Patents Examined by Malina K Rustemeyer
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Patent number: 8087987Abstract: A method and system for playing a bowling game in combination with a poker-type card game is disclosed. The method and system comprising the steps of initiating a conventional bowling game, filling at least one bowling frame, dealing one or more hole cards to a player, continuing the bowling game for one or more additional frames, dealing one or more community cards, continuing the bowling game for one or more additional frames, dealing another set of one or more community cards, continuing the bowling game for one or more additional frames, dealing a final set of community cards, completing the bowling game by filling a final bowling frame, determining a final bowling score, determining if a poker hand formed from a combination of hole cards and community cards is a winning hand, providing a poker award if the poker hand is a winning hand, and combining the poker award with the final bowling score to create an enhanced bowling score.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Jam-N Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: James C Mruk
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Patent number: 8083589Abstract: A portable sensor unit for capturing motion and/or other data may be securely mounted on objects such as a user's limb, a vehicle, or other items. The sensor unit may then collect motion and/or other data from the object to which it is affixed, and may provide this data to a data logger which stores the data. The data logger may subsequently communicate the data to a gaming system which may tailor the motion characteristics of a virtual object to resemble those of the real-world object from which the motion data was captured. Thus, a user can (for example) capture motion data from a vehicle, with this data being supplied to a video gaming unit which provides a virtual vehicle having the same acceleration/deceleration, handling, and other characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Reference, LLCInventors: Christopher Lee Kavars, Leslie Davis
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Patent number: 8070575Abstract: The game will be called Bowl N Hold-em. It will combine the standard game of bowling, along with the poker game Texas Hold-em. The game will utilize the bowling center's computer scoring system, along with a standard deck of playing cards. This will be done by creating a computer program that will be compatible with a bowling center's existing computer software. The maximum number of players per pair of lanes, shall be ten. One standard deck of playing cards shall be used per pair of lanes.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Jam-N Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: James C Mruk
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Patent number: 8021232Abstract: A game apparatus CPU turns on a scroll operating flag when it detects that a player object exists at a predetermined position, that is, within a scroll operating range while performing a predetermined action on a contact object. If the scroll operating flag is turned on, first scrolling is performed, and a screen display position is gradually moved so as to be close to a scroll target value. If the operating flag is not turned on, normal adjustment of a screen display position is performed as necessary. After disappearance of the contact object, the first scrolling is not performed, therefore preventing unnatural scroll display (e.g., displaying an item that it is no longer possible to reach due to change of state).Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2004Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhisa Yamamura, Shigeyuki Asuke, Toshinori Kawai
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Patent number: 8007360Abstract: A gaming machine according to one embodiment of the invention has a rotating reel display device that variably displays a plurality of kinds of identification information required for a game, and a transmissive image display device 30 to enable symbol information of the rotating reel display device to be visually recognized. The transmissive image display device 30 has a liquid crystal panel 34 that displays an image, and a light guide plate 37 that is provided on the back side of the display panel 34 and that irradiates the display panel while having display windows 37L, 37C and 37R formed therein to cause the symbol information of the rotating reel display device to be visually recognized, and prism sheets 40, each of which deflects the introduced light introduced to inside the light guide plate 37 toward the vertex area of the rotating reel, are provided in frame portions 37L, 37C and 37R of the display windows.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Universal Entertainment CorporationInventor: Hideaki Kishi
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Patent number: 8002620Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an award based on a multiplicity of game outcomes. In one implementation the invention provides a method for providing a game. The method includes placing a bet by a player, playing of a game to produce a game outcome, evaluating a primary game outcome, paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it, advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it, and if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: IGTInventors: Mark C. Nicely, Kathleen Bolich
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Patent number: 7993200Abstract: To provide a game device that allows a user to relatively easily judge a time at which a length of a gauge becomes a length with which desired processing is executed. A first gauge control unit (72) controls the gauge to expand or contract according to continued of pressing of an operation member. A second gauge control unit (74) controls the gauge to expand or contract according to the continued pressing of the operation member, and in particular, switches a change to be given to the gauge between expansion and contraction based on a numerical value output from a controller according to a pressing force with respect to the operation member. A gauge control switching unit (70) causes the second gauge control unit (74) to start gauge control when a length of the gauge is set to a predetermined status by the first gauge control unit (72). A game processing execution unit (80) executes game processing based on the length of the gauge when release of the pressing of the operation member is detected.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2006Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eiji Suzuki, Kazutoshi Sugai
