Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.) Patents (Class 463/1)
  • Patent number: 10594761
    Abstract: An application execution section executes an application that is executable without communicating with a server system. An other user information obtaining section obtains, from the server system, information of another user who has accessed disclosed information of a user of an information processing system, which disclosed information is present on the server system. The application execution section adds a change to execution of the application, based on the information of the another user which is obtained by the other user information obtaining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruyuki Shimoyamada, Toru Nagihashi
  • Patent number: 10576368
    Abstract: A device for online gaming includes a memory that stores instructions. A processor coupled to the memory, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations including receiving a selection of a gaming accessory, receiving a selection of a game, and receiving inputs corresponding to selections of parameters for generating a vibration effect at the gaming accessory. The parameters include a control component of the gaming accessory, a game event associated with the control component, a vibration frequency of the vibration effect associated with the game event, a vibration intensity and duration, and a delay time associated with the event. The processor stores the selected parameters and presents the vibration effect during the game in accordance with occurrence of the game event and in accordance with the selected parameters; the vibration effect is presented after the occurrence of the game event in accordance with the delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Jeffrey Nicholas Mahlmeister, Tino Soelberg, Dave Astels, David Michael Tibbetts
  • Patent number: 10576376
    Abstract: In a communication system including a server and a plurality of communication terminals capable of communication with the server, based on a variety of parameters indicating the status of a space formed within a game playable by the user of each communication terminal over the communication system, the server transmits advisory information, which suggests the next action for the space, to the communication terminal. The communication terminal displays a screen including the received advisory information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GREE, INC.
    Inventor: Takayuki Sano
  • Patent number: 10552920
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for detecting location data of co-located users having a common interest. A interest may be determined for a first user, which may correspond to a subject matter (e.g., item, action, or other matter) that the first user has recently expressed interest in. A location of the first user may be determined for the user and, using the location, nearby users to the first user may be located. Using the nearby users, a service provider may determine whether any of the nearby users shared the interest in common with the first user. For example, a second user may have knowledge of the interest of the first user. Based on the knowledge that the second user has in the interest, the first user and the second user may be connected. The users may receive communication information and/or locations of the other user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: PayPal, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Charles Todasco
  • Patent number: 10546459
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for a method for providing a game on demand over a data network, in a gaming machine. The gaming machine sends a request message for a game application over the data network. In a network mode, the gaming machine receives outputted results from an executed game application over a streaming channel of the data network for network-based game play. During the network-based game play, the game application is downloaded over a download channel of the data network. In a local mode, the gaming machine executes the downloaded game application independent of the network-based game play. The gaming machine switches instantaneously from the network mode to the local mode for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Binh T. Nguyen, Joseph R. Hedrick, Bryan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10546463
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a system that enables funds attempted to be transferred into the system from one or more funding sources to be used in association with various system components prior to the fund transfers being completed by such funding sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, Jeffery Shepherd
  • Patent number: 10543425
    Abstract: Systems and methods for indicating that a boundary is crossed during execution of a video game are described. One of the methods includes generating, by a camera, a field-of-view, the field-of-view encompassing a plurality of boundaries that define a volume. The method further includes capturing, by the camera, one or more images of a head-mounted display (HMD) within the field-of-view. The method includes identifying, by a processor, a position of the HMD in a real-world environment from the one or more images. The method includes determining, by the processor, whether the HMD at the position has crossed one of the boundaries. The method includes generating one or more video frames including a guard rail upon determining that the HMD has crossed the one of the boundaries and sending the one or more video frames to the HMD for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Seth Luisi, Mark Rogers
  • Patent number: 10537810
    Abstract: A data collection device (20) includes: a collection unit (21) that collects game results from game devices (10) that are each used by a different one of a plurality of players when the game devices (10) of the plurality of players have executed a game that allows each player to associate a topic with a prepared description by performing an operation via a graphical interface; and a data analysis unit (22) that applies statistical processing to the collected game results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daishi Kato
