Patents Examined by Dmitry Suhol
  • Patent number: 11928933
    Abstract: Innovations in user interface (“UI”) features of electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”) are described. For example, control logic controls the UI of an EGM according to an iterative re-spin process, which uses reels and a reel area on a display screen of the EGM. In a given iteration of the re-spin process, the control logic identifies any locked reels. The control logic spins any unlocked reels for the given iteration on the display screen while holding locked reels in place. The control logic evaluates a condition that depends on whether the reel area encloses a special symbol stack for at least one unlocked, spun reel. If the condition is satisfied, the control logic continues the re-spin process. Upon exit from the re-spin process, the control logic determines a count of special symbol stacks in the reel area, determines an outcome of the re-spin process, and outputs an indication of the outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Eric Satterlie
  • Patent number: 11928931
    Abstract: A system for playing a wagering game is described. The system includes a display device, a memory device, and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory device, which when executed, cause the processor to at least: provide the wagering game on the display device; determine whether a game event has occurred during the wagering game; store a copy of the game event in the memory device in response to determining that the game event has occurred; generate digital content in response to determining that the game event has occurred; overlay the digital content on the copy of the game event; and provide access to the copy of the game event with the digital content overlaid thereon to at least one replay recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Coppola, Frank Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11904236
    Abstract: An electronic device for discharging a pulse of current includes an energy storage medium for receiving and storing electric energy supplied from a power source, a solenoid and a control switch connectable with the energy storage medium and the power source and configured to discharge a pulse of current for energising the solenoid when the control switch is activated, whereby the solenoid moves from a first position when the solenoid is not energised, into a second position when the solenoid is energised, and the energised solenoid generates and supplies a current back to the energy storage medium, a processor configured to process the time taken to energise the solenoid, monitor the current drawn by the solenoid from the energy storage medium, and control at least one parameter of a discharged pulse; and an output module to control the discharge of the current from the energy storage medium to the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SINDEN TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Garry Brown, Andrew James Sinden
  • Patent number: 11904246
    Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating intra-game communication in video game environments featuring first-person or third-person perspectives by generating an on-screen graphic that includes the communication and a pointer towards a location of another user within the video game environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11896895
    Abstract: A rotating assembly comprises a rotary shaft, an accommodating body and a position-limiting switch. An outer wall of the rotary shaft includes a first tenon and a second tenon. The accommodating body includes a matching hole for the first tenon to insert and rotate therein. An inner wall of the matching hole includes a convex rib. By rotating the rotary shaft, a side wall of the first tenon and a side wall of the convex rib butt against or separate from each other, so that in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, the rotary shaft is fixed or movable relative to the accommodating body. When the side wall of the first tenon and the side wall of the convex rib butt against each other, the position-limiting switch and the second tenon are clamped together to prevent the rotary shaft from rotating relative to the accommodating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GOERTEK, INC.
    Inventor: Changhua Dong
  • Patent number: 11896905
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that simulates gameplay of non-player characters (NPCs) distributed across networked end user devices. The system may identify end user devices that are connected to the system through a network and are available to participate in a simulation in which each participating end user device is provided with one or more NPCs to be executed. An end user device may be available to participate when it has sufficient computing capacity, such as when in an idle or standby state. As such, the system may leverage spare computing capacity of networked end user devices to execute NPCs at networked end user devices during a simulation. In this manner, the behavior of an NPC may be tested using real-world conditions that may affect gameplay, such as a network connection quality, user-to-user game engine coordination and data exchanges, and/or other real-world conditions associated with networked end user devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Marr, Keith S. Kaplan, Nathan T. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11890544
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for facilitating the placement of props on maps by an automated prop placement tool that makes use of a trained machine learning mechanism. The machine learning mechanism is trained based on one or more training maps upon which props have been placed. The machine learning mechanism may be trained to suggest placement based on (a) spatial rules relating, (b) prop-specific rules, (c) prop-to-fixed-object distances between props and map structures, and (d) distances between props. Once the machine learning mechanism is trained, the prop placement tool may be provided as input (a) map data that defines a target map and (b) prop data that specifies the set of target props to be placed on the target map. Based on this input and the machine learning mechanism's trained model, the prop placement tool outputs a suggested placement, for each of the target props, on the target map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Zhen Zhai, James Steven Supancic, III
  • Patent number: 11887440
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for enabling all wins multiplier features on gaming devices during multiplayer gaming tournament play. The all wins multiplier features may be simultaneously engaged on multiple gaming devices at a predetermined point in time, and may generally all simultaneously terminate the all wins multiplier feature at the same time. Multiple different all wins multiplier features using different multiplier values may be enabled at different times during a particular tournament session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Scott Burns, Joseph Masinter, II, Larry Pacey
  • Patent number: 11887436
    Abstract: The gaming systems and methods provide award modifiers for designated winning card combinations for multi-hand poker, wherein the gaming system uses the award modifiers to determine a way to apply the award modifiers for a play of a secondary game from a plurality of different ways to apply the award modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Darren Maya, Bradley James Fredella, Predrag Savic
  • Patent number: 11881079
    Abstract: A gaming machine having a first reel, and a set of second reels. The first reel has a plurality of prizes displayed at respective first display positions, and spins in a first direction. Each of the second reels is aligned with one of the first display positions, and spins in a second direction to identify one of the prizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11878250
    Abstract: A content modification system comprising a content receiving unit operable to receive content comprising a virtual environment and one or more active elements, an input receiving unit operable to receive inputs from one or more users, an element addition unit operable to generate one or more virtual elements within the virtual environment in response to the received inputs, the virtual elements being unable to be interacted with by the one or more active elements, and a content generation unit operable to generate modified content comprising the virtual environment, the one or more active elements, and the one or more generated virtual elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Maria Chiara Monti, Fabio Cappello, Matthew Sanders, Timothy Bradley, Oliver Hume, Jason Craig Millson
