Patents Issued in March 16, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170072271
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning golf equipment. The apparatus includes a flexible outer layer shaped to form an exterior surface of a pouch, a flexible inner layer shaped to form an interior surface of the pouch, and a water impermeable layer disposed between the flexible outer layer and the flexible inner layer, with each having edges that are coupled together to form an opening of the pouch. The flexible inner layer is made from a textured fabric for wet-cleaning golf equipment and the flexible outer layer may also be made from a textured fabric for drying and dry-cleaning the golf equipment. The apparatus includes an anti-wicking barrier disposed on the interior surface. The anti-wicking barrier may prevent moisture from inside the pouch from escaping the pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Brian Betz
  • Publication number: 20170072272
    Abstract: When hitting a ball to a target with a putter, the ball often travels to a point which is deviated to the right from the target. When a golfer looks at the target just after taking his address, he turns his head to a target about a rotation axis which extends through the back of his head. When this rotation axis is not horizontal and an angle defined by the rotation axis and his sighting line to a putter head is not 90°, he has an optical illusion which tricks him into believing that he has to correct his address position. The patter of the present invention is provided with a thin-plate pendulum thereby allowing him to turn his head about the rotation axis while keeping the angle defined by the rotation axis and his sighting line at 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Taiseikogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyosi Simizu
  • Publication number: 20170072273
    Abstract: A golf club set having a stable swing feel for the player is obtained regardless of the club number. Moments of inertia of the grips of respective the golf clubs are substantially uniform regardless of the respective golf club numbers. Moments of inertia of the heads of respective the golf clubs decrease as the respective golf club numbers increase. Moments of inertia of the shafts of respective golf clubs increase as the numbers of respective golf clubs increase. Moments of inertia of the golf clubs are made substantially the same by cancelling out the decrease in moments of inertia of the heads and the increase in moments of inertia of the shafts. The shafts of the golf clubs increase in weight, and respective gravity center locations of the shafts are located closer to the tip ends of the shafts, as the numbers of the golf clubs increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Masaki Wakabayashi, Yoshihito Kogawa
  • Publication number: 20170072274
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a crown opposite a sole, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end, and a hosel. The golf club head also includes a club face having a loft below a loft threshold in which increasing a coefficient of friction between a golf ball and the club face decreases the spin imparted on the golf ball after impact with the club face. A surface feature positioned on a portion of the club face is configured to increase the coefficient of friction between the golf ball and the club face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Martin Jertson, Ryan Stokke, Evan Greer, Calvin Wang, Erik Henrikson
  • Publication number: 20170072275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club, and more particularly to a wood-type club head with a separable body component. In certain aspects, the invention provides a golf club head with a face and hosel body member and one or more of an interchangeable aft body member. The invention further provides a variety of insights and mechanisms for coupling the interchangeable member to the body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Steven M. Mitzel, Ryan L. Roach, Peter L. Soracco
  • Publication number: 20170072276
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and a front portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Publication number: 20170072277
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of golf club heads having an internal cavity and features that cause the golf club head to have an improved acoustic performance when striking a golf ball. Some embodiments include one or more weight tracks and/or weight ports formed in the sole for receiving adjustable weights. The golf club heads can include one or more internal ribs, thickened wall regions, and/or posts positioned within the cavity that increase the rigidity of the club head and improve the acoustic performance of the club head when striking a ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Mata, Joe Hoffman, Brad Poston, Matthew David Johnson, Mark Vincent Greaney, Justin David Kleinert, Joseph Reeve Nielson, Christopher John Harbert, Nathan T. Sargent, Rachel Elizabeth Mullen, Christian Reber Wester
  • Publication number: 20170072278
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to golf clubs with adjustable mass properties. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods and mechanisms for adjusting a club head center of gravity and/or moment of inertia by way of an adjustable weight assembly positionable along the sole of the club head body. When in a first position, the weight assembly provides a lower center of gravity so as to increase launch angle and reduce spin rate, resulting in greater overall distance of ball flight. When in a second position, the weight assembly provides a greater mass moment of inertia, which effectively enlarges the sweet spot and produces a more forgiving club for off-center hits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Joshua G. Breier, Andrew Curtis, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Scott H. Moreira, Douglas E. Roberts, Ryan L. Roach