  • Patent number: 10536753
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more user-generated remarks from each of a plurality of computing devices where the one or more user-generated remarks are temporally associated with media content in the form of a gaming session presented at the plurality of computing devices and present the one or more user-generated remarks as an overlay combined with the gaming session as a presentation to at least a set among the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda Ann Roberts, E-Lee Chang, Ja-Young Sung, Natasha Barrett Schultz, Robert King
  • Patent number: 10518162
    Abstract: A mission-based cyber training platform allows both offensive and defensive oriented participants to test their skills in a game-based virtual environment against a live or virtual opponent. The system builds realistic virtual environments to perform the training in an isolated and controlled setting. Dynamic configuration supports unique missions using a combination of real and/or virtual machines, software resources, tools, and network components. Game engine behaves in a manner that will vary if participant attempts to replay a scenario based upon alternate options available to the engine. Scoring and leader boards are used to identify skill gaps/strengths and measure performance for each training participant. A detailed assessment of a player's performance is provided at the end of the mission and is stored in a user profile/training record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Circadence Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Morton, Mark Mihelic, Michael Moniz, Paul R. Thornton, Ryan Pressley, Laura Lee
  • Patent number: 10512838
    Abstract: A gaming system has a game server executing software managing a game based on a virtual environment, the game server interacting with a plurality of gaming platforms used by players, receiving update commands from players, updating the virtual environment and serving updated display data to the platforms, and a plurality of game-play behavioral profiles stored in a data repository accessible to the game server, the behavioral profiles specific to individual ones of the players and gaming platforms used by the players, and storing predictive responses associated with circumstances of update commands received. Upon receiving an update command from a player concerning an object controlled by that player, the game server, through the software, poses a query conditioned by the circumstances to the behavioral profile of the player, and if a predictive response is returned, conditions updated predictive display data sent to all players according to the predictive response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Roblox Corporation
    Inventor: John T Kerr
  • Patent number: 10507390
    Abstract: There is a system and method for gamification of real-life events over a computerized network. The system includes an observer module configured to generate real-life data in response to observation of a real-life event. The system includes an interface engine module configured to operate an ongoing computerized game that includes game objects. The system includes an implementation module configured to receive an implementation instruction and automatically effect a real-world occurrence associated with the implementation instruction. The system includes a control module, including a processor, configured to convert real-life data from the observer module into a game object, provide the created game object to the interface engine module for injection into an ongoing computer game, and convert a player interaction into an implementation instruction and provide the same to the implementation module. The system includes a player module configured to permit a player to play the ongoing game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Jack Thomas, Jane Dudley
  • Patent number: 10503582
    Abstract: A method for fault tolerant data integrity verification of safety-related data in a safety-related computer system is disclosed. The method includes a) randomly generating a set of at least two or more initial values, b) calculating, for each of the initial values, one specific CRC reference value, wherein each specific CRC reference value is calculated jointly from the safety-related data to be verified and the initial value associated with the specific CRC reference value, c) storing the pairs of initial value and associated specific CRC reference value, and d) following the steps a)-c), d1) randomly choosing an initial value out of the set of initial values generated in step a), d2) the non-safety-related hardware-engine calculating a CRC value jointly from the randomly chosen initial value and the safety-related data to be verified, d3) comparing the in step d2) calculated CRC value to the reference CRC value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TTTECH AUTO AG
    Inventor: Maximilian Rosenblattl
  • Patent number: 10498689
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating and running contests are provided. In the method and apparatus one or more groups of predetermined criteria based on one or more user posts collected by a software client are generated. The one or more groups of predetermined criteria to one or more challenges are assigned. A response to the one or more challenges is received. In response to receiving the response to the one or more challenges, the response to the one or more predetermined criteria is compared and the correctness of the received response is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Paul Speier, Michael R Givens, Benjamin B Spees
  • Patent number: 10486068
