Patents Issued in September 20, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180268618
    Abstract: A gate control system that controls access to a facility is disclosed. A processor receives an identification code when a user begins use of the facility, and controls the storage device to store the identification code in association with a time that the user begins use of the facility. The processor receives an identification code when the user ends use of the facility and a time that the user ends use of the facility. The processor acquires, from an external server transaction data associated with the identification code. The processor calculates a use fee for the facility based on calculated use time of the facility and the received transaction data. The processor performs a payment processing for the calculated use fee, and opens the gate when the payment processing is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Youji TSUNODA
  • Publication number: 20180268619
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing distribution items having unique identifiers affixed thereon. The unique identifiers can include computer readable codes and written alphanumeric strings generated by a user. A system receives the unique identifier and requests payment information from a user, and stores an association between the unique identifier and the payment information, and processes the item according to the payment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Bentley, Nii-Kwashie Aryeetey
  • Publication number: 20180268620
    Abstract: Provided as display portions configured to display maintenance related information pieces about a plurality of maintenance items of a vehicle are: a first display portion configured to, when at least one of the plurality of maintenance items is in a predetermined maintenance period, display the maintenance related information piece about the maintenance item that is in the predetermined maintenance period, the predetermined maintenance period including a predetermined maintenance timing and periods before and after the predetermined maintenance timing; and a second display portion configured to, when none of the plurality of maintenance items is in the maintenance period, display only the information piece about a nearest one of the maintenance timings of the plurality of maintenance items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Tsuneo Kudou, Hiroyuki Watase, Fumiaki Sugino
  • Publication number: 20180268621
    Abstract: An automated system for driver scoring and reporting maintains a performance history associated with particular drivers in a stored database of multiple drivers. An automated system tracks actual operation of the vehicle and maintenance performed on the vehicle to determine an estimated percentage of life remaining for the vehicle. The backend database stores the records of multiple vehicles. Services, such as i) usage-based vehicle leasing and ii) a certified life-expectancy of a vehicle, can use raw vehicle data and enriched vehicle data captured via a dongle module in the vehicle to determine the expected life remaining of that vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Intelligent Transporation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Seval OZ, Tammer ZEIN-EL-ABEDEIN, Yao ZHAI
  • Publication number: 20180268622
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a local data server configured to receive, via a network connection with the vehicle, data indicative of operating parameters of the vehicle, define a plurality of indices, each index corresponding to a segment of the received data, send the indices to an end user data server; and, in response to a request, from the end user data server, including at least one of the indices, send the corresponding segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Perry Robinson MACNEILLE, Yimin LIU, Jeffrey YEUNG, Omar MAKKE, Patrick Lawrence Jackson VAN HOECKE
  • Publication number: 20180268623
    Abstract: A driver logging device events generator. In example, the events generator includes an input port configured to receive telemetric data generated by a vehicle control module and sent from a vehicle diagnostic port; a positioning information source; and an electronic processor coupled to the input port and the positioning information source. The electronic processor is configured to receive telemetric data, location information, and timing data; process the telemetric data to extract a subset of data points; receive driver input from a mobile device; determine at least one event value based on the driver input, the location information, and the timing data; generate a logging device event from a pre-determined set of events based on the at least one event value, the event including an event type and an event code based on the driver input and the subset of data points; and send the event to the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: James Allen Ambrose, Jason Phillip Goodrich
  • Publication number: 20180268624
    Abstract: A distributed system for monitoring and control of a vehicle having a plurality of physical systems, and a plurality of subsystems includes a supervisory controller with a first computer readable storage media for monitoring and storing a plurality of operational parameters. The supervisory controller communicates with a server a communications networks. A first method includes storing historical data in a database; simulating the physical system within the vehicle using a functional model; and continuously improving the model. Specific implementations of the first method include the physical system being a hydraulic system, an internal combustion engine, and a battery module. A second method includes storing historical data in a database; estimating a transfer function characterizing the behavior of a physical system; and diagnosing a subsystem as having a failure or a degradation. A third method includes monitoring operation actions related to safety, productivity, and efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Donald James Remboski, Jacqueline A. Dedo, Dani Shafriri, Asi Biton, Arik Greenberger
