Credit/debit Monitoring Or Manipulation (e.g., Game Entry, Betting, Prize Level, Etc.) Patents (Class 463/25)
  • Patent number: 10058783
    Abstract: A system and method configured to provide limited-time events to users in an online game. The system and method may include executing an instance of an online game and effectuating presentation of offers to users to activate a limited-time event within the online game. Activation of the limited-time event may enable users to perform event runs through the limited-time event for a duration. The execution of event runs through the limited-time event in response to user commands received from a client computing platform associated with the user may deplete the virtual resource in an inventory of the user. The system and method may maintain inventories of the users and recharge the virtual resource as a function of time. The performance of users may be assessed and awards may be distributed to the users based on the assessment of their performance during the event runs. The system and method may include effectuating exchanges by the users of virtual items for the first virtual resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Pieron, Byung Gon Yoo, Thomas Baxter, Dylan Swift
  • Patent number: 10055930
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for placing one or more sports bets at an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) and for redeeming any winnings for one or more placed sports bet at an EGM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Errol A. Ramos, Mathew H. Henderson, Paul C. Ewing, Erik B. Chalko, David C. Pence, Tyrell J. Atterberry, Kimberly A. Carestia
  • Patent number: 10043346
    Abstract: A method for promoting play on electronic gaming devices and for promoting engagement with casino personnel comprising in which a code is displayed on a sign. When the code is received in a text from an identified player, drawing entries are associated with the player as a function of play on the gaming devices. At least one drawing entry is also associated with the player when he or she actuates a service button on a gaming device. Drawing prizes, if any, are revealed in response to another text from the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: PATENT INVESTMENT & LICENSING COMPANY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 10043343
    Abstract: An gaming apparatus, systems and methods with a remote redemption option including a payment acceptance device for accepting payment from a player; at least one display screen that displays symbols, a player's balance and game status information; at least one electronic game module for storing gaming information, operating a game and/or determining a redemption amount to a player; a control electronics in communication with the at least one electronic game module for processing the redemption amount to the player; and a payout dispenser for dispensing a redemption voucher to the player. The disclosure also includes an exchange center having an exchange point of sale within a store having at least one gaming device, wherein the exchange center accepts the redemption voucher as payment for an item of value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Todd Jordan
  • Patent number: 10043344
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine including a wager controller constructed to: receive application telemetry; determine a wager request; determine a encrypted wager outcome; communicate encrypted wager outcome data; an application server controller constructed to: receive decrypted wager outcome instructions; determine application resources to award the application client controller; and communicate application resource data to the application client controller; and the application client controller operatively connecting the application server controller and the wager controller, the application client controller constructed to: receive encrypted wager outcome data; decrypted the encrypted wager outcome data communicate the decrypted wager outcome instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, David Chang, Frank Cire, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 10037655
    Abstract: A system and method of conducting games of chance with enhanced payouts based on a cash in or initial investment amount is disclosed. In response to a player's initial investment or cash in amount, a payout schedule is selected. The larger the initial investment the better the selected payout schedule for the player. Live games of chance, games of chance facilitated by electronic gaming machines or devices and server-based games may utilize the method disclosed herein. Players may also receive enhanced awards such as enhanced player points based on the amount of the initial investment. Awards and bonuses may also be provided to players who exhaust an initial investment exceeding a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Sean Malek
  • Patent number: 10033673
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for peer to peer communication is provided. The embodiment may include receiving a message from a first user intended for a second. It may include determining whether the second user is in a do not disturb (DND) state. It may also include overriding the DND state of the second user. Overriding the DND state may include receiving static message information and user characteristics. Overriding the DND state may include determining if a critical situation (critsit) exists. Overriding the DND state may include determining a message critsit value for the users. Overriding the DND state may include adding the first user and the second to a critsit users list. The embodiment may include overriding the DND state of the second user if both users are on the same list. The embodiment may include transmitting messages from the first user to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanjay V. Phanshikar, Hina Purohit, Manish Singh, Mark A. Skurla
  • Patent number: 10032338
