Patents Examined by Milap Shah
  • Patent number: 11547943
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing social network content in an online game is disclosed herein. Content is obtained from a social network site and is displayed within the game. The game also provides a mechanism for the user of the game to generate content to the posted within the social network from within the game. Such generated content is automatically posted in the social network for a recipient specified by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Jinming Cao, Lin Hou, Chao Guo, Xingguang Yu, Huiqiang Liu, Kerry Yang, Lin Lin
  • Patent number: 11551510
    Abstract: An augmented reality method for providing a wagering game having real-world and virtual elements includes generating a live video signal of a scene associated with a field of view of a user. At least one first gaming element in the scene corresponds to a first outcome of the wagering game. The method further includes determining, based on the live video signal, at least one second gaming element in real time. The method further includes displaying the at least one second gaming element to the user in association with the at least one first gaming element as part of the scene so that the second gaming element is displayed as part of the wagering game, wherein the at least one first gaming element and the at least one second gaming element corresponds to a second outcome of the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael Russ, Lukas Angermayer, Gerhard Pichler, Elisabeth Kiss, Caprice Mitterhoefer, Martin Lasser, Julia Ines Lerchbaumer
  • Patent number: 11538311
    Abstract: A computer implemented interactive gaming tournament system includes selecting, by a user, a game server and an entrance fee for a gaming match and submitting an entrance request that identifies the game server. The system includes sending a request for validation from a payment acceptance platform in response to receiving the entrance request and sending match population content to the game server in response to receiving validation from the payment acceptance platform that confirms a user account contains funds that are equal to or greater than the entrance fee. The system includes determining a payout amount in response to receiving a tournament endgame report from the game server and authenticating payment information for the user account and distributing the payout amount from a payment distribution platform to the user account if the payout amount is greater than zero and the user account is authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ERA Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Alexander
  • Patent number: 11529557
    Abstract: A method executed by an information processing device includes setting a virtual space of which positional information is linked with that of a real space, setting a game event in the virtual space in association with a location in the virtual space corresponding to positional information of a predetermined facility in the real space, acquiring a prediction value of an electric power demand in a target area in the real space, and starting the game event based on the prediction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ikuo Ohta, Kentaro Ban
  • Patent number: 11532214
    Abstract: A bonus round of a video keno game may consist of a series of bonus game instances. During a bonus game instance, a game controller may identify a set of bonus game pieces and select a set of bonus outcome identifiers from a bonus outcome pool. A win amount may be determined based on the number of matches between the set of bonus outcome identifiers and the set of bonus game pieces. The bonus outcome identifiers may include persistent identifiers and non-persistent identifiers. Persistent identifiers may be removed from the bonus outcome pool for subsequent bonus game instances in the series. Additionally or alternatively, the bonus game pieces corresponding to the persistent identifiers may continue to be matches for the subsequent bonus game instances in the series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mirjavadi, John Daley, Christopher Brune, David Kaminkow
  • Patent number: 11532200
    Abstract: A gaming machine having a display to display symbols at a plurality of display positions and a plurality of prize identifiers. The gaming machine also includes a game controller to cause a display to display a plurality of symbols at the display positions and visually moves a number of a plurality of prize identifiers at a first speed. If a trigger condition occurs with the displayed symbols, the game controller selects a prize identifier of the prize identifiers to be upgraded while visually moving the selected prize identifier being upgraded at a second speed onto the display. The game controller completes the upgrading on the display while the selected prize identifier is being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Liam Sanders, Matthew Chan, Amy Batsiokis
  • Patent number: 11527134
    Abstract: A gaming device comprises a display, a processor, and a memory storing (a) a current symbol position state defining, for each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, a number of symbol positions for which symbols are to be selected; (b) a pay table; and (c) instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor cause the processor to control the display to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions corresponding to the current symbol position state, select symbols for the displayed symbol positions by selecting stopping positions of a plurality of reel strips, wherein at least one of the reel strips comprises at least one designated symbol, evaluate the selected symbols for winning combinations based on the pay table, and responsive to the selected symbols of a column including a designated symbol, modify the symbol position state for the respective column to include at least one additional symbol position for a next symbol selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Chan, Paul Lombardo, Claire Mileto, James Kroon
  • Patent number: 11527126
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a gaming device or system that detects, at each input electrode location of a plurality of elastically deformable input electrode locations, an amount of pressure applied to an elastically deformable outer layer at a corresponding input electrode location in response to deformation of the elastically deformable outer layer by physical contact with a player of a gaming device; determines that the player has applied pressure to the plurality of elastically deformable input electrode locations continuously over at least a predetermined time interval; determines a pressure pattern corresponding to the plurality of elastically deformable input electrode locations; compares the pressure pattern to a plurality of different pressure patterns corresponding to a plurality of different player gestures to determine a player gesture corresponding to the pressure pattern; and determines, based on the determined player gesture and a comparison of the amount of applied pressure to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael Russ, David Froy, Sven Aurich
  • Patent number: 11524237
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that simulates gameplay of non-player characters (NPCs) distributed across networked end user devices. The system may identify end user devices that are connected to the system through a network and are available to participate in a simulation in which each participating end user device is provided with one or more NPCs to be executed. An end user device may be available to participate when it has sufficient computing capacity, such as when in an idle or standby state. As such, the system may leverage spare computing capacity of networked end user devices to execute NPCs at networked end user devices during a simulation. In this manner, the behavior of an NPC may be tested using real-world conditions that may affect gameplay, such as a network connection quality, user-to-user game engine coordination and data exchanges, and/or other real-world conditions associated with networked end user devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Marr, Keith S. Kaplan, Nathan T. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11517802
    Abstract: A wireless game management system includes a plurality of game pieces, each game piece including a wireless module configured to transmit a location signal, and a wireless game management processor configured to determine the absolute or relative positions of at least two game pieces based on the location signals, determine a game status based on the absolute or relative positions of the at least two game pieces, and convey game status information through a user interface associated with the wireless game management processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel A. Henderson, William P. Rutledge
  • Patent number: 11521464
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine and method of operation including presenting a spinning reel based game and feature game, includes presenting a feature stage determined in response to multiple individually selectable gameplay options. One of the presented options includes multiple variables unknown to the player at the time of selection. Values for the multiple variables may be determined in response to an outcome established prior to presenting the multiple gameplay options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited, Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Davis
  • Patent number: 11517823
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program configured to cause a terminal device to execute a game in communication with a server device, the program includes: a first storing step of receiving from the server device at least one token generated and stored in the server device to store the token in a terminal storage unit; a transmitting step of transmitting to the server device information-to-be-transmitted including an updating instruction of game data of a user and encrypted information obtained by encrypting information-to-be-encrypted at least including the token; and a deleting step of deleting the token stored in the terminal storage unit, wherein the updating instruction includes a first instruction to update the game data stored in the server device when the token extracted by decrypting the encrypted information and the token stored in the server device are matched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GREE, INC.
    Inventors: Kiyoto Suzuki, Peichao Yu
  • Patent number: 11511196
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predictive preloading of game data are described. In some implementations, a method can include using a machine learning model of player data to predict which games (or game-related data assets) to begin preloading prior to a user making a game selection. Once the user makes a selection, any preloading not related to the selection can be terminated. Thus, during the time period when the user is viewing available game selections, a given number of selections can begin to be preloaded based on predictions from the machine learning model. The preloading can help reduce latency from game selection by the user to game start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Roblox Corporation
    Inventor: John Kerr
  • Patent number: 11497993
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a game strategy guide is provided. The method includes calculating a score associated with an achievement of a game goal based on current state information of a game character of a user, providing a user terminal of the user with a game strategy guide interface including information associated with the calculated score, receiving change information of the current state information from the user terminal, recalculating the score based on the received change information, and transmitting information associated with the recalculated score to the user terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Netmarble Corporation
    Inventors: Yun Jin Lee, Seung Je Park
  • Patent number: 11501603
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses, computer-readable media, and/or methods that are configured to concurrently utilize presented game components in multiple games or game features within the same or different game. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to enable randomly-presented game components, such as slot game symbols, to be concurrently useable in one or more other games, and/or one or more other game features within the same overall game. Hence, one or more symbols presented in a first game segment are also available in a second game segment, where the game segments may be interrelated or alternatively independent from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Brett Hawkins
  • Patent number: 11501601
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising a display area and a player symbol selector for selecting the player symbols from a plurality of player symbols. The player symbol selector comprises a plurality of reels and each reel has a plurality of player symbols. The player symbol selector is arranged so that selected player symbols are displayed at an array of display positions when the reels are stationary. A display position selector enables a player to select, prior to stopping of the reels, groups of display positions. An award allocator allocates an award associated with a winning combination of the player symbols when a winning combination of the player symbols is displayed along a win line. The player symbol selector is arranged so that each one of different player symbols of each reel has the same probability to be displayed at any one of the display positions associated with that reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Patent number: 11488449
    Abstract: A system and method for awarding secondary prizes, such as relative to wagering events presented at gaming machines and gaming tables, is provided. A player receives a different number of opportunities, such as prize entries, for wagers placed on different wagering events having different house advantages, and preferably where each prize entry has its own win/lose outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Todd Fishon
  • Patent number: 11484790
    Abstract: A method for displaying a virtual vehicle includes: calculating a virtual world comprising the virtual vehicle and a representation of a physical object at a virtual position; calculating a virtual position of a point of view within the virtual world based on a position of the point of view at the racecourse; and calculating a portion of the virtual vehicle within the virtual world that is visible from the virtual position of the point of view, wherein the portion of the virtual vehicle visible from the virtual position of the point of view comprises a portion of the virtual vehicle that is unobscured, from the virtual position of the point of view, by the representation of the physical object at the virtual position of the physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: BUXTON GLOBAL ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: E. Dale Buxton, II, Alejandro Agag
  • Patent number: 11478716
    Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for determining player skill for video games. The method includes aggregating a plurality of player statistics for match outcomes from a plurality of video games. The method also includes calculating, for each player in a pool of players, a matchmaking rating for each player based on the plurality of player statistics, the matchmaking rating for each player comprising a predicted number of points each player will contribute to a match. The method also includes selecting, based on the matchmaking rating for each player, players from the pool of players. The method also includes matching the players based on the matchmaking rating for each player, a sum of the matchmaking ratings comprising a total predicted team score for the match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Chong Zhao
  • Patent number: 11478695
    Abstract: A portal device for a video game includes a pad with different zones that can be illuminated by selectable colors, a toy sensor (e.g., an RFID tag sensor) associated with each zone, a controller and a communications port for communicating with a video game process executing on a game machine. The colors of each zone can be configured to one or a combination of three primary colors during game play, based on the game process. The portal device reacts to placement of tagged toys on zones and the color of the zones during play and provides sensor data to the game process. The game process controls the game state in part based on data from the portal device and in part on other user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Jon Burton