US 7,841,936 B2Granted

System and method for presenting payouts in gaming systems

AssigneeIgt

InventorsBradley Berman, Adam Martin, Ryan Strand

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Abstract

A system and method for facilitating participation by a player in a primary or bonus event of a slot machine. A plurality of rotatable shapes such as wheels, with symbols presented thereon, are spun. Each of the rotatable shapes is associated with at least one respective segment designator to identify at least one of the symbols on that rotatable shape as active for that spin. Each rotatable shape is allowed to perform subsequent spins if the segment designator for that shape on the current spin did not identify a discontinue symbol. Spins therefore continue for each of the rotatable shapes until all rotatable shapes have been associated with a discontinue symbol, or another termination event occurs. Payouts may be associated with some or all of the continue symbols, such that a total payout continues to accumulate at the rotatable shapes are allowed to perform additional spins.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A method of operating a gaming system including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;
(b) causing at least one display device to display, in association with the play of the game, a plurality of different wheels, each of the wheels having a plurality of symbols including a discontinue symbol;
(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an active group of the wheels, the active group including a plurality of the wheels;
(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to spin all of the wheels of the active group;
(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to stop all of the wheels of the active group, wherein all of the wheels of the active group are stopped prior to any subsequent spinning of any of the wheels of the active group;
(f) after all of the wheels of the active group have spun and stopped:
(i) causing the at least one display device to indicate at least one of the symbols on each of the stopped wheels of the active group;
(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether to provide an award to the player, wherein the determination is based on each of the symbols indicated on each of the stopped wheels of the active group;
(iii) if the determination is to provide the award to the player, causing the determined award to be provided to the player;
and
(iv) after determining whether to provide the award to the player:
(A) in response to none of the discontinue symbols being indicated on any one of the stopped wheels of the active group, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (d) to (f) for all of the wheels of the active group,
(B) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on at least one, but less than all, of the stopped wheels of the active group:
(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deactivate each wheel which is associated with the indicated discontinue symbol from the active group, and
(2) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (d) to (f) for each wheel which is not deactivated from the active group, and
(C) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on all of the stopped wheels of the active group, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deactivate all of the wheels of the active group.

13 more elements

A method of operating a gaming system including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;
(b) causing at least one display device to display, in association with the play of the game, a plurality of different rotatable shapes, wherein each of the rotatable shapes includes a plurality of symbols;
(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to simultaneously activate each one of the plurality of rotatable shapes;
(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to spin all of the active rotatable shapes;
(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to stop all of the active rotatable shapes, wherein all of the active rotatable shapes are stopped prior to any subsequent spinning of any of the active rotatable shapes;
(f) after all of the active rotatable shapes have spun and stopped:
(i) causing the at least one display device to indicate at least one of the symbols on each of the active rotatable shapes which has stopped;
(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether to provide an award to the player, wherein the determination is based on each of the symbols indicated on each of the active rotatable shapes which has stopped;
(iii) if the determination is to provide the award to the player, causing the determined award to be provided to the player;
and
(iii) after determining whether to provide the award to the player, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether to deactivate subsequent spinning of at least one of the active rotatable shapes based on at least one of the indicated symbols, wherein:
(A) in response to the determination being that none of the discontinue symbols are indicated on any one of the active rotatable shapes which has stopped, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (d) to (f) for all of the active rotatable shapes,
(B) in response to the determination being that one of the discontinue symbols is indicated on at least one, but less than all, of the active rotatable shapes which have stopped:
(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deactivate each of said rotatable shapes associated with the indicated discontinue symbol from further spinning for a remainder of the play of the game, and
(2) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (d) to (f) for each of said rotatable shapes which is not deactivated, and
(C) in response to the determination being that one of the discontinue symbols is indicated on all of the active rotatable shapes which have stopped, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deactivate all of the rotatable shapes.

