Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling an augmented reality interaction system and a mobile device to overlay a virtual 3D component over a physical 3D component with which the virtual 3D component interacts. The method includes: enabling a user to capture a live camera image of a gaming machine cabinet via a camera on the mobile device; determining if there are image tags on the gaming machine cabinet in the live camera image; producing a virtual rendering of the gaming machine cabinet; determining virtual 3D components to be displayed over an image of a virtual gaming machine cabinet; comparing a virtual depth rendering of the virtual 3D components to a virtual depth rendering of the virtual gaming machine cabinet; and overlaying virtual 3D components without the subtracted elements onto a live camera image of the virtual gaming machine cabinet on a display of the mobile device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling an augmented reality tracking system and a mobile device to display augmented reality by overlaying a virtual 3D object over a physical 3D object. The method includes: enabling a user to capture a live camera image of a 3D object via camera on the mobile device; determining if there are image tags on the 3D object in the live camera image; using the one or more image tags to access information used by the augmented reality system; and overlaying virtual 3D objects onto a live camera image of the virtual 3D object on a display of the mobile device to produce augmented reality effects, wherein the augmented reality tracking system establishes a communication channel with the gaming machine enabling additional elements of the game to be augmented on the mobile device, and elements of the game content to be influenced by the augmented state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling use of a complex augmented reality system and a mobile device to display complex augmented reality on a display device. The method includes: enabling a user to capture one or more images from the display device via a camera on the mobile device; determining if there are one or more image tags within a video display on the display device that are viewable in the live camera image; using the one or more image tags to access information used by the augmented reality system; and overlaying virtual graphics in a position within 3D space on a display of the mobile device that augment the display of the display device with 3D effects to create complex augmented reality, when one or more image tags are detected within a video display on the display device that are viewable in a live camera image.

Abstract: A memory usage reduction system optimizes GPU memory usage by reducing the memory footprint of graphical resources, and therefore, the amount of memory necessary to store those graphical resources in GPU memory. In one embodiment, the system comprises a CPU with a system memory in communication with a GPU with a video memory. Graphical resources are stored on the system memory. A data collection process intercepts or modifies function calls to the GPU from the CPU to build a data record as the graphical resources are read from the system memory and loaded into the video memory. The data record identifies which graphical resources are to be loaded into the video memory in the compressed or uncompressed state. The GPU may encode the graphical resources. Encoding may be done during a pre-boot operation. The GPU may decode the graphical resources on the fly when needed for rendering during normal operation.

Abstract: Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a predetermined award presented in a manner in which a player's skill at the game appears to affect the amount of the award without actually having an effect on its amount.

Abstract: Electronic messages with electronic attachments sent by a device over a communication network, such as the Internet or the World Wide Web, to a receiver is first stored on a server computer. The electronic attachment is opened by a computer having a program that is capable of reading the attachment. The contents of the electronic attachment are then reformatted into a second electronic message using standard protocol, such as HTML and is sent back to the receiver. Thus, the receiver will receive two electronic messages: first, the original electronic mail with the electronic attachment and a second message in which the electronic message is embedded in the message. The advantage is that a user can operate Internet appliances and/or wireless devices without the versatility of a PC and still “read” the electronic attachments to the email as well as retaining the original email with the original attachment for processing by a PC.