Patents Examined by Steve Rowland
  • Patent number: 12383829
    Abstract: This application discloses a method for moving a virtual character's perspective in a virtual environment performed at a terminal. The method includes: displaying a first perspective image of an application program observed using a first perspective direction, the first perspective image including first and second function controls; switching the first perspective image to a second perspective image according to the first perspective movement operation on the first function control, the second perspective image being an image of the virtual environment observed using a second perspective direction; receiving a second perspective movement operation on the second function control while the first function control is in an enabled state; and switching the second perspective image to a third perspective image according to the second perspective movement operation on the second function control, the third perspective image being an image of the virtual environment observed using a third perspective direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jin Yang, Jiaqi Pan
  • Patent number: 12364926
    Abstract: A virtual object control method is provided. When there is a need to trigger a skill, a terminal determines a to-be-cast range of a skill and a target virtual object in the to-be-cast range, and displays a cast indication pattern of the skill according to positions of a controlled virtual object and the target virtual object. The terminal adjusts, in response to a position of either virtual object of the controlled virtual object and the target virtual object being changed, the displaying of the cast indication pattern in real time. Thus, it is ensured that the terminal automatically adjusts a pointing direction of the cast indication pattern with the change in the position of the virtual object, so that the cast indication pattern may be associated with the position of the target virtual object. Apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium counterpart embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventors: Xun Hu, Yulin Wan, Shandong Su, Jianmiao Weng
  • Patent number: 12361789
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for movement of hand counts to a gaming device. A gaming device can process a request to add credits to a current credits value of a wagering game. The gaming device can generate one or more outcomes of the wagering game. The gaming device can increment the hand count value based on a count of the outcomes of the wagering game generated. The gaming device can determine that the current credits value exceeds a predetermined multiple of the hand count value. The gaming device can transfer an amount of hand count credit to the wagering game by adding the amount of hand count credit to the hand count value. The gaming device can perform a payout of the wagering game comprising decreasing the hand count value based on the payout value and the predetermined multiple of the hand count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: PRIMERO GAMES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mayo Macke, Gregory S. Gronau, Jeremy M. Meister-Gronau, Mark C. Nizdil
  • Patent number: 12354444
    Abstract: An apparatus, including a processor which provides, to a user or plurality of users, an electronic forum which provides a video or audio broadcast or transmission of a sporting or entertainment event, or educational or instructional content, and a user profile of a participant in, or of a person depicted in, the video or audio broadcast or transmission of the event or content; a transmitter which transmits the electronic forum to a first user communication device, wherein the electronic forum provides the user profile to the first user communication device; and a receiver which receives information transmitted from the first user communication device. The apparatus generates a user profile accessing message and transmits the user profile accessing message to a second user communication device or email server of or associated with the participant or person whose user profile was accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Inventor: Raymond Anthony Joao
  • Patent number: 12327461
    Abstract: A method for conducting a raffle comprising reading an item identifier from an identification tag affixed to an item at an equipment management system, prior to an event related to the item. The raffle notification data is then transmitted to users after the event has occurred. A plurality of raffle ticket purchase requests are then received from the plurality of devices and are processed. The raffle tickets are then delivered to the plurality of devices, such as in electronic form. One of the raffle tickets is then selected, and winning notification data is transmitted to the associated device. The winner can authenticate the winning item by reading the identification tag affixed to the item after the event at the equipment management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: PROVA GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Haroon I. Alvi, Charles B. Humphreyson, Richard L. Lackey, Emmitt J. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 12300074
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems, machines, and methods and, in particular, hidden symbol tracking. As an example, an electronic gaming machine is described that includes a set of reels, where each reel in the set of reels includes a plurality of symbol regions with at least one symbol provided therein, and where a first reel in the set of reels includes a hidden symbol that is capable of different presentations based upon having different lighting conditions applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kyle Rothchild, Thomas Humphrey, Matthew Palazzetti, Cullen O'Day
  • Patent number: 12290752
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems for and methods of playing a video game that includes providing a game character having a virtual appearance characteristic, receiving an input signal indicative of a user exercise performance level, and altering the virtual appearance characteristic in response to receiving the input signal. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Dugan Health, LLC
    Inventor: Brian M. Dugan
  • Patent number: 12290756
    Abstract: An agent that may assist a service provider of gaming services with registering/signing up users, with accepting funds/money from a user and depositing these funds in a gaming account of the user for the user to play games with, and/or with receiving requests from a user to withdrawal funds from the user's account and paying the user the withdrawn funds. The agent may also assist a user in obtaining a report of an account of the user, the account being associated with a service provider that provides gaming services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventor: Phillip L. Flaherty
  • Patent number: 12285678
    Abstract: Provided are a program, a control method, and an information processing apparatus which may provide an improved user interface on which a user may easily and efficiently execute various processes on a game content. The information processing apparatus may be caused to execute a game content specifying step of specifying a selected game content on the basis of first input operation data from an operation unit, a step of retrieving information from a storage unit, a step of specifying a direction from a start point to an end point of a second input operation on the basis of second input operation data from an operation unit, and an execution step of executing one process associated with the direction from the start point to the end point of the second input operation in the information from the storage unit on the selected game content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: GREE, INC.
