Patents by Inventor Andrew C. Guinn

Andrew C. Guinn 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).

  • Publication number: 20160027248
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations can include connecting, via a network communication interface of a gaming system, a device associated with a social networking venue to the gaming system. The operations can further include detecting, via the network communication interface, an indication of an electronic event associated with the gaming system and determining, via analysis of the indication of the electronic event by the gaming system, a value associated with the electronic event. The operations can further include activating a feature of the social networking venue according to the value associated with the electronic event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew Fowler, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9245410
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include transmitting an offer of a reward to deposit funds into a wagering game player account prior to initiating a wagering game session within a gaming venue, such as a physical gamine venue (e.g., a casino). In one example, the offer is transmitted to a computing device accessible outside the gaming venue. The operations can further include detecting player input associated with the offer, where the player input authorizes a transfer of the funds from a financial account for deposit into the wagering game player account. The operations can further include transferring of the funds specified via the player input from the financial account to the wagering game player account. The operations can further include assigning the reward to the wagering game player account in response to the transferring of the funds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremy M. Hornik, Travis N. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9224267
    Abstract: Some examples described include a system to perform operations that include detecting, via use of a gaming plug-in, that first content is presented in a main display area of a web browser. The operations can further include, after detecting that the first content is presented, detecting that second content was previously presented via the main display area of the web browser. In some examples, the second content is associated with gaming content. The operations can further include providing, in a graphical-user-interface object of the web browser separate from the main display area of the web browser, information related to the gaming content in response to the detecting that second content was previously presented via the main display area of the browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brian J. Barclay, Allon G. Englman, Andrew C. Guinn, Daniel P. Louie, Brian D. Manning, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150371504
    Abstract: Leaderboards that aggregate data from across different wagering games (e.g., online wagering games and casino based wagering games) can create a game independent spirit of competition and recognition. Wagering game data of a plurality of players across different wagering games can be aggregated together. The plurality of players are ranked based, at least in part, on the wagering game data aggregated across the different wagering games. A leaderboard is updated based, at least in part, on the ranking of the plurality of players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9218718
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving a feed of a number of messages providing notification of wagering game activity, wherein the wagering game activity occurred via at least one of a wagering game machine at a wagering game establishment and an online wagering game website. The method includes storing the number of messages. The method includes filtering the number of messages to create a subset of messages, wherein the filtering is based on at least one of an operator criteria and a player criteria. The operator criteria and the player criteria comprises at least one of a jackpot win, a progressive win, an entry into a bonus round, and a win where a monetary amount won exceeds a threshold multiplier of an amount wagered. The method includes publishing the subset of messages to a computing device associated with the wagering game player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, John R. Werneke
  • Patent number: 9218716
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining a wagering game player account and determining a social network account associated with the wagering game player account. The social network account can be associated with a social network. The operations can further include determining one or more applications from the social network that are associated with the social network account. The operations can further include integrating the one or more applications with a wagering game session for the wagering game player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeffrey D. Hofer, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20150364004
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations can include electronically connecting to social network servers for independent online social networks. The social networks provide social network accounts logged on to one or more of the social network servers. The gaming server hosts an online communal wagering game. The operations can further include initiating, based on one or more criterion associated with the communal wagering game, an automatic search across the social network servers for a set of the social network accounts that satisfy the one or more criterion. The operations can further include electronically transmitting, based on search results, an electronic invitation to the set of social network user accounts to participate in the communal wagering game. The operations can further include electronically linking ones of the set of the social network user accounts that respond to the electronic invitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Brian J. Barclay, Mark B. Gagner, Andrew C. Guinn
  • Publication number: 20150356833
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, one or more electronic input devices, and game-logic circuitry that initiates a casino wagering game in response to a wager input and that randomly selects a plurality of symbols arranged in an array. The array includes at least one trigger symbol and a plurality of non-trigger symbols, including first and second non-trigger symbols. In response to the trigger symbol being randomly selected, a bonus enhancement is determined based on an accrued number of the first non-trigger symbols within the array. An initial award is awarded based on an aggregated value of the second non-trigger symbols. A final award is awarded by enhancing the initial award with the bonus enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe
  • Publication number: 20150356824
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a primary wager from a player, the player associated with a player account, and at least one display for displaying a primary wagering game and a secondary wagering game. Secondary wagering game outcomes are independent of the primary wagering game. The system further comprises a controller operative to cause the at least one display to display a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game; upon the occurrence of a first triggering event, enter a player into the secondary wagering game, wherein the player is represented in the secondary wagering game by a player avatar; upon the occurrence of a second triggering event, end the player?s participation in the secondary wagering game; award the player any awards collected by the player avatar in the secondary wagering game; and credit the player account by the amount of the collected awards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Christopher R. Barney, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremie D. Moll, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 9196113
