Patent Grant
8795062
The present application claims the benefit of priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2007904618, filed on Aug. 27, 2007, entitled “A GAMING SYSTEM, A GROUP GAME CONTROLLER, A METHOD OF DISPLAYING AN OUTCOME OF A GROUP GAME AND A GROUP GAME DISPLAY”, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The presently described technology relates to a gaming system, a group game controller, a method of displaying a group outcome and a group game display for a gaming system.
It is known to arrange gaming machines so that players can participate in group games. Such a group game is common to a plurality of gaming machines typically arranged in a bank next to one another. One or more of the players may trigger the group game. The group game may be played on a common display, typically a large screen video display, arranged above the gaming machines.
There is a need for an alternative technique that can be used in the display of a group game.
In a first aspect the invention provides a gaming system including:
In an embodiment the group game controller controls a stopping position of the object based on the game outcome.
In an embodiment the group game controller determines a participation in the group game of each of the plurality of gaming devices, and controls movement of the object based on the determined participation.
In an embodiment, the stopping position of at least a portion of the object relative to one or more of the gaming devices indicates the game outcome.
In an embodiment, the object is a vehicle.
In an embodiment, the vehicle is a train including at least one item of rolling stock and the position of at least one item of rolling stock indicates the game outcome.
In an embodiment the game outcome involves the award of a prize to a participating gaming device and at least one item of rolling stock is stopped at a prize indicating position relative to the gaming device.
In an embodiment, the group game controller determines a game outcome at least in part by determining a stopping position for the object.
In an embodiment, there are a plurality of items of rolling stock and the front of the first item of rolling stock and the rear of the item of rolling stock are separated from one another by a gap corresponding to a width of at least one gaming device, such that the train is not continuous.
In an embodiment, the gaming system includes track on which the train runs.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of the object carries a display for displaying a prize amount.
In an embodiment, the group game controller determines a group game outcome at least partly based on data received from one of the gaming devices indicating at least that the gaming device is entitled to win the group game.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a group game controller in data communication with a plurality of gaming devices and a physical group game display including an object arranged to travel on a path relative to the plurality of gaming devices, the group game controller configured to:
In an embodiment, the group game controller is configured to control a stopping position of the object based on the game outcome.
In an embodiment, the group game controller is arranged to determine a participation in the group game of each of the plurality of gaming devices, and controls movement of the object based on the determined participation.
In an embodiment, the group game controller is arranged to determine a game outcome at least in part by determining a stopping position for the object.
In an embodiment, the group game controller is arranged to determine a group game outcome at least partly based on data received from one of the gaming devices indicating at least that the gaming device is entitled to win the group game.
In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of displaying an outcome of a group game including:
In an embodiment, the method includes controlling a stopping position of the object based on the game outcome.
In an embodiment, the method includes determining a participation in the group game of each of the plurality of gaming devices, and controlling movement of the object based on the determined participation.
In an embodiment, the method includes indicating the game outcome by the stopping position of at least a portion of the object relative to one or more of the gaming devices.
In an embodiment, the method includes determining a game outcome at least in part by determining a stopping position for the object.
In an embodiment the method includes determining a group game outcome at least partly based on data received from one of the gaming devices indicating at least that the gaming device is entitled to win the group game.
In a fourth aspect the invention provides a group game display for a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices, the group game display including a controllable object physically moveable along a path relative to the plurality of gaming devices to indicate a group game outcome.
In an embodiment, the object is a vehicle.
In an embodiment, the vehicle is a train including at least one item of rolling stock and the position of at least one item of rolling stock indicates the game outcome.
In an embodiment there are a plurality of items of rolling stock and the front of the first item of rolling stock and the rear of the item of rolling stock are separated from one another by a gap corresponding to a width of at least one gaming device, such that the train is not continuous.
In an embodiment, the group game display includes track on which the train runs.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of the object carries a display for displaying a prize amount.
In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:
In an embodiment a front of the object and a rear of the object are separated from one another by a gap.
In an embodiment, the gap corresponds to a width of a cabinet of at least one gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices.
In an embodiment, the group game display is a physical display.
In an embodiment, the group game display includes at least one video display.
In an embodiment, the gaming system includes a group game controller in data communication with the plurality of gaming devices and the group game display, the group game controller configured to:
In an embodiment, the object is a train.
