Paddle-type Game (e.g., Pinball, Tennis, Baseball, Golf, Hockey, Etc.) Patents (Class 463/3)
  • Patent number: 11972663
    Abstract: A processor circuit receives a sports wager entry including a predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points. Separately, for each base wager of the predetermined number of base wagers, the processor circuit receives a base wager selection, the base wager selection associated with a predetermined point value. The processor circuit receives a point value adjustment selection and adjusts the predetermined point value by the selected point value adjustment to generate an adjusted point value, wherein a sum of the selected point value adjustments for the predetermined number of base wagers does not exceed the predetermined number of available points. The processor circuit displays, at the display device, an indication of the adjusted point value. The processor circuit stores a sports wager entry record comprising the base wager selections and the adjusted point values for the sport wager entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark Dufty, Michael Bailey
  • Patent number: 11964199
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to operate a game program. The program may cause an information processing device to execute a step of storing information relating to a game part, a step of displaying a screen including a first interface capable of detecting a first user operation, a determination step of (if the first user operation is detected) determining a mode of the game part to be one of a first mode or a second mode, a change step of changing a part of the screen according to the mode of the game part determined in the determination step, and an execution step of executing the game part in the mode determined in the determination step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GREE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shota Shimoda, Yudai Nagano, Hiori Chiba
  • Patent number: 11925865
    Abstract: A non-limiting example game system includes a processor incorporated in a main body apparatus, and the processor makes a first index image move toward an upper end from a lower end in a movement gauge in a parameter determination screen when a player starts a second parameter determination operation. When the first index image is stopped according to an operation of the player, a hitting power for a ball is determined based on the stopped position. Moreover, if the first index image is stopped, a second index image is moved up to a position that the first index image is stopped from the lower end in the movement gauge. The player performs a direction input during a direction input period that is a period of time that the second index image is being moved. Then, a trajectory after the ball starts moving is changed in a direction based on the direction input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yamamura, Kodai Matsumoto, Shinya Saito, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Shugo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11911684
    Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving discrepancies between recordings made by multiple scorekeepers for a game comprising discrete events. In an example, a discrepancy resolving system include at least two personal computing devices and a remote server connected thereto, wherein each of the personal computing devices and the server is equipped with software which enables the personal computing devices to receive recordings of game events from a different scorekeeper, sending such recordings to the server, where the recordings from different scorekeepers are compared and discrepancies detected. The discrepancies are sent back to the computing devices for further responses from the scorekeepers. When the responses from different scorekeepers agree with each other, the discrepancies are resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DESIGNATED HITTER, INC
    Inventors: Joseph Fisher Golton, John David McLellan, II
  • Patent number: 11857861
    Abstract: A method for cognitive brain training, psychological motivation, and recovery to be used in conjunction with physical exercise in order to reduce the effects of mental and physical fatigue and improve athletic performance. A plurality of input devices integrate ergonomically with different sports so as not to limit movement, eye-hand coordination or negatively impact physical training. Software, executable on a portable computing device is configured for a sport, enabling an athlete to perform physical and cognitive tasks at the same time. Metrics, formulas and algorithms combine the athlete's self-rated performance with real-time cognitive and physiological output metrics to provide reports of the athlete's performance for each workout and for all workouts overtime. Mental recovery and motivation protocols used to help athletes stay on task and recover from the physical training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rewire Fitness, Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Sachs, Cody Frances Rotwein, Edward James Gibbins
  • Patent number: 11810480
    Abstract: A sports paraphernalia device may be provided as a physical object that is configured to resemble a particular sports entity and that is configured to receive sports entity updates from a sports entity server. A sports entity can employ the sports entity server to send sports entity updates to sports paraphernalia devices to thereby interact directly with fans. Such interactions can include causing the sports paraphernalia devices to provide visual, audio or mechanical output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sports IOT LLC
    Inventors: John Paul Swensen, James Sherman Swensen
  • Patent number: 11806630
