Object Priority Or Perspective Patents (Class 463/33)
  • Patent number: 10510211
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a game server operating a progressive game thereon and a plurality of player terminals in communication with the central server which operate base games thereon. A contribution amount from base wagers made on the player terminals in relation to the base game also contribute to one or more progressive totals of the progressive game. When one or more progressive totals reaches a secret trigger value, a winning condition is determined and a corresponding winning amount is made to the player terminal from which originated the contribution amount resulting in the secret trigger value being met. Optionally, under the winning condition, the progressive total may continue to increase by contribution amounts from one or more player terminals until eligibility criterium corresponding a second trigger event is met, such as a qualifying hand being dealt to the player terminal from which the winning condition originated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Kelvin Morin
  • Patent number: 10510173
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an image processing method. The method may include: acquiring an input image (310); extracting a light source parameter from the input image (330); adjusting color of a material image according to the light source parameter, obtaining an adapted material image matching the input image using a binarization processing according to the material image whose color has been adjusted (350); obtaining a flare effect image through calculation using the adapted material image according to the light source parameter (370); and blending the input image with the flare effect image (390). An image processing apparatus is also provided. The above method and image processing apparatus can adapt a simulated flare effect to a light source in an image, and can improve the sense of realism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Lei Wu
  • Patent number: 10467651
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying an advertisement impression in a digital environment are provided. In some aspects, methods of the subject technology include operations for defining a portion of the digital environment as an impression area, wherein the impression area is associated with a tagged advertisement area, providing a stream of an advertisement to the tagged advertisement area, and updating advertising impression information stored in memory regarding the advertisement, wherein an advertising impression is based on the identification of the character within the impression area and the availability of an unobstructed line-of-sight between the character and the tagged advertisement area. In some aspects, computer readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Glen van Datta, Gary Zalewski
  • Patent number: 10460469
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining position and pose of as well as tracking an object in a physical environment based on the emission and sensing of light signals. The derived position, pose and tracking information may be used in a VR/AR environment. The disclosed systems and methods allow for the improved tracking of both active and passive devices. In addition, the disclosed systems and methods enable an arbitrary number of light sensors to be disposed on an object, thereby increasing accuracy and mitigating the effects of occlusion of certain light sensors. Position and pose estimates may be refined and tracked using a filter lattice responsive to changes in observed system states and/or settings. Further, data received from an inertial measurement unit may be used to increase tracking accuracy as well as position and pose determination itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GameFace Labs Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Mason, Aidan Delaney, Brady James Riddle
  • Patent number: 10416756
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user includes a computer includes a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user so the user sees the virtual reality shown by the headset and produced by the computer in the headset. The apparatus includes a foot controller in communication with the computer against which the user moves at least one of his feet to create control signals with the foot to cause movement in the virtual reality. A method for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user having the steps of the user seeing the virtual reality shown by a virtual headset and produced by a computer in the headset, a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: New York University, Tactonic Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Perlin, Charles Hendee
  • Patent number: 10380826
    Abstract: There is provided a system comprising a touch screen display, a non-transitory memory storing a user interface, one or more software applications, and a game application, and a hardware processor executing the game application to launch a game for playing by the user using the touch screen display, receive a game play input from the user, while playing the game using the touch screen display, unlock a locked game element of a plurality of locked game elements of the game, in response to the game play input by the user, and add one of a plurality of user interface elements corresponding to the unlocked game element for display by the user interface, in response to the unlocking, wherein each of the plurality of locked game elements corresponds to one of the plurality of user interface elements, and wherein the user interface is used by the one or more software applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Cho, Christopher Heatherly, Matthew Danner, Patrick Sager, Alif Khalfan, Bojan Jovanovic
  • Patent number: 10242476
    Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality system presents virtual reality media content including representations of a plurality of objects to a user. The system detects a characteristic of a real-world environment of the user as the virtual reality media content is presented to the user and identifies, based on the detected characteristic of the real-world environment, an actionable real-world object included in the real-world environment. In response to the identifying of the actionable real-world object and as the virtual reality media content is presented to the user, the system dynamically integrates a proxy object corresponding to the actionable real-world object with the representations of the plurality of objects included within the virtual reality media content presented to the user. The proxy object may be configured to facilitate an action by the user with respect to the actionable real-world object as the virtual reality media content is being presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensong Inc.
