Patent Application
20190088078
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
While gaming equipment provides players with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming equipment in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment. Accordingly, offering a range of different and unique spinning reel games of chance in slot machines can assist in maintaining and increasing player enjoyment. Gaming equipment, such as a slot machine, incorporating an embodiment(s) of the present invention can offer a spinning reel game of chance in which certain symbols are capable of expanding to thereby provide the player with a dynamic visual game appearance.
According to a first aspect there is provided a gaming machine comprising an electronic game controller and a display, the electronic game controller being arranged to cause a plurality of discrete symbols to be displayed on the display, wherein at least a first of the discrete symbols is displayed at a location that is lateral to at least a second of the discrete symbols, the first of the discrete symbols being such that it can expand in size to obscure the second of the discrete symbols.
According to a second aspect there is provided a gaming machine comprising a game controller and a display, the game controller being arranged to determine an outcome for a game of chance and visually depict the outcome on the display, the game controller is arranged to depict the outcome on the display by simulating a plurality of spinning reels, each of the reels is associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of the reels comprises a special symbol, the special symbol being such that it can expand in size to obscure at least one of the symbols associated with at least one of the reels that is laterally located adjacent the special symbol.
According to a third aspect there is provided a gaming machine comprising a game controller that is arranged to facilitate play of a game of chance, the game controller being arranged such that it makes a selection of a plurality of symbols and will award an award to a player of the gaming machine if the plurality of symbols corresponds to a winning symbol combination, wherein the game controller is such that if the plurality of symbols comprises a predefined expanding symbol the game controller makes a change to the plurality of symbols, the game controller is arranged to depict the change to the plurality of symbols on a display by causing an image of the predefined expanding symbol to expand laterally so as to replace an adjacent one of the plurality of symbols.
According to a fourth aspect there is provided a gaming system comprising a game server and a computing device that is remote to the game server, the game server and the computing device being arranged to interact with each other via a data network, the game server being arranged to cause a plurality of discrete symbols to be displayed on a display of the computing device, wherein at least a first of the discrete symbols is displayed at a location that is lateral to at least a second of the discrete symbols, the first of the discrete symbols being such that it can expand in size to obscure the second of the discrete symbols.
According to a fifth aspect there is provided a gaming system comprising a game server and a computing device that is remote to the game server, the game server and the computing device being arranged to interact with each other via a data network, the game server being arranged to determine an outcome for a game of chance and visually depict the outcome on a display of the computing device, the game server is arranged to depict the outcome on the display by simulating a plurality of spinning reels, each of the reels is associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of the reels comprises a special symbol, the special symbol being such that it can expand in size to obscure at least one of the symbols associated with at least one of the reels that is laterally located adjacent the special symbol.
According to a sixth aspect there is provided a gaming system comprising a game server and a computing device that is remote to the game server, the game server and the computing device being arranged to interact with each other via a data network, the game server being arranged such that it makes a selection of a plurality of symbols and will award an award to a player of the gaming machine if the plurality of symbols corresponds to a winning symbol combination, wherein the game server is such that if the plurality of symbols comprises a predefined expanding symbol the game server makes a change to the plurality of symbols, the game controller is arranged to depict the change to the plurality of symbols on a display by causing an image of the predefined expanding symbol to expand laterally so as to replace an adjacent one of the plurality of symbols.
According to a seventh aspect there is provided a method for use with a gaming machine comprising an electronic game controller and a display, the method comprising the steps of: the electronic game controller causing a plurality of discrete symbols to be displayed on the display, wherein at least a first of the discrete symbols is displayed at a location that is lateral to at least a second of the discrete symbols; and the electronic game controller causing the first of the discrete symbols to expand in size so as to obscure the second of the discrete symbols.
According to an eighth aspect there is provided a method for use with a gaming machine comprising a game controller and a display, the method comprising the steps of: the game controller determining an outcome for a game of chance; the game controller visually depicting the outcome on the display such that the outcome is depicted by simulating a plurality of spinning reels, each of the reels is associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of the reels comprises a special symbol; and the game controller depicting the special symbol such that it expands in size to obscure at least one of the symbols associated with at least one of the reels that is laterally located adjacent the special symbol.
