The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2019
Filed:
Oct. 08, 2017
Steve Bress, Germantown, MD (US);
Daniel Bress, Germantown, MD (US);
James Edward Dunstan, Nokesville, MD (US);
Mark Bernard Jacobs, Fairfax Station, VA (US);
Steve Bress, Germantown, MD (US);
Daniel Bress, Germantown, MD (US);
James Edward Dunstan, Nokesville, MD (US);
Mark Bernard Jacobs, Fairfax Station, VA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention is directed at enhancing pinball gameplay through non-synchronous multiplayer competitive and cooperative play. In the primary embodiment this is achieved by treating the logic and circuitry of an individual pinball machine as a 'Client,' that is connected to a server or 'Host'. The Host is in bidirectional communication with the individual pinball machines or Clients. The status of the Client, such as score, progress on completing features and other game metrics may be communicated to the Host at predetermined intervals. These game metrics may be communicated by the Host to all Clients. When a gameplay objective is completed on a client, the player is presented with a gameplay choice. This choice may be to change the status of his Client or change the status of another player's Client.