    Abstract: Methods of the present disclosure may also identify when certain users perform well at certain activities and perform poorly when performing other activities. A particular user could perform very well at a swimming game yet perform poorly at the first-person shooter game. This performance difference may be based on a physical impairment, be based on a lack of training, or be based on other factors. When a potential performance deficiency is identified, a user may be provided with a set of selections that allow the user to participate in a training session or that may allow the user to change functions of a gaming controller to account for the apparent performance deficiency. This additional training or change in controller functions may allow a user to have a more enjoyable user experience or may allow the user to perform at a higher level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Victoria Dorn, Celeste Bean, Elizabeth Juenger, Kristie Ramirez, Sepideh Karimi, Mahdi Azmandian
  • Patent number: 11745106
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for controlling a movement of a ball in a sports game. A control method may include providing a customizing function enabling a user to generate a skill for a preset section by customizing at least one of the speed, trajectory and effect of a ball moving in the preset section in a sports game, storing at least one of the customized speed, trajectory and effect in association with the skill generated through the customizing function, and controlling a movement of the ball in the section using at least one of the speed, trajectory and effect stored in association with the activated skill in response to an activation of the skill for the section in a process in which a game instance for the sports game proceeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Com2uS Holdings Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11707678
    Abstract: A non-limiting example game system includes a processor incorporated in a main body apparatus, and the processor makes a player character hit a ball according to an operation of a player. A movement gauge is displayed in a parameter determination screen, and the movement gauge includes a belt-shaped basic area and a risk area outside the basic area. A first index image is moved inside the basic area, and a hitting power is determined at a position that the movement is stopped by an operation of the player. The hitting power affects a flight distance of a ball. After the hitting power is determined, a position of a deviation indication image displayed along the first index image is determined at random. A deviation amount is made larger as the deviation indication image is moved away from the center of the first index image. The risk area is enlarged toward an upper end of the movement gauge. That is, if the flight distance of the ball is made longer, the deviation amount may become larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yamamura, Kodai Matsumoto, Shinya Saito, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Shugo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11673038
    Abstract: An apparatus for communication, a system thereof, and methods of manufacture thereof are provided. The apparatus comprises a body and a printed circuit board (PCB) operatively coupled to the body. The PCB comprises a processing unit, a first communication module operatively coupled to the processing unit, and an array of assemblies. The first communication module is configured to communicate with a secondary communication module wirelessly. The array of assemblies comprises at least two rows and at least two columns. Each assembly comprises a switch and a light. The array of assemblies are operatively coupled to the processing unit. Each light is configured to change a state responsive to at least one of a change in state by the switch within the same assembly and a control signal from the first communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LIFEWARE LABS, LLC
    Inventors: Alexandros Charalambides, Brian Stancil, Andrew Rape, Nolen Keeys, Carmel Majidi, Philip LeDuc
  • Patent number: 11638874
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, gaming device and computer-readable medium for video game. The method includes maintaining a virtual space for a gaming environment. The method also includes repeatedly activating an event zone in the virtual space, wherein for one or more game objects having a position in the virtual space that is within the event zone when the event zone is activated, a state of the one or more game objects in the virtual space is changed. The method further includes displaying on a display device a visual representation of the event zone and a visual representation of a marker, the marker having a position in the virtual space. The method yet further includes changing the position of the marker such that a distance involving the marker and at least part of the event zone is related to a time remaining before the next repeated activation of the event zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Square Enix Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Lutz
  • Patent number: 11574556
    Abstract: A beauty product device is disclosed which includes a variety of sensors for sensing the way in which a user is operating the device. The sensor data can be processed and compared with pre-stored data representative of a desired style and feedback messages generated and provided back to the user to help them achieve the style they wish to achieve based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Jemella Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Moore, Matt James, Daniel Ramos
  • Patent number: 11475790
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing training to attendees of a network security training session through use of gamification. A virtual environment is created containing a network topology simulating a deployed network of network security devices for which teams of the attendees are to receive training. A 3D game interface is presented on a display of a computer system of an attendee. Based on a leaderboard server's game state, a problem-solving objective for the training session is presented on the display. The virtual environment facilitates interactions by the attendee with the network security devices via real web interfaces of corresponding full-feature virtual network security appliances in connection with attempts by the attendee to complete the objectives. Upon completion of an objective, the leaderboard server's game state is updated. Based on the game state of a group of objectives a second group of problem-solving objectives is presented to the attendee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Fortinet, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. May, Jordan E. Thompson, Jamie Pate
