18th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 53 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140120950 | LOCATION ESTIMATION FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - There is therefore provided a method of estimating the location of a mobile device, the mobile device being configured for use in a cellular mobile communications network comprising a plurality of base stations, the method comprising generating a database of locations visited by the mobile device by obtaining measurements of the position of the mobile device over time using a satellite-based positioning system; obtaining the identity of the base station serving the mobile device at the time of each measurement of the position of the mobile device; and analyzing the measurements to identify locations visited by the mobile device, each location being associated with a particular base station, such that the mobile device is attached to said base station when at said location; and during subsequent use of the mobile device, in the event that it is not possible to use the satellite-based positioning system to measure the position of the mobile device, estimating the location of the mobile device as one or more identified locations that are associated with the base station to which the mobile device is currently attached. Corresponding apparatus and computer program products are also provided. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120951 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISSEMINATING USER LOCATION INFORMATION - A computer-implemented method for disseminating user mobile device location information is provided. The method includes enabling a first request for location information of a mobile device based on at least one of a particular schedule and a particular criterion. Mobile device location information is received responsive to the first request. The mobile device location information received responsive to the first request is stored. A second request for the mobile device location information is received from a requester. Responsive to the second request, the requester is provided the location information received responsive to the first request, and at least one user-visible consequence is initiated responsive to the second request, wherein the at least one user-visible consequence is not initiated responsive to the first request. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120952 | REAL TIME TRAVEL DIRECTOR - A method for navigating through a predefined space is described herein. The method includes receiving, by a remote unit, a signal indicative of a selection of at least one destination category, wherein the selected destination category is associated with a plurality of destination locations. A position of each of the plurality of destination locations is determined within the predefined space. A final destination location is determined within the predefined space, an origination location of the remote unit is determined, and a first route is determined from the origination location to the final destination. The first route including each destination location included in the selected destination category. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120953 | SYSTEM FOR EVENT-BASED INTELLIGENT-TARGETING - An event-based intelligent targeting engine is capable of delivering highly relevant content, including, but not limited to, advertisements, alerts, messages, notifications, warnings, signals, machine-to-machine (M2M) telemetry, entertainment/media, and any communications thereof, etc. based on real-time situations (i.e., observed events) of a user as well as, historical preferences both explicitly stated or observed in behavior including demographics, psychographics, and sociographics. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120954 | COMPUTING AND HARNESSING INFERENCES ABOUT THE TIMING, DURATION, AND NATURE OF MOTION AND CESSATION OF MOTION WITH APPLICATIONS TO MOBILE COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATIONS - An information delivery system comprises a receiver component that receives information about the movement, velocity, acceleration, and/or locations over time of a user. A computation component using a predictive model generates a probability distribution relating to one or more of when the user will next be stopped, how long the user will be stopped, how long a pattern of motion, such as walking, driving in stop and go traffic, and smooth highway motion will last, based at least in part upon signals about motion over time. The system can further comprise an alerting component that determines when to provide the user with information based at least in part upon the probability distribution over some aspect of motion or cessation of motion, and optionally the content, or tagged or inferred urgency or importance, of a message or communication. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120955 | TARGET ACCESS POINT RECOMMENDATION - Recommending a target access point is contemplated. The target access point recommendation may be used to recommend device connection to an access point having capabilities sufficient to facilitate access to electronic services, such as but not necessarily limited to recommending connection of a wireless device to a cellular or Wi-Fi capable access point. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120956 | DATA TRANSMISSON SYSTEM, DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD AND MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A data transmission system, a data transmission method, and a mobile electronic device are provided. The data transmission system includes a first mobile electronic device and a server. The first mobile electronic device includes an orientation recognition module, a positioning unit, and a network communication module. When a user designates at least one shared data and performs a throw-like motion on the first mobile electronic device, the orientation recognition module is adapted for detecting a direction of the throw-like motion to produce direction information corresponding to the direction. The positioning unit obtains position information of the first mobile electronic device. The network communication module transmits the direction information, the position information, and the shared data to the server via a network. After receiving a transmission request from the first mobile electronic device, the server transmits the shared data to at least one second mobile electronic device according to the received. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120957 | WIRELESS DEVICE LOCATION DERIVED FROM BASE STATION SIGNALING - Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for deriving a wireless device location from base station signaling. In a particular embodiment, a method provides monitoring signaling transmitted by a base station serving a plurality of wireless communication devices. The method further provides identifying a wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices from the signaling and identifying an active set carried in the signaling that is associated with the wireless communication device. The method further provides determining a location of the wireless communication device based on the active set. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120958 | POSITIONING DEVICE, MOBILE STATION AND POSITIONING METHOD - A positioning device includes; a receiving unit configured to receive wireless quality information indicating wireless quality between a mobile station and a base station and information indicating a direction and an orientation of the mobile station; a determining unit configured to acquire measuring data to be used for measuring a location of the mobile station based on the direction and the orientation, from data in which each of regions as location candidates of the mobile station is associated with respective wireless quality information; and a measuring unit configured to measure the location of the mobile station based on the wireless quality information and the measuring data. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120959 | ADJUST PAGING INDICATOR CHANNEL DETECTION THRESHOLD DEPENDING ON REMAINING BATTERY LEVEL - A user equipment may save power and improve performance by adjusting a paging indicator detection threshold of power at which a user equipment (UE) determines a paging indicator channel transmission is received when detecting a signal on a paging indicator channel. The adjustment may be based on the UE's remaining battery power. When the battery power level is low, the threshold is increased to reduce false detections. When the battery power level is high, the threshold is decreased to increase the likelihood of detecting the signal on a paging indicator channel. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120960 | SPORTS APPARATUS AND METHOD - A sports apparatus is provided for monitoring movement of one or more projectiles associated with a sporting event. The apparatus includes a data processing system for processing sampled data signals generated in operation by one or more sensors ( | 2014-05-01 |
