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).

  • Publication number: 20130130780
    Abstract: A method includes creating an event related to a wagering game, wherein the creating of the event comprises setting a requirement for the event. The requirement includes at least one of a participatory requirement and a monetary requirement for activation of the event. The participatory requirement includes a minimum number of wagering game players required to elect participation in the event. The creating of the event also includes defining an added value wagering game activity for the wagering game players that have elected participation in the event. The added value wagering game activity comprising at least one of access of locked content of the wagering game, increased expected value for payout from the wagering game, increased value of a jackpot of the wagering game, access to a locked progressive jackpot, and access to locked bonuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Pamela S. Smith
  • Patent number: 8376825
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method that aggregates, for each of a plurality of players, data of different wagering games based, at least in part, on criteria for an aggregate leaderboard. Values for each of the plurality of players are computed based, at least in part, on the data aggregated for each of the plurality of players and the criteria for the aggregate leaderboard. Ranks of the plurality of players are determined based, at least in part, on the computed values. A subset of the plurality of players with ranks above a threshold rank is determined. Indications of the subset of the plurality of players are supplied for updating the aggregate leaderboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20130040730
    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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20120302324
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a request, from a device, to play a light version of a wagering game based on communications over a network. The method includes transmitting, to the device, wagering game content associated with execution of the light version of the wager game. The method includes prompting download of a full version of the wagering game over the network from a remote server during the executing of the light version of the wagering game, wherein the full version of the wagering game has more game features than the light version of the wagering game. The method includes responsive to acceptance of the download of the full version of the wagering game to the device, downloading the full version of the wagering game and providing a reward for the downloading of the full version of the wagering game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Harry C. Lang, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120282995
    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. Social contacts are randomly selected from a group of social contacts. The social contacts may be obtained from a single data source or from multiple data sources and aggregated. A game player wins if the randomly selected social contacts have one or more profile attributes that match each other. The game may be presented as a slots based game in which profile pictures for the social contacts are the symbols for the reels of the slots game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: WMS 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
  • Publication number: 20120214564
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining a player account logged on to a wagering game network, determining a chat session initiated by the player account via the wagering game network; and determining wagering game news events to present via a gaming chat console for the chat session. The operations can also include automatically adjusting presentation requirements for the wagering game news events based on quantifiable player factors. In some embodiments, the operations can also include presenting an interactive game bot via the gaming chat console as a social contact, receiving textual chat game commands communicated to the interactive game bot, and controlling a wagering game via the textual chat game commands. In some embodiments, the operations can also include following chat activity for the selected chat social-contact groups and integrating chat activity with client applications and devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20120184349
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include a recording of a first wagering game content from a first wagering game played during a wagering game session and generating an electronic (e.g., an “e-mail”) message, after the wagering game session ends. The operations can also include embedding in the electronic message an object that provides access to a second wagering game content. The second wagering game content includes a recording of the first wagering game. The operations can further include sending the electronic message to an electronic address for a wagering game player account associated with the wagering game session, and detecting access to the second wagering game content, via the electronic message. The second wagering game content can re-present the portion of the first wagering game content as part of the second wagering game content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming ,Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20120184363
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining that an event occurs to a wagering game player account during a wagering game session, determining a player-owned social network account associated with the wagering game player account, connecting to the player-owned social network account, and presenting a notification of the event on the player-owned social network account. In some embodiments, the operations can also include providing social network rewards and wagering game awards for the event to the player-owned social network account, or to other social network accounts associated with the player-owned social network account. In some embodiments, the operations can also include determining social activity performed by the other social network accounts and presenting notifications of the social activity by the other social network accounts to the wagering game player account during the wagering game session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew Fowler, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20120184353
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations 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 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 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: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: VMS Gaming ,Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20120136465
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method that aggregates, for each of a plurality of players, data of different wagering games based, at least in part, on criteria for an aggregate leaderboard. Values for each of the plurality of players are computed based, at least in part, on the data aggregated for each of the plurality of players and the criteria for the aggregate leaderboard. Ranks of the plurality of players are determined based, at least in part, on the computed values. A subset of the plurality of players with ranks above a threshold rank is determined. Indications of the subset of the plurality of players are supplied for updating the aggregate leaderboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20120015735
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes: detecting a plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone, and selecting a first of the plurality of wagering game machines with which to establish a connection. The method can also include requesting the connection with the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, and transmitting, from the mobile phone to the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, player account information for configuring a wagering game. The method can also include receiving, from the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, content indicating a result of the wagering game, and presenting, on the mobile phone, the result of the wagering game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Abouchar, Martin J. Biernat, Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Mahesh Lakshmanaperumal, Richard B. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20110117999
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a wagering interface that may include a plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements with each quick-bet element indicating a different total wager for a spin of the plurality of reels. Each total wager is divided among a plurality of paylines associated with positions on the reels. A window is configured to display a subset of the plurality of quick-bet elements. A quick-bet element selection slider is configured to allow each of the plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements to be displayed within the window. The selection slider is movable to a plurality of positions along a slider path such that the position of the selection slider on the slider path determines the subset of quick-bet elements to be displayed in the window. A wagering interface may include a toggling element for switching from a wagering interface having a plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements to a classic-bet wagering interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Dion K. Aoki, Andrew Guinn, Darren Ng, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz, Tracey Wright
  • Publication number: 20110111862
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include transmitting game content from a wagering game server to a gaming machine via a network to present a wagering game at the gaming machine for a player, and generating and storing video of one or more rounds of the wagering game. The operations can also include receiving, at the wagering game server via the network, video of the player playing the one or more rounds of the wagering game. The operations can further include combining the video of the one or more rounds of the wagering game with the video of the player playing the one or more rounds of the wagering game, and storing and providing access to the combined video via the network to a player account associated with the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Krishnakumar Meluveettil, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward