Patent Application
20240428657
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2023-2024, LNW Gaming, Inc.
The present invention relates to a technological improvement to gaming systems, gaming machines, and methods and, more particularly, to technological improvements in connection with player-selected options.
The gaming industry depends upon player participation. Players are generally “hopeful” players who either think they are lucky or at least think they can get lucky—for a relatively small investment to play a game, they can get a disproportionately large return. To create this feeling of luck, a gaming apparatus relies upon an internal or external random element generator to generate one or more random elements such as random numbers. The gaming apparatus determines a game outcome based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements.
A significant technical challenge is to improve the operation of gaming apparatus and games played thereon, including the manner in which they leverage the underlying random element generator, by making them yield a negative return on investment in the long run (via a high quantity and/or frequency of player/apparatus interactions) and yet random and volatile enough to make players feel they can get lucky and win in the short run. Striking the right balance between yield versus randomness and volatility to create a feeling of luck involves addressing many technical problems, some of which can be at odds with one another. This luck factor is what appeals to core players and encourages prolonged and frequent player participation. As the industry matures, the creativity and ingenuity required to improve such operation of gaming apparatus and games grows accordingly.
Another significant technical challenge is to improve the operation of gaming apparatus and games played thereon by increasing processing speed and efficiency of usage of processing and/or memory resources. To make games more entertaining and exciting, they often offer the complexities of advanced graphics and special effects, multiple bonus features with different game formats, and multiple random outcome determinations per feature. The game formats may, for example, include picking games, reel spins, wheel spins, and other arcade-style play mechanics. Inefficiencies in processor execution of the game software can slow down play of the game and prevent a player from playing the game at their desired pace.
Yet another significant technical challenge is to provide a new and improved level of game play that uses new and improved gaming apparatus animations. Improved animations represent improvements to the underlying technology or technical field of gaming apparatus and, at the same time, have the effect of encouraging prolonged and frequent player participation.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine and method that utilize a presentation assembly configured to present a plurality of reels and an array. Game-logic circuitry is configured to spin and stop the reels to land symbols from the reels in the array. Certain landed outcomes may trigger a bonus game. Initialization of the bonus game may include a series of player choices pertaining to a certain number, for example, three, parameters of the bonus game. A first menu comprising a first type of choices associated with a first game parameter and a second type of choices associated with a second game parameter is displayed. Upon acceptance of a selection from the first menu, a second menu comprising the unselected type of choices from the first menu and a third type of choices associated with a third game parameter is displayed. Upon acceptance of a selection from the second menu, game parameters associated with the types of choices from which the selections were made are set according to the choices. For the unselected type of choices, a choice is randomly determined from a weighted set of choices based on the other two selected choices. The game parameter associated with the unselected set of choices is then set to the randomly determined choice and the bonus game is presented according to the set game parameters.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the reel background behind some of the reel symbols is plain, while the reel background behind other symbols has a special pattern or “watermark,” the presence of which promotes the value of the overlying symbol. In response to one or more of the landed symbols including a watermark, the value of each watermarked symbol is increased prior to evaluation of the array for a winning outcome. According to some embodiments of the invention, each landed watermarked symbol may also increase the size of an associated persistent element, the size of which may suggest or reflect the likelihood of triggering the above-mentioned bonus game.
Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.”
For purposes of the present detailed description, the terms “wagering game,” “casino wagering game,” “gambling,” “slot game,” “casino game,” and the like include games in which a player places at risk a sum of money or other representation of value, whether or not redeemable for cash, on an event with an uncertain outcome, including without limitation those having some element of skill. In some embodiments, the wagering game involves wagers of real money, as found with typical land-based or online casino games. In other embodiments, the wagering game additionally, or alternatively, involves wagers of non-cash values, such as virtual currency, and therefore may be considered a social or casual game, such as would be typically available on a social networking web site, other web sites, across computer networks, or applications on mobile devices (e.g., phones, tablets, etc.). When provided in a social or casual game format, the wagering game may closely resemble a traditional casino game, or it may take another form that more closely resembles other types of social/casual games.
