Patents Issued in July 26, 2016
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Patent number: 9401030Abstract: A system processes images of soil using image processing techniques that help to reveal soil characteristics and differences between soil characteristics. The characteristics may be indicative of soil type, and the differences between soil characteristics help to identify where soil types change in a field. The system may determine management zones for a field based on the soil characteristics, e.g., by identifying multiple regions within a field, each management zone corresponding to similar soil characteristics. The system may communicate the management zones to devices in the field, to land appraisers, or to customers who use the results to manage the soil, as just a few examples.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Tazco Soil Service Co.Inventor: Austin Lee Nelan
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Patent number: 9401031Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for acquiring position information of a transform block. The method includes: obtaining a splitting manner of an image block; obtaining splitting direction information according to the splitting manner of the image block and a splitting layer number of a transform block, or obtaining splitting direction information according to the splitting manner of the image block and a numerical relationship between a width and a height of a transform block; and obtaining position information of a post-splitting transform block according to the splitting direction information. In embodiments of the present invention, splitting direction information is obtained directly according to a splitting manner of an image block and a layer number, and then, size information of a transform block is coded according to the splitting direction information, thereby effectively reducing complexity of a coding process.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventor: Xiaozhen Zheng
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Patent number: 9401032Abstract: A color palette can be a collection of representative colors each associated with a weight or other metadata. A computing system may generate a color palette based on palette generation criteria, which may facilitate or control a palette generation process. Illustratively, the palette generation process may include image pre-processing, color distribution generation, representative color identification, palette candidate generation and palette determination. Representative colors with associated weight can be identified from a distribution of colors depicted by the color image, multiple palette candidates corresponding to the same color image can be generated based on various palette generation criteria, and a color palette can be identified therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles Shearer Dorner, Paul Barnhart Sayre, III
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Patent number: 9401033Abstract: A method and system for arbitrary-resolution and parallelizable data processing, reconstruction, and deconstruction, uses arbitrary frequency-space (FS) or inverse frequency-space (IFS, such as image, audio, or video space) sample points in N dimensions. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a subset of optionally pre-processed and/or pre-conditioned N-dimensional FS data (or IFS data) is acquired (102) by a processing device (360), the data is optionally transformed (115) by “region scaling factors”, and the data is optionally reduced (116) in numerical significant digits. A “horizontal key” of data elements is calculated (120) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, for each of an arbitrary set of x-coordinates in IFS (or FS). IFS “color” data (or FS data) are calculated (130) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, at the x-coordinates corresponding to the horizontal keys.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Inventor: Ivan Bajic
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Patent number: 9401034Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-storage media for efficiently tessellating two dimensional (2-D) curves using a graphics pipeline running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) are provided. A central processing unit (CPU) converts a geometry having one or more 2-D curves into an intermediate tessellation having at least one Bezier fan with a fan origin and four control points. The intermediate tessellation is sent on to the graphics pipeline. A hull shader in the graphics pipeline is configured to approximate the Bezier fan curve by subdividing the curve into a defined number of triangles based on a maximum value of a width or a height of a bounding box containing the four control points of the Bezier fan. A domain shader in the graphics pipeline is configured to determine a vertex position for each of the defined triangles along the curve of the Bezier fan.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Anthony John Rolls Hodsdon, Blake Douglas Pelton
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Patent number: 9401035Abstract: A method determines a contribution of an object to an intensity value of a current pixel that is partially covered by the object by calculating an entry location and exit location for an edge of the object in the current pixel, the entry and exit locations being located on boundaries of the current pixel with different orientations. The method determines an intensity value for at least one neighboring pixel located adjacent to the current pixel, the neighboring pixel being selected based on the calculated entry and exit locations, and then determines an intensity value of the current pixel using the determined intensity value of the at least one neighboring pixel as a contribution of the object at the current pixel.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Albert Chang