    Inventors: Brigitte Bastaldo-Tsampalis, Yuk Lun Li, Ning Zhang
  • Patent number: 10133343
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user includes a computer includes a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user so the user sees the virtual reality shown by the headset and produced by the computer in the headset. The apparatus includes a foot controller in communication with the computer against which the user moves at least one of his feet to create control signals with the foot to cause movement in the virtual reality. A method for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user having the steps of the user seeing the virtual reality shown by a virtual headset and produced by a computer in the headset, a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Tactonic Tecnologies, LLC, New York University
    Inventors: Kenneth Perlin, Charles Hendee
  • Patent number: 10118099
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for transparently styling non-player characters (“NPCs”) in multiplayer video games such that it is difficult to distinguish between human players and computer-controlled NPCs. NPCs may be styled to resemble human players in terms of both player profile attributes and gameplay actions such that players may not recognize NPCs as non-human, computer-controlled players. Additionally, or alternatively, NPCs and/or human players may be presented with a limited set of profile attributes that may reduce or eliminate the ability to distinguish between human players and NPCs, one or more profile attributes may be “anonymized,” and/or the ability to view player profiles of human players and/or NPCs may be disabled altogether. In certain gameplay sessions including real and/or practice gameplay sessions, human players may be prompted to select from among a predetermined set of playable characters having predefined profile attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Condrey, Mark Rubin
  • Patent number: 9990777
    Abstract: An augmented reality display device comprises a housing for one or more components for the augmented reality display device, wherein the one or more components comprises a plurality of sensors to capture information pertaining to the user's surroundings, and wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is an image-based sensor, a processing module communicatively coupled to the housing to process a set of data retrieved from the plurality of sensors, wherein the processing module comprises a gating mechanism that selectively allows data to be uploaded to the cloud, and a detachable camera removably attached to a housing of the augmented reality display device, such that when the detachable camera is attached to the housing of the augmented reality display device, the gating mechanism is opened such that data retrieved from the detachable camera is uploaded to the cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MAGIC LEAP, INC.
    Inventor: Gary R. Bradski
  • Patent number: 9922617
    Abstract: According to an aspect, an electronic device includes a first face, a second face, a display unit arranged on the first surface, a notification unit arranged on the second surface, an attitude detecting unit, and a control unit. The attitude detecting unit detects whether attitude of the electronic device is a first attitude, in which the first surface faces upward in the vertical direction, or a second attitude, in which the first surface faces downward in the vertical direction. When the attitude detecting unit detects the second attitude, the control unit prevents displaying on the display unit and enables the notification unit to give a notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Oshinome, Sanae Nishio
  • Patent number: 9910509
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for controlling perspective of a camera-controlled computer. A capture device captures user gestures and sends corresponding data to a recognizer engine. The recognizer engine analyzes the data with a plurality of filters, each filter corresponding to a gesture. Based on the output of those filters, a perspective control is determined, and a display device displays a new perspective corresponding to the perspective control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Relja Markovic, Gregory N. Snook, Stephen Latta, Kevin Geisner, Johnny Lee, Adam Jethro Langridge
  • Patent number: 9894379
    Abstract: A system and method for compressing video is disclosed, in which video frames that between consecutive I-frames are grouped into a video data set. The video data set is split into separate homogeneous files, and each of the homogeneous files are individually compressed. In one embodiment, the individually compressed files are multiplexed to form a bit stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Banerji, Kumar Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 9886936
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for presenting panel-based electronic documents are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, systems for presenting panel-based electronic documents are provided, the systems comprising: at least one processor programmed to: receive an electronic document, a definition of a first panel on a page in the electronic document, and a definition of a second panel on the page in the electronic document; control a display of the first panel based on the definition of the first panel; and transition from the display of the first panel to a display of the second panel by re-scaling the display and panning from the first panel to the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Timothy Steinberger, Cyrus Najmabadi
  • Patent number: 9875020
