Patents Examined by David L Lewis
  • Patent number: 12293637
    Abstract: Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernie M. Lafky, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, Cameron A. Filipour, Adam M. Meyer, Adam M. Singer
  • Patent number: 12290746
    Abstract: A device may include a first unit and a second unit. The first unit may include a first body that has a controller interface that is operatively connected to one or more processors disposed in the first body and configured to operatively connect to a gaming device. The first body may include one or more rumble motors to provide haptic feedback to a user in response to the gaming device. A first communication port may be operatively mounted to the first body and operatively connected to the one or more processors. The second unit may include a second body separate from the first body, one or more second rumble motors operatively installed to the second body, and a second communication port configured to communicatively connect to the first communication port such that the one or more processors effectively controls the one or more second rumble motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason A. Biheller, Dalin Cienfuegos, Stephen Mitchell, Adam Noce, Ulises Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 12290755
    Abstract: A game system operates by: receiving character attribute selection data to be associated with a game character, wherein the character attribute selection data indicates a subset of a set of character attributes of a character attribute database; generating, based on the character attribute selection data, display data associated with the game character; facilitating, based on the display data associated with the game character, generation of a player token NFT associated with the game character; and preventing use of the subset of character attributes of the character attribute database in generating other game characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Galiant Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyers, Bruce E. Stuckman, John W. Howard, Brian G. Howard, Gregory Meador
  • Patent number: 12285682
    Abstract: A non-limiting example game system includes a main body apparatus, and this main body apparatus performs communication with another main body apparatus in a communication game to play a virtual game. The virtual game is a multiplayer game that a plurality of players play a game, and after ending a main story of the virtual game, each player evaluates the communication game this time and an opponent player. Evaluation is performed by applauding to an opponent player and oneself. An in-game currency according to a total number of the applause of respective player is obtained, and the total number obtained in the past communication play is further accumulated. The number of selectable titles is increased according to the accumulated total number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Suzuki, Misaki Hiraga, Rina Wegner, Hayato Minagawa, Takeru Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 12287417
    Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for determining characteristics of a sound source. The method may include: acquiring a first position of a first virtual role controlled by an application client in a virtual scene; detecting, in a sound source detection area associated with the first position, a second position of a sound source virtual object in the virtual scene; determining transparency of a position mark that matches the sound source virtual object, according to a sound source distance between the first position and the second position, the position mark identifying the second position of the sound source virtual object; and displaying, on an interaction interface of the application client, the position mark of the sound source virtual object according to the transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventors: Hanhao You, Xiaobin Shen
  • Patent number: 12288443
    Abstract: A lottery transaction processing method is provided and includes receiving a lottery play request by a lottery play generation processor. The method further includes generating play information including a unique play serial number, and a play random number key, by the play generation processor, generating a play digital signature as a function of the play information and the play random number key by the play generation processor, transmitting the play information and the play digital signature, but not the play random number key, over a network to a gaming system server for storage by the gaming system server, and issuing a lottery play record including the play information and the play random number key by the play generation processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: MULTI-STATE LOTTERY ASSOCIATION
    Inventor: Robert J. Nitz
  • Patent number: 12283163
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine may include a plurality of mechanical reels, each of which may include a plurality of symbols, and a processor configured execute instructions stored on a memory. When the processor executes the instructions, the processor may control a first mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels to spin and stop on a first stop position relative to a centerline, such that the first mechanical reel displays a first plurality of active symbols. The processor may execute the instructions to control a second mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels to spin and stop on a second stop position relative to the centerline. The second stop position may be vertically offset from the first stop position, such that the second mechanical reel displays a second plurality of active symbols greater than the first plurality of active symbols displayed by the first mechanical reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Cuddy, Lyndsay Nelson Berger
  • Patent number: 12283156
    Abstract: A detection system including a control device detecting fraud performed in a game table by using a result of an image analysis performed by an image analyzing device is included. A substitute currency for gaming used for this detection system has a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked, a coloring layer is included at least in the middle, and white layers or thin-color layers (may be layers having a color thinner than that of the coloring layer; not illustrated in the drawing) are stacked on both sides of the coloring layer disposed in the middle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: ANGEL GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 12280311
    Abstract: In a special operation mode which receives an operation input for causing a player character that is falling, to perform a special action including a shooting action of shooting a predetermined object, an example of an information processing apparatus changes the posture of the player character that is falling, according to a component, regarding at least a pitch direction, of the direction of a virtual camera based on a camera operation input. In the special operation mode, the information processing apparatus sets a shooting direction of the predetermined object during the shooting action, according to the direction of the virtual camera based on the camera operation input. Moreover, the information processing apparatus controls the player character to perform the shooting action and control the predetermined object to move to the shooting direction, based on a shooting operation input performed by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Sato, Yuya Sato
  • Patent number: 12274942
    Abstract: A virtual object control method includes: controlling a first virtual object to move toward a target position in response to detecting a triggering operation on a first skill; while the first skill is in effect, detecting a triggering operation on a second skill; in response to detecting the triggering operation on the second skill: searching, based on the target position, for a target virtual object; and in accordance with a determination that the first virtual object reaches the target position: controlling the first virtual object to cast the second skill on the target virtual object. Searching is performed based on the target position associated with the first skill, so that a target actually attacked matches a target the user intends to attack, thereby improving the efficiency of human-machine interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jiacheng Wei, Xun Hu, Shandong Su, Kang Zhang, Yulin Wan
