Patents Examined by Thomas H Henry
  • Patent number: 11804097
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a game controller configured to execute instructions stored in a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed by the game controller, cause the game controller to at least: (i) simulate spinning and stopping a first plurality of reels to display a first plurality of symbols from each reel of the first plurality of reels, wherein, while the first plurality of reels are spinning, a second plurality of reels are held stationary; (ii) determine whether the first plurality of symbols include at least one trigger symbol; and (iii) simulate spinning and stopping, in response to the at least one trigger symbol, the second plurality of reels to display a second plurality of symbols from each reel of the second plurality of reels, wherein, while the second plurality of reels are spinning, the first plurality of reels are held stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: David Marsh, Karl Roelofs
  • Patent number: 11798365
    Abstract: A gaming machine initiates a feature game in response to a base game outcome comprising a predetermined number of a configurable symbol. For an initial round of a quantity of rounds for the feature game, the gaming machine retains each of the configurable symbol from the base game outcome at a corresponding feature game display position of a feature game outcome. For each feature game display position not displaying the configurable symbol, the gaming machine determines whether to display the configurable symbol with an assigned prize indicia at the respective feature game display position. After the quantity of rounds, the gaming machine awards a prize chance for a specific prize in response to a prize indicia for the specific prize being assigned to the feature game outcome. The gaming machine further awards the specific prize in response to randomly determining that the prize chance was successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Scott Olive, Matthew Deitz
  • Patent number: 11794115
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide in-game consequences for unique digital articles, the in-game consequences being based on real-world information, are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may execute instances of a game; manage player accounts associated with the players, including a first and a second player account associated with a first and a second player; record player-configurable sensitivity of player-owned unique digital articles to be exposed to in-game consequences of either receiving distributions of benefits or losing stakes; determine real-world information based on events that have occurred in the real world; evaluate whether to distribute the benefits or seize the stakes, based on the real-world information; and either provide the distributions of benefits or seize the stakes accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Mythical, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Koch, John Linden
  • Patent number: 11794103
    Abstract: A system and method configured to enhance gameplay between users in an online game and to provide enhanced interest in virtual goods associated with collections of virtual goods through the ability to rotate drop rates associated with these virtual goods from time to time. The system and method includes the provision of functionality which allows providers of online games to periodically rotate drop rates associated with mystery boxes in order to maintain and/or generate additional interest in specific mystery boxes. As a result, it is possible for game operators to enhance revenue opportunities associated with these boxes even in the case where such boxes have been available for a relatively lengthy period of time and/or where players would have otherwise lost interest in specific boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Pieron, Thomas Baxter, Henry Rull
  • Patent number: 11798347
    Abstract: Input systems for multiple gaming device displays, and related devices, systems, and methods, include a first display device, a second display device, an input device, a processor circuit, and a memory coupled to the processor circuit. The memory includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to receive a first input value from the input device. Based on the first input value, the processor circuit causes the first display device to modify a first graphical interface element being displayed on the first display device to generate a first modified graphical interface element on the first display device, and cause the second display device to display a second graphical interface element based on the first modified graphical interface element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael Russ, Sven Aurich
  • Patent number: 11786819
    Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate staking of combinations of different types of digital articles on a permanent registry to upgrade player type within an online gaming platform supporting different player types are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may execute instances of a game; control player accounts associated with the players; facilitate usage of multiple different digital articles that are usable to upgrade players from the first player type to a second player type, wherein upgrading unlocks additional utilities; receive an upgrade instruction from the first player, in exchange for staking a combination of a particular amount of a first type of digital article and a second type of digital article; perform an in-game action falling within the additional utilities on behalf of the first player, wherein the in-game action is performed by virtue of the first player having been upgraded to the second player type; and/or other steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Mythical, Inc.
    Inventor: Cameron Thacker
  • Patent number: 11752437
    Abstract: User-involved battle development with strategic or tactical elements in a game is enabled. A method, implemented in a computer including a control unit, for providing a battle game in which a user repeatedly attacks and defends against an opponent using a plurality of objects placed in a plurality of areas arranged in a matrix, includes: a selection step of causing the user to select an area from the plurality of areas, and holding the area which has been already selected as a selected area; a first execution step of causing an object placed in the selected area, to execute a first action; a determination step of determining whether or not a combination of an already selected area and the currently selected area matches at least one line which is any of a row, a column, and a diagonal of the matrix; and a second execution step of causing an object to execute a second action, in the case where the determination step determines that the combination matches the at least one line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GREE, INC.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Higo
  • Patent number: 11749069
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing a lottery game including providing a lottery ticket for purchase; processing a purchase of the lottery ticket, wherein the lottery ticket was part of a purchase transaction comprising at least one good or service and the lottery ticket; and communicating a result of a lottery game comprising the lottery ticket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Blackhawk Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Alan Gotlieb, Melissa Murillo
  • Patent number: 11745107
    Abstract: A computer device providing a computer implemented game, the computer device comprising a user interface configured to detect user input from a user of the game, at least one processor, and a display. A processor is configured to cause a game area to be displayed on the display, comprising a first game object and a plurality of third game objects; cause the first game object to be controlled in response to user input to cause a second game object to hit one or more of the third game objects; cause the hit third game objects to be removed from the game area; and determine when given ones of the third game objects have been removed and in response thereto cause another game area to be displayed, the first game object being moved to a position within the another game area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventors: Hugo Lanchares, Julian Perez
