Patents Examined by Michael O'Neill
  • Patent number: 6884169
    Abstract: Players can quickly and easily determine the sequence of play following the player character in the current turn, and can flexibly use the characteristics applied to each of multiple characters to strategically advance the game. When a battle scene is detected, information preset according to the actions that the player characters are to perform, information preset according to the characteristics assigned individually to multiple characters, and information preset according to the status derived from game progress for each of the multiple characters is used in a calculation to determine the action sequence of the multiple characters. The determined action sequence is displayed according to the selection of actions each player character is to perform. If the player then performs a specific operation, the selected actions and the action sequence of the multiple characters corresponding to those actions are accepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
    Inventors: Toshiro Tsuchida, Takatsugu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 6884170
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a graphical representation of a gaming environment and for providing information regarding individual components located in the environment is provided. A graphical user interface displays a graphical representation of at least a portion of a gaming environment, such as a graphical representation of individual components of a gaming system and their surrounding physical environment. The components are graphically portrayed in positions corresponding to the relative positions of the actual components of the gaming system. By selecting a graphically represented component, information regarding the actual gaming system component which is represented is provided, such as by display in a window associated with the graphical user interface. Gaming system component or other information may be obtained via a communication link from those components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Rick Rowe
  • Patent number: 6884162
    Abstract: A system and method to support electronic gaming in an electronic network includes an event server that provides restricted access to various types of game services. One or more system users may utilize corresponding wireless portable user devices for connecting to the event server to thereby gain access to the foregoing game services as game participants. The system users may thereby utilize the user devices to access the event server for accessing appropriate gaming services and related information. In addition, a source system user may utilize a source user device to perform a transfer procedure for transferring ownership rights of an electronic certificate related to the electronic gaming to a target system user through a target user device. The foregoing transfer procedure may be conducted through the event server, or may occur directly from the source user device to the target user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre-Guillaume Raverdy, Nigel A. J. Davies, Oliver D. Storz, Christos Efstratiou
  • Patent number: 6881146
    Abstract: A game of chance is played on a gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game includes an array of locations displayed on a video display and individually selectable by a player and the processor. The player and the processor make alternating selections of unoccupied ones of the locations in the array for placement of respective first and second symbol types. The probability of using a winning strategy for the selections by the processor increases with successive ones of the selections by the processor so that the processor appears to become more intelligent as the game progresses. A payout is awarded to the player based on an outcome of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, John D. Flint, John J. Giobbi, Shridhar P. Joshi, Erica A. Frohm
  • Patent number: 6878063
    Abstract: A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices during certain off-peak hours comprises three types of periods: an earning period over which earned credits are accumulated responsive to the level of play on the gaming device, a redeeming period where the earned credits can be played, and a regular period where credits are neither earnable or playable. In this way, the player is given an incentive to play during certain times of the week which are otherwise off-peak playing times where the casino might be relatively empty. The amount of credits earned and redeemed can also be dependent upon the player level so that more valuable customers are given preferential bonuses to encourage play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated
    Inventors: Vincent S. Manfredi, Richard J. Schneider, William J. Turner, Robert P. Bartholomew, Lawrence R. Pitman
  • Patent number: 6878062
    Abstract: A method for carrying out a game of the type comprising the steps of noting written information on a writing surface with the aid of a writing means. The writing surface is provided with a position-coding pattern and the writing means is a combined writing and reading unit, which continually reads its movement across the writing surface. The information is converted into digital signals and is sent via a communication system to a recipient which returns feedback on the received information. Games that can be performed by means of such a method are pools, lotto, betting and various other games comprising the use of pen and paper to be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Anoto AB
    Inventors: Magnus Björklund, Peter Cedlöf, Helena Holmgren, Rune Torbjörnsen
  • Patent number: 6875110
    Abstract: A gaming machine with a communication multiplexer device that allows communications between the gaming machine and one or more game service servers all within a single network interface is described. The single network interface may be a wireless or wired network interface. The communication multiplexer device converts messages in native communication protocols used by the gaming machine to a network communication protocol such as TCP/IP for transmission over the single wired or wireless network interface. The communication multiplexer is designed such that the gaming machine may receive messages that have been transmitted using the native communication protocols without modifying regulated gaming software on the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Hardy Lee Crumby
  • Patent number: 6869076
    Abstract: A low ball game and a method of dealing cards in the game. A standard deck of 52 playing cards plus one joker is used. Aces count as one. The players bet that the value of the highest card in their hand will not exceed a number from 1 through 9. However, a bet on a number must include all the higher numbers, and a minimum bet includes the numbers 5 through 9. The lower the number bet, the higher the pay-off if the player wins. A first embodiment uses actual physical cards that are dealt onto a table. Each player is given a square that is divided into nine smaller squares, numbered 1 through 9, with the single payout shown above the number and the cumulative payout shown below the number. A second embodiment for an electronic gaming machine displays similar rectangles and the cards on a video screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: D'Amico and More Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James Chyvan Moore, Ann Marie D'Amico
  • Patent number: 6869363
    Abstract: A baseball game is provided which imitates reality more closely by reflecting player data in game characters. Data relating to good hitting courses and bad hitting courses for each batter are incorporated as batter parameters, and the selection of a good or bad course by the batter can be reflected in the result of a hit, by varying the size of a collision object, or the like, in accordance with the batter parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okitsu, Toyoji Kurose, Jun Okubo, Tomoko Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6869364
    Abstract: Interactive wagering systems and methods with multiple television feeds are provided. A plurality of television feeds may be related to a race and race-related characteristics. A television feed may carry television feed information, which may provide sufficient information to allow a user to select an appropriate television feed for a wager or to allow the system to automatically select an appropriate feed for a wager. The interactive wagering application may also record a television feed so that the user may interact with the television feeds at any time. Wagering services may be also provided to a user through more than one wagering interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: ODS Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby DeWeese, Masood Garahi, William L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6863607
    Abstract: A gaming device and method having a bonus round, where the bonus round forms a plurality of sets of symbols from a plurality of symbols, and enables the player to predict which set of symbols will include a randomly determined symbol. If the player predicts correctly, the player receives a bonus and the bonus round continues. If the player is wrong, the bonus round terminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Peter Gerrard
  • Patent number: 6863608
    Abstract: A gaming machine that enables the capture and output of game history frames corresponding to actual frames of a game presentation on the gaming machines where the frames are stored and retrieved from a non-volatile storage device is described. Critical game presentation data and other information from the gaining machine may be incorporated into the game history frames. During game history playback, a game history playback code that is independent of the game being played on the gaming machine may be used to display the game history frames. In addition, the gaming machine may transmit game history frames to locations outside of the gaming machine. Also, the transmitted game history frames may be used for security purposes and promotional activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Steven G. LeMay, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6852027
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a game that may be implemented in a primary or bonus game. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled gaming device that presents a plurality of masked value choices to the player, provides a time period in which the player can elect to accept a masked choice and reveals and provides a value associated with the choice to the player if the player accepts in time. If the player does not accept in time or decides not to accept the choice, the gaming device, in one preferred embodiment, reveals the value the player could have accepted when the time period lapses or times out. When the player has successfully accepted a predefined number of masked choices, the game adds or multiplies the values yielded by the choices to form an award for the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • Patent number: 6848968
    Abstract: A communication scheme is employed for transmitting control signals from a remote control to a toy vehicle. The remote control includes control switches, an encoder and a transmitter and the toy vehicle includes a receiver, a decoder and actuators for controlling the operation of the toy vehicle in accordance with received control signals. The encoder generates a continuous stream of control signal packets with each of the packets including a predetermined number of biphase encoded bits. Each biphase encoded bit is of the same predetermined width with a 50% duty cycle, including two transmit elements. For one binary state, both of the transmit elements are the same and for the other binary state both of the transmit elements are opposite. Each packet includes a first predetermined number of flag bits, a second predetermined number of data bits and at least one checksum bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Nicholas Weiss, Charles Stewart McCall, Wallace White
  • Patent number: 6846239
    Abstract: The game providing server and game providing system allow a user to enjoy games using a desired image on his/her portable terminal. There are provided a recording device which records game programs and other information, a transmitting/receiving device which transmits information about types of game programs to a personal computer and receives information specifying a type of game program and an image used for the game from the personal computer, an image processing device (information processing device) which resizes the received image as required, and a transmitting/receiving device which transmits the specified game program and the converted image to a portable telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuto Washio
  • Patent number: 6840857
    Abstract: A method of conducting a lottery wherein lottery participants may choose to purchase insured lottery tickets is disclosed. The insurance purchased with an insured ticket guarantees that if the insured ticket turns out to be a winning ticket, the purchaser is entitled to his share of the jackpot immediately, rather than being forced to accept a smaller amount immediately or the full amount in installments over time. In a particular embodiment, insurance may be purchased that guarantees a winner will immediately be paid, in addition to his share of the jackpot, an additional amount equal to at least a portion of the income or other taxes payable on the jackpot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Manu Ghela
  • Patent number: 6837792
    Abstract: A device, referred to as the “automatic discard rack” for use on casino gaming tables or elsewhere to hold and mix playing cards, such as cards discarded following each hand of a played game. The device includes features for randomly picking up a portion of cards placed in the rack to allow cards inserted into the rack to be randomly inserted into cards already in the rack, and the cards to be repeatedly mixed by the device. Variations of the device include a housing, clamping portion, a moveable lifting portion for moving the clamping portion, a moving engine for causing the movement, including clamping, of the clamping portion, a controller for controlling all movement, sensor for sensing placement of cards in the device and initiating movement, a “kill switch,” and an on/off switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Tony A. Cranford
  • Patent number: 6835134
    Abstract: The present invention is an operator configurable cash out menu that is displayed when a player presses the cash out button of a gaming device. The present invention provides for more flexible cash outs than in known gaming systems, wherein the player can select one or more methods of payment. The player can select an amount of coins to issue from a coin payout tray. The player can also select an amount of money to issue on a ticket that the gaming device prints and provides to the player, whereby the player can redeem the ticket for cash. The present invention also enables the player to select different amounts of money to cash out. The player can choose: (i) to have some or all of the amount issue as coins from the coin payout tray; (ii) to have some or all of the amount issue as cash printed on a ticket; or (iii) to have some issue as coins and some issue as cash printed on a ticket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Richard W. Poole, Larry R. Hollibaugh
  • Patent number: 6835138
    Abstract: If a person who opens Internet bingo game selects subjects, data pool is formed of many bingo data materials in a subject database, and N2 bingo data materials are selected from data pool to fill an N×N bingo board, to thereby produce a data set. Then, using bingo data materials in data set, different data sets are produced by the number of users. When users apply for taking part in bingo game, data set is transmitted to fill a bingo board of each user terminal. Then, if N2 bingo data materials are converted into multimedia data and multimedia data is randomly and subsequently provided to each user as playing card data, user clicks a corresponding block of the bingo board corresponding to corresponding playing card whenever users receive playing cards. If user who forms a preset bingo goal in the earliest announces a bingo, game terminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Chang Suhn Baeg
  • Patent number: 6832956
    Abstract: A secondary game operable on a gaming machine top box includes visual representations of a plurality of bingo cards formed of five columns, each column corresponding to a letter in B-I-N-G-O. The secondary game also includes peripheral spaces on the top box corresponding to each letter on each card. Qualified players, e.g. those making a maximum bet on the base game, cause the secondary game to operate whereby one of the peripheral spaces is selected. A letter causes the column on the card associated with that letter to be lit; however, the cards must be completed sequentially so that the ‘B’ column must be lit before ‘I’ and so forth. Completely filling out one or more of the bingo cards results in a selected award associated with that winning card. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a bonus script is built that predetermines the number of plays made and the bonus amount received. The player then simply plays out the script until the bonus amount is one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott A. Boyd, Miles M. Patceg, Perry O. Cobb, Chris E. Hammond, Kevan L. Wilkins, Shannon L. Mason