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Patent number: 7988555Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the control of the movement course of an object (23) represented on a display device (12), which within the framework of a ball game or sport event simulated by a computation unit (11) is to move from a starting point (16) into another region of the environment indicated on the display device (12).Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Empire of Sports Developments LTD.Inventor: Christian Mueller
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Patent number: 7985133Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes a point or count based system to provide one or more awards to one or more players. Such points are accumulated by a player based on one or more events associated with the player's gaming experience. The points or counts utilized in the gaming system are selectively redeemed by the player in exchange for one or more opportunities to win an award. It should be appreciated that in one embodiment, the equalizing units disclosed herein are different, separate and independent from any monetary based points or credits, any promotional based points or credits, or any player tracking points.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander Casey Naglestad Cohen, Arram Bekarian, Daniel De Waal
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Patent number: 7976023Abstract: The present invention features a playing card shuffling device, which through the use of a small image capturing means, captures an image of the face value of each card and stores the image in memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bitmap image. The operator of the machine would be able to recall through the use of a keypad, the images of the cards that comprised the individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby, a quick recheck of hands before playing a winning hand is performed. The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These card values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determining the number of winnings hands.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2005Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.Inventors: Lynn Hessing, Daniel Mahoney, Steven J. Blad, Thomas Baker
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Patent number: 7951000Abstract: A video game system and method is described in which interactive portions of a display screen are displayed with non-interactive portions having cutscenes. The cutscenes may be related to, or developed from, the events transpiring in the interactive portion of the display screen. The non-interactive cutscenes may be converted into interactive areas, and may be enlarged to take the place of the original interactive portion of the display screen. Animation effects may be used for the various transitions.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Hironobu Sakaguchi, Takahiro Kaminagayoshi
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Patent number: 7909695Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for interactive entertainment involving a game. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for playing a game involving interactive generation of a visual image and a lingual definition of a precursor constructed phrase and image portion by a plurality of participant-users, and a method and system for sharing the same via a world wide interactive computer system. The computer system enables different participant-users, or teams of participant-users, to post generated visual and lingual definitions for the same precursor constructed phrase and image portions enabling comparison entertainment of the same and supporting selection of a preferred construction for awarding a prize.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Idea Storm Products, LLCInventors: William G. Phelps, Jr., Steven W. Wright, Lauren M. McBride
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Patent number: 7896737Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more pay lines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. In one embodiment, the gaming device allows the player to designate a position in the array for a next spin of the virtual reels. After the next spin, the symbol in that designated position becomes a scatter symbol. A scatter symbol is a symbol whose significance applies whether it occurs on a certain pay line or not. A certain number of scatter symbols in the array causes an award to be granted to the player. The scatter symbols may have other special award features, such as a providing an award multiplier or initiating a bonus game.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Atronic International GmbHInventor: Michael Gauselmann
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Patent number: 7883409Abstract: Ticket drawings having escalating discrete prize levels within a gaming environment are provided. A gaming system having an automated random ticket drawing game module provides ticket drawing bonus games in conjunction with primary wager based games. Ticket drawings can include base, intermediate and ultimate prize levels, with each level corresponding to a specific prize and range of ticket entries. The prize level escalates as more ticket entries are granted. Ticket entries can be awarded for various events, such as a 3-of-a-kind at a primary wager based game. Drawings include a time period for the acceptance of ticket entries, including a predefined start and end. Award and drawing mechanisms and multiple display devices facilitate each drawing. Multiple drawings can occur simultaneously, such as an hourly and daily drawing. Drawings may also be part of an ongoing series of continuous ticket drawings, such as 24 hourly drawings in a given day.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2005Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: IGTInventors: William Little, Bryan Bullard, Daniel deWaal
