Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Barney

Christopher R. Barney 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: 9396610
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Christopher R. Barney, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremie D. Moll, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160155303
    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: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Christopher R. Barney, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremie D. Moll, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 9280870
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Christopher R. Barney, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremie D. Moll, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Alfred Thomas
  • 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: 9196122
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8956221
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140206438
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140080583
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8622815
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8282463
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device and at least one display for displaying a primary wagering game, the primary wagering game comprising a first portion and a second portion. At least one controller is operative to (i) detect receipt of at least two wagers from a first player via the wager input device, (ii) in response to detecting the at least two wagers, determine and display at least two respective partial outcomes of the first portion of the wagering game, (iii) store the respective partial outcomes, (iv) upon the occurrence of a triggering event, determine and display a secondary outcome of the second portion of the wagering game, and (v) combine each of the respective partial outcomes with the secondary outcome to determine and display a plurality of final outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion Aoki, Christopher R. Barney, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20110086699
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100304843
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device and at least one display for displaying a primary wagering game, the primary wagering game comprising a first portion and a second portion. At least one controller is operative to (i) detect receipt of at least two wagers from a first player via the wager input device, (ii) in response to detecting the at least two wagers, determine and display at least two respective partial outcomes of the first portion of the wagering game, (iii) store the respective partial outcomes, (iv) upon the occurrence of a triggering event, determine and display a secondary outcome of the second portion of the wagering game, and (v) combine each of the respective partial outcomes with the secondary outcome to determine and display a plurality of final outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: WMS GAMING INC.
    Inventors: Dion Aoki, Christopher R. Barney, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090325682
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device and a display for displaying a first randomly selected outcome of a first wagering game. The first randomly selected outcome is selected from a first plurality of possible outcomes. The first plurality of possible outcomes includes a first winning outcome. The gaming system further comprises a controller operative to provide a first award to the player when the first randomly selected outcome is the first winning outcome. The first award comprises a fixed portion and a variable portion, the fixed portion having a predetermined value, the variable portion having an expected value for which the actual value is determined at least in part by a second randomly selected outcome of a second wagering game, wherein the second wagering game is triggered independently of the first wagering game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Barney, Alfred Thomas