Patents Examined by William Brewster
  • Patent number: 8821233
    Abstract: A game machine determines the reference timing included in a predetermined time range and the crossing direction position corresponding to the reference timing based on the sequence data (30). And, the game machine causes an instruction path (R) extending from one end side (UP) in depth direction (TD) toward the other end side (DP) while passing through each crossing direction position corresponding to each reference timing at a position on the time axis corresponding to each reference timing and the reference line (TL), to be displayed on the game screen, and decreases a distance between each position and the reference line (TL) with a decrease in a time difference between the reference timing and the current time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuha Hayashi, Yoshitaka Nishimura, Tetsuhiro Honjo, Aoi Tagami, Takayuki Ishikawa, Hidenori Kotera, Yuki Sato, Yuma Miyazaki, Eriko Motohashi
  • Patent number: 8821256
    Abstract: A game system that is capable of performing a game by employing an information card in place of a conventional paper-based system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Jun Fujimoto, Takao Nireki, Kunihiro Manabe, Noritoshi Kukita
  • Patent number: 8821294
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of a plurality of electronic games is provided. A storage module may store a user attribute relating to a first electronic game. An aggregator module is configured to aggregate a user attribute from each of a plurality of electronic games including the first electronic game. A transmitter module may transmit the user attribute relating to the first electronic game to the aggregator module upon the user attribute being stored in the storage module. An association module may associate, using an application programming interface, a user attribute of a second electronic game of the plurality of electronic games different from the first electronic game, the association module associating based on a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attribute of the first electronic game and game data of the second electronic game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Patent number: 8821279
    Abstract: A game server includes a storage that stores information representing a virtual space having two-dimensionally arranged virtual positions where virtual users can exist, a map-creating section creating a two-dimensional map by connecting a route between the virtual positions, a table that stores identification data of a virtual user existing at each virtual position, a data-transmitting section transmitting two-dimensional-map-image data to a network-connected terminal, a data-receiving section receiving operation data from the terminal, a position-changing section changing the virtual position of the virtual user to a destination virtual position when accumulated points become or exceeds required points, and a data-updating section updating the identification data when the virtual position of the virtual user is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: gloops, Inc.
    Inventor: Isao Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8814703
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of electronic games is provided. A user interface module is configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first and second electronic game. A processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, is configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input. An application programming interface (API) is configured to associate a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games and game data of the third electronic game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Patent number: 8814663
    Abstract: A game system identifies players in a game. A player model may be provided that predicts whether or not an identified player is going to make a payment. Additional player models may be provided that predict whether or not a player is going to make a payment for specific virtual items in the game. The game system may engage the identified player based on the virtual items the player is predicted to make payments on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Andreas Vogel
  • Patent number: 8814627
    Abstract: A toy set that enables communication between a game device and a toy without changing a hardware configuration of the game device includes a program stored in a storage medium that when executed causes the game device to detect a sequence of single frequency sounds, output a voice corresponding to a combination of the detected sounds, generate a plurality of single frequency sound and generate a control signal by a combination of the sounds. The toy incorporates a sound generation means, a voice input means, a control means and a sensing means. The control means includes a generation means for generating a control signal as a sequence of plurality of single frequency sounds sent out from the sound generation means of the toy. When the control signal is inputted from the game device, the toy performs a predetermined action which corresponds to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sega Toys Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8814650
    Abstract: Techniques for execution of multiple application programs and their variations are disclosed. One or more individual application program components that are determined to be already stored and/or loaded into memory are not loaded into memory again, thereby allowing the associated application program to be executed without unnecessarily reloading the one or more individual application program components into memory. Generally, by keeping track and/or predicting of the application components loaded into memory, it can be determined whether to load or unload a particular application program component. In addition, data that can readily identify the application components that are not already into memory can be provided as differential application data for loading various application programs and their variations to facilitate switching between and/or concurrently running multiple application programs and their variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Warner R. Cockerille, Richard E. Rowe
  • Patent number: 8814656
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system, device, and method providing wild reel wager options for a spinning reel type wagering game. The wagering game includes: a plurality of reels; a plurality of symbols; and one or more wild reel wager options, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of wild reel wager amounts. If a player wagers one of the wild reel wager amounts on a play of the wagering game, the gaming system determines, based on the wild reel wager option associated with that wild reel wager amount, a set of one or more of the reels to be wild reels, and causes each of the determined set of the reels to be wild reels for that play. The gaming system causes each of the reels to spin and display one or more of the symbols, and provides any awards based on the displayed symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8814642
    Abstract: Ball games apparatus for use by two or more players, comprises a playing wall with a plurality of targets arranged across at least one face of said playing wall, each target having a particular value associated therewith. In use, a player aims by kicking or throwing a ball or the like at the playing wall and scores points to the value of the target that is struck. The targets may correspond to balls of a conventional pool or snooker game, providing a similar scoring system to the table-based game but at the same time encouraging participation in physical activity. Added complexity is provided by means of ground markers randomly selected to denote which of a series of positions relative to the playing wall from which a player takes aim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Playinnovation Limited
