Gaming system with symbol-driven approach to randomly-selected trigger value for feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11961358-B2
Application number	US-202318131094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2023
Priority date	Oct 14, 2019
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A gaming system randomly selects a trigger value for a feature, which starts when the current value of a symbol counter reaches the trigger value. In some examples, a gaming system includes memory that stores data defining reel strips. When a symbol counter is initialized, an initial value of the symbol counter is randomly selected from a range of allowable initial values having an upper limit. A trigger value is randomly selected from a range between the initial value and a ceiling value, which is greater than the upper limit. For each of one or more instances, symbols are selected from the reel strips for display, and the current value of the symbol counter is incremented based on the count of designated symbols, if any, among the selected symbols. Responsive to the current value of the symbol counter reaching the trigger value, the feature is started.

First claim

We claim:

1. A gaming system comprising one or more processors and memory, the memory storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
initializing a symbol counter in response to a reset condition being met, including randomly selecting an initial value of the symbol counter from a range of allowable symbol counter initial values having a limit;
randomly selecting a trigger value from a range defined between the selected initial value of the symbol counter and a defined value of the symbol counter, wherein the defined value of the symbol counter is past the limit of the range of allowable symbol counter initial values; and
starting a feature in one or more instances when a current value of the symbol counter reaches the trigger value.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the reset condition is the current value of the symbol counter reaching the trigger value.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the current value of the symbol counter persists between gaming sessions until the reset condition is met.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the reset condition is at least one of:
a start of a new gaming session; or
initialization of the gaming system.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the randomly selecting the initial value of the symbol counter uses a random number generator to return a value between a start number and an end number that defines the range of allowable symbol counter initial values.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the limit of the range of allowable symbol counter initial values is an upper limit of the range of allowable symbol counter initial values.

7. The gaming system of claim 6 , wherein the defined value of the symbol counter is a ceiling value greater than the upper limit of the range of allowable symbol counter initial values.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the randomly selecting the trigger value uses a random number generator to return a value between the selected initial value of the symbol counter and the defined value of the symbol counter.

9. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise instructing an electronic device to display the feature on a display.

10. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise selecting symbols from a set of reel strips for display including, for each reel strip of the set of reel strips:
obtaining a value from a random number generator;
mapping the value to a reel position of the reel strip; and
identifying selected symbols in the reel strip using the reel position.

11. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise randomly selecting the feature from multiple features using:
a random number generator; and
a weighted table.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein each of the multiple features is triggerable from the one or more instances independently of the current value of the symbol counter reaching the trigger value.

13. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the operations are performed by a server that instructs an electronic device to display the feature on a display.

14. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise notifying a link controller of a start of the feature, the link controller being connected to a plurality of gaming devices.

15. A method of controlling a user interface of an electronic gaming device implemented by at least one processor in communication with at least one memory, the method comprising:
controlling display of an initial value of a symbol counter in a counter graphic, the symbol counter having been initialized in response to a reset condition being met, with the initial value of the symbol counter having been randomly selected from a range of allowable symbol counter initial values having a limit;
controlling display of a defined value of the symbol counter in the counter graphic, the defined value of the symbol counter being past the limit of the range of allowable symbol counter initial values, and a trigger value having been randomly selected from a range defined between the initial value of the symbol counter and the defined value of the symbol counter; and
controlling display of an indication of a start of a feature in one or more instances when a current value of the symbol counter reaches the trigger value.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising dynamically updating the current value of the symbol counter as designated symbols land in the one or more instances.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising controlling display of an indication of the designated symbols in the counter graphic.

18. A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:
first instructions executable by a processor to initialize a symbol counter in response to a reset condition being met, including randomly selecting an initial value of the symbol counter from a range of allowable symbol counter initial values having a limit;
second instructions executable by the processor to randomly select a trigger value from a range defined between the selected initial value of the symbol counter and a defined value of the symbol counter, wherein the defined value of the symbol counter is past the limit of the range of allowable symbol counter initial values; and
third instructions executable by the processor to start a feature in one or more instances when a current value of the symbol counter reaches the trigger value.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the trigger value remains hidden.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising fourth instructions executable by the processor to omit updating the current value of the symbol counter as non-designated symbols land in the one or more instances.

Assignees

• Aristocrat Technologies Au

Inventors

• Olive Scott
• Deitz Matthew
• Sanders Liam

Classifications

• G07F17/3213 Primary

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title

• G07F17/3209 Primary

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title