Patents Examined by Allen Chan
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Patent number: 11325042Abstract: A method and system for verifying a client device's location in a parallel reality game hosted by a server. The client transmits its location to the server and receives verification instructions comprising a landmark and a verification pathway. The client prompts a player to capture image data of the landmark and, in response, receives a first set of image data of the landmark from an initial perspective. The client determines whether the first set of image data matches to the landmark before prompting the player to move along the verification pathway while capturing image data. The client receives a second set of image data of the landmark from a moving perspective. The client determines whether the second set of image data matches to an expected change in perspective of the landmark. Upon completion of the verification instructions, the client confirms to the server the client's location.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Niantic, Inc.Inventor: Hansong Zhang
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Patent number: 11318386Abstract: A game management system provides a generator interface that enables an operator to trigger automated generation by a content generator of a game event based on operator input values. These values include respective target values for a target metric (e.g., a difficulty level) for each of a plurality of game levels that are together to form the game event. In addition, the generator interface in some examples enables the operator to selectively vary the particular number of game levels that are together to form the game event, via an event sizing mechanism provided by the generator interface. A particular predefined group or cluster of players for whom the game event is to be tailored or customized based on multidimensional parametric player model data can also be selected in the interface.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Zynga Inc.Inventors: Luke Dicken, Johnathan Pagnutti, Yang Wen
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Patent number: 11318379Abstract: A game server according to one embodiment includes a communication interface and a processor configured to receive a note at a specific location in a game from a user, match the note with the specific location, and store the note to a storage medium, and when the specific location is displayed on a gaming device of the user, output the note through the gaming device.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: NCSOFT CorporationInventor: Kyu Hyun Kim
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Patent number: 11315388Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a physical game element such as a wagering chip or a playing card may be utilized to implement a promotion scheme on an electronic card table (e.g., using RFID or optical imaging technology). During a game it may be determined whether the element is associated with special functionality (e.g., entitles the player to a payout multiplier, special payout table, bonus prize or other benefit). The special functionality may have been previously associated with the element or associated with the element during the game (e.g., dynamically and/or randomly). In accordance with some embodiments a player is not able to readily discern the special functionality by a physical inspection of the physical game element and is only notified of the special functionality once the physical game element is used in a qualifying action (e.g., during a wager at an electronic card table).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Walker Digital Table Systems, LLCInventors: Stephen Moore, Michael Russell, Mark Hettinger
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Patent number: 11305183Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for tactile signal generation, and a computer device. The method includes: obtaining target scene tactile information, the target scene tactile information including a target scene category and a target tactile sensation category corresponding to the target scene category; obtaining a basic frequency band tactile signal set corresponding to the target scene category, the basic frequency band tactile signal set including a plurality of basic frequency band tactile signals, and generating a target tactile signal based on the target tactile sensation category and the basic frequency band tactile signal set. In this way, the generation of the tactile sensation can be more flexible and diverse.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Xiuyue Wang, Jianqi Li
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Patent number: 11298616Abstract: A social game capable of informing a player of the attractiveness of a group fighting event is disclosed herein. A server device comprises: an information storage unit that stores information on the game; and a control unit that executes an arithmetic operation relating to the game and performs processing to display an image of the game at the terminal devices. The information storage unit stores, as a part of the information on the game, information on a fighting event, and the control unit performs processing to, in accordance with an instruction from a player, display the information on the fighting event at a terminal device operated by the player.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: GREE, INC.Inventor: Tomoki Yasuhara
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Patent number: 11285393Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to determining acoustic properties of audio sources in virtual environments. One example provides a method comprising receiving a query on behalf of a non-player entity regarding an audio source, the query including a position of the non-player entity, and based at least on the position of the non-player entity, determining one or more acoustic properties of sound emitted by the audio source at the position of the non-player entity by accessing a position-indexed data structure comprising one or more values for one or more audio cues, each value influencing a corresponding acoustic property of sound emitted by the audio source at a corresponding position. The method further comprises providing the one or more determined acoustic properties to the application, where the application is configured to control behavior of the non-player entity based at least on the one or more determined acoustic properties.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael George Chemistruck, Nikunj Raghuvanshi, Kyle Robert Storck, Noel Richard Cross
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Patent number: 11278815Abstract: A gaming headset receives a plurality of audio channels during play of a particular game, determines an identity and/or an age of a gamer that is wearing the gaming headset, and configures operation of the gaming headset based on the determined identity and/or age of the gamer. The gaming headset logs into the particular game using credentials associated with the determined identity and/or age, and selects settings based on the determined identity and/or age of the gamer that is wearing the gaming headset. One or more sensors communicatively coupled to the gaming headset may be activated and information received from the sensors is utilized to determine the identity and/or the age of the gamer that is wearing the gaming headset. The sensors determine, for example, the head size, ear size, voice characteristics and/or biometric information for the gamer that is wearing the gaming headset.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.Inventors: Richard Kulavik, Michael A. Jessup
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Patent number: 11278810Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for placing or moving a virtual menu (e.g., virtual object) to an adjusted virtual position within a virtual reality scene based on the ability of a user. The method includes capturing, by a computing system, head mounted display (HMD) gameplay by a user of a video game being executed on the computing system. The HMD presents virtual reality scene to the user. The method includes monitoring, by the computing system, physical actions of the user while the user is wearing the HMD and interacting with the virtual reality scene during the gameplay. The method includes identifying, by the computing system, an attempt by the user to make an input at a virtual object in the virtual reality scene based on the physical actions. The method includes generating, by the computing system, a movement of the virtual object from an initial virtual position in the virtual reality scene to an adjusted virtual position in the virtual reality scene.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Mario M. Sarria, Jr., Warren Benedetto
