Patents Issued in January 3, 2017
  • Patent number: 9536370
    Abstract: An electronic single-space parking meter mechanism is provided. The electronic single-space parking meter mechanism includes an inner housing having a front side and a rear side. The meter mechanism includes wireless communications hardware including an antenna. The meter mechanism includes a payment reader supported by the inner housing and an electronic display screen supported by the inner housing. At least a portion of the antenna is located above at least a portion of the electronic display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Duncan Parking Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Jones, Balu Subramanya, Ryan Vincent, Steven A. Jones, Amith S. Belawadi
  • Patent number: 9536371
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods are disclosed. An example gaming system includes a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, one or more of the display positions including at least two symbols, and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes. Each symbol combination includes one symbol from each display position used to form the symbol combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael A. Shai-Hee
  • Patent number: 9536372
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations can include electronically connecting to social network servers for independent online social networks. The social networks provide social network accounts logged on to one or more of the social network servers. The gaming server hosts an online communal wagering game. The operations can further include initiating, based on one or more criterion associated with the communal wagering game, an automatic search across the social network servers for a set of the social network accounts that satisfy the one or more criterion. The operations can further include electronically transmitting, based on search results, an electronic invitation to the set of social network user accounts to participate in the communal wagering game. The operations can further include electronically linking ones of the set of the social network user accounts that respond to the electronic invitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Brian J. Barclay, Mark B. Gagner, Andrew C. Guinn
  • Patent number: 9536373
    Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises detecting receipt of a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game, and activating a first bonus feature in response to one or more first eligibility criteria, the first bonus feature having a first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises activating a second bonus feature in response to one or more second eligibility criteria, the one or more second eligibility criteria including activation of the first bonus feature. The second bonus feature has a second bonus payback percentage higher than the first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises displaying a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game, and in response to at least one triggering event associated with the first and the second bonus features, conducting the first or second bonus feature if the first and second bonus feature is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Robert L. Kyte, Michael W. Mastropietro, Jeremie D. Moll, Matthew J. Ward, Peter R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9536374
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations can include presenting wagering game content for a casino wagering game to have a two-dimensional appearance via an autostereoscopic display device. The operations can further include detecting an indication to change a presentation of the two-dimensional appearance without stereoscopic depth to have a stereoscopic three-dimensional appearance having stereoscopic depth. The operations can further include detecting a game condition for the casino wagering game, determining a degree of stereoscopic three-dimensional depth to use for the wagering game content based on a value for the game condition, and changing the presentation of the two-dimensional appearance to the stereoscopic three-dimensional appearance in response to determining the degree of the stereoscopic three-dimensional depth to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Brian D. Manning, Scott A. Massing, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 9536375
    Abstract: Systems for a networked gaming system are disclosed, including an entertainment game controller connected to a game world controller, and constructed to: communicate game world information; receive a request to aggregate information; aggregate game world information, encode and associate it with a transaction identifier; receive a gambling outcome; display gambling outcome; a real world controller connected to the game world controller, and constructed to: receive a wager request; determine gambling outcome; communicate gambling outcome; the game world controller connected to the entertainment game controller and to the real world controller, and constructed to: receive game world information; determine whether or not to generate an aggregation request; generate an aggregation request; communicate plurality of transaction identifiers; receive game world information and transaction identifier; determine whether the transaction identifier is valid; disaggregate game world information, communicate wager request;
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Clifford Kaylin, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 9536376