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Patent number: 9401036Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image obtaining method, a photographing apparatus and a storage medium. The image obtaining method includes the following operations: obtaining a plurality of images of a target scene at more than one focal lengths; processing a first image to obtain a reference image, wherein in the plurality of images, an image with a predetermined viewing angle is a standard image, and remaining images are first images, and image of the target scene in the reference image has same size as image of the target scene in the standard image; and substituting a clear area in the reference image for a corresponding area in the standard image.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignees: HISENSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD., HISENSE USA CORPORATION, HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Xuebin Sun, Jin Liu, Benyou Li
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Patent number: 9401038Abstract: An information processing apparatus analyzes an importance distribution in a render target range for which a three-dimensional scene is to be rendered in a perspective for generating a map for use in rendering the three-dimensional scene. The apparatus acquires eigenvectors of the importance distribution by performing principal component analysis on the distribution. In a case where the eigenvectors of the distribution satisfies a predetermined condition, the apparatus rotates the importance distribution such that a direction defined by the eigenvector is to be a predetermined direction, and determines the number of pixels assigned to each partial region based on the rotated distribution.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Tokuyoshi, Tiago da Silva
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Patent number: 9401039Abstract: A depth image conversion unit moves an edge location in an input depth image towards a background. A pixel shift unit generates an image from a different viewpoint by horizontally shifting coordinates of each pixel in an image based on a converted depth image. A pixel interpolation unit interpolates a missing pixel region yielded by pixel shifting.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaki Maeda, Naoki Ootani, Kazuhiro Nomura
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Patent number: 9401040Abstract: Disclosed herein are an imaging processing apparatus for representing an object realistically, and an imaging processing method thereof. The image processing apparatus includes: a volume data generator configured to generate volume data of an object; a volume renderer configured to project the volume data to a first plane with respect to a user's viewpoint, and to acquire a projection image, wherein the volume renderer determines a value of each pixel of the projection image based on respective distances between first surface points and second surface points, the first surface points being points that are shown from the user's viewpoint from among points constituting a surface of the volume data, the second surface points being points that are shown from a position of virtual light from among the points constituting the surface of the volume data.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Yun Tae Kim
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Patent number: 9401041Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method that provides common data and enforces multiple view consistency. In a preferred embodiment, a coordinate alignment matrix is generated after initial warped views are formed. The matrix is used efficiently to repair holes/occlusions when synthesizing final views. In another preferred embodiment, a common background layer is generated based upon initial warped views. Holes are repaired on the common background layer, which can then be used for synthesizing final views. The cost of the latter method is sub-linear, meaning that additional views can be generated with lesser cost. Preferred methods of the invention also use a placement matrix to generate initial warped views, which simplifies warping to a lookup operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Truong Q. Nguyen, Lam Tran, Can Bal, Ramsin Khoshabeh
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Patent number: 9401042Abstract: A method of providing image data for constructing an image of a region of a three dimensional target object, comprising providing, from a radiation source, incident radiation directed at a target object, detecting an intensity of radiation scattered by the target object, and determining image data for each of a respective plurality of slices within the target object each indicating one or more characteristics of the target object at a respective depth within the target object, wherein the image data is determined based on the detected intensity of radiation via an iterative process wherein running estimates of the image data for each of the plurality of slices are updated step by step.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: PHASE FOCUS LIMITEDInventors: John Marius Rodenburg, Andrew Maiden, Martin Humphry
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Patent number: 9401043Abstract: An efficient numerical method for accurately rendering translucent materials using photon beam diffusion is provided that can account for multilayer materials and directional incident and exitant effects at the surface. In an embodiment, refracted incident light is represented continuously as a photon beam instead of as discrete photons. An integration scheme for calculating a radiant exitance value at a point on the surface of the translucent material is disclosed that uses importance sampling and evaluates a radiant function at a limited number of points along the beam.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: PixarInventors: Ralf Habel, Wojciech Jarosz