  • Publication number: 20180268625
    Abstract: A system for optimizing a travel speed of an off-road vehicle utilizes time-over-target values as a threshold indicator for diagnostics and subsequent remedial actions. A road used for haulage is divided into a plurality of predetermined road segments. A target transit time is defined for each of the predetermined segments to provide a target speed curve. An actual transit time values is measured for the off-road vehicle in transiting the road. A comparison outcome is generated by comparing the target transit time value with the actual transit time value. The comparison outcome is useful in adjusting the travel speed for the vehicle to minimize the time over target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Nicholas Hickson, Brian Vaughan, James Milne
  • Publication number: 20180268626
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a recording device capable of acquiring information on behavior of a moving body with high accuracy by using a simple configuration. [Solution] Provided is the recording device including: a sensing unit configured to output data obtained through sensing; a reception unit configured to receive a wireless signal from a signal transmission device provided in a moving body; a recording control unit configured to control start and stop of recording of the data output from the sensing unit, in response to the wireless signal received by the reception unit from the signal transmission device; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the data recorded under the control of the recoding control unit, to an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: KENJI ARASHIMA, HIROSHI OKADA, YUKIHIRO KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20180268627
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the use of one or more lift devices used for raising or lowering the landing gear of a semi-trailer. A data management module within the system includes a suite of features which are used to take received lift device data and convert it into an easily understood graphical representation. Each lift device is configured to transmit data related to its operation to the data management module of the system which then displays the lift device data as a graphical representation and/or data set according to the type of user using the system. The lift device data which is displayed to the user can include an amount of torque applied to the lift device, the number of times the lift device has been activated, or any other data point which gives the user an overall snapshot of the performance of the lift device(s) under their control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: David R. Sun
  • Publication number: 20180268628
    Abstract: A vehicle access control system configured to estimate, based on received message, at least one of distance, position, or direction of a target to the vehicle prior to initiating the engine of the vehicle, the vehicle access control system comprises a master node and at least one slave node. The target is in communication with the master node and the slave node via a communication link having low energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Vivek Jain, Maurizio Bocca, Huang Lee, Christoph Lang, Abtin Keshavarzian
  • Publication number: 20180268629
    Abstract: An intelligent wireless access system for a vehicle comprises a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for tracking a target and estimating distance, a position, or direction of the target to a vehicle. The computer program comprises a routine of set instructions for causing the machine to perform receiving a beacon packet from the target, determining signal strength information for the beacon packet, transmitting a message comprising the signal strength information and the beacon packet for the target, and estimating based on received message, at least one of distance, position, or direction of the target to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Vivek Jain, Maurizio Bocca, Huang Lee, Christoph Lang, Abtin Keshavarzian
  • Publication number: 20180268630
    Abstract: Systems and methods for secure authentication for access control, home control, and alarm systems are provided. Some methods can include receiving first user input at a mobile device, determining whether the first user input matches preconfigured user input, when the first user input matches the preconfigured user input, transmitting an access signal to an access control system, a home control system, or an alarm system to trigger access thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Sivarajan Manoharan, Dinesh Babu Rajamanickam, Sunil Madhusuthanan
  • Publication number: 20180268631
    Abstract: An access control device including a credential reader circuit configured to enter a standby mode, awaken from a standby mode, and receive data from a nearby credential. The access control device further includes a credential detection circuit having a memory configured to store program instructions, an antenna, and a processor electrically coupled to the antenna and to the credential reader circuit, wherein the processor is configured to execute the stored program instructions to: transmit an interrogation signal, receive a reflected interrogation signal with the antenna, transmit an activation signal to the credential reader circuit in response to the received reflected interrogation signal wherein the reflected interrogation signal includes I and Q values, receive a false detection signal from the credential reader circuit, and adjust at least one of the I and Q threshold values of the reflected interrogation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: David I. Newby, Frank A. Nardelli, William B. Ainley, Michael Reuter, David Smith, Jineesh Kunnoth
