| Sonstiges: |
- Nachgewiesen in: USPTO Patent Grants
- Sprachen: English
- Patent Number: 11961,368
- Publication Date: April 16, 2024
- Appl. No: 18/077369
- Application Filed: December 08, 2022
- Assignees: LNW Gaming, Inc. (Las Vegas, NV, US)
- Claim: 1. A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising the operations of: displaying an array of symbol positions and registers on an electronic display device of the gaming machine, the registers being associated with respective subsets of the symbol positions of the array; animating, by the electronic display device, a plurality of spins of symbol-bearing reels wherein, in each spin, the symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land a plurality of symbols borne by the reels in the array, the plurality of symbols selectively including value-bearing symbols; for each value-bearing symbol in the plurality of symbols, visually adding, by the electronic display device, a value borne by the value-bearing symbol to the register associated with the subset containing the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed, animating, by the electronic display device, the array to tag the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed; and in response to an initial value-bearing symbol landing in that subset, initiate a subset counter associated with that subset, wherein the electronic display device presents the subset counter, in response to tagging all the symbol positions in that subset, presenting, by the electronic display device, an award for the value in the register associated with that subset; and in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, visually resetting, by the electronic display device, the value in the register associated with that subset, and animating, by the electronic display device, the array to untag all the symbol positions in that subset.
- Claim: 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a current count of the subset counter is adjusted in response to each cycle outcome.
- Claim: 3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subset counter resets to a predefined value in response to a cycle outcome of the at least one subsequent cycle outcome including an additional value-bearing symbol in that subset.
- Claim: 4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subset counter increments or decrements towards the termination count in response to one cycle outcome of the at least one subsequent cycle outcome including no additional value-bearing symbols in the first subset.
- Claim: 5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the array includes a plurality of columns, the plurality of columns being the respective subsets, the registers being adjacent to the respective columns.
- Claim: 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of animating the array to tag the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed includes visually applying, by the electronic display device, a border, color change, background change, watermark, or other distinguishing characteristic to the symbol position.
- Claim: 7. The method of claim 1 , wherein further in response to tagging all the symbol positions in that subset, animating, by the electronic display device, the array to untag all the symbol positions in that subset and removing the subset counter.
- Claim: 8. A gaming system comprising: a gaming machine including an electronic display device configured to display an array of symbol positions and registers, the registers being associated with respective subsets of the symbol positions of the array, and game-logic circuitry configured to perform the operations of: animating, via the electronic display device, a plurality of spins of symbol-bearing reels wherein, in each spin, the symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land a plurality of symbols borne by the reels in the array, the plurality of symbols including value-bearing symbols; for each value-bearing symbol in the plurality of symbols, visually adding, by the electronic display device, a value borne by the value-bearing symbol to the register associated with the subset containing the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed, animating, by the electronic display device, the array to tag the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed; and in response to an initial value-bearing symbol landing in that subset, initiate a subset counter associated with that subset, wherein the electronic display device presents the subset counter; in response to tagging all the symbol positions in that subset, presenting, by the electronic display device, an award for the value in the register associated with that subset; and in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, visually resetting, by the electronic display device, the value in the register associated with that subset, and animating, by the electronic display device, the array to untag all the symbol positions in that subset.
- Claim: 9. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein a current count of the subset counter is adjusted in response to each cycle outcome.
- Claim: 10. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the subset counter resets to a predefined value in response to a cycle outcome of the at least one subsequent cycle outcome including an additional value-bearing symbol in that subset.
- Claim: 11. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the subset counter increments or decrements towards the termination count in response to one cycle outcome of the at least one subsequent cycle outcome including no additional value-bearing symbols in the first subset.
- Claim: 12. The gaining system of claim 8 , wherein the array includes a plurality of columns, the plurality of columns being the respective subsets, the registers being adjacent to the respective columns.
- Claim: 13. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the operation of animating the array to tag the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed includes visually applying, by the electronic display device, a border, color change, background change, watermark, or other distinguishing characteristic to the symbol position.
- Claim: 14. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein further in response to tagging all the symbol positions in that subset, animating, by the electronic display device, the array to untag all the symbol positions in that subset and removing the subset counter.
- Claim: 15. A gaming machine comprising: an electronic display device configured to display an array of symbol positions and registers, the registers being associated with respective subsets of the symbol positions of the array; and game-logic circuitry configured to perform the operations of: animating, via the electronic display device, a plurality of spins of symbol-bearing reels wherein, in each spin, the symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land a plurality of symbols borne by the reels in the array, the plurality of symbols including value-bearing symbols; for each value-bearing symbol in the plurality of symbols, visually adding, by the electronic display device, a value borne by the value-bearing symbol to the register associated with the subset containing the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed, animating, by the electronic display device, the array to tag the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed; and in response to an initial value-bearing symbol landing in that subset, initiate a subset counter associated with that subset, wherein the electronic display device presents the subset counter; in response to tagging all the symbol positions in that subset, presenting, by the electronic display device, an award for the value in the register associated with that subset; and in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, visually resetting, by the electronic display device, the value in the register associated with that subset, and animating, by the electronic display device, the array to untag all the symbol positions in that subset.
- Claim: 16. The gaming machine of claim 15 , wherein a current count of the subset counter is adjusted in response to each cycle outcome.
- Claim: 17. The gaming machine of claim 16 , wherein the subset counter resets to a predefined value in response to a cycle outcome of the at least one subsequent cycle outcome including an additional value-bearing symbol in that subset.
- Claim: 18. The gaming machine of claim 16 , wherein the subset counter increments or decrements towards the termination count in response to one cycle outcome of the at least one subsequent cycle outcome including no additional value-bearing symbols in the first subset.
- Claim: 19. The gaming machine of claim 15 , wherein the array includes a plurality of columns, the plurality of columns being the respective subsets, the registers being adjacent to the respective columns.
- Claim: 20. The gaming machine of claim 15 , wherein the operation of animating the array to tag the symbol position in which the value-bearing symbol landed includes visually applying, by the electronic display device, a border, color change, background change, watermark, or other distinguishing characteristic to the symbol position.
- Claim: 21. The gaming machine of claim 15 , wherein further in response to tagging all the symbol positions in that subset, animating, by the electronic display device, the array to untag all the symbol positions in that subset and removing the subset counter.
- Patent References Cited: 3733075 May 1973 Hooker et al. ; 5342047 August 1994 Heidel et al. ; 5356140 October 1994 Dabrowski et al. ; 5393061 February 1995 Manship et al. ; 5704835 January 1998 Dietz ; 5833537 November 1998 Barrie ; 5951397 September 1999 Dickinson ; 6027115 February 2000 Griswold et al. ; 6056642 May 2000 Bennett ; 6089977 July 2000 Bennett ; 6224482 May 2001 Bennett ; 6251013 June 2001 Bennett ; 6270411 August 2001 Gura et al. ; 6290600 September 2001 Glasson ; 6517432 February 2003 Jaffe ; 6551187 April 2003 Jaffe ; 6561900 May 2003 Baerlocher et al. ; 6641477 November 2003 Dietz ; 6657923 December 2003 Laughlin ; 6731313 May 2004 Kaminkow ; 6786818 September 2004 Rothschild et al. ; 6837790 January 2005 Kaminkow ; 6910962 June 2005 Marks et al. ; 7018293 March 2006 Brown et al. ; 7029396 April 2006 Jaffe et al. ; 7121945 October 2006 Suganuma et al. ; 7179169 February 2007 Beaulieu et al. ; 7252591 August 2007 Van Asdale ; 7458890 December 2008 Loose et al. ; 7503847 March 2009 Baerlocher ; 7553231 June 2009 Rodgers et al. ; 7604538 October 2009 Pacey ; 7980936 July 2011 Mead ; 8083581 December 2011 Marks et al. ; 8105151 January 2012 Caputo et al. ; 8162741 April 2012 Wadleigh et al. ; 8192275 June 2012 Aoki et al. ; 8287357 October 2012 Evans ; 8323091 December 2012 Frank et al. ; 8357041 January 2013 Saunders ; 8360851 January 2013 Aoki et al. ; 8366538 February 2013 Saunders et al. ; 8371930 February 2013 Saunders et al. ; 8414380 April 2013 Saunders et al. ; 8465358 June 2013 Kemper ; 8496522 July 2013 Caputo et al. ; 8512138 August 2013 Saunders ; 8523659 September 2013 Evans ; 8574059 November 2013 Rodgers et al. ; 8608545 December 2013 Arora et al. ; 8662986 March 2014 Rodgers et al. ; 8690660 April 2014 Saunders et al. ; 8696434 April 2014 Tsukahara ; 8790169 July 2014 Saunders ; 8851974 October 2014 Caputo et al. ; 8870642 October 2014 Leupp et al. ; 8882578 November 2014 Saunders ; 8961291 February 2015 Dias Pires et al. ; 9005022 April 2015 Saunders ; 9165433 October 2015 Caputo ; 9202345 December 2015 Zoltewicz et al. ; 9230410 January 2016 Saunders et al. ; 9245421 January 2016 Saunders et al. ; 9251667 February 2016 Marks et al. ; 9257017 February 2016 Saunders et al. ; 9262895 February 2016 Rodgers et al. ; 9275524 March 2016 Nicely ; 9299224 March 2016 Leupp ; 9311781 April 2016 Edwards ; 9349251 May 2016 Caputo et al. ; 9355528 May 2016 Nicely ; 9418521 August 2016 Henrick et al. ; 9424720 August 2016 Suda ; 9430900 August 2016 Zoltewicz et al. ; 9466169 October 2016 Basallo et al. ; 9633506 April 2017 Basallo et al. ; 9928691 March 2018 Olive ; 10013855 July 2018 Nakamura ; 10037651 July 2018 You et al. ; 10043350 August 2018 Gomez et al. ; 10204473 February 2019 Lenger ; 10339761 July 2019 Olive ; 10366575 July 2019 Visser ; 10388112 August 2019 You et al. ; 10417877 September 2019 Gomez et al. ; 10475294 November 2019 Gomez et al. ; 10643431 May 2020 Chesworth et al. ; 10672220 June 2020 Lenger ; 10706664 July 2020 Boese et al. ; 10769888 September 2020 You et al. ; 20020119818 August 2002 Savio et al. ; 20030035346 February 2003 Laughlin ; 20030130034 July 2003 Suganuma et al. ; 20030157980 August 2003 Loose et al. ; 20030216165 November 2003 Singer et al. ; 20040023714 February 2004 Asdale ; 20040043815 March 2004 Kaminkow ; 20040137982 July 2004 Cuddy et al. ; 20040171417 September 2004 Beaulieu et al. ; 20060189369 August 2006 Taylor ; 20070060248 March 2007 Rodgers et al. ; 20070060275 March 2007 Gilmore et al. ; 20070129135 June 2007 Marks et al. ; 20080003278 January 2008 Mondelo ; 20080004532 January 2008 Rubey et al. ; 20080032784 February 2008 Englman ; 20080045298 February 2008 Yoshizawa ; 20080045320 February 2008 Kato ; 20080108431 May 2008 Cuddy et al. ; 20090124326 May 2009 Caputo et al. ; 20090124391 May 2009 Nelson et al. ; 20090239634 September 2009 Nguyen ; 20090291741 November 2009 Schofield ; 20100016055 January 2010 Englman ; 20100075737 March 2010 Bluemel ; 20100120495 May 2010 Frank ; 20100167815 July 2010 Gagner et al. ; 20100234092 September 2010 Gomez et al. ; 20100304832 December 2010 Kup-Ferroth ; 20110111824 May 2011 Cuddy et al. ; 20110230251 September 2011 Nicely et al. ; 20120122532 May 2012 Berman et al. ; 20120178517 July 2012 Montenegro et al. ; 20140014186 January 2014 Bhattacharya et al. ; 20140141860 May 2014 Meyer ; 20140179396 June 2014 Aoki et al. ; 20140274292 September 2014 Suda ; 20140323198 October 2014 Tuck ; 20150031437 January 2015 Gomez et al. ; 20150170462 June 2015 Berman et al. ; 20150269809 September 2015 Smith ; 20150287269 October 2015 Berman ; 20150356833 December 2015 Aoki et al. ; 20160042597 February 2016 Olive ; 20160049037 February 2016 Kroon ; 20170092070 March 2017 Marston et al. ; 20170154498 June 2017 Olive ; 20170309119 October 2017 San ; 20170372558 December 2017 You et al. ; 20180268655 September 2018 Olive ; 20180268659 September 2018 Chesworth et al. ; 20190236905 August 2019 Washington et al. ; 20190295377 September 2019 Suda et al. ; 20190304244 October 2019 Kennedy et al. ; 20190340880 November 2019 You et al. ; 20190347908 November 2019 Bolling, Jr. ; 20190385407 December 2019 Hiten et al. ; 20200090467 March 2020 Marks et al. ; 20200250923 August 2020 Ceniceroz et al. ; 20200279457 September 2020 Chesworth et al. ; 20200312094 October 2020 Halvorson et al. ; 20200364982 November 2020 You et al. ; 20210279999 September 2021 Meyer ; 2015210489 February 2016 ; 2019226167 March 2020 ; 2097160 October 1982 ; 2144568 March 1985 ; 2251112 June 1992 ; 2008024705 February 2008
- Other References: Zodiac Lion Class III Slot Game; IGT; Casino Journal, Mar. 5, 2020. cited by applicant ; Zodiac Lion Slot Machine Snapshots from YouTube Video posted Aug. 15, 2019. cited by applicant ; Examination Report for AU Application No. 2021203151, dated Mar. 28, 2022, 6 pages. cited by applicant ; Examination Report for AU Application No. 2021203150, dated Apr. 1, 2022, 6 pages. cited by applicant ; Examination Report for AU Application No. 2021203152, dated May 15, 2022, 6 pages. cited by applicant
- Primary Examiner: Myhr, Justin L
|
