Patents Examined by William H McCulloch, Jr.
  • High speed scan-out of server display buffer for cloud gaming applications
    Patent number: 11395963
    Abstract: A method for cloud gaming. The method including generating a video frame when executing a video game at a server, wherein the video frame is stored in a frame buffer. The method including determining a maximum pixel clock for a chip-set including a scan-out block. The method including determining a frame rate setting based on the maximum pixel clock and an image size of a target display of a client. The method including determining a speed setting value for the chip-set. The method including scanning the video frame into the scan-out block from the frame buffer. The method including scanning-out the video frame from the scan-out block to the encoder at the speed setting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Roelof Roderick Colenbrander, Mark E. Cerny
  • Virtual reality controller
    Patent number: 11395962
    Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) controller includes a handle, a side housing, and a switch. The side housing has a fixed portion and a flexible portion. The fixed portion is fixed to the handle, and a contour of the side housing extending toward the handle conforms to a shape of a palm. The switch is disposed between the handle and the side housing. The flexible portion is deformed to trigger the switch when the handle and the side housing are held and a force is applied to the flexible portion relative to the handle. In other words, the flexible portion abutting against the palm is deformed to trigger the switch when the handle and the side housing are held and a force is applied, relative to the flexible portion, to one side of the handle far away from the flexible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Jui-Hsiang Lin, Chang-Hua Wei, Shih-Hsiu Lee
  • Virtual pet system
    Patent number: 11389735
    Abstract: A virtual pet breeding system that allows users of the game to buy virtual pets for their account which can be bred to obtain or generate new virtual pets (offspring) that are added to the user's account, wherein at least some of the offspring can materialize into a physical toy or object for the user to enjoy in the real world. In particular, some virtual offspring will be paired with a redemption code which allows the user to order and/or receive a real world/physical item resembling the virtual offspring that was produced from the virtual breeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ganz
    Inventors: Howard Ganz, Karl Joseph Borst
  • Non-transitory computer-readable medium, device, and method for image generation
    Patent number: 11389724
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores an image generation program to perform a method. The method includes determining, in a scene including a timing of a hit of an attack in a battle between characters in a game space, the timing of the hit, and a predetermined portion of a predetermined character and an opponent portion of an opponent character in the battle where the hit will occur, from the predetermined character, the opponent character, and animation data that causes at least the opponent character to perform an action of the battle; calculating a vector from the predetermined portion to the opponent portion at the hit timing; and generating an image of the scene by moving a position of the opponent portion in each frame included in the scene by using the vector such that the opponent portion hits the predetermined portion at the hit timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuishin Takafuji, Junpei Tsuda
  • Systems and methods for game profile development based on virtual and/or real activities
    Patent number: 11389730
    Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate game profile development based on virtual and real activities of users are described herein. A user may perform virtual and/or real activities in order to develop a game profile so that the user can play one or more games where the game profile may be implemented. Users may be motivated to perform the virtual and/or real activities to develop the game profiles and show off and/or test their developed game profiles. The one or more games where the game profile may be implemented may be specific to one or more geo-graphic locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Jonathan R. Hsu, Corey D. Drake, Tritia Medrano
  • Experiencing a virtual object at a plurality of sizes
    Patent number: 11386872
    Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for experiencing a virtual object at a plurality of sizes. During an AR session, the virtual object can created at a first size based upon a first scale (e.g., miniature, tabletop size). Once created, information regarding the virtual object can be stored. Thereafter, the virtual object can be displayed in an AR session at a second size based upon a second scale (e.g., full size or life size). In some embodiments, functionality of at least portion(s) of the virtual object are different when experienced in an AR session at the second size than when experienced in an AR session at the first size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Matthew Cahill, Torfi Frans Olafsson, Jesse Dylan Merriam, Michael Meincke Persson, Bradley Reid Shuber
  • Dynamically configurable wager-based gaming device supporting skill-affected payout configurations and chance-based payout configurations
    Patent number: 11386754
    Abstract: Various aspects described here are directed to dynamically configurable, electronic wager-based gaming devices supporting skill-affected payout configurations and chance-based payout configurations of skill-based, wager-based game titles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: AKKADIAN ENTERPRISES