  • Patent number: 12274943
    Abstract: Disclosed is a screen generation method performed by a computer device, including: generating a match screen between a first virtual object and at least one second virtual object, the first virtual object being controlled by a computer device, and the second virtual object being controlled by a user account; playing an object switching animation when the first virtual object satisfies a target condition, the object switching animation being used to render a generation effect of switching a target virtual part of the first virtual object to obtain a switched first virtual object; and generating a match screen between the switched first virtual object and the at least one second virtual object when the playing of the object switching animation ends, a confrontation mode corresponding to the switched first virtual object being different from a confrontation mode corresponding to the first virtual object before the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Lingyun Lin
  • Patent number: 12268966
    Abstract: A game management system provides a content generator configured for automated generation of custom game content based on a plurality of parametric values that model gameplay behavior of one or more players for whom the game content is to be customized. The customized configuration is generated in a predefined sequence of progressive configuration stages. In each stage, a respective configurable feature is assigned a custom value that is determined (e.g., in a biased or constrained randomized operation) based on a respectively linked parameter value from the data model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Dicken, Johnathan Pagnutti, Yang Wen
  • Patent number: 12272209
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing client data structures with session events are disclosed. The system can establish a session responsive to a request from a host client device associated with a host player profile. The system can configure the host player profile to share records of events performed via the host player profile during the session, and can receive requests to join the session, each request associated with a respective viewer player profile. The system can receive a request from a viewer to permit automatic population of records corresponding to events performed via the host player profile during the session. The system can detect an event performed via the host player profile during the session, and generate a record corresponding to the event in the viewer player profile, which is used to enable performance of a corresponding event having the same event parameters via the viewer player profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: DK Crown Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Mendell, Edward Zaleski, Ethan Haskell
  • Patent number: 12263401
    Abstract: A gaming controller includes a series of button assemblages corresponding to various game input functions. The assemblages are angled such that an operator's fingers are aligned with buttons resulting minimal tilting of the wrist. The gaming controller includes modifier buttons that change the strength of corresponding button input. A controller operating system includes a controller circuit with a processor configured to perform various functionalities. The operating system further includes a plurality of settings and sub-settings, at least some of which being related to user profiles, modifier button settings, and/or override systems. A method includes connecting the gaming controller to a video monitor and changing at least one setting associated with at least one of a user profile, a modifier button, and an override system that is saved on a local memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: HIT BOX, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dustin Lee Huffer, Shawn Huffer
  • Patent number: 12260706
    Abstract: In an electronic gaming device, instances of a target symbol are swapped in to symbol positions of one or more reel strips using one or more index tables to identify the symbol positions at which to swap in the instances of the target symbol. The index table(s) can be configured to cluster instances of the target symbol according to a deterministic approach. Subsequently, spin results are determined for one or more spins of reels using the reel strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Penacho, Allon Englman
  • Patent number: 12257512
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method of providing information about interaction between users, the method including obtaining, from a stored game log, statistical information related to a certain interaction event that occurred between a user and another user; displaying an interface that displays another user who has had most occurrences of the certain interaction event with the user, based on the statistical information; and displaying at least one other user in an order from a greatest number of times the certain interaction event occurred with the user, based on a user input of expanding the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: NEXON KOREA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sae Byuk Moon
  • Patent number: 12257502
    Abstract: A game system operates by: receiving character attribute selection data to be associated with a game character, wherein the character attribute selection data indicates a unique subset of a set of character attributes of a character attribute database; generating, based on the character attribute selection data, display data associated with the game character; facilitating, based on the display data associated with the game character, generation of a player token NFT associated with the game character; and preventing use of the unique subset of character attributes of the character attribute database in generating other game characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Galiant Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyers, Bruce E. Stuckman, John W. Howard, Brian G. Howard, Gregory Meador
  • Patent number: 12251638
    Abstract: A system for navigating through dynamic virtual lounges comprises a processor associated with a server. The processor is configured to access a virtual environment comprising a virtual lounge and a plurality of associated virtual sub-lounges. The processor is configured to authorize an interaction session between an avatar and the virtual lounge in response to an interaction request from a user device. The processor is configured to automatically detect and authorize the avatar to enter and interact with each virtual sub-lounge of the virtual lounge. The processor is configured to conduct multiple interactions between the avatar and the virtual sub-lounges. The processor is further configured to generate corresponding interaction datasets and interaction tokens for the avatar. The processor is further configured to generate a user interaction session dataset for the avatar based on the interaction datasets and interaction tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Michael George Horstman, Manu J. Kurian
  • Patent number: 12254743
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 12243388
    Abstract: A casino credit access instrument comprises a source of funds for a player, such as for placing wagers to play casino-style games or to purchase other goods or services. The instrument defines a period of timed during which credit may be accessed up to a predetermined amount, defines a redemption period during which any accessed credit may be re-paid, and defines settlement terms if the instrument is not redeemed. Controls may be utilized which control access to the credit. Credit may be granted based upon financial collateral, which collateral may be executed upon to settle the instrument. The instrument provides a convenient source of funding for players at low risk to the casino or other lender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Everi Payments Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Richards, Kurt Douglas Sullivan