Simulated Court Game Or Athletic Event (e.g., Soccer, Basketball, Etc.) Patents (Class 463/4)
  • Patent number: 9764239
    Abstract: A computer implemented game is provided where each of first and second game computer code provide user selectable game objects on a display. The configuration of game objects presented to a user by the first and second game computer code is different. A first marker is generated when a game objective is attained in the first game computer code, and a second marker is generated when a second game objective is attained in the second game computer code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventor: Sebastian Knutsson
  • Patent number: 9751018
    Abstract: A computerized method and system of facilitating state-based participation in calling plays in a football game thereby allowing fans to proactively participate in real-time in the game with players, referees and coaches. A computing device receives a user profile corresponding to a user registered to vote in a real-time football game. A sequence of states occurring in 100 seconds or less is initiated in response to a start of a play during the real-time football game. The sequence of states includes receiving a submission of a set of plays from a coach, sending the set of plays to a registered user, and receiving a vote from the registered user. A result of a real-time play based on the winning play is received and the coach is score updated by comparing the vote with the winning play and with the result of the real-time play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Your Call, Inc.
    Inventors: George F. Colony, Julie H. Meringer, Susan D. Membrino, William Packard Colony
  • Patent number: 9751017
    Abstract: A system for playing and managing an interactive social game between a plurality of client computers connected to a network in a communications network includes a processor for playing an interactive social game program at the plurality of client computers operated by users. The interactive social game program includes associating the users of the client computers with social item(s) to be managed. The processor is operable to present the users of the client computer with stored promotions in memory. The processor is operable to cause the execution of the social game program in response to an input command, to incorporate a selected promotion and present the selected promotion visually to client computers while playing the interactive social game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: JF936 ehf
    Inventors: Jon F. Thoroddsen, Sigurdur Jonsson
  • Patent number: 9685044
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method that includes displaying a group of numbers to a first and second player. The system and method further includes receiving a group of N numbers and a sequence of numbers for first and second players. The system and method includes receiving a wager, fold indication or raise indication from the first or second player and receiving an event result that includes N winning numbers corresponding to winning participants and a winning sequence of N winning numbers. The system and method includes receiving a wager, fold indication or raise indication from a first or second player and comparing the N winning numbers and winning sequence to the numbers and sequences for the first and second players. The system and method includes identifying a winning player matching winning criteria of a higher ranking winning category and distributing a winning pool of wagers to the one winning player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Intralot S.A.—Integrated Lottery Systems and Services
    Inventors: Yiannis Gangas, Evangelos Kalloudis
  • Patent number: 9517417
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for providing analytics including participant statistical data or game status data. In one embodiment, a method is provided for transmitting participant data relating to one or more participants that are available in a fantasy game, the fantasy game is at least partially related to a players performance in a sporting event; receiving a selected participant data indication from at least one user, the selected participant data indication provides selection of at least one participant from the participant data; generating a participant data update for one or more participants based on the selected participant data indication; the participant data is defined by a time period comprising an event and is calculated based on blink data transmitted from a location tag mounted to the participant; and transmitting the participant data update, the participant data update is viewable via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: David Austerlade, Gene Hofer, James J. O'Hagan
  • Patent number: 9421469
    Abstract: A game machine executes a game in which a user character operated by a user, and a teammate character and an opponent character operated by a computer, act in a game space. A first determination unit determines whether or not the teammate character is performing a predetermined action. A second determination unit determines whether or not the user performs a predetermined operation indicating that the user has noticed the teammate character performing the predetermined action. An action control unit has the opponent character perform an action determined based on the predetermined action of the teammate character, based on the result of determination by the second determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadaaki Tsunashima
  • Patent number: 9358469
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an inter-sport fantasy sports challenge. According to one aspect, a set of players is provided to each user, where each player competes in one of a plurality of sports. A roster selected from the set of players is received from each user. Rosters include players selected without regard to a respective sport and a respective position, and can include players from multiple sports. In another aspect, rosters include prescribed numbers of players and positions, and the respective rosters as between at least two users include players from multiple sports. Performance data for each player is received. A player point value for each player is calculated and converted into normalized values using one or more piecewise-defined non-linear functions for each sport. A roster score is calculated by aggregating normalized values for each player on the roster, and users are ranked based on roster scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nicholas, Michael P. Szahaj, Aaron Whitlock
  • Patent number: 9339733
    Abstract: How do 2 people near each other and who have cellphones play a multiplayer Internet game? The first person visits it on her phone. She gets a barcode of an URL with an id of her Internet address. The second person images it with his phone and connects to the server. The server sends pages to both phones, to let them play the game. A barcode can add more people to the game. A player hands her character to a nearby person with a mobile device. Or to add watchers to follow the Point Of View of a player. A barcode can transfer assets between players, in a game that encourages physical proximity and enhanced social interaction. Another method of linking the players is where the phone emits a sound that maps to an URL. The other phone records and decodes the URL. It queries the server with the URL, to log the second person into the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Wesley John Boudville
  • Patent number: 9336656
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a multilayer hybrid game including: a gambling game; a multilayer entertainment game that triggers at least one wager in the gambling game to the gambling game and provides outcomes at a plurality of gameplay layers, where: players at a same gameplay layer are engaged in gameplay subject to the same standards for gameplay progression and utilization of gameplay resources; where the game world engine utilizes a multilayer module constructed to: detect at least one player action responsive to gameplay within a first gameplay layer of the plurality of gameplay layers; determine a gameplay impact for at least one player at a second gameplay layer in response to the detection of the at least one player action; and apply the gameplay impact to the gameplay of at least one player at the second gameplay layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Caitlyn Ross
  • Patent number: 9308459
    Abstract: A system according to an embodiment allows a player to easily enjoy a competition game using a plurality of game contents while feeling the playability. The system includes: a game progress control unit; an information storage unit; a first formation setting unit for setting formations used by the player and an opponent and arrangement of athlete cards to a plurality of positions constituting the formations; a first competition processing unit for performing a competition process in a first half based on the formations and information on the arranged athlete cards; a second formation setting unit for setting, after the competition process in the first half, formations to be used by the player and the opponent and the arrangement of the athlete cards; and a second competition processing unit for performing a competition process in a second half based on the set formations and the information on the arranged athlete cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Nakatani, Yuichiro Mori
  • Patent number: 9272205
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with a game program stored thereon, the game program instructing a computer to perform the following processes: a reception process to receive an operational input from a player; and a battle process in which a battle between the player and an opposing character starts based on the operational input by consuming a consumption parameter set for the player, a hit point parameter indicative of an amount of damage that the opposing character can withstand changes through the battle, an outcome of the battle between the player and the opposing character is determined, and when a single operational input is received from the player in the reception process, a recovery process and an attack process are collectively performed, the recovery process being a process to recover the consumption parameter, the attack process being a process to attack the opposing character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Yoshie
  • Patent number: 9202332
    Abstract: A method of enabling a user to play an online fantasy sports game that provides an opportunity to play the game when the user visits a lottery site, provides a plurality of fantasy sports selections in a time window, the plurality of fantasy sports selections corresponds to an option to select a plurality of related actual sports games specified in the time window for that fantasy sport selection, receives the one or more fantasy sports selections that completes a lottery submission before the time window begins, determines a fantasy performance score for each of the plurality of corresponding actual sports games, determines which users have won the game based on each user's selections and each of the determined corresponding fantasy performance scores, and transmits an electronic message indicating one or more winners of corresponding lottery submissions when certain users are identified to have won the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: HOTBOX SPORTS LLC
    Inventor: Tarek Bahou
  • Patent number: 9180371