Referring to
The gaming machine 10 illustrated in
The input devices, output devices, and input/output devices are disposed on, and securely coupled to, the cabinet 12. By way of example, the output devices include a primary presentation device 18, a secondary presentation device 20, and one or more audio speakers 22. The primary presentation device 18 or the secondary presentation device 20 may be a mechanical-reel display device, a video display device, or a combination thereof. In one such combination disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,433, a transmissive video display is disposed in front of the mechanical reel display to portray a video image superimposed upon electro-mechanical reels. In another combination disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,899, a projector projects video images onto stationary or moving surfaces. In yet another combination disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,276, miniature video displays are mounted to electro-mechanical reels and portray video symbols for the game. In a further combination disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,591,330, flexible displays such as OLED or e-paper displays are affixed to electro-mechanical reels. The aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,517,433, 7,654,899, 7,452,276, and 8,591,330 are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
The presentation devices 18, 20, the audio speakers 22, lighting assemblies, and/or other devices associated with presentation are collectively referred to as a “presentation assembly” of the gaming machine 10. The presentation assembly may include one presentation device (e.g., the primary presentation device 18), some of the presentation devices of the gaming machine 10, or all of the presentation devices of the gaming machine 10. The presentation assembly may be configured to present a unified presentation sequence formed by visual, audio, tactile, and/or other suitable presentation means, or the devices of the presentation assembly may be configured to present respective presentation sequences or respective information.
The presentation assembly, and more particularly the primary presentation device 18 and/or the secondary presentation device 20, variously presents information associated with wagering games, non-wagering games, community games, progressives, advertisements, services, premium entertainment, text messaging, emails, alerts, announcements, broadcast information, subscription information, etc. appropriate to the particular mode(s) of operation of the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 may include a touch screen(s) mounted over the primary or secondary presentation devices, an input deck 24 supporting a video button panel 26 bearing touch keys and one or more mechanical push-buttons 28, a bill/ticket acceptor 30, a card reader/writer (not shown), a ticket dispenser 32, and player-accessible ports (e.g., audio output jack for headphones, video headset jack, USB port, wireless transmitter/receiver, etc.). It should be understood that numerous other peripheral devices and other elements exist and are readily utilizable in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine in accord with the present concepts.
The player input devices, such as the touch screen, video button panel 26, push-buttons 28, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device, a voice-recognition device, and a virtual-input device, accept player inputs and transform the player inputs to electronic data signals indicative of the player inputs, which correspond to an enabled feature for such inputs at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The inputs, once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to game-logic circuitry for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.
The gaming machine 10 includes one or more value input/payment devices and value output/payout devices. In order to deposit cash or credits onto the gaming machine 10, the value input devices are configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance on a credit meter such as the “credit” meter 34. The physical item may, for example, be currency bills, coins, tickets, vouchers, coupons, cards, and/or computer-readable storage mediums. The deposited cash or credits are used to fund wagers placed on the wagering game played via the gaming machine 10. Examples of value input devices include, but are not limited to, a coin acceptor, the bill/ticket acceptor 30, a card reader/writer (not shown), a wireless communication interface for reading cash or credit data from a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for withdrawing cash or credits from a remote account via an electronic funds transfer. In response to a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance on the “credit” meter 34, the value output devices are used to dispense cash or credits from the gaming machine 10. The credits may be exchanged for cash at, for example, a cashier or redemption station. Examples of value output devices include, but are not limited to, a coin hopper for dispensing coins or tokens, a bill dispenser, a card reader/writer, the ticket dispenser 32 for printing tickets redeemable for cash or credits, a wireless communication interface for transmitting cash or credit data to a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for depositing cash or credits to a remote account via an electronic funds transfer.
Turning now to
The game-logic circuitry 40 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 48, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside bus. The I/O bus 48 is connected to various input devices 50, output devices 52, and input/output devices 54 such as those discussed above in connection with
The external system 60 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming machines or terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 60 comprises a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external-system interface 58 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the gaming machine 10, such as by a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).
The gaming machine 10 optionally communicates with the external system 60 such that the gaming machine 10 operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. The game-logic circuitry 40—whether located within (“thick client”), external to (“thin client”), or distributed both within and external to (“intermediate client”) the gaming machine 10—is utilized to provide a wagering game on the gaming machine 10. In general, the main memory 44 stores programming for a random number generator (RNG), game-outcome logic, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.)—all of which obtained regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission and are verified by a trusted authentication program in the main memory 44 prior to game execution. The authentication program generates a live authentication code (e.g., digital signature or hash) from the memory contents and compare it to a trusted code stored in the main memory 44. If the codes match, authentication is deemed a success and the game is permitted to execute. If, however, the codes do not match, authentication is deemed a failure that must be corrected prior to game execution. Without this predictable and repeatable authentication, the gaming machine 10, external system 60, or both are not allowed to perform or execute the RNG programming or game-outcome logic in a regulatory-approved manner and are therefore unacceptable for commercial use. In other words, through the use of the authentication program, the game-logic circuitry facilitates operation of the game in a way that a person making calculations or computations could not.
When a wagering-game instance is executed, the CPU 42 (comprising one or more processors or controllers) executes the RNG programming to generate one or more pseudo-random numbers. The pseudo-random numbers are divided into different ranges, and each range is associated with a respective game outcome. Accordingly, the pseudo-random numbers are utilized by the CPU 42 when executing the game-outcome logic to determine a resultant outcome for that instance of the wagering game. The resultant outcome is then presented to a player of the gaming machine 10 by accessing the associated game assets, required for the resultant outcome, from the main memory 44. The CPU 42 causes the game assets to be presented to the player as outputs from the gaming machine 10 (e.g., audio and video presentations). Instead of a pseudo-RNG, the game outcome may be derived from random numbers generated by a physical RNG that measures some physical phenomenon that is expected to be random and then compensates for possible biases in the measurement process. Whether the RNG is a pseudo-RNG or physical RNG, the RNG uses a seeding process that relies upon an unpredictable factor (e.g., human interaction of turning a key) and cycles continuously in the background between games and during game play at a speed that cannot be timed by the player. Accordingly, the RNG cannot be carried out manually by a human and is integral to operating the game.
The gaming machine 10 may be used to play central determination games, such as electronic pull-tab and bingo games. In an electronic pull-tab game, the RNG is used to randomize the distribution of outcomes in a pool and/or to select which outcome is drawn from the pool of outcomes when the player requests to play the game. In an electronic bingo game, the RNG is used to randomly draw numbers that players match against numbers printed on their electronic bingo card.
The gaming machine 10 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in
In accordance with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering-game outcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering-game outcome, for that particular wagering-game instance, is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming machine 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with stored instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU 42 causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 56), the CPU 42, in accord with associated stored instructions, causes the changing of a state of the storage media from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM, etc.). The noted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic data signal from the CPU 42 (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU 42 further, in accord with the execution of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary presentation device 18, other presentation device, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary presentation device comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by the RNG) that is used by the game-logic circuitry 40 to determine the outcome of the wagering-game instance. In at least some aspects, the game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to determine an outcome of the wagering-game instance at least partially in response to the random parameter.
In one embodiment, the gaming machine 10 and, additionally or alternatively, the external system 60 (e.g., a gaming server), means gaming equipment that meets the hardware and software requirements for fairness, security, and predictability as established by at least one state's gaming control board or commission. Prior to commercial deployment, the gaming machine 10, the external system 60, or both and the casino wagering game played thereon may need to satisfy minimum technical standards and require regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission (e.g., the Nevada Gaming Commission, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, National Indian Gaming Commission, etc.) charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, such as a state. By way of non-limiting example, a gaming machine in Nevada means a device as set forth in NRS 463.0155, 463.0191, and all other relevant provisions of the Nevada Gaming Control Act, and the gaming machine cannot be deployed for play in Nevada unless it meets the minimum standards set forth in, for example, Technical Standards 1 and 2 and Regulations 5 and 14 issued pursuant to the Nevada Gaming Control Act. Additionally, the gaming machine and the casino wagering game must be approved by the commission pursuant to various provisions in Regulation 14. Comparable statutes, regulations, and technical standards exist in or are used in other gaming jurisdictions, including for example GLI Standard #11 of Gaming Laboratories International (which defines a gaming device in Section 1.5) and N.J.S.A 5:12-23, 5:12-45, and all other relevant provisions of the New Jersey Casino Control Act. As can be seen from the description herein, the gaming machine 10 may be regulatory approved and thus implemented with hardware and software architectures, circuitry, and other special features that differentiate it from general-purpose computers (e.g., desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets).
