Patents Assigned to Konami Gaming, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10885738
    Abstract: A gaming system provides a center control unit and a plurality of gaming stations. The center control unit is provides a main game to a plurality of players. The center control unit is configured to randomly establish an outcome of the main game from a plurality of potential outcomes. The gaming stations accept a wager on the main game from respective players, receives the outcome of the main game and pays an award to one of the players as a function of the outcome of the main game. The center control unit randomly establishes one of the players as eligible for a bonus game, selects one of the potential outcomes of the main game as a bonus game eligible outcome, and if the bonus game eligible outcome is the outcome of the main game, provides a bonus game to the bonus game eligible player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mukasa Shigehito, Osaki Yukihiro, Ueki Kyohei, Tada Ikki, Tezuka Yoshiaki, Mizoguchi Masao, Mizoguchi Toshiyuki
  • Patent number: 10878665
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing multiple games to a player with the same reel is described herein. The gaming machine displays a first game that includes a first portion of a reel in a first display area and concurrently displays a second game that includes a second portion of the reel being displayed in a second display area. The gaming machine randomly generates an outcome of the first game and spins and stops the at least one reel to display the first game outcome in the first display area and awards the player an award as a function of the first game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Suda
  • Patent number: 10878657
    Abstract: A networked casino management computer system is described herein. The networked casino management computer system includes a facial recognition system and a casino management server. The facial recognition system includes a facial recognition server system programmed to receive a video image from an imaging device located within a casino property, retrieve a biometric data record having image data matching the received video image, and transmit a notification signal including a corresponding face ID included in the retrieved biometric data record and a imaging device location ID to the casino management server. The casino management server is programmed to access a user account database and identify a known user account record having a user face ID matching the corresponding face ID, identify a gaming device associated with the imaging device location ID and transmit a session initiation signal to the identified gaming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Soukup, Edward Sepich, Jeffrey George, Jason Bertsch
  • Patent number: 10861283
    Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit programmed display a game screen including a primary game area and a bonus feature event area. The control unit displays the plurality of credit prize symbols in the bonus feature event area with each credit prize symbol being associated with a corresponding special symbol and having an associated credit value. The control unit spins and stops the plurality of virtual reels to display an outcome of the game and determines an amount of credits based on the credit value of each displayed credit prize symbol that is associated with the special symbol displayed in the outcome of the primary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10861287
    Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a first feature symbol display area, a second feature symbol display area and a third feature display area. Each display area includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The control unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and is configured to provide a primary game and a feature game. The three display areas are used in the feature game in turn. Any appearance of a predetermined symbol in one of the display areas is copied in to the next display area(s) in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10839654
    Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each column having an associated reel, each reel having an associated reel strip, each reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol cells in a predetermined order defining a reel layout, at least one of the reel strips having a second reel layout, the second reel layout having an identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions. The controller is configured to replace the reel layout with the second reel layout in the at least one of the reel strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
  • Patent number: 10818139
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a first display area with a first grid of cells, and a second display area with a second grid of cells. The first symbol display area includes a first plurality of cells arranged in a first grid. The control unit randomly establishes a bonus pattern of symbols in the second grid of cells and copies the bonus pattern of symbols into the first grid of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 10810844
    Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Rucker
  • Patent number: 10803708
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine, method and program for providing a game that can achieve a game progression more rich in variation than a conventional gaming machine and provide a player with more entertainment value. Providing, on a reel of the gaming machine 1, a static symbol region that statically displays a symbol selected from a first symbol set, and a dynamic symbol region that, after displaying while varying symbols included in a second symbol set, stops the variation and indicates a predetermined symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10796531
    Abstract: A bonus device and method are set forth for gaming machines. The bonus device is configured as a two dimensional display or three dimensional object, such as a sphere, box, or football shape, which can be controlled to rotate, spin or move to display a bonus. The bonus device is embedded with display technology that allows the bonus amounts, to change upon certain conditions in the base game such as an increased number of credits wagered, combinations achieved in the base game, or other random occurrences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Mayeroff
  • Patent number: 10769887
    Abstract: A gaming system including a casino management server coupled to a plurality of gaming machines is described herein. The casino management server includes a processor programmed to initiate a bonus award feature, identify gaming machines associated with the bonus award feature, and determine a bonus award associated with the bonus award feature. The bonus award includes a first award value associated with a carded player account and a second award value associated with an un-carded anonymous player wagering session and/or account. The processor selects gaming machines having gaming sessions associated with un-carded anonymous players and displays a message notifying the player of the first award value associated with a carded player account and the second award value associated with an un-carded anonymous player. The processor also downloads the second award value to a corresponding gaming credit meter of each selected gaming machine associated with un-carded anonymous players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Soukup, Edward Sepich, Jeffrey George, Jason Bertsch
