Patents Examined by Shahid Kamal
  • Patent number: 8460079
    Abstract: A handheld device in communication with a tote board of at a pari-mutuel wagering event receives data concerning the competitive entries and the odds associated with each entry. For each event, a total bet is determined and a subset of entries picked for which the total bet is to be allocated among. A computation is made as to the allocation based on the current odds of each entry and the desired rate of return on the total bet if any of the selected entries wins. The bet and entry data is then uploaded to the tote board at which it is accepted and entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Ernie Smith
  • Patent number: 8460100
    Abstract: A game apparatus generates control point data for forming a contour of each part of a character, generates a line model of a body being a line polygon model along the body on the basis of the control point data, then generates a line model of a foot being a line polygon model along a contour of one foot, and arranged at the back of the line model of the body Bd in a Z direction, and generates a mask model of the body being a transparent polygon model arranged at the back of the line model of the body in the Z direction and in front of the line model of the foot in the Z direction, and having the contour along the line of the body. Then, when the respective models are depicted with a Z comparison performed after depicting a background, the mask model of the body, the line model of the foot, the line model of the body are depicted in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Matsumiya, Emi Watanabe, Yuhei Matsuda, Hironori Kuraoka
  • Patent number: 8454435
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU acquires character information data from another game apparatus by executing communication processing. Furthermore, the CPU calculates character information data from image data obtained by imaging a QR Code with a camera and acquires the same. The CPU generates a character on the basis of the character information data, and displays the generated character on a second LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanako Tsugihashi, Naonori Ohnishi, Ryosuke Suzuki, Minori Koike
  • Patent number: 8449371
    Abstract: A gaming machine and method are disclosed. A selected symbol is displayed in a non-revealed manner, for example on a display, a player having nominated at least one characteristic of the symbol. If the selected symbol is revealed to have the nominated characteristic a prize is awarded to the player, and if the symbol is revealed to be a special symbol a game controller awards the player a feature outcome that comprises a plurality of bonus plays of a feature game that includes at least one special symbol. Progression to the next bonus play in the plurality of bonus plays is dependent on selection of the special symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Robert Jackson
  • Patent number: 8444473
    Abstract: A gaming device displays a symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol positions and at least two symbol staging areas, each symbol staging area including at least one supplemental symbol potentially shiftable into the symbol matrix. The gaming device displays a symbol staging area indicator. For a play of a game, the gaming device generates a symbol in each symbol position of the symbol matrix. Upon an occurrence of a triggering condition, the gaming device indicates one of the symbol staging areas using the symbol staging area indicator and removes at least one symbol from at least one symbol position of the symbol matrix. The gaming device re-populates the empty symbol positions by shifting any appropriate symbols of the symbol matrix any appropriate empty symbol positions, and thereafter shifting at least one supplemental symbol from the indicated symbol staging area into at least one remaining empty symbol position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Erick T. Ching, Benjamin D. Menesini
  • Patent number: 8444463
    Abstract: A game device is provided. The game device includes a pass target selector, an operated target switcher, a first player controller, and a second player controller. The pass target selector selects a player character to be a pass target in a case where a first player character is in possession of a moving object. The switcher switches the user operated target from the first player character to a second player character. The first player controller moves the first player character and the moving object after switching, based on a position of an opponent player character, determines whether positions of the first player character or the moving object and the second character satisfy a condition, and causes, if the condition is satisfied, the first player character to make a pass to the second player character. The second player controller moves the second player character after switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Terada, Naoya Hatsumi, Hitoshi Otomo, Kenichi Akiyama, Motoki Kanematsu, Takeshi Okubo, Takashi Onishi, Yoshinori Shiigi
  • Patent number: 8429082
    Abstract: Example embodiments herein include a license manager process that receives a license query from a server device. The license query requests usage data associated with a permanent license on a client device. In response to receiving the license query, the license manager procures the usage data associated with the permanent license on the client device. The license manager then transmits the usage data associated with the permanent license to the server device. Furthermore, the license manager receives a revocation request from the server device. In this manner, the revocation request is received in response to transmitting the usage data associated with the permanent license to the server device. In turn, the license manager revokes the permanent license that was indicated in the revocation request to disable use of the respective application on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanjeev Kumar Biswas, Ravi Prakash Singh
  • Patent number: 8419523
    Abstract: A slot machine 10 includes: reels 101-105 each having symbols 501; backlight devices M7 which individually light the symbols 501; a display window 150 which displays the symbols 501; and a motherboard 70 programmed to run a game in which the reels 101-105 are rotated to rearrange the symbols 501, and a prize is awarded according to a combination of the symbols 501. The motherboard 70 (a1) drives and rotating the reels 101-105; (a2) stops the rotation of a predetermined reel; (a3) causes a backlight source M70 of a backlight device M7, which corresponds to a winning-related symbol 501 out of the symbols 501 rearranged, to be in an on-state while causing a backlight source M70 of a backlight device M7 corresponding to a non-winning-related symbol 501 to be in an off-state; and (a4) executes (a3) every time the rotation of at least one of the reels 101-105 is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Yoshiaki Yabata, Yuki Terada, Hiroatsu Ike
  • Patent number: 8414398
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media including instructions for publishing gaming content are described herein. In one embodiment, a machine-readable medium includes instructions for detecting new gaming content and creating a gaming content publication indicating that the new gaming content is available. The machine-readable medium also includes instructions for transmitting the gaming system publication to a gaming network component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Mark B. Gagner, Nevin J. Liber
  • Patent number: 8409017
