20th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 45 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110117925 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTED POSITIONING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate reduced complexity network-assisted device positioning in a wireless communication system. As described herein, a mobile device and/or other suitable device can utilize positioning assistance messages received from a location server, a serving network cell, and/or other entities, to assist in position fixing based on reference signals (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRSs)) detected from nearby network cells. Positioning assistance messages as described herein can include, for example, information relating to PRS bandwidths, transmit antenna configurations, and/or other parameters of respective cells from which reference signals are detected by a device during positioning. As further described herein, messaging load can be reduced by providing bandwidth and/or antenna configuration information relative to a given reference cell, such that parameters of non-reference cells that are equivalent to corresponding parameters of the reference cell can be omitted from transmitted positioning assistance data. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117926 | Network-based positioning mechanism and reference signal design in OFDMA systems - A network-based positioning mechanism is proposed. A serving BS first allocates radio resource to a target UE for network-based positioning in a wireless communication system. The target UE then transmits a positioning reference signal (PRS) to the serving BS and a plurality of cooperative BSs at the same time instant. All the cooperative BSs then conduct PRS detection and TOA measurements. Finally, the serving BS conducts positioning estimation based on the TOA measurement results. In one novel aspect, only one PRS transmission is required in one positioning opportunity for one positioning result. Candidates of PRS are selected with respect to different scenarios and allocated in a PRS resource region. Multiple positioning opportunities and multiple reference signals may be multiplexed over time, frequency or code domain in the PRS resource region. In one embodiment, the PRS is configured in such a way that both radio resource consumption and interference is minimized. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117927 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERLOCKING COMMUNICATION AND TRACKING APPLICATIONS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A wireless communication device transmits location information associated with a mobile worker, and provides an option to the mobile worker to disable such location transmissions. The use of the location transmission function is enhanced by interlocking the location tracking function with one or more other functions of the wireless communication device. When the tracking function is disabled, one or more other functions that the mobile worker finds valuable are also disabled, thus reducing the likelihood that the mobile worker will disable location tracking. Rules may be implemented to disable the other functions only in the event that disabling the tracking function violates a violated. Location monitoring for such workers is thereby enhanced. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117928 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATION BASED CONTENT CORRELATION - A method and a system to correlate location and content. For example, data is received from a client device that includes current geographical position data identifying a geographical position of the client device. A vendor having a geographical location within a specified distance of the geographical position of the client device is identified. An offer from the vendor within the distance of the client device is returned to the client device. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117929 | LOCATION REGISTRATION PROCESSING METHOD AND MOBILE STATION - A location registration processing method according to the present invention includes steps of: starting, at a mobile station (UE), the location registration processing on the basis of predetermined system information, when acquiring the predetermined system information among a plurality of pieces of system information broadcasted by a radio base station (eNB), the predetermined system information including information necessary for performing the location registration processing; and acquiring the rest of the plurality of pieces of system information. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117930 | Improved Signal Level Measurement for Mobile Positioning - Methods and systems are provided to improve the input used in, e.g., an Enhanced Cell Global ID algorithm. Reducing the variation of the input can result in a more accurate position result for a mobile positioning system when determining the position of a mobile system. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117931 | METHOD AND TERMINAL FOR ASSOCIATION UPDATE - A method and terminal for association update are provided. When the terminal performs location area update to a MSC/VLR via a GERAN/UTRAN, if it has performed combined update or CSFB attachment in an EPS network via E-UTRAN, then it sets a combined update indication which indicates the EPS network requires combined update when the terminal returns to the E-UTRAN from the GERAN/UTRAN; when the terminal moves to a registered tracking area of the E-UTRAN, it determines whether the combined update indication has been set or not, if yes, it initiates combined TAU and LAU to an MME. After receiving a location update request from the MME, the MSC/VLR updates stored association information and re-establishes SGs association with the MME. Accordingly, a terminal has a control module for association update, which comprises a combined update indication setting determination unit, a combined update setting unit and a combined update initiation determination unit. The present invention enables to update the SGs association in the MSC/VLR in time, thereby the MSC/VLR can always find UE through paging. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117932 | METHOD FOR CHECKING THE LOCATION OF A FEMTOCELL - A method for checking the location of a femtocell includes receiving, by the femtocell and by a reference receiver having a known location, radio signals from at least three transmitters disposed at known locations. Each of the transmitters is at least one of a broadcast transmitter and a pilot radio signal transmitter configured to broadcast a pilot radio signal for checking the location of the femtocell in a frequency range outside frequency ranges used for mobile communication. Differences in delay of the radio signals from two of the at least three transmitters are determined based on reception times of the radio signals received by the femtocell and the reference receiver. The location of the femtocell is checked based on the determined differences in delay. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117933 | Mobile Terminals, Methods and Computer Program Products for Determining a Location Proximate a Vehicle - Mobile terminals, methods and computer program products for locating a position of a vehicle on a mobile terminal include identifying a triggering event received by the mobile terminal via a communication link between the mobile terminal and an external device. A geographic location is determined that approximates the position of the vehicle responsive to the triggering event. The information regarding the geographic location that approximates the position of the vehicle is subsequently provided. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117934 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE ASSISTED EVENT DETECTION AND AREA OF INTEREST DETERMINATION - An approach is provided for determining the existence of an event based on information collected from mobile devices. Reception is caused, at least in part, of media from a plurality of mobile devices. A plurality of event vectors for the respective mobile devices is determined. Each of the event vectors includes geo-location information and timing information of the corresponding mobile device. The existence of the event is determined based on the received media and the event vectors. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117935 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING AND PROVIDING DOMAIN SERVICE - A method of performing the domain service including: receiving a request of user metadata from a domain service providing apparatus managing a position-based domain; sending user metadata to the domain service providing apparatus in response to the request; and receiving service information related to the domain from the domain service providing apparatus based on the user metadata. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117936 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF A POSITIONING SYSTEM DURING A CONTINUOUS POSITIONING PROCESS (As Amended) - A method and system for improving performance of a positioning system during a continuous positioning process. The method is applied in a mobile communication positioning system, and mainly comprises the following steps: during the continuous positioning process, a mobile positioning center sends a mobile station state inquiring request to a home location register, the home location register receives the request and returns a mobile station current state response, the mobile positioning center performs positioning process or terminates positioning process to the mobile station based on the current state of the station. The present method can avoid circumstances where the continuous positioning has terminated while the positioning center and the positioning entity fails to release resources in time. Also, it can continuously track a subscriber in special industrial application, which avoids the circumstance of inability to continue previous continuous positioning after restart of a subscriber terminal. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117937 | PUSH DELIVERY SERVICE PROVIDING METHOD, INFORMATION PROVIDING SERVICE SYSTEM, SERVER SYSTEM, AND USER STATION - The present invention relates to a technique of providing a push delivery service. A data center transmits attribute information on positions and radii of areas A through J to a user station. The user station compares the attribute information with a self-predicted position to predict that the user station itself lies in the area A through J. When the user station confirms that the user station lies in the area A through J, and requests the data center for delivery information attached to the area A through J on the basis of a result of confirmation. The data center transmits delivery information to the user station in response to the request. The user station knows itself in one of plural push delivery areas A through J, and decreases the frequency of positioning and pinpoints delivery of information such as shop advertisements is possible. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117938 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING POSITION INFORMATION USING TIME PERIOD - A method for providing position information and identifying positions of others, using an electronic apparatus, includes detecting first position information regarding a current position of the electronic apparatus, transmitting a position inquiry request and information regarding a predetermined time period to an external apparatus, receiving second position information regarding a position of the external apparatus from the external apparatus for the predetermined time period, and displaying positions of the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus on a screen using the first position information and the second position information. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117939 | System and Method for Messaging Content Delivery - An integrated system for messaging content delivery for use in a wireless network that incorporates a messaging application broker that interfaces with messaging applications; management applications, a plurality of user devices, and external networks. The interfaces use the appropriate protocols to interact with the messaging applications, management applications, user devices and external networks. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117940 | METHOD OF DECODING, CORRESPONDING TERMINAL AND COMPUTER PROGRAM, METHOD OF TRANSLATION, CORRESPONDING SERVER AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - The invention relates to a method of decoding at least one image of a physical object as an action executable by a mobile terminal. According to the invention, such a method comprises the following steps: establishment of a bidirectional communication between said terminal and a translation server, said establishment step comprising the following substeps: capture of said image or images of said physical object by said terminal; transmission, from said terminal to said translation server, of said image or images captured; reception, by said terminal, of at least one item of information representative of an action executable by said terminal, termed the action information, and corresponding to a decoding, by said translation server, of said image or images transmitted. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117941 | INFORMATION SHARING DURING CALLING - The present invention relates to information sharing during calling, and specifically discloses a method of sharing information between two calling parties in a wireless communication system, characterized in that the first calling party uses information sharing function activated in a first mobile communication terminal of the first calling party during calling, and automatically takes a second mobile communication terminal of the second calling party as the called party as destination to transmit information in the first mobile communication terminal for sharing. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117942 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Method and arrangement in a base station, a user equipment and a positioning node, for sending, and obtaining, respectively, a value of a propagation delay of a signal. The signal is sent to the base station from a user equipment. The base station and the user equipment are comprised within a wireless communication system. Also, the base station and the user equipment are adapted to exchange wireless signals. The method is characterised by the step of receiving a signal sent from the user equipment. The method is further characterised by the step of measuring the value of the signal propagation delay of the received signal. Still further, the method is characterised by the step of sending the measured value to the equipment and/or to a positioning node comprised within the wireless communication system. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117943 | METHOD OF ALLOCATING RADIO RESOURCE IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A method of allocating radio resources in a wireless communication system includes dividing the overall frequency band into a plurality of frequency blocks including at least one subcarrier in a frequency domain, and allocating an allocation unit including some of the plurality of frequency blocks to a user equipment (ITE), wherein the allocation unit is any one of a localized allocation unit including frequency blocks contiguous in the frequency domain and a distributed allocation unit including frequency blocks distributed in the frequency domain. Allocation schemes of subcarriers are freely used suitably according to channel environments of users, the scheduling effect of radio resources can be enhanced. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117944 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TASK-LEVEL ACCESS ARBITRATION BETWEEN VIRTUAL MODEMS IN A MULTI-SIM MULTI-STANDBY COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A multiple-subscriber identity module (multi-SIM) multi-standby communication device comprises a single radio resource unit shared by a plurality of virtual modems (VMs), each uniquely associated with a single one of a plurality of SIM cards. The access to radio resources in the single radio resource unit is controlled for each VM task via a virtual modem controller (VMC). Upon receiving requests for tasks to access radio resources in the single radio resource unit, the VMC arbitrates the access based on task priority information, current activities associated with one or more of the plurality of VMs, and the radio resources available in the single radio resource unit. The access may be immediately accepted, accepted with a delay or rejected. With an immediate access, current activities may be suspended and then resumed once radio resources become available. With a delayed access, the VMC determines what time instants the access may be accepted. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117945 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALLOCATING RESOURCE IN WIRELESS NETWORK USING DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA - A method and apparatus for allocating a resource in a wireless network using a directional antenna is provided. The method and apparatus for allocating a resource in a wireless network using a directional antenna may spatially reuse resources using the directional antenna, allocate resources to enable a maximum number of groups to be transmitted in a given time or to enable a group including a number of links to be transmitted first, and thereby may reduce communication delay and increase throughput. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117946 | LOAD RE-DISTRIBUTION WITH COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK CONTROL - Certain embodiments include methods, an apparatus, a system, and computer programs for load re-distribution of subscribers for a CN node in a pool-area. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117947 | RADIO BASE STATION AND COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD - A radio base station includes: a measurement unit which measures a resource use amount in each time frame within predetermined period; a downlink persistent allocation signal transmission unit which transmits to a mobile station, a persistent allocation signal indicating a downlink radio resource allocation start moment; and a downlink communication unit which transmit downlink data using downlink radio resource starting at the downlink radio resource allocation start moment. The downlink persistent allocation signal transmission unit decides the downlink radio resource allocation start moment in accordance with a resource use amount in each time frame. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117948 | RADIO BASE STATION AND COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD - A radio base station includes: a measurement unit which measures a resource use amount in each time frame within predetermined period; a downlink persistent allocation signal transmission unit which transmits to a mobile station, a persistent allocation signal indicating a radio resource allocation start moment; and a uplink communication unit which receive uplink data using uplink radio resource starting at the radio resource allocation start moment. The downlink persistent allocation signal transmission unit decides the radio resource allocation start moment in accordance with a resource use amount in each time frame. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117949 | RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, RADIO COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD - A radio base station ( | 2011-05-19 |
20110117950 | Sharing A Radio Frequency Interface Resource - Applications may seek access to a radio frequency interface resource on a processor-based system that exceeds the available capacity of that resource. When more than one application needs access to an RF interface resource at the same time and the available capacity of the RF interface resource does not permit all these requests to be granted, contention resolution may be provided. In one embodiment, the contention resolution may involve determining the priority of each application seeking RF interface resource access and granting access based on that priority. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117951 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CAMPING ON IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL - An apparatus and a method for obtaining a service in a weak electric field in a mobile communication terminal are provided. In the method, whether one or more frequencies that meet reception signal strength of a certain threshold exist among all frequencies on which camp-on is possible is determined. When it is determined that the one or more frequencies that meet the reception signal strength of the certain threshold do not exist, camp-on is attempted for one or more frequencies that are expected to exist and have been set in advance. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117952 | System and Method for Resuming Power Control after Interruption - System and method for controlling the transmit power of a mobile terminal. In some embodiments, a transmit power correction factor for a mobile terminal is set to the average transmit power correction factor for all active mobile terminals in the same cell as the mobile terminal. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117953 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING UPLINK POWER IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A method of controlling uplink power in a wireless communication system includes receiving a power control message including parameters for uplink power control from a base station, and controlling uplink power based on the power control message, wherein the uplink power is determined according to a target SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio), the target SINR is determined by a minimum rate SINR required at the base station and a control factor for noise and interference. Transmission power of signal can be more accurately controlled and an influence of an inter-cell interference or a path loss can be reduced to thus improve quality of service of the wireless communication system. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117954 | USER APPARATUS AND METHOD IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A user apparatus for use in a mobile communication system includes a reception unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from a base station and obtain a parameter for determining evaluation criteria on cell reselection; a counting unit configured to count a number of cell reselections; and a measurement unit configured to measure a Doppler frequency indicative of a mobility of the user apparatus. The evaluation criteria on cell reselection are that reception signal strength of a signal transmitted from a target base station has been higher than or equal to reception signal strength of a signal transmitted from a source base station by greater than or equal to a hysteresis threshold for longer than or equal to a time to trigger. It is determined whether the evaluation criteria on cell reselection are modified and used depending on whether both first and second conditions are satisfied. The first condition is that a number of cell reselections being performed within a predefined first period (TCRmax) is greater than or equal to a predefined first threshold (NCR or NCR | 2011-05-19 |
20110117955 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE MOBILE TERMINAL - A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes performing color sensing of a first color using a color sensor of the mobile terminal and recognizing a second color which corresponds to the first color; and providing an output based on the second color. The mobile terminal includes a main body; a color sensor configured to perform color sensing of a first color; a controller configured to recognize a second color which corresponds to the first color; and an output unit configured to provide an output that is based on the second color. Therefore, it is possible to change the color of the mobile terminal into a variety of colors by driving the lighting module in accordance with color data generated by the color sensor. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117956 | INDUSTRIAL RADIO DEVICE WITH UNIFIED PROGRAMMING INTERFACE AND METHODS - A radio device includes a radio programming interface eliminating specific dependency between a host application module and a radio module for operation of the radio in a specified communication protocol. Methods of operating the radio device are also disclosed wherein requests and responses communicated between the host application module and radio module are validated and parsed into valid data packets for effective communication, even when the host application and the radio module were not specifically designed for one another. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117957 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CONVERGENT COMMUNICATIONS - Systems, devices and methods for convergence of a variety of communication sources are presented. More particularly, embodiments relate to a radio communications gateway device and associated methods, that is lightweight, small, portable, secure, and useful for converging communications via handheld radios to an internet protocol network having a variety of different available media. The device preferably has a weight under 15 pounds and sufficient interconnectability to be field-useful in a variety of situations. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117958 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - A mobile terminal is provided that includes a first camera to obtain a first image of an object, and a second camera to obtain a second image of an object, the second camera being separated from the first camera by a distance d. The mobile terminal also includes a controller to determine the distance d between the first camera and the second camera when the first camera obtains the first image of the object at a same time that the second camera obtains the second image. Still further, the mobile terminal includes a varying device to allow the distance d between the first camera and the second camera to vary, and a display to display a combination of the first image and the second image to allow a perceived three-dimensional (3D) image of the object. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117959 | MODIFYING VISUAL PERCEPTION - Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a mobile device for modifying visual perception of an image. In one embodiment, the mobile device includes a device body having a main display on a front of the device body. The mobile device also includes a lens system for capturing images, wherein at least a portion of the lens system is positioned above the main display on the front of the device body. The mobile device further includes a lighting system positioned on the front of the device body and proximate to the lens system. The lighting system provides key light above the lens system and fill light below the lens system. The mobile device also includes a processor housed within the device body. The processor controls one or more operations of the lens system including automatically enhancing the captured images and for presenting the automatically enhanced images on the main display. Also disclosed is an embodiment where the lens system is located behind a transmissive liquid crystal display portion of the display of the device. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117960 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND IMAGING METHOD - Provided are an electronic device and an imaging method which improve the zoom operability. A mobile telephone ( | 2011-05-19 |
20110117961 | SYSTEM FOR INTERFACING BETWEEN A TERMINAL AND A SMART CARD, METHOD FOR SAME, AND SMART CARD APPLIED TO SAME - The present invention provides a system and method for interfacing between a terminal and a smart card embedded within smart card, and a Universal Subscriber Identification Module (USIM), and a smart card applied to the same. That is, the execution procedure of a service application in the smart card is defined using a new interface between the terminal and the smart card by providing construction of a smart card equipped with one or more service applications, executing the special service application according to the request of the terminal, providing an output value according to the execution of the special application to the terminal, and requesting a special I/O device. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117962 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STANDBY OPERATION FOR A MULTI-SIM MULTI-STANDBY COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A multiple-subscriber identity module (multi-SIM) multi-standby communication device comprises a single radio resource unit that is shared by a plurality of virtual modems (VMs), each uniquely associated with a single one of a plurality of SIM cards. Traffic related to the SIM cards are concurrently handled utilizing corresponding VMs. Available radio resource in the single radio resource unit are shared by the VMs based on corresponding VM states, namely, an active state, an idle state and a suspended state. VMs in an idle state concurrently monitor paging events and concurrently perform idle mode procedures such as location updating. VMs not related to an intended traffic are suspended. A VM related to the intended traffic is transitioned from an idle state to an active state to enable the communication for the intended traffic. Once the communication is complete, the suspended VMs are resumed to continue idle mode activities. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117963 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A FAST CELL RECOVERY ON SUSPENDED VIRTUAL MODEMS WITHIN A MULTI-SIM MULTI-STANDBY COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A multiple-subscriber identity module (multi-SIM) multi-standby communication device comprises a single radio resource unit shared by a plurality of virtual modems (VMs). A first VM in an active state monitors its own associated cells and cells associated with remaining VMs in a suspended state. The active VM measures signal strength on available cells to track cell information such as cell quality and cell timing information for associated cells for the first active VM and for the remaining suspended VMs. When the suspended VMs are resumed, the single radio resource unit is synchronized to corresponding serving cells in an order determined based on the tracked cell timing information. With a synchronized serving cell, a suspended VM may bypass cell selection or reselection and directly camp on its serving cell. Otherwise, the suspended VM performs a cell selection or reselection selectively based on tracked cell information for a cell to camp on. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117964 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING A SINGLE SIM CARD SOCKET TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE SIM CARDS IN A MULTI-SIM MULTI-STANDBY COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A multiple-subscriber identity module (multi-SIM) multi-standby communication device comprises a single SIM card socket that handles multiple SIM cards each with a unique SIM clock signal. SIM identification information is acquired from each SIM card utilizing corresponding SIM clock signals. The SIM clock signals may be generated in response to corresponding SIM card selections and are assigned to corresponding SIM cards, respectively. Each of the assigned SIM clock signals is signaled to the single SIM card socket at a different time instant to establish connections between the multi-SIM multi-standby communication device and each of the multiple SIM cards, respectively. SIM identification information is received from each SIM card. The received SIM identification information is stored within the multi-SIM multi-standby communication device for concurrently communication with corresponding communication networks. No device re-booting is performed while activating the stored SIM identification information from one to another of the multiple SIM cards. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117965 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TASK SCHEDULING IN AN OPERATING SYSTEM FOR VIRTUAL MODEMS WITHIN A MULTI-SIM MULTI-STANDBY COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A multiple-subscriber identity module (multi-SIM) multi-standby communication device comprises a single operating system (OS) and a single radio resource unit that is shared by multiple virtual modems (VMs) within a virtual modem framework (VMF). The OS maps VM tasks of the multiple VM to OS resource spaces according to corresponding VM IDs. The single OS may run the mapped VM tasks utilizing OS resources in the OS resource spaces. VM ID information is embedded in global variables and/or static variables that are utilized in the single OS to access OS resources. The OS may run VM tasks utilizing OS resources in OS resource spaces identified by corresponding VM IDs. The OS may re-use OS resources for VM tasks of different VMs, when needed, without duplicating the OS resources. VM tasks are scheduled to run on the single OS according to task priorities, which are determined based on corresponding VM environment. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117966 | System and Device for Consolidating SIM, Personal Token, and Associated Applications - The present invention relates generally to a smart card device that is configured to facilitate wireless network access and credential verification. Specifically, the device is configured to meet the physical and electrical specification for commercially available mobile devices utilizing a standard Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for network access. The device combines the features of the SIM with Common Access Card or Personal Identity Verification card features to allow a network subscriber to invoke secure payment transactions over a carrier's network. The system includes data storage for maintaining a plurality of network and transaction instrument profiles and a profile gateway for receiving transaction information from a payment gateway, sending an authorization request to a user's mobile device, receiving a transaction authorization from the mobile device, and sending transaction information to a payment gateway to finalize the payment transaction. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117967 | INTER-CELL INTERFERENCE COORDINATION - A system and method for coordinating interference in cellular systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a cellular base station interference coordinator includes an interference estimator. The interference estimator estimates a level of interference caused by transmissions controlled by a host base station for each of a plurality of radio resources, and provides interference estimates corresponding to the radio resources to a target base station. Each interference estimate is based on transmit power and channel strength to the target base station for each transmission controlled by the host base station for a radio resource. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117968 | INPUT DEVICE FOR A USER INTERFACE - An apparatus, which includes a body part, an input component attached to the body part, graphics on the input component, the graphics being invisible in daylight conditions and visible when exposed to a certain type of illumination, and a source of light configured to provide illumination of the certain type and to selectively illuminate the transparent input component. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117969 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE DISPLAYING TEXTUAL CONTENT USING RAPID SERIAL VISUAL PRESENTATION AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A mobile wireless communications device includes a processor cooperating with a wireless transceiver for downloading textual content including a plurality of words and storing the textual content in a memory. The processor also cooperates with the memory for generating successive fragments of the textual content, each fragment including at least one word. The processor may display on the display a notification that a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) display mode has been selected. Moreover, the processor may use RSVP for displaying on the display the successive fragments of the textual content based upon confirmation of the selection of the RSVP display mode via said at least one input device. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117970 | Mobile device and method for touch lock control based on motion sensing - A mobile device and a method control a touch lock function to be set in a locked or unlocked stated by sensing motions of the mobile device. When a motion sensor unit detects any motion of the mobile device and creates a sensing signal corresponding to the motion, a control unit of the mobile device sets a touch lock function to a locked state or an unlocked state, depending on the sensing signal. In the locked state of the touch lock function, the control unit does not perform a particular operation assigned to a touch event even though the touch event is generated on a touch panel in response to a user's touch action. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117971 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MOBILE TERMINAL HAVING AT LEAST TWO DISPLAY UNITS - A method and apparatus for operating a mobile terminal having two or more display units are provided. Display of screen data and function execution are performed through coordinated operations of the display units. The method includes displaying screen data of an electronic document on a first display according to a user request, transforming, upon detection of a mode transition interaction, the screen data of the electronic document displayed on the first display, and displaying the transformed screen data of the electronic document on a second display. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117972 | UNIVERSAL CASE FOR WIRELESS EARPIECE DEVICE - An apparatus for retaining wireless communication device(s) comprising: an outer enclosure, an upper portion, and a plurality of sidewalls therein defining at least one inner volume. The upper portion comprises a flexible securable lid which is fastenable to the front sidewall to form an outer enclosure. The device further comprises a cradle having a horseshoe-shaped indentation and guides which may be insertable and positionable onto both sides of the cradle and above the cradle. A clip is secured to an external back portion of the carrying case for attaching the carrying case to a belt or a bag. A kit and method of using the carrying case is also disclosed herein. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117973 | RADIATED POWER CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES - Embodiments include systems and methods for controlling radiation of radio frequency (RF) energy by a wireless communication device that includes a transmitter, an antenna, a vector field sensor, and a processing system. The transmitter produces an analog RF signal, and the antenna radiates the analog RF signal into an environment. The vector field sensor senses an intensity of a vector field resulting from the analog RF signal radiated by at least the antenna (and possibly other portions of the device). The processing system determines whether a value representing the intensity is greater than a first threshold, and when the value is greater than the first threshold, the processing system causes the radiated RF energy produced by the wireless communication device to be decreased. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117974 | SUPPLEMENTAL ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Examples of the present invention are directed toward systems and methods of providing additional functionality to a portable electro device Examples of such systems include a terminal adapter having a first portion constructed and arranged to connect to the portable electronic device by insertion between a terminal of a battery of the portable electronic device and a power terminal of the portable electronic device and an accessory module constructed and arranged to electrically couple to the portable electronic device through least one terminal on a second portion of the terminal adapter to provide supplemental power to the portable electronic device. Examples of methods according to the present invention include mounting a terminal adapter comprising a positive contact and a negative contact, and a set of electrical terminals a battery of the portable electronic device. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117975 | Two-Way Communication Device - Certain embodiments provide improved two-way communication devices, such as wireless headsets, including a port configured to deliver sound, a circuit board operatively connected to the port, an antenna configured to receive wireless transmissions, the antenna operatively connected to the circuit board and positioned at a first end of the circuit board and a boom including a microphone configured to receive sound, the boom operatively connected to the circuit board via a wire configured to run across a ground plane of the antenna. Certain embodiments provide fixed booms, other embodiments provide removable booms. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117976 | ANTENNA ELEMENT AND PORTABLE RADIO - There are provided an antenna element and a portable radio that enable miniaturization, acquisition of a high gain, and broadening of a band and that copies compatible with multiple bands. A rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped antenna element is formed by folding two or more faces of a board-shaped monopole element having an rectangular shape so that the antenna element has a substantially rectangular first conductor plate | 2011-05-19 |
20110117977 | MOBILE TERMINAL - According to one embodiment, a mobile terminal has a first housing, a second housing disposed on the first housing, a rail plate, a sliding plate, and a resilient member. The rail plate has a pair of rails and a base connecting the rails and formed an opening. The rail plate is fixed to a surface of the second housing facing the first housing. The sliding plate is fixed to a surface of the first housing facing the second housing and slides on the rails. The resilient member is disposed between the second housing and the sliding plate. The resilient member is connected to the sliding plate at one end and to the second housing through the opening at the other end. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117978 | STORAGE AND PLAYBACK DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME - A storage and playback device is capable of being detachably coupled to an output device, such as speakers of an automobile. The device includes a wireless transceiver to receive compressed digital content automatically from a computer system via a wireless local area network based on user defined preferences input into the computer system. The wireless transceiver is communicably coupled to the wireless local area network when the wireless transceiver is a predetermined distance from a wireless local area network access point. The device also includes a decoder and converter to decompress and convert the digital content. The decompressed and converted digital content is sent to be played on the output device. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117979 | Method And Apparatus For Executing A Draw-Type, Blackjack-Themed Lottery Game - Described herein are a method and apparatus for executing a draw-type lottery game between a plurality of players and a dealer. The draw-type lottery game includes a plurality of subgames and each of the subgames includes at least one hand of a blackjack-type game. The method includes, for each hand of each of the subgames, using a central computer system to generate for each of the players a player hand; to generate for the dealer a dealer hand; to compare each player hand to the dealer hand to determine whether the player or the dealer has a better blackjack hand; and to identify each player who has a better blackjack hand than the dealer as a winner of the hand. For each of the subgames, the central computer system determines a winner of the subgame based on the winner of the at least one hand of the subgame. The apparatus includes the central computer system, a plurality of remotely located terminals communicatively coupled to the central computer system; and a plurality of lottery displays communicatively coupled to the central computer system. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117981 | Gaming System, Gaming Device and Method for Determining an Outcome of a Secondary Game Based on One or More Events Which Occur in Association with a Primary Game - In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein includes an accumulation sequence and a competition sequence. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes competitor points which determine (i) a competitor's eligibility to participate in the competition sequence and (ii) the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence. In this embodiment, a competitor (which is either representative of an actual player or a virtual, gaming system controlled player) accumulates competitor points during one or more point accumulation sequences which occur in association with designated events. For a subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system determines if a competitor will participate in the triggered competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points. For the subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system further determines the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117982 | Asynchronous Persistent Group Bonus Game - An asynchronous persistent group bonus game system, method and apparatus may have a plurality of gaming machines including a first processor and a bonus server having a second processor. The first processor may be configured to: determine when a bonus game session event is triggered, transmit a bonus game session request to the second processor, and receive an end session notification from the second processor. The second processor may be configured to execute and maintain the always-on asynchronous persistent group bonus game, receive a bonus game session request from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, instantiate a bonus game session inside the continuous asynchronous persistent group bonus game for the at least one gaming machine, determine when an end session trigger has been triggered for the bonus game session, and transmit an end session notification to the at least one gaming machine if it is determined that the end session condition has been triggered. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117983 | Method and apparatus for varying win probability and payouts of a gaming machine - A method and apparatus for varying win probabilities and/or payouts of a gaming machine as a function of the amount wagered by a player in a round of play is disclosed. In one embodiment, the probability of receiving a winning combination and/or the payouts for one or more winning combinations increase as an amount wagered increases. In one embodiment, sets of outcomes are stored in memory, each set of outcomes associated with an amount bet or a range of bets. The possible outcomes for larger bets represent a higher probability of receiving a winning combination or payout. The outcome of a game or round is determined by mapping a random number generated by a random number generator to outcomes stored in memory. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117984 | AUTHENTICATING COMPONENTS IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - In some embodiments, a processor includes a plurality of local stores configured to store wagering game assets and at least part of a wagering game controller, and to store authentication keys for use in authenticating the wagering game controller and the wagering game assets; a plurality of processing elements, wherein each processing element is coupled to one of the local stores, each processing element configured to present wagering games by executing the wagering game controller; at least one authentication controller including hardware configured to authenticate, using the authentication keys, the wagering game controller and wagering game assets; a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device configured to store the wagering game controller and wagering game assets, wherein the wagering game assets include audio and video content for use in presenting the wagering games. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117985 | MULTI-DRAW GAME SYSTEM - A method and game server for selecting a plurality of winners of a game is provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of sets of player numbers from a plurality of game terminals. Each set has a predetermined number of player numbers. Each number is selected from a predetermined set. The method also comprises determining the plurality of winners of the game by conducting iterative drawing rounds until the number of winners exceeds a winner threshold. Each drawing round comprises: selecting a set of random numbers, the number of random numbers in the set of random numbers being equal to the number of player numbers in the set of player numbers; and identifying as winners any sets of player numbers in which each player number of the set corresponds to one or more of the random numbers selected in either the current drawing round or any previous drawing rounds. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117986 | GAMING MACHINE - A gaming machine includes a first lottery device which performs a lottery to determine an arrangement of option areas on a lottery field to be presented to a player, and a first presenting device which presents the determined arrangement. A second lottery device performs a lottery to draw a lottery position on the lottery field when the arrangement of each of the option areas has been determined by the first lottery device, and a second presenting device presents a lottery position based on a lottery result by the second lottery device. A dividend control device gives a dividend corresponding to a property of an option area, when the property of the option area is configured to yield the dividend and the option area satisfies a predetermined relationship with the lottery position drawn by the second lottery device. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117987 | Wagering Game With Overlying Transmissive Display for Providing Enhanced Game Features - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a primary display and a secondary display. A transmissive display is positioned in front of the primary display directly in the player's line of sight. The transmissive display is operable to selectively display transparent, translucent and opaque video images over the primary display. The transparent, translucent and opaque video images may be used to change, for example, a play mechanic associated with the wagering game and any reel symbols associated with wagering game. The transmissive display may also be used to provide interactive player control and player selection elements for the wagering game and to facilitate player inputs to the gaming machine. Where the gaming machine includes a bonus game, the transmissive display may be further used to provide bonus features associated with the gaming machine. In some embodiments, the transmissive display may also be positioned over the secondary display. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117988 | WAGERING GAME WITH RANDOMLY AWARDED FEATURE GAME ATTRIBUTES - Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a feature game having attributes at least partially determined by one or more random outcomes of an attribute determination game played prior to the play of the feature game itself. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117989 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PERSISTENCE GAME WITH MULTIPLE SYMBOL EVALUATIONS - In one embodiment, the gaming system and method disclosed herein employs a symbol accumulation sequence and a symbol evaluation sequence. The symbol accumulation sequence includes an accumulation of a designated quantity of symbols in association with a persistence game. The symbol accumulation sequence also includes the maintenance of a persistence game arrangement that displays a designated quantity of currently accumulated symbols (which in certain instances, includes some, but not all of the total number of symbols accumulated). In one embodiment, the symbol evaluation sequence includes the gaming system determining and providing an award based on the accumulated symbols of the persistence game. In another embodiment, the symbol evaluation sequence includes the gaming system determining and providing an award based on at least one of the accumulated symbols of the persistence game and at least one symbol generated for a current play of a wagering game. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117990 | RAPID BONUS FEATURES USING OVERLAID SYMBOLS - A gaming machine includes an electronic display device and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller is configured to present a base game via the display device, wherein the base game includes a plurality of base game symbols, and to transmit display coordinates of at least a portion of the plurality of base game symbols to a bonus controller via a network. The display device is configured to display, under control of the bonus controller, an overlay image including at least one bonus symbol having substantially similar display coordinates as at least one of the at least a portion of the plurality of base game symbols. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117991 | TIME-BASED AWARD SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC VALUE ASSIGNMENT - A coupled to at least one server via a network includes a display device configured to display a base game to a player playing at the gaming machine, and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller is configured to determine an outcome during play of the base game, and award at least one token based on the outcome of the base game, wherein a value of the token based on as additional play of the base game by the player. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117992 | GAMES, GAMING MACHINES, SYSTEMS AND METHOD HAVING AN ACCUMULATION BONUS - Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods having an accumulation bonus feature game including randomly generated icons which may pay an award each time an accumulation threshold is reached, at which time as associated accumulator is reset to allow further accumulation and awards. In some embodiments, termination icons gradually end the feature. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117993 | METHOD OF GAMING AND A GAMING MACHINE WITH DOUBLE HIGH SYMBOLS - An example game controller includes a symbol generator to provide a plurality of symbols based on one or more random numbers generated by a random number generator. The plurality of symbols have varying sizes and include a first symbol occupying one symbol position and a second symbol occupying multiple symbol positions. The second symbol includes a plurality of portions, each portion corresponding to one of the multiple symbol positions occupied by the second symbol. A comparator is to determine one or more game outcomes in the plurality of symbols. each of the plurality of portions of the second symbol is evaluated individually to determine whether a winning combination has been formed with the first symbol and a portion of the second symbol. Each of the plurality of portions of the second symbol corresponds to a different award. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117994 | MULTI-MONITOR SUPPORT FOR GAMING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines having multi-monitor support for controlling up to four monitors on a gaming device. According to one embodiment, the gaming device includes a first display for presenting a primary game. The gaming device also includes a second display and a third display where the second display is positioned above the third display. The second and third displays are used in combination to present a secondary game. The gaming device further includes a multi-core processor in communication with a first video chipset and a second video chipset, wherein the first and second video chipsets support the first, second and third monitors. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117995 | Games, Gaming Machines, Systems and Method Having an Accumulation/Matching Bonus - A method of operating a game controlled by a gaming machine includes accepting a wager from a player, presenting a primary game, awarding any primary game awards to the player, and upon a triggering event, presenting a feature game. The feature game includes performing a first portion of the feature game during which a set of bonus slots is accumulated and performing a second portion of the feature game. The second portion of the feature game includes selecting at least one set of a predetermined number of target symbols, associated with a bonus award, from among a pool of bonus symbols during which selected bonus symbols are not removed from the pool, and selecting a set of match symbols, equal in number to the accumulated number of bonus slots, from among the pool of bonus symbol during which selected bonus symbols are removed from the pool. The match symbols are compared to the at least one set of target symbols. If all the symbols in the at least one set of target symbols correspond to match symbols, the bonus award associated with the at least one set of target symbols is awarded to the player. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117996 | GAMES, GAMING MACHINES, SYSTEMS AND METHOD HAVING A HORSERACE BONUS FEATURE - Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods having a horserace bonus feature game including randomly generated icons which serve to advance one or more horses toward a finish line. In some embodiments, a progressive award associated with the winning horse is paid to a player. In other embodiments, multiple progressive awards may be paid in the event of a tie. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117997 | APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AMUSEMENT - Certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments are taught which include a game comprising, a digital processor, digital storage coupled to the digital processor for storing instructions, a display coupled to the digital processor displaying a first plurality of indicia arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns such that there are a plurality of paylines through a contiguous plurality of indicia, a user interface coupled to the digital processor to select a subset of the first plurality of indicia taken along at least one column and to initiate a display of a second plurality of indicia which includes the selected subset of the first plurality of indicia on the display, and an award dispenser providing an award which is at least as large as the largest award associated with the plurality of paylines. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117998 | GAMING MACHINE CAPABLE OF MOVING AT LEAST ONE VISUAL RECOGNITION TARGET IN A TOP BOX - A gaming machine includes a symbol display device, a top box, and a controller. The symbol display device is capable of variably displaying and then rearranging a plurality of symbols. The top box is disposed at an upper part of the symbol display device and has an illumination target disposed on a front face and a plurality of visual recognition targets disposed therein. The controller is programmed to: variably display and then rearrange symbols on the symbol display device to thereby execute a normal game; execute an animation character acquisition game for acquiring a specific animation character from among a plurality of animation characters in accordance with specific symbols being rearranged in the normal game; and move at least one visual recognition target from among the plurality of visual recognition targets, based on a result of the animation character acquisition game. This configuration enables a player to be given notice in a mode of moving a visual recognition target in the top box. Thus, it is possible to impart a sense of expectation or a sense of tension to a player and to pay the player's attention exclusively to a game. | 2011-05-19 |
20110117999 | WAGERING INTERFACE FOR A GAMING SYSTEM - A gaming system includes a wagering interface that may include a plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements with each quick-bet element indicating a different total wager for a spin of the plurality of reels. Each total wager is divided among a plurality of paylines associated with positions on the reels. A window is configured to display a subset of the plurality of quick-bet elements. A quick-bet element selection slider is configured to allow each of the plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements to be displayed within the window. The selection slider is movable to a plurality of positions along a slider path such that the position of the selection slider on the slider path determines the subset of quick-bet elements to be displayed in the window. A wagering interface may include a toggling element for switching from a wagering interface having a plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements to a classic-bet wagering interface. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118000 | WAGERING GAME WITH ACCUMULATION-BONUS FEATURE THAT IS PLAYED UPON PLAYER'S SELECTION - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an accumulation-bonus feature which allows a player to cache awards to a bonus object. A player selects when to use the bonus object in a secondary playfield to enhance the cached awards. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118001 | Wagering Game Having a Free-Play Bonus With a Variable Free-Play Retriggering Condition - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a gaming system having a wager input device for receiving a wager from a player, a display configured to display a wagering game, a memory device, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display, the wager input device, and the memory device. The processor is configured to determine a retrigger condition for a wagering game feature, conduct the wagering game feature, determine if the retrigger condition for the wagering game feature was satisfied during play of the wagering game feature, and conduct another wagering game feature if the first retrigger condition was satisfied during play of the wagering game feature, the another wagering game feature having the same game format as the wagering game feature. The processor is also configured to determine another retrigger condition for the another wagering game feature, the another retrigger condition being different than the first retrigger condition. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118002 | WAGERING GAME WITH GAME APPEARANCE CHANGING BASED ON PLAYER'S SELECTION - A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming terminal for a player includes receiving, via an input device, a player selection of one of a plurality of player selectable elements. Each of the player selectable elements are associated with a corresponding thematic indicia set. The method further includes conducting the wagering game with the thematic indicia set associated with the selected player selectable element being displayed on a display of the gaming terminal and while conducting the wagering game, triggering a bonus event. The method further includes awarding one of a plurality of game enhancement parameters to the player during the bonus event. The awarded one of the plurality of game enhancement parameters is dictated by the selected player selectable element. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118003 | GAMING MACHINE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - To provide a gaming machine and a control method therefor, having a new entertainment characteristics, a slot machine | 2011-05-19 |
20110118004 | Player Gaming Console, Gaming Machine, Networked Gaming System and Method - Games, networked gaming systems, gaming machines and methods are disclosed that provide various player-centric games and rewards to the casino patrons. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118005 | GAMING MACHINE WITH BUY FEATURE GAMES - A gaming machine including a display. The display includes a plurality of display positions for displaying combinations of symbols. A controller controls operation of the machine. The controller includes a processor for processing data and displaying selected data on the display. A selector is operable by the player of the machine for enabling the player to select at least one feature which can be added to a base game played on the machine. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118006 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING GAMING RESULT - Embodiments of the invention include a gaming device that has a video display. When the player initiates the game, an animation is shown. If the game had a losing outcome, the animation is very short and allows the player to quickly try for a win. If instead the game has a winning outcome the gaming device spins reels or otherwise shows the player how much he or she has one. The animation may also indicate progress toward a mystery jackpot or a group mystery jackpot. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118009 | WAGERING GAME TRAINING TOOL FOR WAGERING SYSTEMS - A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include initiating, at a gaming machine, an analysis mode of a wagering game training tool associated with a wagering game, and determining when a player has played a predefined number of rounds of the wagering game. The operations can also include determining a skill level associated with the player for one or more areas of skill associated with the wagering game based, at least in part, on the predefined number of rounds played by the player. The operations can further include identifying an area of skill associated with the wagering game where the skill level associated with the player is less than a predefined skill level, and initiating a training mode of the wagering game training tool to improve the skill level associated with the player in the identified area of skill. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118010 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING BALANCED PAYBACKS WITH VARYING WAGER AMOUNTS - Various embodiments of the gaming system of the present disclosure enable a player to play a secondary or bonus game, in which the player has the chance to play for a designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game. The probability of triggering the secondary or bonus game varies based on the player's primary game wager. Additionally, the probability of winning a designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game varies based on the player's primary game wager. In one embodiment, as the primary game wager increases, the odds of triggering the secondary or bonus game increase, but not in direct proportion to the wager. Similarly, the odds of winning the designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game increases, but not in direct proportion to the wager. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118011 | GAMING SYSTEMS, GAMING DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROGRESSIVE AWARDS - The gaming system, gaming device and method disclosed herein determines whether to provide at least one of the plurality of progressive awards to the player based on that player's measured level of skill in: (i) a plurality of plays of a partial skill-based game, (ii) a skill-based progressive award sequence, or (iii) a plurality of plays of a partial skill-based game and a skill-based progressive award sequence. The determination is based on zero, one or more inputs made by the player which tend to measure that player's level of skill in at least one of a partial skill-based game and a skill-based progressive award sequence. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118012 | TIMING CONTROL DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND OPERATION INSTRUCTION DEVICE - A cycle B and a phase P of a stepping motion of a player are detected by a mat | 2011-05-19 |
20110118013 | MOVABLE MECHANICAL DISPLAY DEVICES AND METHODS - A gaming machine includes a rotating object that has at least one configurable surface that may be configured electronically. The rotating object may be synchronized with a video display. Configurable surfaces can use bistable materials, electroluminescent materials, LCDs, LEDs, OLEDs, projection, or other techniques. The appearance of the rotating object is changed without physically changing the rotating object. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118014 | GAMING DEVICE HAVING A TOP BOX WITH A RECONFIGURABLE POINTER - Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines with a top box having a reconfigurable pointer. The reconfigurable pointer identifies a particular game outcome and is alterable for different games. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a first display located within a main cabinet for presenting a main game, and a second display located in a top box for presenting a second game. In one embodiment, the main cabinet also includes a virtual button deck for controlling the main game and the second game. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118015 | GAME APPARATUS, STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME PROGRAM AND GAME CONTROLLING METHOD - A game apparatus includes a CPU, and images a face image of a player with an inward camera provided between a first LCD and a second LCD according to an instruction from the CPU. The CPU specifies a position of the eyes of the player from the face image, and decides a position of a virtual camera in correspondence to the specified position of the eyes. In a three-dimensional virtual space, a gazing point is fixedly decided, and a game screen is displayed on the first LCD and the second LCD such that the three-dimensional virtual space is fixed with respect to the display surface. If the position of the eyes of the player is in a predetermined position (range) with respect to the display surface, a predetermined letter or the like is represented by a combination of objects, etc. on the game screen. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118016 | Video Extension Library System and Method - Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a game platform and video extension system for a gaming machine, in which game videos interact with the game platform and video extension system. The system includes a game operating system that provides services to render graphics for the gaming machine. Further, the operating system includes an OS video engine and a window server. The system also includes a game, wherein the game comprises a game library and game application. The game library includes one or more library video engines, in which each video engine may be used in conjunction with the window server of the operating system. The game application includes one or more game modules, in which each game module is associated with, and supported by, a corresponding library video engine in the game library or OS video engine in the game operating system. The game application uses an application program interface of the operating system to display video content. Additionally, the system enables game modules within the gaming application that have new features which are not supported by the video engine of the game operating system to be instead supported by corresponding library video engines within the game library. In this manner, the system does not require game operating system enhancements to play game modules that have new features which are unsupported by the game operating system. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118017 | Electronic Gaming Device with a Light-effect Arrangement - The present invention is a gaming machine such as a slot machine having a housing with a light-effect arrangement for creation of light effects. The gaming machine has at least one reflector arranged on the housing such that the reflector is positioned with respect to a remote light source to reflect a light beam from the remote light source at least partly towards the front of the housing. The housing may include a light source, which may be a strip of LED lights that emits a light beam. This arrangement is particularly beneficial in modern gaming devices. A higher degree of design freedom relative to light source arrangement is achieved through the use of reflectors and the light source. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118018 | GAME DEVICE - A game device has a display unit for displaying an image on a screen, a first stage to be stepped on by a first player and a second stage to be stepped on by a second player, the first stage and the second stage being provided in front of the screen and next to each other in a transverse direction. Furthermore, the game device has a first speaker for an R channel and a second speaker for an L channel in an upper portion of the left periphery of the screen, the first speaker and the second speaker being arranged next to each other in a longitudinal direction when viewed from a player who is on the first stage or the second stage, and has a third speaker for the L channel and a fourth speaker for the R channel in an upper portion of the right periphery of the screen, the third speaker and the fourth speaker being arranged next to each other in a longitudinal direction when viewed from the player. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118019 | GAME DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GAME DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM - To provide a game device capable of allowing a user to predict whether or not the user is to operate a game character if a state of the game character is changed from a first state of being operated by a computer to a second state of being operated by any one of a plurality of users. A storage section ( | 2011-05-19 |
20110118020 | Gaming machine with win announcement - A game machine having a win announcement feature and a method of providing an announcement regarding a winning event or outcome of a game played at a gaming machine are disclosed. One embodiment of a method comprises providing information regarding a winning event occurring at a gaming machine, the method including the steps of presenting a game to a player at a gaming machine, determining if the outcome of the game is a winning outcome, and if so, disseminating at the gaming machine a win announcement comprising information regarding the type of win and the source of the win. A gaming machine includes a controller configured to generate gaming machine control information for presenting a game and configured to generate win announcement information in the event the outcome of a game presented is a winning outcome, the gaming machine including at least one device for disseminating the win information. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118021 | SCHEME FOR TRANSLATING MOVEMENTS OF A HAND-HELD CONTROLLER INTO INPUTS FOR A SYSTEM - One embodiment provides a method for use in providing input to a system that includes the steps of determining position information for a controller for the system, comparing the determined position information for the controller with predetermined position information associated with commands, and providing a command to the system if the determined position information matches predetermined position information for the command. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118022 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING PERIPHERAL DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first peripheral device having a controller to store operational settings tailored for a gaming application, interact with the gaming application using the operational settings and user inputs, and share the operational settings with a second peripheral device for use with the gaming application. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118023 | VIDEO GAME WITH CONTROLLER SENSING PLAYER INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY - A video game system is operable to receive user touch location information while a first user is holding a game controller and to determine a first user ID for the first user based upon the user touch location information. Thereafter, the video game system is operable to measure an instant acceleration of the game controller, to compare the instant acceleration to a first threshold value and to lock the game controller for use by the first user corresponding to the first user ID based on the comparison of the instant acceleration and the first threshold value. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118024 | ADJUSTING OPERATION OF TOUCH SENSITIVE PANEL OF GAME CONTROLLER - Operating a game controller by setting initial operational parameters of at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller. The touch sensitive pad has a plurality of touch sensitive elements. Touch pad input is received from the at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller. The touch pad input corresponds to a user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input is at least partially processed by processing circuitry of the game controller and transmitted to a game console via a communications interface of the game controller for processing. Upon meeting an operational parameter alteration condition, the operational parameters of the at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller are altered. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118025 | GAME CONTROLLER WITH TOUCH PAD USER INTERFACE - A game controller with a communications interface, at least one touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements, and processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry receives touch pad input via the plurality of touch sensitive elements of the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry then transmits the touch pad input to a game console via the communications interface. The touch sensitive pad can have a plurality of separate and distinct touch sensitive pads, allowing the processing circuitry to receive touch pad input via each of the plurality of separate and distinct touch sensitive pads. Touch pad input could include user finger and/or user thumb touch pad input. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118026 | HAND-HELD GAMING DEVICE THAT IDENTIFIES USER BASED UPON INPUT FROM TOUCH SENSITIVE PANEL - Operating a game controller to identify a user by receiving touch pad input from at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller that has a plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input corresponds to the user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input is at least partially processed by processing circuitry of the game controller and transmitted to a game console via a communications interface of the game controller for processing of the at least partially processed touch pad input to identify the user via pattern recognition. At least partially processing the touch pad input can be by identifying at least one finger orientation, at least one finger spacing, at least one finger width, a plurality of finger knuckle/joint locations, and/or a plurality of finger lengths based upon the touch pad input. | 2011-05-19 |
20110118027 | ALTERING VIDEO GAME OPERATIONS BASED UPON USER ID AND-OR GRIP POSITION - Operating a gaming system having a game console and a game controller by receiving touch pad input from at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller that has a plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input corresponds to a user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input is at least partially processed by processing circuitry of the game controller to produce partially processed touch pad input and transmitted from the game controller to the game console via communications interfaces of the game controller and the game console. The game console processes the at least partially processed touch pad input to produce game alteration data. The at least one corresponding game operation is altered based upon the game alteration data. | 2011-05-19 |