  • Publication number: 20170072279
    Abstract: A golf grip composed of multiple rubber compounds producing desirable properties within the golf grip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Edward Wang, Alex Walls, Wen-Chen Su
  • Publication number: 20170072280
    Abstract: A pitch mark repair tool is provided. The repair tool includes a stationary tube having a top end and a bottom end. At least one spike extends from the bottom end. A handle portion is secured to the top end of the stationary tube. A slide tube is slidably engaged with the stationary tube. The slide tube includes a bottom end having an aperture sized to fit at least one spike therethrough. A spring is disposed about the stationary tube in between the slide tube and the handle portion. The spring biases the slide tube so that the at least one spike is at least substantially disposed within the slide tube. The spike protrudes through the aperture when a pressure is applied to the bottom end of the slide tube 16 against the bias of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Perry
  • Publication number: 20170072281
    Abstract: A rolling disc game. The present game comprises a pair of stakes, configured to be secured into the ground or into a base element, and a disc having an edge with sufficient thickness to enable the disc to roll easily. The method of playing the rolling disc game involves a player standing at a starting position that is a predetermined distance away from the stakes and rolling the disc with the goal of having it roll in between the upstanding stakes. In some embodiments, multiple pairs of stakes are placed at various distances apart, with a point value assigned to each pair of stakes. Players take alternating turns. The player with the most points at the end of the game is deemed the winner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Carl Betts
  • Publication number: 20170072282
    Abstract: An automatic launching assembly that delivers balls vertically from the ground upwards to a user. The user may take swings at the vertically-launched balls and deliver the balls into a catching assembly. The catching assembly intercepts the balls and directs the balls to a return ramp and a ball sequencer. The ball sequencing mechanism aligns the balls into a single-file line and returns each ball back to the launching mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Norman Drake Lewis, Waldon Lewis
  • Publication number: 20170072283
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes capturing data about motion of a sports object caused by one or more athletes manipulating the sports object, transmitting the captured data out of the sports object wirelessly in real time while the one or more athletes are still manipulating the sports object, and presenting information that incorporates the captured data about motion of the sports objects with one or more wearable devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: RUSSELL BRANDS , LLC
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Davisson, Michael J. Crowley, Kevin King, Matthew Anthony Tyson
  • Publication number: 20170072284
    Abstract: A robot server assembly for serving table tennis balls comprising a body defining an internal ball path, means for introducing balls into the internal ball path at the lower end of the body; a ball guide at the upper end of the back panel, a serving head assembly at the upper end of the body having a ball discharge tube in communication with the ball guide; a pair of opposed discharge wheel operatively associated with the discharge tube; a plurality of gears associated with the serving head; at least one servo motor associated with at least one of the gears to actuate rotation of the gear; whereby actuation of a least one of said gears affects 180° rotation of the serving head about a longitudinal axis of the serving head, up and down movement of the serving head and side to side movement of the serving head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Newgy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Michael Thoman, Burak Cevik
  • Publication number: 20170072285
    Abstract: A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller, display and indicator system thereon. The controller has at least one sensor wherein activity of a user wearing the device is detected. The controller selectively illuminates the indicator system to indicate a level of activity of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron B. Weast, Jamian R. Cobbett, Kwamina Crankson, Michael Selby, Gwen Sullivan, Caroline Petra Annette Bleeker, Alex Mestas, Suniti Nina Walia, Allison Gourley, Kristopher L. Homsi, Demi Raven, James Zipperer, Edward Stephen Lowe, JR., Tara Greer, Stephen Kob, Maria Ioveva, Cesar Marchetti
  • Publication number: 20170072286
    Abstract: A helmet for receiving the head of a hockey or lacrosse player, the helmet having an outer shell and an inner lining covering at least partially the inner surface of the outer shell. In one embodiment, the helmet comprises a skeleton at least partially covered by the inner lining, a movable occipital pad and movable temple pads. The inner lining can be made of an absorptive material such as foam, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene and can be overmolded onto the skeleton. The occipital pad and the temple pads may be arranged with an inward bias so as to help the helmet self-adjust to provide an advantageous fit on the player's head. In some embodiments, the outer shell and skeleton, or the outer shell and the inner lining, cooperate to define a ventilation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David H. RUDD, Thierry KRICK
  • Publication number: 20170072287
    Abstract: A protective sports glove is provided with a padding arrangement having improved flexibility for the user of the protective glove. The glove includes: a palm portion that cooperates with a dorsal portion to receive a metacarpus part of a hand. A plurality of finger portions are formed at a joint along a top edge of the dorsal portion distal from a wrist. A backside pad is attached to the dorsal portion, such that the upper edge of the pad aligns with and extends along at least a portion of the joint but is detached from the dorsal portion. A plurality of padded segments are disposed along a length of each of said finger portions. The one padded segment is attached to the respective finger portion at opposing side edges thereof and detached along an edge adjacent to the joint with the dorsal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Paul GAIT, Chris PERRA, Patrick MCKERNAN
  • Publication number: 20170072288
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for flattening the top surface of skis to facilitate laser engraving thereof, to the method of laser engraving of skis employing such apparatus, and to a custom laser-engraved ski production and inventory management system wherein blank skis are manufactured, defects culled, and the blank ski of suitable length etc. is matched to the customer and laser engraved, preferably using the disclosed flattening apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew J. Rouse, Patrick van den Broek
  • Publication number: 20170072289
    Abstract: An adjustable roller skate is provided with a lower frame including a toe stop; a wheel assembly secured to the lower frame; an upper frame including a groove, a trough disposed rearward of the groove, a channel at a rear end, and a seat disposed in the trough and having a recess communicating with the channel; an adjustment mechanism including an externally threaded shaft disposed in both the channel and the recess, and a handle pivotably secured to a rear end of the externally threaded shaft and disposed externally of the upper frame; a sole including a toe cap, an internally threaded member on an underside of a rear end and threadedly secured to the externally threaded shaft, and a stem on the underside and slidably disposed in the groove; and a shoe disposed around an edge of the sole with the toe cap concealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Ching-Ho Yeh
  • Publication number: 20170072290
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel skateboard truck. More particularly, the present invention pertains to skateboard truck with two independently adjustable pivot points that achieve a unique variable turning motion without affecting the skateboard's stability. Additionally, the skateboard truck includes an offset axle that swings towards the direction of the turn, thus shifting the wheels away from the side of the skateboard, eliminating wheel bite, and increasing stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Baldauf, Kurt Baldauf
  • Publication number: 20170072291
    Abstract: Improved skateboards and methods of obtaining or providing skateboards with improved trucks. Trucks have two axles or axes, two primary wheels, and two secondary wheels, and skateboards have eight wheels, four in front and four at the rear portion of the skateboard. The four primary wheels support most or all of the weight of the skateboard when the skateboard is on a flat surface, and the two secondary wheels support the weight of one portion of the skateboard (e.g., front or rear) when the primary wheels cross a crack (e.g., a sidewalk contraction joint). In various embodiments, the secondary wheels are located outboard of the primary wheels. Further, in a number of embodiments, the axis of rotation or axle of the primary wheels remains parallel to that of the secondary wheels, whether the skateboard is going straight or turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: John R. Marusiak, John A. Solheim, Eric V. Cole
  • Publication number: 20170072292
    Abstract: Provided herein is a card toy for two player games that enables the players to quickly determine whether or not a combination is attained even with a variety of combinations. The card toy for two player games includes one play field for playing the game and a deck of cards for each player. Each deck of cards includes two sorts of cards, monster cards and skill cards. A combination indicator and a decision mark indicator are disposed along one side of each monster card and each skill card. In placing the cards in a standby area 9, the cards are overlapped one on another by shifting the cards such that some of the decision marks in the combination indicators of the respective cards may be arranged in a matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Ryoji Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20170072293
    Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insertion location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insertion locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, James P. Helgesen, Vladislav Zvercov, Feraidoon Bourbour, Robert J. Rynda
  • Publication number: 20170072294
    Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time to randomly designated single-card receptacle in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20170072295
    Abstract: An automatic playing card shuffler incorporating means for detecting marked cards. One or more light spectrum emitters or variable light spectrum illuminators transmit light at frequencies/wavelengths which is reflected off card backs through one or more spectrum filters causing invisible markings to become visible. A camera may capture images of the now visible markings. A camera and software collaborate to capture images and analyze the same for markings on the card backs such as smudges, nicks and scuffs and edge demarcations. The automatic playing card shufflers are configured to not only detect marked cards but to detect patterns relative to the card markings. The automatic card shufflers are communicatively linked with a casino management system and/or security system such that casino personnel may be alerted in real time to the discovery of marked cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Earnest Riordan, Louis Wilson DeGregorio, Keith Marty Taft