  • Patent number: 11458384
    Abstract: A pinball machine includes a cabinet, an inclined playfield, and a ball operable across an upperside of the playfield to conduct a gameplay. A plurality of playfield accessories are mounted to the playfield and configured to interact with the ball during gameplay. A controller operates to control gameplay. The pinball machine includes a network connection operably coupling the controller to a network and a remote server. An access device is configured to identify a user and receive authorization from the controller and the remote server to allow the user to conduct a gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Stern Pinball, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Guidarelli, George A. Gomez
  • Patent number: 11452927
    Abstract: A method for cognitive brain training, psychological motivation, and recovery to be used in conjunction with physical exercise in order to reduce the effects of mental and physical fatigue and improve athletic performance. A plurality of input devices integrate ergonomically with different sports so as not to limit movement, eye-hand coordination or negatively impact physical training. Software, executable on a portable computing device is configured for a sport, enabling an athlete to perform physical and cognitive tasks at the same time. Metrics, formulas and algorithms combine the athlete's self-rated performance with real-time cognitive and physiological output metrics to provide reports of the athlete's performance for each workout and for all workouts overtime. Mental recovery and motivation protocols used to help athletes stay on task and recover from the physical training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Rewire Fitness, Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Sachs, Cody Frances Rotwein
  • Patent number: 11446579
    Abstract: A system, server, and method for controlling a game character are provided. The system for controlling a game character according to one embodiment includes a first user terminal configured to acquire an input of a first user, a server configured to generate game play information based on the input of the first user, and a second user terminal configured to perform at least one of control over a game character of a second user and provision of motion guidance information related to the game character based on the game play information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: NCSOFT Corporation
    Inventors: Kyuhyun Kim, Byungkyu Na, Miseon Park
  • Patent number: 11403808
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to transition between 2D and 3D renderings of augmented reality content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one processor to execute instructions to: determine a first intended movement of an augmented reality (AR) object projected onto a first surface in a real world environment; cause the AR object to be rendered to appear to move along the first surface at a fixed depth defined by the first surface; determine a second intended movement of the AR object projected onto a second surface in the real world environment; and cause the AR object to be rendered to appear to move with variable depth within a 3D virtual space, the 3D virtual space defined by the second surface and a virtual rear boundary, the virtual rear boundary to virtually extend behind the second surface from a perspective of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Pete Denman, John Sherry, Glen J. Anderson, Benjamin Bair, Rebecca Chierichetti, Ankur Agrawal, Meng Shi
  • Patent number: 11341695
    Abstract: The appropriateness of a motion of a motion actor who makes a motion in response to a motion of at least one moving body other than him/herself is visualized. To display motion information of a motion actor who makes a motion in response to a motion of at least one moving body other than him/herself, an image showing one sequence which is visible or a plurality of sequences which are visible is output. In this case, a relative time which is a position on a relative time axis corresponds to a position on a specific axis of the image. The one sequence or each of the plurality of sequences graphically shows at least a position on the axis which corresponds to a moving body time that is a relative time at which at least one predetermined motion of the moving body was made, and a position on the axis which corresponds to a motion actor time that is a relative time at which at least one predetermined motion of the motion actor was made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makio Kashino, Naoki Saijo, Toshitaka Kimura, Daiki Nasu
  • Patent number: 11311802
    Abstract: A method for controlling a position of a display element, comprising the steps: —measuring a position of a control lever, —projecting the position of the lever into a base plane, in order to determine a first set of coordinates, —determining a circle of positions, —determining a square circumscribing the circle of positions, —projecting, onto the circumscribed square, at least one coordinate of the first set of coordinates, —calculating a second set of coordinates in a Cartesian frame of reference, on the basis of the projection of the at least one coordinate of the first set of coordinates onto the circumscribed square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Nacon SAS
    Inventors: Alain Falc, Yannick Allaert, Alexandre Notebaert, Stephen Dudoyer
  • Patent number: 11278813
    Abstract: Systems and methods enable most valuable players (MVPs) of a gameplay session to play a bonus gameplay session where other players (non-MVP players) participate as player-spectators in online video games and, through a collective voting mechanism or through active interaction, determine the occurrence of certain events or contents of the bonus gameplay in real time. In this manner, non-MVP players are able to directly affect the course of the bonus gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Lin, Paul Derek Yan, Michael James Stout, Daniel Neil, Brian Thomas Fricks
  • Patent number: 11083969