In a sixth aspect the invention provides a group game display for a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices, the group game display arranged to display an object moving relative to the plurality of gaming devices during at least part of a group game, the display of the object being such that the object is not continuously displayed at least one gaming device.
In an embodiment, a front of the object and a rear of the object are separated from one another by a gap.
In an embodiment, the gap corresponds to a width of a cabinet of at least one gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices.
In an embodiment, the group game display is a physical display.
In an embodiment, the group game display includes at least one video display.
In an embodiment, the object is a train.
In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming including providing a group game display arranged to display an object moving relative to the plurality of gaming devices during at least part of a group game, the display of the object being such that the object is not continuously displayed at least one gaming device.
In an embodiment, the method includes:
In an eighth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:
In an embodiment, the object has a plurality of sub-objects and the alternate display element is displayed instead of at least part of one sub-object.
In an embodiment, the group game display includes a display of each of the gaming devices.
In an embodiment, the gaming system includes a group game controller in data communication with the plurality of gaming devices and the group game display, the group game controller configured to:
In an embodiment, the group game controller is arranged to control the display to display an alternative element in relation to at least one ineligible gaming device.
In a ninth aspect, the invention provides a group game controller in data communication with a plurality of gaming devices and a group game display including one or more video displays, the group game controller configured to:
In an embodiment the group game controller is arranged to control the display to display an alternative element in relation to at least one ineligible gaming device.
In an embodiment, the object has a plurality of sub-objects and the alternate display element is displayed instead of at least part of one sub-object.
In an embodiment, the group game display includes a display of each of the gaming devices.
In a tenth aspect the invention provides a method of gaming including:
In an embodiment, the object has a plurality of sub-objects and the alternate display element is displayed instead of at least part of one sub-object.
In an embodiment the method includes controlling the display to display an alternative element in relation to at least one ineligible gaming device.
In an eleventh aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:
In an embodiment, the object is a train and the sub-objects are items of rolling stock.
In an embodiment, the object is a carousel and the sub-objects are respective ones of a plurality of carousel horses.
In an embodiment, the group game controller controls movement of the sub-objects so that they are displayed as rotating relative to the plurality of gaming devices.
In an embodiment, the group game controller controls movement of the sub-objects so that they move in a pattern relative to the plurality of gaming devices.
In a twelfth aspect, the invention provides a group game controller for a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including a video display employed in a group game, the group game controller arranged to:
In an embodiment, the group game controller is arranged to control movement of the sub-objects so that they are displayed as rotating relative to the plurality of gaming devices.
In an embodiment, the group game controller is arranged to control movement of the sub-objects so that they move in a pattern relative to the plurality of gaming devices.
In a thirteenth aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming in a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including a video display employed in a group game, the method including:
In an embodiment the method includes controlling movement of the sub-objects so that they are displayed as rotating relative to the plurality of gaming devices.
In an embodiment, the method includes controlling movement of the sub-objects so that they move in a pattern relative to the plurality of gaming devices.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system arranged to implement a group game display in relation to a group game in which a plurality of gaming machines may participate. The group game display of certain embodiments of the present invention may be provided in a number of different forms depending on the specific embodiment, including a physical display, a video display independent of the gaming devices and by employing video displays that form part of the gaming devices.
General System Configuration
There are two general classes of gaming systems that are employed to carry out certain embodiments of the present invention. A first gaming system configuration 100A, is shown in
The second configuration of a gaming system 100B is shown in
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other components may form part of the gaming system 100 of
Gaming Devices
Herein, the term gaming device is used to refer to any device used by a player to a play a game and specifically includes stand alone gaming machines and interactive video terminals which implement games in a client/server architecture.
A gaming device 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 group 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 300 includes a game controller 301 having a processor 302. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 302 are stored in a memory 303, which is in data communication with the processor 302. Typically, the gaming machine 300 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 303.
The gaming machine has hardware meters 304 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 305 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 300. The input/output interface 305 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 313 generates random numbers for use by the processor 302. 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 300 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 312. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.
It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 300 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311 to be provided remotely from the game controller 301.
A gaming device as indicated above may also take the form of a client/server architecture where a portion of the game is executed on the client and a portion of the game is executed on the server. In such embodiments, the client typically takes the form of an interactive video terminal which has a similar outward appearance to the gaming machine described above. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the type of gaming device that is employed is not important to the present invention.