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Patent number: 7874904Abstract: A gaming device and a method of operating a gaming device which include at least one potential award-generating event and at least one guaranteed award-generating event. The award-generating events can include independent games of a composite game or independent plays of a game. For each occurrence of a potential award-generating event, at least one guaranteed award-generating event occurs to provide the player at least one award. In an embodiment, the award-generating events occur simultaneously by being simultaneously displayed to a player and simultaneously played. Even if a terminating event occurs in the potential or guaranteed award-generating event, an award is provided to the player in the guaranteed award-generating event. In an embodiment, the potential award-generating event includes an advancement game and the guaranteed award-generating event includes a random selection game.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2005Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: IGTInventor: Dov Liam Randall
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Patent number: 7871323Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing entry into a bonus game at a gaming device, where the bonus games may occur at predictable times and may payout predictable amounts. In one or more embodiments, a gaming device may provide a guaranteed entry into a bonus game every hour on the hour, so long as a player meets one or more criteria. Criteria may include a total amount wagered, a total number of handle pulls completed, or a total amount of time spent at a gaming device. One or more embodiments provide a method for withholding value from a player in order that the value may delivered later in the form of a guaranteed entry into a bonus game. One or more embodiments provide a method whereby multiple gaming devices may provide entry in bonus rounds simultaneously, thereby creating mutually reinforcing sounds and visual displays.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: IGTInventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, David F. Zucker, Jose A. Suarez, Stephen C. Tulley, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Victor M. Garcia, Daniel E. Tedesco, Steven M. Santisi
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Patent number: 7857693Abstract: A gaming system which provides a predetermined outcome to a player. The gaming device a plurality of playing cards in a plurality of playing card positions to form an initial primary poker hand. The gaming device enables the player to select one or more of the initially dealt playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein the held playing cards in the primary hand are also held in one, more or each of a plurality of simultaneously played poker hands. The gaming device evaluates the set of held playing cards and determines, possibly utilizing at least one stored table of solutions, the appropriate playing cards to generate in the appropriate playing card positions to form a plurality of poker hands with a total combined payout equal to the selected predetermined game outcome value.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2007Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: IGTInventors: Nicholas Johnson, Bryan D. Wolf
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Patent number: 7854653Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing role-playing game is provided that involves wagering. In one example game, players subscribe to multiple game sessions and eliminate other players to become the sole survivor of the game. The players may accrue points by eliminating other players. Further, players may eliminate other players in a combat environment.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: GameLogic, Inc.Inventor: Steven N. Kane
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Patent number: 7855717Abstract: In a method for determining a position of a touch on a touch screen, a first sinusoidal signal is provided to an electrode on a touch screen, the first sinusoidal signal having a frequency. A signal flowing from the first electrode is sensed to generate a sensed signal, and the sensed signal is multiplied by a second sinusoidal signal to generate a first multiplied signal, the second sinusoidal signal having the frequency, the second sinusoidal signal having a phase. The first sensed signal is also multiplied by a third sinusoidal signal to generate a second multiplied signal, the third sinusoidal signal having the frequency, the third sinusoidal signal having a phase different from the phase of the second sinusoidal signal by 90 degrees. The first multiplied signal is filtered to generate a first filtered signal, and the second multiplied signal is filtered to generate a second filtered signal. An estimated touch position is generated based on the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: IGTInventors: Harold E. Mattice, Richard L. Wilder
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Patent number: 7824256Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and a selection screen including a plurality of kinds of items for allowing a player to select is displayed. The selection screen is a roulette type of display, for example, so that a display proportion of each item may be set based on an ability value of a character, a proceeding situation of a game or a support voltage of a virtual audience that reflects a play content, for example, and as the item, kinds of games, a rule, an event, etc. This roulette is rotated and suspended in response to an operation of the player. Furthermore, one item is determined when the roulette is suspended, and a game process is executed according to the item.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yosuke Hatayama, Hiroaki Tamura, Yasutaka Takeuchi