Patents Examined by Yveste Cherubin
  • Patent number: 6913536
    Abstract: Game machines automatically change the difficulty level of the game operation in the middle of the game based on an evaluation made on a player's game operation. A game machine determines, at least in terms of timing and type, whether the player's inputted button operation matches with the button operation designated by the game. If there is a match, the game machine determines it as an operation success. If not, the game machine determines it as an operation error. Based on the degree of operation success or operation error, the game machine dynamically changes the difficulty level of the game operation in the middle of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Tomizawa, Nobuo Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 6896620
    Abstract: A lockable security cabinet for game controllers of the type used to operate electronic slot and card games in gambling casinos. The cabinet includes multiple key locking doors and key operated control switches to allow access to specific areas and controls of a main cabinet thereof housing the computers and other electronics only by authorized persons having the proper key for reach particular area or control switch. The cabinet is slidably mounted to a locking base which bolts into a recess in a gaming table allowing the main cabinet to also be recessed therein yet slide out in a cantilevered fashion to access the doors and controls. The base includes a side or rear cable locking enclosure allowing access to and disconnecting of ends of cables connected to the game controller only upon unlocking of the base and outward sliding of the main cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Michael Souza, Kurt W. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6872141
    Abstract: A crawler driving apparatus and a game apparatus in which a storage battery mounted on a crawler is charged with electricity in a state that the crawler is adjacent to or not separated from a runway surface. In the crawler driving apparatus, the crawler 50 has a storage battery to self run by electric power of the storage battery, a charger 70 is disposed at a stand-by position of the crawler, and the storage battery is charged with electricity by the charger in a state that the crawler is not separated from a runway surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6869362
    Abstract: A method according to some embodiments of the present invention provides for a game server to receive policy requirements of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy from a terminal. The game server determines a premium amount based on the policy requirements of the user and transmits information concerning the premium amount to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Stephen C. Tulley, Michael D. Downs
  • Patent number: 6860814
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus for presenting a wager-type game comprises a cabinet and a door connected to the cabinet, the door moveable between a first position and a second position. In its first position, the door cooperates with the cabinet to define a generally closed interior space. In its second position, the door permits access to the interior space. The door has an opening therein. A relatively thin video display is mounted to an inside of the door in alignment with the opening therein. The use of the video display and its mounting permits the depth of the cabinet to be substantially reduced. In one embodiment, the width of the cabinet exceeds its depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Patent Rights Protection Group, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Cole
  • Patent number: 6852034
    Abstract: A game production is effected by utilization of a ringing melody registered in a portable terminal apparatus. With reference to a fruit image table (152), a processing section (110) fetches a fruit image corresponding to a ringing melody number assigned to a ringing melody which has been selected previously in accordance with an instruction. The thus-fetched fruit image is provided within a background image (1200) in a step (S1406). Accordingly, the processing section (110) displays the fruit corresponding to the selected ringing melody within a game screen. A production of an image can be controlled in accordance with the selected ringing melody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Konami Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Nagata, Shigeru Fukutake
  • Patent number: 6848996
    Abstract: The present invention involves a gaming device which includes in data storage at least one primary sound file, at least one variant sound file which is a variation of the primary sound file and at least one player input event associated with the variant sound file. When a predetermined event occurs, the gaming device plays the primary sound file, and when the player makes a predetermined input, the gaming device plays the variant sound file and stops playing the primary sound file. The present invention provides gaming devices with enhanced sound and music capabilities, adding to a gaming device player's enjoyment and entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William L. Hecht, Kristopher E. Landrum
  • Patent number: 6811486
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining player's enhanced game play state in a gaming environment is disclosed. In particular, the player may restore enhanced game play states from previously played games either from the same game device or from another game device, the enhanced game play states typically being enhancements to casino games and including reel nudges, alternate pay table use, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventor: Robert Anthony Luciano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6805634
    Abstract: Memories coupled to a gaming terminal, are reprogrammed by a method and apparatus which includes identification, negotiation, downloading and verification information from an external information source to a gaming terminal. Hardware devices are used to identify gaming terminals or components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bill Wells, Richard Wilder
  • Patent number: 6800027
    Abstract: A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Giobbi, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 6793580
    Abstract: A method for providing an interface to and customizing an interactive application for one or more players. The interactive game of the presently preferred embodiment is played in a wireless environment using a mobile station as a user interface. Data related to activity of the space without the virtual space is collected storing the user-profile data and applied to activity in the virtual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Frazer Sinclair, Paul David Schulz, Kenneth Bo Larsen
  • Patent number: 6764402
