Patents Examined by Lawrence S Galka
  • Patent number: 10870060
    Abstract: A method for gaming, including receiving from a client device of a user selection of a video recording of game play of a player for a gaming application, and streaming the video recording to the client device. The video recording is associated with a snapshot captured at a first point in the recorded game play. Selection of a jump point in the recorded game play is received from the client device. An instance of the gaming application is initiated based on the snapshot to initiate a jump game play. Input commands used to direct the game play and associated with the snapshot are accessed. Image frames are generated based on the input commands for rendering at the client device, the image frames replaying the game play to the jump point. Input commands from the client device are handled beginning from the jump point for the jump game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventor: Warren Benedetto
  • Patent number: 10857450
    Abstract: A physical-virtual gaming platform comprising a game board overlay including logical locations for the placement of game pieces, where the overlay is placed in relationship to the combination of a game board and game pieces. The combination of the game board and game pieces include electronic means that are in communication with a computing device. The computing device processes the information provided by the electronic means to determine the logical location of a game piece with respect to the game overlay and then provides a sensory output to gamers based at least upon the determined locations. The game overlay can be active and in communication with the computing device such that the overlay is operated to alter one or more logical locations thereby changing game play in response to determined game piece movements. The platform includes visualization and audio devices for providing customized visual and audio experiences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: James Aman, Jeffery Paul Cheesman
  • Patent number: 10857453
    Abstract: A button assembly adapted for being mounted in a game controller. The button assembly includes a pedestal, a pressure sensor module and a key cap. A middle of the pedestal has an accommodating groove penetrating upward through a top surface of the middle of the pedestal. Two opposite sides of the pedestal have two limiting portions oppositely protruded outward. The pressure sensor module is mounted in the accommodating groove of the pedestal. The key cap is covered on the pressure sensor module. A bottom surface of the key cap has a contact portion contacting with the pressure sensor module. Two opposite sides of the key cap have two active portions protruded outward. The two active portions are mounted to the two limiting portions, respectively. In processes of pressing and releasing the key cap, the two active portions move downward and upward with respect to the two limiting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: CHENG UEI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Tseng, Tsung-Shih Lee
  • Patent number: 10843073
    Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques for managing interaction permissions for an object in a shared virtual environment are provided. The techniques may determine whether to present an object in a limited-interaction mode or in an interactive mode based on a permission condition. The permission condition may include a proximity condition that specifies a proximity threshold between two objects within the shared virtual environment that should be met in order to provide the object in the interactive mode. The proximity threshold may specify a distance between an avatar of an owning user of the object and the object; a distance between an avatar of an owning user of the object and an avatar of a user being presented the object, or other distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Rec Room Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Fajt, Cameron Brown, Dan Kroymann, Omer Bilal Orhan, Jonathan Bevis, Joshua Wehrly
  • Patent number: 10835829
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for identifying and describing a group, a coordinating device, and a computer program product. The method includes: accumulating a staying time of a plurality of avatars staying at a certain location, wherein the avatars are controlled by a plurality of users; identifying the avatars as a specific ad-hoc group and monitoring a plurality of interactive behaviors between the avatars if the staying time exceeds a time threshold; providing at least one of the users with a questionnaire based on the interactive behaviors; generating a group description about the specific group formed by the avatars based on a plurality of answers of the at least one of the users on answering the questionnaire; and communicating this description to other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Chaim Robbins, Brent DelFierro Dietrich, Ayfer Gokalp, Jacqueline Pospisil
  • Patent number: 10839652
    Abstract: An improved coin pusher machine includes at least one player station. The at least one player station includes at least one memory device and processor, a pusher field configured to hold a plurality of tokens, a win slot configured to accept tokens that fall from the pusher field, and omitting any lose slot. The at least one player station includes a pusher mechanism configured to move in a reciprocating motion, a token launching mechanism configured to launch tokens onto the pusher field, and a token counter configured to count a number or value of tokens that fall into the win slot. The processor is configured to calculate a total value, including a base win value and a feature win value, of tokens falling into the win slot from the pusher field, and cause an indication associated with a game cycle to be transmitted to an external host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Kido