    Abstract: A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method to adjust twitch response and collision determination to a player's skill level is provided. Gameplay information of a computer-implemented game is accessed. The gameplay information including input information indicating one or more attributes of gameplay input provided by the player. A gameplay skill level of the player of the player is estimated based on the one or more gameplay input attributes. Based on the estimated gameplay skill level of the player, respective values of one or more gameplay parameters that determine on-screen behavior of virtual in-game objects are modified, thereby a gameplay difficulty level is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Carlton Ware, Christopher Vance Haire, John vanSuchtelen, Michael Waite, Alexandros Ntoulas, Jeffrey Zakrzewski, Oliver Attila Tabay, Yuko Yamazaki, Paul Yih Yarng Chong, Sudhish Iyer, Xuyang (Amy) Tan, Ameya Vilankar, Gaurav Narang
  • Patent number: 10918952
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for customizing a player's experience. A System Tuner selects a hardness quotient, based on a player skill level, from a hardness quotient range, the player skill level for a player is calculated by a client computing device based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player. The System Tuner provides the hardness quotient to a level definition file for a second game level. The level definition file modifies at least one feature of the second game level according to the hardness quotient. The System Tuner modifies the hardness quotient range based at least on a performance of the plurality of player's in the second game level and the respective hardness quotients assigned to each of those players for their game play in the second game level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Carlton Ware, Christopher Vance Haire, William R. Watters, John vanSuchtelen, Michael Waite
  • Patent number: 10758815
    Abstract: A game management device manages a game to be played by selecting with a touch operation, a selectable target from a plurality of selectable targets (for example, pitch types) displayed on a screen. A display control unit display the plurality of selectable targets (for example, a strike pitch location and a ball pitch location) on the screen. An area setting unit sets a plurality of parameter areas respectively corresponding to the plurality of parameters (for example, a strike location and a ball location) within the screen. When performing an operation of moving a selected target to one of the plurality of parameter areas, a parameter setting unit sets a parameter corresponding to the parameter area to which the selected target is moved, the selected target being selected from among the plurality of selectable targets with the contact operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Matsui, Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Koji Toyohara, Tomoharu Okutani, Keiji Matsukita, Daisuke Sogabe, Toshinori Ajisaka, Kaori Shirobe
  • Patent number: 10751582
    Abstract: A sporting apparatus includes a monitoring device. The monitoring device may add no weight to the sporting apparatus relative to a comparable sporting apparatus without the monitoring device. The monitoring device may have a center of gravity substantially aligning with the center of gravity of the sporting apparatus, resulting in a sporting apparatus with a monitor having substantially the same center of gravity as a comparable sporting apparatus without a monitor. The sporting apparatus monitor may be configured to trim unreliable post impact swing data and replace it with extrapolated pre-impact swing data and/or more reliable post impact swing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD
    Inventors: Keith Dolezel, Scott Carlyle, Michael J. Kline
  • Patent number: 10737158
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and device for recognizing movement of a tennis racket, the method includes: collecting swing data of the tennis racket; extracting an data segment of an effective swing from the swing data of the tennis racket according to an effective ball hitting position; performing matching calculation between the data segment of the effective swing and preset template data, the preset template data corresponding to types of tennis racket movements; and acquiring a recognition result of the movement of tennis racket according to a result of the matching calculation. The method and device for recognizing movement of the tennis racket can improve the accuracy of the process of matching, avoid miscalculations of types of the swing movement of the tennis racket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ShenZhen Coollang Cloud Computing Co., LTD
    Inventors: Zhicong Song, Rongqing Li, Qicai Zhong
  • Patent number: 10632382
    Abstract: An AI-assisted operating system for an electronic sports game includes an input unit, a processing unit and an output unit. A current operating environment or a game scenario of playing the electronic sports game is sensed by the input unit from a perspective of an operator. The processing unit receives an information about the operating environment or the game scenario that is sensed by the input unit. After the operating environment or the game scenario is integrated and analyzed by the processing unit according to characteristics and requirements of the electronic sports game, a control command is generated. The output unit is installed in the equipment or environment for executing the electronic sports game. After the control command from the processing unit is received, the output unit prompts the operator or provides an operating message about the electronic sports game to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Hung Chou, Yu-Chiang Lin, Cheng-Chih Hsieh, Hsin-Ju Teng, Ting-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 10625153
