Patents by Inventor Robert Honeycutt

Robert Honeycutt 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: 11961370
    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: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross
  • Publication number: 20240096167
    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: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Johns, Yanis Tsombanidis, Robert Honeycutt
  • Publication number: 20240087420
    Abstract: An electronic gaming device that includes a display device, a memory device, and a game controller including a processor is described. The processor is configured to apply a game tier to a base game, wherein the game tier corresponds to a credit award range, and cause a base game outcome including symbols displayed on reels to be displayed. The processor is also configured to determine that the base game outcome includes a prize symbol including a first credit award within the credit award range of the game tier. The processor is further configured to apply the game tier to a feature game and cause a feature game outcome including symbols displayed on reels to be displayed. The processor is further configured to determine that the feature game outcome includes the prize symbol including a second credit award within the credit award range of the game tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Adam Bland
  • Publication number: 20240087418
    Abstract: Feature game mechanics that allow for special symbols, e.g., cash-on-reel symbols, to potentially award associated awards to a player are provided. Such game mechanics may be triggered when one or more feature game conditions are met. Special symbols that are displayed as part of a game outcome when the feature game is active may have awards associated therewith be added to a player's account but may also be removed from display as part of the game outcome. A new symbol may be selected for each of the removed symbols and displayed in a symbol position in the game outcome display area. This general set of activities may be repeated until there are no special symbols displayed in the symbol positions of the game outcome display area (and the symbol positions of the game outcome display area are otherwise completely filled with symbols).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20240078868
    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: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Stephanie Johns
  • Patent number: 11830314
    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: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Johns, Yanis Tsombanidis, Robert Honeycutt
  • Patent number: 11816949
    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: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Theodore Hase, Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Publication number: 20230334948
    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: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Christopher Barney, Theodore Hase, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Patent number: 11776356
    Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine and, a method of gaming thereon, comprising: a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols during play of a game, the set of symbols including a plurality of function symbols; a display having at least a game area, the selected symbols being displayed in said game area; an outcome evaluator for determining that at least one predefined triggering criterion is satisfied; and a game area expander for expanding said game area in response to said at least one predefined triggering criterion being satisfied, such that at least one additional symbol of the set of symbols is displayed in an expanded game area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
  • Publication number: 20230306809
    Abstract: An electronic gaming device including a display device operable to display a portion of a plurality of reels, and a controller. The controller includes a processor to associate a first lookup table and a second lookup table with a first symbol and a second symbol from a first reel, respectively, select a first entry in the first table that satisfies a target threshold, convert the first symbol with the first entry, and evaluate the portion of the plurality of reels for a win combination that satisfies the target threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Klepzig, Robert Honeycutt
  • Patent number: 11769367
    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: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Stephanie Johns
  • Patent number: 11749058
    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: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Stephanie Johns
  • Publication number: 20230274617
    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: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross
  • Publication number: 20230252851
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Stephanie Johns, Yanis Tsombanidis, Robert Honeycutt
  • Patent number: 11721172
    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: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Hawkins, Robert Honeycutt, Christopher Barney, Theodore Hase, Yanis Tsombanidis
  • Patent number: 11688247
    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: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross
  • 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: 20230021862
    Abstract: The present invention relates to gaming machines, systems and methods of gaming. There are a number of different ways available for determining an award by current gaming machines and systems. In this embodiment, a game controller is arranged to determine an award depending on the number of columns spanned by a cluster of symbols and the number of symbol positions in the cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
  • Patent number: D997182
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross
  • Patent number: D1016086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Emily Ross