Patents Examined by Shahid Kamal
  • Patent number: 8137175
    Abstract: For a race or contest in which a predetermined number of entries compete for winning position wherein for each of the entries respective predetermined odds of winning are given, a method is provided for determining a plurality of wagers wherein each of the wagers is to be placed on a respective one in a subset of the entries. In accordance with such method, initial criteria that all of the wagers must satisfy is established. Next, a maximum wager total being a sum of all of the wagers is determined. Finally, each of the wagers is calculated in accordance with the criteria and the maximum wager total.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Ernie Smith
  • Patent number: 8133108
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine which can carry out a lizhi effect rich in impact without giving a feeling of boredom. A gaming machine being provided with a display device, which can display an image and can be switched to a transmissive condition or a non-transmissive condition, in front of a plurality of symbols which can be variably displayed, in the event that a combination of the plurality of symbols reaches a lizhi, as well as portions in front of the plurality of symbols taking on the non-transmissive condition, a symbol image corresponding to a last stop displayed symbol is variably displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8128475
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for use in a gaming application. The apparatus comprises an input for receiving a non-predictable input number, K; and an output for presenting a graphical selector comprising N options. The graphical selector is configured to step in sequence through the N options in accordance with the received number K to select one of the N options. This therefore transforms the non-predictable input number K into a selection of an output option for use in the gaming application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ionoco Limited
    Inventor: Chris Goss
  • Patent number: 8118681
    Abstract: Various aspects are directed to a gaming system configured or designed for use with a bar top or table top. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may include a movable gaming unit, the movable gaming unit which is operable to be lowered below an upper surface of the bar top or table top, and which is operable to be raised, at least partially, above the upper surface of the bar top or table top. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may be operable to control a wager-based game played on the gaming system. The gaming system may be further operable to lower the gaming unit below the upper surface of the bar top or table top in response to detecting at least one first condition or event. The gaming system may be further operable to raise a first portion of the gaming unit above the upper surface of the bar top or table top in response to detecting at least one second condition or event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Harold E. Mattice, Chris Gadda, Chan Griswold, James Stockdale, Richard Wilder
  • Patent number: 8108317
    Abstract: A method for authenticating data comprising the steps of: providing data to a first device having at least two initial cryptographic keys; generating authentication information required to authenticate the data utilizing the at least two initial cryptographic keys; sending the data and authentication data to a second device having paired cryptographic keys wherein each paired cryptographic key is associated to one of the at least two initial cryptographic keys; and authenticating the data in the second device utilizing the paired cryptographic keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Arthur Siegler
  • Patent number: 8100747
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting a game including a first question and answer round (or alternatively, a physical challenge round) where a contestant can accumulate points and a second auction round where the contestant can bid on lots/prizes with the accumulated points. The system and method provide for presenting at least one of a mental or physical challenge to the at least two players; crediting a predetermined number of points to each of the at least two players based on an outcome of the challenge; auctioning at least one predetermined prized to the at least two players, the at least two players using the credited points to bid for the predetermined prize; and awarding the at least one predetermined prize to one of the at least two players with the highest bid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Bobkat Productions, LLC
    Inventors: Kathy Karwat Singer, Christopher Teas, Jay Gissen, William Shapiro
  • Patent number: 8096900
    Abstract: Mat for sport and games for detecting impact position of a movable object. The mat includes an outer layer and an inner layer, each with inlays of electrically conductive elements forming a pressure-sensitive switch distributed over the target area. The pressure sensitive switches communicate with electronic circuits for indicting, processing and presentation of electrical signals when the switches are activated by a ball impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sports Innovation AS
    Inventor: Anders Håseth
  • Patent number: 8092289
    Abstract: Techniques are described for determining card movement in a computerized game. A representation of one or more cards to be played in a simulated environment is provided. A movement of at least one of said cards is determined in accordance with one or more of an attribute of the card and a current condition in the simulated environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Mai
  • Patent number: 8090660
    Abstract: A system is provided for use-based charging of security software. The system includes a security software, a monitor component, and a billing component. The security software provides security for a computer system, and the monitor component is operable to monitor use of at least a portion of the security software. The billing component is operable to charge based on the use of the security software monitored by the monitor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Solomon, Carl E. Banzhof
  • Patent number: 8088010
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus provide online games integrating sensory data and/or gameplay data from a live game that was played with physical game elements. Sensory data and/or gameplay data from the original live game are recorded for delayed playback or live streaming. Data from the live game is incorporated into an online game. A remote player is able to participate in the online game as if the remote player had been present at the live game. The remote player may play the position/seat occupied by one or more of the original real-world players in the live game. In card games with individual hands of cards, the remote player receives cards as they were dealt to the same position/seat in the live game. The remote player can make strategic decisions that differ from those of the real-world player may affect the outcome of the game for the remote player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Otho Dale Hill
  • Patent number: 8086538
    Abstract: A solution for metering usage of services—for example, in a SOA Framework—is proposed. For this purpose, the submission of any invocation of a provider service by a consumer service is intercepted by a license manager; a corresponding request is then submitted to a dedicated licensing service, which returns an entitlement code when the consumer service is entitled to submit the service invocation. The service invocation is decorated with this entitlement code and actually submitted to the provider service. The (decorated) service invocation addressed to the provider service is likewise intercepted by another license manager; a request is then submitted to the licensing service for verifying the received entitlement code. The running of the provider service is then enabled only if the entitlement code is correct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Salvatore D'Alo', Alessandro Donatelli, Giovanni Lanfranchi, Scot MacLellan, Antonio Perrone
  • Patent number: 8075385
    Abstract: A gaming machine and method are disclosed. A selected symbol is displayed in a non-revealed manner, for example on a display, a player having nominated at least one characteristic of the symbol. If the selected symbol is revealed to have the nominated characteristic a prize is awarded to the player, and if the symbol is revealed to be a special symbol a game controller awards the player a feature outcome that comprises a plurality of bonus plays of a feature game that includes at least one special symbol. Progression to the next bonus play in the plurality of bonus plays is dependent on selection of the special symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Robert Jackson
  • Patent number: 8073783
    Abstract: A user engages in a transaction with a relying party. The relying party requests identity information from the user in a security policy and identifies transaction elements for an on-line business transaction. Typically, the security policy and transaction elements are transmitted together; the security policy can be as little as a request to conduct the on-line business transaction. The user identifies an information card that satisfies the security policy. The computer system requests a security token from the identity provider managing the information card, which can include requesting a transaction receipt for the transaction elements. The computer system then returns the security token (and the transaction receipt) to the relying party, to complete the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick R. Felsted, Thomas E. Doman, James G. Sermersheim, Daniel S. Sanders, Andrew A. Hodgkinson, Dale R. Olds
  • Patent number: 8066572
    Abstract: One or more systems for transmitting real-time game information for a game to a remote device are provided. The system can include at least one remote terminal unit adapted to be communicated with a controller associated with a game information display device. The remote terminal unit can communicate with a network in communication with each remote terminal unit and with a game server. The game server can include a game server processor. The game server processor can be in communication with each remote terminal unit. A game server data storage can be in communication with the game server processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Scores Two Go, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Timmons, Daryl Burttschell, Howard Burttschell
  • Patent number: 8062114
    Abstract: A gaming system with a free play mode. The gaming system has a game controller configured to process game play instructions in accordance with game rules to produce game outcomes. A credit meter is under the control of the game controller, the credit meter incremented or decremented in accordance with the game outcomes during normal play. A player interface is in data communication with the game controller. The player interface comprising a display that displays game outcomes to the player and operable to cause a free mode instruction to be communicated to the game controller. The game controller is configured to deactivate the credit meter in response to receipt of a free mode instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Nicholas Luke Bennett
  • Patent number: 8055561
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the cost per unit transaction for running an application on a server system is disclosed. The total transaction capacity of a system is determined as well as the total storage capacity during a time period M. The total fixed cost and the total variable cost during the time period are also determined. A total cost per unit transaction is determined from the total transaction capacity plus the total storage capacity divided by the total fixed and variable costs. The resource usage of the system by the application is tracked during the time period M. The cost billed to the application user is the resource usage of the application multiplied by the total cost per unit time for the time period M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Sameer Akbar Khan, Nasir Mahmood Mirza, Usman Mohammed Naim
  • Patent number: 8043158
    Abstract: To provide an image processing device, image processing method, and data processing method for a game device providing novel game features. In a multiple-player game device 1 comprising mutually coupled input mechanisms 31, it is possible for a game to be played by fewer people than the aforementioned number of players, by using a portion of the input mechanisms 31, the coupling of the input mechanisms other than the input mechanisms used by the fewer number of players being disengaged in cases where a game is played by a fewer number of players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
    Inventors: Takeshi Goden, Shigeyuki Iwase, Kimio Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8012020
    Abstract: In a game device (301) for showing a past operation history to a player in comparison with the current operation status, a first moving unit (303) moves a first object in a virtual space based on a moving instruction input received by an input receiving unit (302), an input history storage unit (304) stores the moving instruction input as input history information, a second moving unit (305) moves a second object in the virtual space based on input history information stored in the past, an assessment unit (306) assesses whether or not the first object and the second object are overlapping in the virtual space, and a display unit (307) displays the second object in a case where a non-overlapping state has been identified and stops the display of the second object in a case where an overlapping state has been identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Yamada
  • Patent number: 7991697
    Abstract: A method and system to digitally sign a content license associated with content, and to distribute content via a network in a geographically controlled manner, commences when a content requester requests delivery of the encrypted content. A content delivery system performs a content to determine a geographic location associated with the content requester. The content requestor authorization process may also determine geographic access criteria associated with the content, and whether the geographic location complies with the geographic access criteria. The content delivery system will release the content for delivery to the content requestor if the content location complies with the geographic access criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Irdeto USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Fransdonk
  • Patent number: 7991492
    Abstract: A method of conducting a competition with remote controlled vehicles involving young, or young-at-heart people from a plurality of local institutions or establishments, and involving a hierarchy of competitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventors: Kerry T. Namanny, Kenneth D. Namanny