20140120961 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURE MESSAGE COMPOSITION OF SECURITY MESSAGES - Systems and methods are provided for secure composition of security messages. A text message template may be displayed on a display of a mobile communications device. The text message template may include a first text field associated with a semantic category representing a plurality of items identified based on their meaning. At least one button associated with the semantic category may be presented on the display of the mobile communications device. An input may be received at the at least one button from a user of the mobile communications device. At least some of the plurality of items belonging to the semantic category associated with the first text field may be presented on the display of the mobile communications device. A selection of an item of the plurality of items may be received. The selected item may be presented in the first text field of the text message template. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120962 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PAGING MODE - Systems, methods, and devices for communicating data in a wireless communications network are described herein. In some aspects, a station includes a first receiver and a low power circuit including a second receiver. The second receiver may be configured to consume less power than the first receiver. The second receiver receives short paging messages from another wireless device, such as an access point. The paging messages may trigger transitions of the first receiver from inactive doze or sleep states to active awake states based on Traffic Information Maps. Once in the awake state, the first receiver receives messages. This enables the first receiver to reduce the time spent awake, thereby reducing power consumption. A system and method for identifying and managing paging modes is described herein. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120963 | UNIFIED AND BEST MESSAGING SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATION DEVICES - A unified messaging system which can provide messaging services for a plurality of different “message types” is disclosed. The unified messaging system can serve as a single interface to a number of messaging services provided by various messaging components which use different message types (e.g., mail server). A unified message type is implemented and presented to a user as an abstract message. In addition, the unified messaging system can automatically determine, based on a first selected feature, if one or more message types should be used. A particular message type can also be automatically selected as a “best message type” based on one or more selected options. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120964 | GROUP MESSAGING AT MOBILE TERMINAL IN AUTONOMOUS NETWORK - A method for group messaging at a mobile terminal in autonomous network includes acquiring a message and a list of target identifiers, containing the identifiers of multiple mobile terminals to which the message is to be sent; transmitting the message via the autonomous network to any mobile terminal of the multiple mobile terminals that locates in the autonomous network, and removing the identifier of the mobile terminal from the list of target identifiers to obtain an updated list of target identifiers; generating an aggregate message, wherein the aggregate message contains the message and the identifiers in the updated list; sending the aggregate message to a base station if the length of the aggregate message does not exceed a threshold; dividing the aggregate message into multiple fragment messages and sending the multiple fragment messages to the base station if the length of the aggregate message exceeds the threshold. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120965 | Location-Based Responses to Telephone Requests - A method for receiving processed information at a remote device is described. The method includes transmitting from the remote device a verbal request to a first information provider and receiving a digital message from the first information provider in response to the transmitted verbal request. The digital message includes a symbolic representation indicator associated with a symbolic representation of the verbal request and data used to control an application. The method also includes transmitting, using the application, the symbolic representation indicator to a second information provider for generating results to be displayed on the remote device. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120966 | RADIO TRANSCEIVER WITH IMPROVED RADAR DETECTION - A radar detector is used with a radio link, the radio link characterized by high duty factor operation of a radio transmitter. The radar detector is located a sufficient distance from the radio transmitter that the radar detector is not overwhelmed by the radio transmission signal in that channel and can detect sufficiently low level radar signals to ascertain potential radio interference at the radar from said radio transmitter. The results of the radar detection are communicated to the transmitter in a way that impacts the transmitter's use of the sensed channel. This communication can occur reactively when a radar detection is achieved (the absence of which indicates no radar has been detected) and/or can be a periodic or event-driven indication that the channel is available for operation (the information expiring if the result is not refreshed). | 2014-05-01 |
20140120967 | MITIGATING INTERFERENCE FROM WIRELESS EQUIPMENT - A first wireless access network node determines whether a first wireless equipment is potentially an interferer of wireless communication of a second wireless equipment in a domain of a second wireless access network node, where the first wireless equipment is in a domain of the first wireless access node. In response to determining that the first wireless equipment is potentially the interferer of the wireless communication of the second wireless equipment, configuration information is sent to the second wireless access network node to allow the second wireless access network node or the second wireless equipment to detect an interference from the first wireless equipment and to initiate performance of an interference mitigation procedure with respect to the interference from the first wireless equipment. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120968 | Frequency Tunable Transmit/Receive (Tx/Rx) Antenna Switch - A frequency tunable transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) antenna switch uses a tuned PIN diode RF switch topology (e.g. shunt, series or series-shunt). Frequency tunability may be provided for either a transmit or a receive port (or both) that is tuned by a quarter-wavelength transmission line. The quarter-wavelength (λ | 2014-05-01 |
20140120969 | MULTI-RADIO COEXISTENCE - A method and apparatus relate to coexistence of multiple RF subsystems on a communication device. An apparatus may include a plurality of radio frequency (RF) subsystems configured to receive or transmit communication signals; and an interference table indicative of zones of interference among the multiple RF subsystems, the zones of interference being based on RF measurements. At least one of the RF subsystems comprises a coexistence module configured to communicate coexistence-related messages with of the other RF subsystems, the coexistence-related messages being based on the zones of interference. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120970 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING AND PERFORMING SPECTRUM SENSING - The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of wireless communications, and in particular to a method, system and device for triggering and performing spectrum sensing, used for solving the problem in the prior art that if the sensing period is set too long, a decline of service quality between an authorization system and a cognitive system or even a network paralysis will be caused due to interference; and if the sensing period is set too short, an increase in power consumption of devices and a waste of spectrum resources will be caused. The method for performing spectrum sensing in the embodiments of the present application includes: a sensing node judging whether or not the channel quality has declined to the requirement for performing in-band spectrum sensing; and after determining that the channel quality has declined to the requirement for performing in-band spectrum sensing, the sensing node performing in-band spectrum sensing. By way of applying the embodiments of the present application, the problems of decline of service quality between an authorization system and a cognitive system or even a network paralysis due to interference caused by setting the sensing period too long, or an increase in power consumption of devices and a waste of spectrum resources caused by setting period too short, can be avoided. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120971 | SYNCHRONISED RADIO TRANSCEIVERS - Synchronised radio transceivers Disclosed are a method of and apparatus for controlling a first radio transceiver ( | 2014-05-01 |