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a gaming tournament having a variable average expected point payout. Generally, during the gaming tournament, the gaming system enables each tournament player to play a tournament game at an EGM. The gaming system accumulates one or more tournament points for the tournament player when a play of the tournament game results in a winning outcome. At various points during the tournament, the gaming system increases or decreases an average expected point payout of the tournament game to change the tournament players' gaming experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: David R. Lark, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Bradford Brown, Ronald P. Papson, Robert W. Ruymann
  • Patent number: 10032333
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating between a mobile communication device and a venue apparatus is disclosed herein. The system comprises a mobile communication device, a venue apparatus, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) for a venue. The venue apparatus comprises a beacon for transmitting low energy BLUETOOTH transmissions. The mobile application is configured to verify a transmission from the venue apparatus in a registry when the mobile communication device is within three feet of the venue apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Joingo, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen S. Boyle, Thang Dao
  • Patent number: 10031812
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for A method, comprising enabling, by a system comprising a processor, a first modification of a first user profile at a secondary data repository of a communication network, wherein the first modification is directed by a first application operating at a first communication device of the communication network, identifying a usage event that is associated with the first communication device according to the first modification to the first user profile, and replicating a second modification to a second user profile at a primary data repository according to a change in operation of a second application associated with the usage event that is identified to the first communication device, where the replicating is according to an update policy for the primary data repository. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sangar Dowlatkhah, Venson Shaw
  • Patent number: 10026269
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system determines which of a plurality of progressive awards a player qualifies to potentially win based on a level of skill demonstrated by the player in association with one or more plays of one or more skill-based games (or partial skill-based games).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bryan Upton, Cameron A. Filipour
  • Patent number: 10026083
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for tabs for a venue. A customer device can create a tab including a list of one or more goods or services to purchase. The customer device can associate the tab with a venue where multiple kiosks of a merchant or multiple merchants are located. The customer device can be carried to a first kiosk, or first merchant, to purchase a first item, and then to a second kiosk, or second merchant, to purchase a second item. The tab can remain open for as long as the customer device is located within the venue. The open tab allows a user to purchase multiple items at various locations and pay for all the items purchased in a single payment. The customer device can close the tab upon receiving a user request or upon detecting that the customer device leaves the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SQUARE, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Kalidindi Varma, Jesse Reiss
  • Patent number: 10026263
    Abstract: A skill level initiated interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including: an interactive controller configured to: communicate an application telemetry communication comprising application telemetry; scan an application resource instruction; and scan a wager outcome communication; a wager controller constructed to: scan a wager instruction; generate the wager outcome; communicate, to the application controller, the wager outcome communication comprising the wager outcome; and the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller and constructed to: determine an application level change, wherein the application level is associated with a user; generate the wager instruction comprising one or more wager parameters used in determining wager outcomes; communicate, to the wager controller, the wager instruction; scan the wager outcome communication from the wager controller; generate the application resource instruction comprising application resources; communicat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 10025987
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of analyzing a sporting activity comprising receiving location data associated to a first player; receiving location data associated to a game object; receiving location data associated to a second player; determining a relative location of the first player in (5) relation to the game object location and the second player location, at least partly from the received location data associated to the first player, the game object and/or the second player; comparing the determined relative location of the first player with a set of reference relative locations of the first player; and determining a match between the determined relative location of the first player and at least one reference relative location of the first player. Other aspects of the (10) invention provide a classification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: PERFORMANCE LAB TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Jonathan Edward Bell Ackland, Mark Nayler
  • Patent number: 10016674