According to a ninth aspect there is provided a method for use with a gaming machine comprising a game controller, the method comprising the steps of the game controller facilitating play of a game of chance; the game controller making a selection of a plurality of symbols; the game controller awarding an award to a player of the gaming machine if the plurality of symbols corresponds to a winning symbol combination; the game controller making a change to the plurality of symbols if the plurality of symbols comprises a predefined expanding symbol, and the game controller depicting the change to the plurality of symbols on a display by causing an image of the predefined expanding symbol to expand laterally so as to replace an adjacent one of the plurality of symbols.
In a tenth aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed implements the above method.
In an eleventh aspect, the invention provides a tangible computer readable medium comprising the above program code.
In a twelfth aspect, the invention provides a data signal comprising the above program code.
According to yet another aspect, there is provided a gaming system comprising a game server that is arranged to interact with a remote computing device via a data network, the game server being arranged to cause a plurality of discrete symbols to be displayed on a display of the computing device, wherein at least a first of the discrete symbols is displayed at a location that is lateral to at least a second of the discrete symbols, the first of the discrete symbols being such that it can expand in size to obscure the second of the discrete symbols.
The discrete symbols may be displayed on the display in a matrix arrangement comprising x rows and y columns of the discrete symbols. The first of the discrete symbols may be positioned in a predetermined one of the columns while the second of the discrete symbols may be positioned in an adjacent one of the columns that may be adjacent the predetermined one of the columns. The first of the discrete symbols may be such that as a result of expanding in size it is positioned in at least the predetermined column and the adjacent column.
The adjacent column may be located on a left side or a right side of the predetermined column.
The first of the discrete symbols may be positioned in at least two of the rows, and as a result of expanding in size the first of the discrete symbols may be positioned in at least two of the rows and at least two of the columns.
The first of the discrete symbols may be caused to expand in size in response to the game controller determining that a predefined trigger event has occurred.
The first of the discrete symbols may be one of a plurality of different symbols that can expand in size.
As a result of the first of the discrete symbols expanding in size, the gaming machine awards an award to a player of the gaming machine.
According to yet another aspect, there is provided a gaming system comprising a game server to interact with a remote computing device via a data network. The game server may determine an outcome for a game of chance and visually depict the outcome on a display of the computing device. The game server may depict the outcome on the display by simulating a plurality of spinning reels, and each of the reels is associated with a plurality of symbols. At least one of the reels may comprise a special symbol, the special symbol being such that it can expand in size to obscure at least one of the symbols associated with at least one of the reels that is laterally located adjacent the special symbol.
The special symbol is such that it occupies at least two symbol positions on the associated reel and the at least one of the symbols associated with at least one of the reels laterally located adjacent the special symbol is one of a plurality of the symbols that is obscured as a result of the special symbol expanding in size.
The at least one of the reels that may be laterally located adjacent the oversized symbol is located on a left side or a right side of the oversized symbol.
As a result of the oversized symbol expanding in size, the gaming machine may award an award to a player of the gaming machine.
The oversized symbol may be caused to expand in size in response to the game controller determining that a predefined trigger event has occurred.
The oversized symbol may be one of a plurality of different oversized symbols that can expand in size.
According to yet another aspect, there is provided a gaming system comprising a game server to interact with a remote computing device via a data network. The game server makes a selection of a plurality of symbols and will award an award to a player of the gaming machine if the plurality of symbols corresponds to a winning symbol combination. The game server may be such that if the plurality of symbols comprises a predefined expanding symbol, the game server makes a change to the plurality of symbols. The game controller may depict the change to the plurality of symbols on a display by causing an image of the predefined expanding symbol to expand laterally so as to replace an adjacent one of the plurality of symbols.
The adjacent one of the plurality of symbols may be located on a left side or a right side of the predefined expanding symbol.
The plurality of symbols may be depicted on the display as being associated with a plurality of spinning reels. The predefined expanding symbol may be depicted on the display as initially being located on only one of the spinning reels and subsequent to expanding laterally the predefined expanding symbol is located on at least two of the spinning reels.
