Patents Examined by Damon Pierce
  • Patent number: 10046220
    Abstract: A swing analysis device for analyzing a swing of a ball hitting tool includes: an information input unit configured to receive input of acceleration information and angular velocity information detected by a sensor attached to the ball hitting tool; a posture calculation unit configured to calculate posture information of the ball hitting tool in the swing by applying a predetermined filter to the acceleration information and the angular velocity information; a correction unit configured to correct the posture information of the ball hitting tool in the swing based on the posture information of the ball hitting tool at a first time in the swing; and a swing information calculation unit configured to calculate a swing trajectory of the ball hitting tool based on the acceleration information and the posture information of the ball hitting tool corrected by the correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: MIZUNO CORPORATION, AKITA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shohei Shibata, Takeshi Naruo, Kiyoshi Hirose
  • Patent number: 10042748
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automated discovery of gaming preferences and delivery of gaming choices based gaming preferences are disclosed. The systems and methods may operate in real time and may detect and analyze data representing various game features and/or game player behavior and match the data with predetermined models, profiles or game player types. Game choices may then be presented to the game player based on the analysis of the data. Systems and methods to analyze and categorize the game player behavior are also disclosed, including mining data in a cluster model based analysis to identify and develop the models, profiles or game player types and to select the games to be provided for each of the identified models, profiles or game player types. A different collection of games may be provided for each of the identified models, profiles or game player types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: Bharat Kumar Gadher, Andrew R. McIntyre, Fayez Idris
  • Patent number: 10032340
    Abstract: A gaming system and a gaming method for a reel-based game that includes a sequence of letters are described. During a game session, the selected plurality of letters are associated with a plurality of letter display elements. Additionally, each letter in the plurality of letters is compared to a particular letter limit. The operations include identifying a selected letter from the plurality of letters that exceeds the particular letter limit (or an excess letter) and replacing a letter display element associated with the excess letter with a display element selected from a group that includes a blank display element and a wild display element. The operations then proceed to display the plurality of letter display elements and the blank display element or the wild display element on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: Gregory J. Cohen
  • Patent number: 10026256
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for facilitating participation in a gaming activity. A reel configuration of a plurality of reels is presented, where each of the reels includes one or more associated gaming symbols. The presentation of the gaming symbols is modified on the plurality of reels, such as by spinning the reels or otherwise changing which symbols are presented on the reels. A replacement reel is presented, to supersede or otherwise supplant at least one of the gaming symbols of the reel configuration. Results of the gaming activity are established using the gaming symbols of the plurality of reels and the replacement reel. The result is thereby based on a resulting presentation of symbols that includes both the symbols of the primary reel configuration and the symbol(s) of the replacement reel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Ryan Strand, Adam Martin
  • Patent number: 10019869
    Abstract: The present invention involves methods and devices for controlling many aspects of a player's gaming experience, including game themes presented, game denomination, pay models, content and promotions. Some implementations of the invention provide a casino operator the necessary tools to create subsets of customers, often referred to herein as “communities,” and to control the gaming experiences of players in these communities. In some such implementations, communities may be created and/or modified according to various criteria, some of which may be weighted more heavily than others. Specific marketing messages, promotions, etc., may be provided to attract and retain players having similar characteristics and preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Andy O. Bryson, Richard Fishman
  • Patent number: 10019871
    Abstract: A prepaid interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including a wager controller operatively connecting an outcome server and an application controller, the wager controller constructed to: receive a plurality of computer-generated tokens; determine and communicate token information; receive wagering outcomes and token identifications, each token of the plurality of tokens corresponds with a wagering outcome and token identification; receive wager request instructions; determine and communicate wagering outcome; and communicate the token identification; the outcome server constructed to: receive and authenticate the token information; when the plurality of tokens are valid, communicate wagering outcomes and token identifications; receive the token identification; and store the token identification; and the application controller constructed to: determine whether to trigger a wager; when a wager is triggered, generate the wager request instructions; communicate the wager request instructions; receive the wager
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 9993729
    Abstract: A method is provided, including: receiving, over a network by a cloud gaming server computer, a request from a client device to initiate gameplay of a cloud video game; responsive to the request, assigning the client device to a first data center from which to stream the gameplay of the cloud video game; responsive to the request, initiating transfer of user save data over the network from a second data center to the first data center; loading the cloud video game on a cloud gaming machine at the first data center, the loading of the cloud video game including loading of generic save data; initiating interactive gameplay of the cloud video game with the generic save data; during the interactive gameplay, completing the transfer of the user save data to the first data center; applying the user save data to update the execution of the cloud video game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: David Perry, Christian Rickeby
  • Patent number: 9987554
    Abstract: A method for enhancing detection of a user's hand relative to a head-mounted display (HMD) is described. The method includes sensing a disrupted portion of energy by sensors integrated within a pad device. The disrupted portion of the energy is generated when the hand of the user interferes with the energy. The plurality of sensors that sense the disrupted portion of the energy produce an energy image that mirrors a current position of the hand. The method includes repeating the sensing continuously to produce a stream of energy images. The method includes communicating the stream of energy images to a game console for processing each of the energy images to produce a model of the hand and movement of the model of the hand. The model of the hand is at least partially rendered as a virtual hand in a virtual environment that is displayed in the HMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Todd Tokubo
  • Patent number: 9989337
    Abstract: A dart game system comprising a steel-tipped dart, a sisal dart board, at least one first mobile computing scoring device comprising a scoring interface, and a remote mobile computing device adapted to receive the scoring interface from the at least one scoring device for display of real-time dart game scores at a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: DartConnect LLC
    Inventor: David Macher
  • Patent number: 9984529
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus comprises a movable symbol selector and a reference object. The symbol selector has a plurality of presentation portions. Each portion is associated with one or more symbols of a first set of symbols. The reference object comprises a plurality of parts over which the selector can be moved. Each part is associated with one or more symbols of a second set of symbols. When the symbol selector moves relative to the reference object at least one relationship is formed between at least one of the selector portions and at least one of the reference object parts. The at least one relationship is for use in determining a game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hyong Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 9975047
    Abstract: A game method includes making an output control to move at least one object displayed over a display screen toward a predefined area of the display screen; making, for each of the at least one object, a first success/failure determination, based on first and second timings, wherein at the first timing the object moving over the display screen reaches the predefined area of the display screen, and at the second timing the acceptor accepts the inputs; and making, for each of the at least one object, a second success/failure determination, based on motions of the object, depending on a type of operation that the acceptor determined from the inputs that the acceptor has accepted, in a case that a result of the first success/failure determination represents success.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Hamano, Osamu Migitera
  • Patent number: 9972165
    Abstract: A network distributed gaming system is disclosed. The system includes a real world engine connected to a game world engine, the real world engine constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credits. The system also includes an entertainment software engine connected to the game world engine by a network, the entertainment software engine configured to execute a multiplayer entertainment game. The system also includes the game world engine constructed to: receive gameplay gambling event occurrences; communicate a trigger of the wager in the gambling game; detect a substitution request; evaluate whether the substitution request involves a substitution of the player by the human player that satisfies at least one substitution standard; and perform a player substitution in accordance with the substitution request when the substitution request satisfies the at least one substitution standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Caitlyn Ross
  • Patent number: 9962614
    Abstract: A toy for use with respect to videogame play may include information of a game character and/or game object, with the toy including a digital signature which a game device may check to determine that the toy is a genuine toy. In various embodiments security keys may be required to read information of the toy, and the security keys may be generated by a peripheral device of a videogame system. In some embodiments some of the information may be stored on the toy in encrypted form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Robert Valk, Robert Leyland
  • Patent number: 9940792
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for game play using virtual players, sometimes referred to herein as vBots, is disclosed. In one aspect, a method for game play involves the use of the system electronic system environment described herein, wherein one or more virtual players are displayed to the player of the game, preferably, the virtual players have differing play characteristics, receiving from the user association with a selection of a virtual player, displaying a simulated game using the virtual players, identifying a subset of the virtual players as being winners of the simulated game, and awarding a win to the lottery user if the selected virtual player is in the subset of virtual players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: MILESTONE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Randall M. Katz, Gary Dawson
  • Patent number: 9931574
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods for teaching and exercising leadership skills and strategies including the use of a narrative-driven role playing game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: Branch Banking and Trust Company, Chaotic Moon, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly King, David J. Ballard, Michael M. Hall, Chance D. Ivey, Matthew J. Sanders
  • Patent number: 9922490
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide for replacing all regular symbols located in respective symbol positions comprising a predetermined set of symbol positions of a symbol matrix (e.g., all the regular symbols on a reel of a reeled slot machine-type game) with at least one special symbol (e.g., a wild symbol which may be output as taking up the entirety of the reel) if the predetermined set of symbol positions (e.g., the symbol positions comprising the reel) satisfy a qualifying condition. In one embodiment the qualifying condition is that each regular symbol in a symbol position of the predetermined set of symbol positions is part of a respective winning combination of symbols (e.g., each symbol on the reel is part of a winning combination along an active payline) after an initial resolution of an outcome for a game event (e.g., after an initial resolution of a spin).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Gamesys, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans Elias, Thomas David James Aicken, Alexander Sandford Todd Young
  • Patent number: 9911279
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for play of a game of chance wherein players visit one or more physical locations to increase a likelihood of success or enhanced winnings in the game. A plurality of physical locations are designated as authorized communication-enabled locations and are configured with a transmitter device that broadcasts a unique ID signal or a receiver that receives the unique ID signal. The identity and address of the locations are published to the players. The players are provided with any one or more of: one of the unique transmitter devices; an application for download to a mobile smart device that enables receipt and recognition by the device of the unique ID signals; or a downloaded application to cause the mobile smart device to transmit a respective unique ID signal for receipt by the receiver in the communication-enabled locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Jonathan Mound
  • Patent number: 9911284
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for play of a lottery second-chance game wherein players visit one or more physical locations to satisfy requirements for entry into the second chance game. The players are provided with the identity and location of the communication-enabled locations, and such locations are configured with a transmitter device that broadcasts an ID signal that is unique to the respective communication-enabled location. In one embodiment, the players are provided an application for download to a mobile smart device, the application enabling recognition and receipt by the device of the unique ID signals emitted by the transmitter devices. A game server is in secure communication with one or both of the player's mobile smart device or a functional component within the communication-enabled location, the game server identifying the player and the particular communication-enabled location upon receipt of a transmission that includes at least part of the unique ID signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Jonathan Mound
  • Patent number: 9907997
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for measuring and analyzing movements of a body and for communicating information related to such body movements over a network. In certain embodiments, a system gathers biometric and biomechanical data relating to positions, orientations, and movements of various body parts of a user performed during sports activities, physical rehabilitation, or military or law enforcement activities. The biometric and biomechanical data can be communicated to a local and/or remote interface, which uses digital performance assessment tools to provide a performance evaluation to the user. The performance evaluation may include a graphical representation (e.g., a video), statistical information, and/or a comparison to another user and/or instructor. In some embodiments, the biometric and biomechanical data is communicated wirelessly to one or more devices including a processor, display, and/or data storage medium for further analysis, archiving, and data mining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Norman Cusey, Jay Allen Shears, Harold Dan Stirling
  • Patent number: 9895613
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating multigame currencies in multiple online games and security therewith is disclosed. The multigame currencies may be “spent” and/or “earned” by the players in the individual ones of the multiple online games. A request to use the multigame currencies in a given player account in a given online game may be authenticated through a third party identity that has been associated with the given player for the given online game. In situations where such an association does not exist, a third party identity associated with the given player for any other online game may be used to authenticate the request. In situations where no third party identity is associated with the given player for any one of the online games, an association of a third party identity and the given player for the given online game may be facilitated for subsequent authentication of requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Holtz, Deniz Ipek, Dale Cook, Miikka Skaffari, Katherine Wiemelt