# US 7,744,454 B2 · Gaming device having an accumulating award symbol > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,454 B2 - Document ID: US7744454B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/987,330 - Filed: 2004-11-12 - Published: 2005-05-12 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2001-09-26 - Assignees: Igt - Inventors: Marc Mierau; Karen M. Cregan; Anthony J. Baerlocher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744454B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - G07F 17/3262: {Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played} - 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 - 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}) ## Abstract A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming device comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (i) display a plurality of reels, a plurality of symbols on said reels, said symbols including a plurality of activator symbols, (ii) individually associate each of a plurality of awards with a different one of said reels, wherein each of the plurality of awards is separate from any of the symbols on the reels, and (iii) if one of the activator symbols is generated on one of the reels having an associated award and said activator symbol is activated, provide the award associated with said reel to a player. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each reel includes one of said activator symbols on the reel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gaming device of claim 2, wherein each reel has one of the awards associated with said reel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each reel has one of the awards associated with said reel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to provide an accumulated award to the player, said accumulated award based on the awards associated with the reels and a plurality of activated activator symbols indicated on said reels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, if one of the activator symbols is generated on one of the reels, the activator symbol is randomly generated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to include a number of spins of the plurality of reels in a game and enable the player to initiate each of the spins until there are no spins remaining. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of different paylines associated with the reels and a plurality of different modifiers, each modifier individually associated with one of the paylines, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, if the activator symbol generated on the reel is generated on one of the paylines, any award provided to the player is modified by the modifier associated with said payline. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said activator symbol is always activated. ### Claim 10 A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising: causing at least one display device to display a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols including a plurality of activator symbols; individually associating each of a plurality of awards with a different one of said reels, wherein each of the plurality of awards is separate from of any of the symbols on the reels; generating a plurality of said symbols upon a triggering event; causing the at least one display device to display said generated symbols; and determining if one of the activator symbols is generated on one of the reels having an associated award and if said activator symbol is activated, and if one of the activator symbols is generated on one of the reels having an associated award and if said activator symbol is activated, providing the award associated with said reel to a player. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each reel includes one of said activator symbols on the reel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein each reel has one of the awards associated with said reel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each reel has one of the awards associated with said reel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, which includes providing an accumulated award to the player, the accumulated award based on awards associated with multiple reels in the plurality of reels and multiple activated activator symbols indicated on said multiple reels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein generating the plurality of said symbols upon the triggering event includes randomly generating the plurality of said symbols upon the triggering event. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, including displaying a number of spins remaining in a game and enabling the player to initiate each of the spins until there are no spins remaining. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, which includes a plurality of different paylines associated with the reels and a plurality of different modifiers, each modifier individually associated with one of the paylines, wherein if the activator symbol generated on the reel is generated on one of the paylines, the award provided to the player is modified by the modifier associated with said payline. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, which is controlled through a data network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the data network is an internet. ### Claim 20 A gaming device comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (i) display a first reel, (ii) display a second reel a plurality of symbols on said reels, said symbols including a first activator symbol on said first reel and a second activator symbol on said second reel, (iii) associate a first award with the first reel, wherein the first award is separate from any of the symbols on the first reel, (iv) associate a second different award with said second reel, wherein the second different award is separate from of any of the symbols on the second reel, (v) if the first activator symbol is generated on the first reel and said first activator symbol is activated, provide the first award to a player, and (vi) if the second activator symbol is generated on the second reel and said second activator symbol is activated, provide the second award to the player. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The gaming device of claim 20, wherein if the first activator symbol is generated on the first reel, the first activator symbol is randomly generated on the first reel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The gaming device of claim 20, which includes a first payline associated with the reels and a second different payline associated with the reels, a first modifier associated with the first payline and a second different modifier associated with the second payline, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, if one of the activator symbols generated on the reels is generated on one of the paylines, the award provided to the player is modified by the modifier associated with said payline. ### Claim 23 A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising: causing at least one display device to display a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols including a first reel including a first activator symbol and a second reel including a second activator symbol; associating a first award with the first reel, wherein the first award is separate from any of the symbols on the first reel; associating a second different award with the second reel, wherein the second award is separate from any of the symbols on the second reel; generating a plurality of said symbols upon a triggering event; causing the at least one display device to display said generated symbols; providing the first award to a player if the first activator symbol is generated on the first reel and said activator symbol is activated; and providing the second award to the player if the second activator symbol is generated on the second reel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein generating the plurality of said symbols upon the triggering event includes randomly generating the plurality of said symbols upon the triggering event. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, which includes a first payline associated with the reels and a second different payline associated with the reels, a first modifier associated with the first payline and a second different modifier associated with the second payline, wherein if the activator symbols generated on the reel is generated on one of the paylines, the award provided to the player is modified by the modifier associated with said payline. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, which is controlled through a data network. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the data network is an internet. ### Claim 28 A gaming device comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (i) display a plurality of reels, a plurality of symbols on the reels including a first activator symbol, (ii) associate a plurality of different paylines with the reels; (iii) individually associate a first plurality of awards with the reels, wherein each of the first plurality of awards is separate from any of the symbols on the reels, (iv) individually associate a second plurality of awards with the paylines, and (v) provide a first accumulated award to a player if the first activator symbol is generated on the reels, the first accumulated award being based on a first award from the first plurality of awards and a second award from the second plurality of awards. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the first activator symbol is activated. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the first award is associated with a first reel in the plurality of reels and the first activator symbol is associated with the first reel. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the second award is associated with a first payline in the plurality of paylines and the first activator symbol is associated with the first payline. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The gaming device of claim 28, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to determine the first accumulated award by multiplying the first award and the second award. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The gaming device of claim 28, which includes a second activator symbol. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The gaming device of claim 33, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to provide a second accumulated award to the player when the second activator symbol is generated on the reels and the second activator symbol is activated, the second accumulated award being based on a third award from the first plurality of awards and a fourth award from the second plurality of awards. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the first award is different than the third award. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the first award is the third award. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the second award is different than the fourth award. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the second award is the fourth award. ### Claim 39 (depends on 28) The gaming device of claim 28, including a network connection, wherein the processor communicates with the reels via the network connection. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The gaming device of claim 39, wherein the network connection includes an internet connection. ### Claim 41 (depends on 28) The gaming device of claim 28, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to include a number of spins of the plurality of reels in a game, and enable the player to initiate each of the spins until there are no spins remaining. ### Claim 42 A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising: causing at least one display device to display a plurality of reels; causing the at least one display device to display a plurality of symbols on the reels, the reels including a first activator symbol; causing the at least one display device to display a plurality of paylines associated with the reels; causing the at least one display device to display a first plurality of awards individually associated with the reels, wherein each of the first plurality of awards is separate from any of the symbols on the reels; causing the at least one display device to display a second plurality of awards individually associated with the paylines; and awarding a first accumulated award to a player when the first activator symbol is generated on the reels, the first accumulated award being based on a first award from the first plurality of awards and a second award from the second plurality of awards. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method, of claim 42, wherein the first activator symbol is activated. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the first award is associated with a first reel in the plurality of reels and the first activator symbol is associated with the first reel. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the second award is associated with a first payline in the plurality of paylines and the first activator symbol is associated with the first payline. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the first accumulated award is determined by multiplying the first award and the second award. ### Claim 47 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the reels include a second activator symbol. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, including awarding a second accumulated award to the player when the second activator symbol is generated on the reels and the second activator symbol is activated, the second accumulated award being based on a third award from the first plurality of awards and a fourth award from the second plurality of awards. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the first award is different than the third award. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the first award is the third award. ### Claim 51 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the second award is different than the fourth award. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the second award is the fourth award. ### Claim 53 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, which is provided to the player through a data network. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein the data network includes an internet. ### Claim 55 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, which includes displaying a number of spins and allowing the player to initiate each of the spins until there are no spins remaining. ### Claim 56 A gaming device comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (i) display a plurality of reels, a plurality of symbols on the reels, the symbols including an activator symbol, and (ii) individually associate each of a plurality of awards with a different one of the reels, wherein each of the plurality of awards is separate from any of the symbols on the reels, and (iii) if the activator symbol is generated on one of the reels having an associated award and the activator symbol is activated, provide the award associated with the reel to a player. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The gaming device of claim 56, wherein each reel has one of the awards associated with the reel. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The gaming device of claim 56, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to provide an accumulated award to the player, the accumulated award based on the awards associated with the reels. ### Claim 59 (depends on 56) The gaming device of claim 56, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, if the activator symbol is generated on one of the reels, the activator symbol is randomly generated. ### Claim 60 (depends on 56) The gaming device of claim 56, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to include a number of spins of the plurality of reels in a game, and enable the player to initiate each of the spins until there are no spins remaining. ### Claim 61 (depends on 56) The gaming device of claim 56, which includes a plurality of different paylines associated with the reels and a plurality of different modifiers, each modifier individually associated with one of the paylines, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to if the activator symbol generated on the reel is generated on one of the paylines, modify any award provided to the player by the modifier associated with the payline. ### Claim 62 (depends on 56) The gaming device of claim 56, wherein the activator symbol is always activated.