Group Game Controller
The group game can take a number of different forms and may be decided purely by the group outcome module 113, or by the group outcome module 113 based on input from the gaming devices, or predominantly by outcomes generated by the gaming devices with the group outcome module 113 effectively acting to administrate the group game. However, even in this example, the group game controller will ultimately determine the outcome of the group game as it will perform tasks such as determining which gaming device achieved a winning outcome first. In the last example, the controller 110 does not need the random number generator 114. If the group game outcome is determined by the group outcome module 113 it may involve some input from players of the gaming devices. For example, players may be offered choices in the group game which affect the outcome.
In one advantageous embodiment, the group game controller is implemented on an existing jackpot controller 110A as the group game will typically be employed to award jackpots. In this respect it will be appreciated that in such embodiments, as in existing jackpot controllers, the gaming devices may determine whether the jackpot is to be awarded and the level of jackpot to be awarded and the jackpot controller 110A may be arranged to implement the outcome of the triggering, such that, for example, the outcome module 113 may only determine how the jackpot is distributed rather than the actual outcome of the game as described above. To this end, the controller 110 is modified as indicated in
Video Display Embodiments
As indicated above, video display embodiments can take the form of either a common display or displays, for example one large circular screen with many gaming devices underneath or one large screen above a bank of machines, or individual displays associated with individual gaming machines such as a top box display, a main display or the display of a player tracking module.
Players become eligible to participate in the group game in accordance with techniques known in the art. For example, it may be sufficient for one player of a bank of machines to become eligible for the group game to be made available to all players. Typically, all gaming devices are stopped at an appropriate moment such as the conclusion of a game round and players are asked whether they wish to participate in the group games. Depending on the embodiment a player's participation of the group game may require them to place an additional bet. The group game begins and game controller 110 controls the display to start moving the display object.
In one embodiment, the display object is a vehicle such as a train having at least one item of rolling stock, for example a locomotive and a number of carriages and freight cars. The train moves in a pattern relative to the gaming machines, for example as if the gaming machines were connected on a track and prizes are awarded if a whole locomotive or carriage is shown on the gaming machine when the train stops. The number of items of rolling stock may be varied based on the game outcome.
In some embodiments, alternate display elements such as terrain elements, such as railway crossings, tunnels, mountains or the like may be used to instead of display of the train or in order to obscure the train on at least one display. This can be used to indicate ineligibility for a prize. For example, rather than displaying the train, a tunnel can be displayed instead. Typically at least one prize is awarded and hence the group game display module 116 controls the stop position of the train so that a locomotive and or a train as displayed on at least one display. Any prize associated with the locomotive of carriage is then provided to the player. An advantage of using a train as the display object is that:
Other display objects may be used, for example, a snake having a number of segments, a carousel where the horses rotate around the carousel and move up and down such that only horses which are down will result in the award of a prize. In a carousel embodiment, the horses are obscured by moving out of shot and replaced by a background view of the carousel.
The display object may move in a number of directions, for example, forwards, backwards. Further, a track configuration, for example a figure of 8 can be mapped to the plurality of gaming machines so that one or two or more positions on the track correspond to each gaming machine.
Physical Embodiment
An exemplary group game display 800 of a physical embodiment is shown in
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other physical objects can be used, For example a horse drawn coach where the horses provide one sub-object and the coach provides another sub object Other objects may also be used in a physical embodiment, for example a snake having a plurality of segments.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate the various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the video embodiments, other objects may be able to be moved within the image. For example, people/seats could be moved to stop at a station or a carriage.
Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of some of the embodiments could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from a server).
As shown in
The carriages on the train display various prize levels such as 1st class (jackpot 1), 2nd class jackpot 2), prize values, multipliers, free games, bonus prizes etc. The carriages might display a class of game eg $ machine.
The engine of the train can have a special prize. There may be more than one engine. In the example, a freight car does not display a prize but if a freight car stops on a machine, the freight is unloaded to the machine (a mystery win). Alternatively, the freight car can be loaded with water, fuel, money, etc.
The train moves around the bank of machines and when the train stops, the carriage stopped on the player's machine determines the prize awarded to the player. It is possible that a machine does not have a carriage stopped on it because there is a break between the engine and the end of the train.