  • Publication number: 20180268632
    Abstract: An electronic device associated with a lock device detects a trigger event related to security of a smart home environment, determines a target state of the lock device based on the trigger event, and in accordance with a determination that the target state indicates a security threat: determines a current state of the lock device, compares the target state of the lock device with the current state of the lock device, and provides or foregoes provision of instructions to operate the lock device based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Malhotra
  • Publication number: 20180268633
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The disclosed electronic device includes a memory for storing a key for unlocking a door lock, a communication module for receiving location information, and a processor electrically connected to the memory and the communication module. The processor reads a plurality of keys from the memory based on the location information received via the communication module, and transmits the read plurality of keys to the door lock sequentially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Hyuk-Joon KWON, Hyungil LEE
  • Publication number: 20180268634
    Abstract: A folded bill recognizing method and a folded bill recognizing device are provided. The folded bill recognizing device includes: a bill input port configured to receive a to-be-recognized bill or a sample bill; a signal collecting module configured to collect a CIS image of the bill, to obtain an infrared transmission image T and an infrared reflection image F; a signal recognizing module configured to recognize whether the to-be-recognized bill has a fold; and a receiving/rejecting module configured to perform a receiving or rejecting operation on the to-be-recognized bill. The device can effectively recognize a folded bill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guanglu Liu, Jian Chen, Zhuming Xiao, Weirui Zheng
  • Publication number: 20180268635
    Abstract: A coin roll crimp includes an indentation along a circumference portion of the crimp, the indentation formed by cutting or tearing the circumference portion of the crimp from the body of a coin roll wrapper proximate the end of the base of the circumference portion of the crimp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Marok
  • Publication number: 20180268636
    Abstract: In a banknote handling apparatus capable of dealing with a depositing/dispensing process by a banknote cassette and a manual depositing/dispensing process, the banknote handling apparatus enables a depositing process without dispensing a reject banknote, which has been deposited from the banknote cassette, to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Hitoshi KOBAYASHI, Shingo HASHIMOTO, Kazuhiko TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180268637
    Abstract: A portable item transfer container typically includes an item storage unit and an item transfer unit configured to (i) dispense items stored in the item storage unit and (ii) receive items and store the items in the item storage unit. The container also typically includes a memory, a processor, and an item transfer application stored in the memory. The item transfer application is typically configured to: receive an activity request from a user, wherein the activity request includes (i) a request to withdraw items or (ii) a request to store items; authenticate an identity of the user; determine that the location of the container is within an authorized region of the user; and in response to authenticating the identity of the user and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user, process the activity request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Manu Jacob Kurian, Joseph Benjamin Castinado
  • Publication number: 20180268638
    Abstract: A sheet processing system A includes a sheet processing apparatus 1 that transports and stores a sheet in one of short-edge leading orientation and long-edge leading orientation; a sheet housing section 3 that stores the sheet in the other of the short-edge leading orientation and the long-edge leading orientation; and an orientation changing section 4 that transports the sheet between the sheet processing apparatus 1 and the sheet housing section 3, changes transport orientation of the sheets which is being transported between the short-edge leading orientation and the long-edge leading orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Takuro HAMADA, Takeshi YOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180268639
    Abstract: A banknote processing apparatus capable of properly storing and dispensing a banknote is provided. The banknote processing apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a banknote; a long-edge orientation storage unit that receives and stores, in a first orientation, the banknote transported by the transport unit, the first orientation being an orientation in which a short edge of the banknote is a leading edge thereof; a short-edge orientation storage unit that receives and stores, in a second orientation, the banknote transported by the transport unit, the second orientation being an orientation in which a long edge of the banknote is a leading edge thereof; and a control unit that selects, by controlling the transport unit, a storage destination for the banknote transported by the transport unit, from among any of the long-edge orientation storage unit and the short-edge orientation storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Takeshi YOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180268640