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Patent number: 9401044Abstract: Provided is a method for obtaining a conformal mapping of first image data corresponding to a source mesh to a target mesh, by generating a template of the source mesh and a template of the target mesh, processing the generated source mesh template and the generated target mesh template to obtain a conformal mapping from the source mesh to the target mesh, mapping the first image data corresponding to the source mesh to second image data corresponding to the target mesh according to the obtained conformal mapping, and outputting a mapped texture corresponding to the mapped second image data to the display corresponding to the target mesh.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New YorkInventor: Arie E. Kaufman
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Patent number: 9401045Abstract: A collection of data stored in a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and a plurality of portions of the collection are associated with corresponding identifiers that are associated with positions of an object to be rendered. User selections of positions on the surface of the object are received. The portions associated with the user selected position are determined, and the portions are displayed at their respective position on the surface of the object. The selected portions can be displayed as being connected by graphical elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Word Diamonds, LLCInventor: Kate Paley
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Patent number: 9401046Abstract: Micropolygon splatting may involve tessellating by subdividing a mesh until triangle edges are shorter than 0.75 pixels. In some cases, rasterizing the primitive may be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Carl J. Munkberg, Tomas G. Akenine-Möller, Jon N. Hasselgren, Robert M. Toth
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Patent number: 9401047Abstract: Described herein is a technology for enhanced visualization of medical image data. In one implementation, a region of interest is identified in a first set of images along at least one viewing direction. Based on the first set of images, a second set of images is reconstructed to include at least one selectively enhanced rendering of the region of interest. The selectively enhanced rendering may include a three-dimensional rendering or any other type of enhanced rendering to facilitate detection of abnormalities.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions, USA, Inc.Inventors: Luca Bogoni, Gerardo Hermosillo Valadez, Matthias Wolf
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Patent number: 9401048Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for target-based AR devices to perform low-power front-end passive scanning of targets to alert users to AR content linked to any image targets the users may be viewing. Passive scanning by AR devices relieves users of the need to manually activate a camera for AR image target identification, and helps to identify image targets the users may be unknowingly viewing. To conserver power, AR devices may autonomously activate a camera to perform an exploratory scan when the AR devices detect from users' movement patterns that users may be interested in certain targets or is in a state of attentiveness. AR devices may identify one or more image targets from the exploratory scans. If users elect to interact with the AR content, AR devices may activate the camera to perform a full capture or real-time tracking of the image targets to augment the AR content.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATEDInventors: Giuliano Maciocci, Andrew J. Everitt
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Patent number: 9401049Abstract: In an augmented reality system using a moving ceiling transparent display for a ship, according to the present invention, the moving ceiling transparent display is movably installed on the ceiling of a steering house of the ship, and the system comprises: a recognition portion for recognizing the location of the ship and the direction of the head and the pupils of a sailor; a reception portion for receiving external image data from an external landscape database with respect to an external landscape, in accordance with the location of the ship and the direction of the head and the pupils of the sailor; a matching portion for adjusting a match between the external image data, which is received by the receiving portion, and an actual external image through the window; and an output portion for outputting through the transparent display information on the external image data, which is adjusted through the matching portion, on the location of the actual external image.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Sun Young Kim, Jae Yong Oh, Se Kil Park
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Patent number: 9401050Abstract: The technology provides embodiments for recalibration of outward facing cameras supported by a see-through, head mounted, mixed reality display system having a flexible portion between see-through displays for the eyes. Each outward facing camera has a fixed spatial relationship with a respective or corresponding see-through display positioned to be seen through by a respective eye. For front facing cameras, the fixed spatial relationship allows a predetermined mapping between positions on an image sensor of each camera and positions on the respective display. The mapping may be used to register a position of a virtual object to a position of a real object. A change in a first flexible spatial relationship between the outward facing cameras can be automatically detected. A second spatial relationship between the cameras is determined. A registration of a virtual object to a real object may be updated based on the second spatial relationship.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Elmer S. Cajigas, Paul M. O'Brien, Andras Tantos
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Patent number: 9401051Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and a mechanism for manipulating images generated by radiotherapy machines used in radiation diagnostic and treatment applications. In one embodiment, a method is provided for intelligent automatic propagation of real-time alterations across graphical structures of an image by mapping the relativity between the structures; determining the correlation between the structures and a manually edited structure; referencing a deformation map that maps a correspondence for each point in the original structure with a point in the edited structure and applying a similar relative change throughout the remaining structures in the image.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Varian Medical Systems International AGInventors: Michael Huber, Michael Waschbuesch, Lasse Toimela, Patrik Kunz