  • Patent number: 10828558
    Abstract: A computer device comprising a user interface, a processor, and a graphics rendering component. The user interface is configured to display user actuatable game elements, each user actuatable game element displayed on a respective tile, and to detect user input when a user engages with at least one of said user actuatable game elements in a move. The processor is configured to determine, on detecting the match game condition, whether at least one tile of the respective tiles associated with the at least three actuatable game elements of the match condition has a tile characteristic indicating an attained background appearance and, if so, to modify the tile characteristic of each tile of the respective tiles associated with the at least three actuatable game elements of the match condition not indicating an attained background appearance to indicate an attained background appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventor: Magnus Hansson
  • Patent number: 10818143
    Abstract: A keno game includes a multiplier feature which is used to increase the payouts during the play of a keno game. This payout multiplier is determined by winning outcomes during a round of play and the payout multiplier is applied to the next round of play of the keno game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Ernest W Moody
  • Patent number: 10814221
    Abstract: A method is performed at a terminal for locking a target in a game application, the method comprising: obtaining input gesture information from a user on an operation interface of a game application; recognizing the gesture information to obtain a switching instruction of the game application corresponding to the gesture information; selecting an object category of virtual characters according to the switching instruction; locking a target virtual character in the object category according to a preset rule and performing an operation on the target virtual character; and marking the target virtual character that has been locked using a first indicator and a second target virtual character that has not been locked using a second indicator visually distinct from the first indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yong Tang, Changyan Liao
  • Patent number: 10806994
    Abstract: A trigger with user adjustable sensor position assembled to an outer shell, includes a pressing portion pivotally connected to the outer shell, a torsion spring elastically abutting between the pressing portion and the outer shell, a triggering portion assembled in the outer shell, and an adjusting assembly. When an elastic force of the torsion spring is released, the torsion spring elastically abuts against the pressing portion to define a position where the pressing portion is located to be an original position, a position where the pressing portion abuts against the triggering portion to trigger the triggering portion is defined as a triggering position. The pressing portion is capable of swinging between the original position and the triggering position. The adjusting assembly is assembled in the outer shell. When the adjusting assembly is in different adjusting positions, key travels between the pressing portion and the triggering portion are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsieh Cheng Chou, Chi Ming Tseng
  • Patent number: 10796448
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting a player in a gaming environment using a mobile device are disclosed. The methods and systems perform the steps of receiving calibration data from a camera of a user device, the calibration data comprising a first reference point associated with the gaming environment, a second reference point associated with the gaming environment, and sensor data associated with the user device; computing a camera projection based on the first reference point, the second reference point, and the sensor data obtained from the user device; receiving an input video of the gaming environment, wherein the input video is captured using the camera, and wherein frames of the input video comprise at least one player in the gaming environment; identifying an image location of the player by performing a computer vision algorithm on the input video; and determining a real-world location of the player based on the image location and the camera projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: NEX Team Inc.
    Inventors: Keng Fai Lee, Man Hon Chan, Wing Hung Chan, On Loy Sung
  • Patent number: 10792572
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to virtual reality simulation, and more specifically, in some implementations, to devices, systems, and methods for use in a virtual reality sports simulation. A system for virtual reality simulation may include an accessory (e.g., one or more of a bat, a glove, or a helmet) for interacting with a virtual reality environment. The accessory may provide the user with haptic feedback that emulates sensations that the user would experience when playing a live-action sport to provide the user with a more meaningful and realistic experience when playing a virtual reality game. Further, virtual reality simulations disclosed herein may include incorporating data from a live-action event (e.g., a live-action sporting event) into a virtual reality environment to provide a user with a realistic experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Centurion VR, Inc.
