of teams in the fantasy sports league, and determining, based on the valuation for each player and the positional need for each team, one or more players to include in a trade with another team of the plurality of teams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Sai Krishna Reddy Gudimetla, Micah Forster, Corey Shelton
  • Patent number: 11504612
    Abstract: A video game controller can include a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, multiple control inputs (e.g., thumbsticks, directional pads, buttons), and a face plate removably coupleable to the body over the top surface so that the plurality of control inputs extend through the face plate. One or more of the multiple control inputs are removable and replaceable without the use of tools by decoupling the face plate from the body and decoupling the control input from the body without disassembling the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
    Inventors: Bradley M. Strahle, Yannik Wiggemans
  • Patent number: 11504617
    Abstract: A game-streaming service of a service provider network is configured to assign virtual machine (VM) instances to game streaming requests using a value-based approach. In order to assign a VM instance to a game streaming request for streaming a game to a client device of a player associated with the game streaming request, the game-streaming service may determine one or more attributes of the game streaming request, such as player attributes and/or game attributes. The game-streaming service may also determine available VM instances allocated to a subscriber associated with the game streaming request, which may be located across disparate geographical regions. A value(s) may be determined based on the attributes of the game streaming request, and the value(s) may be used to select one of the available VM instances for streaming the game as part of a corresponding game session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Pare, Joseph Richard Thompson, Bruce Erwin Brown, Alexander Lambertus Eusman, Brian J Schuster, Christopher Byskal
  • Patent number: 11509968
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a graphical user interface in a live-game environment are disclosed. The systems and methods comprise obtaining a signal indicative of an output of a Hardware Random Number Generator (HRNG). The output of the HRNG comprising a symbol (e.g. an integer) within a predefined set comprising a plurality M of unique symbols (e.g. 1-75). Further comprising providing a graphical user interface on a display of a remote electronic device, where the graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation having a live video stream (or video feed) of at least the output of the HRNG, and a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element defining or embodying a virtual card. Further comprising identifying the symbol of the output of the HRNG, determining a virtual card score for each virtual card of the plurality of virtual cards based on the identified symbol, and updating the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Evolution Malta Limited
    Inventors: Ivan Petrov, Anton Stepanov, Ineta Bucena
  • Patent number: 11498002
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for training a model and improving game performance using the model. The disclosed techniques comprise obtaining a plurality of sets of game data from a plurality of terminal devices, the plurality of sets of game data being stored in a plurality of segment replay buffers; sampling the plurality of sets of game data based on a predetermined priority and obtaining a sampling result; inputting the sampling result into a loss function and training a model by using a calculation result of the loss function; and determining a quality (Q) value of each action performed by a virtual object in a game run on a terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices by using the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI BILBILI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sijia Xu, Renjie Hu, Yang Liu, Huyang Sun