    Abstract: A touch screen device is configured to provide outputs responsive to inputs provided by a user interacting with the touch screen. The outputs are processed by processing circuitry to determine touch locations of consecutive taps. If the latter tap is within a threshold area of the former tap the action performed in response to the former tap is repeated. In the latter tap is not within a threshold area of the subsequent tap, the action performed in response to the former tap is different to the action performed in response to the subsequent tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventors: Fernando Claros De Luna, Patrik Swartz
  • Patent number: 9858754
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling an augmented reality interaction system and a mobile device to overlay a virtual 3D component over a physical 3D component with which the virtual 3D component interacts. The method includes: enabling a user to capture a live camera image of a gaming machine cabinet via a camera on the mobile device; determining if there are image tags on the gaming machine cabinet in the live camera image; producing a virtual rendering of the gaming machine cabinet; determining virtual 3D components to be displayed over an image of a virtual gaming machine cabinet; comparing a virtual depth rendering of the virtual 3D components to a virtual depth rendering of the virtual gaming machine cabinet; and overlaying virtual 3D components without the subtracted elements onto a live camera image of the virtual gaming machine cabinet on a display of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin S. Lyons, Brett Jackson, Roderick Ang, Joseph R. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 9737814
    Abstract: A real world image captured by a real camera such as an outside right imaging unit 23b is acquired, a synthesized image is generated by synthesizing the acquired real world image and a virtual image depicting a first virtual object such as an enemy object EO, in such a manner that the first virtual object such as an enemy object EO appears to be present behind the real world image, and the synthesized image thus generated is displayed on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Hal Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Suzuki, Shigefumi Kawase
  • Patent number: 9658931
    Abstract: A high level interface between a remote computer and local computer operator permits the remote computer to be controlled via a sequence of interactions. The remote computer may be monitored for display information which is expected, and also controlled in the event the expected information either is or is not obtained. Command language extensions are provided which extend and complement a basic scripting language. Scripts with embedded command language extensions may be executed through a remote interface, permitting remote testing, operation and evaluation. The development of the scripts, including embedded command language extensions, may be prepared through execution of commands at the local computer on a depiction of the GUI received from the remote computer, and subsequently saved as a script.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TESTPLANT INC.
    Inventors: Douglas P. Simons, Jonathan D. Gillaspie
  • Patent number: 9524024
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for controlling perspective of a camera-controlled computer. A capture device captures user gestures and sends corresponding data to a recognizer engine. The recognizer engine analyzes the data with a plurality of filters, each filter corresponding to a gesture. Based on the output of those filters, a perspective control is determined, and a display device displays a new perspective corresponding to the perspective control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Relja Markovic, Gregory N. Snook, Stephen Latta, Kevin Geisner, Johnny Lee, Adam Jethro Langridge
  • Patent number: 9498718
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for altering a view perspective within a display environment. For example, gesture data corresponding to a plurality of inputs may be stored. The input may be input into a game or application implemented by a computing device. Images of a user of the game or application may be captured. For example, a suitable capture device may capture several images of the user over a period of time. The images may be analyzed and processed for detecting a user's gesture. Aspects of the user's gesture may be compared to the stored gesture data for determining an intended gesture input for the user. The comparison may be part of an analysis for determining inputs corresponding to the gesture data, where one or more of the inputs are input into the game or application and cause a view perspective within the display environment to be altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Gregory N. Snook, Justin McBride, Arthur Charles Tomlin, Peter Sarrett, Kevin Geisner, Relja Markovic, Christopher Vuchetich
  • Patent number: 9486705
    Abstract: An exercise support device including an input which inputs player motion information from a reference position, and an instructing component which displays a motion evaluation mark on a screen, a motion instruction mark in a scrolling manner on the screen, a plurality of display patterns of a series of motion instruction marks in a distinguishable manner on the screen such that the display patterns include at least first and second display patterns, with the second display pattern having the motion instruction marks of the first display pattern and additional motion instruction marks, and instructs the player on a motion timing represented by the motion instruction mark so that the motion evaluation and instructions marks coincide. The exercise support device further includes an evaluating component which evaluates a player's motion based on a level of coincidence of the motion instruction and evaluation marks that correspond to the player's motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAIMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Chiwata
  • Patent number: 9395813
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an operation of an electronic device are provided. The method for controlling the operation of the electronic device includes, when an event for controlling an operation of the electronic device using a feature occurs, analyzing images being input from a camera in real-time, determining a reference position based on a position of the feature within at least one image among the images being input, determining a reference region for determining the movement or non-movement of the feature, based on the determined reference position, and changing the reference position according to a position of the feature moved within the reference region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Kwon Yoon, Ki-Huk Lee
  • Patent number: 9354839
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a touch panel, for example, set on a display screen. For example, the display screen displays a three-dimensional game screen showing a relatively narrower range of a virtual three-dimensional game world and a two-dimensional map screen showing a relatively wider range of the virtual three-dimensional game world simultaneously or through change. When an object existing in the virtual three-dimensional game world is moved, an input trace is obtained from an input to the map screen by utilizing the touch panel. The object is moved along the obtained input trace, and a scene in which the object is moving is displayed on the three-dimensional game screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Iwamoto, Masahiro Nitta, Youhei Fujino
  • Patent number: 9336528
    Abstract: A system and method for overlay advertising and purchasing utilizing on-line and streaming media. In at least one embodiment, a viewer user receiving on-line video or streaming media is able to pause content and be directed, on the same media player, to a product panel to select product(s) to be purchased, customized, or to receive additional static or dynamic information. The method and system also provides for network connectivity to other web-based and physical services and tracking systems to determine traffic to and from the on-line video or streaming media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Jeffrey Beaton
  • Patent number: 9333419
    Abstract: Input information that selects one card among five cards that are arranged in one direction in a predetermined area of a game screen is received, and a player character is caused to make a motion corresponding to the selected card. When three cards to which an identical attribute is assigned are adjacently disposed in the predetermined area, the three cards are replaced with one card to which the same attribute as that of the three cards is assigned, but which differs in type from the three cards, the card positioned in the rightward direction relative to the replaced cards is shifted in the leftward direction, and an additional two cards are disposed in the space formed by shifting the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Masataka Shimono, Shuntaro Watanabe, Takamasa Kato, Miki Tomisawa, Norimasa Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9292958
    Abstract: An example system includes: a field arrangement unit for positioning a field object in a three-dimensional virtual space; a viewpoint setting unit for setting a viewpoint in the virtual space so as to have an overhead viewpoint with respect to the field object; a scrolling unit for moving the viewpoint or the field object so as to change an area of the field object included in a range of vision on the basis of the viewpoint set by the viewpoint setting unit; a field deformation unit for deforming a shape of the field object such that a front side of the range of vision becomes flat while a back side of the range of vision is curved in a direction away from the viewpoint in accordance with a movement performed by the scrolling unit; and an image processing unit for generating a two-dimensional image displayed on a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Otani, Hiroyuki Kubota, Daisuke Gotoh
  • Patent number: 9215478
    Abstract: A media feed interface may be provided that may be used to extract a media frame from a media feed. The media feed interface may access a capture device, a file, and/or a network resource. Upon accessing the capture device, file, and/or network resource, the media feed interface may populate buffers with data and then may create a media feed from the buffers. Upon request, the media feed interface may isolate a media frame within the media feed. For example, the media feed interface analyze media frames in the media feed to determine whether a media frame includes information associated with, for example, the request. If the media frame includes the requested information, the media feed interface may isolate the media frame associated with the information and may provide access to the isolated media frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mark J. Finocchio, Jeffrey Margolis
  • Patent number: 9180377
    Abstract: A computer program according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a grouping module configured to group the plurality of objects into a plurality of groups; a reference point determination module configured to determine a reference point and a group fixation point in the virtual space for each of the plurality of groups; a viewpoint control module configured to control positions of the viewpoint and the fixation point in the virtual space; and a display control module configured to display, on the display device, the view of the virtual space as viewed from the viewpoint toward the fixation point. While events are generated in the particular group among the plurality of groups, the viewpoint control module according to an embodiment of the present invention fixes the viewpoint at the reference point of the particular group and the fixation point at a group fixation point of the particular group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9174135
    Abstract: An input is acquired, and in accordance with the input, a sequence of game processing from beginning a predetermined game to obtaining a result of the game is performed. Then, a game image corresponding to the game processing from the beginning of the game to a state of the game still in progress is displayed on the portable display apparatus. A game image corresponding to at least part of the game processing from the beginning of the game to the state of the game still in progress is redisplayed on another display apparatus, and thereafter, a game image corresponding to the game processing until the obtaining of the result of the game is displayed on the other display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Goro Abe
  • Patent number: 9155960
    Abstract: The creation of a video-game console for use with an allied touchscreen device or device plurality such as a smartphone and/or tablet is described. The allied touchscreen device may serve as the external media source for the video-game console assembly and further in modelling the input and output dynamics of said device under the ascendency of serviceable mapping systems. A series of specialty-input controllers for interaction with the present invention are also advanced by the inventor; including those designed for remote manipulation of an actionable sensor input where salient to the input dynamics of an engaged gaming title.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventor: Chris Argiro
  • Patent number: 9147319
    Abstract: A method of community gaming comprising: collecting at least one element in a main game for eligibility into a community game by at least one player; and conducting the community game for each eligible player, in which each collected element is employed in determining the community game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Chi We Chim
  • Patent number: 9039513
    Abstract: Systems, gaming machines, and methods for displaying an exploding icon are disclosed. One method includes receiving player input to activate a primary game; activating the primary game; presenting the activated game on a single screen of a video display, the activated game comprising a primary game displaying one or more game icons in various locations on a main screen of the video display and upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the primary game appears to animate at least one of the displayed game icons and move one or more wild icons about the main screen of the video display over one or more of the game icons, and randomly replacing one or more of the game icons with the one or more wild icons; determining whether the resulting combination of game icons and wild icons form any winning combinations; and awarding a single game payout for the primary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Schultz, Terence G. Daly, Kimberly J. Cohn, William E. Rommerdahl, John LaSalvia, John E. Garofalo, Jr., Nathanial A. Hammond, Jack A. Martin
  • Patent number: 9039526
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of transparent displays for gaming machines and, more particularly, to placement of a single transparent or partially transparent display between two facing gaming machines for common play of a shared gaming machine feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Hilbert
  • Publication number: 20150126279
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling an augmented reality interaction system and a mobile device to overlay a virtual 3D component over a physical 3D component with which the virtual 3D component interacts. The method includes: enabling a user to capture a live camera image of a gaming machine cabinet via a camera on the mobile device; determining if there are image tags on the gaming machine cabinet in the live camera image; producing a virtual rendering of the gaming machine cabinet; determining virtual 3D components to be displayed over an image of a virtual gaming machine cabinet; comparing a virtual depth rendering of the virtual 3D components to a virtual depth rendering of the virtual gaming machine cabinet; and overlaying virtual 3D components without the subtracted elements onto a live camera image of the virtual gaming machine cabinet on a display of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Martin S. Lyons, Brett Jackson, Roderick Ang, Joseph R. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 9022864
    Abstract: A game environment is presented where the 3-D object is properly transitioned from the player's field of view. For example, the perceived position of the 3-D object in the real 3-D space is measured, and if the distance from the display exceeds a threshold, the system will gradually transition the object out of the player's field of view. As another example, the distance of the object from a virtual camera can be measured in a virtual space and if the distance comes within a threshold value, the system will fade the object from the display. As a further example, the distance of the object from a predefined reference plane in the virtual space can be measured to determine the object's perceived visual distance in the real 3-D space and if the object exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the object will begin fading from the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harold B. Westlund, Yoshihito Ikebata, Ryuichi Nakada
  • Patent number: 8998712
    Abstract: A game system includes a game apparatus, a first output device having a first display section and a first sound output section, and a second output device having a second display section and a second sound output section. In this system, a first sound signal to be output to the first sound output section and a second sound signal to be output to the second sound output section are generated based on the same sound data. When transmitting the two sound signals, the timing to transmit the first sound signal to the first sound section is delayed by a predetermined time with respect to the timing to transmit the second sound signal to the second audio section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junya Osada
  • Patent number: 8998716
    Abstract: A system, a computer readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for updating a performance of a presentation of a virtual game environment. A presentation of a virtual game environment is generated based on a visual attribute. The visual attribute may identify a visual quality of the presentation of the virtual game environment. A visual performance metric associated with the presentation of the virtual game environment is then monitored. The visual attribute then updated based on the visual performance metric. After the visual attribute is updated, an updated presentation of the virtual game environment is generated based on the updated visual attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Omi
  • Patent number: 9002885
    Abstract: A framework is provided for selecting media files for playback in a computer game. In one embodiment, user actions in the computer game are monitored. Further, user characterizations of media files may also be retrieved. The user characterizations may be input by a plurality of users via a media player application. A media file may be then selected for playback based on the monitored user actions and retrieved user characterizations. The selected media file may better suit an emotional experience of a user playing the computer game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lane Merrifield, Raul Guerra, Michael P. Yingling
  • Patent number: 8994729
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a simulation unit which performs a simulation of operation of an object and a display unit which generates based on a result of the simulation an image in which a virtual object is operating and displays the image. The apparatus further comprises a calculating unit which calculates a position and orientation of a predetermined part of an observer who observes the virtual object being displayed, and a generating unit which generates a parameter for use in the simulation based on the position and orientation of the predetermined part of the observer and the position and orientation of the virtual object. This structure makes it possible to set parameters of simulation in a virtual-reality or mixed-reality space through manipulation performed by the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naohito Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8992321
    Abstract: In a network game, player characters manipulated by individual players of video game apparatuses belong to the same party to battle with an opponent character. When a player character making a special move is not present in the party, the display screen of each video game apparatus becomes a screen focusing on the player character of the player who uses this video game apparatus. When one of the player characters makes a special move, not only the display screen of the video game apparatus corresponding to this player, but also the display screens of the video game apparatuses corresponding to the other player characters in the party become screens focusing on the player character which makes the special move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
    Inventors: Jin Fujisawa, Takashi Anzai
  • Patent number: 8992315
    Abstract: Position data is generated. The position data describes a respective current position of each of one or more game objects (e.g., billiard game objects) in relation to a playing surface (e.g., a playing surface of a billiard table) defining a boundary of a field of play of a game involving use of the one or more game objects in the field of play. A graphical interface image is displayed on the playing surface. Whether the position data in relation to the displayed graphical interface image satisfies an input instruction predicate is determined. In response to a determination that the position data satisfies the input instruction predicate, the input instruction is executed on a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Obscura Digital, Inc.
    Inventors: Niklas Lundback, Steve Mason, Michael Harville, Travis Threlkel
  • Patent number: 8979634
    Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for executing a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system for conducting a wagering game is disclosed which includes a memory device that stores instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the gaming system to: display a symbol array at a first position of a three-dimensional (3D) space; display a 3D object at a second position of the 3D space, the 3D object having two or more surfaces each lying in a respective plane of the 3D space and each having a respective symbol modifier; display the 3D object and/or symbol array moving towards each other; display, in the symbol array, symbols indicative of a wagering-game outcome; and, in response to the 3D object engaging the array, modify each of the symbol-array symbols by the symbol modifier of the 3D object which engages that symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Pacey, Joel R. Jaffe, Dion K. Aoki
  • Patent number: 8974287
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a selector arranged to select symbols for display in respective first display position areas, and a shutter device disposed in front of the selected symbols and arranged to controllably conceal or reveal at least one of the symbols. The system also comprises a display device disposed in front of the shutter device and arranged to display icons at respective second display position areas. Each second display position area is disposed in alignment with a first display position area, and the display device is controllable so as to modify the degree of transparency of an icon. When the shutter device is controlled so as to reveal a selected symbol and an icon associated with the revealed symbol is modified so as to increase the degree of transparency of the icon, the revealed symbol is viewable through the associated icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Damien Burczyk, Mark Cass, Bradley Hendricks, Cash Imutan, Francis Styck