    Abstract: A branching tree program replays audio data, and thereafter, when the user performs a selection of alternatives, the branching tree program replays audio data in the branching tree which is the target of selection. The branching tree program progresses a game by repeating this type of selection and replaying. If the end of the branching tree is reached, or if the next item of audio data is not stored upon the portable telephone, then the required data or program is downloaded from a server device 50, and the game is continued. Accordingly, along with it being possible to progress the story of the game by simple actuation, also it is possible to economize upon the storage space, and moreover it is possible to utilize story data without changing the program. As a result, along with it being possible to progress the story of the game by simple actuation, also it is possible to economize upon the storage space, and moreover it is possible to utilize story data without changing the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
    Inventors: Mikio Inoue, Norioki Watanabe, Junko Osawa
  • Patent number: 8406906
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of predicting outcomes of hypothetical events which can occur during a game of baseball, includes: accumulating and storing in a computer memory a statistical database of the cumulative effects of latency and engrams specific to an individual batter having individual batter capabilities and an individual pitcher having individual pitcher capabilities; selecting a pitch, by a user, from amongst pitches compatible with the individual pitcher capabilities; selecting a swing, by a user, from amongst swings compatible with the individual batter capabilities; computing in a computer processor a statistical performance of the individual pitcher of the selected pitch; computing in a computer processor a statistical performance of the individual batter of the selected swing; and matching in a computer processor the statistical performance of the individual pitcher with the statistical performance of the individual batter so as to compute an outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Dream Big Baseball, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Connelly
  • Patent number: 8376832
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device and a display for displaying a wallpaper, a plurality of symbols, and a plurality of symbol backgrounds. The symbols overly the symbol backgrounds, and the symbol backgrounds overly the wallpaper. The plurality of symbols represent a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game. The system further comprises a controller operative to increase a translucence of at least one of the symbol backgrounds to increase visibility of the wallpaper in response to a triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Michael O'Connor, Anthony Prohl, Michael Sesterhenn
  • Patent number: 8376853
    Abstract: A self-orientating hand held game unit includes a display screen, a game piece illustrated on the screen, and a touch sensitive system to detect the movement of a finger across the screen and operate the game piece to launch a projectile toward a target on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: AppTurn, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Dagman, Sandra Shmunis
  • Patent number: 8366537
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling reel games is described. The apparatus may include a display part for displaying an alignment status of reels caused by playing a first reel game. The apparatus may also include a control part for determining whether a combination of symbols or the number of event symbols of at least one or more reels sequentially re-aligned out of the reels satisfies a predetermined event-playing condition, and for playing the event. The apparatus may also include a user interface part for inputting user's random halt settings to spins of at least one or more remaining reels yet to be re-aligned out of the reels based on the playing of the event, and for stopping corresponding reel spins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Jae Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 8364293
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing statistical analytics of golf performance including text, tabular, graphic, and image-based outputs that include trends information for the golfer, all based upon actual golf play on course situations, wherein the golfer inputs shot data during play, without interrupting the flow of the game, and uploads the shot data for analytics and review online, including detailed diagrammatic representations of golf performance analytics, including scattergraph diagrams having the directionality of any shot being uniformly and consistently oriented to provide a zeroed-out orientation for each shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: SkyHawke Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Doherty, James F. Doherty, III, William G. Moore
  • Patent number: 8364600
    Abstract: A user engages in a transaction with a relying party. The relying party requests identity information from the user in a security policy and identifies transaction elements for an on-line business transaction. Typically, the security policy and transaction elements are transmitted together; the security policy can be as little as a request to conduct the on-line business transaction. The user identifies an information card that satisfies the security policy. The computer system requests a security token from the identity provider managing the information card, which can include requesting a transaction receipt for the transaction elements. The computer system then returns the security token (and the transaction receipt) to the relying party, to complete the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Felsted, Thomas E. Doman, James G. Sermersheim, Daniel S. Sanders, Andrew A. Hodgkinson, Dale R. Olds
  • Patent number: 8353764
    Abstract: Techniques for authenticating one or more entities are disclosed. Authentication can be performed based on one or more attributes associated with an image and/or input provided in connection with an image. The image is effectively provided for authenticating one or more entities associated with a computing environment. The attributes which can be measures include the manner in which an image has been created and/or traced by a person being authenticated. A person can initially register with an authentication system by creating and/or tracing an image. Subsequently, the person can be provided with the same, similar and/or completely different image in order to be authenticated by the authentication system. It will be appreciated that the image needs not be a signature or provide any personal information about the person being authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: David C. Williams, Joseph Randy Hedrick
  • Patent number: 8348757
    Abstract: A user operating the game machine and playing the game can easily transfer the intention of a necessary order or the like to a waiter/waitress, a main counter or the like, without leaving the game machine. Further, the user can check the total input amount for the total of games, the total payout amount, the win percentage per each game, the accumulated win percentage in the total of games. Further, the user can play the game while confirming the information provided in the language selected by the user in real-time, relatively at a glance. Consequently, the game machine is capable of increasing the fun of the game and preventing the user from going beyond a predetermined limit of spending money by being excessively emotionally linked to the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tovis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Beom Kim, Woon Yong Park
  • Patent number: 8328625
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a type driven interface for a wagering game machine. One aspect of the systems and methods includes providing a game framework including a game library manager that manages creation, update and deletion of multiple wagering games on a gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Antkowiak, Kevin Kahley
  • Patent number: 8328637
    Abstract: A game environment is disclosed where actions are automatically selected based on a situational awareness for a player in the game environments. The situational awareness can be determined based on conditions of the player, objects and other characters in the game environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adam J. Langridge, Peter D. Molyneux, Guy Simmons