  • Patent number: 11875627
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system includes a display device, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to perform a variety of operations, including, for example, determining whether a trigger condition has occurred during a base game, and determining a repeat win amount during the base game. In at least some embodiments, the processor is also configured to control the display device to display a plurality of selections, each selection corresponding to a feature game, in response to occurrence of the trigger condition. Each feature game may be associated with a win volatility and displayed in association with information about the win volatility, and each win volatility may be based, at least in part, upon the repeat win amount determined during the base game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Blake Davis
  • Patent number: 11869310
    Abstract: A gaming device comprises a display, a processor, and a memory storing (a) a current symbol position state defining, for each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, a number of symbol positions for which symbols are to be selected; (b) a pay table; and (c) instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor cause the processor to control the display to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions corresponding to the current symbol position state, select symbols for the displayed symbol positions by selecting stopping positions of a plurality of reel strips, wherein at least one of the reel strips comprises at least one designated symbol, evaluate the selected symbols for winning combinations based on the pay table, and responsive to the selected symbols of a column including a designated symbol, modify the symbol position state for the respective column to include at least one additional symbol position for a next symbol selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Chan, Paul Lombardo, Claire Mileto, James Kroon
  • Patent number: 11865462
    Abstract: Exemplary communication system 1 includes game devices 10, communication terminals 20, and game support server 30. Game devices 10 enable users to perform a multi-play activity. Each of communication terminals 20 runs an application associated with corresponding game device 10. Game support server 30 divides communication terminals 20 into separate communication groups in accordance with a situation of the multi-play activity performed by game devices 10 so that communication terminals 20 belonging to a same communication group can communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Masashi Seiki, Yosuke Fujino, Miki Murakami, Hideaki Tanabe, Sho Onuma, Naoya Hirota, Kojiro Taguchi, Daisuke Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 11857876
    Abstract: A system and method for providing dynamically variable maps in a video game is disclosed. A map is provided that defines a playable space available to one or more game players in a video game. Gameplay is monitored in real-time for the detection of a trigger event. Upon detection of a trigger event, a map management engine dynamically modifies a configuration of the map to improve the gameplay experience based on the type of trigger event. Dynamic modification of a map may comprise altering one or more of the map boundary, and/or the location, position, size, number, state, etc. of one or more static map objects or dynamic map objects. As a result of the dynamic modification of the map, the map may transform from its initial (or first or beginning) configuration to a modified (or new or second) configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Marr, Keith S. Kaplan, Nathan T. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11861972
    Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a game control unit programmed to display a game screen on the display unit and initiate an instance of the game. The game screen includes a grid including a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of columns. Each column is associated with a corresponding symbol and includes a predefined number of cells. The game control unit initiates an instance of the game by populating a subset of cells within each column with a plurality of awards, randomly determining, for each corresponding column, a number of corresponding symbols to be displayed in a stack of corresponding symbols, and displaying each stack of corresponding symbols within each corresponding column. The game control unit then determines each cell of the subset of cells being displayed with a corresponding symbol and a corresponding award, and provides each corresponding award to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Kimberly Yost, John Pariseau
  • Patent number: 11861989
    Abstract: A system provides for electronic interaction in a multi-player system, the system being adapted to interface with first and second electronic communications devices through a communication system, the first and second electronic communications devices including displays for presentation of game information to the players and with input devices for receiving live game play information. The first and second electronic communications devices having storage to store a game application program from a remote server, the first and second electronic communications devices having graphical display capability. The system utilizes sports event data corresponding to sports events. Preferably a game analysis system is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MILESTONE ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
    Inventors: Randall M. Katz, Gary Dawson
  • Patent number: 11861866
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage for identifying regions of interest on a casino gaming table. Regions of interest are locations on an image where relevant actions are typically going to occur. For example, locations of betting area region of interest and card area regions of interest are determined so that these areas can be analyzed on a video camera. The analyzed areas can then be used for things such as determining and tracking player betting amounts, determining if the game is being dealt properly (by analyzing the cards dealt to determine if the proper cards are dealt and/or the proper payouts are made).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Visualimits, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan McClellan, Brett Tinling, Robin Groenevelt
  • Patent number: 11857877
    Abstract: An approach is provided for a gaming overlay application to provide automatic in-game subtitles and/or closed captions for video game applications. The overlay application accesses an audio stream and a video stream generated by an executing game application. The overlay application processes the audio stream through a text conversion engine to generate at least one subtitle. The overlay application determines a display position to associate with the at least one subtitle. The overlay application generates a subtitle overlay comprising the at least one subtitle located at the associated display position. The overlay application causes a portion of the video stream to be displayed with the subtitle overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Ilia Blank, Patrick Fok, Le Zhang, Michael Schmit
  • Patent number: 11845007
    Abstract: This application discloses a perspective rotation method performed by a terminal in a virtual environment associated with an application. The method includes: displaying a first perspective picture of the application in the virtual environment; receiving a perspective rotation operation triggered on a perspective rotation control by a user of the terminal; displaying a second perspective picture corresponding to a second observation direction in response to that the perspective rotation operation does not meet a perspective rotation accelerating condition; and displaying a third perspective picture corresponding to a third observation direction in response to that the perspective rotation operation meets the perspective rotation accelerating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Jin Yang