  • Publication number: 20170072296
    Abstract: Automatic card shufflers may include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting cards from the card shuffler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
  • Publication number: 20170072297
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for a board game or an electronic version of the same, including a match-3 component and a strategy game piece component. The game may be implemented as a physical board game or as a computer-executed application. Matches of three or more tokens or icons result in an effect that is applied to game pieces of the player who made the match and/or an opponent of the player who made the match. The effect on game pieces resulting from a match are limited to game pieces positioned within the rows and/or columns that correspond to the rows and/or columns within which the matched tokens or icons are positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Dean Lehwalder
  • Publication number: 20170072298
    Abstract: An educational board game in which players advance game pieces from location to location on a map of the United States by correctly answering trivia questions related to cinema, music, concerts, stage plays, movie locations and plots, and the individual artists, performers, directors, composers, etc. who are associated with the performance industry. The locations on the board can be where movies were filmed, where concerts were played, where stage plays were presented, where the actors, directors, musicians, etc, reside or information about their careers and performances, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: William Cleveland
  • Publication number: 20170072299
    Abstract: A system and method for playing a game. The table can be electronic or physical. The table has a game surface surrounded by two side rails and two end rails. The two end rails are approximately perpendicular to the two side rails. The table has at least one goal located on the downstream end of the table. The goal has at least one goal slot for receiving a puck which has been thrown. The table also has a scratch guard located upstream of the goal separating said game surface into a shooting zone and a field of play. The field of play is downstream from the shooting zone. A puck is thrown into the goal and scores are tabulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Daniel R Corthell
  • Publication number: 20170072300
    Abstract: A quiz game content producing method enables a quiz creator to make, register, and publicize a quiz game set so that other people are able to use the quiz game set in the unit of the quiz game set which comprises one or more quiz steps and game progression material. The present invention also relates to a system and a method for providing a quiz game for a quiz participant who is connected to a quiz channel by enabling a quiz operator to use a publicized quiz game set. In addition, the present invention relates to a system and a method for providing a quiz game using a bidirectional quiz step. The present invention enables a quiz creator to: compose each quiz step by using a unique creative technique in the arrangement of quiz questions or the progression schedule of a quiz game according to selections or difficulties of the overall quiz questions; and develop quiz game content of a quiz game set unit which includes the quiz step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Young-Real KIM
  • Publication number: 20170072301
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying movie related information on a system (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, and devices comprising processing, memory, communications, and a display) capable of displaying information and features of an application's movie related functions (e.g., dilemmas, filmmaking, locations, music, plot info, quotes, food recipes, shopping, superfan, trivia, vehicles & weapons identification, and performer/character identification) in each of a plurality of presentation modes (e.g., synchronization, lists, and games modes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Max Abecassis, Ryan M. Donahue
  • Publication number: 20170072302
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying movie related information on a system (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, and devices comprising processing, memory, communications, and a display) capable of displaying information and features of an application's movie related functions (e.g., dilemmas, filmmaking, locations, music, plot info, quotes, food recipes, shopping, superfan, trivia, vehicles & weapons identification, and performer/character identification) in each of a plurality of presentation modes (e.g., synchronization, lists, and games modes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Max Abecassis, Ryan M. Donahue
  • Publication number: 20170072303
    Abstract: Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Albert Shum, Thomas Foxen, James Meschter
  • Publication number: 20170072304
    Abstract: An example information processing system includes a computer device comprising a housing, a display on a front surface of the housing, and processing circuitry configured to generate images; and first and second controllers each configured for detachable attachment to first and second different side surfaces of the housing of the computer device. The computer device is configured to receive signals from the first and second controllers both when the first and second controllers are attached to the computer device and when the first and second controllers are detached from the computer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KOIZUMI, Yui EHARA, Munetaka NISHIKAWA, Kochi KAWAI, Kenichi MAE
  • Publication number: 20170072305