  • Patent number: 8968092
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include detecting characteristics of at least one environmental condition in an external environment that is external to a wagering game machine in a casino (e.g., detect activity that occurs in the casino, detect appearance of people and objects in the casino, detect light and sound events, etc.). The operations can further include generating an animated wagering game effect in a wagering game animation, using the detected characteristics of the environmental condition. The animated wagering game effect can affect one or more wagering game objects within the wagering game animation in a way that emulates the environmental condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Gomez, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Scott A. Massing, Robert W. Morgan, III, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8961293
    Abstract: To display a plurality of symbols in a plurality of display regions, upon starting a game, and in a case where trigger symbols are stop displayed in any of the plurality of display regions, to draw for specific display regions where trigger symbols are displayed, from a plurality of types of symbols so that the symbols are displayed having a predetermined relationship among the symbols in at least game units, and at the same time, to draw for general display regions that have symbols other than the trigger symbol displayed, from a plurality of types of symbols so that arbitrary symbols are independently displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Incorporated
    Inventor: Eiji Aida
  • Patent number: 8956216
    Abstract: Electronic gaming machines having mechanical or electro-mechanical wheel devices are described herein. The gaming machines include a cabinet, a display coupled to the cabinet, and a wheel coupled to the cabinet. The wheel includes a plurality of wheel segments positioned axially about a center point of the wheel. The plurality of wheel segments may be configured to rotate about the center point and to transform an appearance of the wheel. The wheel further includes an indicator configured to indicate an indicated wheel segment. The indicator may be configured to rotate about the center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Kehl LeSourd, Anish Cherian Mathew, Megan Oehlert, Mindy Eustaquio, Jean Pierre Legras
  • Patent number: 8956227
    Abstract: An example image processing method for rendering an object arranged in a virtual space, the method being implemented by a computer executing: acquiring a captured image of a subject captured by an imaging device; determining an imaging direction of a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space, such that the imaging direction is changed in conjunction with motion of the imaging device; specifying, in information for performing predetermined image processing on the captured image, a particular piece of information determined according to the imaging direction of the virtual camera determined in the determining; an image processing of performing the predetermined image processing on the captured image acquired in the acquiring, by using the piece of information specified in the specifying; and causing a display device to display the captured image subjected to the predetermined image processing in the image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Suzuki, Zenta Andou, Takashi Nozue
  • Patent number: 8936512
    Abstract: A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game is provided. Game image information containing positional information of the target object in a game image used in the video game is stored in a game image information memory. A position of a viewpoint against the game image is specified on the basis of progress of the video game. A game image is displayed on the display screen on the basis of the specified position of the viewpoint and the game image information stored in the game image information memory. It is determined whether the target object becomes a non-display state or not in response to a movement request of the viewpoint received from a player. Selection of the target object by the player is received in a case where it is determined that the target object does not become the non-display state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Itahana, Motomu Toriyama
  • Patent number: 8913057
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device includes a virtual space recognition unit for analyzing 3D space structure of a real space to recognize a virtual space, a storage unit for storing an object to be arranged in the virtual space, a display unit for displaying the object arranged in the virtual space, on a display device, a detection unit for detecting device information of the display device, and an execution unit for executing predetermined processing toward the object based on the device information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishige, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Akira Miyashita
  • Publication number: 20140349759
    Abstract: A computer generating a three-dimensional space and the images to be shown on a display: sets a first angle of view of the virtual camera; displays the image in accordance with the first angle of view; detects a position on the displayed image pointed to by the input device; calculates a straight line passing through the detected position and the virtual camera in the three-dimensional space; identifies an object intersecting the straight line; automatically sets a second angle of view of the virtual camera to zoom in and display the identified object, and displays the identified object using the display device from the perspective of the second angle of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kaneshige, Yoshitaka Ajioka, Kiyoshi Mizuki, Yasushi Ebisawa