Patents Examined by Jasson Yoo
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Patent number: 8641529Abstract: Scheduled programmatic multiplayer game content in a console service is provided. A plurality of multiplayer game events is scheduled. Each event has a fixed start time and fixed end time. Requests from users to participate in event are received and a determination is made as to whether users electing to participate in the game are eligible to participate. If the user is eligible to participate in the game, instructions are provided to a console to allow the user to participate in the game. If the user is not eligible to participate in the game, instructions may be provided to a console to allow a user to view activity in the game.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Manuel Bronstein, Manoj Gupta, Ivann Alvarado, Colin Riley, Matt Van Gorder, Hao Chen, Gary Hall
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Patent number: 8632387Abstract: Various embodiments of a game involving the elimination of game elements are described. Various methods and apparatus of described. Other embodiments are described.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2010Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: CFPH, LLCInventor: Lee Amaitis
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Patent number: 8622833Abstract: A controller interface processor of a user interface apparatus acquires the tilt of a game controller as a rotational value from a sensor built in the game controller. An operation amount determining unit selects a sensitivity characteristic pattern from a plurality of sensitivity characteristic patterns different in the reaction sensitivity of an operation amount with respect to the rotational value in accordance with the width of a range of the rotational value, refers to the selected sensitivity characteristic pattern, and determines the operation amount corresponding to the rotational value acquired.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.Inventor: Tomokazu Kake
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Patent number: 8616978Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include managing multiple instances of gaming applications associated with a wagering game client device and determining event data from the multiple instances of gaming applications. The operations can further include aggregating the event data into an event repository and determining that a requesting application requests some portion of the event data. The operations can further include opening a communication channel between the event data repository and the requesting application, formatting the requested portion of the event data in a format understandable to the requesting application, and communicating the requested portion of the event data to the requesting application via the communication channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming, IncInventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Jason A. Smith
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Patent number: 8613646Abstract: A system that enables player character interactions in an interactive multiplayer game or story including a user interface that enables a user to control a player character in the interactive multiplayer game or story and a processor, in communication with the user interface, that i) tracks the actions of the player character within the interactive multiplayer game or story, and ii) transfers control of the player character from the user to the processor during an interaction event with a second player character in response to an interaction condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Inventor: Henk B. Rogers
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Patent number: 8602875Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for preserving game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game may have a plurality of gaming machines associated with the asynchronous persistent group bonus game and at least one network server having at least one processor and at least one non-volatile memory. The processor may be configured to determine whether a bonus game session is triggered on any of the plurality of gaming machines; and if the bonus game session is triggered, display live game monitor activities, and periodically save the persistent bonus game state and other data on the at least one non-volatile memory.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Nguyen Gaming LLCInventor: Binh T. Nguyen
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Patent number: 8597108Abstract: An asynchronous persistent group bonus game system, method and apparatus may have a plurality of gaming machines including a first processor and a bonus server having a second processor. The first processor may be configured to: determine when a bonus game session event is triggered, transmit a bonus game session request to the second processor, and receive an end session notification from the second processor. The second processor may be configured to execute and maintain the always-on asynchronous persistent group bonus game, receive a bonus game session request from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, instantiate a bonus game session inside the continuous asynchronous persistent group bonus game for the at least one gaming machine, determine when an end session trigger has been triggered for the bonus game session, and transmit an end session notification to the at least one gaming machine if it is determined that the end session condition has been triggered.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Nguyen Gaming LLCInventor: Binh T. Nguyen
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Patent number: 8591318Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a wagering environment are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment comprises a wagering terminal including a processor, a memory, a primary display, and a secondary display. The primary display is configured for displaying visual messages. These visual messages are displayed as part of a graphical user interface and include at least one wagering transaction message. The secondary display is configured for displaying additional visual messages associated with the visual messages of the primary display. These additional visual messages are displayed as part of an additional graphical user interface. The wagering terminal may further include a proximity detector configured for detecting the presence of a gaming patron, a user identification unit configured for sampling a unique physical attribute of a user, and an image capture unit configured for capturing at least one image in a vicinity of the wagering terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: United Tote CompanyInventors: Scott B. Pfennighausen, Jim Baker, Brendan Burgess, Kenneth A. Vlazny
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Patent number: 8591319Abstract: An account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: IGTInventors: Jay W. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Stephen C. Tulley, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Magdalena M. Fincham
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Patent number: 8568226Abstract: A gaming device master control program is described herein. In one embodiment, the master control program performs operations including starting one or more gaming applications that include one or more gaming application processes. The master control program can also monitor the gaming application processes and determine, based on the monitoring, that fault recovery operations are needed. The master control program can also perform the fault recovery operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Jason A. Smith, Nevin J. Liber, Mark B. Gagner