13 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;
at least one user input 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:
(a) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;
(b) display, in association with the play of the game, a plurality of different wheels, each of the wheels having a plurality of symbols including a discontinue symbol,
(c) determine an active group of the wheels, the active group including a plurality of the wheels,
(d) spin all of the wheels of the active group,
(e) stop all of the wheels of the active group, wherein all of the wheels of the active group are stopped prior to any subsequent spinning of any of the wheels of the active group,
(f) after all of the wheels of the active group have spun and stopped:
(i) indicate at least one of the symbols on each of the stopped wheels of the active group,
(ii) determine whether to provide an award to the player, wherein the determination is based on each of the symbols indicated on each of the stopped wheels of the active group,
(iii) if the determination is to provide the award to the player, cause the determined award to be provided to the player, and
(iv) after determining whether to provide the award to the player:
(A) in response to none of the discontinue symbols being indicated on any one of the stopped wheels of the active group, repeat (d) to (f) for all of the wheels of the active group,
(B) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on at least one, but less than all, of the stopped wheels of the active group:
(1) deactivate said wheel associated with the indicated discontinue symbol from the active group, and
(2) repeat (d) to (f) for each wheel which is not deactivated from the active group, and
(C) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on all of the stopped wheels of the active group, deactivate all of the wheels of the active group.

17 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;
at least one user input device;
at least one processor;
and
at least one memory device which stores:
(a) data representing:
(i) a game,
(ii) a plurality of different wheels,
(iii) a plurality of different wheel symbols including:
(x) a plurality of discontinue symbols displayable on the wheels, and
(y) a plurality of award symbols displayable on the wheels,
(iv) a plurality of different indicators associated with the wheels to indicate at least one symbol on each of the wheels,
(b) 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) enable a player to place a wager on a play of the game,
(ii) display, in association with the play of the game, the plurality of wheels,
(iii) activate each of the wheels simultaneously,
(iv) cause all of the active wheels to spin,
(v) cause all of the active wheels to stop, wherein all of the active wheels are stopped prior to any subsequent spinning of any of the active wheels, and
(vi) after all of the active wheels have spun and stopped:
(A) cause at least one of the indicators to indicate at least one of the symbols on each of the active wheels,
(B) determine whether to provide an award to the player, wherein the determination is based on each of the symbols indicated on each of the active wheels which has stopped,
(C) if the determination is to provide the award to the player, cause the determined award to be provided to the player, and
(D) after the determination whether to provide the award to the player:
(1) in response to none of the discontinue symbols being indicated on any one of the active wheels which has stopped, repeat (iv) to (vi) for all of the active wheels,
(2) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on at least one, but less than all, of the active wheels which have stopped:
(x) deactivate each wheel associated with the indicated discontinue symbol, and
(y) repeat (iv) to (vi) for each wheel which is not deactivated, and
(3) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on all of the active wheels which have stopped, deactivate all of the active wheels.

25 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;
at least one user input 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:
(a) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;
(b) display, in association with the play of the game, a plurality of wheels, each of the wheels including at least one value symbol and at least one discontinue symbol,
(c) determine an active group of the wheels, the active group of the wheels including a plurality of wheels,
(d) spin all of the wheels of the active group,
(e) stop all of the wheels of the active group, wherein all of the wheels of the active group are stopped prior to any subsequent spinning of any of the wheels of the active group, and
(f) after all of the wheels of the active group have spun and stopped:
(i) indicate at least one of the symbols on each of the stopped wheels of the active group,
(ii) in response to the at least one value symbol and no discontinue symbols being indicated on all of the stopped wheels of the active group:
(A) determine an award to provide to the player, wherein the determination is based on each of the value symbols indicated on each of the stopped wheels,
(B) cause the determined award to be provided to the player, and
(C) repeat (d) to (f) for all of the wheels of the active group,
(iii) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on at least one, but less than all, of the stopped wheels of the active group:
(A) deactivate each wheel associated with the indicated discontinue symbol from the active group,
(B) determine an award to provide to the player, wherein the determination is based on each of the value symbols indicated on each of the stopped wheels,
(C) cause the determined award to be provided to the player, and
(D) repeat (d) to (f) for each wheel which is not deactivated from the active group, and
(iv) in response to one of the discontinue symbols being indicated on all of the stopped wheels of the active group, deactivate all of the wheels of the active group.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/985,350Filed 9 Nov 2004 · continuation in part
Priority: 16 Jul 2001
Published: US 2005/0119043 A12 Jun 2005
Granted: 30 Nov 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

G07F 17/3211
Player-machine interfaces: display means
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus

Family

Application09/906,283Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Jul 2001
Application10/665,915Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Sep 2003
Application60/519,352Us provisional application · filed 9 Nov 2003
US 2005/0119043 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Jun 2005
US 6,997,804 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,632,140 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2003/0064778 A1Published application
US 2004/0063488 A1Published application
US 7,841,936 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.