Method & apparatus for a gaming device

Abstract

A gaming device method and apparatus are disclosed, and are accomplished by a slot machine that includes one, or a plurality of primary pay lines, as well as one or a plurality of secondary pay lines, wherein symbols occurring at the primary pay lines during a plurality of independent spins are mapped into the secondary pay lines.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other more detailed and specific objectives will be disclosed in the course of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a gaming device according to the invention, showing one primary winning line, and three secondary winning lines. This view also indicates the mapping of the symbols from the primary winning line to the three (3) secondary winning lines during the first spin.

FIG. 2 indicates the mapping of the symbols from the primary winning line to the three (3) secondary winning lines during the second spin.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration for an alternate embodiment that employs one primary winning line, and eighteen secondary winning lines that are populated with symbols during three spins. Also, indicated is the proposed mapping of symbols from the primary winning line to the secondary winning lines, for this alternate embodiment, during the first spin.

FIG. 4 shows a proposed mapping of symbols from the primary winning line to the secondary winning lines, for the alternate embodiment, during the second spin.

FIG. 5 shows a proposed mapping of symbols from the primary winning line to the secondary winning lines, for the alternate embodiment, during the third spin.

FIG. 6 indicates a block diagram of the microprocessor circuitry used to control the gaming device according to the invention.

FIGS. 7-9 indicate a logical flow diagram illustrating the main program functions performed by the game code executed on the microprocessor that controls the gaming device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. In a gaming device that includes at least one primary pay line, means to provide at least one secondary pay line that is populated by symbols occurring at a primary pay line during a plurality of independent spins.

2. A gaming device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housing.

3. A gaming device as recited in claim 2, and using mechanical reels.

4. A gaming device as recited in claim 1, and using a video display that simulates the movements of a plurality of reels.

5. A gaming device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to provide at least one secondary pay line includes an algorithm that maps symbols occurring at one, or a plurality of primary pay lines, during a plurality of spins, into said secondary pay line.

6. In a gaming device that includes at least one primary pay line, and employs a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the device, a computer program segment that maps symbols occurring at a primary pay line, during a plurality of spins, into at least one secondary pay line.

7. A gaming device as recited in claim 6 further comprising a housing.

8. A gaming device as recited in claim 7, and using mechanical reels.

9. A gaming device as recited in claim 6, and using a video display that simulates the movements of a plurality of reels.

10. A gaming device as recited in claim 6, wherein the mapping of symbols from a primary pay line into a secondary pay line is based on predefined mapping configuration.

11. A gaming device as recited in claim 6, wherein the mapping of symbols from a primary pay line into a secondary pay line is based on random mapping.

12. A gaming device as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of spins are consecutive.

13. A gaming device as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of spins are not consecutive.

14. A gaming device comprising: a housing,a plurality of rotating reels,a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the gaming device,a plurality of pay lines that includes at least one primary pay line, and one secondary pay line,a computer program segment that maps symbols occurring at a primary pay line, during a plurality of spins, into a secondary pay line, anda computer program segment that determines if a win combination occurred at pay line.

15. A gaming device as recited in claim 14, wherein the rotating reels are of the mechanical type.

16. A gaming device as recited in claim 15, wherein a primary pay line is positioned directly at the rotating reels, and at least one secondary line is positioned at a video screen.

17. A gaming device as recited in claim 14, and using a video display that simulates the movements of a plurality of reels.

18. A gaming device as recited in claim 14, further comprising means for a player to bet on the occurrence of a specific winning combination of symbols, at a secondary pay line, during a plurality of spins.

19. In a gaming device that includes a plurality of pay lines, wherein said plurality of pay lines includes at least one primary line, and at least one secondary line, means for mapping symbols occurring at a primary pay line, during a plurality of spins, into at least one secondary pay line.

20. A gaming device comprising: a housing,a plurality of rotating reels with at least one primary pay line,a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the gaming device,a video screen that includes a plurality of playing positions, and at least one secondary pay line,a computer program segment that maps symbols occurring at a primary pay line, during a plurality of spins, into playing positions at said video screen, anda computer program segment that determines if a winning combination of symbols has occurred at a pay line.

21. A method for a gaming device that employs at least one primary pay line, and at least one secondary pay line, comprising the steps of: mapping symbols occurring at a primary pay line, during a plurality of spins, into a secondary pay line, anddetermining if a winning combination of symbols has occurred at a secondary pay line.