    Abstract: A lighting controller for controlling illumination emitted by one or more luminaires to accompany a video game. When a first event occurs during gameplay, the controller receives an indication of an identified type of the first event from amongst a set of predefined event types, and based on this controls the illumination to produce a first lighting effect to accompany the first event during the gameplay phase. When a second event of the same type occurs in a non-gameplay phase of the video game, the controller receives an indication of this also. Based on identifying that the events are the same type, but that the video game is in the non-gameplay phase rather than the gameplay phase, the controller controls the illumination to produce a second lighting effect to accompany the occurrence of the second event during the non-gameplay phase, this effect being visibly distinct from the first lighting effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Dingenis Machiel Van Boven, Remco Magielse, Dzmitry Viktorovich Aliakseyeu, Jonathan David Mason, Sanae Chraibi
  • Patent number: 10561944
    Abstract: A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method to adjust twitch response and collision determination to a player's skill level is provided. Gameplay information of a computer-implemented game is accessed. The gameplay information including input information indicating one or more attributes of gameplay input provided by the player. A gameplay skill level of the player of the player is estimated based on the one or more gameplay input attributes. Based on the estimated gameplay skill level of the player, respective values of one or more gameplay parameters that determine on-screen behavior of virtual in-game objects are modified, thereby a gameplay difficulty level is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Carlton Ware, Christopher Vance Haire, John vanSuchtelen, Michael Waite, Alexandros Ntoulas, Jeffrey Zakrzewski, Oliver Attila Tabay, Yuko Yamazaki, Paul Yih Yarng Chong, Sudhish Iyer, Xuyang Tan, Ameya Vilankar, Gaurav Narang
  • Patent number: 10549196
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for determining a movement trajectory of a mock object performed at a computing device. The computing device performs the following operations: determining, by the computing device, an action effect of an object instruction of a first mock object acting on a second mock object; obtaining, by the computing device from a preset trajectory template set, a trajectory template corresponding to the action effect; obtaining, by the computing device, information about a staging environment in which the second mock object is located; determining, by the computing device, a movement trajectory of the second mock object according to the information about the staging environment and the trajectory template; and dynamically rendering, by the computing device, the second mock object along the movement trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Fan Yang
  • Patent number: 10518179
    Abstract: A game device controls a game in which an action is applied to a movable object. A prediction accepting unit accepts a prediction made by a user on a movement parameter of the movable object when a predetermined operation of making a prediction is performed by the user. A moving unit decides the movement parameter of the movable object. A determination unit determines a result of the prediction made by the user based on movement parameters respectively predicted by the user and decided by the moving unit. A display control unit displays an arrival point area indicating an expected arrival position of the movable object in an active area in which the action can be applied to the movable object, and changes a size of the arrival point area based on a result of determination by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Sogabe, Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Manabu Tashiro, Koji Toyohara, Keiji Matsukita
  • Patent number: 10478704
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a user via an electronic user interface, an indication of a golf course to be played, providing a listing of challenges to the user, receiving score data from the user in a sequential, hole-by-hole manner, and populating an electronic scorecard with score data from a selected one of the listing of challenges together with the received score data in a sequential, hole-by-hole manner. The listing of challenges include at least one of a previously recorded round of golf played at the golf course, and a simulated opponent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, John Bouck
  • Patent number: 10467608
    Abstract: A customer directed golf club head manufacturing system including a self-service kiosk configured to transform a club head blank into a finished club head based upon input of a user. The self-service kiosk including a plurality of club head blanks, a kiosk control system, a user input system, and a machining system. The kiosk control system configured to prompt the user to select a plurality of predefined options that influence the configuration of the finished club head. The kiosk control system receives the user selected predefined options, identifies at least one user specific club head blank from the plurality of club head blanks that meets the requirements of the user selected predefined options, creates machining instructions, and transmits the machining instructions to the machining system to machine at least a portion of the user specific club head blank in accordance with the machining instructions to create the finished club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Peter Barker
  • Patent number: 10456690
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to virtual reality simulation, and more specifically, in some implementations, to devices, systems, and methods for use in a virtual reality sports simulation. A system for virtual reality simulation may include an accessory (e.g., one or more of a bat, a glove, or a helmet) for interacting with a virtual reality environment. The accessory may provide the user with haptic feedback that emulates sensations that the user would experience when playing a live-action sport to provide the user with a more meaningful and realistic experience when playing a virtual reality game. Further, virtual reality simulations disclosed herein may include incorporating data from a live-action event (e.g., a live-action sporting event) into a virtual reality environment to provide a user with a realistic experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Centurion VR, Inc.
