Patents by Inventor Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130288778
    Abstract: A player reservation feature is provided for a casino gaming machine by a secondary controller of the casino gaming machine. The player reservation feature may be accessed at the gaming machine or remotely at another gaming machine or other device, e.g., a smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like. The gaming machine is locked and unavailable for play except by the player that made the reservation. Reserving a gaming machine may be free, or a fee may be accessed for a reservation. Where a fee is assessed, the fee may be waived for a reserving player. Where the reservation feature is being accessed remotely, a casino floor map may be displayed at the device that is being used, such as another casino machine, smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like, along with information about each gaming machine on the casino floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130281194
    Abstract: Gaming machines are configured to present promotional offers during periods of inactivity or “idle.” The promotional offers have one or more promotional awards which may be redeemed by a player providing a required input to the gaming machine. The promotional offers may be implemented at an existing gaming machine by associating a secondary controller with an existing main controller of the gaming machine. The promotional offers may comprise awards of credits, free games or free or reduced price goods or services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130237300
    Abstract: Social media activities associated with an on-line social media system are linked to casino game activities and casino gaming machines. A player of a casino gaming machine may access a social media website via the casino gaming machine, such as to play a social media game at the casino gaming machine. A player may also access the social media system from a presentation computing device and, via that system, link to a casino gaming machine to play one or more casino wagering games. Social media currency and casino monetary credits may be exchanged or converted and other aspects of casino game play and social media activities may be integrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Patent number: 8512144
    Abstract: A modified gaming machine includes a plurality of gaming machine peripheral devices for use in implementing one or more games to a player, and a master gaming controller configured to implement primary gaming machine functionality, including generating and transmitting information to the plurality of gaming machine peripherals. The modified gaming machine further comprises a secondary controller interposed between one or more of the plurality of gaming machine peripheral devices and the master gaming controller, whereby the secondary controller may forward information generated by the master gaming controller to the gaming machine peripheral devices and transmit secondary information to the peripheral devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Tipping Point Group, LLC
    Inventors: Sam Johnson, Chad Ryan, Bradley G. Ward
  • Patent number: 8502692
    Abstract: An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctor's office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. If the schedule indicates that a dose of medicine should be taken at a particular time, but the monitored activity does not determine that the medicine has been taken, an alert signal will be issued to alert the user that it is time to take the medicine. In addition, if the monitored activity indicates that the medicine bottle has been opened prior to a scheduled time, then a tamper alert can be triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Patent number: 8495671
    Abstract: This application discloses a system and method for the delivery of television programming comprising of: a video source connected to a subscriber network to transport a primary video signal; a message source connected to said subscriber network to transport a supplemental video signal; wherein the primary and supplemental video signals are combined to display the primary and supplemental video signals concurrently. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the subscriber receives discounts relative to the amount of supplemental video signal that is viewed by the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventors: Aldemaro Ribeiro, Sam Johnson
  • Patent number: 8475277
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments described herein relate to gaming machines and/or table games having interfaces provided thereto so as to allow players to control their participation in base games and random rewards scenarios. More particularly, an interface provided to the gaming machines and/or table games enables separate and/or separable credit meters to be maintained such that players may determine whether, and to what extent, to allocate credits to base games and one or more random rewards scenarios. This advantageously provides players with further control over their gaming opportunities. Also, certain exemplary embodiments may enable players to wager credits in excess of those capped by a particular gaming machine or table game. This advantageously provides additional revenue possibilities for gaming operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Paltronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Palmisano, Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130090155
    Abstract: In a gaming method and system, a player is permitted to move funds from a gaming machine at a casino, such as funds won at the gaming machine or input into the gaming machine, with a funds account which the player can utilize to fund remote or mobile gaming. When a player of a gaming machine is identified, such as by detecting or sensing the player's mobile communication device or by a player's use of a player card or the like, a gaming machine may be configured or triggered to activate one or more funds association options, such as to offer the player the opportunity to associate funds provided to the gaming machine with their account for use in remote or mobile gaming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130002429
    Abstract: An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctors office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. The activity monitor records and allows for the analysis of the recorded data to determine is there is a likelihood of substance abuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120329549
