Patents Examined by Nicholas Ditoro
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Patent number: 8535185Abstract: A device (120) for acquiring and providing information which can be associated with a football player, said device comprising: an acceleration sensor (129) for detecting accelerations acting on the devices; a memory unit (121) for storing measured acceleration values with associated time stamps and an ID associated with the device (120); and a radio unit (128) for receiving a first radio signal (150) with a first time stamp, wherein the first radio signal represents a deformation of a ball, and for transmitting a second radio signal (160) including the ID associated with the device (120) in case that a check of the values in the memory unit shows that an acceleration was detected by the device at the corresponding time.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Cairos Technologies AGInventor: Walter Englert
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Patent number: 8529331Abstract: An online capsule lottery system and method provides a lottery event in which a plurality of capsules are included in an online game. High-grade item contents having a high ability ranking in the online game is matched to at least one of the capsules, and lottery results are determined after capsules are extracted by the selection of the user. Even a player that has only recently begun playing the online game is given the opportunity to purchase a desired amount of the capsules and the chance to possess the high-grade item contents, thus enabling the player to easily become familiar with the online game. By adjusting winning odds in accordance with various ways of matching high-grade item contents with capsules, capsule purchase accumulation, and time of capsule purchase, the system and method prevent the balance of a game from being disrupted due to an indiscriminate distribution of items.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Redduck Inc.Inventor: Gijin Kim
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Patent number: 8435114Abstract: The fun of a game is increased, and the player can be induced to play the game repeatedly. Belonging group determining means determines that the prefecture to which a player character belongs is Osaka Prefecture, belonging group variable determining means determines that the enthusiasm rank parameter of Osaka Prefecture is “normal”=0 points, belonging group event result determining means determines the result of a predetermined event with respect to the player character, and belonging group variable varying means varies the enthusiasm rank parameter of Osaka Prefecture according to the result of the predetermined event with respect to the player character.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keisuke Kamiya, Akira Toyama, Rieko Akane, Makoto Nishino
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Patent number: 8425289Abstract: A traveling virtual pet game simulates a pet traveling between various geographic locations. As the pet travels, users interact with the virtual pet to aid the pet in acquiring traits associated with the geographic regions in which it travels and to observe traits that the pet has previously acquired.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Damon R. Beggs
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Patent number: 8413989Abstract: The invention relates to a modified blackjack game between a dealer and at least one player. After placing initial wagers, three cards are dealt to each player and two cards dealt to the dealer. The game design allows players to either retain their initial three cards for play as a game hand, or divide their cards into separate game hands. Dividing cards into separate hands requires additional wagers. Players may play their one or more game hands by standing or hitting to reach a hand that is higher than the dealers without exceeding twenty-one. Players may divide their initial three card hand in any fashion that will provide them with the best opportunity to obtain a game hand under the conventional rules of blackjack.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Score Gaming LLCInventor: Merrill Sparago
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Patent number: 8414390Abstract: In certain embodiments, computer systems and methods are provided that allow a game distribution platform to distribute, update and/or control copies of games published across multiple game portals. In some embodiments, copies of the games are maintained in data storage on the game distribution platform and distributed to game portals and/or gaming devices. Additional content for purchase may also be stored on the data storage and available for purchase during a gaming session. Advantageously, in certain embodiments the game distribution platform enables game portals and/or gaming devices to receive the latest version of a game and/or a player's purchased content when a player selects to play the game.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ameesh Paleja, Isaac J. Shepard, Patrick G. McCuller
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Patent number: 8360835Abstract: The present invention provides a system that creates virtual events within a virtual world. A virtual event may be akin to a real event, but is completely computer generated within a computer-generated world and is based on statistical measures, either real world or created. Numerous characteristics about the competitors and the competition location parameters are available before a competition event. Based on the known parameters about the location of an event and the characteristics of the participants and their historical past performances in similar events enable bettors to make informed wagers on an event that greatly enhances the satisfaction and involvement in a competition event. As such, Histories of virtual events are maintained on actual virtual performance data of competitors in the virtual world. The histories can include all relevant virtual data about a competitor and the past events the competitor competed. Individuals throughout the real-world may place wagers (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: I-Race, Ltd.Inventors: Jonathan Strause, Marcus Corrie
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Patent number: 8353762Abstract: A gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method including a symbol generator, where a number of awards available to the player in a single activation of the symbol generator and/or which awards are available to a player in a single activation of the symbol generator are based on an occurrence of one or more triggering events.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: IGTInventors: Paulina Rodgers, Christmas C. Parker, Benjamin C. Hoffman, Benjamin M. Fuller
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Patent number: 8342529Abstract: A system for enabling play of a casino table card game is disclosed. At least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to a game, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. The components of the system include an automatic card shuffler configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. The automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.Inventor: Roger M. Snow
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Patent number: 8342926Abstract: Methods for game aim assist are provided. In electronic games, a game player may control the actions of a game character within a game environment. The game environment, which includes a focus area, may be displayed from a perspective of or with respect to a game character. During game play, one or more objects may be detected in the focus area. One of the objects may then be selected based on the distance between the object and the center of the focus area. The aim of the game character is then automatically adjusted toward the selected object, which allows the game player to direct an attack action on the object.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2008Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: John Garvin, Christopher Reese, Darren Yager, Ron Allen
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Patent number: 8328617Abstract: A plurality of gaming machines for paying out award corresponding to a play, comprising an executor for starting a primary game and a secondary roulette game, a controller for manipulating a secondary roulette to determine a winning gaming machine in the secondary game, a display for representing a winning odds of the secondary roulette game on the roulette, and a decision unit for determining the winning odds corresponding to wager.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Kenji Nagata
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Patent number: 8317582Abstract: A game device includes an object arrangement changing unit for changing the arrangement of objects, which are of plural kinds, placed in a game field following an instruction from a user, an arrangement condition determining unit for determining objects that meet an arrangement condition for erasure out of a plurality of objects placed in the game field and selecting the objects that meet the arrangement condition as objects to be erased, an object kind changing unit for changing the kind of the objects selected as objects to be erased, and an object erasing unit for erasing the objects selected as objects to be erased. The arrangement condition determining unit determines again objects that meet the arrangement condition and further selects objects that newly meet the arrangement condition as objects to be erased, during a time from when the kind of the objects selected as objects to be erased is changed by the object kind changing unit until when the objects are erased by the object erasing unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.Inventor: Yasuhito Nagaoka
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Patent number: 8308560Abstract: A network system includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses. Each information processing apparatus arranges an own character and a partner character within a virtual space, and outputs an image of the virtual space on a monitor when a message is transmitted and received from the information processing apparatus of a chatting partner. Furthermore, an index indicating a direction from the own character to the partner character is generated, and it is determined whether or not the partner character is included in a predetermined range defined within the virtual space, and it is determined whether or not a message is being transmitted or received. When the partner character is out of the predetermined range, and the message is being transmitted or received, the index is output to the monitor.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Arika Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Tawara, Yurie Hattori, Ichirou Mihara
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Patent number: 8308543Abstract: A method and/or device is set forth for playing a game. In some embodiments, an inventory of data representing playing cards is arranged in a random but established, serial order. In some embodiments, for each hand of play the player makes a wager and cards are displayed, according to the rules of the game, in order from the inventory to define a winning or losing outcome. In some embodiments, a display, as hands are played, displays the remaining constituency of the inventory and the player, before any hand, can order re-shuffling and re-constitute of the inventory. In some embodiments, re-shuffling may be triggered by a card or hand count or certain pre-defined triggers. Other embodiments are described.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: CFPH, LLCInventor: Mark A. Miller
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Patent number: 8298066Abstract: The claimed embodiments contemplate methods, systems and apparatuses directed to gaming machines that include a community spin mechanism that, when activated, causes reel displays, at two or more player stations, to spin. Certain embodiments provide for one or more community reels that are utilized to determine an outcome of a community gaming session. The community reels are “community” in that they are formed by combining reels of individual play stations in order to increase the odds, and payouts, of potential wins via various line combinations of the combined set of reels, once they stop spinning. Re-stated, by way of non-limiting example, each play station has its own set of reels and when community play is started, one or more community reels are spun along with each player's set of reels. Any potential winning combinations are then based on resulting combinations of the individual play station reels in combination with the community reels.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Kelly, Mike Mitchell
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Patent number: 8298067Abstract: The claimed embodiments contemplate methods, systems and apparatuses directed to gaming machines that include a community spin mechanism that, when activated, causes reel displays, at two or more player stations, to spin. Certain embodiments provide for one or more community reels that are utilized to determine an outcome of a community gaming session. The community reels are “community” in that they are formed by combining reels of individual play stations in order to increase the odds, and payouts, of potential wins via various line combinations of the combined set of reels, once they stop spinning. Re-stated, by way of non-limiting example, each play station has its own set of reels and when community play is started, one or more community reels are spun along with each player's set of reels. Any potential winning combinations are then based on resulting combinations of the individual play station reels in combination with the community reels.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Bally Gaming, IncInventors: Bryan Kelly, Mike Mitchell
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Patent number: 8287346Abstract: A method and/or device is set forth for playing a game. In some embodiments, an inventory of data representing playing cards is arranged in a random but established, serial order. In some embodiments, for each hand of play the player makes a wager and cards are displayed, according to the rules of the game, in order from the inventory to define a winning or losing outcome. In some embodiments, a display, as hands are played, displays the remaining constituency of the inventory and the player, before any hand, can order re-shuffling and re-constitute of the inventory. In some embodiments, re-shuffling may be triggered by a card or hand count or certain pre-defined triggers. Other embodiments are described.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2008Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: CFPH, LLCInventor: Mark A. Miller
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Patent number: 8272943Abstract: According to a slot machine of the present invention, a first specific number of free games are executed when a first predetermined condition is established in a normal game. Further, a second specific number of free games are executed, when a second predetermined condition is established. Furthermore, when the first predetermined condition is established in the free game executed triggered by the establishment of the second predetermined condition, a third specific number of free games are further executed after the second specific number of free games are executed. Here, the third specific number is larger than the first specific number.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Hiroki Saito, Kazumasa Yoshizawa, Fumiya Abe
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Patent number: 8272953Abstract: When a cooperation game starts in a host game machine and a guest game machine that have been separately executed standalone games, present information (time and position of character) of the guest game machine is changed into one of the host game machine. During the cooperation game, present information of the guest game machine and the host game machine are renewed, being synchronized with each other. Then, player characters of the guest game machine and the host game machine are displayed on a display of each game machine, and each player plays the cooperation game together with the player character of the other game machine which is displayed on one's own game machine.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Square Enix Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jin Fujisawa
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Patent number: 8267791Abstract: Local groups LG formed of players belonging to the same team are generated in store units. The local groups LG of each team are combined to generate groups G of each team (group Ga of team A and group Gb of team B). The groups G of which the number of players is the same and which belong to different teams are matched as opposite groups.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Namco Bandai Games Inc.Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Yuuki Oomori