Referring now to
Referring to
In
At step 104, the game-logic circuitry detects, via a value input device, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a monetary balance in the form of cash or credits. The monetary balance may be shown on a meter 200 akin to the meter 34 in
At step 106, the game-logic circuitry initiates a base game of a wagering game cycle (i.e., spin cycle) in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the monetary balance. To initiate a spin of the reels, the player may press a “Spin” or “Max Bet” key on a button panel or touch screen. The wager may be shown on a bet meter 202 akin to the meter 36 in
At step 108, using an RNG, the game-logic circuitry spins and stops the reels to randomly land symbols from the reels in the array in visual association with one or more paylines (also known as lines, ways, patterns, or arrangements). The reel spin may be animated on a video display by depicting symbol-bearing strips moving vertically across the display and synchronously updating the symbols visible on each strip as the strip moves across the display. Alternatively, the reels may be physical/electromechanical reels.
At step 110, the game-logic circuitry determines whether any symbols in the array are watermarked symbols. If no watermarked symbols appear in the array 200, the game-logic circuitry proceeds to step 114. Otherwise, at step 112, the watermarked symbols are promoted in value. For example, the symbol may be duplicated. In the example of
At step 114, the game logic circuitry awards standard payouts in accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example, include “line pays” and “scatter pays.” Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or paylines. Each payline preferably consists of a single symbol position in each column of the array. The number of paylines may be as few as one or as many as possible given each payline consists of a single symbol position in each column of the array. To animate a standard pay, the display may apply a border, pattern, color change, background change, watermark, or other distinguishing characteristic to the winning payline and/or winning symbols that contributed to the pay.
At step 116, using the RNG, the game-logic circuitry randomly determines whether or not to trigger a bonus associated with the coin pot. This random determination is preferably independent of any prior wagering game cycles. However, during a player's gaming session, the growth in size of the coin pot 212 in
If the bonus was not triggered, the game-logic circuitry proceeds to step 132. If, however, the bonus was triggered, the game-logic circuitry proceeds to step 118 in the flow in
At step 118, the game-logic circuitry presents the player with an opportunity to select a first bonus initialization parameter from one of two sets of choices. A first menu comprising a first set of choices associated with a first game parameter and a second set of choices associated with a second game parameter is displayed.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, one or both of the sets of choices 610, 620 may include a mystery parameter 615, 625. For example, if the set of reel height options 610 includes seven, five, four or three rows high, choosing the mystery option 615 may select one of those choices for the player or may select a reel height that is better, worse or simply different from the choices explicitly offered to the player, for example eight rows high, six rows high or two rows high. Similarly, if the set of watermark percentages 620 includes twenty-five percent, fifteen percent, ten percent and five percent, choosing the mystery option 625 may select one of those choices for the player or may also select a percentage that is better, worse or simply different from the choices explicitly offered to the player, for example thirty percent, twelve percent or three percent.
At step 120, the game-logic circuitry presents the player with an opportunity to select a second bonus initialization parameter based on the player's selection of the first initialization parameter. Once the first choice has been accepted, a second menu including a set of choices from the unselected type of the first menu and a third set of choices of a type associated with a third game parameter is displayed. The choices presented in the second menu for the unselected type of choices from the first menu may have the same or different values, though the type (i.e., reel height or percentage of watermark symbols) of choice will be the same as the unselected type of choices from the first menu.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, as described with respect to step 118, one or both of the second sets of choices 710, 720 may include a mystery parameter 715, 725 that will select one of the choices in its list, a worse choice than in its list, a better choice than in its list or simply a different choice from the choices in its list.