    Abstract: Promotional events are made available to players on video gaming machines. Certain parameters of the promotional events can be selected and/or defined by the player, such as the triggering events, type of event, type of award, type of award progression and other parameters. The system selects performance criteria and award traversing algorithms based at least in part on the player selected parameters and the probability of the occurrence of the trigger event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120319856
    Abstract: An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctor's office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. If the schedule indicates that a dose of medicine should be taken at a particular time, but the monitored activity does not determine that the medicine has been taken, an alert signal will be issued to alert the user that it is time to take the medicine. In addition, if the monitored activity indicates that the medicine bottle has been opened prior to a scheduled time, then a tamper alert can be triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Patent number: 8333129
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a robotic manipulator arm includes a robotic joint, a rotational position sensor, and a control system. The rotational position sensor is coupled to the main housing of the robotic joint. The control system is connected to the rotational position sensor. During normal rotational motion toward a commanded motor position of joint output, the control system determines that normal joint un-slipped motion is occurring with respect to the joint output in response to the motor input commands. Responsive to joint slip during commanded motor motion, the control system compares position data from the rotational position sensor to commanded motor position to generate an error value and, based on the error value, compensates for the joint slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: S.A. Robotics
    Inventors: Sam Johnson, Taylor Drew Ritchie, Gerald Vincent Castillo, Jr., Eric D. Schroder, Eric James Versluys
  • Patent number: 8284068
    Abstract: An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctors office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. The activity monitor records and allows for the analysis of the recorded data to determine is there is a likelihood of substance abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Patent number: 8279076
    Abstract: An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctors office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. If the schedule indicates that a dose of medicine should be taken at a particular time, but the monitored activity does not determine that the medicine has been taken, an alert signal will be issued to alert the user that it is time to take the medicine. In addition, if the monitored activity indicates that the medicine bottle has been opened prior to a scheduled time, then a tamper alert can be triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Patent number: 8090768
    Abstract: A device for obtaining media content from a source and storing the media content for subsequent playback. A response mechanism enables a listener to generate response information associated with particular media content that is being rendered by the device. This response information can be delivered to a third party system for triggering the performance of specific actions related to the media content. A content system interfaces to the device and to the Internet. The content system obtains media content from one or more sources via the Internet and delivers the content to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: Sam Johnson, Eric A. Toops, Fred Tanzella
  • Publication number: 20110169635
    Abstract: An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctors office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. The activity monitor records and allows for the analysis of the recorded data to determine is there is a likelihood of substance abuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110012742
    Abstract: An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctors office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. If the schedule indicates that a dose of medicine should be taken at a particular time, but the monitored activity does not determine that the medicine has been taken, an alert signal will be issued to alert the user that it is time to take the medicine. In addition, if the monitored activity indicates that the medicine bottle has been opened prior to a scheduled time, then a tamper alert can be triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100101346
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a robotic manipulator arm includes a robotic joint, a rotational position sensor, and a control system. The rotational position sensor is coupled to the main housing of the robotic joint. The control system is connected to the rotational position sensor. During normal rotational motion toward a commanded motor position of joint output, the control system determines that normal joint un-slipped motion is occurring with respect to the joint output in response to the motor input commands. Responsive to joint slip during commanded motor motion, the control system compares position data from the rotational position sensor to commanded motor position to generate an error value and, based on the error value, compensates for the joint slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: S.A. Robotics
    Inventors: Sam Johnson, Taylor D. Ritchie, Gerald V. Castillo, JR., Eric D. Schroder, Eric J. Versluys
  • Publication number: 20090117999
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments described herein relate to gaming machines and/or table games having interfaces provided thereto so as to allow players to control their participation in base games and random rewards scenarios. More particularly, an interface provided to the gaming machines and/or table games enables separate and/or separable credit meters to be maintained such that players may determine whether, and to what extent, to allocate credits to base games and one or more random rewards scenarios. This advantageously provides players with further control over their gaming opportunities. Also, certain exemplary embodiments may enable players to wager credits in excess of those capped by a particular gaming machine or table game. This advantageously provides additional revenue possibilities for gaming operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: PALTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Sam Johnson, Angelo Palmisano
  • Patent number: D662803
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Interlock USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Johnson, Axel Husen