    Inventor: Muhammad Yasser Ghanchi
  • Patent number: 10434423
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for preventing a patron from starting an inactive player in a fantasy sports system. An application program is executed on one or more computing devices. The application obtains information from a fantasy sports system about a patron's current roster and monitors sports players on the patron's roster to determine if any become inactive. The patron is notified if a player becomes inactive and can choose to substitute an alternative sports player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventor: Pete Sirianni
  • Patent number: 10328343
    Abstract: A game apparatus being a non-limiting example information processing apparatus includes a display, and a game screen of a baseball game is displayed on the display. In a defensive (fielding team) side, in the game screen, a batter object and a catcher object are displayed, and an index object is displayed in front of the catcher object. Using the index object, a player designates a target position of a position that a ball object is to be thrown (pitching course) and a pitch type of the ball object, and instructs pitching. Even if the player designates the target position and the pitch type in any order, the target position and the pitch type can be set according to a designated order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Izuno, Shinya Saito, Naohiro Hayashi, Kenji Fujioka, Katsutoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 10332346
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a game having a paytable selection feature which may be implemented with a primary or base game, a secondary or bonus game, or both. In one embodiment, the gaming device employs an initial paytable and enables a player pay a fee to purchase a different paytable for a plurality of plays of the game. If the player chooses to purchase a different paytable, the gaming device determines a game outcome for a plurality of plays of the game and provides any awards based on the different paytable. If the player does not choose to select a different paytable, the gaming device determines a game outcome for each of those plays and provides any awards based on the initial paytable. In one embodiment, the player has the opportunity to see the different paytable prior to paying the fee to purchase it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 10276060
    Abstract: To provide a golf club determination method, a golf club determination device, and a golf club determination program capable of automatically determining the type of a golf club by analyzing a swing of the golf club. A golf club determination device includes a measurement unit that measures a posture of a golf club in an address using an output of an acceleration sensor of an inertial sensor mounted on a golf club; and a determination unit that determines the type of the golf club based on the measured posture of the golf club. Another golf club determination device includes a measurement unit that measures a swing of a golf club using an output of an inertial sensor mounted on the golf club, and a determination unit that determines whether the golf club is a putter based on the measured swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoichi Nakajo, Hisao Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10265627
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to virtual reality simulation, and more specifically, in some implementations, to devices, systems, and methods for use in a virtual reality sports simulation. A system for virtual reality simulation may include an accessory (e.g., one or more of a bat, a glove, or a helmet) for interacting with a virtual reality environment. The accessory may provide the user with haptic feedback that emulates sensations that the user would experience when playing a live-action sport to provide the user with a more meaningful and realistic experience when playing a virtual reality game. Further, virtual reality simulations disclosed herein may include incorporating data from a live-action event (e.g., a live-action sporting event) into a virtual reality environment to provide a user with a realistic experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Centurion VR, LLC
    Inventor: Muhammad Yasser Ghanchi
  • Patent number: 10179278
    Abstract: An input of a user is received from an input unit, and in accordance with the input of the user, an operation object displayed on a display screen moves in a predetermined movement-allowed range. A plurality of sound objects appear and move in the display screen, the sound objects set for sounds to be output in accordance with a composition to be performed. Then, if the operation object and each sound object have made contact with each other, the sound set for the sound object is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyuki Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 10115318
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a processor that executes a procedure, The procedure includes detecting a turn at bat transition based on a change in any of an out count, a runner count, or a score that have been acquired from image information indicating a game situation included in captured footage of a baseball game stored in a storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi Oguchi, Miho Sakai, Sokichi Fujita, Tatsuma Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10088496
    Abstract: A calibration method for a first accelerometer is disclosed. The first accelerometer is installed together with a second accelerometer in a device. The calibration method includes the second accelerometer measuring a first set of X, Y, Z accelerations in a Cartesian coordinate system, the first accelerometer measuring a second set of X, Y, Z accelerations in the Cartesian coordinate system, indicating to rotate the device, the second accelerometer measuring a third set of X, Y, Z accelerations in the Cartesian coordinate system, the first accelerometer measuring a fourth set of X, Y, Z accelerations in the Cartesian coordinate system, and calibrating X, Y, Z acceleration values measured by the first accelerometer based on the first, second, third and fourth sets of X, Y, Z accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Zhao-Yuan Lin, Ming-Chih Ko
  • Patent number: 10043345
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a game having a paytable selection feature which may be implemented with a primary or base game, a secondary or bonus game, or both. In one embodiment, the gaming device employs an initial paytable and enables a player pay a fee to purchase a different paytable for a plurality of plays of the game. If the player chooses to purchase a different paytable, the gaming device determines a game outcome for a plurality of plays of the game and provides any awards based on the different paytable. If the player does not choose to select a different paytable, the gaming device determines a game outcome for each of those plays and provides any awards based on the initial paytable. In one embodiment, the player has the opportunity to see the different paytable prior to paying the fee to purchase it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 10004989
