Granted Patent B2

US 12,437,604 · App. 17/978,544 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Inventors: Rory Angus Harpur (Durban North, ZA); Marcus Douglas Thorpe-Fairall (Kloof, ZA)

Assignee: Games Global Operations Limited

G07F17/3213G06F7/588G07F17/3209G07F17/3265

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a receiving component of an electronic symbol display machine, an instruction;

determining, by way of random selection by a random number generator (RNG), a set of symbols and a sync symbol, wherein each symbol of the set of symbols is drawn from a pool of symbols, wherein the sync symbol is drawn from the pool of symbols;

displaying, on a display component of the electronic symbol display machine, the set of symbols in a two-dimensional array and the sync symbol in a preview space; and

while there are one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array:

replacing the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array with vacant symbol positions;

determining, by way of random selection by the RNG, whether replacement symbols to be placed in the vacant symbol positions are subject to synchronization,

wherein the replacement symbols being subject to synchronization causes each of the vacant symbol positions to be filled with the sync symbol, and

wherein the replacement symbols not being subject to synchronization causes each of the vacant symbol positions to be filled with further symbols determined by way of random selection by the RNG;

displaying, when the replacement symbols are subject to synchronization, a first icon at least partially covering the sync symbol in the preview space; and

displaying, when the replacement symbols are not subject to synchronization, a second icon at least partially covering the sync symbol in the preview space, wherein the first icon and the second icon are different.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein replacing the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array with the vacant symbol positions comprises:

removing the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols from the two-dimensional array; and

moving remaining symbols in the two-dimensional array in a downward fashion so that all of the vacant symbol positions are stacked adjacent to a top of the two-dimensional array.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each symbol of the set of symbols is associated with a respective column of the two-dimensional array.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein columns of the two-dimensional array simulate circular strips of symbols, and wherein displaying the set of symbols in the two-dimensional array comprises simulating a spin of at least one of the circular strips.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of symbols and the sync symbol comprises:

transmitting a result request to a remote device, wherein the RNG is disposed within the remote device; and

receiving a result specifying the set of symbols and the sync symbol from the remote device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving component is a physical actuatable button that, when actuated, causes the instruction to be received by the electronic symbol display machine.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic symbol display machine comprises a physical actuatable dispensation button that, when actuated, causes an object of value to be dispensed by the electronic symbol display machine, and wherein the object of value is based at least in part on instances of the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols being in the set of symbols.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols comprise multiple instances of a particular symbol appearing in adjacent columns of the two-dimensional array.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-implementable instructions configured to cause an electronic symbol display machine to carry out operations comprising:

receiving, at a receiving component of the electronic symbol display machine, an instruction;

determining, by way of random selection by a random number generator (RNG), a set of symbols and a sync symbol, wherein each symbol of the set of symbols is drawn from a pool of symbols, wherein the sync symbol is drawn from the pool of symbols;

displaying, on a display component of the electronic symbol display machine, the set of symbols in a two-dimensional array and the sync symbol in a preview space; and

while there are one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array:

replacing the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array with vacant symbol positions;

determining, by way of random selection by the RNG, whether replacement symbols to be placed in the vacant symbol positions are subject to synchronization,

wherein the replacement symbols being subject to synchronization causes each of the vacant symbol positions to be filled with the sync symbol, and

wherein the replacement symbols not being subject to synchronization causes each of the vacant symbol positions to be filled with further symbols determined by way of random selection by the RNG;

displaying, when the replacement symbols are subject to synchronization, a first icon at least partially covering the sync symbol in the preview space; and

displaying, when the replacement symbols are not subject to synchronization, a second icon at least partially covering the sync symbol in the preview space, wherein the first icon and the second icon are different.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a receiving component of an electronic symbol display machine, an instruction;

determining, by way of random selection by a random number generator (RNG), a set of symbols, wherein each symbol of the set of symbols is drawn from a pool of symbols;

displaying, on a display component of the electronic symbol display machine, the set of symbols in a two-dimensional array; and

while there are one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array:

replacing the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array with vacant symbol positions;

determining, by way of random selection by the RNG, whether replacement symbols to be placed in the vacant symbol positions are subject to synchronization,

wherein the replacement symbols being subject to synchronization causes each of the vacant symbol positions to be filled with a sync symbol determined by way of random selection by the RNG, wherein the sync symbol is drawn from the pool of symbols, and

wherein the replacement symbols not being subject to synchronization causes each of the vacant symbol positions to be filled with further symbols determined by way of random selection by the RNG;

displaying the sync symbol in a preview space on the display component of the electronic symbol display machine;

displaying, when the replacement symbols are subject to synchronization, a first icon at least partially covering the sync symbol in the preview space; and

displaying, when the replacement symbols are not subject to synchronization, a second icon at least partially covering the sync symbol in the preview space, wherein the first icon and the second icon are different.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein replacing the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols in the two-dimensional array with the vacant symbol positions comprises:

removing the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols from the two-dimensional array; and

moving remaining symbols in the two-dimensional array in a downward fashion so that all of the vacant symbol positions are stacked adjacent to a top of the two-dimensional array.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein each symbol of the set of symbols is associated with a respective column of the two-dimensional array.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein columns of the two-dimensional array simulate circular strips of symbols, and wherein displaying the set of symbols in the two-dimensional array comprises simulating a spin of at least one of the circular strips.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein determining the set of symbols comprises:

transmitting a result request to a remote device, wherein the RNG is disposed within the remote device; and

receiving a result specifying the set of symbols from the remote device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the receiving component is a physical actuatable button that, when actuated, causes the instruction to be received by the electronic symbol display machine.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the electronic symbol display machine comprises a physical actuatable dispensation button that, when actuated, causes an object of value to be dispensed by the electronic symbol display machine, and wherein the object of value is based at least in part on instances of the one or more pre-determined patterns of symbols being in the set of symbols.

Assignments (4)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (23)