    Abstract: To provide a game device capable of assisting a user to make a pass to a teammate player character in a game performed between a user character group operated by the user and an opponent character group. A setting unit sets a plurality of positions in an area around a character holding the moving object as receiving position candidates for another character to receive a pass. A receiving position selecting unit selects at least one of the receiving position candidates, based on the position of a character belonging to the opponent character group. A character selecting unit selects a character corresponding to the receiving position candidate from among the player characters belonging to the user character group other than the character holding the moving object. A character control unit moves the character corresponding to the selected receiving position candidate toward a position based on the selected receiving position candidate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shin Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9132355
    Abstract: To provide a game device which enables a user to relatively easily know of the existence of a player character suitable as a pass target or an area suitable as a movement destination. A display control unit (72) displays a partial area of a game space on a game screen based on a position of a reference player character selected from among player characters belonging to a first team and a second team or a position of a moving object. An acquiring unit (72a) acquires, in a case where the first team is in possession of the moving object, a movement destination candidate or a pass target candidate of a player character belonging to the first team based on the positions of the player characters belonging to the second team. A control unit (72c) controls the partial area based on the position of the reference player character or the position of the moving object, and the movement destination candidate or the pass target candidate acquired by the acquiring unit (72a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Terada, Ryuji Mimura
  • Patent number: 9135645
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Doug Yates
  • Patent number: 9129541
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for displaying a play call to participants in an athletic competition, the system having an input device, a display device, a selector, a first block of at least three characters and a second block of at least three characters. The first and second blocks are separated by a division. The first and second blocks each contain one character selected by a play caller and one character selected by the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: MKN SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Weiler, Nii Larnyoh
  • Patent number: 9110557
    Abstract: A method and system for a user interactive game capable of training and monitoring motor and cognitive skills of a patient, is provided. The method includes obtaining an image of an object being manipulated by the user, said image having an image frame; within the image frame, defining a shape of a field of movement; adding a bounding rectangle to the shape of the field of movement; mapping a coordinate from within the object to the bounding rectangle; mapping the coordinate from the bounding rectangle to the image frame; mapping the coordinate from the image frame to the target; and displaying the coordinate on the a computer monitor as an icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Timocco Ltd.
    Inventors: Sarit Tresser, Shay Yagur, Gil Wohlstadter
  • Patent number: 9079105
    Abstract: A method for managing a team in an online game includes, by a team management apparatus, configuring a team management screen, displaying the team management screen that contains information on at least one preset formation upon receiving a signal indicating that the user enters the team management screen from the user terminal, setting each information on the at least one formation upon receiving setting related to details of a selected one formation among the at least one formation from the user terminal, judging whether the number of currently set formations is less than a preset maximum number of formations upon receiving a formation addition request signal from the user terminal, and adding the formation if the number of currently set formations is less than the maximum number of formations, and setting a formation change shortcut key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Hun Kim, Sun Hwa Choi, Jae Hyun Choi, Jong Hee Han
  • Patent number: 9082074
    Abstract: The system and method provides team guidance recommendations. The system and method provides player selection guidance by realistically valuing top-tier and lower-tier players. The system and method provides situational-based starting lineup recommendations by creating and using tier-specific, non-normal distributions in a probability distribution-based system for providing fantasy sports player selection guidance. The system and method generates variance and accuracy information from historical data of a particular player projection system, and generates non-normal fantasy point distributions from the same player projection system using the previously generated variance and accuracy information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Sports Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard John LaPadula, III, Jon Abraham
  • Patent number: 9058058
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing gesture-based user interactions within an interactive display area are provided. The display of one or more virtual objects and user interactions with the one or more virtual objects may be further provided. Multiple interactive areas may be created by partitioning an area proximate a display into multiple volumetric spaces or zones. The zones may be associated with respective user interaction capabilities. A representation of a user on the display may change as the ability of the user to interact with one or more virtual object changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 67 LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Bell, Tipatat Chennavasin, Charles H. Clanton, Michael Hulme, Eyal Ophir, Matthew Vieta
  • Patent number: 9039505
