Patents Examined by Ross Williams
  • Patent number: 11017636
    Abstract: Some embodiments may include one or more methods and/or apparatus related to play of a first game, qualifying a player to play a second game based at least in part on play of a first game, play of a second game, skill-based games, and/or luck-based games. Further embodiments may be described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Lee Amaitis, Phillip Flaherty
  • Patent number: 11000758
    Abstract: A method for providing a game includes: providing a plurality of blocks arranged on a block map with mission information to be displayed on a screen; selecting a block, among the plurality of blocks, based on a user's input and moving the selected block; determining whether matched blocks are adjacent to or exist around a mission block relating to mission information when some blocks, among the plurality of blocks match with a deletable form according to a movement of the block; deleting the matched blocks when the matched blocks are adjacent to or exist around the mission block; and processing the mission information for the mission block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignees: NHN Entertainment Corporation, NHN PixelCube Corporation
    Inventors: Seong Hyeon Kim, Eun Kyung Kim, Suan Yu
  • Patent number: 11000769
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to methods for making user activity recommendations. In some aspects, a process of the technology can include operations for receiving a free-to-play indication, the free-to-play indication specifying availability of a user associated with a media system, retrieving, via the network interface, peer information indicating an availability of one or more online peers of the user, and retrieving, via the network interface, activity information indicating one or more activities available to the user, and at least one of the online peers. In some aspects method can further include operations for providing an activity recommendation to the user based on the peer information and the activity information, wherein the activity recommendation includes a suggestion of at least one activity that can be conducted by the user with the media system. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kunieda, Yumiko Tanaka, Daisuke Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10981054
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed towards employing one or more physical sensors arranged on or in proximity to a video game player to obtain biofeedback measures that are then usable to dynamically modify a state of play of a video game. The sensors may be connected or even unconnected to the game player, replace, or otherwise augment traditional physical game controllers. The sensors gather various biofeedback measures and provide such measures to a biofeedback application programming interface (API). Before and/or during video game play, the video game queries the biofeedback API to request inferences about the game player's state of arousal. The response to the query is then used to modify the state of the video game play. Where the video game is a multi-player video game, biofeedback measures from other game players may also be obtained and used to further modify the state of the video game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: VALVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Bond, Michael S. Ambinder
  • Patent number: 10981050
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart magic cube providing a cube game by changing lights of respective cells constituting a magic cube while the cells are fixed, and an operation method thereof. A smart magic cube of the present invention includes: a cube housing in which each surface is divided by N×N cells; a light emitting part formed inside each cell and emitting at least one type of light externally through a surface of the cell; six rotation means formed in a rotatable manner; a rotation sensing part sensing a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the rotation means; and a control part controlling the light emitting part to change and emit lights such that border cells of a surface where the rotated rotation means is formed, and cells of four different surfaces adjacent to the border cells output lights changed according to a preset rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SMARTCUBELABS
    Inventor: Bong Gu Shin
  • Patent number: 10970968
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a system that provides zero, one or more benefits to a user in association with maintaining an amount of funds in one or more gaming establishment accounts associated with one or more system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, Jeffery Shepherd, Sina Miri, Dwayne A. Davis, Erik Petersen, Christopher Levin
  • Patent number: 10970963
    Abstract: This invention in certain example instances relates generally to coin-operated video entertainment systems. More particularly, certain exemplary aspects of the invention provide methods and/or systems for controlling access to a portable coin-operated interactive entertainment device that may be used to play video games and access other forms of entertainment as well as providing features via such portable coin-operated interactive entertainment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOUCHTUNES MUSIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dominique Dion, Kenneth J. Fedesna, Mark D. Loffredo, Edward J. Suchocki, Edward E. Pellegrini, Frank J. Pellegrini, Edward F. Hicks, Cary M. Mednick
  • Patent number: 10970964
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for electronically transferring currency from a source user account to a target user account in relation to a game application. A payment service provider may receive a request to transfer an amount of currency from the source user account to the target user account to be used for the game application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Lucy Ma Zhao
  • Patent number: 10957148
    Abstract: Gaming machines, methods, and systems include gaming chairs integrated with player interface hardware elements in a chair structure and in communication with a game controller. The gaming chairs allow modular assembly and reconfigurability of gaming machines and systems without customized gaming machine cabinetry. Modular pedestals and secondary gaming elements supported on the pedestals may also be provided in combination with the gaming chairs for assembly into different game bank configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Techonologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Francis Barbour, Linn Anthony McKay, Rajendrasinh Banesinh Jadeja
  • Patent number: 10946280
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards the generation of various in-game reactions based on different types of interruptions that may occur in the real-world. The present invention is able to monitor and detect when the various interruptions in the real-world occur. Based on the type and assigned importance of the interruption, a corresponding in-game reaction can be provided to the user to inform the user of the interruption. Depending on the importance of the real-world interruption, instructions can also be generated for the user device associated with the game. These instructions can allow the user to step away from the game without causing an interruption with other players playing within the same game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kunieda
  • Patent number: 10933319
    Abstract: A game of skill played simultaneously by several players whereby each participant effectively competes only against players having a similar skill tier to provide a better opportunity to win awards. The system includes a central computer system with each remote participant having a mobile device such as a cell phone. The system also provides for effective promotion or updating to a higher skill tier of successful players of the game. Each skill tier adds complexity which increase point potentials. The game play is relatively easy initially, permitting new users to enjoy success in the game. As the user becomes more skilled and reaches higher tiers prizes increase and game elements become more challenging thus motivating continued play while retaining a player's interest. While players are able to view all scores including those in higher tiers, they will know that players in other tiers had more opportunities to earn points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Winview, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Lockton, Mark K. Berner, Mark J. Micheli
  • Patent number: 10937279
    Abstract: A peer-to-peer sports betting platform is disclosed. With the peer-to-peer sports betting platform, users can create bets and view open bets, but will not pay exorbitant fees to place bets. The peer-to-peer sports betting platform is tiered, based on how much money is won per bet. Users also get to create and define their own bets for other users to directly accept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Elliott Workman
  • Patent number: 10933316
    Abstract: An example method for virtualizing physical objects into a virtual environment includes capturing a video stream of a racing field component, displaying a graphical user interface embodying a virtual game, detecting a placement of a physical vehicle at a starting portion of a channel of the racing field component, identifying one or more characteristics of the physical vehicle at the starting portion, generating a virtual vehicle representation of the physical vehicle using the one or more characteristics of the physical vehicle, and displaying the virtual vehicle representation of the physical vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Tangible Play, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Scholler, Arnaud Brejeon, Andrew Berwald, Mark Solomon
  • Patent number: 10937269
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards Class II electronic gaming systems and/or machines that present a bingo game outcome (and/or associated bingo game reward) to a player via a spinning reel (and/or slot) game simulation. In some examples, the bingo game outcome may trigger a free spin feature mode comprised of one or more spinning reel game outcomes. During the free spin feature mode, each spinning reel game outcome may be a winning outcome, with an associated spinning reel game reward. The sum of the one or more spinning reel game rewards may be equal to the bingo game reward. In some examples, each spinning reel game reward may include a base reward and a multiplier. In some examples, the multiplier is always one (i.e., 1×) during regular play (i.e., not in free spin feature mode), and one or more (e.g., 1×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 10×, etc.) during free spin feature mode. The multiplier may be highlighted and/or emphasized when greater than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Karl A. Roelofs, David Marsh
  • Patent number: 10909797
    Abstract: A display, as for an electronic gaming machine, includes one or more rotatable mechanical reels including at least one variable displaying position at which the display may be varied. Content is displayed at the variable displaying position when the variable displaying position registers with the display. One or more reels can include a reel strip which includes at one location a pre-printed symbol and at another location a window. A video display can be arranged, configured and controlled by a processor to cast a display at the inside of the reel to impart light and video effects to pre-printed symbol locations or to cast video content through the reel strip window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Philip Jeffery Anderson, Linn Anthony McKay, Scott Monroe Stewart, Anthony Wayne Bond
  • Patent number: 10902698
    Abstract: In various embodiments, promotions are featured on mobile gaming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Kevin Burman, Dean P. Alderucci, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Antonio Papageorgiou, Joseph M. Asher
  • Patent number: 10898803
    Abstract: Video game processing apparatuses, media, and methods are provided for controlling progress of a video game. Player character related information is stored in a memory and changes in accordance with progress of the video game. Initial area information is stored in the memory and indicates an initial state of each of a plurality of areas. Updated area information is stored in the memory and indicates a progress status of the video game in each of the areas. The updated area information is updated in accordance with the progress of the video game. It is determined whether to use the initial area information or the updated area information corresponding to a selected area in response to an operation of the player character. The game is progressed in the selected area using a corresponding one of the initial area information and the updated area information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventor: Yoshiki Kashitani
  • Patent number: 10885742
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that enables a player to more easily understand a bet amount. The information processing apparatus is provided with: multiple types of paper stock having currency information including currency units; an insertion slot into which the multiple types of paper stock are inserted; a reading device for reading the multiple types of paper stock inserted into the insertion slot; a display device for displaying a bet amount, for starting a process, together with currency information, based on currency information corresponding to each of the multiple types of paper stock read by the reading device; and an input device capable of inputting the bet amount displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Emori
  • Patent number: 10885744
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising a regulated gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game. The gaming machine includes an electronic display device and one or more electronic input devices and game-logic circuitry configured to detect, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance. The game-logic circuitry is further configured to initiate the casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance. The game-logic circuitry is further configured to increment a progressive jackpot associated with the wagering game. The game-logic circuitry is further configured to conduct a skill-based bonus game that awards portions of the incremented progressive jackpot based on skillful inputs of a player in response to a triggering event occurring during the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Jamie W Vann
  • Patent number: 10872504
    Abstract: The present system incorporates mobile computing devices to play games, such as electronic pull-tabs, in a plurality of venues, each having a local wireless network. Each network communicates with a central system that generates decks of game outcomes and associated awards. All wagers and awards for each game are tracked on the central system, which also provides each game award and associated outcome from a deck stored on the central system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: John F. Acres, Warren White, Mark N. Dailey, William Dale Hermansen, Anthony Morelli, Alex White, Cyrus A. Luciano, John G. Schmitz, Andrew King, Patrick B. Ferguson