Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7607980?dq=%22robert+sheehan%22
Timestamp: 2017-09-20 15:45:05
Document Index: 631644227

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 334', 'arts 340', 'arts 334', 'arts 336', 'arts 332', 'arts 334', 'arts 334', 'arts 332', 'arts 334', 'arts 336']

Patent US7607980 - Gaming device having free potential winning combinations - Google Patents
Methods to provide an enhanced likelihood of winning an award and to provide enhanced awards based upon the appearance of symbols on free paylines or free hands of cards. In one embodiment base paylines and a free payline are defined using the same symbol matrix and same reel strips. The free payline...http://www.google.com/patents/US7607980?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7607980 - Gaming device having free potential winning combinations
Publication number US7607980 B2
Application number US 10/984,169
Also published as US7931528, US20050170876, US20100041462
Publication number 10984169, 984169, US 7607980 B2, US 7607980B2, US-B2-7607980, US7607980 B2, US7607980B2
Inventors Joseph D. Masci, Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Daniel M. Marks
Patent Citations (115), Non-Patent Citations (23), Referenced by (12), Classifications (23), Legal Events (5)
Gaming device having free potential winning combinations
US 7607980 B2
Methods to provide an enhanced likelihood of winning an award and to provide enhanced awards based upon the appearance of symbols on free paylines or free hands of cards. In one embodiment base paylines and a free payline are defined using the same symbol matrix and same reel strips. The free payline is an additional payline with same frequencies of wins and losses as the base paylines. The player wagers upon any number of base paylines. The player receives a free payline if a designated number of base paylines are wagered upon. A multiplier enhances the award for winning symbol combinations appearing on the free payline, with the multiplier value equal to the total wager. In another embodiment, a player wagers upon any number of displayed poker hands. The player receives at least one free hand if a designated number of hands are wagered upon.
at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:
(a) display a game operable upon a total wager by a player, said game including:
(i) a plurality of symbol display positions;
(ii) a plurality of symbols displayable at the symbol display positions;
(iii) a plurality of winning symbol combinations and a plurality of respective award amounts associated with the plurality of winning symbol combinations;
(iv) a plurality of base paylines associated with the symbol display positions, each base payline associated with at least two of the plurality of symbol display positions, each base payline activated upon a placement of at least a portion of the total wager by the player on said base payline;
(v) a first number of free paylines activated if a first number of the base paylines are activated, wherein the first number of the base paylines is greater than one and less than a second number of the base paylines, each of the free paylines associated with at least two of the plurality of symbol display positions; and
(vi) a second number of free paylines activated if a third number of the base paylines are activated, wherein the third number of the base paylines is greater than or equal to the second number of the base paylines, wherein the second number of free paylines is greater than the first number of free paylines and wherein each of the free paylines are associated with at least two of the plurality of symbol display positions;
(b) for each wagered on base payline:
(i) determine if one of the plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the base payline based on a plurality of displayed symbols of the plurality of displayable symbols;
(ii) if one of the plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the base payline, determine an award to provide the player by multiplying the award amount associated with the winning combination of symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with said base payline by the wager placed on that base payline; and
(c) for each activated free payline:
(i) determine if another of the plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed based on an order of symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the activated free payline based on the same plurality of displayed symbols;
(ii) if another of the plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the activated free payline, determine an additional award to provide the player by multiplying the award amount associated with the winning combination of symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the activated free payline by the total wager made by the player on all of the activated base paylines; and
2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a total award including the sum of the awards associated with any of said base paylines and the additional award is provided to the player.
3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of symbol display positions are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.
4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of free paylines associated with the symbol display positions.
5. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of reels in the game, wherein the symbols are on the reels.
(v) a first number of free paylines activated if a first number of the base paylines are activated, wherein the first number of the base paylines is greater than one and less than a second number of the base paylines, each free payline associated with at least two of the plurality of display positions; and
(i) determine if another of the plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed based on an order of symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated the activated free payline based on the same plurality of displayed symbols;
7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein a total award including the sum of the awards associated with the base paylines and the additional award is provided to the player.
8. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of symbol display positions are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.
9. The gaming device of claim 6, which includes a plurality of free paylines associated with the symbol display positions.
10. The gaming device of claim 6, which includes a plurality of reels in the game, wherein the symbols are on the reels.
displaying a plurality of symbol display positions;
displaying a plurality of base paylines associated with the symbol display positions;
enabling a player to activate each of the base paylines by placing at least a portion of a total wager on said payline;
activating a first number of free paylines if the player activates a first number of the base paylines, wherein the first number of the base paylines is greater than one and less than a second number of said base paylines, wherein each free payline is associated with at least two of the symbol display positions;
activating a second number of free paylines if the player activates a third number of the base paylines, wherein the third number of the base paylines is greater than or equal to the second number of the base paylines, wherein the second number of free paylines is greater than the first number of free paylines and wherein each of the free paylines are associated with at least two of the plurality of symbol display positions;
generating and displaying a plurality of symbols at the symbol display positions;
for each wagered on base payline:
(i) determining if one of a plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the base payline based on the plurality of generated and displayed symbols;
(iii) displaying any determined award; and
for each activated free payline:
(i) determining if another of the plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed based on an order of symbols displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the activated free payline based on the same plurality of generated and displayed symbols;
(iii) displaying any determined additional award.
12. The method of claim 11, which includes displaying the plurality of symbol display positions on a plurality of reels.
13. The method of claim 11, which includes displaying the plurality of symbol display positions in a matrix of rows and columns.
14. The method of claim 11, which is operated via a data network.
activating a first number of free paylines if a first number of the base paylines are activated, wherein the first number of the base paylines is greater than one and less than a second number of the base paylines and each free payline is associated with at least two of the symbol display positions;
activating a second number of free paylines if a third number of the base paylines are activated, wherein the third number of the base paylines is greater than or equal to the second number of the base paylines, and wherein the second number of free paylines is greater than the first number of free paylines;
(iii) displaying any determined awards; and
(ii) if another of the plurality of winning symbol combinations is displayed at the symbol display positions associated with the activated free payline, determine an additional award to provide the player by multiplying the award associated with the winning combination of symbols displayed at said symbol display positions associated with the activated free payline by the total wager made by the player on all of the activated base paylines; and
17. The method of claim 16, which includes displaying the plurality of symbol display positions on a plurality of reels.
18. The method of claim 16, which includes displaying the plurality of symbol display positions in a matrix of rows and columns.
19. The method of claim 16, which is operated via a data network.
(iv) a plurality of base paylines associated with the symbol display positions, each base payline associated with at least two of the plurality of symbol display positions, each base payline activated upon a placement of at least a portion of the total wager by the player on said base payline; and
(v) a first number of free paylines activated if a first number of the base paylines are activated, wherein the first number of the base paylines is greater than one and less than a second number of the base paylines, each free payline associated with at least two of the plurality of symbol display positions; and
This application is a non-provisional application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/518,844 filed on Nov. 10, 2003, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein.
U.S. Publication No. 2003/0054875 discloses a slot game with a random indicator that enhances all wins on an indicated payline by a multiplier such as 4×. The enhanced payline is directly wagered upon by the player.
In one embodiment, a modifier such as a multiplier enhances the award for any winning symbol combination indicated along each free payline. In one embodiment, the modifier enhances the award for winning symbol combinations displayed at symbol display positions along any or each of the free paylines. In one embodiment, the modifier value is based on the total wager by the player on all of the activated paylines. For example, a total wager of forty-five credits on all of the wagered-on paylines combined sets a multiplier value to 45× which is used to enhance the award on the free payline. Thus, this embodiment of the present invention provides the player not only the benefit of the free payline, but additionally the benefit of the player's entire wager which is associated with this free payline. It should also be appreciated that the present invention contemplates having scaled modifiers or enhancements of the free paylines. For example, if the first nine wagered upon paylines provides a first free payline, the enhancement on that payline may be the credits wagered on the first nine paylines, and the enhancement for the free payline provided for wagers on the next six lines may be the total amount wagered on all fifteen wagered upon paylines.