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Patent number: 8568220Abstract: A method of determining liability for a plurality of multiples bets placed via a computerised betting system, each multiples bet comprising a single transaction on a plurality of outcomes selected from a group of possible transactions, the method comprising selecting a most popular transaction from the group, evaluating all other transactions within the group on the basis that the most popular transaction is a winning transaction to produce a first result, evaluating all other transactions within the group on the basis that the most popular transaction is not a winning transaction to produce a second result and selecting one of the first and second results that indicates the worst case liability.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: The Sporting Exchange Ltd.Inventors: Iain Johnson Andersen, Matthew James Searle, David Glen Jeffery, Steven John High
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Patent number: 8562435Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting that a gaming system has presented a first of a plurality of gaming venue states of a game, presenting a first of a plurality of screen shots at a touch screen display responsive to detecting the first gaming venue state, detecting that the gaming system has transitioned to a presentation of a second of the plurality of venue states, and presenting a second of the plurality of screen shots at the touch screen display responsive to detecting the second gaming venue state. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Steelseries ApSInventors: Tino Soelberg, Michael Aronzon
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Patent number: 8506384Abstract: After the main ball drop of a bingo game, a player may be given a free extra bingo number. A probability of awarding a free ball may be determined, at least in part, according to a desired paytable percentage for the bingo game (or vice versa). Some implementations of the invention provide multi-card bingo games. A player may be required to hit a predetermined pattern on more than one bingo card in order to obtain a progressive award. The number of hits in the pattern(s) and/or the number of bingo cards involved may be determined according to a desired progressive award size and/or a desired probability of obtaining the progressive award. Players may have an opportunity to purchase one or more additional bingo numbers after the main ball drop of a bingo game. A player may be provided the option of purchasing a block of more than one additional bingo number after the main ball drop.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: IGTInventors: James Coleman, M. Ali Saffari, Mark Bansemer, Bryan D. Wolf
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Patent number: 8506375Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate a player re-entering a card game, even though they may have “folded” their hand on a previous turn in the card game. Conventionally, in traditional forms of community card poker games, once a player has folded their hand they are unable to take part in the game currently being played. Rather than folding their hand, a player can “hold” their hand with the possibility of returning to the game. By enabling a buy-back-in feature a player can re-enter the game to continue betting, etc. Further the sequence of game play can be altered compared with the conventional play. The card game can be played in a physical environment as well as a digital environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Inventor: Kenneth Ward
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Patent number: 8500536Abstract: A slot machine has a player selection bonus game where a player selects concealed gamepieces from a group to reveal the value of the gamepiece. The preferred game has a burger building theme in which the game rules are related to building one or more hamburgers, and the hidden gamepieces represent burger ingredients. A particular selection allows the player to win larger prizes for future selections. Other designated selections may modify future selections still further (2× and 3× multipliers for double-decker and triple-decker bun selections). Certain gamepieces may change their function based on the context or state of the bonus game.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.Inventors: Brian A. Watkins, Clint A. Owen
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Patent number: 8500539Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more dynamic bingo cards or artifices wherein each daubed number on a bingo card is removed from its initial location and re-located to the last position of the payline on which the daubed number is positioned and at least one other number on the associated payline is moved to replace the position vacated by the daubed number. Once the final number is drawn, paylines with all daubed numbers are paid according to the paytable. If all positions on a bingo card are daubed, then a progressive or other jackpot award may be paid.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.Inventors: Jennifer Schulze Huynh, Clint Owen, JP Cody
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Patent number: 8496530Abstract: The present invention is a small tablet that wirelessly communicates with a stationary gaming machine. The player makes bets using the tablet. The gaming machine, and not the tablet, determines the outcome of the game and transmits the award information to the tablet. The gaming machine may be an ordinary slot machine displaying random symbols in an array or displaying another game. The player using the tablet views the display on the gaming machine to see the outcome of a game, so the tablet does not need a large display to play a game. The player who operates the gaming machine bets independently from the player using the tablet. In another embodiment, the gaming machine is operated automatically, and multiple players with tablets independently bet on a common game.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2007Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Spielo International Canada ULCInventor: David Dean
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Patent number: 8491375Abstract: A gaming device having at least one target reel having target values, a plurality of value reels each having accumulative values, and a processor programmed to cause a spin of the target reel and value reels, accumulate the accumulative values generated on the value reels to form a cumulative value, compare the cumulative value to a designated one of the generated target values on the target reel, and provide an award to a player if the cumulative value meets a predefined mathematical threshold with respect to the designated one of the target values.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: IGTInventor: Michael Neil Low
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Patent number: 8491371Abstract: A method for playing a game of chance and system for facilitating the play of the game are disclosed. The method of playing the game of chance includes receiving a ticket containing a set of playing cards. The method of playing the game of chance further includes viewing a display screen that displays a second set of playing cards. The method of playing the game further includes receiving a prize if the combination of the playing cards on the ticket and the playing cards on the display matches a predetermined pattern.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Gtech Rhode Island CorporationInventor: Richard Finnochio
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Patent number: 8485879Abstract: A fight analysis system to objectively determine the quality and quantity of strikes in a fight. In one exemplary embodiment, one fighter wears a receiving module having a plurality of passive RFID tags at different locations that are read by a striking module (e.g., a knife) when the striking module lands on, or comes in proximity to, the receiving module, to provide the location of a strike. Force sensors in the striking module enable determination of the type and force of a landed strike. A graphical user interface module displays information gathered by the fight analysis system.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Inventors: Michael T. Lin, Mitchell Heinrich, Jonathan Thomas, John Pelochino, Akbar Dhanaliwala, Brian Krieger, Felix Dashevsky, Jason McCarthy