    Inventor: Muhammad Yasser Ghanchi
  • Patent number: 10792571
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to virtual reality simulation, and more specifically, in some implementations, to devices, systems, and methods for use in a virtual reality sports simulation. A system for virtual reality simulation may include an accessory (e.g., one or more of a bat, a glove, or a helmet) for interacting with a virtual reality environment. The accessory may provide the user with haptic feedback that emulates sensations that the user would experience when playing a live-action sport to provide the user with a more meaningful and realistic experience when playing a virtual reality game. Further, virtual reality simulations disclosed herein may include incorporating data from a live-action event (e.g., a live-action sporting event) into a virtual reality environment to provide a user with a realistic experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Centurion VR, Inc.
    Inventor: Muhammad Yasser Ghanchi
  • Patent number: 10786729
    Abstract: A simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM)-enabled video game system, a user device of the video game system, and a computer-readable storage medium of the user device are disclosed. Generally, the video game system includes a video game console, a plurality of thermal beacons, and a user device communicatively coupled with the video game console. The user device includes a thermopile array, a processor, and a memory. The user device may receive thermal data from the thermopile array, the thermal data corresponding to a thermal signal emitted from a thermal beacon of the plurality of thermal beacons and detected by the thermopile array. The user device may determine, based on the thermal data, its location in 3D space, and then transmit that location to the video game system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis D. Castleman
  • Patent number: 10783740
    Abstract: A gaming system including an electronic gaming machine that enables a player to select one or more devices for operation of the electronic gaming machine and then provides operation of the electronic gaming machine based on the operation of such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Fayez Idris
  • Patent number: 10783741
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing or otherwise modifying gaming indicia sources, such as slot game reels sourcing slot games, poker decks sourcing poker hands, etc. Slot game embodiments involve replacing or modifying symbols with new or transformed symbols on a slot game event basis, such as on a spin-by-spin basis. Multiple sets of different symbol replacement instructions may be provided, such that selection of one of the sets will cause different modifications to the slot reels than had another set been selected. Embodiments enable such selection and reel variation on a spin-by-spin basis in slot games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventor: Nicholas Compton
  • Patent number: 10773162
    Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for streaming a game. The method includes receiving a background stream rendered on a server and including a server time stamp, the background stream rendered at a first resolution and displayed at a second resolution, the first resolution larger than the second resolution. The method also includes receiving a foreground stream rendered on the server. The method also includes receiving control input from a player at a current time, the control input controlling a camera angle of the game. The method also includes determining a difference in the camera angle intended by the player between the current time and the server time stamp. The method also includes adjusting a display output based on the difference by shifting a focal point of the background stream according to the control input by utilizing extra rendered pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Lawrence Harris
  • Patent number: 10758817
    Abstract: The inventive game controller has a base portion and an upper portion. The base portion and the upper portion are constructed and arranged so that the base portion is stationary relative to the upper portion; and when the upper portion is moved parallel to the base portion, the game controller translates the relative motion of the upper portion to the base portion into programmable keystrokes or analog movements, which in turn correspond to movements with the game; the upper portion moving forward relative to the base portion translates to forward movement in the game; the upper portion moving backwards relative to the base portion translates to backwards movement in the game; the upper portion moving left or twisting left relative to the base portion translates to spinning; left or strafing left in the game; the upper portion moving right or twisting right relative to the base portion translates to right spinning or right strafing in the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: Branden Duncan
  • Patent number: 10758808
    Abstract: An athleticism rating system and related athletic performance measuring systems is described. The athleticism rating system evaluates individual athletes against an athletes' definable skill tests which are common such as weight lifting, running or cycling times or standardized tests or a custom set of athletic performance tests. The related performance measuring system preferably is a user configurable software system that is configurable to be used on a computer system such as a laptop or desktop, smart phone or tablet and it ensures quick, easy, and accurate collection of athletic event data. In one disclosed embodiment, the performance rating system provides seamless athletic data collection and rating of athletes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ATHLETIC TESTING, LLC
    Inventors: Obioma Victor Green, James Philip Dawson
  • Patent number: 10755526
    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: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely