Patents Examined by Jasson H. Yoo
  • Patent number: 10456670
    Abstract: A handheld game controller assembly adapted to combine with a portable electronic device includes a game controller, a receiving receptacle and an external retaining device. The game controller has a pair of holding portions and a transversal portion arranged between the pair of holding portions. The receiving receptacle is fixedly configured at a front end of the transversal portion. The external retaining device has a plugging unit removably engaged in and fixed to the receiving receptacle, and a clipping unit connected to the plugging unit for clipping a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: DEXIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yi-Shun Chen
  • Patent number: 10449459
    Abstract: An example system includes an imparting part imparting value information to a user of each information processing device; and a joint information processing part performing information processing in accordance with joint operation of a user of one of the information processing devices and a user of another information processing device through a network. When a given imparting condition has been satisfied in accordance with information processing having been performed by the joint information processing part, the imparting part imparts the value information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriko Kitamura, Teruyuki Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 10449460
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a virtual draft framework that can be used to provide a controlled randomized virtual draft process by using virtual profile groups to selectively control the amount of randomness during the virtual draft process. The virtual draft can include of a predetermined number of rounds. In each round one or more virtual players can be drafted to a virtual team. Each draft round can provide a player with the opportunity to select a virtual characters that will be used within the game application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Edward Frank, Thomas Adam Parry, Jeffry Steven Younger
  • Patent number: 10445976
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed concerning games that use both 2D and 3D play areas. Various embodiments concern representing a 3D structure composed of a plurality of 3D shapes having a plurality of faces, presenting a plurality of elements, marking the plurality of faces and the elements, identifying a first set of one or more combinations of corresponding markings, moving the shapes of the three dimensional structure relative to the elements, and identifying a second set of one or more combinations of corresponding markings, each of the combinations of corresponding markings from the first set and the second set composed of markings from at least one of the elements and multiple faces of the shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Jason Malkovich, Rebecca Schuh, Chad Shapiro, Adam Martin
  • Patent number: 10413814
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus including a touch sensitive user interface and a processor. The processor is configured to detect a first contact at a first position on the user interface, determine a movement of the first contact from the first position and if the movement is less than a predetermined movement threshold, when a release of the first contact is detected, move a first object on the user interface from an initial position on the user interface to an area at or near the first position. If the movement is greater than the predetermined movement threshold to identify a second position corresponding to an area near an end point of the movement and when the release of the first contact is detected, execute an action on the second position from the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SUPERCELL OY
    Inventors: Touko Tahkokallio, Jonne Loikkanen, Jon Franzas
  • Patent number: 10398987
    Abstract: A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices. Device information related to a client computing platform used by a user to interact with the virtual space may be obtained. Different users using different client computing platforms may be provided with different in-game capabilities such as user roles, content items, levels, and/or other content or actions available for the user in the virtual space based on the client computing platform used by the users to access the virtual space. The device information may be used to facilitate enhanced party formation between users of the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 10391400
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a handle portion, a tracking arc that is fixed to the controller body, and a hand retainer configured to physically bias a user's palm against an outside surface of the handle portion. A plurality of tracking sensors is disposed in the tracking arc, and are responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic system. An array of proximity sensors are spatially distributed around the outer surface of the handle portion, and are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outside surface of the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Eric James Hope, Philip Bryan, Scott Richard Britt, Scott Nietfeld, Claire Michelle Gottschalk, Jeremy Slocum
  • Patent number: 10388112
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gaming system including a gaming machine primarily dedicated for use in playing at least one regulated casino wagering game. In response to a triggering event, the gaming system initiates play of a feature game including a plurality of standard symbols and value symbols, the value symbols being associated with one or more values. One or more of the value symbols are held in place in a group on a display device, the standard symbols then replaced with respective replacement symbols randomly selected from the plurality of standard and value symbols. In response to the replacement symbols including another value symbol, the value symbol is added to the group and at least one of the values of the symbols previously in the group is modified. An award based on the current cumulative value of the held value symbols is determined at the conclusion of the feature game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Qin You, Yanhua Yin, Peter Wilkins, Elizabeth Carter, Jack Chesworth, Ross Malcolm Gilbertson
  • Patent number: 10384121
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a computer device a plurality of stimulus signals generated by one or more gaming accessory devices of a gamer controlling a gaming application, generating a plurality of gaming stimulations based on the plurality of stimulus signals, generating a plurality of gaming action results from the gaming application responsive to the plurality of gaming stimulations, combining the plurality of gaming action results and the plurality of gaming stimulations to generate a plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer, and transmitting to a social network the plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Kim Rom, Jeffrey Nicholas Mahlmeister, Jacob Wolff-Petersen, Bruce Hawver, Francis Arnold Grever, Tino Soelberg, Christopher John Nicolella
  • Patent number: 10380837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for detecting and analyzing video data (VD1 to VD3) relating to the course of a game on at least one gaming table (2) in casinos, wherein the gaming table (2) has a playing field (3) including a plurality of playing field sections (3.1 to 3.3), wherein the course of a game on the gaming table (2) is detected from at least two different side perspectives via at least a first and second camera units (6, 7) arranged on the edge of the gaming table (2), and from the bird's eye view via at least a third camera unit (8) arranged above the gaming table (2), in each case in the form of video data (VD1 to VD3), wherein the detected video data (VD1 to VD3) are transmitted to a video analysis unit (VAE) and are analyzed in the video analysis unit (VAE) by means of at least one analysis routine (AR), and that a game database, which displays the course of a game at the gaming table (2) in real time, are generated from this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Inventor: Dieter Dallmeier
  • Patent number: 10369477
    Abstract: Methods of managing virtual resources within a virtual world are described which use a device comprising a connecting element to which one or more smart beads can be attached. A smart bead represents either a virtual resource in the virtual world or an action on a virtual resource in the virtual world. The device is arranged to detect and identify which smart beads are attached to the connecting element and to autonomously update quantities of one or more virtual resources based on combinations of virtual resources and/or actions on virtual resources, where at least one of the virtual resources or actions in any combination is represented by a detected smart bead. In an embodiment, the device is a fashion item such as a wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: James William Scott, Haiyan Zhang, Nicolas Villar, Alexandra Keeley Bunting, Jonathan Leslie Venables, Simon Jay Carter
  • Patent number: 10350491
    Abstract: When a first operation method using a first operation apparatus and a second operation apparatus as a set is set, first vibration data for vibrating a first vibrator and second vibration data for vibrating a second vibrator are generated, and when a second operation method using either of the operation apparatuses is set, third vibration data is generated based on the first vibration data and the second vibration data. Then, when the first operation method is set, the first vibration data is transmitted to the first operation apparatus, and also the second vibration data is transmitted to the second operation apparatus, and when the second operation method is set, the third vibration data is transmitted to either of the operation apparatus for use in the second operation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Kyuma
  • Patent number: 10339753
    Abstract: The gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to simultaneously or concurrently play a plurality of games at a gaming device regardless or independent of if the gaming device accounting system in communication with the gaming device is configured to support such simultaneous or concurrent game play. The gaming system disclosed herein additionally or alternatively enables a player to simultaneously play a plurality of games wherein certain of the games are eligible to operate with a remote host and certain of the games are ineligible to operate with the remote host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne R. Nelson, William R. Brosnan, Kevin M. Higgins, William Chad Little, Larry R. Hollibaugh, Erik B. Petersen, Adrian R. Marcu
  • Patent number: 10322346
    Abstract: An interactive system is built upon networked computing devices and cloud computing technologies that enables two or more players to prepare for and engage in a battle on a common battle ground. Prior to initiation of the battle, a player can select one or more stationary units and deploy them, as a defense team, in a home territory for the purpose of obstructing the movement or attack of the opponent. During the battle, the player can deploy attacking units that move without further player intervention, to attack the opponent. A garrisoning mode may be turned on by the player, allowing the player to form and organize an offense team of attacking units because they start to move on their own. The option of forming both defense teams and offense teams, which will carry out their mission without further player intervention presents an attractive gameplay strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Gooody Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiaoyang Dong
