Patents by Inventor Mark Kerns

Mark Kerns 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).

  • Publication number: 20140176536
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Kern, David Nikdel, Scott Youngblood
  • Patent number: 8713820
    Abstract: Lacing systems are disclosed for use with footwear or other articles. The lacing system can comprises flexible webbing lace guides. In some embodiments, a lace guide can include a first lace guide element and a second lace guide element. The lace can pass through the first and second lace guides consecutively on the first side of the article before crossing to the opposing side of the article. The first and second lace guide elements can be angled towards each other to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide elements. In some embodiments, the lace guide can have a central portion that is less flexible than the end portions so as to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide when tension is applied to the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Boa Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kerns, Mark Soderberg, Adam Auell
  • Publication number: 20140031121
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a broadcaster mode within a gaming environment is provided. The method includes receiving, via a networked gaming system, a request from a broadcaster for a display enhancement within the gaming environment. The broadcaster is a non-participant in a game occurring within the gaming environment. The method also includes providing, within the gaming environment, the display enhancement. A system is provided for facilitating broadcasting in a gaming environment. The system includes a server, coupled to a computing system, executing a video game program that provides the gaming environment. The video game program includes a broadcaster module that provides a broadcaster access to view the gaming environment. The video game program also includes an interactivity module that provides the broadcaster with one or more options for displaying information about the gaming environment. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Scott Rudi
  • Publication number: 20140025987
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing peer-to-peer communications are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include masking identification of two or more client nodes on a communications channel of a peer-to-peer communications network by directing peer-to-peer communications of the two or more client nodes through a proxy node, the proxy node including a disinterested client node relative to the two or more client nodes, the disinterested client node providing network resources to the peer-to-peer communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Sean Culhane, Don Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8632411
    Abstract: Systems and methods for exchanging virtual rewards for computing resources are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include receiving access to a portion of computing resources of an end user computing system and providing a virtual reward within a networked gaming environment to an end user in exchange for utilizing an amount of the portion of the computing resources of the end user computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Red 5 Studios, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Kern
  • Publication number: 20140018165
    Abstract: A method for operating a broadcaster mode within a gaming environment of a video game is provided. The method includes receiving, via a networked gaming system, a request from a broadcaster for a video signal for a peripheral display, the broadcaster being a non-participant in the video game occurring within the gaming environment. The method also includes providing the video signal for the peripheral display. A system that facilitates broadcasting a gaming environment is provided and includes a broadcaster module and an interactivity module that provides the broadcaster with one or more options for displaying information. The broadcaster module also includes a display controller include a primary display controller and a secondary display controller. A primary view of the gaming environment displayed on a primary display of the broadcaster being broadcast to at least one spectator. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Scott Rudi
  • Publication number: 20140018157
    Abstract: Reward-based features for videogame observers are provided herein. Exemplary methods for providing reward-based features for videogame observers may include receiving, via a networked gaming system, a request from a videogame observer to provide a virtual reward to a player within the gaming environment, the videogame observer being a non-participant in a game occurring within the gaming environment; and providing, within the gaming environment, the virtual reward to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Scott Youngblood
  • Patent number: 8628424
    Abstract: Systems and methods for exchanging virtual rewards for computing resources are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include receiving access to a portion of computing resources of an end user computing system and providing a virtual reward within a gaming environment to an end user in exchange for utilizing an amount of the portion of the computing resources of the end user computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Red 5 Studios, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Scott Youngblood
  • Publication number: 20140004952
    Abstract: Systems and methods for exchanging virtual rewards for computing resources are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include receiving access to a portion of computing resources of an end user computing system and providing a virtual reward within a networked gaming environment to an end user in exchange for utilizing an amount of the portion of the computing resources of the end user computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Kern
  • Publication number: 20140004951
    Abstract: Systems and methods for exchanging virtual rewards for computing resources are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include receiving access to a portion of computing resources of an end user computing system and providing a virtual reward within a gaming environment to an end user in exchange for utilizing an amount of the portion of the computing resources of the end user computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Scott Youngblood
  • Patent number: 8589423
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Red 5 Studios, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kern, David Nikdel, Scott Youngblood
  • Patent number: 8572180
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing peer-to-peer communications are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include masking identification of two or more client nodes on a communications channel of a peer-to-peer communications network by directing peer-to-peer communications of the two or more client nodes through a proxy node, the proxy node including a disinterested client node relative to the two or more client nodes, the disinterested client node providing network resources to the peer-to-peer communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Red 5 Studios, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Sean Culhane, Don Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8478767
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Kern, David Nikdel, Scott Youngblood
  • Publication number: 20130067091
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing peer-to-peer communications are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include masking identification of two or more client nodes on a communications channel of a peer-to-peer communications network by directing peer-to-peer communications of the two or more client nodes through a proxy node, the proxy node including a disinterested client node relative to the two or more client nodes, the disinterested client node providing network resources to the peer-to-peer communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Sean Culhane, Don Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20130067088
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing peer-to-peer communications are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include masking identification of two or more client nodes on a communications channel of a peer-to-peer communications network by directing peer-to-peer communications of the two or more client nodes through a proxy node, the proxy node including a disinterested client node relative to the two or more client nodes, the disinterested client node providing network resources to the peer-to-peer communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Sean Culhane, Don Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20130031148
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed file storage are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include, dividing a file into sections, distributing one or more of the sections to each of a first subset of the plurality of client devices so that all sections of the file are distributed across the first subset of the plurality of client devices, each of the first subset of the plurality of client devices having storage space that is allocated to the web server, and upon determining that an actual amount of sections that are currently available to the web server are below a threshold amount, redistributing the sections of the file to a second subset of the plurality of client devices determined to have storage space that is allocated to the web server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Jon Olick, Dave Nikdel
  • Publication number: 20130031149
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed file storage are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include, dividing a file into sections, distributing one or more of the sections to each of a first subset of the plurality of client devices so that all sections of the file are distributed across the first subset of the plurality of client devices, each of the first subset of the plurality of client devices having storage space that is allocated to the web server, and upon determining that an actual amount of sections that are currently available to the web server are below a threshold amount, redistributing the sections of the file to a second subset of the plurality of client devices determined to have storage space that is allocated to the web server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Kern, Jon Olick, Dave Nikdel
  • Publication number: 20120269394
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Kern, David Nikdel, Scott Youngblood
  • Publication number: 20120272139
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Kern, David Nikdel, Scott Youngblood
  • Publication number: 20120185066
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Kern, David Nikdel, Scott Youngblood