Patents by Inventor Richard B. Robbins

Richard B. Robbins 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: 9355523
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include causing at least one event to occur during play of a wagering game. In some embodiments, the operations can further include determining a difference between occurrence of the at least one event and a theoretical expectation of occurrence associated with the at least one event. In some embodiments, the operations can further include computing a luck factor based on the difference. The luck factor represents luck for occurrence of the at least one event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Jeff D. Fleyshman, Andrew C. Guinn, Jamie W. Vann
  • Patent number: 9355522
    Abstract: A gaming system and method includes a primary wagering game displayed in a display area that is subdivided into display regions. The primary game includes a plurality of base games. The base games are displayed in a respective one of the display regions and each has a virtual character associated therewith. A simulated top box is displayed in one of the display regions. The simulated top box includes a secondary game common to the plurality of base games. In response to play of the primary wagering game being initiated, an outcome is determined for each of the plurality of base games and the outcomes are concurrently displayed. In response to a bonus trigger, at least two of the plurality of base games combine into a single bonus array of symbols for a bonus game. The single bonus array of symbols is displayed in one or more of the display regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Wood, Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Richard B. Robbins, Jamie W. Vann
  • Patent number: 9342947
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a game of chance based using information stream items such as items in a news ticker. Information stream items are received for display in a series of information stream items such as a news ticker. Game symbols are assigned to the information stream items based on the output of a random number generator. In response to determining that the game symbols assigned to the series of information stream items form a winning combination of game symbols, an account may be credited with cash or points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Jamie W. Vann
  • Publication number: 20160093154
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting that one or more wearable computers are within a proximity range to a wagering game machine. In some examples, the operations further include determining one or more characteristics associated with the one or more wearable computers in response to the detecting that the one or more wearable computers are within the proximity range to the wagering game machine. In some examples, the operations further include providing a feature associated with a wagering game based on the one or more characteristics of the one or more wearable computers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Michael R. Bytnar, Michael V. Dicillo, Patrick M. Gustafson, Jeremy M. Hornik, Gary J. Oswald, Richard B. Robbins, Nickey C. Shin, Jesse M. Smith, Simon E. Sunblade, Jamie W. Vann, Muthu Velu, Matthew J. Ward, Steven J. Zoloto, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 9286752
    Abstract: Systems and methods receive digital images from online sources. The digital images are analyzed and various objects are recognized within the digital images. The recognized objects may be faces of persons appearing in the digital images. A subset of the digital images is selected according to selection rules applied to the recognized objects. The selected recognized objects are incorporated into a wagering game. For example, the recognized objects may be incorporated onto symbols of wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Andrew C. Guinn
  • Patent number: 9286759
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include detecting an indication of a benefit available to a first player account via a wagering game venue; and selecting a second player account linked to the first player account as a social contact. The operations can further include configuring a persistent object to provide access to the benefit available to the first player account; and transferring the persistent object from the first player account to the second player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Danijel Stankovic, John R. Werneke
  • Patent number: 9251646
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include providing a social communications interface (e.g., a chat interface) for presentation via a wagering game session. The wagering game session is associated with a wagering game player account. The operations can further include selecting, in response to user input via the social communications interface, a representation of a social contact of the wagering game player account. The user input indicates a request to follow social communications made by the social contact, which social communications are not directly addressed to the wagering game player account. The operations can further include providing, for presentation via the social communications interface, the social communications made by the social contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9251659
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a wagering game in which previous wins from other games of other players or the current player are integrated into the wagering game and provided as a potential payout in the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Joel R. Jaffe, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 9251645
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include connecting a wagering game to a chat session and receiving a textual game command for the wagering game from a chat message sent via the chat session. The operations can further include activating a wagering game function for the wagering game in response to receiving the textual game command via the chat message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20160027245
    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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Vernon W. Hamlin, Brian J. Barclay, Andrew Fowler, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • 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
  • 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: 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: 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: 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