Patents Examined by Allen Chan
  • Patent number: 11478708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for constructing an interactive virtual object in a virtual environment implemented in a computer, wherein the computer comprises one or more input devices and one or more output devices providing a user interface allowing a user to interact with the virtual environment, wherein the virtual environment comprises a first virtual construction element carrying a first interactive behavior and a second virtual construction element not carrying the first interactive behavior, wherein the first and second virtual construction elements are connectable to each other by means of a coupling mechanism to form a combined virtual object, and wherein the first virtual construction element imparts the first interactive behavior to the combined virtual object when the first and second construction elements are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: LEGO A/S
    Inventors: Anders Tankred Holm, Rasmus Bjørndal Harr, Nicolaas Johan Bernardo Vás, Mads Beck Purup, Brian Bunch Christensen, Niels Bross
  • Patent number: 11468742
    Abstract: Systems and method for providing a slot-type game in which a game outcome is reached that includes an active area and an inactive area, with any awards being determined by the position of randomly generated symbols in the active area, the active area increasing in size to include additional positions of randomly generated symbols from the inactive area responsive to an occurrence of a triggering event, wherein the triggering event is based on the satisfaction of a preset criteria associated with the active area of the game outcome, may result in enhanced awards and may be triggered one or more instances thereafter by the satisfaction of the preset criteria associated with the increased active area, each instance of being triggered resulting in the active area increasing in size until a maximum active area is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Aimin Cong
  • Patent number: 11458384
    Abstract: A pinball machine includes a cabinet, an inclined playfield, and a ball operable across an upperside of the playfield to conduct a gameplay. A plurality of playfield accessories are mounted to the playfield and configured to interact with the ball during gameplay. A controller operates to control gameplay. The pinball machine includes a network connection operably coupling the controller to a network and a remote server. An access device is configured to identify a user and receive authorization from the controller and the remote server to allow the user to conduct a gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Stern Pinball, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Guidarelli, George A. Gomez
  • Patent number: 11452934
    Abstract: A tilt detection system including a roulette wheel, at least one inclination sensor positioned on or within a rim of the roulette wheel, and a display module comprising a plurality of light outputs. The tilt detection system can obtain positional data during operation of the roulette wheel and determine tilt data indicative of the roulette wheel's position relative to a baseline indicative of a leveled state. A roulette wheel tilt status, e.g., level, warning, and error, may be determined based on the tilt data, and a display module can activate the plurality of light outputs based on the tilt status. Two or more stepper motors may lever the roulette wheel in response to the tilt status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: INTERBLOCK D.O.O.
    Inventor: Urban Bergant
  • Patent number: 11452937
    Abstract: To provide a game program of high interest is an object. Switching between a manual control and an automatic control of a first player character. Performing an automatic control of a second player character acting as an ally of the first player character. The automatic control of the first player character is executed based on different action setting from the automatic control of the second player character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Hamaguchi, Teruki Endo
  • Patent number: 11439904
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for imparting dynamic, non-linear and realistic movement and look and feel to a player's/virtual character's first-person limbs and hand-held object model, and procedurally animating a first-person virtual camera such that it simulates the movement of a camera handheld by the player/virtual character. To impart chaotic or random motion to the first-person limbs and hand-held object model a first module defines and implements first and second two dimensional mass-spring-damper systems, each of which is linked to the player's/virtual vector's view vector. Procedural animation or rotational shake is implemented by a second module by applying a coherent noise function to each of the six axes of the first-person virtual camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew John Stine, Cody Palmatier Pierson
  • Patent number: 11436893
    Abstract: A method of executing a sports fantasy wagering event among multiple players executed through player terminals to one or more servers, each of the player terminals comprising: one or more processors; player input controls; a communications component to connect the player terminal to a gaming platform running on the one or more servers; wherein the sports fantasy event is a single player game competing against multiple other single players that is dependent upon verifiable sports event outcomes in sports events; wherein each of the players select individual sports players or sports team performances, even if other ones of the multiple players have selected same individual sports players or sports team performances; and the one or more servers generate an amended point outcome based on reducing numbers of points awarded to each of the multiple players inversely based on numbers of the players having selected any identical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Mark A. Litman
  • Patent number: 11420128
    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 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Pieron, Byung Gon Yoo, Thomas Baxter, Dylan Swift
  • Patent number: 11406885
    Abstract: A variety of improvements to portable electronic devices are disclosed, particularly electronic devices designed for use in and around water. The improvements include a more secure interface jack, improved waterproofing techniques, improved battery stability, and improved device functionality. One or more of the disclosed improvements may be incorporated into a variety of portable electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: UNDERWATER AUDIO LLC
    Inventors: Todd E. Walker, Scott E. C. Walker, Francis Alexander Zinsli
  • Patent number: 11410491
    Abstract: The management and control device uses the information acquired from the measurement device to detect a total bet amount of the chips placed on the bet area of the game table by the game participants, and uses the information acquired from the card shoe and the measurement device to detect a winning or losing amount for the game organizer. A sales balance management part compares a sales profit ratio that is a ratio of the winning or losing amount for the game organizer to the total bet amount with a theoretical profit ratio or a previous average profit ratio, and outputs a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ANGEL GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 11406901
    Abstract: A method for tracking game asset locations is disclosed. Content is created for an application using a first asset. The first asset includes asset data that describes at least a part of the content associated with the asset. The asset data is placed within one or more files within a location within one or more memories. A catalog associated with the application is created on the server. A catalog entry is created for the first asset. The catalog entry includes an address that uniquely identifies the first asset. A request is received from the application for asset data associated with the first asset, the request including the address. The address and the catalog are used to determine location data associated with the address. The determined location data is used to retrieve the asset data at the determined location. The retrieved asset data is returned to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Unity IPR ApS
    Inventors: Joachim Christoph Ante, Stephen Joseph Palmer, Paul Emile Burslem, William David Ramsour, Ryan Caltabiano, Joseph Franklin Scheinberg
  • Patent number: 11400363
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus connected to a controller device equipped with proximity sensors that are provided for at least respective fingers of a user, estimating amounts of bending of the fingers of the user using a first method on the basis of detection results from the proximity sensors, estimating a posture and a shape of a hand of the user using a second method different from the first estimation method, and correcting by using information estimated by the first method, information regarding an amount of movement of each finger in a bending direction in information regarding the posture and the shape of the hand of the user estimated by the second method to generate information relating to the posture and the shape of the hand of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ohashi, Kazuyuki Arimatsu
  • Patent number: 11395969
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes: an input interface configured to receive from a user an input for controlling a movement route of a virtual object arranged in a virtual game space; a memory configured to store arrangement information in the virtual game space and computer readable instructions, the arrangement information being associated with the virtual object; a display configured to display predetermined information; and a processor configured to arrange the virtual object at a predetermined position in the virtual game space based on the arrangement information stored in the memory, calculate a predicted route, along which the virtual object will move from the predetermined position, based on the input via the input interface, and output the predicted route to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventors: Mie Terada, Kento Takeda, Atsushi Kaneko, Tadahiro Shiraishi, Masahito Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 11389720
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating a convenient transfer of control elements for a gaming session from one device to another device without interrupting the gaming session for one or more players. For example, systems disclosed herein include pairing an input device (e.g., a gaming controller) with one or more client devices. Once paired, the input device may detect a trigger condition based on proximity of a registered client device to the input device. The client device may pull control of one or more control elements for the gaming session. The client device may then continue the gaming session without interrupting the experience for the user or for other users that may be engaged within the gaming session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Ray Maitlen, Christopher Michael Novak, Telmen Gerel Dzjind, Aron Richard Chavez, Joseph Wheeler, Tyler Paul Esselstrom
