Patents Examined by Steve Rowland
  • Patent number: 9928684
    Abstract: The present application provides a game playing information integration system which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, particularly fixed customers, and thereby capable of effectively introducing a gaming machine to invoke demands of players as users and managers of gaming facilities in a well-balanced manner from a result obtained by logically analyzing the gaming machine. (a) Game playing period at one time of each player in gaming machine unit, (b) change in balance over time of player in a game playing period, (c) operation time of the gaming machine unit, and (d) data relating to profit of a shop side by the gaming machine are generated, the degree of satisfaction of player is computed based on (a) and (b), and the degree of satisfaction of a shop side is computed based on (c) and (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Kengo Takeda
  • Patent number: 9916723
    Abstract: An application credit earning interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate application telemetry; receive wager outcome display instructions; display a wager outcome; receive and display eligible awards; communicate an AC award request comprising an AC award from the eligible awards; and receive AC award instructions comprising the AC award; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request; communicate wager outcome; and the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller, the application controller also operatively connected to a patron management server and an AC management device, and constructed to: receive the application telemetry; determine whether to trigger a wager request; communicate the wager request; receive the wager outcome; communicate wager outcome display instructions; communicate the application telemetry; receive an AC value amount; communicate the AC value display instruct
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, Frank Cire
  • Patent number: 9911348
    Abstract: A game delivery system delivers a plurality of games in a training program. The training program is configured to systematically drive neurological changes to overcome cognitive deficits associated with a neurological disorder. In one embodiment, the training program includes an initial batch of games that predominantly exercise elemental, lower-level cognitive processes and sensory deficits. After a game participant progresses through the initial batch of games, the training program provides games that impose comparatively greater higher-order cognitive processing requirements on the participant. A clinician portal provides remote access to a clinician to data about the game participant's compliance and performance with the training program. The clinician portal also enables the administrator to configure the training program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: POSIT SCIENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Hyun Kyu Lee, Chung-Hay Luk, Mor Nahum, Jyoti Mishra Ramanathan, Henry W. Mahncke, Thomas Matthew Van Vleet, Travis William Wade, Peter Brendan Delahunt, Jefferson Arthur Dewey, Samuel Chungchi Chan, Gregory Michael Sabatini, Donald Kelly Richards, Wesley Marshall Jackson
  • Patent number: 9911283
    Abstract: A pari-mutuel based interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate element request data associated with an interactive application; communicate an element request; receive element instructions comprising elements; and execute the interactive application using the elements; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request instructions; place wagers; determine wager outcomes for wagers; and communicate wager outcome data; and the application controller constructed to: receive the element request data; scan the element request data to determine the element selection; generate the wager request instructions; instruct the wager controller by communicating the wager request instructions; receive wagering acknowledgment data; associate the wagers with the element selection; receive the wager outcome data; receive the application element request; scan the application element request to determine a request for the selected element; generate real credit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 9908048
    Abstract: Systems and methods for executing a game presented on a screen of a head mounted display include executing a game. The execution of the game renders interactive scenes of the game on the screen of the HMD. Images identifying a shift in gaze direction of the user wearing the HMD, are received. The gaze shift is detected during viewing of the interactive scenes presented on the HMD screen. Real-world images that are in line with the gaze direction of the user, are captured from a forward-facing camera of the HMD. A portion of the screen is transitioned from a non-transparent mode to a semi-transparent mode in response to the shift in the gaze direction such that at least part of the real world images are presented in the portion of the screen rendering the interactive scenes of the game. The transparent mode is discontinued after a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Osman, Xiaodong Mao
  • Patent number: 9901814
    Abstract: A housing of a game controller is capable of being held with one hand of a player. A direction instruction section is provided in the housing for performing a direction instruction input. Movement detection means is means for detecting movement of the housing. Movement direction control means of a game apparatus is means for determining a movement direction of an object, which appears in a virtual game world, in accordance with an operation of the direction instruction section. Posture control means is means for determining a posture of the object in the virtual game world in accordance with detection by the movement detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyokazu Nonaka, Toshiharu Izuno, Kentaro Nishimura, Kenta Tanaka, Norihito Ito, Masayuki Okada
  • Patent number: 9895590
    Abstract: A method and system to analyze sports motions using the motion sensors of a mobile device, such as a smart phone, is provided. This method uses the mobile device motion sensor output to define the impact point with a virtual object, such as a golf ball, baseball or tennis ball. The motion sensor signature of the sports motion is analyzed for characteristics, specific to each type of sports motion. A method is disclosed using multiple sensors outputs in a mobile device to compute the impact point with a virtual object, such as a golf ball, baseball, tennis ball. Further, a method is disclosed where moving virtual sports objects interact with virtual sports motions and the responsive outputs are displayed on the mobile device and/or any Web-enabled display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Aquimo, LLC
    Inventors: Mark John Jeffery, Robert Sunshin Komorous-King, Manoj Rana
  • Patent number: 9884248
    Abstract: The position and the posture of an HMD, and the position of a game controller in the real space are detected, and tracked. An image of a virtual space is displayed on the HMD. A controller object is disposed and displayed at a position within the virtual space that corresponds to the position of the game controller in the real space viewed from the HMD. Therefore, the player can easily find and hold the game controller even when the player wears the HMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Koseki, Akio Onda
  • Patent number: 9886866
    Abstract: A training program is configured to systematically drive neurological changes to overcome social cognitive deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: POSIT SCIENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Mor Nahum
  • Patent number: 9881461
