Hold-and-Spin Reel Window Activation for Variable Slot Features

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic gaming machines lack variability and regulatory-compliant mechanisms to enhance game equity and player engagement through hold and spin features.

Innovation Solution

Implement configurable symbols that are held in position during a feature game, with additional game windows activated based on trigger conditions, using random number generators to determine game outcomes and comply with regulatory requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional slot games are played with fixed reel strips and symbols, then the game operation is simple and easy to understand, but the game variability and player engagement are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame variabilityVSAvoidfeature game complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic reel strips where configurable symbols can be held in position during base game play and then reveal additional symbols during feature game respins. The reel strip configuration changes based on player actions and trigger conditions, transforming static traditional reels into dynamic structures that adapt to gameplay progression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The gaming device is divided into multiple independent game windows, each capable of displaying different reel strip configurations. This segmentation allows different portions of the game to operate with different rules and symbol sets simultaneously, increasing overall game variability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple feature game instances are triggered with additional game windows, then player engagement and equity are enhanced, but the device complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame equityVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors player actions, symbol selections, and trigger conditions to determine which feature game instances should be activated. This feedback mechanism ensures that multiple feature games are triggered appropriately based on actual gameplay, enhancing equity while maintaining controlled complexity through rule-based activation logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-configures multiple versions of reel strips with different symbol arrangements and prize assignments before gameplay begins. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly switch between different feature game configurations without complex real-time calculations, reducing control complexity while maintaining high game equity potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If configurable symbols are held in position across multiple feature games, then game engagement is improved, but the measurement and evaluation of outcomes becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehold and spin feature capabilityVSAvoidoutcome evaluation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates copies of the base game reel strip configuration for each feature game instance, with configurable symbols replicated and held in corresponding positions. This copying approach maintains consistent evaluation criteria across multiple feature games while allowing different symbol configurations, making outcome measurement systematic and manageable despite the added complexity of holding symbols across multiple instances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances game variability, builds equity, and maintains regulatory compliance by introducing new game mechanics that activate additional game windows based on held symbols, improving player engagement and RTP control.

Implementation Method 1

The game is designed to return a certain percentage of the amount wagered back to the player (RTP=return to player) over the course of many plays or instances of the game. The RTP and randomness of the RNG are critical to ensuring the fairness of the games and are therefore highly regulated.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRandom number generation:

Data Source

PatentUS20260045149A1Gaming device with multiple triggerable respin features

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 ARISTOCRAT TECH AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

AI summary

A gaming device includes a display, a processor, and a memory storing a plurality of sets of reel strips which include configurable and non-configurable symbols. The gaming device provides hold and spin feature games that hold the configurable symbols if selected. Additional game windows can be activated enabling configurable symbols to be added. Only one of multiple versions of the hold and spin feature game may be triggered from any base game depending on which set of reel strips is used, and its respective version of triggering symbols. In one example, a number of multiple game windows are always activated if the hold and spin feature is a first version while only one game window is initially active if the hold and spin feature is a second version. In the second version, more game windows can be activated if sufficient configurable symbols are held.