  • Patent number: 11383164
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for creating a non-curated viewing perspective in a video game platform based on a curated viewing perspective. For example, a user may be viewing a gameplay video of a video game. The user may be interested in viewing the same gameplay from a different perspective in the video game. Accordingly, a media guidance application may identify the video game in the video and retrieve video game engine data associated with the video game, to replicate, on a video game console, the gameplay depicted in the video. The user may be able to change the perspective (e.g., in-game position of the camera and the camera angle) within the replicated video game platform, via user commands. In response to receiving a user command to change the curated viewing perspective to a non-curated viewing perspective, the media guidance application may re-render the gameplay from the non-curated viewing perspective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce Yen
  • Patent number: 11373477
    Abstract: On a network of electronic gaming machines, data regarding the performance of the machines or the players of the machines is collected and processed to make predictions of future jackpots and recommendations of games to play. The predictions and recommendations are delivered via at least one virtual persona that communicates with players or potential players via displays in a casino or on a web browser, via smartphone. Players can conduct conversations with the persona using cellular telephone, text messaging, or other types of Internet communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 11364428
    Abstract: The present invention is not a method of directly calculating the rotational characteristics of a ball through frequency analysis of a received signal as in the prior arts, but a method of determining a final spin information by finding the spin information of the moving ball while approaching a ball trajectory predicted in terms of the trajectory of a moving ball using the position coordinate data of the ball to the trend data indicating the trend of the position coordinates of the moving ball. The present invention provides a method of finding the spin in terms of the trajectory of the moving ball, regardless of whether it is possible to check the frequency characteristics of the rotation of the ball from the signal reflected from the moving ball, and thus derives a fairly accurate and uniform spin calculation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: GOLFZON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sea Jung Oh, Tae Suk Ko, Kang Yoon Lim, Soo Ho Chang
  • Patent number: 11358060
    Abstract: In an aspect, fantasy sports data is analyzed to generate and/or manage the delivery of and user experience of fantasy sports games and contests, including timing and payout structure(s) for short-term fantasy contests, such as daily, weekly, etc. fantasy sports contests, that motivate and appeal to contestants and is/are reasonably structured and concisely represented. In yet another aspect, a daily fantasy contest system is provided to automatically adjust to user demand without overshooting profitable levels and offer a variety of different contests, as well as offer contests with guaranteed and non-guaranteed payouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: YAHOO ASSETS LLC
    Inventors: Justin Thaler, Maxim Sviridenko, Edo Liberty, Prerit Uppal, Ron Belmarch, Jerry Shen
  • Patent number: 11359893
    Abstract: Methods and systems for playing field football dart game. The method includes receiving request to start field football dart game from player device. The method includes presenting user interface (UI) of field football dart gaming application on player device based on received request. The UI includes a dartboard with one or more darts, yard field with yard lines, football placed on yard field, a scoreboard associated with each player, a timer and a plurality of actionable buttons. The method further includes facilitating playing of field football dart game by receiving dart inputs in response to throws of physical darts on physical dartboard by players, and moving football placed on yard field in response to dart inputs in field football dart gaming application and a plurality of pre-defined rules. The dart inputs are provided by one or more players by moving darts on dartboard in field football dart gaming application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: Carlton Brown Harvey
  • Patent number: 11344793
    Abstract: To achieve a pseudo experience of launching a shuriken with improved presence feeling. A game device includes: a housing; a light source; an optical mechanism; a movement detection sensor; and a light source driver. The housing is configured to be held on a first palm of an operator. The housing includes a front protruding portion which protrudes forward and an upper surface which faces upward. The light source is housed in the housing and configured to emit light. The optical mechanism is housed in the housing and projects the light from the light source forward from a tip of the front protruding portion. The movement detection sensor detects forward movement of a second palm of the operator on the upper surface, wherein the second palm is different from the first palm. The light source driver drives the light source based on movement detection by the movement detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Takashi Araki