Patents Issued in April 14, 2015
  • Patent number: 9004989
    Abstract: A vacuum apparatus and method for recovering poultry breast sub-tenders or other trim products from poultry or meat carcass shells, or for recovering other materials. The apparatus has a cover which can be lowered on to a base to form a vacuum chamber. One or more vacuum hoses extend from the apparatus for suctioning the product into the vacuum chamber. A product container is removably positioned in the vacuum chamber such that the product suctioned into the vacuum chamber will fall into the product container by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. Ogier, Timothy J. Ogier
  • Patent number: 9004990
    Abstract: A device for use in suspending an animal carcass in an elevated condition includes a device body having an upper section which is integral with a lower section by way of a compound bend. The upper section is formed with a protrusion and the lower section includes a plurality of arms. The animal carcass includes a pelvic bone and the device is constructed and arranged to be positionable within the animal carcass such that the protrusion engages the pelvic bone in order to suspend the animal carcass in the elevated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin Kirschbaum
  • Patent number: 9004991
    Abstract: Provided is a temperature control apparatus of a working machine that is inexpensive, energy-saving and capable of eliminating the temperature difference between a temperature in a room in which the working machine is installed and a temperature of a working area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: DMG Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Sugimoto, Takashi Hoshi, Kiyoshi Yoshioka, Soichiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9004992
    Abstract: A service unit for providing a convenience service to a cab of a tractor trailer includes a supply panel which is operable to attach to a cab of a tractor trailer. The supply panel provides conditioned air to the cab. A vibration detection unit is configured to interact with the supply panel and detect an idling engine by detecting a vibration with a vibration detector, transmitting the vibration as vibration signals to a controller, performing a signal analysis on the vibration signals to identify an engine idle signature, and storing a duration of the engine idle signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Convoy Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Adam McCall, Jesse Merritt, Daniel Zelenak
  • Patent number: 9004993
    Abstract: A vehicular seat air-conditioning system comprising a blower (11) which generates blown air, an intake duct (12) which is connected to an intake side of the blower (11), a seat air-conditioning duct (13) which is connected to the in-door air-conditioning unit (21) and in which cool air which was cooled by the in-door air-conditioning unit (21) flows, and a box-shaped part (14) which is formed by a separate member from chassis members forming the cabin space and which is connected to a downstream side end of the seat air-conditioning duct (13). The box-shaped part (14) have side walls (14b) which extend in a vertical direction and a bottom (14c) which closes a space surrounded by the side walls (14b) from the lower side, the top ends of the side walls (14b) form an opening part (14a) which opens facing the upper side in the vertical direction, and an upstream side end of the intake duct (12) is inserted into the inside of the box-shaped part (14) through the opening part (14a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahisa Fujii, Yasuhiko Niimi, Yuji Ito, Takeshi Nishiura
  • Patent number: 9004994
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for decreasing airflow and improving ventilation within a tunnel, such as a railroad tunnel, including a path for movement of a vehicle (e.g., train) therethrough. The system has a plurality of air baffles mounted within the tunnel, each device comprising a body and a mounting device. Each mounting device positions each body inside and along the length of the tunnel between the entrance and the exit. The air baffles are configured to restrict airflow at least in part in a longitudinal direction of the tunnel, thereby increasing a relative difference between a vehicle speed and air speed in a tunnel annulus when the vehicle passes through the tunnel. The restriction (e.g., decrease) of airflow in the tunnel reduces the piston effect resulting from the vehicle or train passing through, thus reducing emissions and heat generated by the locomotives in the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Union Pacific Railroad Company
    Inventor: Michael E. Iden
  • Patent number: 9004995
    Abstract: A device for reducing sound from an air treatment unit includes, in one embodiment, a wall curb. The air treatment system includes a supply opening and a return opening. The wall curb includes a frame portion defining an interior chamber. A partition divides the interior chamber into a supply plenum in a first portion of the interior chamber and a return plenum in a second portion of the interior chamber. A curb supply opening is formed through the perimeter frame in communication with the supply plenum. A curb return opening is formed through the perimeter frame in communication with the return plenum. The curb return opening is positioned such that airflow through the return plenum is non-linear and a sound absorbing material may be positioned on at least some inside surfaces of the return plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Bard Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Irvin Lee Derks, James L. Austermiller, Randall S. Price
  • Patent number: 9004996