    Inventors: Georg M Washington, Michael M Oberberger
  • Adjudicating fault in a virtual simulation environment
    Patent number: 11376502
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for adjudicating incidents between players within a simulation environment (e.g., a gaming environment). For example, systems disclosed herein involve training an adjudication model trained to evaluate player data from a plurality of player states over time to determine whether one or more players are at fault for an identified incident within the simulation environment. The systems disclosed herein can maintain a dynamic circular buffer that provides a snapshot of the player data over a predetermined period of time and which provides a scalable and computationally efficient mechanism for evaluating player data for multiple players to determine whether one or more players are violating rules within the simulation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Devin Leslie Carraway, Dan Reuben Weisman, Rob Martin Neir, Michael Grodin, Mera Belay Tegene
  • Apparatus for use in a virtual reality system
    Patent number: 11379054
    Abstract: A virtual reality system is described herein. The virtual reality system includes a cane controller and a computing system. The cane controller comprises a rod, a sensor, and a brake mechanism, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a signal that is indicative of position, direction of movement, and velocity of the rod, and wherein the brake mechanism is configured to apply a force to the rod. The computing system receives the signal, computes a position, direction of movement, and velocity of a virtual rod in a virtual space, and outputs a control signal to the brake mechanism based upon such computation. The brake mechanism applies the force to the rod in a direction and with a magnitude indicated in the control signal, thereby preventing the user from causing the virtual rod to penetrate a virtual barrier in the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Cutrell, Christian Holz, Hrvoje Benko, Michael J. Sinclair, Meredith June Morris, Yuhang Zhao, Cynthia Lynn Bennett
  • Game of chance display
    Patent number: 11361610
    Abstract: In various embodiments player may participate in gaming related activities using a terminal with multiple display screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Dean P. Alderucci, Geoffrey M. Gelman
  • Method and system for virtual fitness training and tracking devices
    Patent number: 11351420
    Abstract: A machine implemented method and system, including: transmitting one or more credentials of a user account from a user device to an exercise management system (EMS) having a processor and one or more sensors, where the EMS is disposed on an exercise equipment disposed in a selected at least one fitness center and the exercise equipment is part of a selected at least one exercise plan; transmitting the one or more credentials of the user account from the EMS to a cloud server having a processor; transmitting the selected at least one exercise plan for the new user account from the cloud server to the EMS; transmitting an exercise equipment information from the EMS; forming a user exercise data by the EMS for the exercise equipment based on data received from the one or more sensors; and transmitting an exercise feedback from the EMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SMARTWEIGHTS, INC.
    Inventor: Praveen Kashyap
  • Skill-based, short-term fantasy sports method and system with game theory input
    Patent number: 11351465
    Abstract: A method of executing a sports fantasy wagering event among multiple players executed through player terminals to one or more servers, each of the player terminals comprising: one or more processors; player input controls; a communications component to connect the player terminal to a gaming platform running on the one or more servers; wherein the sports fantasy event is a single player game competing against multiple other single players that is dependent upon verifiable sports event outcomes in sports events; the one or more servers generate an amended point outcome based on reducing numbers of points awarded to each of the multiple players inversely based on numbers of the players having selected any identical performance; and 2 players to 10% of players make a side bet to enter a secondary sports fantasy wagering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Mark A. Litman
  • Scene change hint and client bandwidth used at encoder for handling video frames after a scene change in cloud gaming applications
    Patent number: 11344799
    Abstract: A method for cloud gaming including generating video frames when executing a video game at a cloud gaming server. The method including predicting a scene change for a first video frame for the video game, wherein the scene change is predicted before the first video frame is generated. The method including generating a scene change hint that the first video frame is a scene change. The method including sending the scene change hint to the encoder. The method including delivering the first video frame to an encoder, wherein the first video frame is encoded as an I-frame based on the scene change hint. The method including measuring a maximum receive bandwidth of a client. The method including determining whether to encode or not encode a second video frame received at the encoder based on the maximum receive bandwidth of the client and a target resolution of a client display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Kelvin M. Yong
  • Game pad holder for virtual reality video games, comprising a mechanical force feedback device
    Patent number: 11325030