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Patent number: 9401052Abstract: A road toll system comprises a vehicle-mounted unit comprising a satellite navigation system implementing a position tracking function; transmitting means for transmitting position or route information to a remote server; and a unique identification device for attaching to the vehicle, and associated with the satellite navigation receiver. The road toll system function is enabled only when the identification device is present. The identification device comprises an electronic device which is adapted to alter by detachment or attempted detachment such as to prevent the road toll system function being enabled. This system increases the security of this type of system and makes fraudulent use of the system increasingly difficult.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Telit Automotive Solutions NVInventors: Michael M. P. Peeters, Jan L. R. M. Taelman, Frank C. H. Daems, Veroni Ballet
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Patent number: 9401053Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing fault notifications for vehicles. A notification unit is configured to provide a notification when a fault is detected for a vehicle. A processor is coupled to the notification unit, and is configured to provide instructions to the notification unit to provide the notification when the fault is detected, and restrict operation of the vehicle, when the fault is detected, until an action is taken in response to the notification.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Brian A. MacFarlane, Michael J. Abowd
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Patent number: 9401054Abstract: A method for optimizing a test sequence to diagnose a failure mode of a device, such as a vehicle, is provided. At least one symptom of a fault of the device is received, and a plurality of taxonomies is generated. The taxonomies include a device component taxonomy, a fault taxonomy, and a diagnostic taxonomy, and each taxonomy has a plurality of nodes. At least one diagnostic test sequence, based on the symptom and the taxonomies, is generated, costs associated with the diagnostic test sequence are determined, and a cost optimal test sequence, based on the costs and the diagnostic test sequence, is generated.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.Inventors: Gregory J. Fountain, Harry M. Gilbert, Randy L. Mayes, Oleksiy Portyanko, Olav M. Underdal, William W. Witliff, III
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Patent number: 9401055Abstract: An electronic control apparatus includes a controller, a storage, a calculator, and an estimator. The estimator estimates a potential travelling pattern of a vehicle based on a vehicle state during a start-up period. The start-up period is a preliminarily determined period of time right after a turning on of an ignition switch and the potential travelling pattern is an estimated travelling pattern under which the vehicle travels after an elapse of the start-up period. The estimator estimates the potential travelling pattern of the vehicle based on database-stored reference information that indicates a relationship between the vehicle state during the start-up period and an actual travelling pattern of the vehicle after the elapse of the start-up period. When the estimator estimates that the potential travelling pattern of the vehicle is the short distance travel, the controller forcibly starts the malfunction diagnostic before the predetermined diagnostic start condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Takafumi Nishiseko
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Patent number: 9401056Abstract: Vehicle profiles allow drivers of vehicles to select any vehicle they desire to simulate. A graphical dashboard may be reconfigured to assume a graphical interface of any vehicle. A prospective buyer of an electric vehicle may configure the dashboard of a conventional, internal combustion vehicle to visually simulate an electric vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventor: Craig A. Lee
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Patent number: 9401057Abstract: A computing device is connected to a motor vehicle's diagnostic port or communication port to acquire vehicle sensor data, for example from various pressure, temperature, oxygen, fuel and other sensors typically installed on a motor vehicle for other reasons. Acquired sensor data is wirelessly transmitted to a remote server where the acquired sensor data can be compared to a database of stored sensor data to identify the motor vehicle. Additional functionality is described that leverages uploaded sensor data. Sensor data may be uploaded to the server in near-real time, and/or buffered locally and uploaded by periodic or episodic, push or pull communication protocols.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Airbiquity Inc.Inventors: Darrin Garrett, Darren Mann
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Patent number: 9401058Abstract: A speech from a speaker proximate to one or more microphones within an environment can be received. The microphones can be a directional microphone or an omni-directional microphone. The speech can be processed to produce an utterance to determine the identity of the speaker. The identity of the speaker can be associated with a voiceprint. The identity can be associated with a user's credentials of a computing system. The credentials can uniquely identify the user within the computing system. The utterance can be analyzed to establish a zone in which the speaker is present. The zone can be a bounded region within the environment. The zone can be mapped within the environment to determine a location of the speaker. The location can be a relative or an absolute location.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Stephanie De La Fuente, Gregory S. Jones, John S. Pannell