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Patent number: 11266908Abstract: Provided is a game system including at least one processor configured to execute predetermined game processing based on an object group including a plurality of objects, the at least one processor being configured to: display first object information on each of the plurality of objects included in the object group, on a display; add a selected object to the object group; and display second object information for identifying the object added to the object group, on the display.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yukihiro Yamazaki, Kazuya Matsumoto, Saori Akune
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Patent number: 11253777Abstract: The present disclosure provides a game operation optimization method and a mobile device. The method includes: in response to detecting that a game application is operating on the mobile device, reading a button configuration file corresponding to the game application; in response to detecting a first button event corresponding to the first button, converting the first button event into a second button event corresponding to the second button according to the button configuration file; and controlling a first content of the game application according to the second button event.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Acer IncorporatedInventors: Wei-Ren Lin, An-Cheng Lee, Sheng-Lin Chiu, Ying-Shih Hung, Chia-Hsien Tsou
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Patent number: 11257321Abstract: A method of merging a plurality of games into a single game on a gaming machine. A display displays first and second games. A game controller determines if a wager has been placed, and if the wager placed includes a base game wager and a game enhancement wager. Upon determining that the wager placed includes a base game wager and a game enhancement wager, the game controller merges the first and second games and a plurality of display positions into a merged game. The merged game selects symbols from the first game and the second game.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Thomas Tuomey, Bradley Hendricks
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Patent number: 11241621Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a video game processing program for causing a server to perform functions regarding a search of a moving route in a virtual space is provided. The functions include a setting function, an arranging function, a thinning function, and a searching function. The setting function is configured to set a navigation mesh corresponding to a movable area of an object in a virtual space. The arranging function is configured to arrange a plurality of waypoints on the set navigation mesh in accordance with a predetermined arrangement rule. The thinning function is configured to thin out some waypoints, which are selected in accordance with a predetermined selection rule, from the plurality of waypoints thus arranged. The searching function is configured to search a moving route of the object on a basis of arrangement of the plurality of thinned waypoints.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.Inventors: Youichiro Miyake, Makoto Hasegawa
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Patent number: 11244534Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure can include methods and apparatus for electronic gaming. The methods and apparatus can include hosting and/or executing a computer game that can include one or more contestants. The methods and apparatus can include displaying the contest to contestants and noncontestants. And the methods and apparatus can include receiving a wager from a wagerer regarding an outcome of the contest.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Racing Reels LimitedInventor: Wayne K. Stevens
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Patent number: 11241629Abstract: A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Kabam, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Tsao, John Kim, David McNeill, Albert Wei, Christopher Yu, Kevin Chanthasiriphan
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Patent number: 11238692Abstract: A method of playing a feature game on a gaming machine. A display displays a first game and a second game. A game controller determines if a merging condition occurs, and if a merging condition occurs, animates a merging of the first game and the second game into a merged game at the display. The merged game has a plurality of display positions from the first game, the second game, and a set of additional display positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Thomas Tuomey
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Patent number: 11235232Abstract: Provided is a game machine capable of providing guidance so that, at an appropriate timing, the player performs the action of changing from a contacting state in which he/she is contacting a predetermined region to a non-contacting state in which such contact is not performed. The game machine provides a dance game for providing guidance about the performance timing of a dance step, and evaluating the actual step performance timing. The game machine comprises a stage sensor that detects a contacting state in which a foot of a player is contacting a treading surface of the stage, and detects a non-contacting state where such contact is not performed. The game machine also provides guidance about the time of a foot-lifting action as the step performance timing, and evaluates the time as the actual step performance timing, so that a foot-lifting action changing functions as the dance step.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: KONAMI AMUSEMENT CO.. LTD.Inventors: Toru Miki, Masahiro Kiyomoto, Rei Takano, Atsushi Usami
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Patent number: 11229838Abstract: Methods and systems for managing processing resources of an online game include executing the online game for one or more users. Each user is provided access to virtual locations in a gaming world of the online game. A compute is assigned for processing gaming interactivity of the one or more users in the gaming world. A number of users accessing a region within a virtual location are determined. When the number of users exceeds a predefined limit for the compute assigned to the users in the region, the region is divided into a plurality of sub-regions and additional compute is assigned for the region so that the compute and the additional compute can process gaming interactivity for the users in each of the sub-regions defined in the gaming world.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLCInventor: Kelvin Yong
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Patent number: 11219830Abstract: A non-limiting example game system comprises a processor incorporated in a main body apparatus, and the processor causes a player character to dig the ground based on an operation input of a player, thereby to form a hole. Water is placed in the hole, whereby a water place is formed. A shape of the water place is changed by expanding the hole, and when the water place has a long shape, the water is controlled so as to flow. When the water place is not a long shape, the water does not flow. That is, a river or a pond is formed in a game field based on an operation input of the player. When causing a player character to perform fishing based on an operation input of the player, different processing is executed between the river and the pond.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.Inventors: Kotaro Hiromatsu, Yoshihiko Ito, Koji Takahashi
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Patent number: 11213748Abstract: A system and method for launching gameplay from streaming content is provided. Information regarding media content may be stormed in memory. Such media content may have at least one or more trigger points and each trigger point may be associated with a set of game data specific to a gameplay scene within an interactive title. The media content may be streamed to a user device over a communication network. A selection of one of the at least one or more trigger points may be received over the communication network from the user device. Identifying the set of game data associated with the selected trigger point may be identified and the interactive title for gameplay may be launched by the user device based on the identified set of game data associated with the selected trigger point.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.Inventor: Alexander Jarzebinski