Patents Examined by Tramar Harper
  • Patent number: 11065535
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing device that provides an operation signal of an analog stick to a game, including: a conversion processing unit configured to convert a detection value obtained by detection of a movement of a controller into an analog stick signal; and an output processing unit configured to provide the analog stick signal obtained by the conversion to the game. The conversion processing unit includes a first calculation unit configured to calculate a first signal from a detected angular velocity, a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second signal according to a deviation amount between a direction in which the controller is directed and a reference direction, an addition unit configured to add the first signal and the second signal to generate a motion operation signal, and an analog stick signal generation unit configured to generate an analog stick signal from the motion operation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takanori Minamino, Yoshiyuki Imada, Kenzo Nishikawa, Dean Sofer
  • Patent number: 11058937
    Abstract: A golf aid system for assisting a user with a golf shot on a golf course includes a user tracking system configured to determine the location of the user on the golf course, a portable electronic device with a display screen, and a processor. The processor, which is operable to communicate with the user tracking system and the portable electronic device, is configured to determine one or more target locations on the golf course, with each of the target locations representing a recommended target for a respective one of the golf clubs. The processor directs the portable electronic device to display an indicator of the respective golf club proximate the corresponding target location via the display screen, such that the user perceives at least a portion of the indicator to be coincident with the corresponding one of the target locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Leech
  • Patent number: 11055968
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a controller. The operation unit receives an operation of the player. The display unit displays a primary game and a feature. The controller establishes an outcome of the primary game and establishes a primary game award. The controller establishes a base feature award as a function of the primary game award, sets a feature trigger award equal to a multiple of the base feature award and provides the game feature to the player in response to detecting a trigger condition. The game feature includes a number of free plays. For each free play, the controller establishes an outcome of the free play, detects a second trigger condition and responsively awards the feature trigger award to the player and sets the feature trigger award to another multiple of the base feature award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11049368
    Abstract: A gaming machine having an electronic display which displays a plurality of empty drinking cups. A game controller causes the display of a ball and its movement toward and into one of the empty cups. A game play mechanism allows the player to direct the movement of the ball. If the player is successful in movement of a ball into a cup, the cup and the ball is then removed from the display. During play of the game, an amount of sobriety is determined in accord with the number of cups removed by the player. In accordance with the amount of sobriety determined, the cups are displayed in wobbling movement in order to give amusement to the game as well as difficulty in the play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: T. Grant Bolling, Jr., Kurt Larsen, C′era Oliveira, Joseph Masinter
  • Patent number: 11045726
    Abstract: A system includes a display device including a display surface configured to display a graphic and including an opening. The system also includes a peripheral device mounted within the opening of the display surface, and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory device, which when executed, cause the processor to at least: display the graphic on the display surface of the display device adjacent to the peripheral device, whereby the graphic is displayed at least partially in association with the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Hennessy, Ryan Cuddy, Jason Todd Sprinkle, Paul W. Mellender
  • Patent number: 11040254
    Abstract: The GPS-locating sports ball comprises a ball, a locating circuit, and software. The locating circuit may determine one or more physical parameters of the ball. As a non-limiting example, the ball may be a golf ball, a tennis ball, a baseball, a softball, or a bowling ball. The locating circuit may communicate the one or more physical parameters to the software running on a smart device. The software may be operable to assist in locating a lost ball and in monitoring improvements in athletic performance based upon an analysis of the one or more physical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Hill
  • Patent number: 11037371
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing the sensory stimulus generated by a head mounted display (HMD). One method includes identifying a game state of a game being executed for a current session by a computer for display on a head mounted display (HMD) for a user. Then, determining a game intensity value for said game state based on user intensity feedback received from one or more prior gaming sessions by users. The user intensity feedback describes levels of sensory stimulus obtained from the users during user play of the game via an HMD of the respective users, and the determined game intensity value is calculated by analysis of the levels of sensory stimulus received from the users. Processing the game intensity value to cause a higher rendering priority to a viewpoint of the user's gaze than regions outside of the viewpoint. The viewpoint is a portion of the display of the HMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaodong Mao
  • Patent number: 11033818
    Abstract: A method for providing a close-range battle royale game in which a permitted number of players and a permitted area in a game map are determined dynamically is provided. The method includes steps of: a game server (a) (i) determining a permitted number of the players by using a first algorithm, and (ii) determining specific users as specific players by referring to a specific counted number of the specific users during waiting time; (b) (i) selecting a set of coordinates for a base point in a permitted area by using a second algorithm, (ii) determining a size by referring to the permitted number, and (iii) determining the permitted area by referring to the set of the coordinates and the size; and (c) at least one of allowing the specific players to view the permitted area and determining starting positions of the specific players by referring to the permitted area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: WONDER PEOPLE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Hur
  • Patent number: 11027199
    Abstract: Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide systems and methods for configuring and connecting a controller to a game streaming service. The system includes a plurality of input controls and a network controller configured for communicating with a game streaming service. The system further includes a processor coupled to the plurality of input controls and the network controller. The processor is configured communicate with the game streaming service to login to a game streaming service account and communicate input from the plurality of controls to the game streaming service. The system further includes a power source configured to provide power to the plurality of input controls, the network controller, and the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Holmes
  • Patent number: 11030847
    Abstract: A gaming system including a housing and a reel assembly supported by the housing, the reel assembly including a frame, a plurality of individually rotatable reels supported by the frame, and one or more supplemental image displays supported by the frame and associated with the rotatable reels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Tai Rosander, Allan C. Snippen
  • Patent number: 11024119
    Abstract: Method (300) and control unit (6) for monitoring shuffle quality of cards (4) during a card game. The method (300) comprises: identifying (301) each card (4) of a first round of cards; storing (302) a first sequence of the identified (301) cards (4) of the first round of cards, in the order they are discarded; identifying (303) each card (4) of a second round of cards (4), after shuffling but before being provided to one or more players; storing (304) a second sequence of the identified (303) cards (4) of the second round of cards, in the order they are provided to the one or more players; comparing (305) the stored (302) first sequence of cards (4) with the stored (304) second sequence of cards (4); detecting (306) a predetermined pattern in the second sequence of cards (4), originating from the first sequence of cards (4); and providing (307) an alert (8) when the predetermined pattern is detected (306) in the second sequence of cards (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Janis Krastin{hacek over (s)}, Tania Johannisone-Melkvista, Sne{hacek over (z)}ana Lipovska
  • Patent number: 11017639
    Abstract: Method and system for playing a poker game that comprises receiving a wager from a player for a hand. Cards a dealt from a deck of cards either in an entirely face-up or entirely face down position. The player progressively selects cards from one or more sets of selection cards. Any selection cards that are not selected are removed. After the hand is completed, a ranking for the player's hand is determined. The player is paid an amount based on the ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua Hanson
  • Patent number: 10994182
    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: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Airborne Athletics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Brad Campbell, Jeffrey Jon Campbell
  • Patent number: 10987582
    Abstract: An online game is provided to users via client computing devices. Gameplay metrics are determined for users of the online game based on actions taken by the users in the online game. Secondary games are provided, where the potential awards provided by the secondary games are determined based on the gameplay metrics of the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Wei, Kevin Lee, Jay Jodway, David McNeill, Devin Nambiar
  • Patent number: 10987595
    Abstract: A videogame services platform may include a streaming component that streams audio and video of gameplay performed on a first client device. The platform may identify content present in the stream and provide notification, to a broadcaster portal, that content present in the stream is available for purchase. An identifier of the content may be mapped to a stock keeping unit for a product containing the content. The product may be acquired using the stock keeping unit. The second client device may be updated to make the content available and authorized for use in gameplay on the second client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Simon, Xiaolin Cui, Alfred Yong-Hock Tan, Emmett Shear
  • Patent number: 10974133
    Abstract: A gaming platform including a programmable hand-held video gaming controller in electrical communication with an integrated foot-pedal gaming controller. The programmable hand-held video gaming controller including, at least one game function activation area, each of the at least one game function activation areas operating a game function, each of the at least one game function activation areas further including a function control transfer switch. The integrated foot-pedal gaming controller platform including at least one foot pedal configured to control at least one game function when a corresponding function control transfer switch on the programmable hand-held video gaining controller is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: John E Fahmie
  • Patent number: 10967279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for creating an environment. More precisely, the present invention relates to a system for creating an environment that includes a server, at least one mobile element, a projection system that includes a plurality of projectors capable of projecting partial images which form an overall image, and a locating system that includes a plurality of sensors capable of detecting whether the mobile element is within its capture cone. The server determines, as a function of the information that it receives from the mobile element and from the locating system, information to be sent to the mobile element and to the projection system, so as to modify the environment perceived by a pilot of the mobile element and of potential spectators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: BATTLEKART EUROPE
    Inventors: Sébastien Millecam, Ludovic Lucas
  • Patent number: 10970958
    Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit receives an operation of a player. The display unit displays a rotating selector device including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a column and a plurality of rows. A reel strip having a plurality of segments is associated with the column. Each segment has a plurality of segment symbol positions. Each segment symbol position having an associated symbol. During a game, the control unit displays and rotates the selector device and establishes a stop segment based on the timing of player input. The control unit select a symbol position of the stop segment to establish an outcome of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Yuji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10960296
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus that provides an operation signal of an input part of a controller to a game. The information processing apparatus includes an acquisition part configured to acquire a detected value of a motion of the controller, a conversion processing part configured to convert the acquired detected value to the operation signal of the input part of the controller, and an output processing part configured to provide the converted operation signal to the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takanori Minamino, Yoshiyuki Imada, Kenzo Nishikawa, Dean Sofer
  • Patent number: 10953314
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for intelligent game systems for putting intelligence into board and tabletop games including miniatures are disclosed. An intelligent game system comprises one or more sensors, a controller, and a projector, the sensors each having an identifer. The sensors obtain object information from intelligent game piece objects and transfer the object information to a controller where it is associated with a sensor identifier and the sensor identifier is associated with a corresponding portion of an image. The controller interacts with the intelligent game piece objects, for managing game play, and for preparing and transferring a changing image to a projector. Intelligent game piece object features are disclosed, as well as methods of initializing a system for use with the intelligent game piece objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Tweedletech, LLC
    Inventors: Michel Martin Maharbiz, Steve Jaqua