Patents Examined by William H McCulloch, Jr.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11288922
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to managing rewards associated with use of a credit account and comprising receiving an electronic message indicating use of a credit account to make a purchase and indicating a value of the purchase. An accumulated rewards value comprising a portion available for wagering and a portion unavailable for wagering can be updated by incrementing the portion unavailable for wagering based on the value of the purchase. The portion unavailable for wagering can be decremented and the portion available for wagering can be incremented based on the value of the purchase. An electronic message indicating an amount of a wager placed by the user on a gaming event can be provided and the portion of the accumulated rewards value available for wagering can be decremented based on the amount of the wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, Jeffery Shepherd, Dwayne A. Davis
  • Patent number: 11282342
    Abstract: The present invention can provide a system and method for paramutual-style fantasy sports wagering and entertainment. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention can include a method for paramutual fantasy betting, the method comprising providing a bettor with a first plurality of players of a first player type, providing a bettor with a second plurality of players of a second player type, receiving a proposition from the bettor, wherein the proposition comprises a first player from the first plurality of players and a second player from the second plurality of players, receiving a wager amount from the bettor, receiving a paramutual bet for the proposition, calculating paramutual odds for the proposition, and determining a result for the bettor, wherein the result is based on the paramutual bet and the proposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: AG 18, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Koustas, John Mix, Xander Oxman
  • Patent number: 11266911
    Abstract: The technology described implements attestation programs that employ “code reuse” techniques. In particular, the technology relates to auto-generating attestation programs for, among other aspects, detecting whether a program has been modified. In one non-limiting example, the technology uses a tool that scans a software program (e.g., a video game) code for usable code sequences. The tool can automatically combine code sequences to generate a large number of attestation programs of different variety (e.g., memory checks, hashing).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: David Tran, Eugene Borisov, Tanner Stevens
  • Patent number: 11257325
    Abstract: Table-based gaming actions are disclosed where additional prizes or other gains can be awarded after spinning of a first reward determining wheel of chance by spinning of one or more further wheels of chance where the further spinnings are enabled by a previous spin outcome landing on an outcome selecting segment that awards a partial reward and also awards the spinning of the next successive wheel of chance. Each of the successive wheels of chance is different from the others such that a variety of reward possibilities is provided. For one embodiment, a bonus awarding segment of the first wheel has a highest probability of occurrence and a lowest initial payout value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: AGS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Price Pawlak, Eric Ivan Effros
  • Patent number: 11257323
    Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display device. The game controller is arranged to play a game in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display device. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize to a player. When a trigger condition occurs in a base game of the game, a bonus game feature is awarded comprising a series of bonus games. If a particular special symbol outcome occurs during any of the bonus games, the particular special symbol outcome is collected towards a jackpot prize awarding event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Scott Olive
  • Patent number: 11247122
    Abstract: A gaming device and a gaming device recognition method are provided. The method is applicable to an electronic device having an image capturing device, a storage device and a processor, and includes following steps. A captured image of the gaming device is captured by the image capturing device, wherein the gaming device includes a recognition code having anchor grids and recognition grids. Then, a first image is generated by performing image processing on the captured image, and the anchor grids of the first image are recognized. Next, a recognition template is decided according to the anchor grids, wherein the recognition template including code grids and grid numbers of each code grid. Finally, a filled status of each code grid is determined according to the first image, and a tag code corresponding to the recognition code is generated according to the filled status of each code grid and the grid numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Tseng, Kun-Hsuan Chang, Jung-Ming Hung, Che-Wei Liang
  • Patent number: 11250247
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including a control unit to generate play event information based on a determination whether detected behavior of a user is a predetermined play event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventors: Hideyuki Matsunaga, Kosei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11235224
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product algorithmically analyzes scoring data from a competitive event where the scoring, determined by a plurality of evaluators, is based on subjective criteria. The method receives, and/or determines a scale factor associated with each evaluator. The method adjusts scores awarded by each evaluator, based on respectively corresponding scale factors, to arrive at normalized scores. The method, thereby minimizes influences of biases associated with the evaluators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Natesan Venkateswaran, Jayapreetha Natesan, K. Paul Muller, Brian Robert Prasky, Chunming Lin
  • Patent number: 11224797
    Abstract: A word forming game assembly for entertainment includes a panel, which comprises an array of elements. Each element can selectively present a first view, a second view, and a third view to a player. An integer generating device randomly generates an integer and presents the integer to the player. The player is permitted to select a set of the elements from the array of elements, based on the integer, for presentation of the second view. The second view of each element comprises a subset of letters of an alphabet. The player can select one of the letters from the subset of letters for presentation in the third view. The selected ones of the letters from the sets of the letters are required to comprise a word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventor: Ariel Corpuz
  • Patent number: 11219821
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to computing device input systems. In one example, a computing device input system comprises an input configured to receive a connection to a control device connector comprising a plurality of conductors. The computing device input system further comprises circuitry configured to determine a presence, type, and state of a control device in communication with the control device connector based on analog voltages received from the control device connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: George William Bielitz, Ross Anthony Nelson, Sam Michael Sarmast
  • Patent number: 11213745
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conservation of bandwidth and improved user experience via enhanced streaming of video games. An example method includes receiving a request to remotely play a video game, the video game being executed by the system and streamed to a user device for presentation. The video game is executed, and rendered image frames are generated. Geometry data associated with the rendered image frames is generated, with the geometry data representing locations of geometric elements that form geometry utilized, by the video game, to generate the rendered image frames. The rendered image frames are encoded into a gameplay stream. A first stream comprising the encoded gameplay stream and a second stream comprising the geometry data are provided to the user device. The user device is configured to perform post-processing effects on the rendered image frames encoded in the gameplay stream prior to display on the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Max Burke
  • Patent number: 11207600
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards utilizing social engagement to generate gameplay resources and subsequently utilizing those gameplay resources for metagaming. The metagaming is carried out via a first party platform that tracks and integrates user gameplay information coming from a plurality of different video games associated with a plurality of users participating within the same video games. The first party platform gameplay information is used to affect the user's performance and progress within a separate game (i.e. Metagame) which in turn can be used to affect the progress and performance of video games associated with the first party platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Warren M. Benedetto, Landon Noss
  • Patent number: 11207589
    Abstract: A computer device configured to: (a) render a game level in which a game board comprises a plurality of user selectable game elements of at least two types; (b) detect that a user has caused two user selectable game elements of the same type to be removed; (c) execute a refill process to refill vacancies on the game board after the game elements have been removed; (d) detect that a user has attained at least one objective of the game level by causing removal of certain user selectable game elements after a refill process; (e) access from a store a first portion of an object to be rendered on the display, the first portion associated with the at least one objective of the game level; and (f) in an environment view, render the first portion of the object within a representation of the virtual environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventors: Miguel Navio, Marta Cortinas, Michele Airoldi
  • Patent number: 11207590
    Abstract: A video game controller can automatically operate as a video game controller with audio capability and a video game controller without audio capability based upon a signal received via a switch in communication with an audio jack of the video game controller when a headset is coupled to the audio jack. Connection of the headset to the controller automatically causes video game audio to be communicated from the video game console to the headset via the controller. The video game audio is communicated at a default volume level to the headset upon coupling of the headset to the video game controller. The volume level of the audio communicated to the headset can be adjustable up or down via a directional pad of the video game controller while an audio control button on the video game controller is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
    Inventors: Rene Trenado, Antonio Meneses
  • Patent number: 11192034
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining how much of a created character in a gaming platform is inherited from other characters are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mythical, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Koch, Jamie Jackson
  • Patent number: 11193739
    Abstract: An interactive target system including a first target assembly having a first target base operationally engaged with a first anchoring component, a first target surface rotatably engaged with, or fixed to, the first target base, a first spring adapted to bias the first target surface into the open position, a first electronics component having a first target GPS operationally engaged with the first target assembly, a first target strike status detector adapted to generate a first target strike count, and a first target electromagnetic signal transmitter and receiver, a first cooperating signal device having a first cooperating signal device GPS operationally engaged with the first cooperating signal device, a first cooperating signal device electromagnetic signal transmitter and receiver, a clock, and a first sound generator adapted to selectably generate a first notification sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventor: James Sarver
  • Patent number: 11185786
    Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that facilitates a performance of operations. The operations may include obtaining an identification of an action to monitor during a gameplay associated with a game, storing a representation of a sliding window of the gameplay in a first storage medium, monitoring, by the system, for the identification of the action during the gameplay, detecting the identification of the action during the gameplay responsive to the monitoring, and responsive to the detecting, storing the representation of the sliding window of the gameplay in a second storage medium that is different from the first storage medium. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Jeffrey Nicholas Mahlmeister, Thomas J. Panfil, Thane Kurt Woidan, Michael John Lelli, Joel Wood Hunsley, Jason Robert Christian, Tino Soelberg
  • Patent number: 11183009
    Abstract: An online gaming system allows players to select squares in a grid that corresponds to a game. The game includes two teams. One team is assigned to the rows of the grid and the other team is assigned to the columns. Numbers are randomly assigned to each row and each column such that each square is uniquely located according the random numbers based on the row and the column. During the game, a payout event occurs such that the scores for each team are used to identify a corresponding row and corresponding column. A winning square is identified using the row and column corresponding the scores. The player having the winning square automatically receives a prize or winnings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Matthew Vilardo