Patents Examined by Jessica Harrison
  • Patent number: 6561909
    Abstract: When an event is generated in a game progressing in a first game device, the first game device sends a call signal to a second game device through network. When the second game device receives the call signal, an event is generated in the game progressing in the second game device. In this way, an event is accidentally generated independently from the progress of the game when the game device receives a telephone call signal, in addition to a spontaneous event which is generated according to the progress of the game. Therefore, the user of the game can experience enjoyment which an ordinary game cannot provide, or a thrill which no one can predict will happen. After transmitting/receiving the call signal, the telephone call is cut-off before the game devices enter communication status, so a communication cost is not charged. Since the cost for communication is free, the user can enjoy a communication game at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Iizuka, Shun Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6561905
    Abstract: A skin-irritating game machine include a main unit and a plurality of control cables respectively connected to the main unit, each control cable having two metal contact elements adhered to the skin a respective player to form a respective electric loop through which a voltage is outputted from the main unit to the player who loses the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Wu-Shiung Ting
  • Patent number: 6558258
    Abstract: In a computer game, a game situation is analyzed using states of a plurality of game elements by determining a state for each of the plurality of game elements, generating a representation of a Voronoi diagram among the game elements, using at least some of the game elements as Voronoi sites and performing an analysis of the game situation using the Voronoi diagram. The analysis can be spatial analysis and/or tactical analysis to determine a move of a computer-controlled entity based on the tactical analysis. The game space might represent playing spaces for soccer, baseball or basketball. The state of a game element might include momentum, speed, and direction of travel, velocity and/or team association of the game element. For a soccer game analysis, multiple Voronoi diagrams might be generated and the analyses done using the multiple Voronoi diagrams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Electronic Arts, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Rupert, Geoff Harrower
  • Patent number: 6535713
    Abstract: An interactive training application has three components: a lesson engine, a lesson delivery system, and a lesson authoring tool. The lesson engine runs an interactive, multimedia training exercise based on the contents of a lesson file, which comprises a plurality of pages. Each page includes a navigation item, associated with another page, and a reference to multimedia content. The lesson delivery system displays a menu of lessons to a student, fetches a lesson file corresponding to the student's selection, and invokes the lesson engine upon the lesson file. The lesson authoring tool provides a graphical interface for inputting and editing storyboards, from which the lesson authoring tool is configured for generating a lesson file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Verizon Services Corp.
    Inventors: Paunpimon A. Houlihan, Trent L. Dennis, William V. Murphy, David Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6533663
    Abstract: A player is assisted in selecting an action to be executed by a character on a screen by displaying multiple options, associated with corresponding actions, on the screen. A graphic, in virtual three dimensions, is displayed on the screen to visually depict a preview of a range of effect of an action corresponding to an option selected by an operational input by the player. The position of the graphic may be based on the position of the character at the time the option is selected. The range of effect may be switched to preview another action when the player switches the selected option. The options may be represented by icons and grouped according to the types of corresponding actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Iwao, Yukio Ando, Kenro Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 6527637
    Abstract: A game image representing an infield as a specific game image in a game space of a baseball game is displayed on a display surface of a monitor 5 as a reference game image. According to the position of a game medium character, for example, representing a baseball which serves as a game situation, the display of the reference game is switched to that of a combined game image. For example, if the ball flies in a direction toward an outfield (outfield direction), the outfield neighboring a partial game image displayed in the half of the display surface in the outfield direction within the reference game image is displayed as an adjacent game image instead of the partial game image. Accordingly, a game situation and a game progress can be easily grasped and a game operation can be more smoothly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kceo Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Fujioka, Hideto Inoue, Naoki Nishikawa, Hiroshi Miyaoka
  • Patent number: 6527641
    Abstract: A system and a method for the customization of an interactive game based on mobile station activity. The interactive game is played in a virtual space using a wireless mobile station as a user interface. The game is tracked and controlled using a game center and a game server. The game server executes a software application that runs a game center. A command set is provided for each state within the game. The choice of a command from the command set changes the game state. Games are designed to be customizable based on, for example, current location of the mobile station, call usage on the mobile station, or wireless services utilized by the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Frazer Sinclair, Paul David Schulz, Kenneth Bo Larsen
  • Patent number: 6514139
    Abstract: A coin operated video game terminal system includes a tournament mode, as well as an option for a user to enter a random draw for each game played. This arrangement acts as an incentive for competitive play, as well as rewarding users for games played. The system also allows identification and tracking of users which is useful information for the terminal provider. Each terminal tracks games played and money received, and forwards the information to a central computer. Electronic financial tracking of revenue received allows the location operator to access and remove the actual cash received and the location operator is then billed by the terminal provider for his share of revenue received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: JVL Corporation
    Inventor: Valery Levitan
  • Patent number: 6514143
    Abstract: The time required to perform communications between an entertainment apparatus and a manual controller having complex and sophisticated functions which is connected to the entertainment apparatus is reduced. A type of control data to be outputted from a manual controller when control units including direction keys are operated is defined (limited) according to an application program that is recorded in an optical disk and read by the entertainment apparatus. The manual controller has a setting register for setting such a type of control data. After a type of control data is defined in the setting register of the manual controller from the entertainment apparatus, a CPU of the manual controller transmits only control data of the type set in the setting register for each frame of image. By thus limiting types of control data to be transmitted, the time required to perform communications between the entertainment apparatus and the manual controller is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Tanaka, Toru Akazawa
  • Patent number: 6511377
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can access credits via a pin activated keypad located on the gaming machine. Real-time accounting allows the player to redeem credits and secure perquisites as a function of patronage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Casino Data Systems
    Inventor: Steven A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6511068
    Abstract: A system, method and program for playing multiple, communal-card poker games simultaneously. A plurality of selectable starting hands of cards are presented to a participant. Each of the selectable starting hands represents a potential subset of a resulting poker hand, and does not of itself represent a playable hand. The participant selects one of the starting hands for use in all of the concurrently-played poker games. A plurality of communal-card flops are presented to the participant. The number of communal-card flops displayed corresponds to the number of poker games to be concurrently-played. A plurality of participant resulting poker hands are derived, one for each combination of the participant's selected starting hand and the plurality of communal-card flops. A plurality of remaining resulting poker hands are also derived, one for each combination of non-selected starting hands and each of the communal-card flops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sklansky LLC
    Inventors: David Bruce Sklansky, Bradley Berman
  • Patent number: 6503144
    Abstract: A computer readable program product stores a program of a ball-playing type game which can smoothly express the continuous action of a player before and after a player obtains a ball when throwing the ball in any direction in accordance with operation of the user in the ball-playing game. An input operation of the user is accepted before the fielder receives the ball, a series of motions up to the fielder catching the ball and throwing it is judged in response to any input operation, and the motion is used to change the display up until the catching and throwing before the fielder catches the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiyu Rimoto, Tomoaki Yoshinobu
  • Patent number: 6503146
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for facilitating group play by a team of members associated with a casino slot club. The method includes the steps of identifying the team members, identifying a set of rules designated by the team for rewarding the team members when a payout is due to one of the team members, detecting a payout due to one of the team members, and rewarding the team members in accordance with the set of rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Magdalena Mik, Jason Krantz
  • Patent number: 6500069
    Abstract: In a simulation game machine for play on the basis of images of three-dimensionally constituted terrain features and characters which are represented as if viewed from a prescribed camera within a virtual space, allows the viewing point to be shifted in three dimensions while looking over a stage, thereby enhancing the interest of the game. Upon entering a topographical mapping data check (ST1), the viewing point is shifted while panning and zooming in movie-like fashion along a predetermined path (ST2), and messages disposed along the path are displayed (ST4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Ohba, Kenichi Ono
  • Patent number: 6497618
    Abstract: A game machine is provided with a controller control circuit including a data transfer control circuit. When the data in a first external RAM attached to a first controller is transferred to a second external RAM attached to a second controller, the data transfer control circuit transmits a predetermined command to the first controller. The data stored in the first external RAM is memorize through a data transfer control circuit. The data transfer control circuit then transmits a predetermined command to the second controller. In response thereto, the data stored in the internal RAM is transmitted to the second controller to be stored in the second external RAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Nintendo Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nishiumi, Kazuo Koshima
  • Patent number: 6497408
    Abstract: A system and method is provided by which players participating in a primary lottery drawing may elect to participate in a second, or derivative lottery drawing (a “meta-game”). In one embodiment, a meta-game is conducted by first registering a plurality of lottery entries to define a group. The group wins an award in the meta-game if the plurality of lottery entries of the group fail to win an award above a predetermined threshold in the primary lottery drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Daniel E. Tedesco, James A. Jorasch, John M. Packes, Jr., Magdalena Mik, Stephen C. Tulley
  • Patent number: 6491583
    Abstract: Abstract of the disclosure method for the determination of a winning value upon reaching of a game result at a coin operated entertainment automat with a symbol game arrangement. Coin operated entertainment automat comprise a symbol game arrangement where the circulating bodies displays in a rest position of winning or non-winning symbol combination. The winning value associated with the displayed symbol combination can in following under danger of loss in a risk game be staked against a higher winning value. This new feature is to assure that the player always maintains a maximum game tension independent of the amount of the stake. This is accomplished in that at jackpot is continuously filled from the game stake and is present to be released at an unknown point in time. An achieved winning value can be staked in the risk game against the jackpot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Atronic International GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gauselmann
  • Patent number: 6491566
    Abstract: Toy robots are provided that act in concert with each other. A player issues high level team commands to a processor. The processor interprets the team command to derive individual low level commands for the toy robots. A transmitter transmits the low level commands to the toy robots, which then act in concert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Peters, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 6491585
    Abstract: A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The video game methodology features camera perspective or point of view control features. The system changes the “camera” angle (i.e., the displayed point of view in the three-dimensional world) automatically based upon various conditions and in response to actuation of a plurality of distinct controller keys/buttons/switches, e.g., four “C” buttons in the exemplary embodiment. The control keys allow the user at any time to move in for a close up or pull back for a wide view or pan the camera to the right and left to change the apparent camera angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyamoto, Yasunari Nishida, Takumi Kawagoe, Yoshiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6482090
    Abstract: After a batter hits a ball, the height of the ball moving on a trajectory passing through present movement positions is judged. For example, future movement positions positioned on a time axis ahead of the present movement positions are indicated on the ground by elliptical marks. The peak of the height becomes a boundary, and in the rising process of the ball, the mark is displayed in, for example, a star shape and blue, and in the falling process of the ball, the mark is displayed in, for example, an elliptical shape and red. Therefore, enjoyment of operations by the combination of the operation support of a computer and the operation skill of the user himself can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiyu Rimoto, Toshiaki Nagashima