POSITION-CHANGING ELEMENTS ON A VIDEO SCREEN IN A WAGERING GAME EVENT

• US 20170301178A1
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evan Thomas, Troy Pettie
• Original Assignee: Evan Thomas, Troy Pettie
• Inventors: Thomas, Evan, Pettie, Troy
• Granted Patent: US 10,217,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming event is executed on electronic gaming media. A wager is accepted by a processor and a random selection of both virtual symbols and moves is provided to a player by a display screen on a wagering device. The virtual symbols are randomly arranged on a grid having columns and rows. The player inputs commands to the processor to switch individual pairs of virtual symbols, one pair switched in each available move, until moves are exhausted. A final arrangement of virtual symbols on the grid is evaluated according to paylines and paytables to resolve the wager.

Claims

1. A method of performing a gaming event on virtual symbols displayed on a display screen, wherein the gaming event:

a) is effectuated by a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in a non-volatile memory, either remote or local to client devices and servers, and

b) is executed by processors at the client devices or servers after input by a player into a player input device in communication with the non-volatile memory,

said method comprising the steps of;

c) providing a gaming application downloaded onto a mobile device and for use on a mobile platform;

d) providing a database of virtual symbols and arrangements of symbols on a virtual grid format of multiple columns and multiple rows of frames;

e) enabling an initiating user with the downloaded gaming application to place value at risk on an outcome of a gaming wager ultimately determined by predefined outcomes of virtual symbol distribution on the virtual grid;

f) receiving either;

i) a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols, or ii) an unassigned random second set of symbols that are to be assigned into the virtual grid if the second set of virtual symbols is accepted for resolution of the gaming wager;

g) upon occurrence of i), the player directing through the player input device a switch exchange of adjacent virtual symbols by contacting each frame of adjacent virtual symbols, thereby signaling the processor at the client device or server to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

h) upon occurrence of ii), the player, through the player input device, either iii) accepting the second set of virtual symbols, and then the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors at the client devices or servers to randomly distributed the virtual symbols of the second set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the second set of symbols and then the processors at the client devices or servers allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the user to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

or, through the player input device, iv) the player declining the second set of symbols by inputting a declination signal to the client devices or servers and then receiving a third set of virtual symbols, the player accepting the third set of virtual symbols, and then the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors at the client devices or servers to randomly distributed the virtual symbols of the second set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the third set of symbols and then the processors at the client devices or servers allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the user to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array; and

i) after the final grid array has been formed, the client devices or servers resolves the gaming wager against a paytable based upon numbers and/or types of virtual symbols aligned in specific paylines on the grid in the final grid array.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming event is performed online among members of an online social network and the gaming wager is further resolved by award or virtual non-economic online social network notifications or postable symbols.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each player has a predetermined time period to identify adjacent virtual symbols that are to be switched, or a controlled movement is lost.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual symbols comprise at least four different symbols, each symbol having different shapes, sizes and/or colors so that the virtual symbols can be visually distinguished.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the player receives a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols, the player exhausts all available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols, and after the final grid array has been formed, the client devices or servers resolves the gaming wager against a paytable based upon numbers and/or types of virtual symbols aligned in specific paylines on the grid in the final grid array.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein after the player receives and accepts the unassigned random second set of symbols in ii), the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors at the client devices or servers to randomly distribute the virtual symbols of the second set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the second set of symbols and then the processors at the client devices or servers allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the user to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

and , the client devices or servers resolves the gaming wager against a paytable based upon numbers and/or types of virtual symbols aligned in specific paylines on the grid in the final grid array.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein after the player receives and declines the unassigned random second set of symbols in ii), the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors at the client devices or servers first provide a third set of virtual random symbols that are then accepted and then to randomly distribute the virtual symbols of the third set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the third set of symbols and then the processors at the client devices or servers allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the user to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

and, the client devices or servers resolves the gaming wager against a paytable based upon numbers and/or types of virtual symbols aligned in specific paylines on the grid in the final grid array.

8. ) The method of claim 1 wherein a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein a dedicated button is on the player input device to decline any unassigned random sets of symbols.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein a dedicated button is on the player input device to decline any unassigned random sets of symbols.

