Patents by Inventor David McNeill

David McNeill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10398981
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating chance-based in-game virtual item distribution in a video game. A mini-game interface presents a mini-game to a user that has committed to a battle. Prior to instigation of the battle the user participates in a chance-based mini-game that determines awards to be distributed to the user from a set of potential awards. Benefits associated with a determined award are applied to a game entity included in a battle which is to follow the mini-game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Albert Wei, David McNeill, Kevin Lee
  • Publication number: 20190255447
    Abstract: A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Bryan Tsao, John Kim, David McNeill, Albert Wei, Christopher Yu, Kevin Chanthasiriphan
  • Publication number: 20190232163
    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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Albert Wei, Kevin Lee, Jay Jodway, David McNeill, Devin Nambiar
  • Patent number: 10346563
    Abstract: A method comprises: transmitting, to a server, a request for performance metrics of a utility system; receiving, from the server, the performance metrics; creating a design for a power distribution system based on the performance metrics; obtaining components for the power distribution system based on the design; and installing the components to implement the design. A system comprises: a database server configured to: receive documents associated with components of a utility system, extract equipment rating information from the documents, and store the equipment rating information in a usable form in a database; and a model computer coupled to the database server and configured to: receive the equipment rating information from the database server, create a utility system model based on the equipment rating information, and determine short-circuit parameters for nodes associated with customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David McNeill Reese
  • Patent number: 10286301
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating game action time requirement suspension in an online game are disclosed. Instances of time requirement suspension items may be offered for purchase in an online store associated with the online game. A given time requirement suspension item may be configured to reduce time requirements (e.g., wait-period) for game actions requested by a player during a corresponding time period subsequent to the activation of the instance of the requirement suspension item by the player. The player may activate a purchased instance of the requirement suspension item in the online game to reduce the time requirements for the game actions requested by the player during the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: John Kim, David McNeill, Albert Wei, Christopher Yu
  • Patent number: 10279271
    Abstract: A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Tsao, John Kim, David McNeill, Albert Wei, Christopher Yu, Kevin Chanthasiriphan
  • Patent number: 10279258
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to facilitating presentation of a combination of virtual units as a single entity during a battle in an online game. A user may be in control of and/or be associated with a first set of virtual units in the game space of the online game. Some of the virtual units of the user may be involved in a battle facilitated in the game space. A plurality of the virtual units controlled by and/or associated with the user may be combined as a single virtual entity, such that the plurality of virtual units is portrayed in the view of the game space of the online game as the single virtual entity. The attributes of the single virtual entity in the game space may be dictated by the collective set of attributes of the respective virtual units of the plurality of virtual units combined as the single virtual entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: John Kim, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, Joshua Forester, David McNeill
  • Patent number: 10258883
    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: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Wei, Kevin Lee, Jay Jodway, David McNeill, Devin Nambiar
  • Publication number: 20190046885
    Abstract: Approaches for secondary-game-mode sessions based on primary-game-mode arrangements of user-controlled elements are provided. Actions by user-controlled elements of a first user or other game-space elements in a primary game mode of a game space may be managed. A session request for a session in a secondary game mode of the game space may be received from the first user. A first session for the first user may be executed in the secondary game mode such that: (i) the first session involves artificial-intelligence-controlled elements as opponents against the user-controlled elements; (ii) an arrangement of the user-controlled elements at a beginning of the first session is the same as an arrangement of the user-controlled elements in the primary game mode at a time of the session request; and (iii) impacts on the user-controlled elements during the first session in the secondary game mode are not reflected in the primary game mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: John Kim, Bryan Tsao, Inyang Akpan, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, Albert Wei, David McNeill
  • Publication number: 20180256988
    Abstract: A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Bryan Tsao, John Kim, David McNeill, Albert Wei, Christopher Yu, Kevin Chanthasiriphan
  • Publication number: 20180207530
    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: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Albert Wei, Kevin Lee, Jay Jodway, David McNeill, Devin Nambiar
  • Patent number: 10016688
    Abstract: Approaches for secondary-game-mode sessions based on primary-game-mode arrangements of user-controlled elements are provided. Actions by user-controlled elements of a first user or other game-space elements in a primary game mode of a game space may be managed. A session request for a session in a secondary game mode of the game space may be received from the first user. A first session for the first user may be executed in the secondary game mode such that: (i) the first session involves artificial-intelligence-controlled elements as opponents against the user-controlled elements; (ii) an arrangement of the user-controlled elements at a beginning of the first session is the same as an arrangement of the user-controlled elements in the primary game mode at a time of the session request; and (iii) impacts on the user-controlled elements during the first session in the secondary game mode are not reflected in the primary game mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: John Kim, Bryan Tsao, Inyang Akpan, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, Albert Wei, David McNeill
  • Patent number: 10016682
    Abstract: A system and method for garrisoning virtual units in virtual structures such that the attributes of the virtual structure are modified to reflect the garrisoning of the virtual unit inside the virtual structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS ARTS INC.