    Abstract: A system and method for providing dynamically variable maps in a video game is disclosed. A map is provided that defines a playable space available to one or more game players in a video game. Gameplay is monitored in real-time for the detection of a trigger event. Upon detection of a trigger event, a map management engine dynamically modifies a configuration of the map to improve the gameplay experience based on the type of trigger event. Dynamic modification of a map may comprise altering one or more of the map boundary, and/or the location, position, size, number, state, etc. of one or more static map objects or dynamic map objects. As a result of the dynamic modification of the map, the map may transform from its initial (or first or beginning) configuration to a modified (or new or second) configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Marr, Keith S. Kaplan, Nathan T. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10478732
    Abstract: An arbitration system is configured to receive, as a set of results data, separate instances of results data from corresponding client computing devices being used to participate in a multiplayer game session. In some examples, an instance of results data comprises input representing an indication or a selection of an identity associated with an outcome of the multiplayer game session. For instance, the input can indicate a participant identity that won the multiplayer game session. In some examples, an instance of results data comprises game data describing the overall activity in a multiplayer game session from a perspective of a player's client computing device, the game data indicating a particular participant identity as a winner of the multiplayer game session. The arbitration system is configured to use the set of results data to determine an arbitrated outcome for the multiplayer game session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Wisgary F. Torres, Justin David Brown, Michael A. Siebert, Keith R. Kline
  • Patent number: 10474947
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises: a storage for storing interaction setting information and behavior setting information; an interaction interface; and a processor electrically connected to the storage and the interaction interface. When the processor receives a behavior-driving command from the interaction interface, the processor is configured to select the behavior setting information and the interaction setting information according to the behavior-driving command. The processor is configured to perform a behavior according to the behavior setting information. The processor is further configured to perform an interaction operation based on the behavior according to the behavior setting information and the interaction setting information when the behavior is had. A control method and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Long Lee, Mei-Chieh Ku, Tzu-Yu Kung, Chung-Yi Wu, Tai-Yin Lin, Jia-Wei Chou, Chao-Yang Huang
  • Patent number: 10477042
    Abstract: A communication apparatus includes: a first type communication unit configured to perform communication with a portable device in a near field communication mode; a display unit; and a control device configured to perform: a receiving process of receiving a radio wave for connection with the portable device in the near field communication mode, from the portable device through the first type communication unit; and a display process of controlling the display unit to display a notice for prompting a user to perform operation for permitting the portable device to transmit information to the communication apparatus in the near field communication mode, in response to receipt of the radio wave in the receiving process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10469975
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a number of techniques for personalization of spatial audio across a plurality of systems. A participant media system participating in a session may generate two outputs: personalized audio data and depersonalized audio data. When a spectator attempts to spectate the session, a media sharing platform may distribute shared depersonalized audio data to the spectator system. Based on this shared depersonalized audio data, the spectator media system can personalized the audio data to cause an endpoint device to render spectator personalized audio based on HRTF data for the spectator. Accordingly, the spectator personalized audio is personalized and allows a rich, immersive spectating experience that overcome drawbacks associated with receiving personalized audio from participant systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Edry, Todd Ryun Manion, Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Marcel Elza Wilssens
  • Patent number: 10463976
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems for managing a fantasy league are disclosed to incorporate one or more reality factors, equity lines, luxury tax, and/or revenue sharing policies into administration of the fantasy league. A reality factor may influence real life scenarios between at least one of a real player, a real team, and/or a real league, for example. Accordingly, the reality factor may be applied to at least one of a corresponding fantasy player, fantasy team, and/or fantasy league to create a fantasy rule configured to enable a fantasy environment (e.g., the fantasy player, fantasy team, fantasy league, and/or relationships thereof) to more closely emulate the real player, real team, real league, and/or corresponding relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Front Office Media LLC
    Inventors: Paul Gabrail, Andrew Strigle, Benjamin Murphy
  • Patent number: 10463975
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for improving interactions with and between computers in content generating, searching, hosting and/or providing systems supported by or configured with personal computing devices, servers and/or platforms. The systems interact to identify and retrieve data within or across platforms, which can be used to improve the quality of data used in processing interactions between or among processors in such systems. The disclosed systems and methods provide systems and methods for automatic fantasy sports data analysis, including analysis of data to equalize player attractiveness in contestant composition of a fantasy sports team.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: OATH INC.
    Inventors: Michael Lazarus, Maxim Sviridenko, Justin Thaler
  • Patent number: 10449457
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for dynamically herding a matchmaking population for a multi-player game. A new player requesting to play a multi-player game is presented with a gameplay selection mode interface based on metrics gathered by monitoring the matchmaking population for the different gameplay modes of the multi-player game. The metrics are evaluated by a metric evaluation engine to determine a configuration of the gameplay mode selection interface that is designed to herd the matchmaking population to evenly balance the players across the different gameplay modes of the multi-player game. A herding incentive may be determined based on the evaluation of the metrics and included in the gameplay mode selection interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Sienkiewicz, Kim Burrows, Rowen P. E. Holt
  • Patent number: 10449454
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a method, a system, and an article for identifying events of interest in a multi-player online game and enabling users to witness the events of interest. An example computer-implemented method can include: obtaining a set of parameters for each of a plurality of events in an online game played by a plurality of users; calculating a score for each event based on the set of parameters, the score providing an indication of a user interest in witnessing the event; identifying one or more events as having a highest user interest, based on the scores; notifying at least one user from the plurality of users about the identified one or more events; receiving an indication that the at least one user has selected one of the identified one or more events; and enabling the at least one user to witness the selected event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: MZ IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Matt Walsh
  • Patent number: 10445983
    Abstract: An artificial intelligence (AI) learning machine is integrated into a gaming system to adaptively learn to predict when and where excessive chronological clustering of winning hits is likely to occur for a progressive jackpot (e.g., a high frequency one) within the gaming system, to preemptively prepare for such occurrences by prefunding one or more smart-awards funds to cope with such excessive chronological clusterings of hits and to use the one or more smart-awards funds to pay off not-first-in-time winners with a same jackpot award amount as is paid to the true first-in-time winner of the jackpot if such runner up winners hit their respective win conditions within a predetermined smart-awards time span after the first-in-time winner hits. This can avoid or reduce feelings of unfairness by the not-first-in-time winners especially when the latter hit just a split second after the true first-in-time winner hits the jackpot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AGS LLC
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Melnick, Andrew James Burke, Anil Kumar Narra, Bradley Donald Schultz, Leah Anne Pinnow
  • Patent number: 10441877
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Patent number: 10434422
    Abstract: In some aspects, a system is provided that includes a plurality of mobile devices and an application on at least a first mobile device. The application is adapted to track position information regarding the first mobile device, communicate the position information to a web server, receive position information from the web server regarding other mobile devices within a predetermined distance of the first mobile device, and use the position information regarding the other mobile devices to affect one or more characteristics of a video game executed on the first mobile device. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventor: Brian M. Dugan
  • Patent number: 10427047
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards identifying player engagement to generate contextual game play assistance. User gameplay information is monitored so that the user can be provided assistance within the video game where the user may have problems. User gameplay information is monitored in order to identify what type(s) of assistance could be provided to the user. The information can be based on the current level of frustration of the user with the video game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Warren M. Benedetto, Landon Noss
  • Patent number: 10431046
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided. The gaming machine includes a display, a user interface, and a processor. The display is configured to present a player with a choice among at least first and second game presentation objects for a bingo game. A selection of the first game presentation object is made by the player through the user interface. The processor is coupled to the user interface and the display. The processor is configured to respectively associate the first and second game presentation objects to first and second bingo cards. The processor is further configured to receive the selection and admit the first bingo card to the bingo game according to the association between the first game presentation object and the first bingo card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: VIDEO GAMING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Justin Hoover
  • Patent number: 10420983
    Abstract: Tracking and monitoring athletic activity offers individuals with additional motivation to continue such behavior. An individual may track his or her athletic activity by completing goals. These goals may be represented by real-world objects such as food items, landmarks, buildings, statues, other physical structures, toys and the like. Each object may correspond to an athletic activity goal and require an amount of athletic activity to complete the goal. For example, a donut goal object may correspond to an athletic activity goal of burning 350 calories. The user may progress from goal object to goal object. Goal objects may increase in difficulty (e.g., amount of athletic activity required) and might only be available for selection upon completing an immediately previous goal object, a number of goal objects, an amount of athletic activity and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Kwamina Crankson, Jason Nims
