Patents Examined by Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 9415303
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more user-generated remarks from each of a plurality of computing devices where the one or more user-generated remarks are temporally associated with media content in the form of a gaming session presented at the plurality of computing devices and present the one or more user-generated remarks as an overlay combined with the gaming session as a presentation to at least a set among the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda Roberts, E-Lee Chang, Ja-Young Sung, Natasha Barrett Schultz, Robert Arthur King
  • Patent number: 9418519
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes (e.g., for a roulette game) for one or more players. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to one or more players (e.g., a player may access the video presentation online). This allows one or more players to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). At least one player who is associated with such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Jay S. Walker
  • Patent number: 9418510
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide gaming systems, gaming devices and methods which have casual games with dynamic award schemes. Each game has a designated number of elements such as positions, moveable elements, or the combination of positions and moveable elements. For each play of the wagering game, the gaming system: receives a wager from a player; determines a number of the designated number of elements which will function as or be designated as payout elements; determines which of the designated number of elements to make the payout elements; for each payout element, determines the payout value associated with that payout element; and (e) determines a game ending condition. The gaming system enables the player to play the wagering game in accordance with the predetermined rules of the wagering game. This includes enabling the player to employ the elements until the game ending condition occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9412227
    Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a Player surpasses predetermined game play parameters on a game of an EGM, a bonus game or related game material may be “unlocked” and offered to the Player for download onto the Player's Portable Electronic Device (PED). Upon installation, the game or content may be viewed or played on their PED at a later time and at their leisure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne R. Nelson, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 9403085
    Abstract: A multi-user video game with communications capabilities allows players to communicate with one another via simulated mail, leaflets and conversations. Different installations of the game on different discrete video game playing platforms may be unique or different depending upon random or other data available at the platform. For example, different installations may have different subsets of characters, different landscapes, or the like. Player characters from one virtual environment or village may visit another virtual environment or village and return home to his or her resident environment or village. Non-player characters may move from one virtual environment or village to another—thereby providing an ever-changing variety of characters. Communications between different game playing platforms can be provided via portable memory devices, portable game playing devices, or conventional communications means such as networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Eguchi, Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka
  • Patent number: 9401065
    Abstract: A gaming system is described. The gaming system can include one or more host devices and EGM clients that communicate with one another over a network. Various non-gaming applications can be maintained on the host device. In response to a request received from an EGM client, a non-gaming application program can be executed on the host device. Content from the non-gaming application can be converted to a media stream that is sent to the EGM client for output. The media stream can be processed using a codec executed on the EGM. Input data associated with the content can be received at the EGM and sent to the host device. The content from the non-gaming application executed on the host can be adjusted in response to the input data received from the EGM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Steven G. LeMay, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9399165
    Abstract: A game device includes an owned card storage unit for storing player cards owned by a game player, and a player card exchange unit for exchanging a player card owned by the game player with an exchangeable card presented by a CPU, wherein the player card exchange unit includes an exchangeable card presentation unit for determining the exchangeable cards based on the player cards owned by the game player to be presented on a screen, an exchange condition presentation unit for setting an exchange condition for exchanging the exchangeable card with the player card owned by the game player to be presented on the screen; and an exchange execution unit for approving the exchange of the player card and the exchangeable card when the player card that satisfies the exchange condition is selected by the game player, and updating the memory content of the owned card storage unit to a content after the approval of the exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Jun Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9393457
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to impact type training equipment for sports. More particularly, the present invention provides a portable impact assessment device that can be utilized across a broad variety of sports equipment to allow an athlete to measure various aspects of impact training. The apparatus generally includes an impact module constructed of a flexible material. The impact module is constructed and arranged to be sufficiently thin and compact to be placed within an impact type training aid within the impact target area of the device. The impact module is fluidly connected to an electronics module so that, upon impacting the training aid, the impact module is compressed to send a fluid signal to the electronics module. A pressure sensor within the electronics module receives the fluid signal generating an electric output that is displayed on a multi digit digital display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hondo Sports Training, LLC
    Inventors: Floyd Wilkes, David Carson
  • Patent number: 9396606
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes a point or count based system to provide one or more awards to one or more players. Such points are accumulated by a player based on one or more events associated with the player's gaming experience. The points or counts utilized in the gaming system are selectively redeemed by the player in exchange for one or more opportunities to win an award. It should be appreciated that in one embodiment, the equalizing units disclosed herein are different, separate and independent from any monetary based points or credits, any promotional based points or credits, or any player tracking points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander Casey Naglestad Cohen, Arram Bekarian, Daniel De Waal
  • Patent number: 9378610
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes exemplary systems and methods for using gaming scrips in a gaming environment. The gaming scrips have pre-printed face values and machine-readable unique identifiers located thereon, and are loaded into any of various currency-handling devices. The gaming scrips may be activated either before being loaded into a currency-handling device or at the time of dispensing therefrom. Once validated in the gaming environment, the gaming scrips may be collected, sorted, reactivated, and reused in the gaming environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Global Payments Gaming Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9367986
    Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events arc caused to be displayed on the display (14) and, if a predefined winning event results, the machine (10) awards a prize which is credited to a credit meter of the machine (10). The credit meter includes two meter displays, a first meter display (42.1) indicating credit which is available for expenditure in the machine (10) to play at least one game and a second meter display (42.2) indicating credit set aside by at least one of a player and the game controller and which credit is unavailable to the player for wagering on a game but which is only available by termination of a playing session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Peter Stathis
  • Patent number: 9352230
    Abstract: Techniques for interpreting motions of a motion-sensitive device are described to allow natural and intuitive interfaces for controlling an application (e.g. video game). A motion-sensitive device includes inertial and generates sensor signals sufficient to derive positions and orientations of the device in six degrees of freedom. The motion of the device in six degrees of freedom is tracked by analyzing sensor data from the inertial sensors in conjunction with data from a secondary source that may be a camera or a non-inertial sensor. Different techniques are provided to correct or minimize errors in deriving the positions and orientations of the device. These techniques include “stop” detection, back tracking, extrapolation of sensor data beyond the sensor ranges, and using constraints from multi trackable objects in an application being interfaced with the motion-sensitive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AiLive Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Wilkinson, Charles Musick, Jr., William Robert Powers, III, Youding Zhu
  • Patent number: 9345960
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments directed to a gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a plurality of initial hands of cards, receives a hand formation input, and forms and displays a complete hand for each initial hand. For each complete hand, the gaming system determines whether that complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winning hand categories. If at least one complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of the winning hand categories, for each complete hand that forms one such winning hand, the gaming system displays the winning hand category associated with that winning hand, receives a selection of a displayed winning hand category, and adds an enhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated with the selected winning hand category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: David R. Lark
  • Patent number: 9336647
    Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system is configured to detect the presence of portable electronic devices and determine their locations in a casino environment and determine whether to initiate an attract feature. Based on the determined location of the portable electronic device, nearby gaming devices, such as electronic gaming machines can be selected for use in generating an attract feature for a patron. The generated attract feature can include outputting content to one or more EGMs and/or a patron's portable electronic device. The gaming devices selected for use in an attract feature and/or the content associated with the attract feature can be affected by patron specified preferences. In one embodiment, the patron specified preferences can be entered and stored using an application executed on their portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne R. Nelson, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 9336654
    Abstract: A gaming system enables players of a group of gaming devices to wager on progressive or other awards for that group and tracks an amount of player activity at the group. If player activity of the group exceeds an upper reconfiguration threshold, the gaming system disassociates one or more gaming devices from the group to reduce the amount of player activity. If the player activity of the group falls below a lower reconfiguration threshold, the gaming system associates one or more additional gaming devices with that group to increase player activity. Reallocation of gaming devices can occur following a player winning the award for the group. The system can incrementally increase an award reset amount, while reducing the odds of winning the award, to maintain a desired range of gaming experiences. The system can also enable a player to select an initial groups based on a characteristic of that player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Patent number: 9333422
    Abstract: The game apparatus (1) has a fixed main unit (100) and a movable operating device (8) that is held by a player and is capable of detecting the body motion of the player and of transmitting a signal to, receiving from, the main unit (100). The operating device (8) has an acceleration sensor (86) for detecting acceleration, a light source (85), and a transmitter (87) for transmitting a value detected by the acceleration sensor (86) to the main unit (100). The main unit (100) has light receiving units (9L,9R) that receive the light emitted from the light source (85) to detect the intensity of the received light, a RAM (14), and a processor (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehito Mukasa, Satoshi Ueda, Takashi Muto
  • Patent number: 9336648
    Abstract: The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a plurality of symbol combinations that are each associated with a dynamic award. Such dynamic awards increase based, at least in part, on one or more random events which occur in association with one or more plays of a game. In one embodiment, the gaming system increases the dynamic award of a designated symbol combination based on the random generation of another, different symbol combination. In this embodiment, if the gaming system randomly generates the other symbol combination, the gaming system: (i) provides any award associated with this other symbol combination, and (ii) increases the dynamic award of the designated symbol combination. Additionally, if the gaming system randomly generates the designated symbol combination, the gaming system provides to a player the dynamic award of the designated symbol combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Daniel J. DeWaal, Cameron A. Filipour, Kevan Wilkins
  • Patent number: 9330530
    Abstract: System and method are disclosed for conducting a group-wagering game in which players at several gaming terminals may play wagering games and win together. The method and system of the invention involves connecting a bank of gaming terminals to a bank server. The bank server automatically plays a group-wagering game on a periodic basis in which players at the gaming terminals in the bank of gaming terminals may participate. Depending on the outcome of the group-wagering game, eligible players may be awarded prizes outright, or they may be granted a group-bonus game. The prizes and awards won may depend on the amounts wagered at the gaming terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Allon G. Englman
  • Patent number: 9330523
    Abstract: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a biofeedback module operable to track at least one biometric characteristic of a game player. The wagering game is further operable to alter presentation of the wagering game based on changes in the at least one biometric characteristic. A mood enhancement module is operable to provide energy to a wagering game player at a frequency designed to provide a mood enhancing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Sutton, Samuel Leopold, Gene Rigsby
  • Patent number: 9330540
    Abstract: Systems for and methods of customizing at least one gaming apparatus is provided. The at least one gaming apparatus is operated as a slot machine game. The system includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of themes. Each of the plurality of themes includes a first set of full-motion videos associated with a first body portion of a plurality of actors, a second set of full-motion videos associated with a second body portion of the plurality of actors, and a third set of full-motion videos associated with a third body portion of the plurality of actors. The system includes a circuit configured to receive a selection of a theme from the plurality of themes. The circuit is further configured to cause the at least one gaming apparatus to display the first set, the second set, and the third set of videos for the selected theme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventor: Steven R. Michels