    Abstract: Action history writing means (92) of a game device (10) writes, into storing means (80), in a game being executed, action history data indicative of an action history performed by a specified character (62) among a plurality of characters (62). Action history condition determination means (94) determines, in the game being executed, based on the action history data, whether or not any one of a combination of a current action of the specified character (62) and one or more previous actions of the specified character (62) and a combination of a plurality of actions of the specified character (62) satisfies an action history condition. In a case where it is determined that the action history condition is satisfied, action control means (96) causes a character (62) to act based on action information associated with the action history condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta Yahiro
  • Publication number: 20150141101
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a fantasy sports game. In some embodiments, an expected performance value may be determined. In some embodiments, a same player may appear multiple times in a team. Various other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Lee Amaitis, Philip Flaherty, Andrew Garrood
  • Patent number: 9028313
    Abstract: A method for manipulating a character of a soccer game includes, by an apparatus for manipulating the character of the soccer game, receiving information on a current position of a cursor in a game, the cursor being moved to correspond to movement of an input means on a soccer game screen, and information on a position of the game character controlled by a user via a user terminal that displays the game screen, calculating a direction of a vector that is formed to extend from the position of the game character to the position of the displayed cursor and a magnitude of the vector according to a distance between the position of the game character and the position of the cursor, and controlling the game character so as to be moved in the direction of the vector at a speed corresponding to the magnitude of the vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Seok Lee, Dong Hyun Nam
  • Publication number: 20150099565
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for game play using virtual players, sometimes referred to herein as vBots, is disclosed. In one aspect, a method for game play involves the use of the system electronic system environment described herein, wherein one or more virtual players are displayed to the player of the game, preferably, the virtual players have differing play characteristics, receiving from the user association with a selection of a virtual player, displaying a simulated game using the virtual players, identifying a subset of the virtual players as being winners of the simulated game, and awarding a win to the lottery user if the selected virtual player is in the subset of virtual players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Randall M. Katz, Gary Dawson
  • Patent number: 8992345
    Abstract: The present invention extends to a digital compass ball marker that can be used to provide timely information to assist the golfer in determining a direction and force for a golf shot on a green. The digital compass ball marker can output this information using minimal information input by the golfer so that the use of the ball marker does not slow play, and in many cases, can speed play. The information provided by the ball marker can include a force with which to hit the shot and a direction to aim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Jack W Peterson
  • Patent number: 8974299
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating metric-based conformance by character units to specified formations is provided. An instance of a game space may be executed. The game space may have character units (including a first group of character units) that are controllable by a user to perform in-space actions. Values for one or more dynamic cohesiveness metrics associated with one or more of the user or character units of the first group may be determined. Responsive to reception of a first action request specifying a formation for the first group and a second action request specifying a first in-space objective for the first group, the first group may attempt to perform the first in-space objective in the instance of the game space with a level of conformance (that is based on the determined values of the dynamic cohesiveness metrics) to the specified formation during the attempted performance of the first in-space objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Fontaine
  • Patent number: 8951106
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes instructing a human player to perform a plurality of different actions in a determined order with a physical basketball, including actions of bouncing the physical basketball, and obtaining, with one or more electronic sensors, data that characterizes motion of the physical basketball being handled by the human player who is performing the instructed actions at a location. The method also includes communicating the data from the sensors to a console videogame system that is proximate to the location, and graphically representing, in a videogame displayed on a display device, performance by the human player, the performance being affected by the captured data, the representation of performance by the human player being compared against a standard of performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: InfoMotion Sports Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Crowley, Kevin King
  • Patent number: 8951107
    Abstract: A system and method for non-sequential automated fantasy drafting are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises storing a ranked list of players, each player associated with one or more characteristics from a predefined set of characteristics, defining one or more rules which specify the maximum number of active players having each of the characteristics and a maximum number of players having of each of the characteristics, storing a roster of previously selected players having the maximum number of active players for a particular characteristic and less than the maximum number of players for the particular characteristic, and automatically selecting, in an electronic device, based on the stored roster, a player for the roster from the ranked list of players satisfying the one or more rules such that a player is selected with a lower rank than a player with the particular characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Nathaniel Sloan
