Abstract: A server provides activities and/or services to a player through a device. In response to a request from the device, information known to a player is determined and sent to the device via the server. In this fashion, verification can be made that the device is communicating with the server.
Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 4, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 3, 2011
Assignee:
IGT
Inventors:
Steven G. LeMay, Jamal Benbrahim, Richard E. Rowe, Robert E. Breckner, Nicole M. Beaulieu, Greg A. Schlottmann
Abstract: Systems, methods and for analyzing game control input data are disclosed. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon instructions for analyzing game control input data is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 6, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2011
Assignee:
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Inventors:
Gary M. Zalewski, Richard L. Marks, Xiadong Mao
Abstract: A gaming system has a central authority connected to a plurality of gaming machines. Player activity is tracked at the gaming machines during regular gaming sessions and during virtual gaming sessions. Such data is transmitted to the central authority for providing player points in a player account file of a central database. Regular gaming sessions occur between player card insertion and player card removal. Virtual gaming sessions may occur prior to player card insertion as well as after player card insertion. For example, a coin-in event prior to player card insertion will establish a virtual session, and credits remaining on the credit meter at a card-out event will establish a virtual gaming session.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 24, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2011
Assignee:
Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
Inventors:
Keith Donald Kammler, J. Christopher McNamee, Alan Gael Sheldon, Robert L. O'Donnell
Abstract: A game apparatus has a plurality of actuation devices in which at least two of the actuation devices require different mechanical actions for actuation. The apparatus further includes a speaker, a display screen, and a processor coupled to each of the actuation devices and to the display screen and the speaker. The processor outputs a first command signal to the speaker relating to a first actuation device, then outputs a second command signal to the speaker when the first actuation device is actuated, with the second command signal relating to a second actuation device. The processor outputs image signals to the display screen that are representative of the mechanical actions being taken.
Abstract: A wagering gaming device which includes at least one converter program. The gaming device processor, which operates on a particular platform, can use the converter program to read and use programs otherwise incompatible with such platform, such as platform independent programs. This type of gaming device enables developers to develop code on platforms which are different in type from the gaming device platform, and the gaming device processor can read and use this code to operate the gaming device.
Abstract: Advertisements may be selected for display to a user in a computer game environment based at least in part on one or more of a personality trait of the user as determined from monitoring a behavior of the user as the user is participating in the computer game environment, a user affinity for a subject of another advertisement as determined from monitoring activity of the user after the user views the other advertisement while the other advertisement is displayed in the computer game environment, and a characteristic of the user as determined from a username selected by the user.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 20, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2011
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Eric Lawrence Barsness, John Matthew Santosuosso
Abstract: An electronic apparatus can be placed between the money acceptor and the operative components of a gaming or vending machine to award a bonus based on predetermined utilization rates of the machine. The apparatus may incorporate dip switches to permit the number of bonuses to be varied and to change the frequency at which the bonuses are awarded. In gaming machines the bonus can be in the form of additional credits or increased play, while in vending machines the bonus can be in the form of additional credits or the dispensing of bonus product with the product purchased from the machine. Alternatively, the bonus award system can be incorporated into the money acceptor. In vending machines, a sensor may be incorporated to sense the dispensing of product from the vending machine to ascertain the utilization rate of the machine for the awarding of bonuses.
Abstract: A method, system and program product for monitoring an online card game, such as poker. A table view is displayed at a client that summarizes recently played hands, raises, and table conditions, and also includes scaled player classifications (tight or loose; passive or aggressive), counts of notifications of plays of interest, win/loss history, and links to player statistics and player performance graphs. Scaled player classifications are automatically configured. Notification details are displayed via links on the table view. Summaries of known hands based on predefined conditions are displayed. Summary displays of pre-flop hands and hands on flop, turn or river are also provided.
Abstract: The invention relates generally to wagering games and, more particularly, to a gaming machine which determines game outcomes with a mechanical selector mechanism. Wagering games with game outcomes produced by a mechanical mechanism have not been widely accepted. Mechanical gaming machines are susceptible to bias from both inherent manufacturing defects and wear related degradation. Because gaming machines must meet regulatory required payback percentages, deviation from random operation may jeopardize the gaming machine's license. To overcome bias that may cause operation of the gaming machine outside its regulatory approved technical specifications, a feedback control loop can be implemented in the gaming machine to detect and correct bias as it occurs.
Abstract: For measuring a shot force exerted on a movable game device, a time curve of the acceleration during the shot or of the pressure within the game device during the shot is recorded and processed to obtain an energy measure, said energy measure then serving to provide information about the shot force.
Abstract: A method is disclosed for matching a test golfer with a particular golf club selected from a group of golf clubs having a plurality of styles. The method utilizes data set derived in an initial procedure in which the club style preferences for each of a large number of pre-test golfers is recorded and correlated with a set of performance parameters for the golf swings of such pre-test golfers. This data enables the pre-test golfers to be classified into subgroups, in which golfers within the same subgroup generally prefer the same club style and golfers in different subgroups generally prefer different club styles. After this data set has been established, the test golfer takes a golf swing with a golf club, while performance parameters for the swing are measured. Based on the measured performance parameters and the previously established data set, the test golfer is classified according to swing type, and the optimum golf-club is then selected from the plurality of styles of golf clubs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 8, 2006
Date of Patent:
February 15, 2011
Assignee:
Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
Inventors:
Ian C. Wright, David Anderson, Peter J. Roberts, Benoit Vincent
Abstract: Apparatus and a method for computing and outputting a putting backstroke instruction for a planned putt of a golf ball during recreational play. A computing means includes means for initializing or customizing according to a specific golfer putting on a specific golf green, the golfer putting at least one initializing putt a pre-selected distance on a level area of a green. During recreational play thereafter, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the golfer, for each segment of a planned putt enters the applicable grade and length. The computing means outputs to the golfer an instruction for the length of the backstroke recommended, i.e., required for the planned putt. Another embodiment of the invention requires the inputting of the length of the planned putt but excludes the inputting of the grade of the green.
Abstract: Systems and method for providing a game achievements system where players are rewarded with game achievements based on mastering certain in-game facets of the games they play. Each game achievement may be conveyed in a profile as a badge or trophy, title, description, date, etc. Players may also accumulate points based on game achievements. A display interface may be made available such that a player may see his achievements and total points, as well as those of others.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 7, 2004
Date of Patent:
February 15, 2011
Assignee:
Microsoft Corporation
Inventors:
Michal Bortnik, Vincent H. Curley, James His-Kai Jen, James David Macauley, Ling Tony Chen, Steven D. Lamb
Abstract: When a predetermined amount of credits have been inserted into a slot machine, the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode according to the player's input operation via a touch panel. In the insurance mode, determination is made whether or not the amount of bet credits matches the maximum bet amount. When determination has been made that the amount of bet credits matches the maximum bet amount, the number of games is counted after switching of the game mode to the insurance mode. When the counted number of games reaches a predetermined number, a predetermined amount of credits is paid out. Furthermore, in this case, only in a case where determination has been made that the amount of credits bet on the game matches the maximum bet amount, the difference between the counted number of games and the predetermined number is displayed.
Abstract: A screen-based host with processing and I/O facilities interacts with distributed items that are arranged for storing and exchanging digital information with the host. In particular, under proximity conditions and initially without user interaction, the items exchange accordingly with the host, but without requiring formatted berth facilities of the host. The various items through associated self-identifying evoke specific iconizing by the host for signaling to the user an associated service field. The host allows a user person to activate data processing operations with respect to the service field. During proximity conditions, the items keep abreast of host-generated results relevant to a corresponding service field. The host allows free styling of the items with respect to the item's physical shape.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 13, 2001
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2011
Assignee:
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Inventors:
Christoph Dobrusskin, Jacoba J. Van Dorssen, Paul D. McGroary, Roger P. Swales, Jan P. C. Van Der Voet
Abstract: A broadcast receiving system capable of receiving mobile broadcast data and a method for processing broadcast signals are disclosed. The broadcast receiving system includes N number of antenna elements, a demodulator, a transmission parameter detector, and a block decoder. The N number of antenna elements receives each of the broadcast signals. The demodulator demodulates the broadcast signal having greater signal strength among each of the received broadcast signals. The transmission parameter detector detects the transmission parameter. The block decoder symbol-decodes the mobile broadcast service data included in the received broadcast signal in block units, based upon the detected transmission parameter.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 20, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2016
Assignee:
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Inventors:
Il Soo Cho, Hyeon Cheol Cho, Jong Sun Park, In Hwan Choi, Hyoung Gon Lee, Won Gyu Song, Seung Man Kim, Jong Moon Kim, Jin Woo Kim, Kook Yeon Kwak, Byoung Gill Kim
Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for processing of data related to video wherein reduced bit depth intermediate calculations are enabled.
Abstract: A spinning reel video poker machine that displays an initial array of symbols that may be on a simulation of spinning reels (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5). In response to a trigger additional symbols will become available on the video screen to extend existing paylines or provide new paylines. The new paylines may be part of an extension to an existing array or they may be part of a separate array of symbols or set of reels that becomes available in response to the trigger.
Abstract: A broadcast receiving system capable of receiving mobile broadcast data and a method for processing broadcast signals are disclosed. The broadcast receiving system includes N number of antenna elements, a demodulator, a transmission parameter detector, and a block decoder. The N number of antenna elements receives each of the broadcast signals. The demodulator demodulates the broadcast signal having greater signal strength among each of the received broadcast signals. The transmission parameter detector detects the transmission parameter. The block decoder symbol-decodes the mobile broadcast service data included in the received broadcast signal in block units, based upon the detected transmission parameter.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 16, 2018
Assignee:
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Inventors:
Il Soo Cho, Hyeon Cheol Cho, Jong Sun Park, In Hwan Choi, Hyoung Gon Lee, Won Gyu Song, Seung Man Kim, Jong Moon Kim, Jin Woo Kim, Kook Yeon Kwak, Byoung Gill Kim