Patents Examined by Y Cherubin
  • Patent number: 6722986
    Abstract: A gaming machine is described in which all interested parties to a game program to run on the gaming machine, will digitally sign each piece of approved program prior to installation. These signatures are stored with the program on a mass storage device inside the gaming machine. When the machine needs to load a piece of program, or upon an external command after a significant event such as a jackpot payout, it will execute the SHA-1 program code in the EPROM on the program being loaded, and then perform a DSA verification operation using the SHA-1 output as one of the parameters. The DSA verification operation will be repeated for every digital signature stored with the program, and all must be valid, so that it is impossible to execute program code that has not been approved by the manufacturer, the jurisdictional authority and optionally the casino and/or other parties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Lyons, Robert Linley Muir
  • Patent number: 6695670
    Abstract: The invention teaches the combination of a common toy, the yo-yo, and an electronic hand-held game playing device. To date, these two areas have not been combined and certainly have not been interactive. Specifically, the invention consists of an electronic circuit embedded into the disk of a yo-yo such that typical yo-yo game playing interfaces with the electronic game. The electronic game may be the LCD-type games similar to current hand-held games with the exception that the player must use typical yo-yo game playing actions to play the LCD game. The electronic LCD game will utilize the LCD to display game results and graphics while the yo-yo sensor and switches will provide game input. In addition, the invention discloses electronic games based on audio sound effects, similar to current non-LCD electronic hand-held games with the exception that player must use typical yo-yo game playing to play the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventors: Robert W. Driscoll, Edward Wood, Peter Kristoffy
  • Patent number: 6682419
    Abstract: The present invention involves a gaming device with a primary game scheme which includes one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more secondary games. If the player reaches a win condition in one or more secondary games, the gaming device provides the player with an award. This type of game scheme adds excitement to bonus rounds and increases player entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bayard S. Webb, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 6682420
    Abstract: The present invention involves a gaming device with a primary game scheme which includes one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more secondary games. If the player reaches a win condition in one or more secondary games, the gaming device provides the player with an award. This type of game scheme adds excitement to bonus rounds and increases player entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bayard S. Webb, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 6666768
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking game of chance proceeds are provided. The invention includes a point of sale computer electronically communicating registered player purchase information to a sponsor computer. The invention further includes a sponsor computer calculating a registered player set aside based upon the registered player purchase information. The invention further includes the sponsor computer electronically communicating registered player set aside to an account manager with the account manager maintaining registered player account for the benefit of the registered player. The registered player accounts can be personal retirement accounts, medical savings accounts, real estate investment accounts, small business investment accounts and/or educational savings accounts. The invention further comprises methodologies and tools for facilitating game of chance proceed tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: David J. Akers
  • Patent number: 6659873
    Abstract: Data link-up between multiple game devices can be more flexibly achieved. A game system (1) comprises a game device for business (2) and a game device for use at home (3), which execute games in accordance with predetermined programs, it being possible to exchange information between these games devices, and the game device for business (2) comprises an information output device for outputting judgement information for judging whether predetermined conditions have been satisfied in the game device for business (2). The contents of the game executed on the game device for use at home (3) are changed based on the judgement information output from the game device for business (2). For example, when a predetermined game result has been achieved in the game device for business, the content of the judgement information is updated, and a hidden element appears in the game device for use at home (3) in correspondence therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignees: Konami Co., Ltd., Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyofumi Kitano, Kazuya Takahashi, Hirotaka Ishikawa, Akinori Tamura, Yasumi Takase, Takashi Nishibori, Kei Nagaoka, Yoshiko Wada, Yumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6659871
    Abstract: A wireless control unit includes a controller having wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information, and a console interface/adapter for converting one of the communication ports of the game console into a wireless receiver/transmitter. The console interface/adapter also includes an additional communication port so as to provide the user with access to the used communication port while the interface/adapter is operably disposed within the communication port of the game console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Arista Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan E. Leifer, Richard Leifer, Chi-Fu Peng
  • Patent number: 6650952
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to ensure that a threshold game result is possible. According to one embodiment, a game condition associated with a game of skill is established. The game of skill may be, for example, a puzzle game (e.g., a word puzzle game or a graphical puzzle game) or an arcade-style game. It is determined that at least one set of possible player inputs during game play will produce at least a threshold game result given the established game condition. The threshold game result may be associated with, for example, prizes provided to players based on game results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: V. Maximillian Garcia, Adrian Kunzle
  • Patent number: 6645073
    Abstract: Gaming terminals or systems with bonus prize or other prize features increasing user interest or entertainment are provided. In one aspect, a plurality of gaming terminals have their displays or other inputs coordinated with one another preferably to provide an impression of linked operation, particularly to provide an impression of increased likelihood of bonus or other prize award. In one embodiment, a bonus prize or feature involves movement among an ordered plurality of positions or stages without needing to forfeit all bonus prizes in the event of a non-bonus-symbol outcome in a main game. In one aspect, a plurality of bonus items are provided with a user being able to select only among a subgroup of the plurality of bonus items at any one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Steven C. Lemay, Andrea Hughs-Baird
  • Patent number: 6503144
    Abstract: A computer readable program product stores a program of a ball-playing type game which can smoothly express the continuous action of a player before and after a player obtains a ball when throwing the ball in any direction in accordance with operation of the user in the ball-playing game. An input operation of the user is accepted before the fielder receives the ball, a series of motions up to the fielder catching the ball and throwing it is judged in response to any input operation, and the motion is used to change the display up until the catching and throwing before the fielder catches the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiyu Rimoto, Tomoaki Yoshinobu
  • Patent number: 6478680
    Abstract: A CD-ROM which records a game program and movie data is used to display a movie on part of a face of a character appearing in a game. A predetermined face object is placed in a virtual three-dimensional space. A region of which expression should be changed within the face object is specified. An image data reading unit sequentially reads frame images of movie data representative of a change of expression of the region from the CD-ROM to an image data buffer unit. An image data transferring unit sequentially stores the frame images into a plurality of buffer areas included in a texture data buffer unit, while switching the buffer areas. A texture mapping unit sequentially maps the frame images sequentially stored in the buffer areas within the texture data buffer unit to the region as texture data, in parallel to the storing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Square, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yoshioka, Masashi Kouda, Tomohiko Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6471585
    Abstract: Input of a manipulation by a user is accepted before a player receives the ball. Upon occurrence of input of a manipulation, motion of the player including catching and throwing of the ball is determined in response to the input of the manipulation. By using the motion, transitions of display is made from a state before a catch of the ball by the player to a throw of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiyu Rimoto, Tomoaki Yoshinobu
  • Patent number: 6461241
    Abstract: The present invention involves a gaming device with a primary game scheme which includes one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more secondary games. If the player reaches a win condition in one or more secondary games, the gaming device provides the player with an award. This type of game scheme adds excitement to bonus rounds and increases player entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bayard S. Webb, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 6450888
    Abstract: Disclosed is a game system which matches a player's tastes. In a game system operating in time with music, it is possible to select an edit mode for editing timing data which define timings of operations. In the edit mode, an edit window having a predetermined display range is displayed on a screen of a display device in correspondence with information representing a position in a tune. Images in the edit window are scrolled so that the position of a target to be edited set inside the edit window moves forward and backward through the tune. When an operation is performed to provide marks, timing data for showing an operation timing of a control member provided in correspondence with the operation is provided at the position of the edit object in the edit window, and in addition, the timing data during editing is updated so that the position in the tune corresponding to the position of the edit object is defined as a operation timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignees: Konami Co., Ltd., Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumi Takase, Kei Nagaoka, Yumi Yoshida