Steven F Lamb

US Patent:

7354345, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

May 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/852659

Inventors:

Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Steven D. Lamb - Woodinville WA, US
Max Hoberman - Redmond WA, US
Johan P. Hansen - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 42, 463 2, 463 40

Abstract:

A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

US Patent:

7621813, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Dec 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/006275

Inventors:

Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Erik John Arthur - Redmond WA, US
James David Macauley - Bellevue WA, US
Ling Tony Chen - Bellevue WA, US
Yasser B. Asmi - Redmond WA, US
Steven D. Lamb - Woodinville WA, US
James N. Helm - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

463 42, 463 1, 463 29, 463 40, 463 41, 463 43

Abstract:

Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player's activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player's in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.

US Patent:

7682251, Mar 23, 2010

Filed:

Apr 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/062833

Inventors:

Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Steven D. Lamb - Woodinville WA, US
Max Hoberman - Redmond WA, US
Johan P. Hansen - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 42, 463 2, 463 40

Abstract:

A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

US Patent:

7837561, Nov 23, 2010

Filed:

Oct 14, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/578605

Inventors:

Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Erik John Arthur - Redmond WA, US
James David Macauley - Bellevue WA, US
Ling Tony Chen - Bellevue WA, US
Yasser B. Asmi - Redmond WA, US
Steven D. Lamb - Woodinville WA, US
James N. Helm - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

463 42, 463 1, 463 29, 463 40, 463 41, 463 43

Abstract:

Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player's activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player's in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.

US Patent:

7841517, Nov 30, 2010

Filed:

Jan 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/331542

Inventors:

Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Henry Paul Morgan - Redmond WA, US
Steven Dale Lamb - Seattle WA, US
Vincent H. Curley - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06K 5/00
G06K 7/01
G06F 7/08
G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00
A63F 9/24
A63F 13/00

US Classification:

235380, 235381, 2353825, 463 30, 463 41, 463 43

Abstract:

Mechanisms for visual identification of a user in a gaming environment. For example, a digital image is used to identify a user, whether the user is on-line or off-line. This digital image is easily verifiable as an appropriate and non-offensive image because it May come form a controlled digital image source (or set of sources). The digital image is also revocable in a variety of gaming environment contexts by a gaming authority. Lastly, the digital image is changeable depending on the context of the gaming environment, in one aspect, being configured to be visible to the entire gaming environment in one form, and being visible to a subset of the gaming environment in another form.

US Patent:

7887419, Feb 15, 2011

Filed:

Dec 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/005768

Inventors:

Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Vincent H. Curley - Bellevue WA, US
James His-Kai Jen - Seattle WA, US
James David Macauley - Bellevue WA, US
Ling Tony Chen - Bellevue WA, US
Steven D. Lamb - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A63F 9/24
A63F 13/00

US Classification:

463 42, 463 9, 463 40, 463 43

Abstract:

Systems and method for providing a game achievements system where players are rewarded with game achievements based on mastering certain in-game facets of the games they play. Each game achievement may be conveyed in a profile as a badge or trophy, title, description, date, etc. Players may also accumulate points based on game achievements. A display interface may be made available such that a player may see his achievements and total points, as well as those of others.

US Patent:

8118678, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Jan 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/335960

Inventors:

Claire Jennings - Kirkland WA, US
J. Clinton Paul Fowler - Seattle WA, US
Kurtis Kam-Wing Chinn - Bothell WA, US
Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Steven D. Lamb - Woodinville WA, US
Walter Reed Rector - Sammamish WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 42, 463 41

Abstract:

A user profile for an online gaming service is created. The user profile contains user gaming information received from a first location. The user profile is stored in a database, and the user is permitted to access the user profile from a second location.

US Patent:

8231472, Jul 31, 2012

Filed:

Sep 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/240454

Inventors:

Michal Bortnik - Seattle WA, US
Erik John Arthur - Redmond WA, US
James David Macauley - Bellevue WA, US
Ling Tony Chen - Bellevue WA, US
Yasser B. Asmi - Redmond WA, US
Steven D. Lamb - Woodinville WA, US
James N. Helm - Redmond WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00
A63F 9/24
A63F 13/00

US Classification:

463 42, 463 1, 463 29, 463 40

Abstract:

Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player's activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player's in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.