Patents Examined by John M Hotaling
  • Patent number: 7666094
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexdander Casey Naglestad Cohen, Tonja Marie Ferry, Adam Koby
  • Patent number: 7666084
    Abstract: A game of chance is provided in which a predetermined fixed number of winning cell content drawn from a predetermined set of cell content. The drawn content is matched to the content on game cards and if the matched game card content covers a predetermined winning pattern then the game card is a winner. In one example, numerous winners may occur per game session because the game continues until the predetermined fixed number of winning cell content is drawn and not until a win occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: GameLogic Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Herrmann, Steven N. Kane, Stuart Roseman, Jason Yanowitz
  • Patent number: 7666089
    Abstract: A gaming device having an accumulation game with changing selections. The gaming device generates or picks, one at a time, a plurality of selections. Each generated selection is accumulated or marked and then changed to another selection. The gaming device continues generating selections, accumulating the generated selections and changing the generated selections until at least one selection is generated and accumulated a designated number of times. When at least one selection is generated and accumulated the designated number of times, an award is provided to the player wherein the award is based on the selection which was generated and accumulated the designated number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Rodgers, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 7662047
    Abstract: A stroboscope is utilized as an input device of a golf game system (10), for example. The golf game system includes a game machine (12) as an information processing apparatus and a golf-club-shaped input device (14), and within a housing of the game machine, an imaging unit (28) is housed, and the imaging unit is provided with an image sensor (40) and an infrared-LED. By utilizing the infrared-LED, an infrared ray is intermittently emitted to a predetermined range of an upper portion of the imaging unit. Accordingly, the image sensor intermittently images a reflective body provided in the golf-club-shaped input device moving within the range. Such the stroboscope image processing of the reflective body enables calculation of a velocity, and so on as an input of the game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: SSD Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiromu Ueshima, Katsuya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7658672
    Abstract: A gaming system which provides the player a plurality of playing cards to form an initial primary poker hand and also displays one or more other poker hands. The player selects one or more of the initially dealt cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard. The held cards are also held in one, more or each of the other simultaneously displayed hands. The gaming device evaluates the held cards and determines which poker game outcomes are possible based on the held cards and the remaining cards in the deck. The gaming device utilizes a stored table of different distributions of poker game outcomes which would result in each payout amount and a table regarding which poker game outcomes are possible based on the player's held cards to determine a distribution of outcomes that provides a total payout equal to the payout of the predetermined game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bryan D. Wolf, Lesley S. Swift, Justin M. Krum, John M. Montross, Tracy L. Powell
  • Patent number: 7658663
    Abstract: Toys and toy components are formed of a conductive loaded resin-based material. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The percentage by weight of the conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination thereof is between about 20% and 50% of the weight of the conductive loaded resin-based material. The micron conductive powders are metals or conductive non-metals or metal plated non-metals. The micron conductive fibers may be metal fiber or metal plated fiber. Further, the metal plated fiber may be formed by plating metal onto a metal fiber or by plating metal onto a non-metal fiber. Any platable fiber may be used as the core for a non-metal fiber. Superconductor metals may also be used as micron conductive fibers and/or as metal plating onto fibers in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Integral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Aisenbrey
  • Patent number: 7654895
    Abstract: A slot-type gaming machine using an expandable symbol array to create a series of sequentially larger symbol arrays with the potential for additional or enhanced awards. The generation of the larger arrays can be performed through a variety a different mechanisms, such as the addition of a reel to the base array. The secondary arrays may be generated only under specific sets of circumstances that occur in the base array including, a winning pay line, the occurrence of a bonus triggering symbol, etc. To increase player interest in the game, some embodiments include allowing the player to determine where the additional symbols to create the larger array are placed in the base array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 7654896
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 7654903
    Abstract: Technology is provided for preventing cheating during online gaming, including a first online gaming server computer system configured to gather information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming; a second online gaming server computer system configured to receive the information; and a central database configured for aggregating the received information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered by the first online gaming server computer system along with information stored on the central database regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered from a plurality of online gaming server computer systems. The aggregated information from the central database regarding cheaters detected is made available to the second online gaming server computer system, and cheaters identified in the aggregated information are prevented from online gaming on the second online gaming server computer system based on the aggregated information from the central database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Matthew George Tyler
  • Patent number: 7654898
    Abstract: A method for playing a slot machine displays for a wager one matrix of random symbols for player selection of at least one symbol. Providing strategic information to the player for favorable play. Converting the at least one position associated with the at least one symbol selected to be wild and awarding the player in accord with available pay table and/or game rules. Allowing the player to make a wager and begin play of a reel slot machine having positions set in a matrix of columns and rows wherein symbols move during play in the columns and stop in perhaps one of the rows. After the reels stop the player selects one or more symbols in accord with the rules of play and/or pay table. The player applies strategy based on information available on the pay table and/or rules of play to select at least one symbol. The player qualifies for wild symbols by random achievement of triggering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 7651396
    Abstract: A method for executing a game having a motif of rolling an object combined with another object with which the object is contacted, on a surface of the object, and growing large like a snowball. The method has: controlling a rotation and a movement of a first object as an operated object, in a virtual space; combining one of a plurality of second objects, with which the operated object is contacted, around a contact position of the operated object, at which the operated object is contacted with the one of the second objects, when the operated object is contacted with the one of the second objects; and determining the operated object with which the one of the second objects is combined, and the one of the second objects, when the one of the second objects is combined with the operated object, as an operated object, newly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Namco Bandai Games Inc.
    Inventor: Keita Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7648414
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recognizing preferred wagerers are provided. These systems and methods monitor wagerers using a wagering system, determine whether a wagerer is to be recognized, and, if so, provide an incentive to the wagerer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: ODS Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E McNutt, Douglas V Ramsey
  • Patent number: 7641551
    Abstract: A game apparatus stores input positions detected by the input device at predetermined time intervals, in order of detection, into a memory of the game apparatus. Next, a trail vector indicating at least a portion of a trail drawn by the player on the input surface is calculated from the input positions. Further, a reference vector whose starting point is a predetermined position on the input surface and whose ending point is a position determined by the trail vector is calculated. An action of a player's character is determined based on an angle between the trail vector and the reference vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daiki Iwamoto, Masahiro Nitta
  • Patent number: 7637813
    Abstract: A moving character and a background image are displayed on a display screen with a touch panel thereon. When the player operates the touch panel to draw a line in an intended path extending between a start point and an end point along which the player wishes to guide the moving character, an operation trace image having the shape of the line drawn is displayed on the display screen. Then, the moving character moves along or in parallel to the operation trace image. The operation trace image is gradually erased after a predetermined amount of time elapses. Thus, it is possible to provide a video game device and a video game program in which the player can influence the moving path or the moving direction of the player (moving) character based on the shape and/or the direction of the line drawn by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., HAL Laboratory Inc.
    Inventors: Motomi Katayama, Teruyuki Gunji, Kouji Mori, Masaaki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7635300
    Abstract: Game program has a procedure for renewing, for reducing a value of a life power parameter according to volume of damage received and for renewing it, a procedure for setting parameter value, for setting the value of the life power parameter reduced and renewed as a standard parameter value and for storing it in a memory, a procedure for recovering, for increasing the value of the life power parameter by a value of recovery parameter which is set on a recovery item which is instructed to be used by a player and for renewing it, a procedure for reducing, for reducing the value of the life power parameter in the memory which was increased and renewed at a predetermined reduction velocity with the passage of time and for renewing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideo Kojima, Sadaaki Kaneyoshi
  • Patent number: 7632185
    Abstract: A handheld projection gaming system includes a projection gaming device having a control portion and a projector portion, and an external user input device. The control portion is configured to be held in a handheld position, and includes control devices configured for manipulation by a user. The projector portion is configured to project a video image. The external user input device is configured to operably couple to and support the handheld gaming device and includes at least one control device configured for interactive manipulation by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark C. Solomon, Glen A. Oross, Peter On, Stephen J Brown
  • Patent number: 7632187
    Abstract: A device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications between a two or more players is provided. The device includes two infrared transceivers and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by a user. The housing includes a grip portion with a finger-operable trigger, a barrel portion and a user-interface including a display and a keypad for programming the device and controlling various game and device functions. A first infrared transceiver transmits a directional infrared signal to another game participant and receives an acknowledgment signal therefrom in response to the transmitted directional signal. A second infrared transceiver facilitates omnidirectional two-way communications between two or more devices. The transceivers facilitate communications between game players before, during, and after a game of infrared electronic tag such as game setup, player identification and gameplay analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Farley, David Small
  • Patent number: 7628693
    Abstract: A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game includes a display, a meter, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the display and is programmed to present on the display a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. The outcome is presented to a player in the form of an arrangement of symbols, at least one of the symbols being an advantageous symbol. The controller is further programmed to emphasize a corresponding meter symbol in the meter when the advantageous symbol has been displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 7628699
    Abstract: A game system includes: a direction mark storage section which stores image data of a direction mark that specifies a player's maneuver; a display controller which controls display of a plurality of display objects including the direction mark; a timing fetch section which fetches a maneuver timing; and an evaluation section which evaluates player's performance, based on a result of comparison between the fetched maneuver timing and a reference timing. The display controller displays the direction mark to specify a combination of a series of consecutive maneuvers by a single mark. When the player has input a series of consecutive maneuvers in accordance with a direction of the direction mark, the evaluation section compares the timing of the series of consecutive maneuvers with a reference timing, to evaluate the performance of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Namco Bandai Games Inc., Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Onoda, Hiroumi Endo, Hiroshi Igarashi, Junji Takamoto, Takeshi Nagareda
  • Patent number: 7628698
    Abstract: A CPU core determines whether a stick is in contact with a touch panel based on an output signal from the touch panel; if not in contact, a gazing point of a virtual camera is moved to a collective center of masses for objects; on the other hand, if the stick is in contact with the touch panel, setting values for the camera are fixed, an operation target object is caused to appear at a position, in a game space, corresponding to touch coordinates, and, then, the operation target object is moved in accordance with a dragging operation from a player; the setting values for the camera are fixed until the stick detaches from the touch panel; and, accordingly, when the player moves an arbitrary object in the three dimensional game space by operating the touch panel, the player can accurately move the object to an intended point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ajioka, Yasushi Ebisawa, Kiyoshi Mizuki