  • Patent number: 10733845
    Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit programmed to initiate an instance of a primary game and spin and stop virtual reel strips to display an outcome of the primary game. The control unit detects an appearance of a winning combination of game symbols in the outcome and provides an initial award based on the winning combination, and detects an appearance of the collect symbol and a credit prize symbol in the outcome, determines an amount of credits associated with the credit prize symbol, and a bonus award including the determined amount of credits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Suda, William Langston
  • Patent number: 10726679
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine a processor programmed to initiate a skill contest game and display a skill contest game on a display device, and determine a number of skill events being included in the skill contest game. Each skill event includes an image being displayed in a corresponding user input button for a predefined event time period. The processor determines a reference point total as a function of the number of skill events, and determines a normalized skill game point total based on the total amount of base points and the reference point total, determines an award as a function of the normalized skill game point total, and adjusts the credit balance based on the award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
  • Patent number: 10706662
    Abstract: A gaming system including one or more gaming machines provides a game to one or more players. The game includes a primary game and a bonus game with first and second features. In the first feature a plurality of objects are presented to a player. The player is allowed to select one of the objects and an associated award may be awarded. Any unselected objects are added to an escrow meter. In the second feature, the player is allowed to select one or more of the escrow objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Ohno, Satoshi Suda, Yuji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10699533
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller generates a skill event associated with the skill-based wagering game and randomly selects a skill event record associated with the skill event from a database. The controller receives a player's selection input from a user input device in response to the displayed skill event, determines a player skill level value based on the received player's selection, determines an award value included in the selected skill event record based on the player skill level value; and adjusts the credit balance based on the determined award value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
  • Patent number: 10679461
    Abstract: A system for providing an award to a player is described herein. The system includes a plurality of gaming devices and a controller coupled to each of the gaming devices. Each gaming device is configured to receive a wager from a player and responsively display a game. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a wager being received by at least one of the gaming devices, determine a range of award numbers as a function of at least one previous wager, randomly select an award number from the range of award numbers, and responsively provide an award to the player being associated with the at least one gaming device as a function of the randomly selected award number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Suda, Arthur Lee
  • Patent number: 10679468
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine that can provide a new type of game that maintains or improves the interest of a player, and a method and program for providing a game. In the gaming machine 1, by removing symbols of a particular type and moving a following symbol, the ratio of symbols of types other than the particular type becomes higher in the symbol array formed on the display unit 27, and it is easier for the symbol array to configure a winning combination. Because the chance of winning is higher after the particular type of symbol is removed in this manner, it is possible to provide a new type of game where the interest of the player can be maintained or improved after the symbols are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10614664
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine displays a primary game including a plurality of reels and spins and stops the reels to display the outcome of the primary game. The gaming machine detects a first triggering condition appearing in the outcome of the primary game and responsively initiates a bonus award game upon detecting the first triggering condition, and detects a second triggering condition appearing in the outcome of the primary game and responsively initiates a free game feature upon detecting the second triggering condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10614675
    Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit that displays a plurality of symbols in a determination area, changes and stops a plurality of symbols displayed on the display unit according to an operation of a player received from an operation unit, and a control unit that pays a payout according to the symbol stopped inside of the determination area, a control unit displays an object that shows a symbol inside of a virtual three-dimensional space that extends a column of the determination area in a depth direction on the display unit, aligns a plurality of objects in a depth direction in a non-determination area and the determination area, and changes a plurality of symbols by moving the plurality of objects along in a depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10600281
    Abstract: A networked computer system, comprising a plurality of gaming machines and a server computer system coupled to each of the plurality of gaming machines, comprising: a database server computer programmed to: generate and store a program file including a plurality of player account records, and an application server computer programmed to: receive a first NFC ID from the player tracking device; access the plurality of player account records and select a player account record having an NFC ID matching the received first NFC ID; retrieve the player tracking information included in the selected player account record; display the retrieved player tracking information on the corresponding player tracking device and allow the player to modify player tracking information using the player tracking device; monitor gaming activity associated with the corresponding gaming machines; and modify the selected player account record to include information associated with the monitored gaming activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Sepich, Thomas E. Soukup, Jeffrey George