The predefined expanding symbol may occupy at least two symbol positions on each of the at least two of the spinning reels.
The change to the plurality of symbols corresponds to the winning symbol combination.
The change to the plurality of symbols occurs in response to the game controller detecting a game event.
According to yet another aspect, there is provided a method for use with a gaming machine that comprises an electronic game controller and a display. The method comprises the electronic game controller causing a plurality of discrete symbols to be displayed on the display. At least a first of the discrete symbols may be displayed at a location that is lateral to at least a second of the discrete symbols. The method also comprises the electronic game controller causing the first of the discrete symbols to expand in size so as to obscure the second of the discrete symbols.
The discrete symbols may be displayed on the display in a matrix arrangement comprising x rows and y columns of the discrete symbols. The first of the discrete symbols is positioned in a predetermined one of the columns while the second of the discrete symbols is positioned in an adjacent one of the columns that is adjacent the predetermined one of the columns. The first of the discrete symbols may such that as a result of expanding in size it is positioned in at least the predetermined column and the adjacent column.
The adjacent column may be located on a left side or a right side of the predetermined column.
The first of the discrete symbols may be positioned in at least two of the rows. As a result of expanding in size, the first of the discrete symbols may be positioned in at least two of the rows and at least two of the columns.
The first of the discrete symbols may be caused to expand in size in response to the game controller determining that a predefined trigger event has occurred.
The first of the discrete symbols may be one of a plurality of different symbols that can expand in size.
As a result of the first of the discrete symbols expanding in size, the gaming machine may award an award to a player of the gaming machine.
According to still another aspect, there is provided a method for use with a gaming machine comprising a game controller and a display. The method comprises the game controller determining an outcome for a game of chance; the game controller visually depicting the outcome on the display such that the outcome is depicted by simulating a plurality of spinning reels. Each of the reels is associated with a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of the reels comprises a special symbol. The method also comprises the game controller depicting the special symbol such that it expands in size to obscure at least one of the symbols associated with at least one of the reels that is laterally located adjacent the special symbol.
The special symbol may be such that it occupies at least two symbol positions on the associated reel and the at least one of the symbols associated with at least one of the reels laterally located adjacent the special symbol is one of a plurality of the symbols that is obscured as a result of the special symbol expanding in size.
The at least one of the reels that may be laterally located adjacent the oversized symbol is located on a left side or a right side of the oversized symbol.
As a result of the oversized symbol expanding in size, the gaming machine may award an award to a player of the gaming machine.
The oversized symbol may be caused to expand in size in response to the game controller determining that a predefined trigger event has occurred.
The oversized symbol may be one of a plurality of different oversized symbols that can expand in size.
According to still another aspect, there is provided a method for use with a gaming machine comprising a game controller. The method comprises the game controller facilitating play of a game of chance, the game controller making a selection of a plurality of symbols, the game controller awarding an award to a player of the gaming machine if the plurality of symbols corresponds to a winning symbol combination; the game controller making a change to the plurality of symbols if the plurality of symbols comprises a predefined expanding symbol, and the game controller depicting the change to the plurality of symbols on a display by causing an image of the predefined expanding symbol to expand laterally so as to replace an adjacent one of the plurality of symbols.
The adjacent one of the plurality of symbols According to still another aspect, there is provided a located on a left side or a right side of the predefined expanding symbol.
The plurality of symbols may be depicted on the display as being associated with a plurality of spinning reels. The predefined expanding symbol is depicted on the display as initially being located on only one of the spinning reels and subsequent to expanding laterally the predefined expanding symbol is located on at least two of the spinning reels.
The predefined expanding symbol occupies at least two symbol positions on each of the at least two of the spinning reels.
The change to the plurality of symbols corresponds to the winning symbol combination.
The change to the plurality of symbols occurs in response to the game controller detecting a game event.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the drawings, there is shown gaming equipment having a game controller arranged to implement a spinning reel game of chance (commonly referred to a slot machine or pokie machine). The spinning reel game incorporates certain symbols that are capable of expanding in size to thereby provide players with a dynamic visual appearance.
