Patents Examined by Jasson Yoo
  • Patent number: 9649552
    Abstract: Systems and methods for solving and generating a mathematical puzzle are presented. A puzzle may comprise areas comprising mystery number regions, pair clue regions interposing pairs of mystery value numbers, and a central clue region located centrally to the mystery number region. Solving a puzzle may comprise deterministic search methods coupled with heuristic approaches. Puzzle generation may comprise adding conforming clues until a puzzle has only one possible solution, the clues chosen based on heuristics for adding clues while minimizing incremental change in puzzle difficulty; or reducing the number of solutions/partial solutions to the puzzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TMGCL IP HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Shohreh Blank, Manoochehr Azmoodeh, Nathan Frederick Alamo-Pritchard
  • Patent number: 9652932
    Abstract: An account adjusting system according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a game machine that pays an award corresponding to a kind of a prize of a game; and an account adjusting apparatus that adjusts an account for a user. The game machine has a paying section for determining an award corresponding to a kind of a prize of a game and a determining section for determining whether or not tax payment is required based on the award determined by the paying section, and when determining that tax payment is required, transmitting award information indicative of the award to the account adjusting apparatus. The account adjusting apparatus has a receiving section for receiving the award information; a tax payment amount calculating section for calculating a tax payment amount based on the award information; and a tax payment certificate providing section for producing an output to prepare a tax payment certificate based on the tax payment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9643080
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods to provide an asynchronous social event in a computer-implemented game. The social event may for example be a virtual party that is staged in a game instance of a host player and may comprise automated attendance of player characters associated with one or more guest players. An event invitation may be sent to the guest players, with the player characters of guest players who accept the invitation being displayed as automatically attending the social event. The social event may be played back to the guest players asynchronously upon request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Reynolds, Matthew Deegler, Virginia Ellen McArthur
  • Patent number: 9646464
    Abstract: A gaming system for play of a base game, and arranged to detect a trigger condition during the base game. A feature game is implemented when a feature game frequency criterion is met. The feature game frequency criterion may be based on the number of base games having been implemented since the last implementation of a feature game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kin Wai San
  • Patent number: 9636579
    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: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: G.A.E.M.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Dean T. Mercier, Parker Chou, Ryan Moore
  • Patent number: 9633521
    Abstract: A game of chance associated with a first player is executed at least in part by selecting a combination of game symbols from a set of available game symbols. A history of previous game symbol combinations selected by one or more previous executions of a game of chance is determined. The previous executions are associated with a second player and/or a previous gaming session associated with the first player. When the selected game symbol combination is included in the history of previous game symbol combinations, a prize is awarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Thacker, Daniel William Milligan
  • Patent number: 9626840
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to an electronic gaming device including a memory, a processor, and a plurality of reels. The electronic gaming device may include a plurality of reels. The plurality of reels may include one or more areas. The memory may include one or more smart wild feature structures. The processor may generate one or more symbols to be located in the one or more areas. The processor may move a first smart wild to a first replacement location based on the first replacement location having a top award amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Cadillac Jack, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Lynn Williamson, Steven W. Davis
  • Patent number: 9623322
    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. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. 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: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9616291
    Abstract: The invention relates to sports monitoring equipment and methods. The invention provides a device or system comprising means for reading a heartbeat signal corresponding to heartbeat of the person during the performance, and means for reading a motion signal corresponding to motion of the person during the performance. There are also computing means for estimating energy consumption of the person during the performance using one or both of said signals. According to the invention, the device or system further comprises means for determining the type of the sports performance. The computing means for calculating the energy consumption parameter are adapted to utilize said heartbeat signal, said motion signal or both signals in combination in a manner depending on the type of the sports performance determined. The invention allows for accurate estimation of energy consumption in versatile sports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Heikki Nieminen, Kimmo Pernu, Olli-Pekka Ojanen, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 9616352