    Abstract: A game processing apparatus displays an image of virtual space on a display that displays an image by using a sensor for identifying the position and direction of a certain body part of a player and the display. A controller in the game processing apparatus displays the image of the virtual space on the display in accordance with the position and direction of the certain body part of the player, and, when an information providing condition regarding the position and direction of the certain body part of the player is satisfied, outputs to-be-provided information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GREE, Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20170072306
    Abstract: A social game and the like that can increase the fun and amusement of a team battle and enhance players' motivation to participate in or continue a game by suppressing an occurrence of any non-participation team not participating in the battle are provided. A guild status determination unit determines, for each guild, whether the guild is in an inactive state or an active state, based on a result of detecting a login state of each player. A guild integrated control unit forcibly disbands a guild (i.e. an inactive guild) determined to be in the inactive state, based on guild activity information notified from the status determination unit. A disbandment notification unit notifies each player belonging to the inactive guild, of the disbandment of the guild.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Koichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20170072307
    Abstract: A video game system includes a video server system (VSS) having a first network address. The VSS pairs a game controller having a second network address with a display system having a third network address. The VSS receives controller data packets directed to the first network address from the game controller over a first communication channel. The controller data packets include the second network address and information for updating a game state of a video game. The VSS decodes the controller data packets and directs generation of an updated game state of the video game using information within the controller data packets. The VSS generates a video stream of the video game using the updated game state. The VSS transmits the video stream to the display system at the third network address over a second communication channel. The first and second communication channels differ by at least one network segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David Perry, Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira
  • Publication number: 20170072308
    Abstract: A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU and shared memory. The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David Perry, Andrew Buchanan Gault, Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira
  • Publication number: 20170072309
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for executing video games by a gaming computer and enabling remote play. In example, a method includes receiving a command from a first player via a first client and a computing network. The method updates a game state of a video game based on the command received from the first player and receiving a first point of view of the first player via the computing network. The method communicates at least part of the game state to a first image generator executed by the gaming computer and sends via the computing network to the first client a first image based on the game state and the first point of view using the first image generator. The first image is configured for rendering by the first client. The first image is a video image of a plurality of video images presented to the first client, which is accessing the gaming computer for remote play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David Perry, Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira
  • Publication number: 20170072310
    Abstract: A storage module is provided for storing game information that is necessary for the progress of the game. A request to allow the game to proceed is acquired from each of a plurality of players, game information is changed according to these requests and stored in the storage module, log information indicating the relation between before and after the game information is changed is stored in the storage means, the log information is used to reproduce game information older than a first point in time until the game information at the first point in time, and the reproduced game information is used to reproduce the progress of the game and provide it to a player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Kazuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20170072311
    Abstract: A player character is placed so as to be linked to a given edge position of a board. A plurality of puzzle pieces including an enemy character piece that represents an enemy character are placed on the board. The player inputs a selection path from the puzzle piece situated at the given edge position or the player character without removing the finger from the board so as to select and delete puzzle pieces among the plurality of puzzle pieces that are placed on the board and belong to an identical type, or are considered to belong to an identical type. When the enemy character piece lies in the selection path, the player character that corresponds to the puzzle piece set to be the start point, or the player character set to be the start point, attacks the enemy character represented by the enemy character piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhito MAEJIMA, Masaki MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170072312