The gaming equipment can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.
In a second form, a distributed architecture (such as an online gaming system) is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine, or a general purpose computing device such as a laptop or smart phone, and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine in a game server. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.
However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.
Irrespective of the form, gaming equipment has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components of the equipment 1 are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in
Components of the player interface 50 may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, a game play mechanism 56 including one or more input devices that enable a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place a wager), and one or more speakers 58.
The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface 50 and typically includes a microprocessor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display 54. Typically, the game play rules are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein the term “microprocessor” or “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. That is a processor 62 may be provided by any suitable logic circuitry for receiving inputs, processing them in accordance with instructions stored in memory and generating outputs (for example on the display). Such processors 62 are sometimes also referred to as central processing units (CPUs). Most processors 62 are general purpose units, however, it is also known to provide a specific purpose processor 62 using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
Gaming equipment in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in
A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.
The display 14 shown in
The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102 mounted on a circuit board. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103.
The gaming machine 100 has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.
In the example shown in
In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a bonus controller, central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the bonus controller, central controller, server or database. In embodiments employing a player marketing module, communications over a network may be via player marketing module—i.e. the player marketing module may be in data communication with one or more of the above devices and communicate with it on behalf of the gaming machine.
It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.
One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. For example, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.
In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided.
In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components. Other client/server configurations are possible, and further details of a client/server architecture can be found in WO 2006/052213 and PCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network.
The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals.
The player operates the game play mechanism 56 to specify a wager and hence the win entitlement which will be evaluated for this play of the game and initiates a play of the game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player's win entitlement will vary from game to game dependent on player selections. In most spinning reel games, it is typical for the player's entitlement to be affected by the amount they wager and selections they make (i.e. the nature of the wager). For example, a player's win entitlement may be based on how many lines they play in each game—e.g. a minimum of one line up to the maximum number of lines allowed by the game (noting that not all permutations of win lines may be available for selection) and how much they wager per line. Such win lines are typically formed by a combination of symbol display positions, one from each reel, the symbol display positions being located relative to one another such that they form a line.
In many games, the player's win entitlement is not strictly limited to the lines they have selected, for example, “scatter” pays are awarded independently of a player's selection of pay lines and are an inherent part of the win entitlement.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the player may obtain a win entitlement by selecting a number of reels to play and an amount to wager per reel. Such games are marketed under the trade name “Reel Power” by Aristocrat Technologies Pty Ltd. The selection of the reel means that each displayed symbol of the reel can be substituted for a symbol at one or more designated display positions. In other words, all symbols displayed at symbol display positions corresponding to a selected reel can be used to form symbol combinations with symbols displayed at a designated, symbol display positions of the other reels. For example, if there are five reels and three symbol display positions for each reel such that the symbol display positions comprise three rows of five symbol display positions, the symbols displayed in the center row are used for non-selected reels. As a result, the total number of ways to win is determined by multiplying the number of active display positions of each reels, the active display positions being all display positions of each selected reel and the designated display position of the non-selected reels. As a result for five reels and fifteen display positions there are 243 ways to win.
In other embodiments a player's win entitlement may be affected by purchasing access to particular pay tables—e.g. a first bet amount entitles the player to wins including cherries and a second amount entitles them to wins including plums.
In
These modules include the outcome generator 622 which operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism 56 to place a wager and initiate a play of the game and generates a game outcome which will then be evaluated by award evaluator 623. The first part of forming the game outcome is for a symbol selector 622A to select symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data 641 using random number generator 621. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller 624 which causes them to be displayed on display 54 at a set of display positions.
One example of selecting symbols is for the symbol selector 622A to select symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. The symbol sets 641 can specify a sequence of symbols for each reel such that the symbol selector 622A can select all of the symbols by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display 54. It is known to use a probability table stored in memory 64 to vary the odds of a particular stop position being selected. Other techniques can be used to control the odds of particular outcomes occurring to thereby control the return to player of the game.
In some embodiments, an eligibility criteria may be applied, for example that the player has made a certain sized wager, made an ante bet, selected all win lines, played sufficient games, or the player is a member of a loyalty program.
The base game is a part of the game which is carried out each time the player makes a wager, typically irrespective of the wager, whereas other parts of the game will only be carried out occasionally for example if a condition is met such as a trigger occurring or if an ante bet is placed (depending on the specific embodiment).
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a feature game involves some additional element of game play which usually only occurs when a trigger condition is met. Types of feature games include: those where a series of free game events are awarded such as free games or re-spins (where some reels are held while others are re-spun); games where the symbols on the reel are changed; and “second screen” games where game play is totally different to the base game, for example where the player makes selections in a “pick a box type” game.
The trigger event may be, a symbol combination in the game, occurrence of a specific symbol in the game, purchased, be caused by another connected system, based on turnover, based on a random evaluation, etc.
A game round involves at least one of the reels being “spun”—e.g. new symbols of the reels are selected for display at the display positions and the reel is either physically or virtually spun to a stop. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be more than one game round in a play of a gaming machine such as is the case when a series of free spins is awarded. The outcome of a game round may be no win, a win (for example from a winning combination of symbols), a contribution towards a win accrued over a plurality of game rounds, a trigger condition occurring etc. Typically, a win will result in some form of award being made such as an award of credits. Such an award may never actually be physically received by a player. For example, many gaming systems provide a player with a double or nothing gamble feature, where the player can double or forfeit their credits before commencing another play of the game or cashing out. Further, as credits are fungible, once credits have been added to the credit meter it is not possible to distinguish between credits which exist because the player has input cash or the like and credits resulting from an award.
With reference to
As can be seen in
Referring again to
If as a consequence of the previous step 740 of determining that the selected symbols include the special symbol 122, the game controller 60 performs the step 750 of making a change to the selected symbols in order to change the selected symbols to a predefined winning combination of symbols. To convey the step 750 of changing the symbols to a player the game controller 60 carries out the step 760 of causing the oversized special symbol 122 to expand laterally so as to obscure the adjacent symbols 110 to 114 on the next reel 88. The oversized special symbol 122 can expand so as to spread across several of the reels 88 and 90 and not just one adjacent reel 88. It is envisaged that the oversized special symbol 122 can expand laterally in either the right or left direct, or indeed in both directions. The expanding of the special symbol 122 into an adjacent reel 88 is shown in
In this embodiment the special symbol 122 is considered a wild symbol and as persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate, a wild symbol acts as a substitute for all other symbols. As such, following the expansion of the special symbol 122 the game controller 60 will perform the step 770 of paying any wins to be payed to the player as a consequence of the other symbol 92-102 combinations will be enhanced by virtue of the special symbol. More specifically, the game described in this embodiment will pay the player a prize in response to the selected symbols comprising more than two of the crown symbols 92-98 (see
Within this embodiment it is envisioned that the special symbol 122 will only expand if a certain condition is met. More specifically, that condition is that as a result of expanding the player will be payed a prize. For example, as mentioned previously with reference to
Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the system. It will be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implemented electronically, for example, digitally by a processor executing program code such as in the above description of a game controller. In this respect, in the above description certain steps are described as being carried out by a processor of a gaming system, it will be appreciated that such steps will often require a number of sub-steps to be carried out for the steps to be implemented electronically, for example due to hardware or programming limitations. For example, to carry out a step such as evaluating, determining or selecting, a processor may need to compute several values and compare those values.
As indicated above, the method may be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible computer readable storage medium, such as a disc or a memory device, e.g. an EEPROM, (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server). Further different parts of the program code can be executed by different devices, for example in a client server relationship. Persons skilled in the art, will appreciate that program code provides a series of instructions executable by the processor.
It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to form further embodiments.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014903917 | Sep 2014 | AU | national |
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/869,421, filed Sep. 29, 2015, which claims priority to Australia Provisional Patent Application No. 2014903917, having a filing date of Sep. 29, 2014. Each of the above-mentioned applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14869421 | Sep 2015 | US |
| Child | 16194011 | US |