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods and apparatuses that hide latency during an interaction between an attacking client device platform and a defending client device platform in a multiplayer game played over a network. The attacking client device platform predicts a successful attack will be made and delivers a hit event to the defending client device platform. In order to provide additional time to wait for a hit reply from the defending client device platform the attacking client device platform initiates an altered animation mode that lengthens the run-time of the animation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventors: Glenn Fiedler, Vincent Napoli, Jason McDonald
  • Patent number: 9978425
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems for associating frames in a video of an activity of a person with an event. The methods include recording a video of an activity of a person; storing a time-series of a plurality of sensor data (82) obtained from a sensor assembly (12) of at least one sensor (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) coupled to the person while the person is performing the activity; synchronizing the video with the sensor data (82); detecting an event in the time-series; and associating the event with at least one corresponding frame in the video showing the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Robert Frank Kirk, Constantin Zwick, Dominik Schuldhaus, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Harald Körger, Maike Petra Stöve
  • Patent number: 9943744
    Abstract: A location-aware device includes a position determination sensor that determines a position of the location-aware device. A receiver receives, from a tag coupled to a golf club, data corresponding to an output of a sensor included in the tag. A processor associates the data received from the tag with the determined position, and processes the data received from the tag to determine whether to register a golf shot as having occurred at the determined position. A memory stores a golf shot determined to be registered by the processor along with the determined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SkyHawke Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James W. Meadows, Richard L. Root
  • Patent number: 9889355
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides a golf GPS device with a sensor mechanism to automatically switch between video and audio only modes of the device. More particularly, when a player attaches the golf GPS device to a piece of clothing or hat, the device automatically switches to audio-only mode. When the player detaches the golf GPS device, the device automatically switches to video mode, with or without audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DECA SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventors: Gi Su Lee, Jun Ha Park, Seung Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9861854
    Abstract: Virtual golf system for playing golf, comprising a plurality of trackable golf balls, wherein each golf ball comprises transmitting means for broadcasting electromagnetic beacon signals for detecting a position of the golf ball, a position determination unit comprising three receiving antenna's arranged for receiving beacon signals broadcasted by any of said plurality of trackable golf balls, and wherein said position determination unit is arranged to determine a position of said golf ball on a driving range based on time differences of a broadcasted beacon signal received by said receiving antenna's. A plurality of trackable golf balls and a plurality of players may be active at the same time. Trackable golf balls may be paired with specific players. A game controller advances a virtual game of golf each time a trackable golf ball is stroked by a player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventors: Jan Lucas Kuiper, Albertus Maria Claessen
  • Patent number: 9792766
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a game having a paytable selection feature which may be implemented with a primary or base game, a secondary or bonus game, or both. In one embodiment, the gaming device employs an initial paytable and enables a player pay a fee to purchase a different paytable for a plurality of plays of the game. If the player chooses to purchase a different paytable, the gaming device determines a game outcome for a plurality of plays of the game and provides any awards based on the different paytable. If the player does not choose to select a different paytable, the gaming device determines a game outcome for each of those plays and provides any awards based on the initial paytable. In one embodiment, the player has the opportunity to see the different paytable prior to paying the fee to purchase it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9767364
    Abstract: A footage extraction device includes a processor that executes a process. The process includes receiving a designation including a particular ball count status and a ball count change trend from an initial status of a ball count to the particular ball count status, and, by the processor, extracting, from stored baseball footage, footage with a ball count status that is attained after the ball count status has changed according to the designated ball count change trend, and that corresponds to the designated particular ball count status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi Oguchi, Miho Sakai, Shuichi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9737803
    Abstract: A method and system (10) is provided for playing an interactive mobile device based game system though a communication network. The communication network includes at least one system central server (13) and database (14) accessible to the internet or other communication networks. The system further includes any number of mobile devices (15), (16) and (17). Each mobile device includes software or a software application for communicating with the system server. In playing the game, users or players accrue points or otherwise advance in the game as they compete or obverse events which occur in real life situations in their geographic location. The events are entered into the central server and verified by communicating requests from the central server to the mobile devices of other players of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SANDBOX SOFTWARE, LLC
    Inventors: Marion O'Neill Lee, Jared Brandon Emrich