Patents Examined by Lawrence Galka
  • Video game with helper role or obstructer role for second player having separate display
    Patent number: 9561435
    Abstract: A main player operates a controller while viewing a monitor game image displayed on a monitor. A sub player operates a terminal device while viewing a terminal game image displayed on an LCD of the terminal device. A game image that is substantially identical to the monitor game image viewed by the main player is displayed on the LCD. By touching a touch panel provided on a screen of the LCD of the terminal device, the sub player can generate various events at a position in a game world corresponding to a touched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kimura, Masataka Takemoto
  • Computerized bingo-type game using bingo symbols drawn from symbol groups
    Patent number: 9564019
    Abstract: A system for allowing players to play a bingo-type game with a user computing device is described herein. The system includes a database including a plurality of bingo symbols and a system controller coupled to the database. The system controller is configured to receive a request from a player to play the bingo-type game and responsively display the bingo-type game on the at least one user computing device. The system controller is configured to determine a plurality of symbol groups included in the bingo-type game, randomly select a set of bingo symbols, and displays the selected set of bingo symbols with respect to the symbol grid. Each symbol group includes a predefined set of bingo symbols. The set of bingo symbols including a bingo symbol selected from each one of the symbol groups. Each bingo symbol in the set of bingo symbols is displayed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GSN Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumit Gupta, Vikas Gupta
  • Touch control with dynamic zones
    Patent number: 9561432
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing user control of objects or vehicles simulated in a simulated environment or virtual world are described herein. The user control may include various types of touch controls that may be used by a player to move the object or vehicle in a direction and/or at a velocity. The user, in some embodiments, may be able to select which type of touch control is used in the user interface. In some arrangements, the touch control may include a touch zone arrangement that can be changed based on a condition of the virtual world or a player interaction with a user interface. Additionally, in some embodiments, the user control may include one or more controls for removing one or more statuses that may be received by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wargaming.net LIMITED
    Inventors: Alexey Alexeev, Stepan Drozd
  • Slot machine with secondary game featuring replacement symbols
    Patent number: 9564006
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The systems and methods may utilize one or more symbol positions which may provide additional gaming functionality. The systems and methods may determine one or more payouts based on the additional gaming functionality. The systems and methods may display one or more presentations based on the additional gaming functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cadillac Jack, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Ryan
  • Image composition based on remote object data
    Patent number: 9547920
    Abstract: When a scene is generated, a content item may identify graphics object service requests associated with the scene. Each scene may have any number of associated graphics object service requests that may be sent to any number of different graphics object services. The graphics object services may be accessible over a network such as the Internet. By requesting object data from graphics object services, a content item may, for example, reduce at least part of the computational burden on a graphics processing unit of a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Joseph Heinz, II, Jonathan Paul Thompson, Venelin Nikolaev Efremov
  • Encouraging player socialization using a nemesis and avenger system
    Patent number: 9539518
    Abstract: In an approach, one or more player characters controllable by a first player account perform an action in an instance of a game world. In the event that the action meets one or more conditions for creating a nemesis, a computer system controlling the game instance selects a second player account to be invaded by a nemesis. When the second player account plays the game in the same or a different game instance, the computer system determines whether second one or more characters of the selected account meet one or more invasion conditions. If the invasion conditions are met, the computer system generates computer-controlled enemy NPCs for second one or more characters of the second player account to defeat. If the second account defeats the nemesis invasion, rewards are generated for the first and second player accounts. Otherwise, the computer system chooses a third player account for nemesis invasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Berger, Evan Greenstone
  • Gamification provider abstraction layer
    Patent number: 9526984
    Abstract: A system that manages a gamification provider abstraction layer can select a gamification provider. The system receives a common gamification request message from a client and creates a provider-specific request message based on the received common gamification request message and the selected gamification provider. The system then transmits the provider-specific request message to the selected gamification provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jayant Thomas, Victor Matskiv, Zhaogang Qian, Vallabha Jagdish, Richard Rhodes, Vasanthan Gunaratnam
  • Energy storing device and method of using the same
    Patent number: 9517388
    Abstract: A ball includes a shell defining a spheroid. The shell includes an opening and a panel to close the opening. The panel has a sleeve that extends radially inward. A generation module is disposed in a cavity defined by the shell. The generation module includes a housing. A pendulum, an electric generator, and a battery are disposed in the housing. The pendulum is mechanically coupled to a rotor of the electric generator at a first axis of rotation of the pendulum and the electric generator is electrically coupled to the battery. An acceleration of the ball causes the pendulum to rotate about the first axis of rotation. The rotation of the pendulum rotates the rotor of the electric generator. The rotation of the rotor of the electric generator generates electricity, and at least a portion of the generated electricity is stored by the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Uncharted Play, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica O. Idoni-Matthews, Julia Claire Silverman, Victor Angel Mosti, Joel Manalo
  • Systems and methods for playing a game of chance with bonus feature
    Patent number: 9520015