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game including a symbol generator modification event. In various embodiments, the gaming system is configured to provide a slot game, each play of which employs a subset of a plurality of symbol generators. If a symbol generator modification event occurs in association with a first play that employs a first subset of the symbol generators, the gaming system removes one of the symbol generators from the first subset and adds another one of the plurality of symbol generators to the first subset to form a second subset, and employs the second subset for a second play. The gaming system removes and adds the symbol generators to form the second subset such that the average expected payback percentage of the second play is greater than the average expected payback percentage of the first play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Leandro Basallo, Jon M. Leupp
  • Patent number: 9536377
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine has memory components configured for easy removal during programming or validation procedures. A module may carry first and second memory devices on a module board having a module connector configured to removably attach to a baseboard carrying a processor. Accordingly, multiple memory devices may be removed and reinstalled together as a unit. An adapter may be provided to allow connection of the module to an interface device having a standard interface connector. The module may also provide status information regarding the execution of code stored on one or more of the memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Evan Hollander, Scot W. Salzman, Aaron W. Levinsky
  • Patent number: 9536378
    Abstract: While a player is playing one game on a gaming machine, the systems and methods described herein recommend other games to the player based on the player's past gaming history, accessed via player registration, and the player's real time game play. Upon the player selecting a different game, the system may automatically transfers the player's credits between games or gaming machines. Each gaming machine may carry out one or more game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IGT Canada Solutions ULC
    Inventors: Bharat Gadher, Fayez Idris, Dragan Pleskonjic, Peter Post, Andrew McIntyre
  • Patent number: 9536379
    Abstract: A bet sensor for determining the value of a wager includes an at least partially transparent cover having a bet placement surface configured and oriented to support a stack of gaming tokens thereon. The bet sensor includes a mirror arrangement disposed on an opposing side of the at least partially transparent cover from the bet placement surface. The mirror arrangement is located and configured to provide a view greater than 180 degrees of a lateral side surface of the stack of gaming tokens when supported on the bet placement surface. Another bet sensor may include an at least partially transparent cover having a bet placement surface and an image sensor located substantially directly below the bet placement surface, the image sensor configured to capture a view greater than 180 degrees of a lateral side surface of the stack of gaming tokens when supported on the bet placement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Czyzewski, Nathan Wadds, David Bajorins, Daniel Fox
  • Patent number: 9536380
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing gaming device participants to effect trades of player assets for improved odds of attaining gaming bonus events. A player engages in play of a gaming activity, such as a slot game, which includes a standard mode of play and a bonus mode of play. Player assets are traded for an increased probability of attaining a bonus event associated with the bonus mode. A trade amount is surrendered by the player as part of the trade, and the probability of the player attaining the bonus event increased, thereby allowing the player to engage in bonus activity sooner, more frequently, or when otherwise less available to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Bradley Berman
  • Patent number: 9536381
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a game implementer arranged to implement a game and to produce a game outcome, an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the game outcome corresponds to a winning outcome, and a win modification selector. The win modification selector is arranged to select a win modification identifier when a winning outcome exists from a plurality of win modification identifiers including a plurality of win multiply identifiers and at least one win reduce identifier. The gaming system also comprises a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize to a player when a winning outcome exists and to modify the allocated prize using the selected win modification identifier. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Stevens
  • Patent number: 9536382
    Abstract: A gaming system where in one embodiment, as players play the primary games of the gaming devices, players are enabled to join one of a plurality of teams associated with a secondary team game. Each of the teams includes a plurality of players. The gaming system periodically monitors at least one factor or parameter of each player's gaming activity to determine a score for that player. In one embodiment, the scores for each of the players on each team are accumulated to determine that team's cumulative score. If a team's cumulative score reaches a winning value, the gaming system provides a prize to one or more of the players on that team. The gaming system enables players to switch from one team to another in attempt to be on a particular team when that team's cumulative score reaches a winning value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Daniel J. DeWaal
  • Patent number: 9536383
    Abstract: A sponsored hybrid system includes: a real world controller coupled to a game world controller over a network, the real world controller constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credits; an entertainment software controller coupled to the game world controller, wherein the entertainment software controller is configured to execute an entertainment game; and the game world controller coupled to the entertainment software controller, a non-player interface, and the real world controller by the network, wherein the game world controller is constructed to: access a database containing a player profile of the player and a sponsor profile of a non-player; receive from the non-player interface, sponsorship terms involving allocation of gameplay resources during sponsored gameplay of the hybrid game; allocate gameplay resources associated with the sponsor profile to the player profile based on the sponsorship terms; and allocate gameplay resources resulting from a payout of gameplay resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Caitlyn Ross
  • Patent number: 9536384
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to a player (e.g., player may access the video presentation online). This allows a player to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). A player who purchases such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Robert C. Tedesco, James A. Jorasch
  • Patent number: 9536385
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. A real-world wager may be initiated by one or more wager triggers that cause the real-world wager to be placed. The one or more wager triggers may include, without limitation, acquisition of a token, user selection or initiation of interactive media (e.g., selection of a game to play), an occurrence of an event in the interactive media (e.g., based on a user controlled or other in-game action), and/or other events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Game Play Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Fine, David M. Marshall, Douglas W. Tung
  • Patent number: 9536386
    Abstract: A system for personalizable hybrid games including a gambling game and an entertainment game are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, Frank Cire
  • Patent number: 9536387
    Abstract: A system including a bill or note validator of a gaming machine, a host computer, and a game credit meter. The bill or note validator is adapted to receive and recognize at least a first currency and a second currency, each issued by a different jurisdiction, and is further adapted to encode a monetary denomination of the second currency. The host computer is adapted to receive the encoded monetary denomination of the secondary currency, to decode the encoded monetary denomination and to determine an amount of game credit to be credited to the player. The game credit meter is adapted to store a total amount of game credit purchased by the player of the gaming machine including game credit purchased by the player in response to the player inserting one or more bills or notes of either or both currencies into the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC., ARCADE PLANET, INC., BALLY GAMING, INC., BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC., BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC., SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
    Inventors: Thomas P. Doyle, Ronald C. Gallaway
  • Patent number: 9536388
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for identifying and reading gaming tokens. The system includes: a plurality of gaming tokens; a playing surface including a network of conductors disposed to make electrical contact with the conductive rims of the gaming tokens; one or more transceivers disposed under the playing surface and associated with areas where the gaming tokens are placed on the playing surface; and an identification processor in communication with the transceiver to determine the denomination of the token from the data. Each transceiver is configured to transmit an electromagnetic interrogation signal to the conductive layer of a gaming token resting on the playing surface. The grounded circuit, in response to the interrogation signal, responds with data to identify the chip denomination through capacitive coupling between the conductive layer and a transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Karthik Shenoy Panambur, Yogendrasinh Hematji Rajput, Prateek Kumar Baishkhiyar, Ravi Subramanian
  • Patent number: 9536389
    Abstract: A gaming table apparatus has a gaming table with a gaming table support surface. A token sensor assembly includes a container having a height and side walls that define an inside and outside perimeter of the container, and a top surface and bottom surface, a translucent cover disposed on the top surface of the side walls, a circuit board secured to the inside perimeter of the container, a plurality of lights disposed on a top side of the circuit board, and a passive ambient light sensor disposed on the top side of the circuit board. The passive ambient light sensor and the translucent cover may operate within predetermined wavelength ranges for receiving and passing light, respectively. A condition of the passive ambient light sensor may not be polled if the plurality of lights is emitting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Helgesen, Troy D. Nelson, Vladislav Zvercov
  • Patent number: 9536390
    Abstract: Systems and methods for serving patrons in a wagering game environment are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving patron service information, wherein the patron service information indicates activities of a patron in a casino. The method can also include selecting, based on the patron service information, a service for the patron, wherein the patron has not requested the service. Additionally, the method can include presenting a service order instructing a service attendant to deliver the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Dean A. Ehrlich, Andrew Fowler, Mark B. Gagner, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Christopher Green, Kate H. Holmes, Peter Petras
  • Patent number: 9536391