    Abstract: An enhanced interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate application telemetry; display a wager outcome; communicate an indication to enter a tournament; communicate tournament application telemetry associated with the tournament; display a tournament award; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request; determine and communicate the wager outcome; the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller, the application controller also operatively connected to a tournament controller and constructed to: receive the application telemetry; determine whether to trigger a wager; communicate the wager request; receive the wager outcome; receive the tournament entry indication; receive tournament award; communicate the tournament award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 9878237
    Abstract: An operation device for performing an operation input on a play machine has an operation unit, a support that supports the operation unit while the operation unit is rotatable about a first rotation axis, and a switching unit that switches a direction of the first rotation axis by rotating the support about a second rotation axis in a direction different from that of the first rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 9881442
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method for redeeming a winning ticket and/or a plurality of non-winning tickets having corresponding symbols for an award. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system of the present disclosure enables a player to: (a) redeem a winning ticket for a first award, and (b) redeem a set of two or more non-winning tickets having corresponding symbols for a second award. Thus, while an individual ticket may be a non-winning ticket when standing alone, the gaming system of the present disclosure enables that non-winning ticket to provide value to the player (in the form of an award) when combined with at least one additional non-winning ticket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Rania F. Elkhoury
  • Patent number: 9875608
    Abstract: A sports-wagering kiosk including at least a (i) display; (ii) identification card reader; (iii) camera; (iv) processing means; (v) printer; (vi) ticket reader; (vii) bill validator; and (viii) communication link for communicating with a central computer system. The sports-wagering kiosk facilitates a registration and wagering process by: (i) capturing an image of a prospective player; (ii) reading data from an identification card including a photograph; (iii) verifying an age of the prospective player and validity of the identification card based on reading the data therefrom; (iv) transmitting at least some of the data read from the identification card to a central computer system; (v) verifying the identification of the prospective player by comparing the captured photograph to a photograph on the identification card; (vi) once the identification is verified, prompting the prospective player to enter a password; and (vii) printing a receipt with player account information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: American Wagering, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra Drozd, Ronald Tabat, Sean Cronan
  • Patent number: 9861301
    Abstract: Disclosed is a service method and system for providing a service based on a moving path of a user. A service method configured as a computer may include receiving location information from a terminal of a user in response to a determination that a mode set by the user is an exercise mode, measuring a moving path of the user based on the location information, managing target information corresponding to at least one of a type of exercise that the user is doing and a predetermined path, and providing the target information to the user based on the measured moving path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NHN Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Gwang-Yeon Hwang, Dae Woo Cho, Jeong Kwon Yang, Chung Hyun Yu, Hye Ran Lee, Kwang Min Kim
  • Patent number: 9861892
    Abstract: A game recording medium allows a player to enjoy a game without damaging a feeling as if the player played a musical instrument or conducted an orchestra even when the player cannot perform an operation input matched with an indication sign. Time is counted with a start of playing a piece of music and an indication sign is displayed on a time axis. When the indication sign reaches a criterion line, a sensed input operation is analyzed. The analysis result is determined on the basis of a criterion value corresponding to the indication sign. When it is determined a proper operation is not performed, music change information is specified on the basis of the analysis result and the criterion value, and a pitch, a tempo, and the like of the music data are controlled on the basis of the specified change information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya Okada
  • Patent number: 9852579
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system and method modifying of one or more options provided to a player based on the player's previously chosen options. When a triggering event occurs, the gaming system displays an indication of each of a first plurality of options and enables the player to choose one of the first plurality of options. The gaming system stores player choice data representing the player's chosen one of the first plurality of options. Upon an occurrence of one or more modification events, the gaming system modifies the first plurality of options based at least in part on which of the first plurality of options were previously chosen by the player. Following a subsequent occurrence of the triggering event, the gaming system displays an indication of each of the modified first plurality of options and enables the player to choose one of the modified first plurality of options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Kevin N. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9852580
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
  • Patent number: 9846985
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a multi-reel skill-based redemption game. An indication of a user desire to participate in the skill-based redemption game is received. The user's account balance is decreased, and simulated reels are spun. Adjustment arrows are displayed for a subset of the plurality of simulated reels. The player selects a simulated reel and a direction of adjustment for the simulated reel. If the player's adjustment creates a winning pattern, the user is rewarded with an increased account balance. The user may also be provided a bonus amount for achieving a number of consecutive wins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: EPIC TECH, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Weatherby, Steven Wesley Davis, Troy Jungmann
  • Patent number: 9846994
    Abstract: A method of simulating a heads up gaming tournament utilizing at least one game server and a plurality of personal communication devices includes receiving value from a plurality of participants using the personal communication devices, providing the participants with wagering units, pairing unpaired first and second ones of the participants to play a heads up game, initiating the game by generating a game state, for example, dealing the private cards of a hold'em poker game, and transmitting the game state to the participants for display on the personal communications devices, whereupon the first participant transmits an action to the game server in response to the game state, receiving the action and updating the game state, receiving a second input in response to the first participant's action from the second participant, continuing play until the outcome of the heads up game is determined, updating the number of wagering units held by the first and second participants, repairing the participants for the n
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventor: Malcolm B. Davis
  • Patent number: 9833660
    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: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Jr., Jason P. Martin