The movement of the train can be a continuous movement in one direction, or can move backwards or can move at changing speeds—eg. the train can shunt backwards. The direction and speed can be determined by the RNG 114 following a probability table. The movement of the train can be up and down hills. In such embodiments, the game outcome can be determined by determining characteristics of movement and stopping of the gaming machine.
The speed of the train can affect the jackpots—eg. the faster the train the higher the jackpots. Players may have to guess what tunnel from which the train will emerge. Players may bet on where certain carriages stop.
The visibility of the train can vary eg the train can go into tunnels and re-emerge from tunnels. The train can be “stopped” and inactive for a period of time, and then can recommence its travels.
The player on a machine places a bet and plays the regular game on the machine. The reels on the machine spin and the player is paid a prize (if applicable). The top box on the machine shows the name of the game.
A sound is heard “All Aboard” and the screens in the top boxes on the bank of machines changes to show a train with a number of carriages shown above each machine. Players are asked if they would like to “buy a ticket” for the train to participate in the group game. They can purchase a ticket by placing a special bet on the machine. They may buy any class of ticket and for more than one person and the distance (jackpot level) and destination and return trip.
The trip can happen over say 30 seconds while players continue to play the base game or during the 30 seconds the top and bottom games interact.
Players who do not purchase tickets on the train have the top box “greyed” out to indicate that the train cannot stop at their machine or have a terrain element such as a tunnel displayed.
After a small time delay, the train sets off moving from screen to screen with appropriate sounds.
The train slows down and starts to come to a halt and then shunts backwards and stops with one carriage or engine or freight car at each machine.
The prize shown on the carriage is paid to the player if the player has purchased a “ticket”. Once the prizes are paid, the machine top boxes return to a display of game names.
In this example, players of a group of gaming machines can choose whether to participate in a “Texas Ranger” progressive jackpot. The gaming machines (EGMs) are of the type having two displays, one which displays a game screen which displays play of a base game (or games) offered on the gaming machine and a second display or top screen arranged above the normal display and used for the Texas Ranger progressive jackpot. The gaming machines are arranged in a bank next to one another from which a communal display also used in the Texas Ranger progressive jackpot can be viewed. In this example, one of four different jackpots may be awarded, and except for in the case of the lowest jackpot, more than one gaming machine is awarded a portion of the jackpot.
A Texas Ranger icon is permanently displayed in the top right hand corner of the game screen which will have a highlighted format (“Now eligible for TEXAS RANGER”) and a dull format (“NOT eligible for TEXAS RANGER”);
The top screen displays the Texas Ranger banner and the meters for the four levels of progressive jackpot.
Each gaming machine has provision for the player to make a dedicated jackpot ante bet (for example, 50c) that the player can choose to bet in addition to their base game bet. This bet is completely independent of the base game and is not be multiplied by the amount bet per line or per reel on the base game. Hence there will be two separate play buttons that will initiate a game—one which includes the Texas Ranger bet (labelled PLAY REEL GAME+TEXAS RANGER) and one which does not (labelled PLAY REEL GAME).
After the player, selects a bet per line and a number of pay lines, the messages “Press PLAY REEL GAME+TEXAS RANGER to start a game eligible for TEXAS RANGER” appear followed by “OR, Press PLAY REEL GAME to start a game without TEXAS RANGER” rotating above the reels.
The “Now eligible for TEXAS RANGER” icon in the top right band corner of the screen will revert to the dull, “NOT eligible for TEXAS RANGER” state (if not already) but will only do so when the EGM becomes ineligible—in this example, 10 seconds after completion of a game that includes the jackpot ante bet (explained in detail below). Once the EGM becomes ineligible for TEXAS RANGER it will remain ineligible until the next bet is made that includes the jackpot ante bet (hence the icon remains in the dull state).
At the same time that the “Now eligible for TEXAS RANGER” icon reverts to its dull state, a “NOT ELIGIBLE” railway crossing sign will appear over the top screen display and it will remain displayed while the icon remains in its dull state.
If a train carriage with prize amount happens to stop on the top screen of this machine during a TEXAS RANGER feature triggered by another EGM while this EGM is not eligible, the train carriage will be covered by the NOT ELIGIBLE sign and the amount shown on the carriage will be returned to the relevant jackpot pool to be re-distributed during the next feature event (see below).
When the PLAY REEL GAME button is pressed to initiate a game the following occurs:
A standard base game will play according to the bet per line and number of paylines selection that has previously been made. During this game the player will not be eligible to win anything from the Texas Ranger feature. If a Texas Ranger feature is triggered the NOT ELIGIBLE crossing sign will remain in place on the top screen while relevant train animations (see below) pass underneath the sign.
If a train carriage with prize amount happens to stop on the top screen of this machine during a TEXAS RANGER feature triggered by another EGM while this EGM is not eligible, the train carriage will be covered by the NOT ELIGIBLE sign and the amount shown on the carriage will be returned to the relevant jackpot pool to be re-distributed during the next feature event (see below).
When the PLAY REEL GAME+TEXAS RANGER button is pressed to initiate a game the following occurs:
In this example, in order to simplify the controller requirements in this example, the EGMs determine whether the progressive jackpot triggers. Alternatively, the controller could make the determinations based on data communicated to the controller.
When a bet is made that includes the jackpot ante bet, the EGM will determine whether a progressive jackpot has been triggered as follows:
When the controller is notified by an EGM that a progressive level has been triggered, the controller 110:
If the triggered jackpot level is anything other (i.e. MINOR, MAJOR or MAX) than the lowest level (i.e. MINI) the group outcome module 113 makes a further random selection to split the jackpot amount into portions. An example of possible splits is shown in Table 1.
To determine the split, the group outcome module 113:
The controller then:
After completion of the relevant progressive feature, award the jackpot amounts to the EGMs as follows:
After completion of the win celebration and win transfer for the progressive feature, the overhead display and EGM top screens will return to their standard idle mode/base game display (including “NOT ELIGIBLE” signs where applicable).
Coinciding Triggers
If any further progressive jackpot features are triggered while the jackpot feature is in progress, The game controller 110:
Phase 1 of the Texas Ranger feature display is the selection of the relevant jackpot level as follows:
Phase 2 of the Texas Ranger feature display is the splitting up of the progressive jackpot as follows:
An animation will show the train being loaded up while a “coin shower” sound plays. The animation will involve the frozen jackpot amount decrementing at the same rate that the amounts on the train increment.
If the MINI jackpot was triggered then the entire amount of the jackpot will increment on to the train engine at the same rate that it decrements from the pool above it.
For the other jackpots, the train engine will increment first while the pool above it decrements until the amount on the engine reaches the amount of the largest jackpot portion. There will then be a slight pause in the animation and “coin shower” sound before the next carriage or caboose increments to the amount of the second jackpot portion and so on for each applicable carriage/caboose.
Phase 3 of the Texas Ranger feature display is the distribution of the progressive jackpot as follows:
A conductor's whistle sound will play and the train on the overhead display will slowly begin to move as if fully loaded. At the same time the top screens of the EGMs will change to a space background, advantageously with subtle star animations. The EGMs that are not eligible will include the NOT ELIGIBLE crossing sign superimposed over the top of the space background.
When the train disappears off the end of the overhead screen it will then enter the screen of the first EGM of the bank. It will gradually pick up momentum moving from top screen to top screen around the entire bank, It will be sized such that each part of the train (i.e. engine, carriage or caboose) will fit exactly to the size of a screen so that when the engine appears completely on the screen of one EGM the next carriage (if applicable) fits completely to the screen of the EGM to its left and so on. On screens that include the NOT ELIGIBLE crossing sign the train will pass underneath the sign so that it is partially obscured from view by the sign.
Once the train has done a complete lap of the bank allowing the players to see the prize amounts go by on their own EGM, the train will commence another lap but this time will start to slow down with a screech of brakes as it approaches the triggering EGM until it stops with the engine completely displayed on the top screen of the triggering EGM. Note that as the train disappears off the end of the bank it starts to appear at the start of the bank such that if, for example, the first EGM on the bank were the triggering machine the engine would stop on the first EGM while the other carriages would remain on the last EGMs of the bank.
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 the above examples and 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 indicates 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.
Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. As noted above, certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system, for example.
As noted above, embodiments within the scope of the present invention include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.
Certain embodiments of the invention are described in the general context of method steps which may be implemented in one embodiment by a program product including machine-executable instructions, such as program code, for example in the form of program modules executed by machines in networked environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Machine-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
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