Patents Examined by Lawrence Galka
  • Patent number: 8936513
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium including instructions, and a computer-implemented method for placing players of a multiplayer game in a virtual world are described. Territory for a player of the multiplayer game is placed in the virtual world for the multiplayer game. Territory for at least one other player is placed adjacent to the territory of the player in the virtual world. The player is determined to have entered the territory for the at least one other player. At least one in-game task is assigned to the player based on an in-game state of the player and an in-game state of the at least one other player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Wang, Erik Paul Bethke
  • Patent number: 8932138
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium including instructions, and a computer-implemented method for placing players of a multiplayer game in a virtual world are described. Territory for a player of the multiplayer game is placed in the virtual world for the multiplayer game. Territory for at least one other player is placed adjacent to the territory of the player in the virtual world. The player is determined to have entered the territory for the at least one other player. At least one in-game task is assigned to the player based on an in-game state of the player and an in-game state of the at least one other player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Wang, Erik Paul Bethke
  • Patent number: 8926427
    Abstract: When there is an instruction for rotation during a game in a first field, a CPU core of a game apparatus obtains central coordinates in a second field after the rotation and coordinates (central coordinates) of a player object and BG object in steps S53 and S55. Then, the CPU core executes a rotation process in a hardware calculation circuit, for example, in steps S57 to S61. When detecting end of the rotation in a step S63, the CPU core executes a map switch process in a step S65. In the map switch process, the CPU core generates a second field according to second area data. Then, after generating the second field, the CPU core makes a hit determination according to the second area data in a step S7, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Asuke, Masataka Takemoto, Kiyoshi Kouda
  • Patent number: 8920228
    Abstract: A game server includes an operation data receiving section that receives, from a terminal whereto a plurality of games is provided via a communication network, operation data for operating a virtual user created in a virtual space, an overall ranking creating section that creates an overall ranking based on ranking-per-game information related to the plurality of games stored in a storing section, an item extracting section that extracts a virtual item stored in a storing section and usable in a specific game, based on information on the overall ranking upon reception of predetermined operation data from the terminal, and an item setting section that sets an extracted virtual item as a virtual item possessed by the virtual user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: gloops, Inc.
    Inventor: Takahide Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8905831
    Abstract: A gaming system including a multiple player persistent game, such as an ongoing community game. This ongoing community game includes a community game matrix which is continuously displayed to at least each of the players. The community game matrix includes a plurality of displayed positions which may be associated with an award or an award opportunity. In operation, at least each of the players playing the gaming devices of the gaming system are associated with a displayed participant that moves (either randomly or based on the player's control) to different of the displayed positions of the community game matrix. If a player moves their associated participant to a displayed position that is associated with an award or an award opportunity, the gaming system provides the player any associated award or enables the player to participate in any associated award opportunity to potentially win an award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8905836
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing multiway evaluation for a game including multi-component symbols that are utilized to determine one or more modifiers. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of reels including a plurality of individual symbols and a plurality of multi-component symbols including a plurality of the individual symbols. The gaming system displays a plurality of the symbols on the reels and determines a quantity of adjacent reels that each displays at least one instance of a first individual symbol. The gaming system determines a modifier for each of the adjacent reels based on a quantity of instances of the first individual symbol displayed by that reel, and determines any awards for the first individual symbol based on the determined quantity of adjacent reels and any determined modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Patent number: 8905838
    Abstract: Gaming technologies for detecting convergence in game play and then changing a game to overcome or inhibit convergence are generally described. In one example, a representative gaming method can include: providing a game simultaneously to a plurality of computing devices; identifying a game scenario type that includes game tests provided to the computing devices; obtaining game actions from the computing devices in response to the game tests; determining a convergence of the game actions across the computing devices that pass the game tests; and changing the game tests of the game scenario type such that the game actions of the convergence fail the changed game tests. The game can be a MMORPG, the game scenario can be a battle; the game tests can be opponents; the game actions can be battle actions; and convergence can be repeated game action patterns that defeat opponents in the battles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Shuichi Kurabayashi, Naofumi Yoshida, Kosuke Takano
  • Patent number: 8894481
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing multiway evaluation for a game including multi-component symbols that are utilized to determine one or more modifiers. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of reels including a plurality of individual symbols and a plurality of multi-component symbols including a plurality of the individual symbols. The gaming system displays a plurality of the symbols on the reels and determines a quantity of adjacent reels that each displays at least one instance of a first individual symbol. The gaming system determines a modifier for each of the adjacent reels based on a quantity of instances of the first individual symbol displayed by that reel, and determines any awards for the first individual symbol based on the determined quantity of adjacent reels and any determined modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Patent number: 8888580
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provides a community game having a trail or path. The community game enables a plurality of players to each simultaneously pick one or more directions of movement along the trail or path (i.e., pick or designate a destination position which that player wants to move to). If the picked directions of movement for more than one player result in more than one player each designating the same destination position, the gaming system determines which player is moved to the designated destination position (and is provided a displayed award or outcome associated with that position) and which player is moved to an alternative position (and is provided a displayed award or outcome associated with that alternative position).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8888597
    Abstract: Certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments disclosed herein teach a game system comprising a wide area network, a game unit coupled to the wide area network and capable of uploading game data concerning game play, and a server coupled to the wide area network and capable of receiving the game data and storing the game data in a database with other game data. According to certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the wide area network is the Internet. Encryption may be used to protect game data before it is uploaded. The game unit may be, for example, directly coupled to the Internet via an Internet Service Provider, or coupled to a local area network which may be coupled to the wide area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Kroeckel, Gennady I. Soliterman, Bryan M. Kelly, Dennis Lockard, Jeffrey C. Tallcott, Jeffrey Allen, Robert Luciano
  • Patent number: 8882606
    Abstract: A method and system for capturing, transmitting, and displaying golf swing data uses data capture elements in golf balls or golf clubs to capture data and transmission elements to transmit the golf swing data to a mobile computing auxiliary device. The mobile computing auxiliary device relays the captured and transmitted golf swing data to a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device transmits the golf swing data to a database. A server associated with the database generates web pages to make the golf swing data available over the internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Leech, Arthur Molinari, Yutaka Kabeshita, Yasushi Ichikawa, Derek A. Fitchett, Bradley C. Tutmark
  • Patent number: 8882595
    Abstract: A method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. When the player scans a barcode from a real world object, a virtual object is retrieved based on the barcode input. The player's character can then own or interact with the virtual object in the game environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: 2343127 Ontartio Inc.
    Inventors: Yousuf Chowdhary, Oliver (Lake) Watkins, Jr., Jeffrey Brunet, Ravinder (Ray) Sharma
  • Patent number: 8882582
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles for dynamically facilitating user interaction with a program are provided. A user is may be provided with refresher elements (or a tutorial) based on the period of time since the user's last session (or level of skill). Programs which may benefit from such features include, inter alia, interactive games, word processors, spreadsheets, payroll applications etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Avent, David Jefferies, James Callin
  • Patent number: 8858314
    Abstract: A server device executes one battle by spending the spending parameter in response to a player's operational input, and recovers the spending parameter by using a recovery item owned by the player. The server device calculates the total number of recovery items used to recover the spending parameter when one battle is fought for a plurality of times while repeating spending and recovering the spending parameter in response to operational inputs from the player until a hit point parameter of the enemy character is brought to less than or equal to a value. In response to one special operational input from the player, the server device determines whether the number of recovery items owned by the player is greater than or equal to the total number of recovery items calculated. When the determination is affirmative, the total number of recovery items calculated is automatically used from among the recovery items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Sasaki, Sadaaki Satsuma, Akhihito Suga, Keisuke Kamiyama, Satoshi Kagami, Keisuke Kurita, Junichi Kusumoto, Shinichiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8858329
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for a game interface on a wireless communication device with projector capability. In one example, an apparatus has an integrated projector lens on a casing of a wireless communication device and a dedicated game interface with a directional control and a fire button. In another example, an apparatus has a dedicated game interface with at least one directional control, a fire button, and a projector body with a projector lens which can extend from, retract to, or dock with a casing of a wireless communication device. Furthermore, this apparatus may include a novel hardware and/or software module which can invert, adjust, and/or re-orient a desired image before a corrected orientation of the desired image is projected from the integrated projector lens, depending on frontal, rear, or another surface usage of the wireless communication device by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Christine Hana Kim
  • Patent number: 8834267
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus that can display an avatar matched to any kind of game in which the avatar participates, without changing clothes or decorations worn by the avatar to new clothes or decorations. The game apparatus specifies display data of items based on attributes set to the items and includes a design table where a correspondence relationship between the attributes and the display data of the items is set. Display data of the player character is generated based on the specified display data of the items, and the player character is displayed on a display screen based on the generated display data of the player character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujii, Haruko Yamazaki, Eri Maruyama, Hiroshi Harada, Toshiaki Tarumi, Ryosuke Tamura
  • Patent number: 8827785
    Abstract: To provide a game device capable of preferably producing an image of a picture in which a first game character loses sight of a second game character having moved so as to disappear from view of the first game character, and thus delays in responding to the second game character. An operation target selection unit (72) selects an operation target character from among the plurality of first game characters. An operation target control unit (74a) changes a state of the first game character selected by the operation target selection unit (72), in the game space, based on a signal input from an operation unit. A selection restriction unit (72b) restricts, in the case where it is determined by the determination unit (72a) that the position of the second game character is included in a determination target area determined based on the position and orientation of the first game character, selection of that first game character by the operation target selection unit (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Suzuki, Hajime Matsumaru
  • Patent number: 8827811
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and an operating method of the mobile terminal are provided. The operating method includes connecting the mobile terminal to a sharing device so as to be able to communicate with the sharing device, the sharing device displaying a shared screen; downloading multiplayer game programs from the sharing device; and displaying a personal screen on a display module of the mobile terminal and running a multiplayer game together with another mobile terminal by using the personal screen and the shared screen while exchanging data with the sharing device. Therefore, it is possible for the mobile terminal to effectively run the multiplayer game together with the other mobile terminal by using the personal screen and the shared screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hansu Kim, Duckmoon Shin, Jungyeoul Ju, Jeonghyuk Yoon, Hyungwook Kang
  • Patent number: 8814649
    Abstract: A gaming device is adapted to present audiovisual content to players of the game. While the audiovisual content is playing, the player may initiate a game start. A snap shot of the audiovisual content playing at the time of the game start is taken. Reels of the gaming device spin and provide indicia on a payline. The indicia on the payline are compared to characters and elements within the snap shot of the audiovisual content. If there is a match for outcome significant indicia, the player receives a benefit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Michael W. Patterson, Robert C. Tedesco
  • Patent number: 8814704
    Abstract: A game server includes an acquisition right-granting section that grants an acquisition right for acquiring an item in a virtual space to a first virtual user, a proxy right-generating section that generates a proxy right to allow a second virtual user to exercise the acquisition right as a proxy, a proxy right-granting section that grants only the proxy right to the second virtual user, a positional information acquisition section that acquires a position of a second physical user's terminal, a proxy right-exercising section that exercises the proxy right by the second virtual user, an area-limited item-storing section that stores an area-limited item in association with a position in the physical space, an item information reading/loading section that reads/loads an area-limited item from the area-limited item storing section, and an item-providing section that provides only the first virtual user with the area-limited item read/loaded by the item information reading/loading section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: gloops, Inc.
    Inventor: Hidemasa Togashi