    Abstract: A system and method obtains random award-content information on an economic entity associated with a gaming establishment. The system has an award identifier selected from the group consisting of an article or purchase receipt intimately associated with an electromagnetically functional such as a hand-held information receiving and transmission device that can interrogate the award identifier. The award identifier contains communicable information relating to a random value that can be used for wagering credit in the gaming establishment. A distal server is in wireless two-way communication with the intermediate system entry device, the distal server capable of receiving, storing and transmitting information from the award identifier transmitted through the intermediate system entry device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Joze Pececnik
  • Patent number: 9536392
    Abstract: A bingo system having individual bingo player terminals on which players purchase bingo cards at varying costs and play bingo, coupled to backend computer systems called bingo game managers (BGMs). The BGMs manage bingo game play in two modes, banked and non-banked. Non-banked mode forms bingo games from requests at the same wager level, and forms bingo sessions from bingo games where a bingo session uses a single bingo ball draw. Each wager level has at least one prize pool associated with it; each prize pool is constructed such that it guarantees a given percentage hold to an operator and further enables realistic mimicking of highly complex games such as 5-reel 9-payline slots for use in post-bingo-play displays. Banked mode uses no pools; bingo prizes are generated using an RNG and game template or paytable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Warren R. White, Loren T. Nelson, Walter Eisele, Dale Hermansen, Mark Matthews
  • Patent number: 9536393
    Abstract: A method is described for running a feature on a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming consoles linked by a communication network. The method comprises running at least one elimination round of the feature. A set of participating gaming consoles are determined for the elimination round and a group of options is displayed on the participating gaming consoles. Selections of options from the group are entered by players at the participating gaming consoles and a winning option is displayed from the group of options. Consoles are eliminated from the set of participating consoles unless the winning option was selected at the respective console; and further elimination rounds are commenced unless termination criteria are met. A flashing sequence of lights and sounds may be exhibited to reveal the winning option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY, LTD
    Inventor: Clive Evan Davies
  • Patent number: 9536394
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player's total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player's total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ryan Cuddy, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9536395
    Abstract: A system comprises a client operable to communicate a bet regarding a baccarat game. The system further comprises a controller communicably coupled to the client and operable to determine a result of the baccarat game, the result based at least in part upon one or more digits of at least one financial market indicator at a configurable point in time. The controller is further operable to determine an outcome of the bet based at least in part on the determined result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Dean P. Alderucci, Lee M. Amaitis
  • Patent number: 9536396
    Abstract: Methods for providing gaming advice are provided. For example, regarding a blackjack game, one or more first player cards are identified for a first player and one or more second player cards are identified for a second player. The first and second player cards are displayed to the first player. A probability associated with a first one of the plurality of playing options is determined based at least on a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first player cards, and the one or more second player cards. It is then determined, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CANTOR INDEX LLC
    Inventors: Lee M. Amaitis, Joseph M. Asher, James C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9536397
    Abstract: A peep device for a poker card game machine includes a box. The box is provided with first and second video cameras, circuit boards having light emitting diodes for fill-in light, and a reflector on top of the box. The reflector has first and second sight holes corresponding in position to the first and second video cameras. When a poker card slowly passes through the first and second sight holes and the first and second video cameras, the suit and the number of the poker card will be displayed slowly for the player to peep at the poker card with excitement. The light emitting diodes illuminate to shoot the poker card clearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Tzu-Hsiang Tseng
  • Patent number: 9536398
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing participation in gaming activities that involve replacement items, replacement cards, or other draw-type activity. A player is allowed to hold cards (or other items) of a starting hand/payline. Multiple sets of potential replacement cards are provided, from which the player can select the desired set of replacement cards. The selected set of replacement cards is used to complete the player's hand. Multiple hands may be played concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Erica Berman
  • Patent number: 9536399
    Abstract: An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records corresponding to authorized user or financial account data. The machine includes a card reader for reading data from user cards. The automated banking machine causes financial transfers related to financial accounts that correspond to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine also includes devices that control the supply of power to included devices to avoid exceeding power supply capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service System Division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventor: Songtao Ma
  • Patent number: 9536400
    Abstract: By detecting the specific frequency component included in an alarm sound by a frequency analysis and a period analysis, even under a noisy and echo environment, a reliable, almost-no-false-detecting and small-sized abnormality detection device, which can detect the alarm sound, can be realized and then an integrated security system can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: I & T Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Asada
  • Patent number: 9536401
    Abstract: Systems and methods for indicating the presence of a mobile device within a passenger cabin are provided. A method for indicating the presence of a mobile device within a passenger cabin of a vehicle includes linking a vehicle computing device with the mobile device, determining whether a vehicle ignition is off and whether a vehicle lock has been actuated. The method further includes generating an audible mobile device search signal that is played through a cabin and waiting to receive a response from the mobile device as to whether the mobile device detected the audible mobile device search signal. The method further includes determining whether the mobile device is within the passenger cabin based on whether a response was received from the mobile device and generating a first audible indication when the mobile device is within the passenger cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Carleton Morgan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9536402
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a sound output circuit, a notification sound control circuit, and a stop instruction accepting circuit. The sound output circuit outputs a sound. The notification sound control circuit controls a notification sound output by the sound output circuit. The stop instruction accepting circuit accepts a stop instruction of the notification sound. The notification sound control circuit increases frequency of the notification sound in phases as time elapses when the notification sound is output by the sound output circuit, and stops the notification sound output by the sound output circuit when the instruction is accepted by the stop instruction accepting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Ogishi
  • Patent number: 9536403
    Abstract: An electronic shelf label system is provided. There is provided a method in which an electronic shelf label periodically transmits its remaining battery capacity to a server in a electronic shelf label system according to the present invention, and the server converts the battery level into a remaining battery life (time) and provides the same, so that a manager can check the remaining battery life in a management mode of the server and a terminal, and easily manage an electronic shelf label using a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Hye Kim, Yong Taek Oh
  • Patent number: 9536404
    Abstract: A bottle fraud system and method encapsulates a wireless communication tag into a bottle to ensure the authenticity of the bottle. The tag stores information about the bottle. The tag is physically integrated into a bottle stopper through encapsulation by multiple layers of a polymer film and a wax composition. The physical condition to the bottle stopper or the layers serves as an indication of whether tampering has occurred. The information in the tag is accessible through a reading device. The reading device communicates with a database that stores information about the bottle and analyzes the probability of fraud with an algorithm. The algorithm analyzes the information about the bottle, such as shipping history, contents and location, to predict whether fraud is likely. Thus, both the physical condition of the bottle, and the predictive capacity of the algorithm help detect fraud on the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventors: Steven M. Glamuzina, Jr., Jeffrey C. Murphy
  • Patent number: 9536405
    Abstract: In a method for determining an unreported event status change for an asset, an asset management system receives a position of an asset from a reporting source coupled with the asset. The position is associated with a particular time by the reporting source. The position is compared to a previous position of the asset, the previous position being associated with a previous time that is earlier than the particular time. Based upon the comparing of the position to the previous position, it is determined if an unreported event status change has occurred for the asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventor: Rob Petrie
  • Patent number: 9536406
    Abstract: A regional monitoring system in communication with a plurality of locally displaced detectors can implement a fusion of inputs from a variety of additional non-system devices. The monitoring system includes a wireless receiver or transceiver enabling the system to detect local traffic from the non-system devices, such as sensors. Information received from such non-system devices can be combined with information from system detectors to initiate activity on other networks, to energize actuators, or to activate system detectors that normally reside in a low energy inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Sheflin, Kenneth L. Addy, Aravind Padmanabhan
  • Patent number: 9536407