    Abstract: Automatic vending machine (100) having: product storage device (4) arranged inside heat-insulated chamber (1a); cooling device (30) cooling products (C); control unit (40); and back-side duct (6). Pooling device (30) has: compressor (21); condenser (22); expansion mechanism (23); and evaporator (11) provided inside chamber (1a) and evaporating a refrigerant to cool ambient air, and cools products (C) by cooling the air in chamber (1a) and circulating air through back side duct (6). Expansion mechanism (23) has electronic expansion valve (23a) capable of adjusting aperture of a refrigerant flow path, and in both a case of partial cooling operation and a case of entire cooling operation, control unit (40) executes aperture control of controlling aperture (S) of electronic expansion valve (23a) so that a temperature difference (?T) between a temperature of the inside of chamber (1a) and refrigerant evaporation temperature (T3) of the evaporator (11) are within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Mototaka TADIKA, Yasuhiro Yamazaki, Takashi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20180268641
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the creation and dispensing of a custom formulation within a package at a retail point of sale. In one aspect, the invention includes an automated dispensing apparatus including at least a two-axis robot arm. In another aspect, the invention includes an automated mixer adapted to mix the dispensed custom formulation within the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Julie R. Bartholomew, Kristopher Killen, William M. Hunter, Michael E. Istok
  • Publication number: 20180268642
    Abstract: A method of operating a gaming machine includes receiving a deposit of wagering credits from a player, determining a threshold stress level for the player, initiating a gaming session, wherein the gaming session includes a plurality of plays of a primary game on the gaming machine, and wherein in at least one of the plurality of plays of the primary game, the gaming machine receives a wager by the player from the deposited wagering credits, monitoring a performance of the player in the gaming session, generating a player stress metric in response to the performance of the player in the gaming session, wherein the player stress metric is indicative of a stress level of the player, comparing the player stress metric to the threshold stress level, and in response to the player stress metric exceeding the threshold stress level, activating a stress relieving feature of the gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Georgette M. Pan, Neil Abrams
  • Publication number: 20180268643
    Abstract: A device and method are set forth which includes an electronic, video display including L-shaped sub-displays mated to define a frame surrounding an opening which accommodates a physical object such as the view of a second display. The second display may be a mechanical component extending through the opening to operate for example a pointer operating with the video display to provide a function for a game. The opening may also be configured to reveal a mechanical, electro-mechanical or video display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Vernon BERNARD, Karl WUDTKE
  • Publication number: 20180268644
    Abstract: Systems and method for providing a slot-type game in which an award outcome is determined based on the amount and position of each of a randomly generated first and second symbols in the game outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Aimin Cong
  • Publication number: 20180268645
    Abstract: A system and method for peer-to-peer gaming is described. One embodiment includes a system for peer-to-peer gaming, the system comprising an at least one gaming client, wherein the at least one gaming client is configured to accept a selection of an at least one gaming option from a player, and allow the player to play a game based on the selection of the at least one gaming option; an administration server, wherein the administration server is configured to receive the selection of the at least one gaming option from the at least one gaming client, and initiate the game for the player based on the selection of the at least one gaming option; and an at least one gaming server, wherein the at least one gaming sever is configured to run the game and transmit data about the game to the administration server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: AG 18, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Koustas, John Mix, Alexander Oxman
  • Publication number: 20180268646
    Abstract: The interleaved wagering system includes a display and a mobile device, where the mobile device is connected to a wager server by a process server. The wager server is also connected to credit input and credit output devices. A user inputs credit items into the matching wagering system providing wagering credits for a matching game. The mobile device hosts an interactive application providing a matching game where an interactive game board, including a grid and symbols, is displayed to a user, who selects and places a symbol on the board. When a specified number of matched symbols within the grid on the board is determined, a credit wager is executed in the wager controller, resulting in a credit wager outcome utilizing a random number generator and paytable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Eric Meyerhofer, Carlos Schulte
  • Publication number: 20180268647
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods of determining the performance of a gaming device by analyzing the incremental revenue generated by the gaming device. This method may include identifying an analysis period, recording game performance data for a set of gaming devices and a test gaming device during the analysis period, and comparing the recorded data to historical gaming data for the set of gaming devices. Some examples of this method may also include developing parameters for the analysis period and using those developed parameters to normalize the recorded game data for the analysis period prior to comparing the recorded data to the historical gaming data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Publication number: 20180268648
    Abstract: Conventional systems have a problem that, after drawing cards onto a table in a baccarat game, if a dealer makes a mistake in dealing cards to the Player side and the Banker side or in passing cards to game participants after dealing, the mistake cannot be detected. An abnormality detection system according to the present invention can detect an abnormality or cheating and issue a warning or stop the abnormality or cheating based on an image analysis result from an image analyzing device 12 when, after drawing cards onto a table in a baccarat game, a dealer makes a mistake in dealing cards to the Player side and the Banker side or in passing cards to customers after dealing, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Publication number: 20180268649
    Abstract: An electronic game and method of operating the same are disclosed. The electronic game is of the type requiring manual inputs by a player to electrical apparatus. A payment acceptance apparatus is operable by the same game play input apparatus as that used to receive and process the inputs to play the game. The electronic game may include a display operable to display queries and instructions for the player. The game may be for example a miniature crane operable to grasp and retrieve objects from an object storage area of the electronic game, responsive to manipulation of the crane by manual inputs by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: James Plescia
  • Publication number: 20180268650
    Abstract: A system and method may include providing a platform, the platform enabling an advertiser to advertise and sell a product, and the platform enabling a plurality of gamers to play interactive games and buy products from advertisers. A system and method may include allocating points to a gamer, and, upon determining that, using points, the gamer purchased a product from the advertiser, reducing a balance of the advertiser according to the number of points used by the gamer for purchasing the product. A playroom may be associated with an advertiser. A system and method may include enabling gamers to use points for purchasing goods from an advertiser if the amount of points in the pot of the advertiser is greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MARKETISING SMART VENTURES LTD.
    Inventor: Binyamin Alon
  • Publication number: 20180268651
    Abstract: A pre-paid casino-players' system includes providing a card of a casino to a player thereof and on which is credited a desired prepaid amount of negotiable currency; providing a personal-identification number (PIN) exclusive to the card and associating the player and card with each other; permitting the player to purchase goods and services directly from the casino and any third-party vendors located on and off premises of the casino via a transaction using the card and PIN, whereby a price of the purchase is debited from a sum remaining on the prepaid amount on the card; and permitting further negotiable currency to be added to the sum remaining on the prepaid amount on the card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Shawntia L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20180268652
    Abstract: A casino management networked computer system is described. The networked computer system includes a patron evaluation server computer including a processor programmed to initiate a tier review operation for patron account records having gaming transaction occurring within a predefined period of time. The processor programmed to determine a current tier level in a selected patron account record and determine a target tier level having a higher ranking. The processor is programmed to identify a tier point amount and an evaluation period associated with the target tier level, retrieve gaming transactions occurring within the identified evaluation period, calculate an amount of tier points based on the retrieved gaming transactions, and modify the selected patron account record to upgrade the tier level to the target tier level upon determining the calculated amount of tier points is equal to or greater than the tier point amount associated with the target tier level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Crittenden
  • Publication number: 20180268653
    Abstract: A level-based skill progressive electronic gaming machine is provided. An interactive controller presents a skill-based game having a plurality of skill objectives to a user, detects the user's achievement of none or more of the skill objectives, determines a skill metric based on the user's skillful play of the skill-based game while achieving the skill objectives, and communicates the user's achievement and the skill metric to the process controller. A process controller generates a plurality of chance-based outcomes using a random number generator and a wager of credits, receives the user's achievement and the skill metric, determines an award of credits based on the plurality of chance based outcomes and the user's achievement of none or more of the skill objectives, determines a progressive award of credits based on the skill metric, and generates a credit output of the credits awarded to the user using the credit output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Bryce Cire, Frank Cire, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Publication number: 20180268654
    Abstract: Secondary gaming functionality is provided for a casino gaming machine (26) by a secondary controller (200) of the casino gaming machine. The secondary gaming functionality may function to provide a multi-game experience at the gaming machine or remotely at another gaming machine or other device, e.g., a smart phone (28), tablet, personal computer (32), and the like, via the casino gaming machine. The multi-game experience may comprise one or more secondary wager-based games in addition to the one or more primary wager-based game(s) provided by the primary gaming functionality of the gaming machine. The secondary controller functionality may cause the secondary wager-based game to be presented upon a single input player to the gaming machine which also initiates the primary game, whereby primary and secondary games are initiated seamlessly to the player via a single input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180268655