FIG. 4A and 4B are schematics of award tables associated with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C 8D and 8E are front views of one embodiment of the present invention illustrating a free poker hand which enhances the award associated with winning hands.
FIG. 9A and 9B are schematics of award tables associated with one embodiment of the present invention.
The reels display the plurality of symbols at the symbol display positions. In the gaming device illustrated in FIG. 3A, letter symbols A 102 a, B 102 b, C 102 c are displayed at symbol display positions 100 a, 100 b, and 100 c, respectively, on reel 54 a; letter symbols D 102 d, E 102 e and F 102 f are displayed at symbol display positions 100 d, 100 e and 100 f, respectively, on reel 54 b; letter symbols G 102 g, H 102 h and I 102 i are displayed at symbol display positions 100 g, 100 h and 100 i, respectively, on reel 54 c; letter symbols J 102 j, K 102 k and L 102 l are displayed at symbol display positions 100 j, 100 k and 100 l, respectively, on reel 54 d; and letter symbols M 102 m, N 102 n and O 102 o are displayed at symbol display positions 100 m, 100 n and 100 o, respectively, on reel 54 e. It should be appreciated that the gaming device can include any suitable number of symbols, and the symbols can include any suitable character, numeral, indicia, or image(s).
In one embodiment, the gaming device sets the modifier such as the multiplier for the free enhanced payline 60. In one embodiment, the value of the modifier associated with the free enhanced payline is based on the number of credits wagered on each of the base paylines in the game. For example, if the multiplier value is based on the ten-credit wager on each of the base paylines, a multiplier of 10× is used to enhance the award(s) generated on at least one of the paylines.
In the illustrated embodiment, the value of the modifier associated with the free enhanced payline is based on the total number of credits wagered on all of the base paylines in the game. In FIG. 3C, for example, the multiplier value is based on the fifty-credit wager on the base paylines by the player. Therefore, the multiplier value display 116 indicates a multiplier of 50×.
Alternatively, the value of the enhancement feature of the free enhanced payline in the game is based on both the number of free enhanced paylines provided to the player and the credits wagered on the base paylines in the game. For example, the ten credits wagered by the player on each of the five activated base paylines is also assigned to the free enhanced payline to determine the value of the modifier. Therefore, six paylines, including the free enhanced payline, having ten credits per payline produce a multiplier with a value of 60× rather than 50×.
In one embodiment, an algorithm sets the multiplier value as a function or percentage of the total bet placed on the base paylines. For example, fifty percent of the total bet may be assigned to the multiplier resulting in the multiplier value equaling half the total bet. In one embodiment, the algorithm sets the multiplier value as one hundred percent of the total bet placed on the base paylines. Thus, a wager of fifty credits on the activated base paylines sets the multiplier at 50×. In an alternative embodiment, an algorithm sets the modifier value as a function of the bet placed per base payline. For example, if the algorithm sets the multiplier value as fifty percent of the bet placed per payline, a wager of ten credits per payline, sets the multiplier value at 5×. It should be appreciated that, in any of the embodiments discussed above, the player can affect the value of the modifier by increasing or decreasing the total bet. For example, increasing the total bet in the arrangement of FIG. 3B to two-hundred fifty, increases the multiplier value to 300× (which is 250× for each base activated payline plus the 50× for the activated free payline).
