Patents by Inventor Ryan Hawkins

Ryan Hawkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11657677
    Abstract: The disclosed technology describes various embodiments for providing a non-standard progressive jackpot mechanic, which can be used to control an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”). Certain embodiments, for example, comprise inputting wager data identifying a wager selected by a player of a reel game offered by the EGM, wherein the reel game includes one or more progressive jackpot awards; and in response to the inputting, computing updated values of the one or more progressive jackpot awards, wherein the updated values are computed based at least in part on a multiplier value that alters a first set of the one or more progressive jackpot awards into a second set of the one or more progressive jackpot awards different than the first set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Johns, Yanis Tsombanidis, Robert Honeycutt
  • Publication number: 20220392307
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system includes an electronic gaming machine configured to execute a wagering game, an overhead display, and a progressive system server. The progressive system server is configured to: (i) receive, from the electronic gaming machine, a message including at least one of a) a progressive jackpot value, b) a progressive jackpot level, and c) a progressive jackpot multiplier, the progressive jackpot value, the progressive jackpot level, and the progressive jackpot multiplier awarded by the electronic gaming machine during the wagering game; (ii) calculate a multiplied progressive jackpot value by multiplying the received progressive jackpot value by the received progressive jackpot multiplier; and (iii) transmit the multiplied progressive jackpot value to the electronic gaming machine, wherein the electronic gaming machine is configured to increase a credit balance associated with the wagering game based on the multiplied progressive jackpot value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt
  • Publication number: 20220309871
    Abstract: Many gaming devices use a movable box, indicator, or other area-based selector (collectively, a “selector”) to determine whether a particular instance of a game generates a payout to a player (e.g., the player “wins”). Thus, the selector may be used to control either or both of a return to player (“RTP”) or volatility of the electronic gaming device. The selector may change its position between games or during a game, such as while values for one or more positions on a playing field are undetermined. The selector may move (e.g., change its position) in a random or semi-random fashion. The selector may change its size between games or during a game, such that it encompasses more or fewer positions on the playing field than during the previous game. The selector may be used to control either or both of a gaming device's RTP or volatility, and the selector's position, size, or the like may vary between games to ensure that the gaming device's RTP and/or volatility remain within acceptable ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Johns, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Patent number: 11423740
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system includes an electronic gaming machine configured to execute a wagering game, an overhead display, and a progressive system server. The progressive system server is configured to: (i) receive, from the electronic gaming machine, a message including at least one of a) a progressive jackpot value, b) a progressive jackpot level, and c) a progressive jackpot multiplier, the progressive jackpot value, the progressive jackpot level, and the progressive jackpot multiplier awarded by the electronic gaming machine during the wagering game; (ii) calculate a multiplied progressive jackpot value by multiplying the received progressive jackpot value by the received progressive jackpot multiplier; and (iii) transmit the multiplied progressive jackpot value to the electronic gaming machine, wherein the electronic gaming machine is configured to increase a credit balance associated with the wagering game based on the multiplied progressive jackpot value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt
  • Publication number: 20220262197
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method of electronic gaming includes initiating, in response to an initial wager, a primary game, selecting, in response to the initiating the primary game, a plurality of primary game symbols, and displaying the plurality of primary game symbols in a plurality of symbol display positions associated with a plurality of reel strips. The method may further include initiating, in response to the initial wager, a jackpot game, selecting, in response to initiating the jackpot game, a jackpot game symbol from a plurality of jackpot game symbols, displaying the jackpot game symbol in a symbol display position associated with a single reel strip, and determining a jackpot award based upon the jackpot game symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Theodore Hase, Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Publication number: 20220223003
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine is provided, including a player interface, a meter, a game display, and a game controller. The player interface is configured to receive a wager for a round of the wagering game. The meter is configured to record a wager amount for the round. The game display is configured to display a matrix of symbols. The game controller is coupled to the meter and the game display. The game controller is configured to conduct the round of the wagering game, including selecting the matrix of symbols. The game controller is further configured to detect a trigger symbol among the matrix of symbols. The trigger symbol corresponds to a multiplier feature. The game controller is further configured to award a multiple of the wager amount according to the multiplier feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Stephanie Johns
  • Patent number: 11328552
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method of electronic gaming includes initiating, in response to an initial wager, a primary game, selecting, in response to the initiating the primary game, a plurality of primary game symbols, and displaying the plurality of primary game symbols in a plurality of symbol display positions associated with a plurality of reel strips. The method may further include initiating, in response to the initial wager, a jackpot game, selecting, in response to initiating the jackpot game, a jackpot game symbol from a plurality of jackpot game symbols, displaying the jackpot game symbol in a symbol display position associated with a single reel strip, and determining a jackpot award based upon the jackpot game symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Theodore Hase, Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Patent number: 11295574
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine is provided, including a player interface, a meter, a game display, and a game controller. The player interface is configured to receive a wager for a round of the wagering game. The meter is configured to record a wager amount for the round. The game display is configured to display a matrix of symbols. The game controller is coupled to the meter and the game display. The game controller is configured to conduct the round of the wagering game, including selecting the matrix of symbols. The game controller is further configured to detect a trigger symbol among the matrix of symbols. The trigger symbol corresponds to a multiplier feature. The game controller is further configured to award a multiple of the wager amount according to the multiplier feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Stephanie Johns
