Patents Examined by Dmitry Suhol
  • Dynamic effectiveness for virtual items
    Patent number: 9555324
    Abstract: An online gaming system allowing for adjustment of the effectiveness of virtual items. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The system may include a game module configured to execute an instance of an online game and to implement the instance of the online game to facilitate participation of users in the online game. The system may include a user module configured to manage user information associated with the users in the online game. The system may include a shop module configured to present virtual items to the users in a virtual shop. The system may include a spend history module configured to obtain user spend information that characterizes past spending by the users on virtual items. The system may include an item effectiveness module configured to determine an effectiveness level of virtual items available in the online game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Multi-access online game system and method for controlling game for use in the multi-access online game system
    Patent number: 9555329
    Abstract: A multi-access online game system and a game control method for use in the same are disclosed. The game control method is applied to a multi-access online game system which is connected to at least one user client and includes a first server and at least one second server. The method includes: receiving an event message associated with a game from a first user client, wherein the first server receives the game-associated event message when the game-associated event message is not the real-time message, and the at least one second server receive the game-associated event message when the game-associated event message is the real-time message; determining a second user client where the real-time message is to be received; and transmitting the real-time message to the second user client. The real-time message is processed by the second server, so that the load of the first server is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: NHN Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Seonghun Kim, Hyojoon Kim
  • Mobile applications and wagering game machines
    Patent number: 9552697
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a wagering game is presented at a wagering game machine. A wireless communication is established between the wagering game machine and a mobile device. In response to a wagering game player satisfying a wagering game criteria when playing the wagering game, access to content can be enabled on the mobile device, wherein the content is based on a context resulting from the wagering game player playing the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Q. Earley, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Daniel P. Louie
  • Automatically generated display code for wagering game machine configuration
    Patent number: 9552691
    Abstract: Systems, methods and machine-readable media operate on configuration data for wagering game machines. A wagering game machine configuration or meter data on a wagering game machine is modified. In response to the modification, the configuration data or meter data is transformed into a displayable code such as a bar code or QR (Quick Response) code. The wagering game machine presents the displayable code on a code display of the wagering game machine. A portable computing device reads the displayable code and uses the displayable code to compare the configuration data with configuration data obtained from other wagering game machines or configuration data obtained from a configuration server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Travis N. Nelson, Peter R. Anderson, Sridhar Gondesi, Jacek A. Grabiec, Matthew J. Ward
  • Accelerometer-based content display adjustment
    Patent number: 9545564
    Abstract: Some electronic devices may not include hardware such as a gyroscope that is capable of providing precise orientation information. In some implementations, accelerometer data may be used to determine a content display adjustment (e.g., an adjustment to a first person perspective view in a game scene) by sampling accelerometer data over multiple time periods. For example, accelerometer data may be used to determine short term and longer term accelerometer sample values. The content display adjustment may be determined based at least in part on the accelerometer sample values and information associated with the content display adjustment may be communicated to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Thomas Larson
  • Gaming system and method providing a video poker game with positional matching card winning opportunities
    Patent number: 9547958
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker game with additional winning opportunities. Upon receiving a primary wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player cards. The gaming system enables the player to discard zero, some, or all of the player cards. The discarded cards are replaced. The player cards are compared to a paytable to determine an award, if any, won by the player. In addition to the player cards, the player is provided five card indicators. If one or more of the player cards matches with corresponding card indicators, then the player is provided an additional win opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: James M. Cole, Michael David Capsouto
  • Medium, system, method and information processing device
    Patent number: 9545579
    Abstract: An information processing device is configured to execute: performing game processing including movement of a plurality of characters in a virtual world; specifying one character as a specific character on the basis of predetermined conditions; judging whether there is commonality in movement of a plurality of non-specific characters other than the specific character; determining at least one of the characters for which it has been judged that there is commonality, as a preferential display character; and adjusting drawing related parameters so that the preferential display character is located in a predetermined area of a display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hishinuma, Hideyuki Tatsuta
  • Hybrid arcade-type, wager-based gaming techniques and predetermined RNG outcome batch retrieval techniques
    Patent number: 9542799
    Abstract: Various aspects described for implementing hybrid arcade/wager-based gaming techniques via computer networks, including one or more casino gaming networks. The hybrid arcade/wager-based game may include a non-wager based gaming portion and a wager-based gaming portion. One or more players are able to concurrently engage in continuous game play of the non-wager based gaming portion during execution of wager-based gaming events which are automatically triggered based on events which occur during play of the non-wager based gaming portion. Other aspects are directed to wager-based gaming techniques for remotely retrieving, before the occurrence of wager-based triggering events, one or more batches of predetermined RNG outcomes from an RNG engine, and for using at least one of the retrieved, predetermined RNG outcomes to determine future wager-based game event outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Synergy Blue, LLC
    Inventors: Georg Washington, Joe Serra, Tom Stankevich, Justin MacAuley
  • Gaming system and a method of gaming
    Patent number: 9542809
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a gaming system which includes a symbol selector which is arranged to select a plurality of symbols from an available set of symbols. The set of symbols may include one or more predetermined symbols. The predetermined symbols form a predetermined symbol arrangement, such as a pattern or word. When a predetermined symbol is selected it is placed in a symbol store. When the predetermined symbol arrangement is completed, by selection of all of the predetermined symbols, then a prize may be won.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hyong Joo Kim
  • Gaming system and method providing a slot game including a symbol generator modification event
    Patent number: 9536376
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game including a symbol generator modification event. In various embodiments, the gaming system is configured to provide a slot game, each play of which employs a subset of a plurality of symbol generators. If a symbol generator modification event occurs in association with a first play that employs a first subset of the symbol generators, the gaming system removes one of the symbol generators from the first subset and adds another one of the plurality of symbol generators to the first subset to form a second subset, and employs the second subset for a second play. The gaming system removes and adds the symbol generators to form the second subset such that the average expected payback percentage of the second play is greater than the average expected payback percentage of the first play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Leandro Basallo, Jon M. Leupp
  • Peep device for poker card game machine
    Patent number: 9536397
    Abstract: A peep device for a poker card game machine includes a box. The box is provided with first and second video cameras, circuit boards having light emitting diodes for fill-in light, and a reflector on top of the box. The reflector has first and second sight holes corresponding in position to the first and second video cameras. When a poker card slowly passes through the first and second sight holes and the first and second video cameras, the suit and the number of the poker card will be displayed slowly for the player to peep at the poker card with excitement. The light emitting diodes illuminate to shoot the poker card clearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Tzu-Hsiang Tseng
  • Gaming system having dynamic payback percentage as a function of enabled features
    Patent number: 9536373
    Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises detecting receipt of a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game, and activating a first bonus feature in response to one or more first eligibility criteria, the first bonus feature having a first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises activating a second bonus feature in response to one or more second eligibility criteria, the one or more second eligibility criteria including activation of the first bonus feature. The second bonus feature has a second bonus payback percentage higher than the first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises displaying a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game, and in response to at least one triggering event associated with the first and the second bonus features, conducting the first or second bonus feature if the first and second bonus feature is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Robert L. Kyte, Michael W. Mastropietro, Jeremie D. Moll, Matthew J. Ward, Peter R. Anderson
  • Reel device for a gaming machine
    Patent number: 9530286
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Gaming system and method providing indication of notable symbols
    Patent number: 9530287
    Abstract: The gaming device and method disclosed herein produces an indication of an appearance of a notable or designated symbol in a symbol display region while at least one reel is spinning. The indication continues while the notable symbol appears in the symbol display region and while the at least one reel is spinning. Different indications are produced for the different notable symbols when appearing in the symbol display region while the at least one reel is spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Hoffman, Christmas C. Parker, Paulina Rodgers
