Patents Examined by Steve Rowland
  • Patent number: 10424148
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a gaming system and method of providing a game. The system is configured to display a plurality of symbol positions displayed on a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns having an associated reel, reel strip, a plurality of symbol positions and game symbols displayed in each of the symbol positions in a predetermined order defining a reel layout. The method includes: initiating a game; establishing a first and second interval comprising at least two spins of the reels, the reel strip associated one of the reels has a first reel layout used during the spins of the first interval; and changing the pattern of the reel strip of one reel strip at the end of the first interval, before initiating the second interval, to a second reel layout, wherein the second reel layout is used for the spins of the second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10413366
    Abstract: A trajectory guidance alignment system configurable to receive input data from an image, interactively track at least one user position, interactively track a tool position, automatically generate output data by way of data transformation using at least one of the input data, the user position data, and the tool position data, and transmit the output data to the display of a navigation system for rendering a real-time interactive navigation view corresponding to a surgical view for facilitating navigation of a medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Bardbados) Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Noel Dyer, Neil Jeffrey Witcomb, Michael Jonathan Rotenberg
  • Patent number: 10417868
    Abstract: An inverted mechanic interleaved wagering system includes an interactive controller configured to: communicate prize selection data; receive wager outcome display instructions; display a wager outcome; a wager controller configured to: generate the paytable; receive wager request instructions; determine a wager outcome; and an application controller connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller and constructed to: scan received prize selection data to determine the one or more prizes; instruct the wager controller by communicating generated paytable generation instructions; scan received paytable data to determine the paytable; instruct the interactive controller by communicating generated paytable display instructions; scan received wagering event initiation data to determine a wagering event initiation; instruct the wager controller by communicating generated wager request instructions; scan received wager outcome data to determine the wager outcome; and instruct the interactive controller
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Clifford Kaylin, Eric Meyerhofer, Dwight Kim
  • Patent number: 10417857
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system with a visual display system has a player input station for at least entering wagers on an underlying wagering event. The system includes a processor providing signal content to the visual display system. The player input station further has an electronic-field communication input device that is simultaneously responsive to a player's hand movements in three dimensions and with respect to velocity. A communication link exists from the electronic-field communication input device to the processor and then to the visual display system to provide image signals transmitted from the processor to the visual display system. The image signals are varied in response to sensed hand movements in at least one of the three dimensions and velocity, wherein the visual display system displays an image varied in response to sensed hand movements. The caused variations have no effect on a random outcome in the underlying wagering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Interblock d.d.
    Inventors: Matja{hacek over (z)} Sprogar, Urban Bergant, Joze Pececnik
  • Patent number: 10406426
    Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive subject matter include a method comprising: operating a primary controller to present a first wagering game on a gaming terminal, the first wagering game including first content from a first content source; operating a secondary controller to present a second wagering game on the same or another game terminal, the second wagering game including second content from a second content source; accessing, by the second controller, funds from a first credit meter associated with the first wagering game; and electronically routing accessed funds from the first credit meter to a second credit meter associated with the second wagering game to fund one or more wagers for the second wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 10403168
    Abstract: Systems and methods improve call center performance. A system can include a motor training component and a communication training component. A composite training component can determine a composite accuracy based on both motor training and communication training. A method can train motor skills, communication skills, and develop a composite training metric reflecting at least performance with respect to these aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: United States Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: George Selix
  • Patent number: 10391387
    Abstract: Acquiring an interactive digital content item including a plurality of content portions includes receiving a first set of the content portions that is less than an entirety of the content portions. A partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented using the first set of content portions. A second set of the content portions is received while the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item is presented. Functionality is added to the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item using the second set of content portions without interrupting presentation of the partial functionality version of the interactive digital content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. Morrison, III, Brandon Hunt, Jeffrey David Henshaw, Michael Gallop, Ivan P. Trindev, Eric Neil Lockard
  • Patent number: 10391398
    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: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: GREE, Inc.
    Inventors: Junko Yamanokuchi, Masato Nozaki
  • Patent number: 10388117
    Abstract: A reel-type wagering game includes at least one wild symbol in the game symbol set. The wild symbol or symbols may appear at multiple game symbol locations across an array of game symbol locations through which results are shown for a play in the game, and may assist in forming winning combinations of game symbols along pay lines. Wild symbols that appear in the array of game symbols for a play of the game, but do not contribute to any winning combination along a pay line, represent noncontributing wild symbols which may provide an alternate winning result for the given play of the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Everi Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Neal Harrelson, Jennifer Skaggs, Michael Casey
  • Patent number: 10376775
    Abstract: A read and write playing card system and method are described. The playing card includes a unique card identification that uniquely identifies the playing card from other cards in the deck of playing cards. Additionally, the read and write playing card includes at least one playing card electronic component that receives data regarding game play. Furthermore, the read and write playing card includes at least one of the playing card electronic components that stores data regarding game play. Further still, the read and write playing card includes at least one of the playing card electronic components that transmits the unique card identification data, when activated by the electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Milestone Technologies
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 10380906
    Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for controllably rotating an object, such as a baseball or any sporting ball, and methods of using the apparatus for measurement of visual acuity and/or training. Specifically, in certain embodiments, an object is rotated at a selected revolutions per minute (RPM) and a subject's exposure to the rotating object is controlled by illumination and/or controlled exposure, and assessing a subject's ability to recognize the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jonathan Newport, Arthur Shapiro
  • Patent number: 10375206
    Abstract: Techniques for implementation of an entity-component architecture with components having multiple configurations are described herein. In some examples, at least one component within an entity-component architecture of a video game may have multiple different configurations. Each of the multiple configurations may, for example, relate to a different respective deployment context in which the configuration will be deployed. For example, in some cases, the different configurations may be defined for different device types, such as client, server, and others. Additionally, in some cases, the different configurations may be defined for different types of game consoles, and other different software, hardware, and/or contextual attributes. Furthermore, in some cases, configurations may be defined for use during video game development, such as within an editing interface that is used for video game development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Pablo Ferreyra, Pablo Puo Hen Cheng, Brian David Fisher, Bill L. Merrill
  • Patent number: 10338179
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) images with suppressed residual blood signal in the early cardiac phases, leading to images with a preferred dark-blood appearance throughout the entire cardiac cycle, which improves accuracy of subsequent post-processing algorithms. The acquisition of the desired blood suppressed tissue images is achieved through a double inversion recovery pulse in DENSE sequences. The double inversion recovery pulse is applied after an electrocardiogram (ECG) trigger at a beginning point of a repetition time period, followed by a displacement encoding module at an inversion time during the repetition time period and a readout module comprised of a plurality of frames during a remainder of the repetition time period. The displacement encoding module applies a labelling process on the tissue, while the readout module applies an un-labelling process. The readout module comprises an imaging sequence adapted to acquire DENSE images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Emory University
    Inventors: Xiaodong Zhong, John Oshinski, Deqiang Qiu, Amit Saindane
  • Patent number: 10328309
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Jr., Jason P. Martin
  • Patent number: 10332155
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying the eligibility of players attempting to participate in gaming events are disclosed. Communication objects having RFID tags and closed electrical circuits are individually assigned to and worn by players within a gaming player verification system, which can be administered by a casino desk, hotel concierge, or other operating entity. These RFID tags are adapted to communicate with associated player tracking units attached to gaming machines and other devices via radio frequency waves, and each communication object is adapted to alter its communication pattern in response to any break of its closed electrical circuit. Bracelets, wristwatches or collars can be used as communication objects, such that the removal of such an object from a player cannot be accomplished without breaking the closed electrical circuit contained therein, thereby disabling or de-authenticating the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Asher, Ronald Rushin, Dean P. Alderucci, Geoffrey M. Gelman
  • Patent number: 10332354
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a fantasy sports wagering game. A gaming operator may assign real life sporting players into brackets based on their expected performance so that players with similar expected performance are in a same bracket as each other. Participants in a fantasy sports wagering game may be required to select a player from each of a plurality of brackets to form a fantasy sports team for the fantasy sports wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Lee Amaitis, Matthew Holt, Mike Colbert, Reed Stephens
  • Patent number: 10327740
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a display device and a transducer to transmit acoustic pulses modulated with a carrier frequency and to collect at least a portion of a high-frequency backscatter signal comprising radio frequency (RF) data. A processing device is operatively coupled to the transducer probe and to the display device, and to: calculate a summation of a square of a real part and a square of an imaginary part of the backscatter signal, to generate an envelope signal including a mode-specific image suitable for display on the display device; calculate a difference of the square of the real part and the square of the imaginary part of the backscatter signal, to generate a complement signal; demodulate the complement signal to generate a low-frequency complement image suitable for display; and display the complement image on the display device to improve diagnostic imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Michael F. Insana, Sara Bahramianparchekoohi
  • Patent number: 10319185
    Abstract: A gaming system and its operations include, for instance providing, for presentation via one or more electronic display devices associated with the gaming system, first digital content for a first application that is independent from a second application that concurrently presents second digital content via the one or more electronic display devices; intercepting, by the first application, data associated with the second digital content; determining, via one or more electronic processing units of the gaming system and based on the data, a relationship between the first digital content and the second digital content; and causing the second application to automatically modify presentation of the second digital content in response to determining the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mark B Gagner, Siva Kumar Krishnan, Larry J Pacey, Alfred Thomas, Matthew J Ward
  • Patent number: 10320859
    Abstract: A plurality of participants in a conversation may be scored based on ability to correctly answer questions and based on entertainment value as determined by viewers of the conversation. The conversation may be in the form of a game, or may include a number of different substantially simultaneous conversations. Audio data and video data of the conversation may be transmitted over a network, and viewer scores of the participants in the conversation may be received over the network. Participants in future conversation may be selected based on their skill in answering questions and their entertainment value, with different future conversations using different weightings of skill scores and entertainment scores in determining who may participate in the conversation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Robert H. Cohen
  • Patent number: 10300388
    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: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventor: Brian M. Dugan