# US 8,540,563 B2 · Interactive slot machine method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,563 B2 - Document ID: US8540563B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/903,417 - Filed: 2007-09-21 - Published: 2008-03-27 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-26 - Applicants: Nabil N. Ghaly - Inventors: Nabil N. Ghaly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540563B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - G07F 17/3202: {Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof} - 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 that does not employ pay lines is provided, and has a playfield that is subdivided into a plurality of groups. The configuration of the groups could be done manually by the player, or at random, and changes for each game. At least one key group is used to define key symbols that must be repeated at other groups for a winning combination of symbols to occur. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises: means for providing a display with a plurality of display positions, means for configuring the display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, means for generating visual symbols, and assigning said generated symbols to display positions, means for selecting one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and means for determining if a winning combination of symbols has occurred based on the combination of said key symbol and symbols assigned to other groups. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1 wherein the display is provided on a screen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1 wherein the configuration of the display positions into groups is done at least partially at random. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1 wherein the configuration of the display positions into groups is done manually by the player. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for generating symbols includes a plurality of simulated rotating reels that are randomly stopped at a plurality of lines. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for generating symbols includes a simulated reel for each display positions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1, wherein the assignment of generated symbols to the display positions is random. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A gaming device as recited in claim 1, wherein a winning combination of symbols is based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol in a plurality of groups. ### Claim 10 A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises: a display with a plurality of display positions, a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the gaming device, a plurality of input control switches to enable a player to interact with the gaming device, a computer program segment that configures display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, a computer program segment that generates visual symbols, and assign said generated symbols to display positions, a computer program segment that selects one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and a computer program segment that determines if a winning combination of symbols has occurred based on the combination of said key symbol and symbols assigned to non-key groups. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A gaming device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A gaming device as recited in claim 10, wherein said computer program segment that configures display positions into a plurality of groups is based on an algorithm that employs a random number generator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A gaming device as recited in claim 10, wherein said computer program segment that generates and assigns symbols to display positions employs a plurality of simulated rotating reels that are randomly stopped at a plurality of lines. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A gaming device as recited in claim 10, wherein a winning combination of symbols is based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol in a plurality of groups. ### Claim 15 A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises: a display with a plurality of display positions, a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code to control the operation of the gaming device, a plurality of input control switches to enable a player to interact with the gaming device, a game code segment that generates visual symbols using a plurality of reels that are randomly stopped at a plurality of lines, a game code segment that assigns the generated symbols to the display positions, a game code segment that configures the display positions into a plurality of groups, which include at least one key group, wherein said key group includes at least one symbol that is identified as a key symbol, and wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, and a game code segment that determines if a win has occurred based on a combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols occurring at non-key groups. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A gaming device as recited in claim 15 further comprising a housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A gaming device as recited in claim 15, wherein the configuration of display positions into a plurality of groups is partially done by the player using input control switches. ### Claim 18 A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises: a display with a plurality of display positions, a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code to control the operation of the gaming device, a game code segment that generates visual symbols and assigns said generated symbols to display positions, an input control mechanism to enable a player to configure a plurality of display positions as a key group, wherein said key group includes at least one key symbol, and wherein the player can configure different display positions as a key group in different spins of the game, a game code segment that configures the remaining playing positions into a plurality of groups, and a game code segment that determines if a win has occurred based on a combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols occurring at non-key groups. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A gaming device as recited in claim 18 further comprising a housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A gaming device as recited in claim 18, wherein the input control mechanisms includes a plurality of touch screen control switches. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A gaming device as recited in claim 18, wherein the input control mechanism includes a mouse control device. ### Claim 22 A bonus game for a reel type slot machine comprising: a screen that provides a display with a plurality of display positions, means for configuring the display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions can be different for different spins of the bonus game, means for assigning visual symbols occurring at the pay lines of the underlying reel type slot machine to display positions, means for selecting one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and means for determining if a win has occurred based on a combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols occurring at non-key groups. ### Claim 23 A bonus game for a reel type slot machine, which is controlled by a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code, comprising: a screen that provides a display with a plurality of display positions, a game code segment that configures the display positions into a plurality of groups, a game code segment that assigns visual symbols occurring at the pay lines of the underlying reel type slot machine to display positions, a game code segment that configures a key group of display positions, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and wherein the configuration of display positions into a key group can be different for different spins of the bonus game, a game code segment that configures the remaining display positions into a plurality of groups, and a game code segment that determines if a win has occurred based on a predefined winning combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols assigned to non-key groups. ### Claim 24 A bonus game for a slot machine, which is controlled by a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code, comprising: a screen that provides a display with a plurality of display positions, a game code segment that configures display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions can be different for different spins of the game, a game code segment that assigns visual symbols generated at the underlying slot machine to display positions, a game code segment that identifies a key group of display positions, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and a game code segment that determines if a winning combination of symbols has occurred based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol in a plurality of groups. ### Claim 25 A method for a gaming device for presenting a game, wherein the gaming device includes a display with a plurality of display positions, and a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code that executes the following steps: configuring said plurality of display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, generating and assigning a plurality of visual symbols to display positions, selecting one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and determining if a win has occurred for the game based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol at display positions in a plurality of non-key groups.