    Abstract: A game pad holder for video games adapted to simulate a weapon, the holder has a mechanical force feedback device designed to simulate the recoil of the weapon at the moment of a trigger pressure during a game event, and the force feedback device includes: a casing in the form of a butt in physical contact with a zone of the body of the player, a firing pin forming a physical contact with the zone of the body of the player, and the firing pin is mounted mobile in the casing between: a folding position, and an advanced position to impact the zone of the body of the player. The device further includes a spring element, an actuator and an electronic management unit so that only pressure exerted on the firing pin the player allows to make the firing pin to pass from an advanced position to the folding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PROTUBEVR
    Inventor: Romain Armand
  • Technique for online video-gaming with sports equipment
    Patent number: 11318377
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in an Internet-of-Things (IoT) system are presented. A method performed by a network node in an Internet-of-Things (IoT) system is presenting in an example embodiment. According to this example method, a network node or a plurality of network nodes working collaboratively can obtain data captured by one or more IoT devices and associated with an interactive activity with which different participants interface at different sites. Furthermore, the network node(s) may determine a state of the activity by applying the data to a data model. Moreover, the network node(s) can, in an example method, provide one or more feedback signals to feedback devices associated with one or more of the different sites to actualize the determined state of the activity, where at least two of the different sites have disparate, meaning non-identical, feedback device sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: István Gódor, Gabor Feher, Andras Balazs Lajtha, László Toka, Attila Vidacs
  • Game trend display system
    Patent number: 11321991
    Abstract: A system for providing a gaming trend display at a gaming table comprising a processing device, memory and a display device for displaying historical Baccarat game outcomes in one or more predefined formats stored in memory, the systems and methods comprising a data communication device for detecting a new game outcome, the processing device converting the new game outcome for display in the one or more predefined formats on the display device and responsive to updating the display device with the new game outcome, activating the display of an illustrative game outcome in the one or more predefined formats, wherein the illustrative game outcome has the display characteristics of being visually distinguishable from the historical game outcomes, and wherein the illustrative game outcome display is deactivated responsive to receiving a new game outcome detected by the data communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: He Lin
  • Method and systems for reducing risk in setting odds for single fixed in-play propositions utilizing real time input
    Patent number: 11308765
    Abstract: A skill game operator provides real time propositions to a viewing audience, and based on the input received from those propositions, comparable In-Play wagering propositions are able to be generated, and the odds of the In-Play propositions are able to be accurately adjusted based on the actual input received from the same participating audience the skill game operator's responses to the same propositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Winview, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Lockton, Kathy A. Lockton
  • Gaming system and method with wagering and non-wagering payments to participate in a game of skill
    Patent number: 11308770
    Abstract: Systems and methods which operate in at least two modes, such as an arcade mode and a hybrid arcade/wagering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Cameron A. Filipour
  • Methods for social monetary giving in the gaming environment
    Patent number: 11302150
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a gaming system conducting a streaming session with a plurality of viewer systems through a streaming system. Conducting of the streaming session can comprise receiving media content from a plurality of input devices and providing the media content and game play information of a gambling event to the streaming system. During the streaming session, an indication of an action by a user of one of the viewer systems and indicating a transfer of value from the user of the one of the viewer systems to a participant in the gambling event associated with the gaming system can be received. An indication of the action by the user of the one of the viewer systems can be provided to the participant in the gambling event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne Nelson, Cameron Filipour, Kevin Higgins
  • Information processor and recording medium
    Patent number: 11295580
    Abstract: Apparatuses such as an information processor, with which the winning probability of a specific payout at a predetermined timing is easily increased when there are many types of payouts. A server which executes a slot game in which a payout is awarded based on a randomly determined symbol combination includes a controller which is programmed to execute the processes of: a) accepting the use of a GIGA WIN confirmation item with which the probability of rearrangement of a symbol combination corresponding to a payout of “GIGA WIN” among plural symbol combinations is increased; and b) when the GIGA WIN confirmation item is used, displaying the symbol combination corresponding to the payout of “GIGA WIN” and awarding the payout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Oyama, Toshikazu Jinnouchi