    Abstract: User action data characterizing action by a player in a game environment executing at a user client is received at a server. The game environment is created by the user client separate from the server. Data characterizing a selected viewing position is received. The selected viewing position is different than a player viewing position. The selected viewing position characterizes a viewing location within the game environment. A recreated game environment is generated from the user action data at the server. A video stream of the recreated game environment is generated. The video stream includes video from a perspective of the selected viewing position. The video stream is transmitted to a viewing client. Related apparatus, systems, articles, and techniques are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Skillz Inc
    Inventor: Andrew Paradise
  • Patent number: 10013849
    Abstract: A delayed wager interleaved wagering system is disclosed including an interactive processing device constructed to: provide an interactive application display; request wager actuator data; automatically configure the display to provide a wager confirmation screen; communicate wager actuator activation data; receive wagering telemetry data and application resource data; responsive to receiving the wagering telemetry data, automatically configure the display; a wager server constructed to: receive wager request data; automatically determine and communicate a wager outcome; and the process controller operatively connecting the interactive processing device and the wager server, and constructed to: provide the wager actuator data; communicate the wager actuator data; receive the wager actuator activation data; generate wager request data; communicate the wager request data; receive the wager outcome data; automatically determine and communicate the wagering telemetry data and the application resource data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, David Chang
  • Patent number: 10013853
    Abstract: Methods and systems for conducting a competition within a gaming environment. Two or more players can be enabled to electronically access a gaming environment over a communication network. The players can be registered to allow, access to a competition within the gaming environment. Each player can be enabled to compete against one or more other players by selecting from macro events displayed in the gaming environment one or more micro event outcomes to future micro events, the micro event outcomes randomized to prevent cheating. A selection of the micro outcomes utilizes a number of points or credits, wherein each selection of a micro outcome increases a selecting player's points or credit balance if the micro outcome occurs or decreases the points or credit balance if the micro outcome selected does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Micro-Gaming Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Shore, Alfonso G. Chan, Luis M. Ortiz, Kermit D. Lopez
  • Patent number: 10009186
    Abstract: A server device includes a storage unit that stores a database that records plural pairs of a user/device ID and a corresponding first parameter, the first parameter indicating an amount of data that the user or the device has a right to communicate via a predetermined network; a first obtaining unit that obtains a user/device ID and a corresponding retail ID from the information-processing device; an adding unit that performs, in a case that the first obtaining unit obtains a user/device ID and a retail ID, an adding process to add a predetermined second parameter to a first parameter corresponding to the user/device ID, from among the plurality of first parameters recorded in the database, the second parameter indicating an amount of data to be added; a second obtaining unit that obtains an amount of data in a communication performed by the information-processing device via the predetermined network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10008070
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing an electronic gaming table (10) that is adapted for playing a table game, which electronic gambling table (10). The table (10) includes a table top (20) provided with at least one substantially continuous playing surface (100) arranged for dynamically and substantially simultaneously displaying the current game status for at least two players participating in the game currently played on the electronic gaming table (10). The playing surface (100) is implemented by means of at least one touch screen (110) that is arranged to receive and detect touches from said plurality of players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Tangiamo AB
    Inventors: Mats Nordahl, Jonas Skoog, Wiktor Skoog
  • Patent number: 10002484
    Abstract: Provided is a paper sheet processing system capable of preventing a large number of wrong paper bills put in a paper sheet processing apparatus at one time from being exchanged with clean money. A bill processing apparatus sends information on a total amount of the bills supplied to the bill processing apparatus incorporated in a gaming machine and the number of games played by a player counted by a counter to a management server. The management server compares the total amount with a predetermined amount and if the total amount is higher than the predetermined amount, compares the counted number of games with a predetermined number. If the counted number of games is smaller than the predetermined number, the management server sends a report signal to a management apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Takeda
  • Patent number: 9999836
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods facilitate providing a user-defined channel that presents content from, for example, a virtual video playlist. The playlist may include raw or edited clips of user-generated video content (e.g., video game highlights, smart phone recordings). The clips may be edited with sound, text, graphics, special effects or in other ways and then organized into the playlist. The playlist may be organized to facilitate presenting a collection of clips as a continuous show. For example, a user may produce a playlist of goals scored in their favorite video game. The highlights may be of goals scored by the user, in which case the video may come from the user's device, or of goals scored by other players, in which case the video may come from another users device or playlist. Playback of the playlist may be manipulated with respect to order, frequency, or other parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Lampe, Matthew White, Aimee Freeding, James Shepherd
  • Patent number: 9997023
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of placing real-world wagers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers based on invitations to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the invitations even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the invitations. The system may provide an invitation to participate in a reveal opportunity. For example, the system may invite the user to play a specific game (e.g., “play this game to claim five dollars”), interact with multi-media content (e.g., “watch a video to win ten dollars”), challenge one or more other players (e.g., “challenge another player to win two dollars”), engage in some other objective, and/or otherwise accept an opportunity to reveal at least a portion of a payout that has not yet been revealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Game Play Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Fine, Jamison Selby
  • Patent number: 9990808
    Abstract: Games, lotteries, and/or sweepstakes as well as tickets, systems, technologies, and/or methods related thereto. In some embodiments, unique games and/or unique administrations of games and/or unique tickets useful for participating in games. In certain preferred embodiments, games which can be administrated or participated in contemporaneously with an event, such as a sporting event, music performance, or trade show (e.g., at the same time or during a live event). In certain of such preferred embodiments, participants in games make no payment to participate in the games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventors: Reidar Magnus Nordby, Finn Harald Andreassen, Nikolai Fasting
  • Patent number: 9990798
    Abstract: A multi-mode element interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive processing device constructed to: provide an interactive application display; communicate session initiation indication data and application telemetry data; receive wagering telemetry and application resource data; automatically configure a wagering user interface; and incorporate application resource data; a wager server constructed to: receive session wager request data; determine a plurality of wager outcomes; communicate session wager outcome data; receive wager outcome data; and automatically adjust a credit meter; and the process controller operatively connecting the interactive processing device and the wager server, constructed to: receive session initiation indication data; automatically communicate session wager request data; receive session wager outcome data; receive application telemetry data; determine whether to trigger a wager request; access a session wager outcome; automatically determine wagering telemet
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, Zachary Foley
  • Patent number: 9984533
    Abstract: A promotional game is conducted over participants' cell phones. During a play period, a participant advances on a virtual game board using cell phone commands. During the player period drawing entries are generated proportional to play on electronic gaming devices, play of the promotional game, or retail purchases. Some players receive a multiplier for their drawing entries to enhance chances of winning the promotional game. In one embodiment, the multiplier is removed for a player after a cutoff threshold for prizes awarded to that player is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: PATENT INVESTMENT & LICENSING COMPANY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 9984532
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a game implementer arranged to implement a game and to produce a game outcome, an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the game outcome corresponds to a winning outcome, and a win modification selector. The win modification selector is arranged to select a win modification identifier when a winning outcome exists from a plurality of win modification identifiers including a plurality of win multiply identifiers and at least one win reduce identifier. The gaming system also comprises a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize to a player when a winning outcome exists and to modify the allocated prize using the selected win modification identifier. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Stevens
  • Patent number: 9980117
    Abstract: Aspects disclosed herein relate to providing peer communications between NFC enabled devices using an active communication mode. In one example, a communications device is equipped to detect a remote NFC device field within an operating volume, establish a peer communication link with the remote NFC device using an active communication mode, determine that the peer communication link is to be deselected, and transmit a deselection request message to the remote NFC device indicating to the remote NFC device that it has been deselected while maintaining the peer communication link. In another example, a communications device is equipped to sense an operating volume, as part of an active communication mode collision avoidance procedure, determine that no field is sensed, initiate an unmodulated carrier as part of switching an operating field to an on state, and maintain the unmodulated carrier for a collision avoidance threshold duration of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: John Hillan, Anssi Kaleva Haverinen
  • Patent number: 9978213
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming devices. The central server tracks the occurrences of one or more suitable events occurring at or in association with one or more gaming devices in the gaming system. Upon the central server determining that the quantity of occurred events tracked has reached a designated quantity or threshold, (i.e., a triggering event has occurred), the gaming system provides a progressive award to one of the players at one of the gaming devices in the gaming system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jacob Thomas Graham, Gregory A. Schlottmann
  • Patent number: 9973801
    Abstract: A non-climactic period is forecasted during a live streaming of a main content, where a likelihood of an occurrence of any climactic event in the non-climactic period is below a threshold likelihood, and where a second content is inserted during the non-climactic period. A validation is requested from a first user of the live streaming, of the forecasted non-climactic period and a first response to the request is received from the first user. Based on the first response, a first rank of the first user is computed relative to another user in a group of responding users. A first dynamic delay period that has an inverse relationship with the first rank is computed for the first user. A first transmission of a future portion of the live streaming to the first user is delayed by at least the first dynamic delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael F. Baryla, Aaron K. Baughman, Mauro Marzorati, Ahmed M. Nassar
  • Patent number: 9972168
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for facilitating the funding of gaming and preferably the purchase of gaming vouchers (slot vouchers) with commercial bank cards and/or with casino and/or new credit accounts (private label) and/or affiliate/Networking permanent or temporary) and/or the prompting of opening of a new credit account, including an automated kiosk located on a gaming floor proximate to gaming machines but separate from particular gaming machines, and including method and apparatus for the purchase and redemption of vouchers at a gaming table, including reading and printing equipment in communication with a voucher host; also including a prompt to open new a gaming oriented line of credit, associated with a refusal of an EFT transaction, preferably a credit/debit card cash advance request, and including a preferred gaming oriented credit card account and card (private label and/or affiliate/Networking permanent or temporary) (including a patron selection coded card) having cash advance limits commensurate with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Everi Payments Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Edward Sanford, Thomas Michael Sears, Robert Vincent Connelly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9972161
    Abstract: A bonus display and gaming machine with a bonus display are disclosed. The bonus display includes a square video display arranged in a diamond pattern to display content such as a bonus wheel. Back illuminated inner and outer rings are mounted to cover at least portions of the video display and are back illuminated by, for example, light emitting diodes. To accommodate one or more pointers displayed on the video display the inner ring includes a cut-out to reveal each video pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon Bernard, Karl Wudtke
  • Patent number: 9962605
    Abstract: An online game is provided to users via client computing devices. Gameplay metrics are determined for users of the online game based on actions taken by the users in the online game. Secondary games are provided, where the potential awards provided by the secondary games are determined based on the gameplay metrics of the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Wei, Kevin Lee, Jay Jodway, David McNeill, Devin Nambiar
  • Patent number: 9959707
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine that provides passively triggered wagering is disclosed. In an entertainment game, passively actuated enabling elements are provided. Passively actuated enabling elements are enabling elements that are consumed through game play of the entertainment game but not directly through player action by a player. An entertainment system engine of the gambling hybrid game provides the entertainment game and determines when a passively actuated enabling element is consumed in the game. A game world controller of the gambling hybrid game determines when a gambling event in a gambling game is to be provided based upon the consumption of the passively actuated enabling element. The game world controller then requests that a real world engine of the gambling hybrid game resolve the gambling event in the gambling game. The real world engine then resolves the gambling event and associated wagers on the outcome of the gambling event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, Frank Cire
  • Patent number: 9959705
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to implementing a system to encourage cross platform operation in an online game. The online game may provide the ability to provide incentives for participating in cross platform game play. The system may monitor the player's performance on a particular console and provide incentives to accomplish tasks through game play on a different platform than the player is currently operating to play the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 9956488
    Abstract: A method of video game skill level adjustment includes determining a first genre of a first video game played by a user, extracting single-player progress data of the user for the first video game, multi-player result data of the user for the first video game and meta-goal data of the user for the first video game from at least one storage device. A history profile is created of the user for the first genre including the single-player progress data for the first video game, the multi-player result data for the first video game, and the meta-goal data for the first video game. A second genre is determined of a second video game played by the user. A starting value of an in-game skill of the second video game is adjusted prior to the user playing the second video game, based on the history profile for the first genre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hardee, Steve Joroff, Pamela A. Nesbitt, Scott E. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9959529