  • Patent number: 11749052
    Abstract: A methodology and apparatus for providing casino game signage for a casino game which incorporates display information that is dynamically interchangeable between game specific and game non-specific information responsive to automatic detection of game play status at the game table. At least one electronic display is provided at respective casino game tables, and selected display information is wirelessly transmitted, and/or manually delivered, thereto. The display information which is displayed is dynamically selected based upon a sensor automatically detecting the status of play of the game, being game specific during play and selectively game specific and game non-specific during game play inactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: VisuaLimits, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Stasi, Ryan McClellan
  • Patent number: 11738273
    Abstract: Controlling the display of a computer device to deliver functions of a new type of clicker game, in which a player can control the location at which a booster is created on a game board. This provides a player with many more strategic options over game play because the clearing effects of a booster can be targeted more effectively. A game element which a player selects (clicks) to remove a group of adjacent matching game elements is identified and its location on the game board is ‘reserved’. When the game board refills, the ‘reserved’ location is not refilled, but remains as a ‘soft void’ in which a booster object can be created after refill has taken place. At that point the booster may be activated (automatically or by user interaction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventors: Dennis Gustafsson, Grant Lafarge, Gerardo Basurto
  • Patent number: 11731032
    Abstract: A method for playing a hold 'em card game with two hands provides a variant to a standard hold 'em card game by dealing four hole cards to a player, and splitting the hole cards into two sets of hole cards, with each set of hole cards being independently played, bet, raised, or folded in relation to the same community cards. An initial round of wagering occurs, followed by dealing four hole cards to each player. The hole cards are split into two sets of hole cards that are played independently of each other. There is another round of betting, before a turn and a river are also dealt. If the dealer's best of five hands exceeds a poker hand ranking of the player's, the player forfeits the wager. If the player's best of five hands exceeds the dealer's, the player receives an equal amount of units to the wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: 2 HH, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne Chiang, Jarom Severson
  • Patent number: 11710372
    Abstract: Technology for managing mobile applications on an electronic gaming machine (EGM) in communication with a mobile device over a communications network is disclosed. An EGM may perform an account login by a user using a gaming host application associated with the EGM such that the account login triggers the gaming host application to launch a selected mobile gaming application for game play on the EGM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, Dwayne Nelson
  • Patent number: 11707683
    Abstract: Method and system for granting in-game resources for a telematics-based game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: BlueOwl, LLC
    Inventors: Micah Wind Russo, Kenneth Jason Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11707672
    Abstract: The virtual location of a player in a location-based game is determined from the real-world location of the player's client device. The location-based game provides the player access to one or more chat room based on their location. To determine the locations of chat room, a server analyzes player locations in a geographic region, clusters player locations to identify centroids, and adjusts the clusters based on constraints. The server selects chat room locations (e.g., at points of interest) to more evenly balance the number of players in each chat room while complying with one or more restraints on the size of the geographic area served by each chat room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Niantic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiahuan Liu, Mingliang Wei, Daniel Casadevall Pino, Charu Janqid
  • Patent number: 11701592
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for a game device having a processor, in which the program causes the processor to: receive an operation-input made by a first user; and cause a first character of a game to execute an action, based on the operation-input made by the first user, in which when a first action made by a second character of the game is executed based on an operation-input made by a second user, the program causes the processor to cause the first character to execute a second action responsive to the first action, based on the operation-input made by the first user and received by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yota Tsutsumizaki
  • Patent number: 11704963
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to communication methods in gaming networks using portable devices. In some networks portable devices communicate information about the status of particular gaming machines on the gaming network. In other networks portable devices are used as a secondary display for the gaming device. In yet other networks bonus games may be played on the portable devices. Further embodiments include a portable device that operates to match a current state of a game to a pre-defined state or states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Acres Technology
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 11691086
    Abstract: A computer-implemented fantasy sports game is provided in which a selection of player choices is submitted by one or more participants in association with one or more games scheduled according to a real-life sports game period. The selection of choices may include one or more virtual players selected for a game roster or a team by a participant. Statistically calculated performance ratings may be assigned to the selected virtual players and a total score may be computed for the participating teams based on the assigned performance ratings. One or more participants with worst scoring teams may be rewarded with proceeds contributed by other fantasy sports participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Hater Fantasy Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Butz, David Vadurro
  • Patent number: 11691084
    Abstract: Method and system for training a virtual character of a telematics-based game. In some examples, a computer-implemented method includes: determining, based at least in part upon telematics data, a plurality of skill points associated with a plurality of real skills exhibited by the user during the one or more real trips; training a virtual character by at least updating, based at least in part upon the plurality of skill points, the plurality of virtual ratings; generating, based at least in part upon the character profile, one or more virtual occurrences to be encountered by the virtual character; determining, based at least in part upon the updated plurality of virtual ratings, one or more outcomes associated with the one or more virtual occurrences; updating the character profile by at least applying the one or more virtual occurrences based on the associated one or more outcomes to the virtual character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BLUEOWL, LLC
    Inventors: Micah Wind Russo, Kenneth Jason Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11673055
    Abstract: A method of challenge generation comprises the steps of collecting gameplay telemetry data comprising values for one or more game parameters, from a plurality of users, selecting an in-game scenario for which telemetry data has been collected, for one or more selected game parameters, identify a value that does not prevent success in the in-game scenario, and generate a user challenge to succeed in the in-game scenario whilst generating a respective value for the one or more selected game parameters, the or each respective value having a respective selected relationship to the identified values of the one or more selected game parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Paul Terence Mulligan, Ashley Sanders, Andrew John Nicholas Jones