  • Game method and system using condition according to collected characters
    Patent number: 9522336
    Abstract: A game method and a game system to perform the method and embodied as a computer, the method including configuring a level-based league for teams of users, performing a league game between teams included in the level-based league at predetermined time intervals regardless of whether the users connect to the game system, providing runtime broadcasting information about the league game to a terminal of a user in response to a request for observing the league game from the user that connects to the game system over a network, during a period in which the league game is ongoing, and calculating and managing a progress result of the league game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: NHN Entertainment Corporation, NHN Blackpick Corporation
    Inventors: Gu Young Jeong, Sung Sik Lim
  • Gaming system and method for providing a bonus game with a choice by another player(s)
    Patent number: 9524616
    Abstract: A gaming system having a plurality of game devices, a game controller, a shared experience controller and a method for operation thereof is disclosed. Each game device allows a player to make a wager on a game and awards the respective player an award as a function as a result of a winning condition for the game played by the respective player. The game controller is coupled to the game devices for playing the game, randomly establishing the actual outcome of the game, and determining if any of the players have a winning condition. The shared experience controller is coupled to the game devices for recognizing a bonus condition for one of the players, responsively providing a choice of items to one or more other players, and providing a bonus award to the one player and/or any of the other players in response to selection of on of the items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Roireau
  • Game system
    Patent number: 9522327
    Abstract: A game system has plural game devices and a storage device that stores attribute information and location information of a pet in association with a player ID. Each game device obtains a player ID of a player who plays at the game device, and obtains attribute information corresponding to location information identifying a game device identified by the obtained player ID, and controls a game to cause the game device to display a pet according to the obtained attribute information. In a case in which location information stored in association with a player ID of a first player who plays at a first game device is changed to that which identifies a second game device identified by a player ID of a second player, the first game device does not display a pet of the first player, but the second game device displays the pet of the first player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kusuda, Takashi Uchiyama, Shogo Azuma, Shinya Ito, Norifumi Kawai, Genichiro Okitani
  • Wagering game with a secondary reel having oversized single-evaluation symbols
    Patent number: 9520022
    Abstract: A gaming system includes one or more input devices, one or more display devices, and one or more processors, and one or more memory devices storing instructions that cause the gaming system to receive an input indicative of a wager. The instructions further cause the gaming system to display a wagering game having an array of symbol positions positioned on a plurality of primary reels and at least one secondary reel overlaying two or more adjacent primary reels, the secondary reel including at least one oversized standard symbol, the oversized symbol overlaying symbol positions on at least two of the two or more adjacent primary reels. The instructions further cause the gaming system to spin the two or more adjacent primary reels and the secondary reel such that the two or more adjacent primary reels and the secondary reel appear to spin as a single reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander J. Gobe, Jeremy M. Hornik
  • Method, apparatus, and program product providing a player selection wagering game with escalating prizes
    Patent number: 9514608
    Abstract: Methods and gaming systems provide a player selection game in which the prizes available in the game increase in response to certain player selections from the various player selectable elements. Prizes are increased in a manner that makes it clear to the player that they have obtained an enhanced prize. In particular, prizes are increased in the course of the player selection game so that the lowest prize available after a prize increase is greater than the highest prize available prior to the prize increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Everi Games Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Casey, Clint Owen
  • Programmable game-based haptic enabled gun controller
    Patent number: 9504914
    Abstract: Various systems, game controllers, and methods for simulating various objects such as weapons are provided. For example, a game controller may include a trigger, a processor within the body that receives a trigger signal when the trigger is activated by the user. The processor may communicate with a computer running a software program such as a gaming application, and an actuator coupled to the trigger, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect to the trigger in response to receiving a control signal from the processor. The game controller may simulate a gun and generate a recoil effect. In some embodiments, the recoil effect may be generated by impacting a moving mass from a discharge end of the gun to a handle end of the gun. In some embodiments, the recoil effect may be generated by using a body part of a user as a tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, Erin Ramsay, Ali Modarres, David M. Birnbaum, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Robert W. Heubel, Hendrik Bartel