The player receives awards, if any, for winning combinations formed at symbol display positions along base paylines according to at least one paytable. The example paytables illustrated in FIG. 4A and 4B list awards associated with winning symbol combinations displayed along a payline. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device determines if a winning symbol combination is generated at symbol display positions along any of the base paylines and the free enhanced payline according to at least one paytable. For example, a paytable for all base or free enhanced paylines may include awards for any combination of three or more “A,” “B,” “C,” etc. symbols. In one embodiment, all winning combinations must appear at symbol display positions along a selected base payline or the free enhanced payline starting from the leftmost symbol display position on the payline. It should be appreciated that a paytable may illustrate awards corresponding to any suitable number of the same or different symbols, with such symbols appearing in any order and/or in any location at symbol display positions along a payline as defined by a paytable.
According to the example paytable 160 a illustrated in FIG. 4A, five A symbols 102 a correspond to an award value of one hundred credits. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3C, the award value is enhanced by the multiplier associated with the free enhanced payline. Therefore, the player is provided an award of 5,000 credits (100 credits×50×). The multiplier of 50× is the total wager on the base paylines.
In FIG. 5B, as in FIG. 3B, the player wagers ten credits on five paylines. The game or the player selects and activates five base paylines 52 a, 52 b, 52 c, 52 d and 52 e illustrated in FIG. 5B. Activation of at least one of the five base paylines activates a free enhanced payline 60 illustrated in FIG. 5G. The enhancement feature of the free enhanced payline includes a multiplier based on the total bet amount of fifty credits. Therefore, the multiplier to be applied to the award resulting from any winning combination of symbols generated along the active payline is 50× as indicated by the multiplier display 116.
A multiplier of 50× based on the player's wager of fifty credits (ten credits on five paylines) and displayed in the multiplier display area 116 is used to enhance the winning combination displayed at symbol display positions along the free enhanced payline 60. Unlike the example illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C, however, the multiplier is not applied to the awards associated with winning combinations displayed at symbol display positions along other activated paylines. Therefore, the award value indicated in the award value display 118 for the winning combination of symbols generated along the free enhanced payline 60 is eight hundred credits×50× multiplier or forty thousand credits. This value is added to the one hundred credits provided to the player for the winning combination occurring on the base payline 52 d for a total paid amount for that spin of the reels of forty thousand one hundred credits indicated by the total paid display 120.
Following issuance of all awards, the cumulative credits are added to the player's balance of credits, if any. Hence, the credit display 20 shows the credit pool increase to 1,200 credits, as illustrated in FIG. 5D. As long as the player has credits on the credit display 20, the player may continue to play the gaming machine or collect the balance of credits by cashing out.
In FIG. 6B, as in FIGS. 3B and 5B, the player wagers ten credits on five paylines. The game or the player selects and activates five base paylines 52 a, 52 b, 52 c, 52 d and 52 e illustrated in FIG. 6B. Activation of at least one of the five base paylines activates a free enhanced payline 60 illustrated in FIG. 6C. The enhancement feature of the free enhanced payline includes a multiplier based on the total bet amount of fifty credits. Therefore, the multiplier to be applied to the award resulting from any winning combination of symbols generated along the active payline is 50× as indicated by the multiplier display 116.
A multiplier of 50× based on the player's wager of fifty credits (ten credits on five paylines) and displayed in the multiplier display area 116 is used to enhance the winning combinations displayed at symbol display positions along the base payline 52 d and the free enhanced payline 60. Unlike the example illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D, however, the multiplier is applied to the awards associated with winning combinations displayed at symbol display positions along other activated paylines. Therefore, the award value indicated in the award value display 118 for the winning combination of symbols generated along the free enhanced payline 60 is nine hundred credits (100 credits+800 credits)×50×multiplier or forty-five thousand credits as indicated by the total paid display 120.
The player wagers fifty credits of the one hundred fifty credits, as illustrated in the bet per hand display 312 in FIG. 8B, and selects the select button 354 corresponding to the hand the player wishes to play, referred to herein as the wager hand. By selecting the select button 354 b, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the player picks wager hand 352 b that includes a King of Clubs 332 b and Queen of Hearts 334 b already revealed to the player.