    Abstract: A customer device generates an order for purchasing one or more goods or services from a merchant. A list of the purchased items is stored in a data structure designated as a tab. The list is routed to a merchant device. The customer device is carried by a user to the merchant. When the user reaches the merchant, the customer device or merchant device can receive a request to add an additional item to the list of purchased items. The tab remains open and modifiable until the customer device or merchant device receives an input to close it. Payment for the goods or services listed in the modified tab is processed upon closing of the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajit Kalidindi Varma, Jesse Reiss
  • Patent number: 9953488
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing winning result opportunities in gaming activities. Embodiments involve identifying award-enhancing opportunities using dice, and enabling repetition of such award-enhancing opportunities based on the dice results until a terminating event occurs using the die/dice. Award-enhancing opportunities can be accumulated during the repetition, whereby payout opportunities of the gaming event from which the dice activity was initiated may be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Chad Shapiro, Adam Martin, Dustin Rients
  • Patent number: 9947174
    Abstract: A computer system includes a server computer that handles transactions with user devices to create and manage events, create and manage user accounts and process wagers. Transactions regarding wagers in connection with events can be processed in real-time. The wagers are processed using a payoff function that rewards participation and accurate information, yet does not permit arbitrage or otherwise reward splitting a wager by participating under multiple identities. To compute a payoff, a first score is computed based on the probability estimate by a participant and the outcome. A second score is computed based on an aggregate of wagers of all other participants for each participant, where the first score for the participant is no more than the second score for at least one outcome. The payoff for the participant is then computed as a function of the first score and the second score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nikhil Devanur Rangarajan, David Pennock, Jennifer Wortman Vaughan, Yiling Chen
  • Patent number: 9947175
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to generating and displaying a score related to the results of wagering by a player on an electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, a method for generating a score related to play on at least one electronic gaming device includes tracking the amount wagered on the gaming device, tracking the amount awarded by the gaming device, and generating a score related to the tracked amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: PATENT INVESTMENT & LICENSING COMPANY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 9947173
    Abstract: A system and method for providing performance video content in an online casino are disclosed. Players of the online casino may be facilitated to access (e.g., viewing, browsing and/or any other types of access) the performance video content and simultaneously play casino-style games provided in the online through casino interfaces. For incentivizing the players to engage the online casino, access to the performance video content may be differentiated based on progress by the players in the online casino. The access to the performance video content may be differentiated with respect to streaming quality, video resolution, types of content available, periods of access, means to access past video on demand, and/or any other aspects of accessing the performance video content within the online casino.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Big Fish Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Tennenhaus, Carey DiJulio
  • Patent number: 9939875
    Abstract: A power supply system for use with electronic gaming tables in a casino is disclosed. Each gaming table is associated with a unique iPDU and is viewed by one or more video cameras. When an electronic device in a table fails or is taken offline, regulatory personnel can review the video record that corresponds to the duration of the failure or offline status to determine whether the dealer or a bettor has caused the failure or offline status to come about.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: Raritan Americas, Inc., Sunbird Software, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wood, Bunty Nasta
  • Patent number: 9940791
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems and methods for instituting a metagame point system that may be integrated into an online video game network for one or more video game platforms. The metagame points system may increase or decrease a user's point total based upon user performance across a plurality of different video game titles. In some implementations, the points may be transferable between users based upon user performance during multiplayer video game play. In further implementations, the points earned by a user may be redeemable for various rewards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Eric Lempel, Dawn Cindy De Guzman, Taryn Hadfield
  • Patent number: 9940778
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and playing a plurality of live casino table games, comprising: a plurality of dealer game tables; a plurality of electronic handheld devices remotely located from the game tables configured to display a video of at least one game taking place at the plurality of game tables; a gaming server; and a network operatively coupling the gaming server to the game tables and the electronic handheld devices; wherein each electronic handheld device includes a display part comprising: a player wagering display area having a touch screen input configured to display a plurality of touch screen results bars that allow a player to switch between the plurality of the game table's videos in response to touching the touch screen results bar to provide a selected touch screen results bar; a video display area configured to display a video of at least one game taking place at the plurality of game tables, wherein the video being displayed corresponds to the selected touch screen results bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Jay Chun
  • Patent number: 9940665
    Abstract: A shop interface is presented to users in conjunction with presentation of views of an online game, wherein the shop interface is configured to facilitate presentations to users of offers to sell virtual items usable within the game in exchange for consideration. In response to detecting that the online game is systematically unavailable to users, an alternative virtual shop interface is presented to users that is accessed over the Internet separately from the online game, and offers to sell the virtual times usable within the game are presented to users in exchange for less consideration than the offers to sell the virtual items through the shop interface presented in conjunction with the online game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 9928502
    Abstract: Use of a mobile device for facilitating cashless wagering in a gaming system. An electronic gaming machine (EGM) receives account information of a user from the mobile device associated with the user. The mobile device wirelessly communicates the account information to the EGM. One or more financial transactions may be initialized between the mobile device and the EGM such that the initializing enables the mobile device to perform cashless wagering in the EGM for funding a bet associated with the account information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: John L. Curtin, Kelsy Grace, Leisa Glantz, Paul Heenan, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Jami Horner, Brent Merritt, Marcus J. Schwendener, Anthony Sofran, Shenea Strader, Brittany York
  • Patent number: 9919216
    Abstract: A video game processing program product causes a user terminal to realize functions to control progress of a video game in response to an operation of a user. The functions include: an updating function configured to update a position of a character on a virtual space on the basis of a moving operation by a user; a first displaying function configured to display a normal screen corresponding to the user on the basis of an update result; a second displaying function configured to display a photographing screen, on which an object other than a user character carries out a photographing action when the photographing operation is carried out, on the basis of a photographing operation; and a storing function configured to store at least a part of the photographing screen in a predetermined storage region on the basis of a storing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Kei Odagiri, Hiroaki Ohno
  • Patent number: 9919204
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system comprises a game controller module, a trigger satisfaction module, a metadata module, and a marker module. The game controller module may be configured to receive user control signals and execute gameplay based on the user control signals. The trigger satisfaction module may be configured to determine whether one or more events that occur during the gameplay satisfy one or more trigger conditions of a trigger. The metadata module may be configured to generate one or more trigger satisfaction indicators based on the satisfaction of the one or more trigger conditions of the trigger. The marker module may be configured to associate the one or more trigger satisfaction indicators with video of the gameplay to generate one or more game event markers to be used to enable a viewer to jump to one or more game segments associated with the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Michael Lewis, Hans Van Veenendaal, Jonathan Back, Thomas Bruckschlegel
  • Patent number: 9916725
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine that provides a gambling game and an entertainment game, including: a real world engine, an entertainment software engine, and a game world engine; the system constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credit from a wager in a gambling game, wagers triggered during an entertainment game; and to collect parameter data indicative of player performance during the player's skillful execution of the entertainment game at each of a plurality of difficulty settings, the parameter data indicative of the player's actions during the player's skillful execution of the entertainment game and indicative of a rate of accumulation of game world credit during the entertainment game; and select a difficulty setting from the plurality of difficulty settings for the skill based entertainment game based upon the collected parameter data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, Frank Cire
  • Patent number: 9916721
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine is provided. In an entertainment game, utilization of an entertainment game element by a player may trigger a wager in accordance with a gambling proposition. Based on the outcome of the wager, the player may be awarded an intermediate in-game resource for use in the entertainment game. The intermediate in-game resource may be used by the player to acquire an entertainment game resource or element that may be used to enhance the player's play of the entertainment game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Clifford Kaylin, Scott Shimmin
  • Patent number: 9916733
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing mutable awards in gaming devices. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to include processes where various properties, functions, characteristics, displays, or other award components have some dynamic variability between game play events on a gaming system or within a gaming device. Although not all, or even one, of the award components needs to be changed or mutated between game play events, the processes are configured to allow such award components to be changed or mutated within a predefined time frame, within a defined game event, or within another measurable criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Peter Berman, Jacob Lamb