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Patent number: 9401059Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for conducting an election. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for ensuring integrity of an electronic ballot. The method can include creating electronic ballots for voters based on votes received from the voters; digitally signing the electronic ballots; storing the signed electronic ballots; retrieving the signed electronic ballots from storage; verifying the digital signatures on the retrieved electronic ballots; and presenting the voters with validation pages derived from the retrieved electronic ballots, the validation pages including a user interface element for the voters to confirm that the retrieved electronic ballots accurately reflect their vote.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: E-GOVERNMENT CONSULTING GROUP, INC.Inventors: Alisa Backert, Christopher Charles Backert, Christopher Charles Dahl
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Patent number: 9401060Abstract: A device for dispensing coins includes a rotatingly-driven rotary disk, a coin container arranged above the rotary disk, through which coins are fed to a top side of the rotary disk, and a coin discharge. A wiper device is also includes and comprises at least one elastic wiper arm arranged above and at a distance from the top side of the rotary disk and turning with the rotary disk.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Crane Payment Solutions GmbHInventors: Hans-Ulrich Cohrs, Wilfried Meyer
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Patent number: 9401061Abstract: A recycling cash box mechanism of a banknote processing device includes a box body and a transmission mechanism configured to be connected to the box body, the transmission mechanism includes a banknote receiving vane wheel configured to be located at a banknote dispensing/receiving port of the recycling cash box mechanism, and a banknote dispensing roller wheel configured to be located opposite to a banknote stacking plate of the box body, and the banknote dispensing roller wheel is configured to be located at a lateral portion of the banknote receiving vane wheel to form a banknote blocking mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.Inventors: Panfeng Luo, Dong Tan
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Patent number: 9401062Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic transaction device capable of suppressing wasteful operation of the automatic transaction device when a shutter failure has occurred. The present invention is an automatic transaction device that performs transactions related to cash, and is characterized by including: a deposit/withdrawal slot for depositing/withdrawing cash; an opening/closing member that is capable of opening and closing the deposit/withdrawal slot by way of movement; an opened/closed detection unit that detects the opened/closed state of the opening/closing member; and a control unit that opens and closes the opening/closing member at the time of a reset operation of the automatic transaction device to perform operation verification processing, causes detection of the opened/closed state of the opening/closing member after the operation verification processing, and if it is determined that the opened/closed state is abnormal, aborts the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaichi Koide
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Patent number: 9401063Abstract: A personal powered proximity payment device that can be owned by or issued to an individual user is provided. The device is a non-ISO card device that includes an internal dual-mode (contact and contactless) chip card coupled to a display and a robust PIN entry or biometric reading means. The device provides proximity payment functions, and optional proximity payment on/off and local pre-purchase account holder verification functions to the individual user.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATEDInventors: Elizabeth M. Foran-Owens, John Wankmueller, Cristian Radu
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Patent number: 9401064Abstract: A system and method for use in one or more casino establishments for offering a game of chance with multiple wheels. A player may bet on one or more of the wheels to win an award. The resulting pay is based on the combination of the final position of the wheels after they come to a stop. The award may be the cumulative value for winning outcomes on each of the wheels, it may be a set outcome depending on the combination of symbols on a win line across the wheels, or it may include special awards such as multipliers and wild card wins depending on the wheel configuration. The system and method are offered on an electronic multi-wheel gaming system with multiple player terminals connected to a set of electro-mechanical wheels or video wheels displayed on a screen, but may also be deployed in other forms such as on a live table game with a live operator of mechanical wheels, or on a general purpose computing device connected to a network.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Respin LLCInventor: Kent Young
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Patent number: 9401065Abstract: A gaming system is described. The gaming system can include one or more host devices and EGM clients that communicate with one another over a network. Various non-gaming applications can be maintained on the host device. In response to a request received from an EGM client, a non-gaming application program can be executed on the host device. Content from the non-gaming application can be converted to a media stream that is sent to the EGM client for output. The media stream can be processed using a codec executed on the EGM. Input data associated with the content can be received at the EGM and sent to the host device. The content from the non-gaming application executed on the host can be adjusted in response to the input data received from the EGM.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Steven G. LeMay, Dwayne R. Nelson