    Abstract: An image-display game system which can attract players for a long time to play a game can be implemented by presenting helping data of a0 to a63, and b1 to b5 beneficial in the course of a game to friends, and accordingly communications accompanying therewith can be stimulated and activated thereamong, and the game can be effectively utilized as a communications tool. Such image-display game system is so structured that the players' ID data IDn is communicable or exchangeable therein. With the other player's ID received, items beneficial in the course of the game or the helping data of 10 to 163, and b1 to b5 is generated based on the ID data, and is presented to the player. As a result, exchanging of the ID data IDn is activated among the players. The items presented based on the ID data IDn are determined by operating the ID data using an equation in FIG. 17 which is based on a predetermined rule, or in an operation processing by combining the ID data IDn and a random number R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Game Freak Inc., Creatures Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tajiri, Tsunekazu Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6758757
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining player's game state (award credits, partial award states, and non-award or non-credit states) in a gaming environment is disclosed. In particular, the player may restore the game state from previously played games either from the same game device or from another game device. The invention also provides for award redemption of the award credits (or game pieces) earned by a player during game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Luciano, Jr., Robert William Crowder, Russ Frederick Marsden
  • Patent number: 6743104
    Abstract: A game cartridge is provided for use with a portable game machine having a processing system to execute a video game program and player controls operable by a player to generate video game control signals. The game cartridge includes a housing, a game memory for storing a video game program executable by the processing system, and electrical contacts that, in use, electrically connect the game cartridge to the processing system. The game cartridge also includes a vibration source for vibrating the housing and a driving circuit responsive to instructions from the processing system for controlling the vibration source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Ota, Tetsuya Mominoki
  • Patent number: 6733389
    Abstract: A gaming device with a first game scheme which includes one or more symbol generators and one or more second games. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more second games. If the player reaches a win condition in one or more second games, the gaming device provides the player with an award. If the symbol generator generates one or more termination symbols, the first game is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bayard S. Webb, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 6725107
    Abstract: An electronic scorekeeping device is disclosed which allows a user to electronically document data relating to events of a sports game. This data is transferred in real-time in a system according to the invention via a communications means to a central database. The central database may be coupled to a server computer which presents a web site whereby public users may access statistical information relating to a given sports game while the game is still in progress, as well as at and following the conclusion of the game. The web site may present archives of previously played games, and access thereto may be restricted by the use of a username and/or password. The data transfer to the database may be a live feed, or automatic transfers may be scheduled at predetermined time intervals. The device itself is customizable such that the data being gathered can be tailored to suit the specific sport being played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hockeyline Inc.
    Inventor: Ray MacPherson
  • Patent number: 6679777
    Abstract: A method of playing an interactive, computerized, multi-player card game in which desired cards are selected by players, some of which may be virtual players generated by the game's software. Each real player uses a computer or similar device that is connected to a network. Virtual player card selection and betting is controlled by computer software. After each player has selected a card in a round, computer software determines what card each player is dealt. Null cards having no value in the scoring are dealt when there is a conflict in card selection or when a player fails to select a card within a time limit. The games follow the rules of poker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Thwartpoker Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur M. Pfeiffer, Daniel Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 6648756
    Abstract: In connection with a game of chance in which numbers are selected, a player may wager that the lowest of the selected numbers may be a “high” number or the highest of the selected numbers may be a “low” number. If the player has correctly wagered on the “high” number or the “low” number, the player receives a payout with the amount of payout varying depending on how low the “high” number is or on how high the “low” number is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Ernest W. Moody
  • Patent number: 6644664
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a controller for controlling operation of a game played on the gaming machine. A display is provided on which a game played under the control of the controller is displayed, the game displayed on the display comprising a plurality of polyhedral elements, each of which has a plurality of faces with a predetermined indicium being carried on at least one face of each element. The elements are rotatable, when the game is played, about at least one axis to bring certain faces into view, the rest positions of the faces and the indicia carried on visible faces of the polyhedral elements being amongst the determining conditions as to whether or not a winning result has been achieved in the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Linley Muir, Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Jane Bryant
  • Patent number: 6641483
    Abstract: A lockable security cabinet for game controllers of the type used to operate electronic slot and card games in gambling casinos. The cabinet includes multiple key locking doors and key operated control switches to allow access to specific areas and controls of a main cabinet thereof housing the computers and other electronics only by authorized persons having the proper key for reach particular area or control switch. The cabinet is slidably mounted to a locking base which bolts into a recess in a gaming table allowing the main cabinet to also be recessed therein yet slide out in a cantilevered fashion to access the doors and controls. The base includes a side or rear cable locking enclosure allowing access to and disconnecting of ends of cables connected to the game controller only upon unlocking of the base and outward sliding of the main cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Michael Souza, Kurt W. Spencer