Patents Examined by Jessica J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 7086948
    Abstract: When performing a battle game through network such as internet, a game server obtains its battle circumstances so as to watched by other terminal. It is therefore possible to provide such a game-watch circumstances that one watches a high-skill player's play at an actual game center, as has been conventional. As the result, one can watch and study, on internet, the conventional game circumstances between competitors. This environment is achievable by configuring such that the game-circumstance display data is accessible from aforesaid other terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Aruze Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7022017
    Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention allow guests at a hospitality facility to request hospitality facility services from a remote terminal. For example, guests can order merchandise (such as event tickets, food and drink, and retail items), make reservations (for example, at hotels, restaurants, and golf courses), and transfer funds between their gaming and services accounts. Hospitality facility operators can then track the preferences of their guests by storing guest preference information and updating the guest preference information each time a guest requests a service. Based on the stored guest preference information, hospitality facility operators can selectively offer each guest those services most desired by the guest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Oneida Indian Nation
    Inventors: Arthur R. Halbritter, Frank J. Riolo, Craig A. Clark, James R. Lavole, John A. Santini, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7011582
    Abstract: A game apparatus for causing a player's character controlled by a player to fight against an enemy character within a predetermined game space. The game apparatus includes a storage section for storing data of items held by the respective characters, an item computing section and a character reviving section for reviving a defeated character within the game space under a predetermined condition. The item computing section selects prize items from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule and displays the prize items on a display means. The item computing section adds the prize items to items held by a character who acquires said prize item, subtracts the prize items from items held by the defeated character in accordance with a predetermined rule, and updating the data of items in the storage section according to the results of addition and subtraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: NAMCO Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeyasu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7004838
    Abstract: A game device, which monitors with a virtual camera a picture of a game being proceeded in a virtual space by a first object controlled by a player and a second object controlled by a computer or an opponent and displays a picture on the screen of a monitor, includes a camera position switch ordering unit for issuing switching orders to switch the position of the virtual camera to a first position which shows the front of the first object and to a second position which shows the front of the first object from the rear of the first object, and a symbol displaying unit for displaying a symbol representing the second object on the monitor screen in correspondence with the switching order to switch the position of the virtual camera to the first position upon the second object existing behind the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hayashida, Atsushi Ueno, Taishi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6997807
    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. A player account is created which has two account balances, one balance based on cash value and the other balance based on promotional value. Credits on the credit meter related to the promotional value cannot be cashed out. In addition, credits on the credit meter may be accounted as to type of credit, and one type of credit may be removed from the credit meter before another type of credit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6988947
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bonus scheme for a gaming device which involves a terminating symbol moving with respect to a player symbol. The game causes both symbols to visit new locations along a path. The game successively moves each symbol a certain number of locations. As the symbols advance, the player gains various awards and bonus values associated with the locations visited by the player symbol. The bonus round terminates when the terminating symbol catches the player symbol. This type of bonus scheme incorporates a chase or pursuit concept and increases player excitement and joy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Jean Brossard Venneman, Christopher T. Brune
  • Patent number: 6979267
    Abstract: A system for generating profile information for users of a gaming application comprises a server, a processor remotely coupled to the server, and a memory coupled to the processor. The server executes a gaming application and monitors a plurality of game events during the execution of the gaming application by a particular user. The server further communicates first event information associated with a first game event, and communicates second event information associated with a second game event. The processor receives the first event information and the second event information. The processor further generates profile information associated with the user based at least in part upon the first event information and the second event information. The memory stores the profile information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: GameAccount Limited
    Inventors: Fergus A. Leen, Sam B. Lawrence, David G. McNally, Clive Hetherington, David M. McDowell, Kevin R. O'Neal
  • Patent number: 6966832
    Abstract: A system for providing game advice to a user of a gaming application comprises a server and a processor remotely coupled to the server. The server executes a gaming application and monitors a plurality of game events during the execution of the gaming application. The server further communicates event information associated with at least one game event. The processor receives the event information and generates game advice associated with the gaming application based at least in part upon the event information. The processor further presents the game advice to the user during the execution of the gaming application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: GameAccount Limited
    Inventors: Fergus A. Leen, Sam B. Lawrence, David G. McNally, Clive Hetherington, David M. McDowell, Kevin R. O'Neal
  • Patent number: 6955602
    Abstract: A user composes a message within a video game paradigm by hitting targets in the video game environment which are associated with message component candidates such as letters, words, and phrases. Each of the message component candidate has a relative likelihood of selection predicted according to language usage in general and specifically of the user and according to the context of any portion of the message already composed. Message component candidates which are more likely to be selected by the user are associated with targets or other objectives of the video game environment which are more easily achieved. For example, more likely message components are associated more frequently and more centrally located and slower moving targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Zi Technology Corporation LTD
    Inventor: Roland E. Williams
  • Patent number: 6951515
    Abstract: A game apparatus allows a virtual object to act in a mixed reality space as if it had its own will. A player can play a game with the virtual object. Rules for controlling the action patterns of the virtual object on the basis of the objective of the game, and the relative positional relationship between the virtual object and the real object is pre-stored. The next action pattern of the virtual object is determined based on an operator command, the stored rule(s), a simulation progress status, and geometric information of a real object(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikazu Ohshima, Kiyohide Satoh
  • Patent number: 6945871
    Abstract: The present invention provides a volume control program, a volume control method, and a video game machine by which the player can easily hear two sounds which are output simultaneously. Cheering sound is output from the speaker 23 according to the game progress status, the output instructing section 102 instructs output so as to output the sound data of broadcasting sound which is read from the broadcasting sound data storing section 512 by the sound data reading section 101 according to the game progress status as sound, and the volume controlling section 111 drops the volume of the cheering sound to be lower than the volume of the broadcasting sound with the output instruction as a trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka, Inc.
    Inventors: Takahito Uenishi, Yasuhiro Kawabata
  • Patent number: 6932702
    Abstract: A game and method are set forth which includes a triggering event triggering a hot streak phase. During the hot streak phase, for a predetermined number of future games, the game is configured to provide at least one of consecutive wins or a multiplier applied to winning outcomes. By providing the hot streak feature the overall performance of the game can be configured to have the desired hit frequency and hold. In another aspect a nine reel, eight pay line game is set forth which uses three symbol data sets in an arrangement to provide for easier configuration to obtain, with or without a hot streak feature or other bonus features, a game having the desired performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Gary Harris
  • Patent number: 6929550
    Abstract: The present invention provides a second network game (for example, a betting game) using the results of a first network game (for example, a horse racing game), wherein third party users other than users running a first network game can participate. A greater number of users will thereby have interest in the first network game and the first network game will be built up. Also, a greater number of users can participate in a network game through the second network game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromichi Hisada
  • Patent number: 6926609
    Abstract: An electronic game device system is switchable between an amusement mode and a gaming or gambling mode and is useful for vehicles such as airplanes or boats which move geographically from jurisdictions where gaming is legal to jurisdictions where it is not. A GPS receive can be used to automatically switch the system between the modes, dependent upon the vehicle position. An improved method of operating a touch screen on a CRT or ICD computer screen uses finger release as input registering, and also may use highlighting of a button being selected with an enlarged button area for any highlighted button. Mounting arrangements for mounting computer screens or monitors are also disclosed for mounting between a transparent table top in e.g. a lounge area, and for mounting in seatbacks of airplane or other vehicle seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: John R. Martin
  • Patent number: 6899619
    Abstract: The method of entertainment “Stos” is an adaptation for casinos, videogame machines and computers of the most popular game of chance in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is also known as Bank Table, Shtoss and Pharaon. In a casino, the game takes place on a table on which there is a game field with suit-less cards and four suit cards: spades (), clubs (), diamonds (?) and hearts (?). The game generally uses one or several standard 52-card decks. The players bet that the card they select will be dealt out of the deck on an even interval. To do so, they place their chips on a suit-less card that they pick on the game field. They may also predict the suit of their card by placing a bet on one of the suit cards. After the cards are shuffled and cut, the dealer places the cards face down on the table and draws the cards in order, two at a time. All bets on a card are considered played as soon as the first matching card is dealt from the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Ivan Pavlovich Efremov
  • Patent number: 6899628
    Abstract: A system for managing game events comprises a first server, a second server, a processor remotely coupled to the first server and the second server, and a memory coupled to the processor. The first server executes a first gaming application, and monitors a first plurality of game events during the execution of the first gaming application. The first server further communicates first event information associated with at least one of the first plurality of game events. The second server executes a second gaming application, and monitors a second plurality of game events during the execution of the second gaming application. The second server further communicates second event information associated with at least one of the second plurality of game events. The processor receives the first event information and the second event information. The memory stores at least a portion of the first event information and the second event information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Game Account Limited
    Inventors: Fergus A. Leen, Sam B. Lawrence, David G. McNally, Clive Hetherington, David M. McDowell, Kevin R. O'Neal
  • Patent number: 6896616
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can select one of a plurality of operating characteristics or game in accordance with player data stored in a memory, and be notified a relative ranking during gaming. In this method player data relating to an attribute or a game of one gaming machine is stored in a memory ; the player data from the memory can be downloaded to the gaming machine; the gaming machine is calibrated to provide the operating characteristic or game in accordance with the downloaded player data; the player then plays the calibrated gaming machine; and the gaming machine can display an update of the progress of play of the player, including relative ranking of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Casino Data Systems
    Inventor: Steven A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6896614
    Abstract: A assembly to play a variation of the game baccarat including a computer processor, a display and a user actuatable selector is provided. The computer processor is structured to determine a winning hand in accordance with rules of baccarat. Additionally, the computer processor monitors the nature of the winning hand and/or monitors consecutive ones of the user's hands and indicates a bonus payout for user in the event that the winning hand totals a natural nine or that consecutive ones of the user's hands have a final number count equal to a natural nine. In one variation, the user is further able to designate one of the initial cards that comprise the player's hand or the banker's hand in exchange for a new card to complete the initial hand and/or may view the initial cards before selecting whether to play the banker's hand or the player's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Baccarat Plus Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Santiago Romero
  • Patent number: 6890258
    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: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Casino Data Systems
    Inventor: Steven A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6887159
    Abstract: A platform for matching users of a gaming application comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores profile information for a plurality of users of a gaming application. The processor identifies profile information associated with a first user, and determines a subset of second users based at least in part upon the profile information and selection criteria. The processor further matches the first user against a selected second user in a competition associated with the execution of the gaming application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: GameAccount Limited
    Inventors: Fergus A. Leen, Sam B. Lawrence, David G. McNally, Clive Hetherington, David M. McDowell, Kevin R. O'Neal