Arachnid, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100279804 | VIRTUAL SHUFFLEBOARD - A virtual shuffleboard table gaming apparatus including a housing having a playing field, a game acquisition circuit, and a display. As a puck is propelled towards a puck return at the distal end of the playing field, the puck temporarily obstructs at least two beams from transmitters. Sensors that receive the transmitted beams provide information to the game acquisition circuit indicative of the time when the beams were blocked and unblocked. The duration of time the beams are block are used by a game controller to calculate the angle of travel, location, and velocity of the puck. This information is then used by the game controller to determine the travel path and resting place of a virtual puck on a virtual playing field, as well as determine whether the virtual puck rests in a scoring zone and maintain a game score. | 11-04-2010 |
20100113197 | VIRTUAL SHUFFLEBOARD - A virtual shuffleboard table gaming apparatus including a housing having a playing field, a game acquisition circuit, and a display. As a puck is propelled towards a puck return at the distal end of the playing field, the puck temporarily obstructs at least two beams from transmitters. Sensors that receive the transmitted beams provide information to the game acquisition circuit indicative of the time when the beams were blocked and unblocked. The duration of time the beams are block are used by a game controller to calculate the angle of travel, location, and velocity of the puck. This information is then used by the game controller to determine the travel path and resting place of a virtual puck on a virtual playing field, as well as determine whether the virtual puck rests in a scoring zone and maintain a game score. | 05-06-2010 |
20090170602 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF AN ENTERTAINMENT UNIT - A system and method for controlling game play at a pay-for-play entertainment system. The entertainment system may include an entertainment unit, a remote activation unit, and at least one game play light source. The remote activation unit may be configured to have the game play light source be in an on condition during purchased game play and in an off condition when purchased game play time or credits have expired. The present invention may also include a game play detection apparatus that may detect game play activity. The detection of game play may be communicated to the remote activation unit to determine if the detected game play activity is associated with purchased game play. If the detected game play activity is unauthorized, i.e. the game play has not been purchased, the remote activation unit may communicate an “on” signal to an auxiliary light and/or speaker. | 07-02-2009 |
20090149262 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING AND COMPILING GAME PLAY INFORMATION - Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to entertainment systems, and more particularly to a system and method for, inputting and compiling information relating to game play at one or more game units. Game play information may be inputted into a communicator through the use of a user interface. According to some embodiments, a game play template may be used to input the game play information in the communicator. A variety of different methodologies, depending on the type of communicator utilized, may be used to communicate the inputted game play information to a host game server, including, but not limited to, MMS, SMS texting, WAP, or any other such portable text messaging or worldwide web accessible functionality. Opponents may have an opportunity to edit and validate the inputted game play information. Recorded game play information or league reports may be communicated to the communicator. | 06-11-2009 |
20090131186 | PARLOR GAME - A method for play of a parlor entertainment unit including a remote activation assembly and an activation-sensing unit. The activation-sensing unit, which may be battery operated and housed in the entertainment unit, may be in an energy-conserving sleep mode until the activation-sensing unit receives a wake-up signal. In one embodiment, the wake-up signal may be generated by the engagement of an activation mechanism, such as a coin slide. After being awoken, the activation-sensing unit may transmit an inquiry to the remote activation assembly as to whether the associated entertainment unit has been selected for play and/or whether there is a sufficient number of credits available for play. If that entertainment unit has not been selected for play, the activation-sensing unit may return to a sleep mode. However, if sufficient play credits are available for the entertainment unit, play may commence. | 05-21-2009 |