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Patent number: 9401066Abstract: A gaming system and method providing a collection game independent from the primary games of a gaming system. In one embodiment, the collection game includes a plurality of elements and a winning element combination. During play of the collection game, randomly or upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the gaming system releases one of the plurality of elements to players. The gaming system repeats the process of releasing elements until one of the players collects all of the elements of the winning element combination. The first player to collect all of the elements of the winning element combination wins an award or prize.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Daniel De Waal, Lance R. Peterson, Vincent P. Smith, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Kimberley Campbell
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Patent number: 9401067Abstract: The present application provides a game playing information integration system which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, particularly fixed customers, and thereby capable of effectively introducing a gaming machine to invoke demands of players as users and managers of gaming facilities in a well-balanced manner from a result obtained by logically analyzing the gaming machine. (a) Game playing period at one time of each player in gaming machine unit, (b) change in balance over time of player in a game playing period, (c) operation time of the gaming machine unit, and (d) data relating to profit of a shop side by the gaming machine are generated, the degree of satisfaction of player is computed based on (a) and (b), and the degree of satisfaction of a shop side is computed based on (c) and (d).Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Kengo Takeda
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Patent number: 9401068Abstract: A publisher-subscriber architecture with standardized and/or dynamic event/message look up can be implemented on wagering game establishment networks to establish a robust and flexible reporting and reacting mechanism. This publisher subscriber architecture is extendible to allow processes to publish and subscribe to other processes in different network through an intermediary publisher/subscriber or publisher/subscriber manager.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
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Patent number: 9401069Abstract: The gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provide an opportunity for a player to place a replay wager for a group or set of a plurality of plays of a wagering game. In one embodiment, the replay wager activates a replay feature which the player can use a designated number of times (such as one time) over the plurality of plays of the wagering game. The player's use of the replay feature causes the gaming system to redisplay the previous play of the wagering game, and provide any awards associated with the previous play of the wagering game. After the player uses the replay feature over each of the designated number (such as one) of the plurality of plays of the wagering game, the player cannot use the replay feature for any of the remaining plays of the plurality of plays of the wagering game.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Daniel J. De Waal, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Patent number: 9401070Abstract: A gaming system and method for identifying and handling strictly fractional credit portions. The system and method is used in games that offer credit values that do not fall within a recognized denomination. For example, a game in which 1 credit is equal to 0.1¢ or another acceptable fractional value. The strictly fractional credit portions are subject to a secondary or special game procedure prior to cash-out by the player that guarantees a specified theoretical return to the player, while at the same time allowing for an exciting game experience upon cash out.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Respin LLCInventors: Kent Young, Cyrus Luciano
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Patent number: 9401071Abstract: A poker machine apparatus has a pay line multiplier that is randomly selected for each active pay line. The pay line multiplier varies for each round of play. An extra wager may be required from the player to activate this feature during the play of a casino game. A player makes a wager to activate at least two pay lines to be played in the casino game. For each active pay line, a multiplier is randomly selected from a group of various multipliers and the selected multiplier is assigned to the activated pay line. The casino game is then played to achieve an outcome on each pay line. Each pay line that has a winning outcome has any associated award increased by the multiplier for that pay line.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: IGTInventor: Ernest W. Moody
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Patent number: 9401072Abstract: A gaming machine coupled to at least one server via a network includes a display device configured to display a game to a player playing on the gaming machine, and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller detects an award trigger during play of the game, and awards a token upon detection of the award trigger, wherein the token includes an activation date, an expiration date, and a value that is unknown to the player at the time of being awarded. In response to a redemption request by the player, the controller determines a redemption status of the token and, based on the redemption status, awards the token value to the player or notifies the player that the token is expired.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Daniel J. de Waal, Vincent P. Smith, Cameron Anthony Filipour, Ali M. Saffari