    Abstract: Systems and methods enable one or more players to play a game of chance. A system includes a processor and a memory device configured to store processor executable instructions to provide a game of chance in which a plurality of house indicia is selected from a pool of house indicia and in which one or more player indicia is provided. The processor is programmed by the instructions to randomly select a predetermined number of house indicia from the pool of house indicia, provide a random chance of selecting a bonus indicia, determine whether a winning number of matching indicia has been achieved by identifying each player indicia that matches one of the selected predetermined number of house indicia, and present a bonus to the player upon a determination that the bonus indicia matches a player indicia and that a winning number of matching indicia has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GAMING ARTS LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Image composition based on remote object data
    Patent number: 9514546
    Abstract: When a scene is generated, a content item may identify graphics object service requests associated with the scene. Each scene may have any number of associated graphics object service requests that may be sent to any number of different graphics object services. The graphics object services may be accessible over a network such as the Internet. By requesting object data from graphics object services, a content item may, for example, reduce at least part of the computational burden on a graphics processing unit of a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Joseph Heinz, II, Jonathan Paul Thompson, Venelin Nikolaev Efremov
  • Gaming machine and methods of allowing a player to play a gaming machine having multiple games with the same reel
    Patent number: 9508230
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing multiple games to a player with the same reel is described herein. The gaming machine displays a first game that includes a first portion of a reel in a first display area and concurrently displays a second game that includes a second portion of the reel being displayed in a second display area. The gaming machine randomly generates an outcome of the first game and spins and stops the at least one reel to display the first game outcome in the first display area and awards the player an award as a function of the first game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Satoshi Suda
  • Pop-up book gameplay mechanics
    Patent number: 9492751
    Abstract: Method, article and apparatus for executing computer games, and in particular, computer-based platform games. In a platform game, a user may interact directly with and articulate pop-up book elements to modify the game level. The modified game level may be navigable by a game character also controlled by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Neill Glancy, Michael Hadwin
  • Information distribution in gaming networks
    Patent number: 9483911
    Abstract: Patron information generated at an originating gaming property may be transmitted to a requesting gaming property based on a set of permissions associated with a group of gaming properties. Vouchers generated at a first gaming property may also be redeemed at a second gaming property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Marty Backover, Sean Bybee, Rajendra Chaparala, David Corson, Ignatius Vincent, Patricia McMahan, Subbarrao Panindra, Mukundhan Srinivasan, Alexandra Taylor
  • Image composition based on remote object data
    Patent number: 9471997
    Abstract: When a scene is generated, a content item may identify graphics object service requests associated with the scene. Each scene may have any number of associated graphics object service requests that may be sent to any number of different graphics object services. The graphics object services may be accessible over a network such as the Internet. By requesting object data from graphics object services, a content item may, for example, reduce at least part of the computational burden on a graphics processing unit of a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Joseph Heinz, II, Jonathan Paul Thompson, Venelin Nikolaev Efremov
  • Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing one or more alternative wager propositions if a credit balance is less than a designated wager amount
    Patent number: 9466174
    Abstract: Various embodiments of gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods of the present disclosure provide one or more alternative wagering propositions to a player when the player's credit balance is less than (or, in certain embodiments, less than or equal to) a designated wager amount. If the player accepts one of the alternative wager propositions, the player risks an amount of the player's remaining credit balance for a chance to win an alternative award. If the player wins the alternative award, the gaming system enables the player to play one or more plays of the wagering game at the designated wager amount. If the player does not win the alternative award, the gaming system reduces the player's credit balance by the amount risked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing a multiple player persistent game
    Patent number: 9466183
    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: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Method and system for temporarily incentivizing user participation in a game space
    Patent number: 9463376
    Abstract: A system and method for temporarily altering the determination of gameplay metric values in a game space, and distributing awards based on the relative change in gameplay metric values during the temporary time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: KABAM, INC.
    Inventors: John Kim, Peter Glover, Jay Jodway, Jay Ambrosini
  • Public gameplay
    Patent number: 9446321
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing public gameplay is provided. Gameboard display data is generated to display a gameboard of a game. A move associated with the game is received from a client device of a player. The gameboard display data and move display data are provided to the client device to display the move on the gameboard. The gameboard display data and the move display data are also sent to a broadcast server to display the move on the gameboard via a public medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: M. Ian Graham, Ya-Bing Chu, Randall William Allred, Jr., Christopher Delbuck
  • Gaming system, gaming device and method including a community trail game
    Patent number: 9430915
    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 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Sports monitoring system using GPS with location beacon correction
    Patent number: 9424397
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring the performance of an individual during a fitness activity are disclosed. A method of monitoring the performance of a participant engaged in a fitness activity includes receiving a GPS signal during the fitness activity at a portable fitness device used by the participant; determining participant performance data based on the received GPS signal; at a stationary position beacon, transmitting location data associated with the location of the stationary position beacon; at a mobile participant receiver supported by the participant, receiving the location data from the stationary position beacon; and modifying the participant performance data based on the data received from the stationary position beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Jon Harald Werner, Christian DiBenedetto, Stephen John Black