Once the two choices have been accepted, the game parameters associated with the sets of choices from which the selections were made are set according to the choices. For the unselected type of choices, a choice from a weighted set of choices based on the other two selected choices is randomly determined. The game parameter associated with the unselected type of choices is then set to the randomly determined choice. At step 122, the bonus game in configured according to the two selected parameters. For example, if the player selected reels five rows high and ten percent watermarked symbols, the bonus game is initialized accordingly. Furthermore, at step 122, the game-logic circuitry randomly assigns a value to the number of free spins. If the player had selected the percentage of watermarked symbols and the number of free spins at steps 118 and 120, the game-logic circuitry unselected of the three parameters. For example, if the player selected reels five rows high and ten percent watermarked symbols, the game logic circuitry randomly selects the reel height, etc. By controlling the final selection, the average return to player (RTP) of the bonus game can be maintained. For example, the array is resized according to the selected reel height, the symbols on the reels are watermarked according to the selected watermark percentage and a bonus spin counter is initialized to the selected number of free spins.
The bonus game is then presented according to the set game parameters:
At step 124, using an RNG, as described above with respect to step 108 of the base game, the game-logic circuitry spins and stops symbol-bearing bonus reels to randomly land symbols from the reels in the game array.
At step 126, the landed symbols are evaluated. The game logic circuitry awards payouts in accordance with a bonus pay table, as described above with respect to step 114.
At step 128, a remaining spins counter is decremented and tested to see if any free spins remain. For example,
At step 132, the game-logic circuitry determines whether or not it has received a cashout input via at least one of the one or more player input devices of the gaming machine. If it has not received a cashout input, the game-logic circuitry waits for the next wager input at step 106. If it has received a cashout input, the game-logic circuitry initiates a payout from the monetary balance on the meter 200. The data processing method then ends at step 134.
Embodiments of the present invention realize benefits in increased computer processing efficiency with minimized processing overhead, fewer rules to be evaluated, fewer player inputs to be monitored, and simpler graphical representations. With respect to the bonus-triggering process at step 116, the game-logic circuitry need only make a random determination as to whether the bonus is triggered when a watermark appears in the array and is transferred to a coin pot during a wagering cycle. If a watermark does not appear in the array, the game-logic circuitry foregoes such a random determination. In contrast, in typical prior art systems with mystery bonus triggers, the game-logic circuitry makes a random determination in each and every wagering game cycle, thereby reducing processing efficiency.
In this description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. Note that in this description, references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that the feature being referred to is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Further, separate references to “one embodiment” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, neither are such embodiments mutually exclusive, unless so stated and except as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the present invention can include any variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. Each claim, as may be amended, constitutes an embodiment of the invention, incorporated by reference into the detailed description. Moreover, in this description, the phrase “exemplary embodiment” means that the embodiment being referred to serves as an example or illustration.
While the exemplary embodiments described herein refer to three bonus game parameters, other variations fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
In some embodiments, the number of game parameters may be greater than three. For example, in the case of four parameters, three levels of selection manus would be presented with the fourth (unselected) parameter randomly determined from a set of possible choices determined by the first three choices in order to maintain the RTP of the bonus game.
In other embodiments, the parameters may apply to the base game instead of a bonus game. For example, the player may have the option to invoke the parameter selection menus at any time by way of a button or other control with the selected parameters and the randomly determined final parameter then be applied to the base game until changed again by the player. In alternate embodiments, instead of an on-demand option, the base game may periodically prompt the player to choose the parameters. In some embodiments, the parameters would be reset to default settings when the player cashes out.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, once the player is presented with any menu other than the first menu, the game-logic circuitry may offer a “back up one level” or “start over” option. As an example, in the method above, this option would return from step 120 to step 118.
Block diagrams illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. Flow diagrams illustrate operations of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. The operations of the flow diagrams are described with reference to the example embodiments shown in the block diagrams. However, it should be understood that the operations of the flow diagrams could be performed by embodiments of the invention other than those discussed with reference to the block diagrams, and embodiments discussed with references to the block diagrams could perform operations different than those discussed with reference to the flow diagrams. Additionally, some embodiments may not perform all the operations shown in a flow diagram. Moreover, it should be understood that although the flow diagrams depict serial operations, certain embodiments could perform certain of those operations in parallel or in a different sequence.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.
This patent application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/509,882 filed Jun. 23, 2023. The disclosure of the 63/509,882 Application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63509882 | Jun 2023 | US |