    Abstract: A system is configured for a developer/modeler to be able to define various steps. Each step can be a step in the installation of a product. Each step can have one or more cards. Each card corresponds to a screen which can be presented to a user and which displays various information such as an instruction, a list of items to be installed, etc. There is a sequential relationship between the steps. A first step and a last step are defined, with each step in-between having a preceding and a following step. Similarly, for each of the steps that includes more than one card, there is a sequential relationship between the cards of the respective step, which cards include a first card, a last card, and intermediate cards, each of the latter of which has a preceding card and a following card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Nick Bartomeli
  • Publication number: 20170072313
    Abstract: A game system including a server device connected to a network and one or more terminal devices operated by users and executing a video game that a player character plays a quest in a game space which has a quest data storing unit which stores quest data, a playing status storing unit which stores playing status of the quest, a quest control unit which permits the start of the quest and a hint control unit which notifies the information for the starting conditions. The playing status storing unit acquires the playing status from the quest control unit and updates the playing status, and the hint control unit determines the information for the starting conditions based on the playing status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: CAPCOM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kento KINOSHITA, Seiji HAMAJIMA, Akira TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170072314
    Abstract: A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream. Video frames provided by the video server optionally include overlays added to the output of the GPU. These overlays can include voice data received from another game player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira, Andrew Buchanan Gault, David Perry
  • Publication number: 20170072315
    Abstract: A game program causes a computer to set, if it is determined that a point based on a first action of the character of each of an own player and another player is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a specific period from a time when an instruction to input a second action has been first accepted from the own player or the other player as a cooperation accepting period, to accept the instruction to input the second action up to a maximum number of times set for each cooperation player from a cooperation player other than the player who has instructed input of the second action, among the own player and the other player, during the cooperation accepting period, and to vary an effect of the second action in accordance with the number of times of the instruction to input the second action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GREE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nariaki Wada, Yoichi Shoda
  • Publication number: 20170072316
    Abstract: This invention relates to a wearable autonomous apparatus adapted to altering at least one or more user's senses, such as views, sound, smell, or haptic/tactile, of an alternate reality scene in response to a real physical movement of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Guy FINFTER
  • Publication number: 20170072317
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium including program instructions, a method of controlling a game, and an information processing device make a game more amusing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GREE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoaki NISHIKAWA, Tomoya YUKI, Yuya KOMABA
  • Publication number: 20170072318
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically determining parameters of crafting activities for individual users in a virtual space are disclosed. The crafting activity parameters may be determined based on rate of usage of the virtual space by the users. In some examples, a user usage rate of the virtual space may be determined to measure an amount of time a user spend in the virtual space during a period of real-world time. Based on the determined user usage rate of the virtual space, crafting activity parameters may be determined, for example, to balance differences in time spent in the virtual space by the users. In some implementations, for such determinations of the crafting activity parameters, one or more user normalization standards may be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Publication number: 20170072319
    Abstract: Integrating topic of study content into video games is provided. A request is received from a client gaming device for content of a set of one or more topics of study of a plurality of different topics of study to incorporate into a video game of a plurality of different video games based on a user profile. The content of the set of one or more topics of study to be incorporated into the video game based on the user profile and a set of integration points corresponding to the video game is retrieved from a storage device. The content of the set of one or more topics of study to be incorporated into the video game based on the user profile and the set of integration points corresponding to the video game is sent to the client gaming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: JAMES E. BOSTICK, JOHN M. GANCI, JR., MARTIN G. KEEN, SARBAJIT K. RAKSHIT
  • Publication number: 20170072320
    Abstract: In a computer-based game, discovery and execution a synergy is facilitated. A synergy notification is randomly generated in response to a player event. The synergy notification indicates a discovery of a synergy and optionally includes a synergy quest to be completed by a player. When the player completes the synergy quest, the synergy is unlocked. Accordingly, the synergy is executed if two consecutive synergy actions are detected within a predetermined time window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Xaviant, LLC (a GA Limited Liability Company)
    Inventor: Michael Parker McMain