    Inventor: Marco Boi
  • Patent number: 8814700
    Abstract: Methods and systems of pari-mutuel wagering are disclosed to facilitate the wager construction process. Methods and systems of pari-mutuel wagering may enable an organization to set rules to display the gaming activity. Methods and systems of pari-mutuel wagering may enable players to make subscription as well as programmed bets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: United Tote Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Vlazny, Scott B. Pfennighausen, Stephen M. Smith, Joseph J. Tracy, Victor I. Harrison
  • Patent number: 8814696
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing branded virtual objects in a virtual environment are presented. A game instance of a computer-implemented multiplayer online game is generated, where the game instance is associated with a virtual environment of a player. A graphical user interface to the player is provided, where the graphical user interface displays at least one branded virtual object for selection by the player, and where the branded virtual object corresponds to a real-world brand. Selection and placement of the branded virtual object in the virtual environment by the player is monitored. The virtual environment of the player is updated to include the branded virtual object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Marsland, Revant Kapoor, Emily Anadu, Matt Levine, Edmund Leo, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 8814713
    Abstract: A finger position training sports device can include a surface for receiving at least a portion of a hand, a plurality of capacitance sensor areas formed on the surface, and a capacitance sense circuit attached to the sports device. The capacitance sense circuit can have an input coupled to each capacitance sensor area and a processor circuit that activates an indication value when predetermined sensor areas indicate contact with different portions of at least one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuanyan Qin, Hua Liu
  • Patent number: 8814701
    Abstract: A gaming system may include an event filter to identify a player as a target for engagement. The gaming system may engage the player in a dialogue with a non-player character to conduct a discussion with the player relating to the events that resulted in engaging the player. In some embodiments, the dialogue may include a pre-event game analysis. The dialogue may include recommendations or suggestions for improving the player's performance, and may include offering virtual game items to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Andreas Vogel, Christian Scheelen, Shailesh Jannu
  • Patent number: 8808088
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a first media controller in the wagering game system, a playlist identifier that identifies a playlist, wherein the playlist is associated with scripts that, when executed, present media effects of the coordinated media show. The method can also include presenting, by the first media controller, a first of the media effects by executing a first of the scripts associated with the playlist, and detecting an indication to wait for a synchronization marker from a second media controller. The method can also include receiving, over a multi-drop network, the synchronization marker from the second media controller, and selecting a second of the scripts associated with the playlist, after receiving the synchronization marker. The method can also include presenting, by the first media controller, a second of the media effects by executing the second of the scripts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Brunell, Paul J. Radek
  • Patent number: 8801520
    Abstract: A method of gaming is disclosed wherein progressive award values may be increased in response to certain pre-established game outcomes, wager amounts or random events. The increased progressive award values may be based on a primary game or secondary game outcome. Another innovation is the resetting of progressive awards upon completion of a bonus event whether or not award actually won in said bonus event. Player tracking systems permit progressive award values to be linked to a particular player such that the progressive award values remain personal to the player. Re-setting increased progressive award values is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernie M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8801488
    Abstract: A walk-around character assembly or system with enhanced control functionality to provide a performer of a walk-around character the ability to silently and non-visibly trigger audio, animation, and/or special effects. A deflection monitoring (or chin movement) sensor is provided in the head portion of the character costume to detect predefined chin movements, e.g., a performer opening their mouth once or twice within a time period to limit false negatives/triggers. For example, a potentiometer or force sensor may be provided in the chin strap of a character head. The performer is able to trigger an audio response or to animate the mouth of the character head with relatively small movements of their jaw as a controller processes the sensor signals to determine when to generate control signals to operate sound equipment on the character costume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Holger Irmler
  • Patent number: 8795079
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a handheld user input device, a processor for receiving input data from the handheld user input device and a gaming application for receiving data from the processor based on the received input data from the handheld user input device. The handheld user input device emulates one of a plurality of different devices associated with the gaming application. Each of the plurality of different devices have a set of input commands associated therewith. The set of input commands associated with the one of a plurality of different devices includes a command based on one of motion and orientation of the handheld device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Arno Penzias, III
  • Patent number: 8795043
    Abstract: A method of providing a game show that includes broadcasting performances from a plurality of contestants to audience members and receiving votes from the audience members during a voting period. The contestants who receive the most and the least votes are selected as winners. In addition, a winner from the audience members is determined by the timing of a winning vote based on a percentage of the total number of votes cast for the contestant receiving the least number of votes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: CEM International Limited
    Inventor: William Hu
  • Patent number: 8790183
    Abstract: Virtual world website allows customizing characters by purchasing items for the characters using virtual cash. The virtual cash is in the first currency format. A user can also link to another website, for example a second website, which allows earning cash in a second currency format different than the first currency format. The second website allows converting virtual currency into the first currency format. Embodiments allow multiple different currency conversions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: GANZ
    Inventors: Howard Ganz, Felix Leung