In FIG. 8C, a Jack of Diamonds 336 b, a Ten of Diamonds 338 b and an Eight of Hearts 340 b are revealed to the player in the wager hand 352 b in addition to the King of Clubs 332 b and Queen of Hearts 334 b. Similarly, an Eight of Hearts 336 c, Jack of Diamonds 338 c and a Two of Clubs 340 c are revealed to the player in the free hand 352 c in addition to the Two of Hearts 332 c and Five of Hearts 334 c.
FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate paytables. The paytables include different winning hands, such as Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four Aces, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind and Two Pair. It should be appreciated that other combination of cards or winning hands can be included in the paytables of the present invention. The winning hands are associated with different award values based on the amount of the wager or number of coins bet. In one embodiment, awards associated with winning hands generated in the wager hand and the free hand are defined in the same paytable as in the paytable 360 illustrated in FIG. 9A. Alternatively, different paytables can be used to define the awards associate with the winning hands of the wager and free hands. In one embodiment, the paytable associated with winning combinations generated in a free hand includes awards that are enhanced. For example, in FIG. 9B, an enhanced paytable 362 is illustrated wherein the awards are greater than the awards associated with the same winning combinations in paytable 360.
In FIG. 8C, the modifier is a multiplier. The multiplier is determined based on the amount of the wager as indicated in the total bet display 22. Because the player wagers fifty credits, a multiplier of 50×, as illustrated in the multiplier value display 316, is provided to the player to enhance the awards associated with any winning combinations generated in the hands. An award value of one hundred credits is generated as discussed above. Therefore, the 50× multiplier is used to enhance that award to five thousand credits (100 credits×50×) as indicated in the total paid display 320. The credits display 20 is then updated to include the additional five thousand credits for a total of five thousand one hundred credits.
In one embodiment, the poker game is a draw poker game as illustrated in FIG. 8D. The player, in this embodiment, the hands are played independently wherein the draw/hold decisions for each hand are made independent of the draw/hold decisions for other hands. It should be appreciated that FIG. 8D can illustrate a continuation of the game of FIGS. 8A to 8C or a generation of five cards in the wager hand and the free hand. As illustrated, the player decides to hold the King of Clubs 332 b, Queen of Hearts 334 b, Jack of Diamonds 336 b and Ten of Diamonds 338 b in the wager hand 352 b. The player also decides to hold the Two of Hearts 332 c, Five of Hearts 334 c and Eight of Hearts 336 c in the free hand 352 c.
In FIG. 8E, the player pushes the deal/draw buttons 356 b and 356 c for the wager and free hands, respectively. The gaming device generates cards to replace each of the cards not held by the player. An Nine of Clubs 340 b replaces the Eight of Hearts in the wager hand 352 b. A Four of Spades 338 c and a Nine of Diamonds 340 c replace the Jack of Diamonds and Two of Clubs in the free hand 352 c.
As a result of the draw in the wager hand, a winning hand of a Straight is generated. According to the paytable 360 in FIG. 9A, the award associated with a Straight generated in a hand on which a wager of fifty credits is placed is seventy-five credits as is indicated in the award value display 318. In an embodiment that includes enhancement of the awards associated with winning combinations generated on a wager hand, as illustrated in FIG. 8E, the 50× multiplier is used to enhance that award to three thousand seven hundred fifty credits (75 credits×50×) as indicated in the total paid display 320. No winning hand other than the Three-of-a-Kind as described above, is generated in the free hand 352 c. The credits display 20 is then updated to include the additional credits for a total of eight thousand eight hundred fifty credits.
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U.S. Classification 463/20, 463/17, 463/18, 463/12, 463/16, 273/292, 463/21, 463/11, 463/19, 463/13, 463/25
International Classification G06F19/00, A63F13/00, G07F17/32, G06F17/00, A63F9/24, A63F5/04, G07F17/34, A63F1/00
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SINGER, ANTHONY M.;MARKS, HOWARD M.;MARKS, DANIEL M.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:016052/0371;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050310 TO 20050311
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PTT L.L.C.;REEL/FRAME:018354/0827