  • Patent number: 8928579
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for interacting with an omni-directionally projected display. The omni-directionally projected display includes, in some embodiments, visual information projected on a display surface by way of an omni-directional projector. A user is able to interact with the projected visual information using gestures in free space, voice commands, and/or other tools, structures, and commands. The visual information can be projected omni-directionally, to provide a user with an immersive interactive experience with the projected display. The concepts and technologies disclosed herein can support more than one interacting user. Thus, the concepts and technologies disclosed herein may be employed to provide a number of users with immersive interactions with projected visual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew David Wilson, Hrvoje Benko
  • Patent number: 8890774
    Abstract: A heads-up display associated with a user manipulated object in a gaming environment, particularly a racing game. According to one aspect the heads-up display may reduce the distance a user's eye travels between a focal area and the heads-up display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Uphill, Christopher Francis, Dominic Jackson, James Whittamore, Ashleigh J. Pook
  • Patent number: 8882613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for gathering ball game data and in particular tennis match data in real time. To this end the system comprises a hands-free voice receiving means (4) adapted to receive words spoken by the player (2) wearing the receiving means. The words are then analyzed by an analyzing means adapted to analyze a dedicated ball game vocabulary used by the player. The analysis of the spoken words translates these words into digital match data. This data can be displayed, at least as score of the game by a display (10). More elaborate match data information can be gathered. Such data may be fed to an expert system giving back advice to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kitris AG
    Inventor: Christian Züger
  • Patent number: 8876607
    Abstract: An interface for displaying statistical information about players in an online fantasy sports game is provided. The interface includes a statistics generator for providing for display at least one description component that comprises at least a name of at least one player for viewing by a user. The statistics generator also provides at least one indicator for displaying a rendition of a statistic associated with the at least one player, where the statistic is based upon a percentage of teams for which the at least one player has a defined status in the fantasy sports game. The interface also includes an update component for providing for an update of the rendition of the statistic at one or more defined times, wherein the update component is operable to provide for display a value of the statistic determined at an update time, wherein the update time is based upon the one or more defined times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Ng, Dean Nakabayashi, Scott Pitkin, Sean Montgomery, Mark Kawakami, Ron Belmarch
  • Publication number: 20140302901
    Abstract: A server for providing a tactic hot key service includes: a communicator connected to a plurality of terminals in a wired or wireless manner, receiving manipulation of each terminal, and transmitting data that are appropriate for the terminal; a controller for controlling respective constituent elements, simultaneously being an input/output path of the data, and outputting data to the communicator so that data may be displayed to the terminals based on the data that are input through the communicator; and a storage unit for storing a unique identity code for identifying the terminal, a hot key for tactics used for a soccer game, and tactics data matching the hot key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Yoon Namgoong
  • Publication number: 20140302900
    Abstract: A method for manipulating a character of a soccer game includes, by an apparatus for manipulating the character of the soccer game, receiving information on a current position of a cursor in a game, the cursor being moved to correspond to movement of an input means on a soccer game screen, and information on a position of the game character controlled by a user via a user terminal that displays the game screen, calculating a direction of a vector that is formed to extend from the position of the game character to the position of the displayed cursor and a magnitude of the vector according to a distance between the position of the game character and the position of the cursor, and controlling the game character so as to be moved in the direction of the vector at a speed corresponding to the magnitude of the vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: NEOWIZ GAMES CORPORATION
    Inventors: In Seok Lee, Dong Hyun Nam
  • Publication number: 20140274241
    Abstract: A method includes displaying a character on a display, wherein movements of the character are controllable by a user, displaying an object on the display and causing the object to appear to be moving, causing the character to appear to be attempting to catch the object in response to control input received from the user, receiving a catch command input from the user, and causing the character to appear to successfully catch the object if a set of at least one condition(s) are all met, wherein the set of at least one condition(s) comprises that the object is within a predetermined distance from a catching element of the character at a time of receipt of the catch command input and wherein the character is oriented in a manner suitable for catching the object. A storage medium and system are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Edward R. CRAMM
  • Publication number: 20140274487
    Abstract: A ball including a core, at least one layer of yarn surrounding the core, a cover assembly comprising panels joined by stitching and surrounding the at least one layer of yarn, a sensor to sense motion of the ball, a data output device carried by the ball and in communication with the sensor, and a light emitter coupled to the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventor: Robert T. Thurman
  • Patent number: 8827815
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using geographic information in connection with sporting activities. Sensors may be attached to users and/or clothing to generate performance data. The data, along location data, may be transmitted to a server. The server may maintain leader boards for users and locations and allow users to search for other users and locations of sporting activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon S. Burroughs, Mark Adam Starkey
  • Patent number: 8827808
    Abstract: A game device acquires gazing position information relating to a position where a game player is gazing at a game screen, and a first determination unit determines whether or not the game player is aware of a game character based on the gazing position information and a position of the game character. A second determination unit determines whether or not the game character is aware of a virtual viewpoint or an operation subject of the game player based on the position and a sight line of the game character and a position of the virtual viewpoint or the operation subject of the game player. An action control unit causes the game character to perform an action corresponding to the gazing position information or a predetermined action based on determination results obtained by the first determination unit and the second determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Matsumaru, Keisuke Kariya
  • Patent number: 8827785
    Abstract: To provide a game device capable of preferably producing an image of a picture in which a first game character loses sight of a second game character having moved so as to disappear from view of the first game character, and thus delays in responding to the second game character. An operation target selection unit (72) selects an operation target character from among the plurality of first game characters. An operation target control unit (74a) changes a state of the first game character selected by the operation target selection unit (72), in the game space, based on a signal input from an operation unit. A selection restriction unit (72b) restricts, in the case where it is determined by the determination unit (72a) that the position of the second game character is included in a determination target area determined based on the position and orientation of the first game character, selection of that first game character by the operation target selection unit (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Suzuki, Hajime Matsumaru
  • Patent number: 8827786
    Abstract: A display control section displays, on a game screen, a whole or a part of a game space in which a plurality of objects are located. An update section updates a location state of the plurality of objects. A notification subject situation saving section stores, as a notification subject situation, a location state of the plurality of objects at a given time point in a notification subject situation storage. A notification control section executes notification output based on a result of comparison between the location state of the plurality of objects and the notification subject situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Shin, Seitaro Kimura, Hitoshi Otomo, Hidekazu Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8827811
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and an operating method of the mobile terminal are provided. The operating method includes connecting the mobile terminal to a sharing device so as to be able to communicate with the sharing device, the sharing device displaying a shared screen; downloading multiplayer game programs from the sharing device; and displaying a personal screen on a display module of the mobile terminal and running a multiplayer game together with another mobile terminal by using the personal screen and the shared screen while exchanging data with the sharing device. Therefore, it is possible for the mobile terminal to effectively run the multiplayer game together with the other mobile terminal by using the personal screen and the shared screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hansu Kim, Duckmoon Shin, Jungyeoul Ju, Jeonghyuk Yoon, Hyungwook Kang
  • Patent number: 8821235
    Abstract: A game program according to the invention instructs a computer to perform the following processes: a reception process in which a building request that requests building of a character group into which a plurality of characters are organized is received from a player terminal that is used by a player when the player plays a game; an image generation process in which a group-building game image is generated in response to the building request, the group-building game image being displayed on a display unit of the player terminal when the player builds the character group, the group-building game image including images of characters owned by the player and pieces of suggesting information that causes the player to estimate an attribute set for each of these characters; and a process in which the group-building game image generated in the image generation process is sent to the player terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daiki Urakubo, Hiroshi Koyama
  • Patent number: 8795045
    Abstract: The realm of fantasy sports gaming is expanded beyond the selection of current, active athletes by including former athletes, or former seasons for current athletes, in a selection pool for fantasy sports leagues. This is accomplished by querying databases of sports statistics for the purpose of generating a mock performance that can be fairly compared and incorporated with real-time performances generated by current athletes actively participating in the same sport. The end result is a realistic, yet unpredictable, statistical box score for a former athlete that can be translated via a point system for the purpose of fantasy sports league play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Four O'Clock Fantasy Sports Concepts LLC
    Inventors: Eric M Sorrells, Jared A Davis
  • Patent number: 8795086
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing referee control over game play within a gaming environment are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include establishing a referee role that allows an end user to exert referee control of game play relative to a competition, within a gaming environment, between a plurality of participants, establishing referee rights for the referee role, the referee rights being made available only to the end user upon which the referee role has been conferred; and, conferring the referee role upon the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Red 5 Studios, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Rudi, Matt DeWald, Morgan Romine
  • Patent number: 8769600
    Abstract: An exemplary system stores data representative of a plurality of media content items related to a plurality of sporting events and data representative of information about a plurality of players involved in the plurality of sporting events, the information including an indication of one or more players of interest to a user that are included in the plurality of players, identifies a portion of a media content item as associated with an event related to one of the sporting events, determines an identity of a player involved in the event, generates metadata representative of the identity of the player involved in the event, determines, based on the metadata, that the player involved in the event is included in the one or more players of interest, and generates and sends a highlight message including the identified portion of the media content item to a user device associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Donald H. Relyea, Brian F. Roberts, Heath Stallings
  • Publication number: 20140179384
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for managing a football match on a hand held computerized device is presented. The hand held computerized devices includes a first display screen disposed substantially opposite a second display screen. Pre-match information for a first team and a second team are entered into the hand held computer device. Match related events, such as goals, penalties and substitutions are entered on the hand held computer device. The device compiles match events and said pre-match information into a match log, and wirelessly transmits the match log to a receiver, such as a match following device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Zvi Minkovitch
  • Patent number: 8753213
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an administration system which facilitates efficient setup, organization, and maintenance of tournaments, including league games. In particular, the administration system provides a user-friendly, intuitive and efficient-to-use interface for organizing tournaments and tournament brackets. The user interfaces and methods described provide tournament organizers and administrators with the ability to quickly and dynamically build custom tournament brackets of virtually any desired depth and configuration. The administration system, and in particular the tournament bracket management user interfaces, enable tournament administrators to focus on the task of building a custom tournament bracket structure quickly, while also automatically handling the minute logistics underlying the tournament such as when and where games are to be played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sports Logic Group, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lowell Lawson
  • Publication number: 20140162743
    Abstract: This document generally describes techniques, methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a three-dimensional (“3D”) sports playbook. Such a playbook may permit someone like a football, basketball, or soccer coach to see a play executed in a classic X's and O's overhead two-dimensional (“2D”) view, and also in a 3D view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MOTI SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Meyer, Dean Dalton, Scott Gaff, Christopher Ebbert
  • Publication number: 20140162742
    Abstract: A system to provide a recommendation of a player to select during a fantasy football draft. The system determines a projected competitiveness of a user's team, and determines what available player best increases their competitiveness. The determination may be based on a number of factors such as best available player, addressing statistical weaknesses of a team, players having the biggest statistical differential over other available players, positional scarcity, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Tom Dempsey
  • Patent number: 8747197
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an electronic handheld device is provided for receiving information related to a broadcasted sporting contest, and calculating a score based upon the received information. The information is entered into the electronic handheld device via a controller having plurality of buttons, each button having an associated score. The controller includes a display for displaying team information, which may include the team name and the score for each team. The controller further includes circuit board having circuitry operatively connected to the controller for processing the entered information and outputting the processed information to the controller display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Bradley Morris