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting, at a wagering game machine, a wagering game including a wagering game element. The operations can include presenting a graphical indicium in association with the wagering game element. The operations can include detecting player selection of the graphical indicium, wherein the player selection of the graphical indicium indicates player liking for the wagering game element. The operations can include modifying the wagering game based on the player liking for the wagering game element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Brian K Danilo, Andrew C. Guinn, Daniel P. Louie
  • Patent number: 9183700
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a game of chance in which profile data for social contacts in a social networking system is used to determine whether a player wins or loses the game of chance. An indication that a first player desires to be included in a game provided on a social network system is stored. The game randomly selects a subset of a plurality of social contacts of a second player. In response to determining that the first player is included in the randomly selected subset of the plurality of social contacts, an award is provided to the first player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Robert L. Kyte, Harry C. Lang, Richard B. Robbins, Pamela S. Smith, Danijel Stankovic
  • Patent number: 9165423
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include connecting a social network account with a wagering game player account, wherein the wagering game player account is associated with a wagering game session, and wherein the social network account is associated with a social networking session via a venue for a social network. The operations can further include detecting a first event from a first of the social networking session and the wagering game session; and after detecting the first event, causing a second event to occur for a second of the social network session and the wagering game session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew Fowler, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9165422
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include detecting a user request to initiate a group wagering game from a host wagering game player account, via a local-area networking device at a non-casino geographic location and providing group wagering game content to the local-area networking device in response to the request. The operations can further include detecting wagering activity from members of a group at the geographic location, providing wagering game outcome information related to the wagering activity, and assigning a portion of the wagering activity to the host wagering game player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 9153094
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes creating, by at least one processor, an online presence for a wagering game machine. The method also includes publishing wagering game activity that has occurred at the wagering game machine to the online presence for the wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon W. Hamlin, Brian J. Barclay, Andrew Fowler, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9132351
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations can include connecting social network user accounts to a wagering game session for a wagering game. The operations can further include controlling, for the wagering game, monetary wagering associated with a first of the social network user accounts and controlling non-monetary wagering associated with a second of the social network user accounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Brian J. Barclay, Mark B. Gagner, Andrew C. Guinn
  • Patent number: 9123201
    Abstract: Leaderboards that aggregate data from across different wagering games (e.g., online wagering games and casino based wagering games) can create a game independent spirit of competition and recognition. Wagering game data of a plurality of players across different wagering games can be aggregated together. The plurality of players are ranked based, at least in part, on the wagering game data aggregated across the different wagering games. A leaderboard is updated based, at least in part, on the ranking of the plurality of players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20150243131
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations can include connecting the wagering game system to client devices via the network communication interface. The operations can further include detecting an electronic indication of wagering game activity performed via a first of the client devices. A first user account is associated with the first of the client devices. The operations can further include determining, via an electronic game processing unit, that a second user account, associated with a second of the client devices, is indicated in the first user account as a social contact. The operations can further include automatically increasing, via the electronic game processing unit, a chance that a first casino wagering game associated with the second of the client devices will result in a winning outcome based on the wagering game activity performed via the first of the client devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Allon G. Englman, Andrew C. Guinn, Daniel P. Louie
  • Publication number: 20150228154
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations include connecting social network user accounts to a communal wagering game. The operations can further include determining, via a network communication interface, an electronic request associated with a first social network user account to transact an electronic exchange, with a second social network user account, of one or more non-cash items associated with the communal wagering game. The operations can further include accessing, via an electronic processing unit, a first memory storage unit of the gaming system associated with the first social network user account. The first memory storage unit specifies the one or more non-cash items. The operations can further include transacting, via the network communication interface, the electronic exchange of the one or more non-cash items between the first social network user account and the second social network user account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Brian J. Barclay, Mark B. Gagner, Andrew C. Guinn
  • Publication number: 20150213679
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include initiating a wagering game title for presentation on a display device of a gaming machine, and receiving, from the gaming machine, player input indicating autoplay settings selected by a player for the wagering game title. The operations can also include initiating an autoplay mode for the wagering game title in response to receiving an autoplay trigger from the gaming machine, managing the autoplay mode for the player according to the autoplay setting selected by the player, and generating results for each wagering game of the wagering game title played during the autoplay mode. The operations can further include monitoring game events associated with the wagering games played during the autoplay mode to determine when to stop the autoplay mode, and stopping the autoplay mode for the player based on the autoplay settings selected by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20150161852
    Abstract: In a gaming system, a first player and one or more second player(s) contribute respective player reels. At least one game outcome is determined from an array of symbols randomly generated from the combination of the player reels. The at least one game outcome is shared by all players and used to determine awards for all players. The first player may subsequently join one or more third player(s) to determine new game outcomes from a new combination of player reels. In another gaming system, players select a combination of player reels from a pool of player reels to compete against each other. At least one game outcome is determined for each player from an array of symbols randomly generated from the player's selected subset of player reels. The players are ranked according to the game outcomes for the players, and awards are determined for the players according to the ranking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Andrew C. Guinn, William Klein, Daniel P. Louie, Aaron John Schurman, Bryan Vandaele, Jamie W. Vann