    Abstract: One object of a game program according to an embodiment is to provide a pinball game requiring more strategies. The game program comprises: a stage selection module for receiving stage selection by the user; a ball selection module for receiving selection of one or more ball objects by the user from a plurality of ball objects each having parameters; a screen display module for displaying a game screen; an owned point updating module for updating the owned point information such that the points are consumed in accordance with the game play; an injection module for injecting the ball objects; a ball-hitting operation module for operating flippers in accordance with instructions from the user; a game progress module for progressing the pinball game based at least on the parameters assigned to the selected ball objects; and a level updating module for updating the level of the ball objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Murakami, Ayumi Takano, Yoshiki Watabe
  • Patent number: 9004997
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for dynamically locking a camera-linked reticle onto a target vehicle are presented. In one or more embodiments, a computing device may provide a user interface that includes a controlled vehicle and a target vehicle. Subsequently, the computing device may receive user input moving a camera-linked reticle within a predetermined distance of the target vehicle. In response to receiving the user input moving the camera-linked reticle within the predetermined distance of the target vehicle, the computing device may lock the camera-linked reticle onto the target vehicle. In some embodiments, the camera-linked reticle may include a reticle portion of the user interface that is configured to indicate an aim of at least one gun associated with the controlled vehicle, and may be further configured to maintain a substantially constant directional relationship with a viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wargaming.net LLP
    Inventors: Alexey Prosin, Stepan Drozd
  • Patent number: 9004998
    Abstract: Technology is described for enabling social interaction during online gaming. In some examples, the technology can include receiving from a remote device a movement signal indicating an actual movement of a human sports player during a real sporting event in which the human sports player is participating; receiving from a local control device a control signal from a user, wherein the control signal indicates input to a simulation; comparing the received movement signal with the received control signal; computing based on the comparison a score to award to the user; and awarding the computed score to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: John Lawrence Coulson
  • Patent number: 9004999
    Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. When a trigger condition occurs during the playing of a base game, a first feature is awarded that results in a feature prize potentially made up of a plurality of individual prizes. After completion of the first feature, a second feature occurs that enables a player to wager the feature prize for at least one other prize which is independent of a value of the feature prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Scott Olive
  • Patent number: 9005000
    Abstract: An apparatus for gaming, comprising a card reader system for reading card data from a game card associated with a player. An instant win game system for associating an instant win game entry with the card data. A jackpot game system for associating a jackpot game entry with the card data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kingdom Resources, LLC
    Inventor: Deborah L. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9005001
    Abstract: A wagering gaming device that enables a player to affect the movement of a functional element of a game by use of a user input device. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled wagering gaming device that receives input from a user input device. The user manipulates the input device in the manner in which he wishes the functional element or to move. The processor receives the information from the input device and calculates parameters. The processor moves the functional element. This sequence or feature may be employed in a primary game, bonus game or in any stand alone game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Aaron T. Jones, Nicole M. Beaulieu, Lance R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9005002
    Abstract: A given content list stores information about a content that has been given to a player. When a prize content selected by a lottery has been registered in the given content list, it is determined that the prize content satisfies a duplication condition, and an alternative content is selected from an alternative content list, and given to the player instead of the prize content selected by the lottery. An alternative content notification screen that notifies the player that the alternative content has been given to the player is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Oochi, Yousuke Futami
  • Patent number: 9005003
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The disclosure relates to an electronic gaming system which allows a player to make one or more inputs via human gesturing, and associated methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cadillac Jack, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Thompson, Ian Scott, Prashant Shah, Ted Ohnstad, Kim Weldon
  • Patent number: 9005004
    Abstract: A gaming table, gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method that provide a roulette game having a plurality of different roulette wheels. For each play of the roulette game, one of the different roulette wheels is selected and employed in or for that play of the roulette game. When the player or players place their wagers, they do not know which of the different roulette wheels will be employed for that play of the roulette game. After the player or players place their wagers for the play of the roulette game, the selected roulette wheel for that play of the roulette game is indicated to the player or players, and the play of the roulette game commences using that indicated roulette wheel. Wagers placed on the play of the roulette game are settled or resolved based on the outcome on that indicated roulette wheel for that play of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9005005
    Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to sets of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein separate pay tables and bingo pools are formed according to the number of paylines played on slot-type game themes and/or the number of hands played on poker game themes. In some such implementations, players will be limited to predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played, e.g., only 1, 3, 5 or 9 lines. In alternative implementations, a player's options regarding the number of lines played will depend, at least in part, on how many other players are playing any given number of lines on a slot game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Tracy Powell, Justin M. Krum, Bryan D. Wolf, Ali Saffari
  • Patent number: 9005006
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a slot machine having a variety of methods of play to enable wild symbols to be created in the play matrix. In one embodiment, a game comprises: a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions; a first plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reel, the first plurality of symbols comprising at least one designated symbol, the designated symbol having both a normal and a wild form thereof within the first plurality of symbols; a second plurality of symbols replacing a subset of the first plurality of symbols, the second plurality of symbols comprising a plurality of wild forms of the designated symbol; at least one predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations; and an award associated with the predetermined winning symbol combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Brian T. Haykin, Aaron Stuart Zoble, Anthony Singer, Philip B. Welty
  • Patent number: 9005007
    Abstract: A method of gaming including: selecting in each game round a plurality of symbols for display to a player in a set of display positions arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, subsets of the display positions corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of reels, each reel comprising a plurality symbols; controlling the correspondence of display positions to reels so that at least one game round is a diagonal spin game round in which at least one of the reels is arranged to spin diagonally such that it corresponds to display positions in a plurality of neighboring columns; and determining an outcome for each game round based on the selected symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Michael Allan Shai-Hee
  • Patent number: 9005008
    Abstract: Methods and systems for making a side bet in a hybrid game having a gambling game portion and an entertainment game portion are provided. The side bet is made in regards to the play of the entertainment portion of the hybrid game and can be made using a real world credit, a game world credit or a game world element. If the side bet is made using a real world credit, the real world credits used by the gambling game portion of the hybrid game and credited to a player are incremented or decremented. If the side bet is made using a game world element, the entertainment game portion of the hybrid game is updated based on the outcome of the side bet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 9005009
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides a player-selectable base game and a player-selectable side game, both of which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The selected base game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the selected side game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary or an alternate display. The potential prizes may be stand-alone as with a prize table or networked as with a prize pool having fixed or progressive prizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Felipe Salazar, Bradley W. Johnson, Allison L. Pope, Brian A. Watkins, Clint Owen, JP Cody
  • Patent number: 9005010
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods provide a tournament game which selectively awards an enhanced tournament play result. The enhanced tournament play result may be of variable value which is selected for the given instance in order to place the receiving tournament player in some predetermined rank in the tournament. Such a variable enhanced tournament play result in the tournament game may be used to help keep all participants interested in the tournament, even those participants who trail the tournament leaders by a wide margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Watkins, Clint Owen, Allison Pope, Michael Conway, Charles Speer
  • Patent number: 9005011
    Abstract: Techniques for processing and presenting wagering data are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises configuring a wagering game terminal for contemporaneously presenting content for a plurality of wagering games. Configuring the terminal can include dividing a player interface into a plurality of areas, wherein each of the areas is associated with one of the plurality of wagering games. The configuring can also include resizing the content to fit in the areas. The method can also include receiving, from a remote wagering game server, results for one or more of the wagering games, and selecting portions of the content, wherein the portions of the content graphically represent the results. The method can also include displaying the portions of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 9005012
    Abstract: A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is provided, the method comprising the steps of generating a first outcome of a game of chance, determining a target outcome, receiving a first wager, generating a second outcome based on the first outcome, and repeating the step of generating the second outcome until the second outcome matches the target outcome, before receiving any second wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Scott T. Friesen, Stephen C. Tulley, Norman C. Gilman, Daniel E. Tedesco, Michael D. Downs
  • Patent number: 9005013
    Abstract: A gaming system and method of rewarding players of electronic gaming machines connected by a network to a host computer, including storing player-useable points at a network-accessible location, enabling a player to convert at least some of the points into monetary units at a conversion rate, wherein the monetary units are convertible into credits for wagering on at least one of the electronic gaming machines, awarding a personal points conversion rate multiplier to a player, and applying the points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony David Radisich, Johann Blignaut, Colin Gray
