# US 9,873,051 B2 · 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 9,873,051 B2 - Document ID: US9873051B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/623,800 - Filed: 2015-02-17 - Published: 2016-08-18 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-17 - Assignees: King.Com Ltd. - Applicants: King.Com Limited - Inventors: Tina Nilsson; Klas Norden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873051B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/573: using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A computer implemented method of providing a game, comprising at least one processor and at least one memory of a device, retrieving from at least one memory information associated with a plurality of first objects and one or more characteristics of said first objects and causing said objects with said one or more characteristics to be displayed on a first area of a display in an arrangement, executing an algorithm which identifies a match condition between said first objects in which at least one of said objects comprises an action characteristic, determines at least one upgrade path in the arrangement in dependence on the action characteristic and determines if at least one first object comprising an action characteristic is positioned on the at least one upgrade path and, if so, determines a level characteristic value of said at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method of providing a game, the method comprising the following implemented by at least one processor and at least one memory of a device: retrieving from at least one memory information associated with a plurality of first objects, each first object having at least a first characteristic and at least one first object having an action characteristic, and causing said first objects to be displayed with respective first characteristics and any action characteristic on a first area of a display in an arrangement; executing an algorithm which: identifies a match condition between at least three of said first objects having a same first characteristic in which at least one of said first objects satisfying the match condition has an action characteristic and in response thereto activating said action characteristic; determines at least one upgrade path in the arrangement in dependence on the activated action characteristic of the at least one of said first objects satisfying the match condition, the upgrade path having a plurality of first objects arranged along the upgrade path; and determines that at least one first object, other than said first objects satisfying said match condition, is positioned on the at least one upgrade path and has an action characteristic associated with one of a plurality of level values, and, determines an upgraded level value of the action characteristic of that at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the algorithm causes a second game object to be displayed moving along the determined upgrade path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the level value comprises a predetermined number of values up to a maximum value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein the algorithm increments the level value associated with the at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path to the next level value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein when the level value associated with the first game object positioned on the determined upgrade path corresponds to the maximum value, the algorithm: determines at least one second upgrade path; determines if at least one first object comprising an action characteristic is positioned on the at least one second upgrade path and, if so, determines a level value of that at least one first object positioned on the determined second upgrade path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the algorithm causes an updated arrangement to be displayed with said at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path indicating the level value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein identifying a match condition comprises: determining a selection of a first game object in dependence on user input received via a user interface and in dependence on the stored information on said arrangement, and executing an algorithm to determine if said user input is such that said first objects are arranged to provide a sequence of at least three adjacent first objects sharing at least one same characteristic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising: retrieving from at least one memory information associated with a plurality of third game objects and causing said third game objects to be displayed on a second area of the display, wherein said algorithm: determines if at least one third game object is positioned on the determined first upgrade path and, if so determines at least one third upgrade path in the arrangement; and determines if at least one first object comprising an action characteristic is positioned on the at least one third upgrade path and, if so, determines a level value of said at least one first object positioned on the third upgrade path. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, said at least one processor and said at least one memory configured to: retrieve from at least one memory information associated with a plurality of first objects, each first object having at least a first characteristic and at least one first object having an action characteristic, and causing said first objects to be displayed with respective first characteristics on a first area of a display in an arrangement; identify a match condition between at least three of said first objects having a same first characteristic in which at least one of said first objects satisfying the match condition has an action characteristic and in response thereto activating said action characteristic; determine at least one upgrade path in the arrangement in dependence on the activated action characteristic of the at least one of said first objects satisfying the match condition, the upgrade path having a plurality of first objects arranged along the upgrade path; and determine that at least one first object, other than said first objects satisfying said match condition, is positioned on the at least one upgrade path and has an action characteristic associated with one of a plurality of level values, and, determine an upgraded level value of the at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus is configured to cause a second game object to be displayed moving along the determined upgrade path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the level value comprises a predetermined number of values up to a maximum value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to increment the level value associated with the at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path to the next level characteristic value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when a level value corresponds to the maximum value, the apparatus is configured to: determine at least one second upgrade path in the arrangement in dependence on the action characteristic; determine if at least one first object comprising an action characteristic is positioned on the at least one second upgrade path if so, determine a level value of that at least one first object positioned on the second upgrade path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause an updated arrangement to be displayed with said at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path indicating the level value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein identifying a match condition comprises: determining a selection of a first game object in dependence on user input received via a user interface and in dependence on the stored information on said arrangement; and the processor is configured to determine if said user input is such that said first objects are arranged to provide a sequence of at least three adjacent first objects sharing at least one same characteristic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, configured to: retrieve from at least one memory information associated with a plurality of third game objects and cause said third game objects to be displayed on a second area of the display; determine if at least one third game object is positioned on the determined upgrade path and, if so determines at least one third upgrade path; and determine if at least one first object comprising an action characteristic is positioned on the at least one third upgrade path and, if so, determines a level value of said at least one first object positioned on the third upgrade path. ### Claim 17 A computer readable storage device storing instructions that, when processed by at least one processor of a device, causes said processor to: retrieve from at least one memory information associated with a plurality of first objects, each first object having at least a first characteristic and at least one first object having an action characteristic, and causing said first objects to be displayed with respective first characteristics and any action characteristic on a first area of a display in an arrangement; identify a match condition between said first objects having a same first characteristic in which at least one of said objects has an action characteristic; determine at least one upgrade path in the arrangement in dependence on the action characteristic; and determine that at least one first object, other than said first objects satisfying said match condition, is positioned on the at least one upgrade path and has an action characteristic associated with one of a plurality of level values, and, if so, determine an upgraded level value of the action characteristic of that at least one first object positioned on the determined upgrade path.