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Patent number: 9401073Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods utilizing in tournament game play. An electronic gaming device may include a plurality of reels. One or more paylines may be formed on at least a portion of the plurality of reels. The electronic gaming device may include a memory and one or more processors. The memory may include one or more tournament game structures with one or more skill-based tournament game play structures. The one or more processors may initiate the one or more tournaments based on one or more tournament game structures. The one or more tournaments may be at least based in part on one or more skill-based tournament game plays.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Cadillac Jack, Inc.Inventors: Sigmund Hyunjai Lee, Carmen DiMichele
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Patent number: 9401074Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture provide for a bingo game including at least one special ball having an associated special function. In one embodiment, one or more special functions may have persistent effects on one or more bingo spaces (e.g., of a bingo card) and/or may be combined with the effects one or more other special functions.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Gamesys Ltd.Inventors: Mary Louise Macbeth, Mary Brittney Bean, Thomas Newton, Hans Elias, Adam Scott, Romina Thirunaman, Stefan Hodgson
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Patent number: 9401075Abstract: A modified version of a Blackjack game includes a plurality of Blackjack rules including at least one player rule and at least one dealer rule. The modified Blackjack game includes at least one deck of cards, a plurality of participant hands formable from the deck, and a plurality of game administrator hands formable from the deck. A game outcome can be produced by applying the player rule to at least one of the game administrator hands, and by applying the dealer rule to at least one of the participant hands.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul D. Miltenberger, Scott A. Caputo
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Patent number: 9401076Abstract: A game machine uses a lottery region containing the cells, provides a game opportunity that changes symbols on the cells by causing the symbols of a symbol group to appear on the portion of the cells, determines by lottery, at least a portion of the symbols which should constitute the symbol group, causes at least the portion of the symbols constituting the symbol group to appear in the lottery region based on a lottery result so as to change at least the portion of the symbols arranged on the cells by moving the symbol group including the symbol determined by the lottery result on a movement path containing two directions and stopping the symbol group so that at least the portion of the symbols of the symbol group is arranged on the cells, and determines a prize winning based on the symbols arranged on the cells by the symbol group.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
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Patent number: 9401077Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct transactions with ATM devices.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.Inventor: Kevin Laracey
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Patent number: 9401078Abstract: A chassis may include a plurality of slots each configured to receive a module having one or more information handling resources, wherein each slot is configured to electrically and communicatively couple the module to other components of the chassis. The chassis may also include a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of slots. The controller may be configured to receive an electrical signal indicative of a user action associated with the chassis. The controller may also be configured to, responsive to the electrical signal: cause a first visual indicator associated with a first module received in the chassis to indicate a selection; for a period of time following receipt of the electrical signal, cause at least one second visual indicator of modules received in the chassis to mute; and at the conclusion of the period of time, cause the at least one second visual indicator to unmute.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventor: Robert Barrett
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Patent number: 9401079Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for converting a control track designed for use with a number and/or type of haptic output devices to be used with other numbers and/or types of haptic output devices. For example, a computing device may convert the control track into another control track that can be applied to other types and/or numbers of haptic output devices. The converted control track may be compatible for use with a smartphone or other system that includes a different number and/or type of haptic feedback devices than the system for which the haptic track was originally designed. In this manner, the user of the smartphone or other system may experience haptic feedback using a device that is different from another haptic feedback system for which the control track was originally designed for use. The conversion may occur locally at the smartphone or other system and/or remotely at another device.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Immersion CorporationInventors: Vincent Levesque, Jamal Saboune, David M. Birnbaum
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Patent number: 9401080Abstract: An approach is provided for synchronizing video frames. Video proxies corresponding to a video master are generated. Each of the video proxies is frame-accurate with respect to the video master. The video proxies are distributed to multiple applications and/or devices that are configured to collaboratively use the video proxies. The approach also allows the user to move a session from one device to another device, while preserving frame accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventor: Sreenivas Rachamadugu