  • Patent number: 10423283
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including circuitry configured to control output of a first content according to first content information, determine information related to a real object which is different from a manipulation body used for content selection or object manipulation by a user, and control output of a second content, which is different from the first content, according to second content information, wherein the second content information is based on the first content information and the determined information related to the real object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ikeda, Hiroshi Saito, Maya Kamachi, Yu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10417863
    Abstract: A user device supports a computer implemented game. An input from a user is received. This input requests a purchase of an in-game item. When this input is received, a determination is made as to whether the user device is on-line or not. If the user device is off-line, it is determined if the in-game item can be purchased in dependence on a locally available in-game currency budget. If so, the requested in-game item is provided in the computer implemented game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventor: Michael Sjoberg
  • Patent number: 10417859
    Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a computer and the like that cause players to effectively use possessed game contents in a game, and increase the attractiveness of the game. The computer includes a storage unit that stores one or more game contents possessed by a player and a game content group, the one or more game contents each having a parameter value, the game content group being composed by using at least one of the one or more game contents, and makes a game proceed based on an instruction from a player. The method includes the steps of modifying the parameter value of a common game content in the game content group possessed by the player and being the same type as the one or more game contents other than the game content group, and processing an event by using the game content group whose parameter value is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GREE, INC.
    Inventor: Takashi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 10402240
    Abstract: A system for mediating interactions among system agents and system clients includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing an interaction cueing software code including decision trees corresponding to storylines. The hardware processor executes the interaction cueing software code to receive interaction data corresponding to an interaction of a system client with a first system agent, identify a storyline for use in guiding subsequent interactions with the system client based on the interaction data, and store the interaction data and data identifying the storyline in a client profile assigned to the system client. The interaction cueing software code further determines an interaction cue or cues for coaching the same or another system agent in a second interaction with the system client based on the interaction data and a decision tree corresponding to the storyline, and transmits the interaction cue(s) to the system agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Scanlon, Douglas A. Fidaleo, Robert P. Michel, Daniel C. Pike, Jordan K. Weisman
  • Patent number: 10391390
    Abstract: A method is performed at a terminal for locking a target in a game application, the method comprising: obtaining input gesture information from a user on an operation interface of a game application; recognizing the gesture information to obtain a switching instruction of the game application corresponding to the gesture information; selecting an object category of virtual characters according to the switching instruction; locking a target virtual character in the object category according to a preset rule and performing an operation on the target virtual character; and after performing the operation, automatically repeating the locking and the performing operations on a next target virtual character in the object category until finishing a last virtual character in the object category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yong Tang, Changyan Liao
  • Patent number: 10384130
    Abstract: The present technology provides a system and method for assembling a fantasy sports team using augmented reality. The technology employs a fantasy game server in communication with one or more users' electronic devices. The technology uses environmental data provided by the imaging device of the users' electronic devices to generate a real-world depth map, generates a virtual depth map depicting digital images of sports players and/or promotion and other tokens, and blends the virtual depth map with the real-world depth map to generate an augmented reality depth map. The users of the system access the augmented reality depth map through the user interface on their electronic devices to capture the sports players they wish to add to their fantasy sports teams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AR Sports LLC
    Inventor: Leonard J Parisi
  • Patent number: 10384131
    Abstract: The present technology provides a system and method for assembling a fantasy sports team using augmented reality. The technology employs a fantasy game server in communication with one or more users' electronic mobile devices, such as smartphones. The technology displays digital images of sports players and/or promotion or other tokens on the users' mobile devices, on which the users can capture the sports players they wish to add to their fantasy sports teams through a user interface of the fantasy game server. The fantasy game server generates geolocation information for a plurality of real-world players and compares it to geolocation data from the mobile device to determine when a real world player is within a threshold radius of the user and sends an alert to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AR Sports LLC
    Inventor: Leonard J. Parisi
  • Patent number: 10384127
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating consideration-based non-player character counseling is provided. A non-player character counsel may be controlled within a game space to provide counsel content to users in exchange for virtual consideration purchased with real world money. For example, responsive to reception of adequate virtual consideration from a first user, the non-player character counsel may be controlled to provide a first set of counsel content to the first user in the game space. The first set of counsel content may be a subset of the counsel content provided by the non-player character counsel to the users in the game space. The counsel content may include instructions for and/or demonstrations of activities to be performed by a first character under control of the first user in the game space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Yu, Tian Lan, Bing Liu, Sainath Shenoy
  • Patent number: 10369472
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a virtual mapping system for using real world geographical locations to generate virtual environments within game applications. The virtual mapping system allows a game application to identify geographical information associated with real world locations. The geographical information can be used by the game application to recreate the selected geographical location using virtual assets from the game application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Marwan Mattar, Meng Wu, John Kolen, Navid Aghdaie, Kazi Atif-Uz Zaman
  • Patent number: 10369487
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable medium, and system are disclosed for an interactive storytelling environment. The method comprises identifying a plurality of storytelling devices available to participate in a storytelling experience, at least one of the plurality of the storytelling devices comprising a first beacon device. The method further comprises beginning playback of a first story of the storytelling experience, the first story comprising a first plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined first virtual setting, the first virtual setting mapped to the first beacon device. The method further comprises determining a location of a user using the first beacon device, and during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the first virtual setting based on the determined location of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises. Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Katherine M. Bassett, Eric C. Haseltine, Joseph Logan Olson
  • Patent number: 10369464
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GREE, Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10369466
    Abstract: Computer implemented methods, apparatus and systems for enabling interactive interfacing with a computer game program are provided. One system includes an input device to accept and transmit user input to the computer game program. The system also includes a computing device for executing the computer game having an interactive component that is responsive to the user input. The computing devices is in communication with the input device for receiving and processing the user input. The computer device is also configured to apply a gearing parameter during processing of the user input, wherein the applied gearing parameter defines a scaling ratio between the user input and a rate at which the interactive component responds during execution of the computer game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Richard Marks, Xiadong Mao
  • Patent number: 10360761
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a system that enables funds attempted to be transferred into the system from one or more funding sources to be used in association with various system components prior to the fund transfers being completed by such funding sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kevin Higgins, Jeffery Shepherd
  • Patent number: 10350482
    Abstract: An additional optional, side bet area is included on the standard casino craps table for additional betting during the regular play of craps. Players bet that every dice roll combination of 2 or more designated point numbers, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, will be rolled on the dice before a 7 is rolled. Bets are placed in accordance with casino regulations before the come out roll. During the come out roll if a 7 rolls, all side bets are lost; if a 2, 3, 11, or 12, the bet is a push and can be removed or changed; if a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the bet stays until a 7 is rolled to end the round and cannot be removed or changed. If every dice roll combination of 2 or more of the designated point numbers has been rolled when the round ends, bets are paid according to a side bet payout table. If they are not rolled, the bet loses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: AGS LLC
    Inventor: Ronald LaDuca
  • Patent number: 10350496
    Abstract: A game device includes: a game control unit receiving instruction input from a player, and controlling a game; a mode selecting unit receiving, from the player, a selection of one of an intervention mode in which part of functions of the game is controlled according to instruction input from a different game device and a normal mode in which the part of the functions is controlled without depending on the instruction input from the different game device; an intervention requesting unit requesting another game device to control the part of the functions when the intervention mode is selected; an intervention mode control unit transmitting information necessary to control the part of the functions to a game device responding to the request, receiving instruction input from the game device, and controlling the part of the functions; and a normal mode control unit controlling the part of the functions when the normal mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ishida, Takeru Sankou