    Abstract: A method and system for wireless communication are disclosed. The method comprises: the master device generates a sequence code through a specific encoder and transmits the sequence code to each slave device continuously within a preset period according to the communication demand, wherein the specific encoder is a feedback shift register constructed by a specific polynomial, of which the coefficients and the order are in correlation with the communication demand while all of the coefficients and initial values are not equal to 0 at the same time; the preset period is greater than or equal to the sum of a sleeping period and a detecting period of the slave device, which constitutes a sleeping-and-waking cycle; the slave device receives a continuous section of the sequence code in the detecting period, decodes the sequence code through a decoder corresponding to the encoder, and performs corresponding operation according to the decoding result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GIGGLES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Chun Yuen Lau
  • Patent number: 9597598
    Abstract: Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. By providing tracking marks on apparel, rather than using a special-purpose device that must be separately worn, a player may enjoy a more natural feel when playing the interactive game. Further, the player need not don any special equipment to play the game. Instead, a user can wear the apparel for everyday purposes, and then simply begin playing the game wearing the apparel without having to put on any additional equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Shum, Thomas Foxen, James C. Meschter, Yves Behar
  • Patent number: 9592450
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive gaming data from one or more gaming tables. The systems and methods may obtain gaming data from one or more gaming tables via a network interface based on at least one of a searching structure and a search algorithm. The systems and methods may compare betting criterion to the gaming data. The systems and methods may initiate at least one of a wager based on a comparison of the betting criterion to the gaming data and a display of data related to a search result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fresh Ideal Global Limited
    Inventor: Jay Chun
  • Patent number: 9595166
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive a video stream from one or more gaming tables. The systems and methods may display the video stream from the one or more gaming tables on the electronic gaming device and generate gaming options based on data relating to the one or more gaming tables. The gaming options may be based on predetermined betting structures relating to future game play results. The systems and methods may display the gaming options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fresh Ideal Global Limited
    Inventor: Jay Chun
  • Patent number: 9579565
    Abstract: A game system includes a housing to be held by a player. The housing incorporates an XY-axis acceleration sensor to detect an acceleration in an X-axis and Y-axis direction and a Z-axis contact switch to detect an acceleration in an Z-axis direction. These sensor and switch detect at least one of an amount (e.g., tilt amount, movement amount, impact amount or the like) and a direction (e.g., tilt direction, movement direction, impact direction or the like) of a change applied to the housing. A simulation program provides simulation such that a state of a game space is changed related to at least one of the amount and direction of the change applied to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Iwao Masuyama, Toshiaki Suzuki, Akira Tahara
  • Patent number: 9576437
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing winning result opportunities in poker gaming activities. Embodiments involve identifying award-enhancing opportunities using dice to determine award-enhancing opportunities based on the dice results for a poker game played on a gaming device. Award-enhancing opportunities can be accumulated during multiple bonus rounds, or single bonus rolls of dice may be used to determine multipliers or other modifiers to enhance awards received in the poker games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Bradley Berman
  • Patent number: 9576431
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing winning result opportunities in gaming activities. Embodiments involve identifying award-enhancing opportunities using dice, and enabling repetition of such award-enhancing opportunities based on the dice results until a terminating event occurs using the die/dice. Award-enhancing opportunities can be accumulated during the repetition, whereby payout opportunities of the gaming event from which the dice activity was initiated may be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Chad Shapiro, Adam Martin, Dustin Rients
  • Patent number: 9569916
    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: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Jason Malkovich, Rebecca Schuh, Chad Shapiro, Adam Martin
  • Patent number: 9569934
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing winning result opportunities in gaming activities. Embodiments involve identifying award-enhancing opportunities using dice during a current game to determine award-enhancing opportunities for subsequent games based on the dice results. Award-enhancing opportunities may continue over multiple games until a terminating condition is activated, or single bonus rolls of dice may be used to determine multipliers or other modifiers to enhance awards only in a single subsequent game. The award-enhancing opportunities may be triggered by a mystery or random selection process, or may be based on at least a portion of the outcome of the current game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: Bradley Berman
  • Patent number: 9550118
    Abstract: A system and method for providing players with real-time information on any device capable of running a web browser is provided. The system solves the problem of game interface overloads and also brings the following benefits: provides for control optimization and for more options for a team game play. A usual game play experience is completely simulated on any remote mobile device by allowing remote input of the game controls from the mobile device to the base platform (PC/MAC, etc) and streaming the video from the base platform to the mobile device. The mobile device acts as a “thin client” for the base platform. Adoption of the game to the mobile device is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Gaijin Entertainment Corp.
    Inventor: Kirill Yudintsev
  • Patent number: 9517406
    Abstract: Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Shum, Thomas Foxen, James Meschter