Patents Examined by Tramar Harper
  • Patent number: 11247129
    Abstract: A game apparatus functioning as a non-limiting example information processing apparatus includes a CPU that performs processing of a battle game. A player selects one or more usage characters that are to be used in the battle game among possession characters. In the battle game, if the usage character used by the player defeats one or more enemy character, a character value is added to each usage character according to a predetermined rule other than an experience value by battle. Every time the predetermined number of character values are accumulated, a shared item is acquired, and if this shared item is used, a rarity of a possession character is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouhei Maeda, Yuji Ohashi, Shioe Ohashi, Mai Kusakihara
  • Patent number: 11241624
    Abstract: A mobile video game uses real world anchor points in providing for video game play which includes virtual elements. The real world anchor points may be specified in terms of a geographic coordinate system, and game play may be based on mobile device presence at or about the anchor points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Alexander Bridge, Robert Frederick Ford, Eunice Lee, Nathan Lutz, Michal Tadeusz Madej, Paul Reiche, III
  • Patent number: 11241631
    Abstract: Improvements in a holder for a game controller that allows a game controller to sit in a vertical on a stand or holder. The storage in a vertical orientation reduces the footprint of the controller on a desk or shelf. This also allows for better visual appearance of the controller as it sits on a desk. The holder further places the controller in a position where it can be more quickly retrieved for use. A power storage that powers the controller to extend operating time of the controller. The face plate can include indicia that match a gaming system or a game and the face plate can be removed or replaces. A charge indicator extends through the face plate. The controller can be used in the holder without restrictions of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Jonathan Blake Buller
  • Patent number: 11241626
    Abstract: A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method to control movement of a non-player character is provided. Actions of a player character in a race event of a multiplayer game are detected. A player character movement model based on the actions of the player character is generated. A set of non-player actions is generated in a non-player character movement model based on the player character movement model. A movement of a non-player character in the multiplayer game is controlled based on the set of non-player actions in the non-player character movement model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Arjun Bharat Lall, Abhinav Agrawal
  • Patent number: 11241623
    Abstract: A method for communication. The method including displaying game play of a first user playing a gaming application on a display. The method including broadcasting an SSID from a first device over a wireless local area network. The method including pairing the first device and a second device associated with a second user over the wireless local area network. The method including streaming a user interface including information related to the first game play from the first device to the second device. The user interface is streamed concurrent with the game play of the first user, and is configured to complement game play of the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventor: Warren Benedetto
  • Patent number: 11232682
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses, and methods for involve or otherwise facilitate a multiple symbol replacement process. Accordingly, a gaming device includes a display having a first game grid and a second game grid, and can be configured to replace at least two symbols in the second game grid, with each of the replaced symbols being in separate game reels that form columns in the second grid, when a predetermined symbol appears in the first game grid as part of a determined game outcome. Alternatively, the gaming device may be configured to replace symbols in the second game grid when a predetermined symbol appears in the first game grid, and replace symbols in the first game grid when a predetermined symbol appears in the second game grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Bradley Berman
  • Patent number: 11224800
    Abstract: An example game controller includes L and R buttons provided in both left and right end portions on an upper surface of a housing and ZL and ZR buttons provided to sides of the L and R buttons closer to a back surface of the game controller. The ZL/ZR button includes a protruding portion protruding in the direction of the back surface of the game controller and the direction of a side surface of the game controller. This makes it possible to increase the area of an upper surface of a key top of the ZL/ZR button and improve the operability of the ZL/ZR button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiyoshi Suetake, Hitoshi Tsuchiya, Takanori Okamura
  • Patent number: 11200782
    Abstract: A gaming device that initiates a series of game instances, and controls a display to display a multiplier meter that a) has a plurality of multiplier levels corresponding to respective ones of a sequence of multipliers applying to outcomes of the game instances and b) when a multiplier applies, indicates a current multiplier level. A processor initializes a designated symbol counter, the processor selects symbols for display for a game instance, evaluates the symbols displayed to identify any winning combinations of symbols, and for each winning combination determines an award amount, adds any awards to the win meter, increments the designated symbol counter by a number of designated symbols, changes the current multiplier level upon the designated symbol counter exceeding a defined threshold applying to a respective multiplier level, and updates the multiplier meter to indicate the current multiplier level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Eric Satterlie, Chantrelle Pryor, Paul Lombardo, Liam Sanders, Jason Meyer, Gary Penacho, Patrick Finch
  • Patent number: 11195375
    Abstract: An ecommerce platform, available via an interactive electronic resource, allows a user to purchase products and services from the resource, receive promotional-valued credits in return for the purchase, and play games to earn additional promotional-valued credits. The user can purchase products and services at the electronic resource with either or both of a government-issued legal tender, such as the U.S. dollar, or a virtual currency used by the electronic resource, such as the promotional-valued credits. In embodiments of the invention, the user is guaranteed that an amount of legal tender (e.g., the U.S. dollar) paid-in to the ecommerce platform is the same as or less than a fair market value of the products or services purchased via the ecommerce platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: 613 Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Barry Shore
  • Patent number: 11167209
    Abstract: A game controller including a first elastic cushion and a first handle is provided. The first handle includes a first port, a first operation interface, and a first affixing part. The first operation interface is electrically connected to the first port, the first affixing part is recessed in a side of the first handle, and the first port is disposed on the first affixing part. The first elastic cushion is disposed on the first affixing part, and the first elastic cushion is sleeved on a mobile device, so that the mobile device is affixed on the first affixing part of the first handle through the first elastic cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: DEXIN ELECTRONIC LTD., DEXIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ho-Lung Lu, Chin-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 11148062
