# US 12,118,847 B2 · System and method for providing awards based on dynamic reels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,118,847 B2 - Document ID: US12118847B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/323,734 - Filed: 2023-05-25 - Published: 2023-09-28 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-01 - Assignees: Igt - Applicants: Igt - Inventors: David Ceniceroz; Julianne Rodgers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12118847B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members} - G07F 17/3218: {wherein at least part of the system is portable} - G07F 17/3225: {Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users} - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games} - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G09G 3/20: for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix {no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters} - G09G 3/2074: {using sub-pixels} - H10K 59/121: characterised by the geometry or disposition of pixel elements - G09G 2300/0452: Details of colour pixel setup, e.g. pixel composed of a red, a blue and two green components - G09G 2320/0233: Improving the luminance or brightness uniformity across the screen - G09G 2340/0407: Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES ## Abstract Systems and methods which provide a player zero, one or more awards based on a variable quantity of symbol display positions associated with one or more reels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising: for a first play of a game, displaying, by a display device, a first quantity of symbols at a first quantity of symbol display positions, and responsive to an occurrence of a symbol display position quantity modification event and a modification of the first quantity of symbol display positions to a second, different quantity of symbol display positions that is less than a designated quantity of symbol display positions, for a second play of the game, displaying, by the display device, a second quantity of symbols at the second, different quantity of symbol display positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a modification of the quantity of the symbol display positions comprises adding a quantity of symbol display positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a modification of the quantity of the symbol display positions comprises removing a quantity of symbol display positions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the modified quantity of symbol display positions being at least the designated quantity of symbol display positions, displaying, by the display device, an outcome associated with a position of a secondary event zone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the outcome comprises a triggering of a secondary event. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the outcome comprises an activation of a feature associated with the second play of the game. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the outcome comprises an activation of a feature associated with one of a plurality of positions of the secondary event zone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the outcome is associated with an award. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to an occurrence of a reset event in association with the second play of the game, displaying, by the display device and for a third play of the game, a third quantity of symbols at the first quantity of symbol display positions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first quantity of symbol display positions are associated with a plurality of reels and the second, different quantity of symbol display positions are associated with the plurality of reels. ### Claim 11 A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising: for a play of a game, displaying, by a display device, a quantity of symbols at a quantity of symbol display positions, and responsive to an occurrence of a symbol display position quantity modification event and a modification of the quantity of symbol display positions to a different, modified quantity of symbol display positions that is at least a designated quantity of symbol display positions, displaying, by the display device, an outcome associated with a position of a secondary event zone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a modification of the quantity of the symbol display positions comprises adding a quantity of symbol display positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a modification of the quantity of the symbol display positions comprises removing a quantity of symbol display positions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the outcome comprises a triggering of a secondary event. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the outcome comprises an activation of a feature associated with the second play of the game. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the outcome comprises an activation of a feature associated with one of a plurality of positions of the secondary event zone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the outcome is associated with an award. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the quantity of symbol display positions are associated with a plurality of reels and the different, modified quantity of symbol display positions are associated with the plurality of reels. ### Claim 19 A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising: responsive to an occurrence of a triggering event, triggering, by a processor, an unlimited free spins game, responsive to an occurrence of a symbol display position quantity modification event associated with any free spin of the unlimited free spins game, modifying, by the processor, a quantity of symbol display positions associated with that free spin game, and responsive to the modified quantity of symbol display positions associated with any free spin of the unlimited free spins game being a designated quantity of symbol display positions, terminating, by the processor, the unlimited free spins game. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the quantity of symbol display positions are associated with a plurality of reels and the modified quantity of symbol display positions are associated with the plurality of reels.