  • Patent number: 10307669
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a tracking member fixed to a controller body. The controller body has a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. The resilient member is attached to an anchor that is attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that permits the resilient member to be moved towards or away from the user's purlicue. The tracking member includes transducers that are coupled to the electronic system by electromagnetic radiation. Proximity sensors, spatially distributed on the handle, are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Eric James Hope, Scott Nietfeld, Carl Conlee, Scott Richard Britt, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Jeremy Slocum
  • Patent number: 10304022
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for capturing gaze data for a sports participant over the course of a sports match, identifying a key performance indicator (KPI) corresponding to a sports domain with which the sports match is associated, and generating KPI data corresponding to the KPI. Report data indicative of the KPI data may be generated and presented to the sports participant in-match or post-match. KPI data for a player may be aggregated across multiple sports domain KPIs and multiple sports matches and analyzed to determine player activity patterns. The player activity patterns may indicate statistical differences in KPIs for the player in relation to different in-match scenarios. Recommendations may be provided to the player for improving the player's performance with respect to various KPIs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karan Ahuja, Kuntal Dey, Seema Nagar, Roman Vaculin
  • Patent number: 10286324
    Abstract: A decreasing secondary virtual currency is used in a system for providing virtual items through virtual purchases. Physical processors may be configured by machine readable instructions to execute the online game, manage user accounts, effectuate presentation of offers to sell primary and secondary virtual currencies, decrease the virtual currencies over time, and effectuate presentation of offers to sell virtual items. User accounts may include virtual inventories of virtual items and virtual currency balances. The user may be presented with offers to buy virtual currency which includes a primary virtual currency component and a secondary virtual currency component. The secondary virtual currency component may decrease over time. Certain virtual items of the online game may only be purchasable with the secondary virtual currency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Sam McLellan, Luc Pieron, Stephanie Schultz
  • Patent number: 10262497
    Abstract: A gaming system is primarily dedicated to playing a regulated casino wagering game providing eligibility to a plurality of progressive jackpots. The gaming system comprises a secure gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, an electronic input device, a random element generator, and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry is configured to allocate a portion of the wager to at least one of a first group of progressive jackpots, direct the electronic display device to increment the value of the first group of progressive jackpots, and direct the electronic display device to increment the values of a second group progressive jackpots based on the values of the first group of progressive jackpots. And, in response to a progressive-triggering outcome, the game-logic circuitry directs the electronic display device to display a reset value for the awarded progressive jackpot and an altered reduced value for another one of the progressive jackpots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Michael W. Mastropietro, Jeffry L. Nauman
  • Patent number: 10252165
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a game program that causes a computer of a data processing apparatus to execute a method includes: accepting an instruction to operate a first object in a game from a first player, and activating the first object in the game; determining an action state of the first object in the game; and when the first object is determined to be in an incapacitated state in which the first object is unable to be activated in the game, accepting an instruction to perform a support process for a second object in the game from the first player, and performing the support process based on the instruction to perform the support process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Maejima, Syota Iwasa
  • Patent number: 10252153
    Abstract: A portable gaming and entertainment system (or “environment”) for use with a game console and related components that allows the user thereof to easily, safely and conveniently transport the system. The system comprises a case having a lid pivotally attached to a base. One or more custom inserts are provided to securely receive the game console therein. The custom inserts permit the system to be usable with a variety of supported game consoles. The lid includes a monitor and speakers, and is operative to be opened and maintained at a position to provide a desirable viewing angle for a user. The lid closes against the base to enclose the game console and other related components so that the user may easily transport and/or store the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: G.A.E.M.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Thomas Mercier, Parker Chou, Ryan Moore