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display during play of a base game, the set of symbols including a plurality of non-configurable symbols and a plurality of configurable symbols; a random number generator for generating random prize values; a value assigner for assigning a generated random prize value to each selected configurable symbol; and an outcome evaluator for monitoring play of the base game, wherein a feature game is triggered in response to a trigger event, the trigger event comprising a predefined number of the plurality of configurable symbols being selected by the symbol selector for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Scott Christopher Olive
  • Publication number: 20180268656
    Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a major progressive jackpot linked to wagering games having different jackpot triggers with different probabilities. The major jackpot winning probabilities may be normalized such that players may have the substantially the same odds to win the major progressive jackpot regardless on the wagering game being played. During game play, the gaming stations may be randomly selected to participate for a chance to win the major progressive jackpot according to an eligibility probability, which may be inversely proportional to the probability of a jackpot trigger for the wagering game administered by the gaming station. Players may be informed of whether the current round of game play is eligible for the major progressive jackpot after wagers are placed and before the current round of game play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Zbigniew Czyzewski, E. Damian Bless, Jeremy Halter
  • Publication number: 20180268657
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display in the form of a matrix of rows and columns and a controller configured to conduct a game instance upon receiving a wager via a player input. In conducting each game instance, the controller activates a number of columns on the display based on the wager and controls a display to indicate which columns in the display have been activated. The controller determines if any of the activated columns meets a triggering condition and controls the display to display the activated columns which meet the triggering condition with a modified background. The controller then determines an outcome of the game instance based on whether a predetermined number of activated columns which meet the triggering condition are adjacent one another and makes an award to the player based on the outcome of the instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: James Kroon
  • Publication number: 20180268658
    Abstract: In a gaming machine, a first display area displays a plurality of wager options. A wager selection mechanism is operable by a player to select more than one of the wager options to be activated concurrently and to individually select wager amounts to apply to each selected wager option. A second display area displays a game outcome of a spinning reel game of chance. A game outcome evaluator evaluates the game outcome based on each of the concurrently activated wager options and respective ones of the individually selected wager amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Billy Tam, Nitin Gupta, Gaurav Goel, Pradip Rangari
  • Publication number: 20180268659
    Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one input device adapted to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance, an input indicative of a wager drawn on the credit balance for a wagering game, and a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance. In response to a wager input, a wagering game is initiated that includes the spinning and stopping of a set of bonus reels through a plurality of bonus spins populating a bonus array with bonus symbols. The bonus reels comprise a combination of symbols reducing display processing requirements and improve mapping random numbers to displayed symbols for display during bonus spins having reduced durations. When completed, an award is determined based according to values associated with less than all of the bonus symbols displayed in a bonus outcome array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jack CHESWORTH, George Napoleon BOUVIER, Kimberly COHN, Daniel P. LOUIE, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20180268660
    Abstract: A gaming machine with a hot mode is disclosed. A processor of the gaming machine can determine whether the gaming machine is in a hot mode state. After determining that the gaming machine is in the hot mode state, the gaming machine can determine a number of hot mode spins and perform each hot mode spin of the number of hot mode spins. Performing a hot mode spin can include receiving a wager, determining an outcome of a random event, generating a display related to the outcome of the random event, and determining a payout for the wager based on the outcome of the random event and a hot-mode return rate. The hot-mode return rate can be selected so that a sum of payouts during the number of hot mode spins is expected to exceed a sum of wagers made during the number of hot mode spins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Hylton Rottcher
  • Publication number: 20180268661
    Abstract: An item matching skill competition wagering system is disclosed. An interactive controller is constructed to receive three or more sets of symbols for an item matching game from a process controller, present the item matching game to the two or more players, detect player selections of matching symbols, determine a winning player as between the two or more players based on the players selections. The process controller is constructed to communicate with the interactive controller, generate the three or more sets of symbols, and communicate the three or more sets of symbols to the interactive controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Edvard Toth, Zachary Foley