  • Patent number: 9005014
    Abstract: A gaming system which includes a plurality of progressive awards in an MLP configuration. In a triggered bonus event, a player begins at the lowest progressive award level of the MLP and attempts to reach a higher progressive award level based on their decisions in the bonus event. If as a result of their play in the bonus event, a player is provided a progressive award other than the lowest level progressive award, one or more of the remaining lower level progressive awards (i.e., a progressive award associated with a lower level of the MLP than the provided progressive award) are shifted to account for the provided progressive award. The lowest level progressive award (which is temporality left vacant by the shifting of the remaining progressive awards) is reset to a set value, thus providing that the progressive award hierarchy is preserved regardless of which progressive award is provided to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9005015
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
  • Patent number: 9005016
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing a wagering system. In one exemplary embodiment, state information of a live event such as a sports game may be received in real time. During the event, a plurality of possible future states of the event and their associated probabilities (and odds) may be determined based on the state information, historical information, and current in-game information. A betting market is created for betting on the possible future states at determined odds. The betting market is closed, and winning and losing bets are resolved based on updated state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Lee Amaitis, Andrew Garrood, Mike Colbert, Heather Parks, Anthony Storm, Foster Barton, Thomas D. Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 9005017
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, computer systems and methods are provided that allow a game distribution platform to distribute, update and/or control copies of games published across multiple game portals. In some embodiments, copies of the games are maintained in data storage on the game distribution platform and distributed to game portals and/or gaming devices. Additional content for purchase may also be stored on the data storage and available for purchase during a gaming session. Advantageously, in certain embodiments the game distribution platform enables game portals and/or gaming devices to receive the latest version of a game and/or a player's purchased content when a player selects to play the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac J. Shepard, Patrick G. McCuller, Ameesh Paleja
  • Patent number: 9005018
    Abstract: A gaming system identifies, from a gaming network having a cluster of electronic gaming machines (EGMs), those of the EGMs having an availability and unavailability for use. Those of the EGMs having the availability for use are organized. A user selects one of the organized EGMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Durga S. Maddhali
  • Patent number: 9005019
    Abstract: One object is to provide a game system that can restrain real money trade from a technical aspect. In accordance with one aspect, a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a bid data generating unit configured to generate bid data including constant information related to a bid game content while not including either player specifying information of a bidder player or variable information of the bid game content and a second display control unit configured to cause a bid screen generated from the generated bid data to be displayed in a game played by an exhibitor player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadaaki Satsuma
  • Patent number: 9005020
    Abstract: A multi-action poker game played via a networked system such a server-based system or global computer network (e.g., the Internet). The poker game generally involves players playing two or more independent poker hands substantially simultaneously at the same virtual poker table. The multiple poker hands are distinguished using distinctive playing cards (and/or card placements) and/or poker chip counts or by multiple representations of the same virtual poker table. Alternatively, a single chip count may be used for each of the at least than two hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: PAC Gaming LLC
    Inventor: Timothy M. Frazin
  • Patent number: 9005021
    Abstract: A method of altering a wagering game theme for a flexible bank of wagering game machines, the flexible bank including a first sub-portion, a second sub-portion, and one or more display elements disposed between the first and second sub-portions, includes the acts of displaying graphical content relating to a first wagering game theme on the first and second sub-portions and on the one or more display elements and using a controller, responsive to a trigger, to switch the second sub-portion to display a second wagering game theme different than the first wagering game theme and to cause the one or more display elements to display a blank display or graphical content different than the first and second wagering game themes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Massing, Mark B. Gagner
  • Patent number: 9005022
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which retains, saves or stores zero, one or more of any symbols removed during the play of a primary cascading symbols game. In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which sequentially layers a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids at different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Patent number: 9005023
    Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes selective application of surround sound. The selective application of surround sound allows certain key gaming events to be emphasized over other gaming events. The surround sound may be varied to produce certain effects, such as a tactile effect and a gradual building up of suspense and anticipation that increases player excitement and enjoyment. A surround sound decoder may be added in some embodiments to convert monophonic and stereo wagering games into surround sound. The surround sound may be implemented as true surround sound or as virtual surround sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: James Bonney, Eric M. Pryzby
  • Patent number: 9005024
    Abstract: System and method for running a software application, such as a video game for many users. In one embodiment a multi-user computer-controlled video gaming system comprising: at least one display device for displaying video game motion pictures to the plurality of users; a plurality of user input devices, at least one for each user, providing user input data to the computer-controlled video gaming system; a processing unit receiving and processing the user input data from the plurality of input devices to generate control input data for a conjointly control of at least one game mechanic of the performed game; at least one computing device executing a game software application for performing said game, the at least one computing device being controlled by said control input data for providing output to the display device to display the video game motion pictures dependent on said at least one conjointly controlled game mechanic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Crytek GmbH
    Inventors: Cevat Yerli, Alexander Taube, Peter Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 9005025
    Abstract: A game controller comprises a top casing, a bottom casing, a circuitry board, and a plurality of rechargeable batteries. The top casing comprises different type of control components, at least two speakers and a plurality of solar panel. The bottom casing comprises a locking mechanism, plurality of trigger buttons, headphone jack and a USB port. A handheld device can be inserted into the present invention and secured from the locking mechanism. The handheld device can be connected to the present invention wirelessly with a control application or a USB data cable can be used. The different type of control buttons and the trigger buttons controls the input commands of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wikipad, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Joynes, James Bower
  • Patent number: 9005026
    Abstract: An apparatus generally directed to controlling a video game. The apparatus preferably includes a tablet computer, an electronic game communicating with the tablet computer, and an input device for controlling movement of a virtual object provided by the electronic game. Preferably, the input device includes a pair of opposing side structures adjacent opposing sides of plurality of sides of the tablet computer. The input device further preferably includes a plurality of input switches, wherein said input switches are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the tablet computer, and a bridge structure disposed between the pair of sides to form a three sided structure. The third structure mitigates inadvertent removal of the tablet computer from the three sided structure when the tablet computer is fully nested within the three sided structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wikipad, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Joynes, James Bower
  • Patent number: 9005027
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Trion Worlds, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Ernest Lee, David M. Aldridge, Bryan Joseph Farina, Jon Edward Van Caneghem
  • Patent number: 9005028
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for automatically sending a popup or other message to another person's electronic device upon finishing a predetermined goal in a video game. The predetermined goal can be, for example, killing a first boss in under five minutes. The message to the friend can include a link or button enabled such that the friend can begin the game on his device in the same room, mission, scenario, etc. that the first player started out in so that the friend can attempt to duplicate or ‘one up’ the first player's achievement. Friends who are interested in receiving such messages can be determined from existing social networking sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Gary
  • Patent number: 9005029
    Abstract: One or more physical characteristics of each of multiple users are detected. These physical characteristics of a user can include physical attributes of the user (e.g., the user's height, length of the user's legs) and/or physical skills of the user (e.g., how high the user can jump). Based on these detected one or more physical characteristics of the users, two or more of the multiple users to share an online experience (e.g., play a multi-player game) are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Scott Murphy, Stephen G. Latta, Darren Alexander Bennett, Pedro Perez, Shawn C. Wright, Relja Markovic, Joel B. Deaguero, Christopher H. Willoughby, Ryan Lucas Hastings, Kevin Geisner
  • Patent number: 9005030
    Abstract: A system for sharing score experiences includes one or more devices on which one or more games are played, a gameplay experience service arrangement and a communication arrangement for communicatively coupling the devices to the gameplay experience service arrangement. The devices include computing hardware for executing one or more games software products for implementing the one or more games when executed upon the computing hardware. The devices are operable to record a gameplay experience (GEV) played thereupon including an associated score, wherein the one or more devices are operable to upload their recorded gameplay experiences (GEV) and associated score to the gameplay experience service arrangement which maintains a score list corresponding to the uploaded gameplay experiences. The score list is accessible to the devices for identifying relative gameplay performances of users of the devices, for example via replaying of the recorded gameplay experiences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Applifier Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Laakkonen, Olli Sinerma