  • Patent number: 10347072
    Abstract: A method of operating an electronic gaming machine includes generating an interactive game environment in accordance with game data, the interactive game environment having a viewing area may include a plurality of visible game components as a subset of the interactive game environment, displaying the viewing area with the plurality of visible game components, monitoring eye gaze of a player to collect player eye gaze data, determining a location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area using the player eye gaze data, and in response to the location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area, changing a resolution of a portion of the viewing area other than a portion of the viewing area corresponding to location of the eye gaze of the player on the viewing area. Related electronic gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen van Niekerk, Stefan Keilwert, Aaron Corey
  • Patent number: 10346818
    Abstract: A content provision system includes a content server and a terminal, and a plurality of pieces of additional content including first and second content used in an application are provided from the content server to the terminal. The terminal transmits acquisition completion information to the content server when any one of the first content and the second content is acquired, and transmits acquisition incompletion information to the content server when none of the first content and the second content is acquired. The content server performs a billing process and provides additional content designated from the terminal to the terminal when the acquisition completion information is received, and provides one of the first and second content designated from the terminal to the terminal without performing the billing process when the acquisition incompletion information is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Genki Yokota, Kouhei Maeda
  • Patent number: 10343058
    Abstract: A load detecting apparatus includes a load controller. In order to identifying predetermined number of motions performed on the load controller by the player, for example, a condition of a ratio of load values to a body weight value and a condition relating to a position of a center of gravity are defined in advance. The ratio of the detected load values to the body weight value and the position of the center of gravity are calculated, and on the basis of the ratio and the position of the center of gravity, a motion performed on the load controller by the player is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoi Okamoto, Shigehiro Kasamatsu
  • Patent number: 10343073
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable recording medium has stored thereon instructions to be executed on a computer providing terminal devices (12) with a battle game in which users each operate a unit. The instructions cause the computer to perform the steps of: determining a unit parameter of each of a plurality of units, group information being associated with each unit and indicating a group, among a plurality of groups, to which the unit belongs; deploying the units on a field (23), divided into regions, in the battle game; varying the unit parameter of a first unit on the field based on the group information associated with the first unit and the group information associated with a second unit on the field (23), the second unit having a predetermined positional relationship with the first unit; and conducting a battle between the first unit and other units using the varied unit parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GREE, INC.
    Inventors: Nariaki Wada, Akira Usami, Asuka Kawamura, Shuichi Kura, Taichi Wakabayashi, Taishun Ko, Totaro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 10339550
    Abstract: Gamified computerized project management system and method which harnesses the innate human desire for playful competition and continual skill advancement to improve organizational productivity. The system allows team member bidding on project tasks, where they accumulate points according to various criteria including how well their work product meets previously established criteria, as well as an opportunity to acquire additional points from mastering various task related learning material. Other factors, such as providing assistance to other team members, evaluating work product, and the like are also awarded points. Competition is fostered by allowing team members to see where their point score ranks versus other players, while teamwork and member skill growth is also encouraged. Gamified project management files containing comprehensive project records may be saved, converted to standard project management files, or constructed by translation process that gamifies standard project management files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: QUEST 2 EXCEL, INC.
    Inventors: Mahesh C. Rao, Andrew Jay Hoffman, Marcello Rufus Hunter, David E. Shough
  • Patent number: 10328337
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to unlocking game content for users of an online game. In implementations, affiliations between users may be established, and content may be made available to users individually based on the number of users within an affiliation. Content made available to a first user of the affiliation may be made available to the first user individually and independently from other users included in the affiliation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington