Patents Examined by Dat Nguyen
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Patent number: 7513829Abstract: A game machine includes a CPU, and the CPU renewably determines positions of a player character and a virtual camera in a game space in response to an operation of a controller by a player. Furthermore, a game image produced by the CPU and a GPU is displayed on a monitor. Then, a specific-shaped first mark image to inform the player a presence of the player character is rendered by the CPU and the GPU on images of a building object and a wall object in the game image.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Hayashida, Yoshiaki Koizumi
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Patent number: 7435171Abstract: A network card game in which a user purchases actual trading cards from a game planning company via a store or cellular phone agency. The user can transfer ownership of the card in a virtual card game space established by a service provider, separately from the actual trading cards. The card transfer In the virtual card game space enables the release of damaged cards which were damaged in a network card game, in addition to granting a point to a transfer source person. When the card is transferred to a friend, for example, and returned from the friend immediately after the transfer, the state of the damaged card returns to the normal state, and It becomes possible to use the card in a game soon. If logs of the transfer process are held, they can be used for various marketing.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Motohiro Hanafusa
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Patent number: 7419425Abstract: A gaming system having a plurality of primary game devices sharing a secondary bonus station is disclosed. The secondary game station comprises a secondary game which is configured to provide play pursuant to a triggering event originating from any one of the primary game devices in the gaming environment. The secondary game station is equipped with controls suitable for playing the secondary game. During play of the secondary game station, the triggering primary game device may also be “locked” so that the player may resume playing the primary game subsequent to playing the secondary game.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2002Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Robert William Crowder, Jr., John Francis LaSalvia, Warren Rapelye White, Robert Anthony Luciano, Jr.
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Patent number: 7399227Abstract: A central determination gaming system with a keno game. Upon a player initiating a game play at gaming terminal, the gaming terminal enables the player to select a plurality of symbols. The gaming terminal accesses a standard set of predefined symbols for the specific game played. The gaming terminal bidirectionally maps the player's selected symbols with the standard set of predefined symbols. The gaming terminal receives a predetermined game outcome seed from a central controller. The gaming terminal utilizes the selected game outcome seed to generate a plurality of game symbols. The gaming terminal determines if each of the generated game symbols needs to be modified. If so, the gaming terminal modifies these generated game symbols based on the bidirectionally mapping, presents the modified game symbols to the player and provides the player a game outcome that is determined based on the selected game outcome seed.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2003Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: IGTInventors: Richard E. Michaelson, Bryan D. Wolf
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Patent number: 7377849Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device that has a player selectable award feature that may be implemented with a primary or bonus game. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled gaming device that randomly generates a plurality of positions or digits of an award and enables the player to pick which position or digit receives a first randomly generated number, which digit receives a second randomly generated number, etc., until each of the positions have a number, whereby the gaming device determines the player's ultimate award. This sequence or feature may be employed in a bonus game, in a known base or primary game or in any stand alone game.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist, Darren Maya, Robert N. Silva
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Patent number: 7357716Abstract: A slot machine issues a percentage of one or more progressive awards based upon any wager level (“Percentage Progressive”). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Percentage Progressive concept operates as follows: The game displays the total progressive award amount; The player sets the wager; The game displays a Percentage Progressive value based upon the wager level; The player presses the spin button; The reels to spin and stop; The player collects credits for any winning combinations appearing on the reels, including pay table and progressive awards. In the event of a progressive award, the player receives the Percentage Progressive value*total progressive award amount. The preferred embodiment of the present invention, therefore, allows players to participate in progressive awards at any wager level.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2003Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: IGTInventors: Daniel M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
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Patent number: 7335099Abstract: The embodiments of present invention provide a method for playing wagering games with dominoes. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a player first places a wager and a dealer then deals three dominoes each to the player and the dealer. The player is then afforded the opportunity to inspect the three dominoes and to arrange their orientation to produce a top hand and a bottom hand defined by a separating line of each domino. The top hand rank is determined by spot values above the separating line and the bottom hand rank is determined by the spot values below the separating line. The dealer arranges their dominoes in the same fashion as the players. Once the arrangements are complete, the player's wager is resolved by evaluating the player's top and bottom hand to the dealer's top and bottom hand in a predetermined fashion.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Olympian Gaming LLCInventor: Stacy A Friedman
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Patent number: 7329179Abstract: In one primary embodiment of the present invention, the player must wager a number of paylines to qualify for one of a plurality of bonus games. The highest required number of paylines qualifies the player to play the main or most elaborate bonus game. The main or first bonus game preferably has the highest average payout per credit wagered. This provides an incentive to the player to play the highest required number of paylines. In an embodiment, any number of paylines less than the highest required number or max lines qualifies the player to play a second bonus game. The second bonus game has an average payout per credit wagered that is slightly less than the main bonus game. This allows the incentive or disparity between payouts to be set by the game designer so that the player not wagering max lines or the highest required number is not overly disadvantaged.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: IGTInventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Patent number: 7306515Abstract: A competitive interactive video game for a group of players includes a plurality of game elements, preferably playing cards, which comprise four different types of cards distributed to a group of players. The cards include cliche cards, attach cliche cards, pause cards, and rewind cards. The cliche cards each contain a written description and a point value while the attach cliche cards cancel the previous play of a cliche card by another player. The game further includes a means for providing a video presentation containing scenes which match the written descriptions on the cliche cards and which is viewed by the players. As the video presentation is viewed and the scenes matching the written descriptions on the cliche cards are recognized by the players, the players play their cards according to the rules of play and points are awarded to the players according to the point value on the cards.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Inventors: Michael D. Crenshaw, Christopher F. Lauria, Thomas P. Lauria, Colin P. Merlo, Thomas J. Gilliano
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Patent number: 7243804Abstract: An apparatus and system for supporting tools at a given height on a door jamb. The apparatus for use as a tool platform for working on stilts. The apparatus comprising a vertical support member, a fastener device extending from the doorjamb, and a wall grip mechanism. The wall grip mechanism comprising a first projection and a second projection disposed apart from one another at a first given width, and each one of the first projection and the second projection extending in a first direction away from the vertical support member. The apparatus further comprising a tool platform having a front end and a back end in opposition to one another, the tool platform forming a horizontal surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2004Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Inventor: Rodney B. Miller
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Patent number: 7201653Abstract: A method for playing a game in which one or more contestants endeavor to transform a list of personal desired wishes into awarded prizes. The game offers two mechanisms-knowledge version and luck version for realizing these wishes. External participants may become involved in the game and fulfill their own personally selected wishes. The external participants may obtain the unfulfilled wishes lost by the contestants. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a website “arena” is provided, which uniquely connects personal needs and desires of individuals with potential suppliers of these desired products and services. The arena enables participants to accumulate credit points. The game—typically a TV game show—stimulates the general public to take part in the arena, promotes it, and creates a competitive advantage over e-commerce sites.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2001Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Inventor: Benny Radom