    Inventors: Junko Yamanokuchi, Masato Nozaki
  • Patent number: 12285696
    Abstract: A non-limiting example game system includes a main body apparatus, and the main body apparatus performs communication with another main body apparatus in a communication game to play a virtual game. The virtual game is a multiplayer game that a plurality of players compete against each other, and a place of an overall ranking is determined for each player. If a main story of the virtual game is ended, a ranking announcement screen including a ranking message and a praise screen including a praise message are displayed in this order for each place of the overall ranking. The praise message is selected from a praise message table of the first place of the overall ranking and a praise message table except the first place of the overall ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Suzuki, Misaki Hiraga, Rina Wegner, Karin Kawakami
  • Patent number: 12277840
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display device and game-logic circuitry that causes the display device to: present cycle outcomes by populating a symbol array with randomly selected symbols; lock any trigger symbols from the randomly selected symbols in the symbol array; present a subset counter for an array subset with locked trigger symbols; in response to a modifier event associated with a first trigger symbol locked within the subset, present a first award value associated with the first trigger symbol; in response to a number of trigger symbols within the subset meeting a trigger amount, provide an award at least partially as a function of the first award value; and in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, remove any locked trigger symbols from the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bouvier, Richard Milosevich, Kenneth Shawn Soong
  • Patent number: 12277868
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized method for collaborative content scoring in an online educational platform includes the step of provide an educational content via the online educational platform. The method includes the step of determining a genre of the educational content. The method includes the step of setting a base score for the educational content. The method includes the step of receiving an explicit user feedback with respect to the educational content. The method includes the step of receiving an implicit user feedback with respect to the educational content. The method includes the step of adjusting the base score of the educational content to a score based on the explicit user feedback and the implicit user feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: EdCast Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Mehta
  • Patent number: 12263402
    Abstract: A trigger driving apparatus and hand-held terminal having said apparatus are provided. Wherein the trigger driving apparatus comprises a bracket (8) and a movable trigger housing arranged on the bracket, and further comprises: a drive device, wherein a drive shaft of the drive device is connected to one end of a link rod mechanism, the other end of the link rod mechanism is connected to the trigger housing, and the drive shaft is configured to drive the trigger housing to move; a detection device is configured to detect the state of the trigger housing; a control device is configured to receive the state signal detected by the detection device, and control the output torque of the drive device according to the state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Xuefang Teng, Yanlong Liu, Dong Liang, Lin Geng, Xing Zhang
  • Patent number: 12260777
    Abstract: Simulated tissue structures and methods of making them are disclosed. An elastic first material is placed in tension. An elastic second material is adhered to the first material while the first material is in tension. The adhered second material and the first material in tension forms a first shape of the simulated tissue structure. Tension on the first material is released. In releasing the tension of the first material, a force is exerted on the adhered second material bring the combination of the first material and the second material into a second shape. The first shape is maintained by a mold or mandrel and the second shape is the desired shape of the simulated tissue structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory K. Hofstetter
  • Patent number: 12254747
    Abstract: Systems and methods which employ one or more reels that expand and contract responsive to the occurrence of (or lack thereof) different events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Yu Chong, Nick Hillstrom, Nathan Ajhar, Chris Peterson
  • Patent number: 12253386
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining an effective altitude in relation to a moving sports object. In some examples, a method includes determining respective values for an air temperature, an air pressure, and a relative humidity of an environment of interest. Based on the determined respective values of the air temperature, the air pressure, and the relative humidity, an air density for the environment of interest is calculated to derive a first air density value. A second air density value is derived for a reference environment. An absolute value of a difference between the first and second air densities is compared against a preset comparison value and, based on the comparison being equal to or smaller than the preset comparison value, an output including an indicator of the effective altitude is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: EDH US LLC
    Inventor: Henri Johnson
  • Patent number: 12254741
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to distributed systems that include networked master and slave circuits that are each connected to a plurality of electronic gaming machines on a casino floor. Each circuit receives digital information from a data port on an electronic gaming machine to which it is connected and also transmits commands, such as TITO commands, to the electronic gaming machine via the data port. A slave circuit can also function as the master circuit, e.g., when a master circuit fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Acres Technology
    Inventors: John F. Acres, Mark Dailey
  • Patent number: 12251632
    Abstract: Gaming systems that provide a tile selection and award determination sequence for a gaming environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: David Twomey, Raymond Latham
  • Patent number: 12246255
    Abstract: In an example of a game program, a ground boarding target object or an air boarding target object is selected by a selection operation, and a player character is caused to board the selected boarding target object. If the player character aboard the air boarding target object moves toward the ground, the player character is automatically changed to the state where the player character is aboard the ground boarding target object, and brought into the state where the player character can move on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: NINTENDO CO., LTD., THE POKÉMON COMPANY
    Inventor: Kazumasa Iwao
  • Patent number: 12246250
    Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a gaming system that cooperates with a graphical user interface to enable user modification and enhancement of one or more audio streams associated with the gaming system. In embodiments, the audio streams may include a game audio stream, a chat audio stream of conversation among players of a video game, and a microphone audio stream of a player of the video game. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Jeffrey Nicholas Mahlmeister, Simon Duffy, Battsengel Lopez, Michael John Lelli, Damien Kevin Granger