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards implementing scene tagging. In particular, scene tagging is used to characterize user generated content associated with gameplay information associated with video games. Exemplary user generated content include video recordings or screenshots from within the video game that pertain to events that have occurred. Corresponding metadata would then be used to describe substantive aspects about the user-generated content such as details about where the recording or screenshot was taken, who was included in the user-generated content, and what objects are found in the user-generated content. The associated metadata would 1) allow users to search among various uploaded user generated content and 2) search within portions of those use-generated content for particular sub-sections of interest. Furthermore, the metadata associated with the user-generated content would allow viewers to experience the same events that were recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Yong, Hu Peng, Khoi-Nguyen Duc Do
  • Patent number: 11148060
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to enabling a user to access a game without registering for a platform account in implementations, if an unregistered user attempts to access a game supported by a gaming platform, a guest account may be automatically created for the user in response to receiving a request for the user to access the game. The guest account may enable the user to access the game without first registering with the gaming platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Ziqiang Xu
  • Patent number: 11130058
    Abstract: The present invention provides a game machine that is capable of utilizing movements of at least a part of the body of the player as play actions. A game machine provides a dance game that advises of a performance timing at which an action constituting a dance is to be executed, and, evaluates the actual performance timing of that. The game machine includes a camera which detects either a crouching action that causes the head of a player to move lower than a lower-limit position or a return movement that causes the head to move higher than an upper-limit position. The game machine advises of a timing at which such crouching action or the like is to be executed so that the crouching action or the like function as the actions of the dance, and, when such crouching action or the like is detected, evaluates the actual timing of that.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KONAMI AMUSEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Miki, Atsushi Usami, Masahiro Kiyomoto, Toyokazu Sakai, Rei Takano
  • Patent number: 11127247
    Abstract: A system which enables one or more events to be initiated via a gaming establishment device and concluded via one or more inputs received via a webpage accessed by a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Yongqiang Jin, Mo Fang, Xuan Liu
  • Patent number: 11123639
    Abstract: Techniques for improving a user video game experience are described. In an example, a computer system receives event data from a plurality of user devices. Each event data includes an identifier of an activity in a video game and data indicating completion of the activity. The identifier can be predefined in program code of the video game. The identifier and completion data can be received based on an execution of the program code. The event data is processed to determine a video game mechanic suggestion to help a player complete the activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Adil Ahmed Sherwani, Mischa G. Stephens, Xiaohan Zhang, Jay Robert Franck, Nitin Y. Mohan, Oscar Michael Sanchez, Derek Andrew Parker
  • Patent number: 11110344
    Abstract: An example information processing system includes a main unit, a first controller device and a second controller device. The main unit includes a display. The first controller device is configured to be removably attached to the main unit, and the first controller device transmits first operation data representing an operation performed on the first controller device to the main unit, irrespective of whether the first controller device is attached to the main unit. The second controller device is configured to be removably attached to the main unit, and the second controller device transmits second operation data representing an operation performed on the second controller device to the main unit, irrespective of whether the second controller device is attached to the main unit. The main unit displays, on the display, an execution result of an information process based on the first and the second operation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Koizumi, Yui Ehara, Munetaka Nishikawa, Kochi Kawai, Kenichi Mae
  • Patent number: 11097176
    Abstract: A basketball training apparatus includes a shot completion sensor, a condition sensor, and a computer. The shot completion sensor determines whether a shot goes through a basketball hoop. The condition sensor senses a physical condition of a basketball shooter. The computer is in communication with the shot completion sensor and the condition sensor, and has a processor for calculating shot completion percentage as a function of the physical condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Airborne Athletics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Brad Campbell, Jeffrey Jon Campbell
  • Patent number: 11083951
    Abstract: A system and method wherein ball spin rate and axis orientation are determined according to an electronic circuit that includes a magnetometer spin sensor module and, in the alternative, an electronic circuit that includes a spin sensor module with a plurality of accelerometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Diamond Kinetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Minmin Zhang, Jeremy Michael Rittenhouse, Michael J. Ressler, William Walker Clark
  • Patent number: 11071918
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for modifying the action of a computer game based upon information corresponding to a user. Information may include, but is not limited to, the health and social status of a user and current events. Information related to a particular game player is collected and mapped to moves, scenes and scoring algorithms corresponding to a game. If necessary, moves, scenes and scoring algorithms in the game are modified to accommodate the particular player based upon the collected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shadi E. Albouyeh, Bernadette A. Carter, Jon M. Harris, Tintin S. Soemargono
  • Patent number: 11071906
    Abstract: A swipe input mechanism for a computer-implemented game presented on a touchscreen allows for user-selection of different menu options by swipe gestures in different directions via a swipe menu dedicated to receiving such swipe input. In a third person shooter game or a first-person shooter game user-selection of different character abilities are enabled via the swipe menu. The swipe menu is a floating user interface element that auto-adjusts its on-screen position to register with the position of user touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hemby, Kevin Michael Adsett, Jameson Francis Thatcher