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for remote monitoring of tagged physical objects in an emergency. A user may set up a series of beacons at a facility of the user, such as an office or hospital. The beacons may connect to tag devices as the devices enter a coverage area for the wireless beacons or upon request by a service provider server in an emergency situation. The beacons communicate distance information regarding the tag devices and associated physical objects to a service provider server. The service provider server may determine the location of a physical object and provides the location to the user or to emergency personnel. In an emergency, the service provider server may provide a notification to a specific subset of users, in which the notification includes the location of a physical object of interest to the subset of users because of the emergency condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: PayPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Todasco, Autumn Paige Crossett, James Fussell
  • Patent number: 9536408
    Abstract: A programmable proximity alert system for providing a sensory reminder to a parent when the exit the vicinity of a vehicle possibly containing their child. The programmable proximity alert system comprises a remote receiver adapted to sense the presence of a seat transmitter that it has been paired with and provide plural sensor alerts upon exiting from within a predetermined proximity of the seat transmitter, as well as a coding remote for initiating a bonding request that pairs a remote receiver and a seat transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Sofia Pinder
  • Patent number: 9536409
    Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides systems, devices, methods and computer readable media for accident avoidance during mobile device usage. The mobile device may include a processor, a camera, one or more sensors, and accident avoidance circuitry. The accident avoidance circuitry may include user focus detection circuitry configured to detect that an application executing on the processor requires attention focus of a user of the mobile device; motion detection circuitry configured to determine motion of the mobile device based on input from the camera or from the one or more sensors; obstacle detection circuitry configured to detect obstacles in the path of the determined motion of the mobile device based on input from the camera; and warning generation circuitry configured to generate an alarm to the user based on the detected user attention focus, the determined motion and the detected obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL IP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Barth
  • Patent number: 9536410
    Abstract: Techniques are described for tracking intruders of a monitored property by the unique identifying characteristics or “digital fingerprints” of electronic devices carried by the intruders. A system detects an alarm event at a monitored property based on output from at least one sensor located at the monitored property. In response to detecting the alarm event at the monitored property, the system initiates a process to gather electronic identifiers for mobile electronic devices located within the monitored property at a time corresponding to the detected alarm event. The system determines electronic identifiers for the mobile electronic devices located within the monitored property at a time corresponding to the detected alarm event. The system stores in electronic storage, information indicating the determined electronic identifiers for the mobile electronic devices located within the monitored property at a time corresponding to the detected alarm event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: David James Hutz
  • Patent number: 9536411
    Abstract: A computer storage medium has embodied thereon computer-readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for identifying biometric markers within a vehicle. The method includes detecting a biometric marker of a driver within the vehicle and displaying data associated with the biometric marker to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: James Peter Foley, Emery Charles Gulash, Kazutoshi Ebe, Yifan Jiang, Warren Jing Po Chou
  • Patent number: 9536412
    Abstract: An alarm system comprising at least one first signal source communicating with a central unit configured for providing a logically true alerting signal when predetermined conditions are met. The signal sources may include transponders and a confidential list containing the relation between an RFID chip and the name of the person identified may be stored in a computer. A verification unit is connected to independent signal sources and is configured for providing a logically true verification signal when predetermined conditions are met. The signal sources may also comprise means for measuring bio-functions, and the verification unit may be carried by a safety manager. In such a case, the safety manager will also be able to confirm or reject an alerting alarm from the central unit manually. An alarm signal is activated if and only if the alerting signal is true and the verification signal is true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventors: Yngvar Hansen, Inger Ropstad Hansen, Hans Malterud
  • Patent number: 9536413
    Abstract: A method for an apparatus to monitor an appliance includes receiving information about a translation of a control knob of the appliance along an axis and a rotation of the control knob around the axis, determining if a first event has occurred based on the information, and, when the first event has occurred, starting a timer and determining if a second event has occurred based on the information before the timer reaches a time interval. The method further includes, when the second event does not occur before the timer reaches the time interval, triggering an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Persia, Inc.