20140120972 | REMOTE SENSING DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER APPLICATIONS - A radio-frequency enabled remote sensing device which can be deployed as a single device or a system of networked devices for gathering environmental data. The device is fully integrated and autonomous. The device operates using solar energy and is battery free due to power saving features of its control module and communications module. The device may operate in a sleep/wake cycle to further conserve power during low light conditions. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120973 | ENHANCED NETWORK-NETWORK INTERFACE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST MULTICAST SERVICES - A method between a controlling server and a participating server, a network, and a server include enhanced signaling via a Multicast-Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) report allowing User Equipment (UE) to communicate MBSFN areas to a controlling server. Thus, the enhanced controlling server's Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) decisions can count all visiting devices in addition to its own in its MBSFN areas. The method, network, and server include new signaling and additional info to provide a participating server with MBSFN areas that will have MBMS activated for a group session. This enhances the participating server's determination of which its visiting devices need unicast bearers. The participating server can add information related to the current MBSFN area of its UE to a message to the controlling server indicating joining the UE to a group. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120974 | System and Methods to Achieve Optimum Efficiency-Jain Fairness in Wireless Systems - Embodiments are provided for scheduling resources considering data rate-efficiency and fairness trade-off. A value of Jain's fairness index (JFI) is determined for transmitting a service to a plurality of users, and accordingly a sum of throughputs is maximized for transmitting the service to the users. Alternatively, a sum of throughputs is determined first and accordingly the JFI is maximized. Maximizing the sum of throughputs or JFI includes selecting a suitable value for a tuning parameter in an efficiency and fairness trade-off relation model. In accordance with the values of sum of throughputs and JFI, a plurality of resources are allocated for transmitting the service to the users. For static or quasi-static channels, the relation model is a convex function with a monotonic trade-off property. For ergodic time varying channels, the tuning parameter is selected by solving the relation model using a gradient-based approach. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120975 | DYNAMIC SPECTRUM ALLOCATION METHOD, CENTRAL CONTROL UNIT, BASE STATION AND SPECTRUM ALLOCATION SYSTEM - A dynamic spectrum allocation method, a central control unit, a base station, and a spectrum allocation system are disclosed. The embodiments of the present invention further disclose a central control unit, a base station, and a spectrum allocation system to reduce the probability of failure of the spectrum allocation scheme. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120976 | DORMANCY TIMER ADJUSTMENT IN A WIRELESS ACCESS NODE BASED ON WIRELESS DEVICE APPLICATION STATUS - A wireless communication device determines user interface activity initiated by a user application. The wireless communication device determines a timer setting based on the user interface activity initiated by the user application. The wireless communication device wirelessly transfers the timer setting to a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device exchanges wireless communications initiated by the user application with the wireless communication network. The wireless communication network uses a dormancy timer based on the user interface activity initiated by the user application. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120977 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE COORDINATED SAFETY RESPONSES - The disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for providing multiple coordinated safety responses. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to notifying multiple persons who are within a vicinity of a victim, and instructing those persons to provide various safety responses at various frequencies, where the frequency of the response can be related to the closeness of first responders to the scene. The invention uses a safety force multiplier that frustrates, confuses, scares, and/or distracts a potential perpetrator by delivering multiple responses to a scene. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120978 | NETWORK MANAGEMENT FOR WIRELESS APPLIANCES IN A MOBILE DATA NETWORK - A network management system utilizes an element manager at the RNC level to reduce the workload and efficiently manage multiple wireless appliances in a mobile data network. Management communications from the network management system flow through the element manager to all devices under the RNC level appliance hosting the element manager. The element manager provides for fault management, performance monitoring and configuration of the many breakout appliances and reports necessary information back to the network management system. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120979 | WIRELESS ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH A METAL PERIMETER INCLUDING A PLANAR USER INPUT COMPONENT - Wireless electronic devices may include a ground plane and a metal perimeter around the ground plane. The metal perimeter may include a planar user input component including an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of an adjacent portion of the metal perimeter. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120980 | CAMERA-BASED CARE MONITORING DEVICE WITH A TELEPHONY INTERFACE - A device which integrates a smart camera with person detection functionality and a remotely controlled telephone dialer is proposed. The device is used for monitoring elderly and disabled persons while at home and is expandable with internet and television connectivity if such infrastructure is available at the persons residence. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120981 | Data capture from rendered documents using handheld device - A portable device having scanning, imaging or other data-capture capability is described. In some cases, the portable device can indicate to the user when enough information has been captured to uniquely identify a source document. In some cases, the portable device calculates timestamps and location-stamps indicating when and where a data capture occurred. In some cases, the portable device is controlled by gestures. In some cases, the portable scanning device has associated billing and content/service subscription information. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120982 | HIGH NUMERICAL APERTURE TELEMICROSCOPY APPARATUS - An imaging system consisting of a cell-phone with camera as the detection part of an optical train which includes other components. Optionally, an illumination system to create controlled contrast in the sample. Uses include but are not limited to disease diagnosis, symptom analysis, and post-procedure monitoring, and other applications to humans, animals, and plants. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120983 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUSES FOR INCORPORATING WIRELESS HEADSETS, TERMINALS, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICES INTO FASHION ACCESSORIES AND JEWELRY - A wearable communication device including a bracelet including an integrated first power source, and a telecommunications device including a transceiver configured to allow wireless communication, wherein the telecommunications device is configured to couple and decouple with the bracelet, and wherein the telecommunications device is configured receive power from the first power source when coupled with the bracelet. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120984 | MULTIPLE SIM CARD SECURE GLOBAL MOBILE DEVICE - The present invention is directed to electronic and global communication systems, devices, and methods resulting from the realization that global usage of mobile phones may be made easier and more secure by providing a system and method which have multiple subscriber identification modules (SIMs) cards including domestic and international SIM cards that enable businessmen, politicians and others to stay connected with their co-workers when traveling abroad by receiving calls and emails without paying high roaming and international fees. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120985 | File Read/Write Method and Mobile Terminal - A file read/write method includes: determining whether a file to be read/written is a large file, where the file to be read/written is a file to be written into a calling card of the mobile terminal or a file to be read from the calling card; when a determining result is yes, negotiating with the calling card a rate of reading/writing the large file, and replacing a standard rate with a high rate as a file read/write rate of the calling card; and reading the file to be read/written from the calling card or writing the file to be read/written into the calling card according to the high rate. In the present invention, the file transmission rate may be automatically modified according to the size of a file to be read/written, so as to effectively shorten time of large-file read/write performed with a calling card. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120986 | System for Data Card Emulation - An improved system for data card emulation involves a phone that can emulate any one of multiple data cards corresponding to multiple entities. The phone includes a memory for storing bar code information corresponding to data cards of the multiple entities. It provides an interface for identifying an entity and a display for displaying a bar code corresponding to a data card of the entity. The interface may include at least one of a bar code reader or a bar code emulator. The interface may include at least one of a magnetic stripe reader or a magnetic stripe emulator. The interface may be a transceiver such as a pulsed light transceiver. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120987 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a microphone configured to receive a first voice input; a touchscreen display; a controller configured to convert the first voice input into first text, display the first text on the touchscreen display, receive a selection signal indicating a selection of the displayed first text, receive a second voice input via the microphone, convert the second voice input into second text, combine the first text and the second text, and display the combined text on the touchscreen display. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120988 | Electronic Device with Enhanced Notifications - There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120989 | POWER SUPPLYING METHOD FOR WIRELESS NETWORK TERMINAL AND WIRELESS NETWORK TERMINAL - A power supplying method for a wireless network terminal and the wireless network terminal are disclosed. The method includes: detecting potential information of two power lines of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface of a wireless network terminal; determining, according to the potential information of the two power lines, a type of a power supply device that is connected to the USB interface; and when the type of the power supply device is a power supply device having a communication capability, controlling the wireless network terminal to work in a predetermined communication mode, so as to implement power supply for the wireless network terminal by using the power supply device. With provided technical solutions, a cost of the wireless network terminal can be reduced, and a battery with a relatively large size is not needed, thereby facilitating miniaturization and integration of the wireless network terminal. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120990 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF REJECTING A LOW POWER STATE BASED ON A COVER DETECTION BY A MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Apparatus, system and method for rejecting entry to a power saving mode based on a cover detection by an NFC enabled mobile device when an NFC field has been detected, such as from a second NFC enabled device. The apparatus, system and method may include detecting a magnetic field indicating proximity of the mobile device to a cover, determining when a predetermined delay has elapsed, checking the state of a flag that is set when an NFC field is detected, and preventing putting the mobile device into a low power state based on the cover indication if the flag is set. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120991 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE-BAND ANTENNA AND RELATED METHODS - A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the housing and having a primary output, and a secondary output, and a multiple-band antenna carried by the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver. The multiple-band antenna may include a dielectric substrate and a pattern of electrically conductive traces thereon defining a primary radiator and a secondary radiator spaced apart from the primary radiator. The primary radiator may include a first elongate member having a primary feed coupled to the primary output, and a first reference member spaced from the first elongate member and at least partially laterally surrounding the first elongate member and coupled to a reference voltage. The secondary radiator may include a second elongate member having a secondary feed coupled to the secondary output. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120992 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE PROTECTION SYSTEM - A system for protecting an electronic device. The system includes a pocket, where the pocket is configured to receive an electronic device capable of receiving or transmitting electronic signals. The system also includes a cover, where the cover is directly attached to the pocket. The cover is configured to cover at least a portion of the pocket and prevent the electronic device from receiving or transmitting electronic signals in a direction toward the cover. The electronic device is allowed to receive or transmit electronic signals in a direction not toward the cover. The cover includes an opening. The opening is configured to allow an audio signal to pass through the cover and includes a mesh layer. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120993 | GAME DEVICE, GAME DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM - To provide a game device capable of assisting a user to make a pass to a teammate player character in a game performed between a user character group operated by the user and an opponent character group. A setting unit sets a plurality of positions in an area around a character holding the moving object as receiving position candidates for another character to receive a pass. A receiving position selecting unit selects at least one of the receiving position candidates, based on the position of a character belonging to the opponent character group. A character selecting unit selects a character corresponding to the receiving position candidate from among the player characters belonging to the user character group other than the character holding the moving object. A character control unit moves the character corresponding to the selected receiving position candidate toward a position based on the selected receiving position candidate. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120994 | VIRTUAL GOLF SIMULATION APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING USER-CUSTOMIZED PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT, SERVER CONNECTED WITH THE SAME THROUGH NETWORK, AND USER-CUSTOMIZED PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT PROVISION METHOD USING VIRTUAL GOLF SIMULATION - Disclosed herein are a virtual golf simulation apparatus for providing a user-customized practice environment, a server connected with the virtual golf simulation apparatus through a network, and a user-customized practice environment provision method using the virtual golf simulation, which are capable of providing various practice modes for each golf shot so that a user can practice a specific golf shot intensively using golf simulation based on virtual reality to realize a virtual environment that cannot be experienced on a real golf driving range so that the user can intensively practice a golf shot which is more exciting, more intensive, and more practically useful in a real game. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120995 | GAME BOARD INTERACTING WITH A DIGITAL TABLET SCREEN - A game board ( | 2014-05-01 |
20140120996 | CARD GAME MACHINE - An object is to provide a card game machine capable of enhancing gameplay. A card game machine has a game board including a plurality of reader/writers configured to communicate with a semiconductor device which is mounted on a card and capable of wireless communication, and a control device connected to the reader/writer and configured to determine the position or orientation of the card or whether the card is put face up or down based on a signal from the reader/writer. By arrangement of a plurality of reader/writers and RF chips in the game board, not only data of the card but also signal strength can be detected, and the detailed position of an RF chip of the card which is placed on the game board can be specified. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120998 | METHOD OF ADAPTING A CLASS II GAME TO PROVIDE THE PLAY CHARACTERISTICS OF A CLASS III GAME - Methods, systems, and devices for adapting a Class II game to provide play characteristics of a Class III game are provided. Plays of the Class III game are simulated in a computer to obtain frequencies of occurrence of at least one Class III award. Plays of the Class II game are simulated in a computer to obtain frequencies of occurrence of at least one Class II outcome. A Class III award is selected. A Class II outcome having a similar frequency of occurrence to the selected Class III award is selected. An award is defined for the selected Class II outcome according to the selected Class III award. | 2014-05-01 |
20140120999 | Gaming proxy mechanism - Described is a proxy mechanism for allowing a gaming system such as bingo to be played over the internet from a location situated outside a geographical area within which at least a portion of the gaming system is physically located. The proxy mechanism can include a proxy terminal located within the geographical area that communicates with both players located outside the area and the gaming system within the area. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121000 | COMPUTERIZED REEL-BASED GAME SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR OPERATION USEFUL IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH - A computerized reel-based game system including an array of indicators ordered by random or pseudorandom spin of reels; a processor applying rules to the location of the indicators to determine an outcome category corresponding to the particular array; a user interface enabling user-initiated positioning of overlay indicator/s at a selectable position in the array; a lock unit for, responsive to an actuation command, replacing an indicator to be positioned in the selected position resulting from a next spin by said overlay indicator/s, the processor applying the rules to the resultant array with said overlay indicator in the selected position; an actuation module computing, responsive to said user-initiated positioning of the overlay indicator, a stake paid according to the selected position and a cost associated therewith, to enable presenting the associated cost and, responsive to user's approval of the stake, generating said actuation command and sending it to the lock unit. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121001 | Portable Gaming Device Having Embedded Reel Games With Progressives - A method and gaming machine are disclosed for operating a game with a primary and embedded game. An embedded game is disclosed as a bonus game with one embodiment animating miniature reels inside the primary game symbol. Each embedded slot game may have its own progressive, or may be tied into the progress associated with the primary game. Each embedded slot game will have its own paytable, and may be a miniature version of a well-recognized full-sized slot game. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121002 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING USER ATTENTION - A system and method for conditioning execution of a control function on a determination of whether or not a person's attention is directed toward a predetermined device. The method involves acquiring data concerning the activity of a person who is in the proximity of the device, the data being in the form of one or more temporal samples. One or more of the temporal samples is then analyzed to determine if the person's activity during the time of the analyzed samples indicates that the person's attention is not directed toward the device. The results of the determination are used to ascertain whether or not the control function should be performed. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121003 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PRIZE-BASED MARKETING - A method is described for providing advertisements on a mobile device. The method includes monitoring tactile input from a user, providing a game comprising identifiable game pieces on a playing surface, and displaying an advertisement adjacent to the playing surface. Play of the game is initiated based upon the monitored tactile input from the user. One or more of the plurality of identifiable game pieces is associated to a prize based upon input from a random number generator. A user is able to select a game piece from the plurality of game pieces in an attempt to select the game piece associated with the prize. Upon selection of the associated game piece, the user is awarded the prize. By requiring shaking of the mobile device to initiate a game the user is more engaged in game play, better retaining focus to the game and advertisement. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121005 | VIRTUAL TICKET-IN AND TICKET-OUT ON A GAMING MACHINE - An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display mounted to the cabinet, a wireless interface for communicating with a portable electronic device, a network interface for communicating with a validation server, a bill validator coupled to a game controller configured to accept bills and printed ticket vouchers, and a removable cash box. The game controller includes a processor and a memory configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM, redeem virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers, receive an indication to transfer value to the EGM via a virtual ticket voucher, receive the virtual ticket voucher including a virtual ticket voucher validation number from the portable electronic device via the wireless interface, validate the virtual ticket voucher with the validation server via the network interface, deposit a credit amount associated with the virtual ticket voucher, and notify the validation server that the virtual ticket voucher is redeemed. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121006 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GAMING MACHINE ACCOUNTING - A gaming machine has a main or master gaming controller. Primary gaming machine accounting is performed by the master gaming controller in communication with a casino accounting system. A secondary controller is associated with the gaming machine. The secondary controller facilitates paragame activity. Secondary gaming machine accounting, such as associated with activities implemented by the secondary controller, is performed by the secondary controller in communication with a secondary accounting system. The secondary controller and secondary accounting system can also mirror or monitor primary gaming machine accounting. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121007 | PLAYING A SOCIAL GAME WITH AUTOMATIC PLAYERS - A method and system are described for providing a branded automatic player within a social, online game. In some example embodiments, the automatic player may receive an indication that a triggering event has occurred and perform an action within the online game in response to the triggering event. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121008 | INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAME WITH TOYS HAVING FUNCTIONALITY THAT IS UNLOCKED THROUGH GAME PLAY - A videogame system for use in connection with a toy, where each of the toys includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The toys further comprise audio, visual and other effects, wherein at least some of said effects are initially disabled, but later enabled as the user reaches certain achievements with the videogame. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121009 | AMBIENT LIGHT CONTROL AND CALIBRATION VIA CONSOLE - Ambient light control and calibration systems and methods are provided herein. According to some embodiments, exemplary systems may include a console that includes a processor that executes logic to control a plurality of nodes to reproduce a virtual lighting scheme of a virtual environment in a physical user environment. Additionally, the system may include a plurality of nodes that each includes a light emitting device, a receiver that communicatively couples the node to the console, and a processor that executes logic to control the light emitting device. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121010 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO GAMING USING GAME-SPECIFIC INPUT ADAPTATION - Computer system to facilitate video gaming comprising a processing unit and a computer readable medium coupled to the processing unit comprising instructions executable by the processing unit. Instructions are for a video game that receives first input events triggered by operation of first input devices used to navigate the video game. Instructions are for input adaptation module to facilitate playing the same video game using the second input device that is free from facility to provide the first input events using the first input devices. The input adaptation module receives second input events triggered by operation of the second input device used to navigate the game. It generates the first input events from the second input events, based at least upon the game-specific translation mapping between input events receivable from the second input device and input events receivable from the first input devices. Associated method is also provided. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121011 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOBILE SIMULATED REAL-TIME PLAYER VS. PLAYER GAMING - A system for mobile simulated real-time player vs. player (PvP) gaming provides a user interface (UI) to a mobile device for simulated real-time player vs. player (PvP) gaming. A player selects an opponent and issues a challenge to the opponent's record on a song from the opponent's song list. The challenger then performs a simulated real-time challenge to the opponent's record on the song. If the challenger wins the challenge he/she is awarded bonus points. If the challenger loses, he can issue another challenge for the original song. To play a second round, the challenged player from the first round challenges the original challenger's record on the song. Winners get the right to a new challenge. Losers can purchase the right to a new challenge. Gameplay proceeds in a chain in which the players play alternating rounds. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121012 | GAME PROVIDING DEVICE - One object of the present invention is to produce an operation method that allows a player to enjoy moving a character in a game space. In accordance with an aspect, the server device according to an embodiment includes an information storage unit for storing information, a game progression control unit for controlling progression of a game, a display image generating unit for generating an image to be displayed on a display device of the terminal device and displaying the image on the display device, a moving direction setting unit for setting a moving direction of a player character which is operated by the player, a player character control unit for controlling the movement of the player character in the game space, and a non-player character control unit for controlling the movement of a non-player character which is not operated by the player. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121013 | INTERACTIVE FANTASY SPORTS GAMING SYSTEM - A computer-based interactive fantasy sports gaming system that enables players to create a fantasy sports team for virtual participation. The fantasy gaming system implements and manages gaming sessions that correspond to and last for a single real-world sporting event. A user-interface is provided to facilitate athlete selection under constraints that limit the overall pool of athlete candidates to just those participating in the corresponding real-world event, and that limit teams to a smaller subset of the athletes participating in the real-world event. The gaming system is fully integrated with social media channels such as, without limitation, Twitter®, Google+®, and Facebook®, through which players can challenge, communicate and play with their friends. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121014 | SYSTEM GAMING - A method of operating a gaming system is disclosed. The method includes: enabling, using one or more processors, play of a first game on a gaming machine; enabling, using one or more processors, play of a second game on a user interface that is operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the gaming system enables a player to choose which bonus game to play out of a plurality of bonus games independent of player ranking and bonus level, wherein each of the plurality of bonus games may be initiated on demand, wherein once the player chooses the bonus game to play on demand, the chosen bonus game is presented to the player via the player tracking user interface; and enabling, using one or more processors, wherein the gaming system enables a player to activate the second game displayed on the user interface. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121015 | AUGMENTED REALITY GAMING EYEWEAR - A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting initiation of a wagering game and determining, in response to the detecting the initiation of the wagering game, first content and second content to present for the wagering game. The operations can further include providing the first content for presentation on a display device, the first content being viewable through the gaming eyewear, and providing the second content for presentation as a virtual image via the gaming eyewear. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121016 | METHODS FOR SYNTHESIZING A VOICE GUIDING SIGNAL TO A GAMING CONTROLLER AND DEVICES THEREOF - A method and system for synthesizing a voice guiding signal to a gaming controller. An input gaming data to the gaming controller is collected by a console game agent. A set of game target profiles and a set of control signals are created from the input gaming data. A set of active game patterns are synthesized from the set of game target profiles and the set of control signals. An optimal gaming strategy is produced from the set of active game patterns. The optimal gaming strategy is then converted into the voice guiding signal for guiding the user on playing a game effectively on the gaming controller. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121017 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING USER INTERACTION WITH BIOFEEDBACK GAMING APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods of controlling user interaction with an application. The systems and methods include executing an application, providing a graphical overlay coupled to the application where the graphical overlay is configured to display a visualization or a visual effect, measuring at least one engagement characteristic to provide a measured condition and providing the visualization based on the measured condition. Examples of engagement characteristic include user physiological condition, type of the application selected, duration of time spent interacting with the application, duration of time spent interacting with one or more input receiving devices, pressure exerted over one or more input receiving devices and noise level of the user. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121018 | BIMANUAL INTEGRATIVE VIRTUAL REHABILITATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Virtual rehabilitation serious games have gained increasing clinical acceptance in the therapy of large patient populations (stroke and traumatic brain injury). This is due to their ability to motivate the patient, as well as intrinsic large number of movement repetitions they generate. These repetitions are key to inducing brain plasticity and facilitating patient recovery. Unfortunately, bi-manual therapy, while potentially more efficacious, is less developed at this time. We present a novel system and method, for bi-manual game-based integrative therapy that combines physical and cognitive training in integrative game play sessions. It is built around the new Razer Hydra Game interface that track's the patient's arms in 3D and detects trigger pressing. A series of custom games designed to improve focusing, decision making (executive function), short term and long term memory, are played with progressive difficulty. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121019 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL DEVICE INCLUDING A MOVEMENT DETECTOR - An example image processing system and method uses a control device including a movement detector. Gesture inputs corresponding to a gesture made by moving the control device are used for animation. An animation begins based on at least one gesture input received prior to completion of the gesture and the animation is modified based on at least one gesture input received after the beginning of the animation. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121020 | GAME APPARATUS AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME PROGRAM - Instead of using an operation inputted by a player, a series of operation data for continuously moving a player character for a predetermined time period of a game is previously stored as automatic operation data. Automatic control means moves the player character based on the automatic operation data. Furthermore, the automatic control means receives a play start operation indicating that the player starts to play the game while the automatic control means moves the player character. A movement of the player character controlled based on the automatic operation data is finished at a time when the play start operation is received, and the movement of the player character starts to be controlled based on an operation of the player. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121021 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO GAMING USING INPUT ADAPTATION FOR MULTIPLE INPUT DEVICES - Computer system to facilitate video gaming comprising a processing unit and a computer readable medium coupled to the processing unit comprising instructions executable by the processing unit. Instructions are for a video game to process first input triggered by operation of multiple input devices. Instructions are for input adaptation module to facilitate playing the same video game using an input device such as the game controller that is free from facility to provide the first input using the multiple input devices. The input adaptation module receives second input triggered by operation of the input device such as the game controller used to navigate the game. It generates the first input from the second input, based at least upon a translation mapping between input events receivable from the input device such as the game controller and input events receivable from the multiple input devices. Associated method is also provided. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121022 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO GAMING USING TOUCHSCREEN INPUT ADAPTATION - Video gaming over television has been popular. Such video gaming is typically facilitated using a “game console” connected to the television display. The game console is typically a computer system that executes the game software and produces audio and video signal for the display device such as the television. The video game player typically uses a device called “game controller” or gamepad that is connected to the game console to navigate the game and the game menus. The game console also often includes facility for connection to a computer network such as the Internet. Video gaming systems such as Xbox provided by Microsoft Corporation and PlayStation provided by Sony Corporation have been popular. Some game consoles such as Wii provided by Nintendo also offer the ability to play games using motion input. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121023 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, GAME SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, OPERATION INSTRUMENT, RECORDING MEDIUM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - An example system includes an operation instrument having a storage unit storing information and a first short distance radio communication unit performing transmission/reception of data with an information processing device; and an information processing device having an attachment unit to which the operation instrument is attached, a second short distance radio communication unit performing transmission/reception of data with the operation instrument, an information reading unit reading information stored in the storage unit of the operation instrument through the second short distance radio communication unit, and a processing unit performing processing in accordance with read information read by the information reading unit and operation information indicating operation for the operation instrument attached to the attachment unit. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121024 | COLLABORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR - A system and method for facilitating user collaboration in real time are disclosed. The system comprises a network and a message queue service in the network that creates one or more message queues shared by multiple user computing devices for transmitting collaboration data between users. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121025 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASYNCHRONOUS MOBILE MULTI-PLAYER GAMING - An asynchronous, multiplayer game provides a user interface (UI) to a mobile device for asynchronous multiplayer gaming. By way of the UI, a team opens a game by selecting an opponent and provides notice to its team members of the newly-opened game. After team members join the game, opponents trade strategic and tactical moves asynchronously. In an embodiment, opposing guilds fight wars against each other to occupy fortresses held by an opponent and capture the opponent's rations. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121026 | SERVER DEVICE, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME PROGRAM - A server device connected with a player terminal used by a player when performing a game operation over a network includes: a rental unit; a providing unit; a storage unit configured to store player information in which the rental game content rented from the rental unit is set as game content temporarily possessed by the player, and the game content provided by the providing unit is set as game content possessed by the player; a parameter varying unit; a game content determination unit; a parameter setting unit configured to set a parameter of the game content based on a parameter of the rental game content varied by the parameter varying unit; a condition determination unit configured to determine whether a return condition of the rental game content is satisfied; and an update unit configured to update the player information stored in the storage unit. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121027 | INTEGRATION OF MULTIPLE GAMES - Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing online games that are non-monolithic programs. One method includes an operation for providing a shared navigation interface in a plurality of game applications to be rendered on a mobile device. The shared navigation interface includes options for loading and executing each of the game applications from the plurality of game applications, and progress made in each game application is independent from progress made in other game applications from the plurality of game applications. Further, the method includes operations for loading and executing a first game application from the plurality of game applications on the mobile device, and for detecting a selection, made by a user playing the first game, of a second game application in the shared navigation interface. The second game application is loaded and executed in response to the detecting. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121028 | TORSIONALLY FLEXIBLE COUPLING - A torsionally flexible coupling comprises an inner part having a rotating shaft, an outer part extending around the inner part and arranged coaxially thereto, and spring elements or spring packs arranged between the inner part and the outer part and spaced in circumferential direction, wherein each spring element or spring pack is clamped at a radially outer end in a clamping support on the outer part, and a radially inner end is flexibly engaged with a corresponding groove on the inner part. In position of rest the spring elements or spring packs are angled relative to a radial direction passing through the respective clamping support and are inclined against the main direction of rotation of the coupling. Such an inclined position of the spring elements or spring packs allows a reduction of the portion of damping caused by friction so that damping can become predominantly hydraulic. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121029 | Plug-In Constant Velocity Joint - A plug-in constant velocity joint has an outer race and an inner race. The inner race has a plurality of splines and inner tracks. A cage is located between the outer race and the inner race. A boot sleeve is disposed against the inner race and has a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion. The first end portion defines a race seat and is in contact with an end of the inner race. The second end portion defines an inner ridge, a sleeve channel and an outer ridge. A boot assembly is coupled to the outer race and comprises a boot retainer and a boot. A plug-in stub shaft is engaged with the boot sleeve and both are drivingly engaged into the inner race. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121030 | GOLF SWING TRAINER - A golf swing trainer system includes a frame formed by one or more frame elements, and a training ball that simulates or is formed from a golf ball. The training ball is attached to a static cord that is attached to and/or restrained at a first location of the frame. The training ball is further attached to a dynamic cord that is attached to and/or restrained at a second location of the frame. The opposing static and dynamic cords collectively serve to return the training ball to its initial position as a result of the tension applied to the training ball by the dynamic cord after being driven by a user, while the static cord restrains recoil of the training ball beyond the initial position. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121031 | VARIABLE LENGTH SHAFT AND GRIP - A variable length shaft assembly comprising a shaft, a shaft adapter, a grip sleeve, an actuator screw, a grip, and a screw is disclosed herein. The grip is bonded to the grip sleeve, the shaft adapter is bonded to the shaft, and the shaft adapter comprises a keyed portion that mates with a keyed structure inside of the grip sleeve. The actuator screw comprises external threads that mate with internal threads inside the grip sleeve, and the location of the actuator screw within the grip sleeve can be adjusted with a wrench. Once the actuator screw is at a desired location within the grip sleeve, the shaft is semi-permanently fixed to the grip sleeve by releasable affixing the keyed structure of the shaft adapter to the actuator screw with the screw. The overall length of the assembly can be adjusted and fine-tuned using these structures. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121032 | Releasable and Interchangeable Connections for Golf Club Heads and Shafts - Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a cylindrical structure having a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, a rotation-inhibiting structure, and a securing structure; and (b) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft connection assembly so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121033 | Golf swing alignment system - A golf swing alignment system having a base rod and a centering rod that extends primarily perpendicular from the base rod, to allow a golfer to center themselves with the ball and the target. Blocks of different shapes and sizes allow the rods to connect. Additional rods are provided in some embodiments to be used for other alignment purposes, for example: a support rod and a backswing rod to assess backswing; a support rod and a follow-through rod to assess follow-through; a support rod and an inside/outside rod to assess inside-out or outside-in swing; two support rods and two hip sway rods to assess hip sway during a swing. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121034 | SEMITRANSPARENT GRIPS FOR USE WITH ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT - A semitransparent grip can be used on various types of athletic equipment such as golf clubs, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and lacrosse sticks to cover a customizable label while maintaining features such as durability, clarity, lifespan, visibility, tackiness, and durometer, and resisting degradation from weather and chemical factors. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121035 | ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB - In an embodiment, a golf club includes a striking face, a top portion, a sole portion opposite the top portion, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly can include a shaft having a butt end and a tip end, and a shaft sleeve located at the tip end, the shaft sleeve including indicia, and a hosel extending from the top portion. The hosel can include a sidewall, an internal bore for receiving the shaft assembly, and an aperture extending through, and circumscribed by, the sidewall such that the indicia of the shaft sleeve corresponds with the aperture. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121036 | GOLF BALLS HAVING MULTI-LAYERED CORES WITH THERMOSET OUTER LAYER - Multi-piece golf balls containing a multi-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, an intermediate core layer, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a first thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber, and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a second thermoset composition. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin control. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121037 | GOLF BALLS HAVING MULTI-LAYERED CORE WITH THERMOPLASTIC OUTER LAYER - Multi-piece golf balls containing a multi-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, an intermediate core layer, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber, and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin control. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121038 | SOCCER BALL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for delivering objects, such as soccer balls, the system including a delivery device and a methodology for training individuals that can be used with the delivery device, the delivery device including an accelerator that accepts, accelerates, and launches the balls with motion characteristics, and a control system having an electronic controller structured to store and execute a training program that includes ball service specifications and player service variables, ball speed and spin control inputs, and random selection of values within a range of values of the player service variables that include a starting position of the player relative to the device, a direction of motion of the player relative to the device, an identification of at least one location on the player's body to touch the ball, a time interval to wait before delivering the ball, and an action for the user to take with the ball. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121039 | BATTING TEE DEVICE - A batting tee that may have an adjustable height. The batting tee may include a base and a riser mounted to the base in a substantially vertical position. A support member may extend laterally from the riser and may support a ball and a stopper. The ball may be attached to the support member by a cord. When a user hits the ball, the ball may rotate and hit the stopper. The stopper prevents the ball from continuing to rotate and the ball may fall back to its original position. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121040 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ATHLETIC TRAINING - Exemplary embodiments of a training device are disclosed. The training device is a container that can include a net attached to the top of the container and a sloped surface dividing the container into a top section that returns lacrosse balls to the ground and a bottom section that can be used to stabilize the device. The training device can allow a user to practice precision shooting, cradling, and scooping skills without needing a practice field or a companion to practice with. A method of practicing shooting accuracy and other athletics skills using the training device is also disclosed. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121041 | Bat Swing Training Aid - A bat swing training aid having a bat portion with a handle having a first end comprising a knob, a second end comprising a barrel section, and an intermediate transition section, and a barrel portion having at least one open end and comprising a substantially cylindrical receptacle configured to receive and frictionally engage a ball such as, for example, a tennis ball. with a holding force such that the ball is released whenever the bat is swung in a batting motion by a user. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121042 | WARM-UP, EXERCISE AND TRAINING BAT - A warm-up and training bat includes a tubular shell with a handle section, a barrel section, and a tapered section connecting the handle section with the barrel section. The handle is attached at an end of the handle section of the bat. An end cap is attached at an end of the barrel section of the bat. A sliding weight mechanism is entirely contained within a pipe disposed within the barrel section of the bat. The sliding weight mechanism can be held in place at an end of the pipe proximate the handle. When a centripetal force is applied during a swing, the sliding weight mechanism moves to a distal end of the pipe. The weight may make a sound or the user may feel the weight shift, helping them perfect their swing. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121043 | CUSTOMIZABLE TENNIS BALL THROWING MACHINE WITH PORTABLE MEMORY DEVICE - A tennis ball throwing machine includes a processor mounted on the machine for controlling the operation of the machine. The processor is adapted to operatively communicate with a portable memory device. The portable memory device is adapted to provide operating instructions to the machine and to save a record of the actions of the machine. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121044 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR RETAINING TENNIS BALLS HIT INTO TENNIS NETS - According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of apparatus and methods for retaining (e.g., controlling, funneling, redirecting, gathering, and/or capturing, etc.) tennis balls hit into tennis nets, to inhibit or prevent the tennis balls from bouncing off or rolling away from a tennis net back onto the main playing surface of a tennis court. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121045 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ILLUMINATING AN ARROW NOCK - Devices and methods for illuminating an arrow nock or bolt end are disclosed including providing a nock having a first portion adapted to receive the bowstring in a drawn position and a second portion adapted to receive the bowstring after the bowstring is released from the drawn position; a light source assembly at least partially disposed within the flock body and activated when the bowstring is released from the drawn position; the light source assembly comprising a power source, a light source and a switch; and a least a portion of the light source assembly protruding from the end of the nock body so that releasing the bowstring causes the switch to close, thereby activating the light source and illuminating the nock or bolt end. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121046 | Shuttlecock - A shuttlecock includes a ball head, a pinnae supporter and some pinnae. The pinnae supporter and the ball head can be made integrally or connected after being made respectively. The pinnae are inserted into the tubes of the pinnae supporter. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121047 | ELECTRIC DERAILLEUR MOTOR UNIT AND MOTORIZED DERAILLEUR - An electric derailleur motor unit includes a base member, a motor, an output shaft, and a drive train. The motor is mounted to the base member. The motor has a motor shaft rotatable about a first rotational axis. The output shaft is rotatable about a second rotational axis. The drive train is operatively disposed between the motor shaft of the motor and the output shaft. The drive train includes an anti-reverse clutch. The anti-reverse clutch is configured to transmit rotation of the motor shaft of the motor in both rotational directions about the first rotational axis to the output shaft. The anti-reverse clutch is further configured to prevent the output shaft from rotating in both rotational directions about the second rotational axis while the output shaft receives an external rotational torque from outside of the electric derailleur motor unit. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121048 | TOP DRIVE POWERED DIFFERENTIAL SPEED ROTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Certain embodiments include a system having a first grip configured to couple to a first tubular, a second grip configured to couple to a second tubular, where the first and second tubulars are connected by a threaded connection, and a gear assembly coupling the first and second grips, wherein the gear assembly has a speed ratio greater than 1. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121049 | BICYCLE DRIVE UNIT - A drive unit has three axles, three rotation transmitting members and an acting force detecting unit. The first axle is configured to be rotated by a crank arm. The first rotation transmitting member is arranged on the first axle to transmit rotation of the first axle by the crank arm. The second axle is spaced from the first axle. The second rotation transmitting member is arranged on the second axle, and is operatively engaged with the first rotation transmitting member to transmit rotation of the first rotation transmitting member. The third axle is spaced from the first axle and the second axle. The third rotation transmitting member is arranged on the third axle, and operatively engaged with the second rotation transmitting member to transmit rotation of the second rotation transmitting member. The acting force detecting unit arranged to detect a force acting on the second axle. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121050 | Low Noise Pulley - Low-noise pulleys and methods of constructing low-noise pulleys are disclosed. In a first aspect, first and second pluralities of arms extending radially outward from the outer hub to the outer rim are angularly offset from each other about the axis of rotation to eliminate symmetry across the lateral midline of the pulley. In a second aspect, the radially outermost ends of a plurality of arms are arcuately spaced apart according to a pitch sequence describing a pseudo-random pattern of relative spacings so as to reduce or eliminate rotational symmetry of the pulley. In a third aspect, features of the first and second aspects are combined, and in one embodiment, first and second pluralities of arms are, respectively, approximately oppositely canted so as to vary the arcuate spacings of the laterally outermost ends of the arms. | 2014-05-01 |
20140121051 | Low Noise Pulley - Low-noise pulleys and methods of constructing low-noise pulleys are disclosed. In a first aspect, first and second pluralities of arms extending radially outward from the outer hub to the outer rim are angularly offset from each other about the axis of rotation to eliminate symmetry across the lateral midline of the pulley. In a second aspect, the radially outermost ends of a plurality of arms are arcuately spaced apart according to a pitch sequence describing a pseudo-random pattern of relative spacings so as to reduce or eliminate rotational symmetry of the pulley. In a third aspect, features of the first and second aspects are combined, and in one embodiment, first and second pluralities of arms are, respectively, approximately oppositely canted so as to vary the arcuate spacings of the laterally outermost ends of the arms. | 2014-05-01 |