15. A method of executing a gaming event on a video gaming system comprising a housing, a processor, a video display, player input controls and a value-in-value-out system for entering wagerable value and withdrawing accrued value from the video gaming system, the processor having game content information stored in non-volatile memory, wherein the gaming event:

a) is effectuated by a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in the non-volatile memory in communication with the processor, and

b) is executed by the processor by player input through the player input device in communication with the non-volatile memory, said method comprising the steps of;

c) the processor providing a database of virtual symbols and arrangements of virtual symbols on a virtual grid format of multiple columns and multiple rows of frames from the non-volatile memory;

d) enabling an initiating player position with the downloaded gaming application to initiate a game event based after placing a wager for value stored in the video gaming system, ultimately determined by predefined outcomes of virtual symbol distribution on the virtual grid;

e) the visual display receiving and displaying either;

i) a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols, or ii) an unassigned random second set of symbols that are to be assigned into the virtual grid if the second set of virtual symbols is accepted for resolution of the gaming wager;

f) upon occurrence of i), the player directing through the player input controls a switch exchange of adjacent virtual symbols by contacting each frame of adjacent virtual symbols, thereby signaling the processor to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

g) upon occurrence of ii), the player, through the player input controls, either iii) accepting the second set of virtual symbols, and then the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors at the client devices or servers to randomly distributed the virtual symbols of the second set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the second set of symbols and then the processor allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the player input controls to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

or, through the player input device, iv) the player input controls declining the second set of symbols by inputting a declination signal to the processor and then receiving a third set of virtual symbols, the player input controls accepting the third set of virtual symbols, and then the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors randomly distributing the virtual symbols of the second set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the third set of symbols and then the processors allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the player input controls to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array; and

h) after the final grid array has been formed, the processor resolving the wager of value the gaming event against a paytable based upon numbers and/or types of virtual symbols aligned in specific paylines on the grid in the final grid array.

i) The method of claim 14 wherein the gaming event requires that value is placed at risk on an outcome of a gaming wager, and resolution of the gaming event is based on resolution of the wager against the paytable for value accounted for in the processor.

j) The method of claim 1, wherein each player has a predetermined time period to identify adjacent virtual symbols that are to be switched, or a controlled movement is lost.

19. The method of claim 4 wherein the processor identifies a specific limit of numbers of symbol exchanges that are allowed in a round of play.

14. A method of operating an Application (APP) on a hand-held telecommunication device with a processor, player input controls and video display therein, the method comprising:

connecting an APP operating device in the hand-held communication device through a wireless connection to an APP output device;

transmitting programmatic gaming instructions of a gaming event APP from the APP operating device to the hand-held communication device to be stored in non-volatile memory, the hand-held communication device downloading the gaming APP for access by the processor, wherein the gaming event;

a) is effectuated by a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in the non-volatile memory in communication with the processor, and

b) is executed by the processor in the hand-held device by player input through the player input device in communication with the non-volatile memory, said method comprising the steps of;

c) the processor executing the downloaded gaming event APP downloaded;

d) the processor providing a database of virtual symbols and arrangements of virtual symbols on a virtual grid format of multiple columns and multiple rows of frames from the non- volatile memory;

e) enabling an initiating user with the downloaded gaming application to initiate a game event based ultimately determined by predefined outcomes of virtual symbol distribution on the virtual grid;

f) the visual display receiving and displaying either;

i) a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols, or ii) an unassigned random second set of symbols that are to be assigned into the virtual grid if the second set of virtual symbols is accepted for resolution of the gaming wager;

g) upon occurrence of i), the player directing through the player input controls a switch exchange of adjacent virtual symbols by contacting each frame of adjacent virtual symbols, thereby signaling the processor to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

h) upon occurrence of ii), the player, through the player input controls, either iii) accepting the second set of virtual symbols, and then the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors at the client devices or servers to randomly distributed the virtual symbols of the second set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the second set of symbols and then the processor allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the player input controls to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array;

or, through the player input device, iv) the player input controls declining the second set of symbols by inputting a declination signal to the processor and then receiving a third set of virtual symbols, the player input controls accepting the third set of virtual symbols, and then the programmatic instructions are executed by the processors randomly distributing the virtual symbols of the second set of virtual symbols into the virtual grid to form a virtual grid with all frames filled with individual ones of the virtual symbols of the third set of symbols and then the processors allowing controlled movements of adjacent pairs of symbols by enabling the player input controls to switch the virtual images in the adjacent frames within the virtual grid, and continuing to direct switch exchanges until all available controlled movements are exhausted, forming a final grid array; and

i) after the final grid array has been formed, the processor resolving the gaming event against a paytable based upon numbers and/or types of virtual symbols aligned in specific paylines on the grid in the final grid array.

14-1. The method of claim 14 wherein the gaming event requires that value is placed at risk on an outcome of a gaming wager, and resolution of the gaming event is based on resolution of the wager against the paytable for value accounted for in the processor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the virtual symbols comprise at least four different symbols, each symbol having different shapes, sizes and/or colors so that the virtual symbols can be visually distinguished.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the player receives a first set of random virtual symbols filling all frames on the virtual grid and a random number of available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols, the player exhausts all available controlled movements of adjacent pairs of virtual symbols, and after the final grid array has been formed, the client devices or servers resolves the gaming wager against a paytable based upon numbers and/or types of virtual symbols aligned in specific paylines on the grid in the final grid array.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the processor identifies a specific limit of numbers of symbol exchanges that are allowed in a round of play.