  • Patent number: 9005031
    Abstract: In various embodiments of this invention, a suite of customized computer software applications, a linked or wireless computer network and accessory components cooperate to enhance and extend customer and employee resource management in the casino/gaming environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ameranth, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Kessman, Sean P. McCauley
  • Patent number: 9005032
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system configured to provide a virtual space, in accordance with one or more implementations. Users of virtual spaces may encounter barriers in a game. During these barriers, users may receive and/or provide assistance to other affiliation members. One aspect of the disclosure relates to allowing affiliations or other groups to utilize in-game items to assist other players in game progress in an online game. This may incent positive player actions towards affiliation members, may enhance engagement between affiliation members, may provide an incentive for users to join an affiliation, and/or have other results. These results may ultimately contribute to enhanced retention, enhanced monetization, enhanced user satisfaction, and/or other enhancements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 9005033
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for recording a user's game play experience. The player's game play can be recorded by recording a player's commands as the player navigates a game level as well as game data that can include a state of the game and variables, such as random numbers, generated during the game play that were used to control aspects of the game. The recording of the player's game play can then be reviewed and shared with others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Dan O. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 9005034
    Abstract: Gaming machines may be remotely accessed by a gaming machine management server. The gaming machine management server may access a respective gaming machine while the respective gaming machine is powered off. The gaming machine management server may access a respective gaming machine while the respective gaming machine is powered on and concurrently while an operating system of the respective gaming machine is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence McAllister, Anand Singh
  • Patent number: 9005035
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and when a virtual game is started, the CPU generates game image data and displays a corresponding game screen on a monitor. In the game screen, an operating instruction describing operation procedure is displayed and contents of the instruction changes according to a progress of the game. For example, as the game advances, an operating instruction including how to perform a new operation is displayed when a player object learns a new attack, or when a level (experience) of the player object increases or an operation level of the player increases. However, if the virtual game has not been played for a relatively long period of time, the operating instruction is displayed regardless of the progress of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Taito
    Inventors: Satoshi Kira, Toshiharu Izuno, Isao Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9005036
    Abstract: Users are arranged to employ gameplay terminals which including computing hardware for executing one or more software products The users share gameplay experiences by including in the one or more software products a host game software application for implementing one or more games on one or more of the terminals, and appending one or more software components to the host game software application for providing control of the host game software application on a real-time basis for recording gameplay experiences for sharing amongst the users based upon one or more of: game view, sub-game view, sensor data employed to control the game, video camera views of one or more users playing the game, game events occurring during playing the game. A software development kit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Applifier Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Laakkonen, Olli Sinerma
  • Patent number: 9005037
    Abstract: A rotational vibration damper includes a primary side (32) and a secondary side (46) which is rotatable with respect to the primary side (32) around an axis of rotation (A) against the action of a damper element arrangement (28). At least one damper element unit (42) of the first group (70) and at least one damper element unit (42?) of the second group (70?) are pre-loaded, and the primary side (32) and the secondary side (46) are pre-loaded in a basic relative rotation position with respect to one another. Proceeding from the basic relative rotation position of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46), a pre-loading path (V, V?) of at least one pre-loaded damper element unit (42) is shorter than a maximum relative rotation path of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Sasse, Armin Stürmer, Jörg Sudau, Monika Rössner
  • Patent number: 9005038
    Abstract: A rotation transmitting apparatus includes a first shaft on which multiple external teeth are formed so as to be arranged in a circumferential direction, and a second shaft in which multiple internal teeth are formed so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction, the second shaft being fitted to the first shaft so as to be slidable relative to the first shaft in the axial direction and so as to be engageable with the first shaft in a rotational direction through the use of the external teeth and the internal teeth. A protrusion is formed on the tooth flank of one of the external tooth and the internal tooth, the protrusion being projected toward the corresponding tooth flank of the other of the external tooth and the internal tooth. The protrusion is made of a resin that is more elastically deformable than the tooth flank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Nabeshima, Eiji Kaneuchi, Yoshimasa Yamada, Ryousuke Imai