# US 12,217,575 B2 · Systems and methods for providing a feature game > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,217,575 B2 - Document ID: US12217575B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/174,440 - Filed: 2023-02-24 - Published: 2023-07-13 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-30 - Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Applicants: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Inventors: Gary Penacho; Thomas Tuomey; Allon Englman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217575B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G06F 7/588: {Random number generators, i.e. based on natural stochastic processes} - G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen} - G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members} - 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 17/3258: {Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots} - 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}) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An electronic gaming machine includes a display device, a player input interface configured to receive player input from a player; and a game controller configured to execute instructions. The instructions cause the processor to display a plurality of game reels including a first game reel type having a plurality of symbol positions and a second game reel type including a grouped symbol position. The instructions also cause the processor to display a bonus symbol in the grouped system position and, in response to displaying the bonus symbol, to display an expanded display area comprising at least one additional symbol position located above the reels of the first game reel type. The instructions further cause the processor to determine a game outcome based upon a combination of the at least one additional symbol position and the plurality of symbol positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic gaming device comprising: at least one memory with instructions stored thereon; and at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: cause display of a plurality of symbol positions for an electronic game, the plurality of symbol positions comprising a grouped symbol position of a grouped height in a first display area and a plurality of individual symbol positions of an individual height in a second display area, wherein the grouped height is greater than the individual height; cause display of a grouped symbol in the first display area; based at least in part on the grouped symbol, cause display of the second display area to expand to an expanded second display area to include at least one additional individual symbol position comprising at least one additional individual symbol within the expanded second display area, wherein the at least one additional individual symbol is associated with the grouped symbol in the at least one memory; cause display of a plurality of individual symbols at the plurality of individual symbol positions; and cause display of an outcome for the electronic game based at least in part on the grouped symbol, the at least one additional individual symbol, and the plurality of individual symbols. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the grouped symbol position comprises a grouping of symbol positions, and wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to: query a lookup table stored in the at least one memory to determine one or more symbols to be displayed at the grouping of symbols positions, wherein at least one entry in the lookup table comprises a plurality of partial symbols, and wherein adjacent display of the plurality of partial symbols comprises display of the grouped symbol; determine to cause display of the plurality of partial symbols based on the query; and cause display of the grouped symbol in the first display area by causing display of the plurality of partial symbols in the first display area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming device of claim 2, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to query the lookup table based on an output from a random number generator (RNG). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional individual symbol comprises a multiplier symbol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to identify the at least one additional individual symbol based at least in part on an output from a random number generator (RNG). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional individual symbol is predefined, in the at least one memory, for display when the grouped symbol is displayed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to: determine a first portion of the outcome that is associated at least with the plurality of individual symbols; and determine a second portion of the outcome that is associated with a quantity bonus symbols displayed, wherein at least one of the at least one additional individual symbol or at least one of the plurality of individual symbols comprises at least one bonus symbol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to cause display of the outcome based at least in part on at least one message received by the at least one processor from a gaming server. ### Claim 9 At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: cause display of a plurality of symbol positions for an electronic game, the plurality of symbol positions comprising a grouped symbol position of a grouped height in a first display area and a plurality of individual symbol positions of an individual height in a second display area, wherein the grouped height is greater than the individual height; cause display of a grouped symbol in the first display area; based at least in part on the grouped symbol, cause display of the second display area to expand to include at least one additional individual symbol position comprising at least one additional individual symbol, wherein the at least one additional individual symbol is associated with the grouped symbol in the at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; cause display of a plurality of individual symbols at the plurality of individual symbol positions; and cause display of an outcome for the electronic game based at least in part on the grouped symbol, the at least one additional individual symbol, and the plurality of individual symbols. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the grouped symbol position comprises a grouping of symbol positions, and wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to: query a lookup table stored in the at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to determine one or more symbols to be displayed at the grouping of symbols positions, wherein at least one entry in the lookup table comprises a plurality of partial symbols, and wherein adjacent display of the plurality of partial symbols comprises display of the grouped symbol; determine to cause display of the plurality of partial symbols based on the query; and cause display of the grouped symbol in the first display area by causing display of the plurality of partial symbols in the first display area. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to query the lookup table based on an output from a random number generator (RNG). ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one additional individual symbol comprises a multiplier symbol. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to identify the at least one additional individual symbol based at least in part on an output from a random number generator (RNG). ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one additional individual symbol is predefined, in the at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, for display when the grouped symbol is displayed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to: determine a first portion of the outcome that is associated with the plurality of individual symbols; and determine a second portion of the outcome that is associated with a quantity bonus symbols displayed, wherein at least one of the at least one additional individual symbol or at least one of the plurality of individual symbols comprises at least one bonus symbol. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to cause display of the outcome by transmitting at least one message associated with the outcome to a gaming device. ### Claim 17 A method of electronic gaming implemented by at least one processor in communication with at least one memory, the method comprising: controlling display of a plurality of symbol positions for an electronic game, the plurality of symbol positions comprising a grouped symbol position of a grouped height in a first display area and a plurality of individual symbol positions of an individual height in a second display area, wherein the grouped height is greater than the individual height; controlling display of a grouped symbol in the first display area; based at least in part on the grouped symbol, controlling display of the second display area to expand to an expanded second display area to include at least one additional individual symbol position comprising at least one additional individual symbol, wherein the at least one additional individual symbol is associated with the grouped symbol in the at least one memory; controlling display of a plurality of individual symbols at the plurality of individual symbol positions; and controlling display of an outcome for the electronic game based at least in part on the grouped symbol, the at least one additional individual symbol, and the plurality of individual symbols. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the grouped symbol position comprises a grouping of symbol positions, the method further comprising: performing a lookup in a lookup table stored in the at least one memory to determine one or more symbols to be displayed at the grouping of symbols positions, wherein at least one entry in the lookup table comprises a plurality of partial symbols, and wherein adjacent display of the plurality of partial symbols comprises display of the grouped symbol; determining to control display of the plurality of partial symbols based on the lookup; and controlling display of the grouped symbol in the first display area by controlling display of the plurality of partial symbols in the first display area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling display of the outcome by transmitting at least one message associated with the outcome to an electronic gaming device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: determining a first portion of the outcome that is associated with the plurality of individual symbols; and determining a second portion of the outcome that is associated with a quantity bonus symbols displayed, wherein at least one of the at least one additional individual symbol or at least one of the plurality of individual symbols comprises at least one bonus symbol, wherein determining at least one of the first portion or the second portion is performed based at least in part on at least one message received from a gaming server.