Patents Examined by Jeffrey Wong
  • Patent number: 9744443
    Abstract: A server is connected to a terminal via a network, and manages registration of game information, the terminal performing a first game process that utilizes stored game information, and a second game process that utilizes registered game information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Koji Tezuka, Masaki Ota, Kentaro Honma
  • Patent number: 9717988
    Abstract: Rendering processing of a screen to be displayed is divided and performed between a first device and a second device. The first device generates a first screen, on which some rendering objects of rendering objects to be rendered on the screen to be displayed are rendered, based on information for determining rendered contents of the screen to be displayed. The second device generates a second screen on which rendering objects, excepting the some rendering objects from the rendering objects to be rendered on the screen to be displayed, are rendered. The first device receives the second screen from the second device, and generates the screen to be displayed by compositing the first and second screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9717990
    Abstract: A network game system includes a server apparatus and a plurality of video game apparatuses connected to the server apparatus. A party includes player characters of a plurality of players. When the party battles with an opponent character, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits movie playback information to each video game apparatus for starting playback of a movie. Each of the players can skip the movie at a desired timing. A screen is displayed on each video game apparatus that has skipped the movie until the battle starts. When information is received from each video game apparatus that indicates playback of the movie has ended, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits battle start information to each video game apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Yoichi Kuroda, Ryoko Kato
  • Patent number: 9691227
    Abstract: A game system and method plays an electronic game and simulates the outcome as a keno game. The game system allows a player to place a wager, plays the electronic game, and establishes an outcome of the electronic game. The outcome of the electronic game includes a payout according to a first pay table if a set of predetermined conditions has been achieved. The outcome of the game is simulated as a keno game. The outcome of the keno game is equivalent to the outcome of the electronic game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Yarbrough
  • Patent number: 9649559
    Abstract: System, methods and apparatus for presenting media in a wagering game machine are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an internal media request from a component of the wagering game machine and receiving an external data signal from outside the wagering game machine. In the embodiment, the method also includes preparing media based on the internal media request and the external data signal and presenting the media on media presentation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Loose, Wayne H. Rothschild
  • Patent number: 9610489
    Abstract: A golf aid for assisting a user in selecting a golf club from a plurality of golf clubs includes a user tracking system configured to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a heads up display, and a processor. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and is configured to determine a plurality of target locations on the golf course, with each of the plurality of target locations representing an ideal target for a different one of the plurality of golf clubs. The processor then displays an indicator at one of the plurality of target locations via the heads up display, such that the user perceives a portion of the indicator to be coincident with the corresponding one of the plurality of target locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Leech
  • Patent number: 9607468
    Abstract: A gaming machine has a cabinet with a cabinet frame, a display device, a light source, and a directional transmissible layer with directional light planes arranged parallel to and offset from each other. The display device is located within the cabinet frame and is configured to display a wagering game. The light source is positioned above the display device, within the cabinet frame, and emits direct light and indirect light towards a player position in front of the gaming machine. The indirect light reflects off the display device prior to reaching the player position, causing light glare towards the player position. To reduce or eliminate the light glare, the directional transmissible layer is placed at least in part over the light source such that the directional light planes are horizontally aligned with the display device to prevent at least some of the indirect light from reflecting off the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Cornell, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing, Miguel A. Vega
  • Patent number: 9550105
    Abstract: A pacing system for pacing an activity receives a desired pace that includes a timing interval and generates a first pace signal based on the desired pace and corresponding to the timing interval. The system receives feedback on an actual pace of the activity and determines if the actual pace is different than the desired pace. When the actual pace is different, the system generates a second pace signal having a timing that is different than the timing interval. When the actual pace is not different, the system generates the second pace signal in accordance with the timing interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Danny Grant
  • Patent number: 9472055
    Abstract: Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a controlled entity hybrid game including an entertainment software controller connected by a network to a game world controller, and constructed to: execute an entertainment game; convey actions taken by the player, wherein the actions include the player's instruction of a controlled entity, wherein upon consumption of the enabling element, a wager is triggered in the gambling game; and the game world controller connected to a real world controller and connected by the network to the entertainment software controller, wherein the game world controller is constructed to: receive the actions taken by the player; trigger the wager of the amount of real world credits in the gambling game; accumulate an amount of the enabling element in a reserve enabling element reservoir; and allow access in the entertainment game to the amount of enabling element on passing one or more transport tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, Caitlyn Ross
  • Patent number: 9466175
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include: an entertainment game that provides outcomes based upon skillful execution of the entertainment game by utilizing elements, where elements are a limited resource consumed within an entertainment game to advance entertainment game gameplay; a gambling game constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of elements from a wager of elements; and a transportable variables module constructed to: communicate an entertainment gameplay gambling event occurrence based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game that triggers the wager of elements in the gambling game to the gambling game; associate elements with the player based upon elements accrued during the player's skillful execution of the entertainment game and the randomly generated payout of elements from the gambling game; and determine a cash out value of real world credits for the player based upon elements associated with the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventor: Miles Arnone