    Inventors: David McNeill, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, Bryan Tsao, John Kim
  • Publication number: 20180163464
    Abstract: A self-centering end cap for a bottom rail of an architectural structure covering. The end cap may include a contoured top surface that is configured to contact a head rail of the architectural structure covering to deflect the end cap and hence the bottom rail and covering of the architectural structure covering toward a horizontally centered position, thus enabling the covering and the bottom rail to be fully retracted to a docked position within the head rail without impediment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: David Mcneill, Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 9968855
    Abstract: A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Tsao, John Kim, David McNeill, Albert Wei, Christopher Yu, Kevin Chanthasiriphan
  • Patent number: 9962605
    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: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Wei, Kevin Lee, Jay Jodway, David McNeill, Devin Nambiar
  • Publication number: 20180124517
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a headset including one or more earphones and a connector configured to couple data and charge between the headset and a user equipment (UE). The headset also includes a charge node. The charge node includes a charge port for receiving UE charge from a charge source. The charge node also includes a downstream port for coupling audio data toward the earphones. The charge node further includes an upstream port for coupling the audio data toward the earphones via the downstream port and coupling UE charge from the charge port toward the UE via the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, David McNeill, Eric Sorensen, Sydney Newton
  • Patent number: 9931570
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating player interaction with instances of virtual containers in an online game are disclosed. After player activation of an instance of virtual container in the online game, one or more virtual items may be determined as initial payouts to be distributed to the player. One or more redetermined offers may be presented to the player such that the player may enable to pay an amount of consideration in exchange for having some or all of the items in the initial payout redetermined to improve the initial payout. Responsive to player selection of a redetermination offer, an outcome whether the player wins the reward may be determined stochastically. Distribution of virtual items may be effectuated accordance with the stochastically determined outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Yu, Inyang Akpan, David McNeill, Wynne Chyou, Kevin Lee
  • Patent number: 9928688
    Abstract: A system and method for providing currency multiplier items to one or more users of an online game is described. A user of an online game may obtain a currency multiplier item by purchase, by award, responsive to one or more actions taken in the online game, and/or by other methods. Use of the currency multiplier item may enable the user to adjust the amount of virtual currency in the inventory in the user's user account, wherein the adjustment to the amount of currency is not provided to the first user prior to use of the currency multiplier item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kim, Bryan Tsao, Inyang Akpan, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, Albert Wei, David McNeill
  • Publication number: 20180065039
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to facilitating presentation of a combination of virtual units as a single entity during a battle in an online game. A user may be in control of and/or be associated with a first set of virtual units in the game space of the online game. Some of the virtual units of the user may be involved in a battle facilitated in the game space. A plurality of the virtual units controlled by and/or associated with the user may be combined as a single virtual entity, such that the plurality of virtual units is portrayed in the view of the game space of the online game as the single virtual entity. The attributes of the single virtual entity in the game space may be dictated by the collective set of attributes of the respective virtual units of the plurality of virtual units combined as the single virtual entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: John KIM, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, Joshua Forester, David McNeill