  • Publication number: 20180268662
    Abstract: Administrating a package of shuffled playing cards to prevent fraudulent card exchanges. The administrating system is configured to calculate places and a number of packages of shuffled playing cards at places of the backyard, the places of playing tables, places of carriers and the disposition place using information obtained by the loading step and unloading step and the administrating system calculates by every ID codes bases 1) places of packages registered by the registering step for registering to a data base of administrating system and a number of packages place by place from information obtained from the loading step and the unloading step. The administrating system is configured to recognize whether there is a lost package by comparing the information of all ID codes registered in registering steps with the ID codes at places of packages obtained at the calculating step from the loading step and the unloading step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Publication number: 20180268663
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a document of value processing device may include: a secured chamber configured to accommodate one or more documents of value and to protect at least one handling device from unauthorized access; the at least one handling device disposed inside the secured chamber to handle at least an output of the one or more documents of value out of the secured chamber may; a control circuit coupled to the at least one handling device to control an operation of the at least one handling device; and a security circuit disposed inside the secured chamber. The security circuit is configured to receive a cryptographically processed signal, to verify the received cryptographically processed signal, and to disable or enable the operation of the at least one handling device based on a verification result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Carsten von der Lippe, Bernd Redecker
  • Publication number: 20180268664
    Abstract: An example item carousel system is described. The system includes a terminal including a processor and a scanner. The system includes a carousel rotatably mounted to the terminal, the carousel including two or more bagging sections configured to receive bags. The system includes a motorized actuator configured to actuate rotation of the carousel relative to the terminal. The terminal is configured to read data from a machine readable identifier associated with an item using the scanner, and retrieve, using a retrieval module, item characteristics associated with the item from an item database. The terminal is configured to identify one bagging section of the two or more bagging sections of the carousel capable of receiving the item with the item characteristics, and mechanically rotate the carousel relative to the terminal with the motorized actuator such that the identified one bagging section is oriented toward a bagging area of the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Matthew Allen Jones
  • Publication number: 20180268665
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and program related to a Point of Sale (POS) web-based application/website and user interface that may be applied on any product that can be photographed, videoed, or transformed. The image created through the program can be provided to the customer electronically by email or other service who may want to purchase products or services listed in sequenced steps at a later date with auto generated links, while also allowing the retailer to be able to record the products the customer tried on or used but did not purchase. The program further enhances the shopping experience by allowing the customer or seller to record the sequenced steps with purchased and not purchased products used during any service for any product in any industry which then ties into the program's social media website or various other social media websites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Sylvester, Alana Sylvester
  • Publication number: 20180268666
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to allow a customer to insert money into a payment device without the customer giving the money to a sales clerk. Provided is a POS device, including a product registration device (10) and a payment device (20). Registration of products is carried out with the product registration device (10). Payment for the products which are registered with the product registration device (10) is carried out with the payment device (20). The payment device (20) further comprises a first insertion port (212a) and a second insertion port (212b). It is possible to insert coins into the first insertion port (212a). It is possible to insert coins into the second insertion port (212b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tsugunori TAKATA
  • Publication number: 20180268667
    Abstract: A system is provided that controls an offline haptic conversion. The system receives an input from a source. The system further converts the input into haptic signals. The system further encodes the haptic signals. The system further stores the haptic signals within the source, where the haptic signals are combined with the input within the source. Alternately, rather than encoding the haptic signals and storing the haptic signals within the source, the system handles the haptic signals separately, independent of the source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Robert LACROIX, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Jean-Francois BLANCHARD-DIONNE, Stephen D. RANK, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Loc Tien PHAN