    Inventors: Yucheng Shao, Chien-Hsun Wang
  • Patent number: 9536414
    Abstract: A device for delivering stimuli to a user of a vehicle includes a data generating device that generates signals regarding information regarding a vehicle or surroundings about the vehicle. A human interface device is provided for positioning in contact with a user of the vehicle. The human interface device receives the signals from the data generating device. A control is operable to select the signals from the data generating device for operating the human interface device to deliver stimuli to the user of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Perry R. MacNeille
  • Patent number: 9536415
    Abstract: A low cost solution for detecting the flow of water in a sink using a non-contact vibration sensor coupled with a computer vision system and a passive switched RFID tag that becomes active upon detection of water flow. In some embodiments, the water flow forms an active antennae system for the RFID tag. The sensor comprises a piezo electric film attached at the underside of a water receptacle, for example, a sink so as to collect the sound generated by water splashing or hitting the sink and a vision system using active detection techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Nicholas P. De Luca, Koichi Sato, Harry Rivera
  • Patent number: 9536416
    Abstract: A vehicle has an interior antenna for detecting transmissions from a keyless entry device (KED) and/or a radio frequency device (RFD) associated with a portable item when inside the vehicle, and an exterior antenna for detecting transmissions from the KED and/or the RFD when outside the vehicle. A processor receives determines, based on transmissions received by the interior and exterior antennas, passing of the KED from inside to outside the vehicle, and generates an alert if the interior antenna detects the RFD remaining inside the vehicle after said passing. The processor may further determine passing of the RFD from outside to inside the vehicle based upon detection by the exterior antenna of transmissions indicating the RFD is outside the vehicle, and subsequent detection by the interior antenna of transmissions from the RFD indicating it is inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Spahl, Stephen David Fleming
  • Patent number: 9536417
    Abstract: People at different levels of an organization can carry personal emergency response system (PERS) devices. A remote server can monitor the personal emergency response system devices, for example tracking device locations and monitoring for emergency alerts. The organization can include managers who are assigned level-specific responsibility. For example, a first manager may be responsible for a first portion of the organization, and a second manager may be responsible for a second portion of the organization. The managers may log into a website to monitor the people in their respective portions of the organization. The website can provide a manager with information that is specific to that manager's portion of the organization, as provided by the personal emergency response system devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Numerex Corp.
    Inventor: Yoganand Rajala
  • Patent number: 9536418
    Abstract: An industrial field real-time working condition radio alarm system, comprises a transmitting end (11) and a receiving end (12) carried a worker; the transmitting end (11) comprises a detector (101) to detect the current working condition, a transmitting end processor (102) to process an on-off signal sent by the detector (101), and a radio transmitter (103) to transmit an alarm signal to the receiving end (12) under the control of the transmitting end processor (102); the receiving end (12) comprises a radio receiver (105) to receive the alarm signal, a receiving end processor (106) to process the alarm signal sent by the radio receiver (105), and an alarm (107) to send an alarm under the control of the receiving end processor (106); the transmitting end processor (102) is connected to the detector (101) and the radio transmitter (103) respectively; and the receiving end processor (106) is connected to the radio receiver (105) and the alarm (107) respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Harbin East Alarm Equipment Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fei Mao, Weigang Wang, Xuannan Li, Jilong Liu
  • Patent number: 9536419
    Abstract: A method for providing notification of an alarm event to a plurality of individuals and communication therebetween having steps that include: receiving an alarm event signal from an alarm system indicating an alarm event; determining a customer associated with the alarm event; determine a plurality of individuals that are to be contacted based upon the customer that has been determined as being associated with the alarm event; selecting a transmission vector having a corresponding transmission identifier; correspondingly associating the selected transmission identifier with the alarm event; sending an alarm event notification to each of the plurality of individuals utilizing the selected transmission vector; and receiving a response to the notification and automatically associating the same; directing each of the plurality of individuals into a virtual chat room corresponding to the alarm event; and facilitating communication between the individuals within the virtual chat room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: LiveWatch Security, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Bradford Morehead