  • Publication number: 20220092920
    Abstract: A gaming machine may be configured for supporting games that include use of pay modalities, which are overlaid on selected symbols. The gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism configured for establishing a credit balance that is increasable and decreasable based on wagering activities, a display having a plurality of display positions, and a game controller to select a plurality of symbols, to cause the display to display the selected symbols, to determine if the selected symbols associated with at least one of one or more predetermined reels of the plurality of reels include a special symbol, and if so, to determine one or more special values associated with the special symbol, and to overlay a particular one of the one or more special values on each displayed instance of the special symbol. The game controller determines a payout based on assigned special values associated with the displayed special symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Johns, Yanis Tsombanidis, Robert Honeycutt
  • Publication number: 20220044527
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. The method includes generating a plurality of reel strips that each include a column of symbol display positions, where each symbol display position includes a symbol, and evaluating each of the symbols in the symbol display positions. The method also includes determining that at least one of the symbols corresponds to a first in-game event, where the first in-game event is associated with a first value, and adding the first value associated with the first in-game event to a first progressive jackpot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Christopher Barney, Theodore Hase, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Publication number: 20210398393
    Abstract: According to some implementations, when a triggering symbol lands in a defined area of a slot game display during an instance of a base game, there is a chance that the triggering symbol may change to a new symbol. If so, the new symbol may be held in the defined area and may persist during one or more additional purchased base game instances. The new symbol may persist if at least one additional triggering symbol lands in the defined area in subsequent bought games. Each additional triggering symbol may automatically change to a new symbol as the additional triggering symbol lands in the defined area of the slot game display. Whether the triggering symbol will change to a new symbol may involve a random component. In some examples, the greater the number of triggering symbols, the greater the probability the triggering symbol will change to the new symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross
  • Publication number: 20210398386
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method of electronic gaming includes selecting a plurality of primary game symbols, displaying the plurality of primary game symbols, initiating, based upon the plurality of primary game symbols, a secondary game, displaying a trigger symbol in association with the secondary game, displaying a trigger symbol action associated with the trigger symbol, selecting a plurality of secondary game symbols in association with the secondary game (where one of the secondary game symbols comprising the trigger symbol), displaying the plurality of secondary game symbols, and performing the trigger symbol action based upon the trigger symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Stephanie Johns
  • Patent number: 11195367
    Abstract: A gaming machine may be configured for supporting games that include use of pay modalities, which are overlaid on selected symbols. The gaming machine includes a credit input mechanism configured for establishing a credit balance that is increasable and decreasable based on wagering activities, a display having a plurality of display positions, and a game controller to select a plurality of symbols, to cause the display to display the selected symbols, to determine if the selected symbols associated with at least one of one or more predetermined reels of the plurality of reels include a special symbol, and if so, to determine one or more special values associated with the special symbol, and to overlay a particular one of the one or more special values on each displayed instance of the special symbol. The game controller determines a payout based on assigned special values associated with the displayed special symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Johns, Yanis Tsombanidis, Robert Honeycutt
  • Patent number: 11158166
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. The method includes generating a plurality of reel strips that each include a column of symbol display positions, where each symbol display position includes a symbol, and evaluating each of the symbols in the symbol display positions. The method also includes determining that at least one of the symbols corresponds to a first in-game event, where the first in-game event is associated with a first value, and adding the first value associated with the first in-game event to a first progressive jackpot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Christopher Barney, Theodore Hase, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Patent number: 11120667
    Abstract: According to some implementations, when a triggering symbol lands in a defined area of a slot game display during an instance of a base game, there is a chance that the triggering symbol may change to a new symbol. If so, the new symbol may be held in the defined area and may persist during one or more additional purchased base game instances. The new symbol may persist if at least one additional triggering symbol lands in the defined area in subsequent bought games. Each additional triggering symbol may automatically change to a new symbol as the additional triggering symbol lands in the defined area of the slot game display. Whether the triggering symbol will change to a new symbol may involve a random component. In some examples, the greater the number of triggering symbols, the greater the probability the triggering symbol will change to the new symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross
  • Patent number: 11113925
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method of electronic gaming includes selecting a plurality of primary game symbols, displaying the plurality of primary game symbols, initiating, based upon the plurality of primary game symbols, a secondary game, displaying a trigger symbol in association with the secondary game, displaying a trigger symbol action associated with the trigger symbol, selecting a plurality of secondary game symbols in association with the secondary game (where one of the secondary game symbols comprising the trigger symbol), displaying the plurality of secondary game symbols, and performing the trigger symbol action based upon the trigger symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Stephanie Johns
  • Patent number: 11087593
    Abstract: An example method of gaming includes: conducting a progressive jackpot including a prize defined by a plurality of digits; and incrementing the progressive jackpot by incrementing a digit of said plurality of digits of the prize in response to a trigger event corresponding to the digit occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Ryan Hawkins
  • Patent number: D933083
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross
  • Patent number: D938440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Nick Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: D938446
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Nick Rogers, Jr.