  • Patent number: 9443386
    Abstract: A money dispensing unit, including an electric motor, a control device, which has a storage unit, wherein the electric motor is coupled to the control device of a controllable switch and can be activated with current/voltage of the switch in order to dispense money; and the control device is provided and designed to provide a code. Additionally, a comparison module for receiving the code and comparing the code with a predefined code, wherein if the received code is identical to the predefined code, the switch can be activated in order to supply voltage to the electric motor in order to dispense money is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: NOVOMATIC AG
    Inventors: Berthold Seis, Marius Rudolph Schuster
  • Patent number: 9418511
    Abstract: A gaming machine has display means and a game control means. A game is played in which one or more random events are displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets, each containing a plurality of prize outcomes. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome. Alternatively the sets of prizes are presented on the faces of dice which are arranged to spin before stopping with the front face of the die defining the prize won.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Edgar Pau, Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 9412228
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game and a controller. The controller is configured to base eligibility of the handheld gaming machine for a game-related feature at least upon a location of the handheld gaming machine and/or a proximity of the handheld gaming machine to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 9406191
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wagering on game outcomes allow a player to wager on game outcomes resulting from linked gaming devices linked to a primary gaming device being played by the player. A primary game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on a primary game and a linked game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on linked games. Both the primary and linked gaming devices may be the same type of gaming device, or they may be two different types of gaming devices, such as gaming devices for playing slot games, card games, keno, and the like. Further, either or both of the primary and linked games may allow bonus game outcomes resulting in a bonus game having bonus game awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 9381398
    Abstract: A sports simulation system includes a projectile tracker having a display presenting a three-dimensional sports scene. The projectile tracker captures images of a projectile tracking region disposed in front of the display to detect a launched projectile traveling through the tracking region towards the display. A processing stage, in communication with the projectile tracker, is responsive to data received from camera devices to determine three-dimensional positions, velocity, acceleration and spin of a detected projectile traveling through the tracking region, which are used by the processing stage to calculate a trajectory of the launched projectile into the three-dimensional sports scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Interactive Sports Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Todd E. Richardson, Wayne Dawe, Zuqiang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9361754
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming devices to provide non-tournament game play and provide an elimination tournament. The gaming system contributes an average expected payout value of tournament games that were determined to be subsequently played by tournament players but were then not played because the players were eliminated before the end of the tournament to a tournament award. The tournament award is provided to a winner of the tournament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Rogelio S. Decasa, Jr., Jason P. Pawloski, Ryan W. Cuddy, Karen M. Kendall, Kelsy J. Grace, Benjamin M. Fuller
  • Patent number: 9361759
    Abstract: The claimed embodiments contemplate methods, systems and apparatuses directed to gaming machines that include a community spin mechanism that, when activated, causes reel displays, at two or more player stations, to spin. Certain embodiments provide for one or more community reels that are utilized to determine an outcome of a community gaming session. The community reels are “community” in that they are formed by combining reels of individual play stations in order to increase the odds, and payouts, of potential wins via various line combinations of the combined set of reels, once they stop spinning. Re-stated, by way of non-limiting example, each play station has its own set of reels and when community play is started, one or more community reels are spun along with each players set of reels. Any potential winning combinations are then based on resulting combinations of the individual play station reels in combination with the community reels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Michael Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9317990
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for providing wagering games. A player pays an initial price to play a wagering game according to normal game rules. Game information that would normally be concealed from the player is offered for an additional price. In some implementations, the wagering game is a poker game and the game information is draw card information. The additional price may increase according to the amount of game information provided. In some implementations, a paytable percentage for the wagering game decreases according to the amount of game information provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ted Gail, Bryan Wolf, Larry Hollibaugh
  • Patent number: 9233294
    Abstract: A technology for playing baseball is provided. The technology enables real-time baseball gameplay between a first team associated with a first baseball field and second team associated with a second baseball field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas J. Coyle
  • Patent number: 9226426
    Abstract: An electronic device console includes a console body that houses a chip package, and a duct extending from the console body. An interior volume of the duct is in fluid communication with an interior volume of the console body. A first vent is at a distal end of the duct. A second vent is in a wall of the console body. The console may be oriented in a first orientation and a second orientation. The duct functions as a chimney for natural convection cooling of the chip package when the console is oriented in the first orientation. The console body functions as a chimney for natural convection cooling of the chip package when the console is oriented in the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Bodenweber, Jon A. Casey, Chenzhou Lian, Kathryn C. Rivera, Kamal K. Sikka