Abstract: A gaming system implements a method of gaming. The gaming system includes one or more gaming devices configured to enable a player to place a wager for play of a wagering game, and each gaming device includes a player tracking/marketing module (PTM). A plurality of avatars are selectable by a player, and after receiving one or more inputs from the player relating to the avatars selected and credit allocation for each selected avatar, one is designated as the active avatar for game play. The system receives, via a credit input mechanism, a credit wager to initiate play of a wagering game, and in response to a user input triggering game play via the gaming device, the PTM records credit wagered for game play against the active avatar. Moreover, in response to a winning outcome occurring in a game outcome for the triggered game play, the PTM records any award for the game outcome against one or more avatars in accordance with allocation criteria.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a reel strip comprising a plurality of trigger symbols, stack symbols, wild symbols and standard symbols, a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from the reel strip to be displayed on a display during play of a base game, wherein in the base game, said wild symbols substitute for only stack symbols and standard symbols, an outcome evaluator for monitoring play of the game, wherein when a predefined number of trigger symbols is selected for display, a plurality of feature games are triggered, and an interface for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of triggered feature games to play.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for analyzing a composition of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid. The methods include using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool to conduct an NMR measurement on the hydrocarbon-containing fluid to obtain NMR data. A non-NMR tool, such as an optical tool, is used to conduct additional measurements on the hydrocarbon-containing fluid and to obtain non-NMR data on the fluid. An indication of the composition of the fluid can be determined by using the NMR data and the non-NMR data in an inversion process.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for measuring and analyzing refracted acoustic energy. A plurality of receivers mounted are on a downhole tool, and are arranged and adapted to receive refracted acoustic energy from a downhole formation. Measurements of refracted acoustic energy is analyzed such that information relating to an azimuthal direction relative to the downhole tool of an interface within the downhole formation can be estimated. The receivers can be mounted on a drill collar as part of a LWD tool and steering of the drilling trajectory can be based in part on the estimated formation information.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for synchronizing data between a server and a client are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a client to synchronize data. The request includes a synchronization token that includes client recent synchronization signatures, each client recent synchronization signature representing a state of data synchronization on the client for a certain time period. The method also includes comparing each client recent synchronization signature with a corresponding server recent synchronization signature representing data on a server for the same time period. When the comparison indicates that the data on the client for the time period represented by the client recent synchronization signature is not synchronized with corresponding data on the server for the time period, then the method includes sending the data on the server for the time period to the client. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for measuring and analyzing refracted acoustic energy. A plurality of receivers mounted are on a downhole tool, and are arranged and adapted to receive refracted acoustic energy from a downhole formation. Measurements of refracted acoustic energy is analyzed such that information relating to an azimuthal direction relative to the downhole tool of an interface within the downhole formation can be estimated. The receivers can be mounted on a drill collar as part of a LWD tool and steering of the drilling trajectory can be based in part on the estimated formation information.

Abstract: A computer-based method is provided for modeling and visualizing a property of a subterranean earth formation while drilling a borehole therethrough. The computer-based method gathers electromagnetic signals corresponding to a current measurement station location of a measurement-while-drilling tool, and generates a multilayer model corresponding to such electromagnetic signals. A histogram characterizing uncertainty of the multilayer model is used to generate a set of color hue values which represent predictions of the formation property for depth values above/below the tool, and a corresponding set of saturation values (which represent uncertainties for these predictions). A curtain plot is generated and displayed. The curtain plot employs colors to visualize formation property predictions for depth values above/below the tool over successive measurement station locations. A new column of the curtain plot is generated for the current measurement station location.

Abstract: A gaming machine (10) includes a controller for controlling operation of the machine (10), a primary display (16) is provided on which a game to be played is displayed. A secondary display (18) is also provided on which a scorecard (22), indicating prizes to be paid upon a winning game being achieved, is displayed. The game and the scorecard (22) are controlled by the controller and the scorecard (22) is a dynamic scorecard (22) with the relationship between combinations of symbols constituting a winning game and the prizes awarded by the scorecard (22) for that particular game changing from game to game.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game.

Abstract: A gaming system with a free play mode. The gaming system has a game controller configured to process game play instructions in accordance with game rules to produce game outcomes. A credit meter is under the control of the game controller, the credit meter incremented or decremented in accordance with the game outcomes during normal play. A player interface is in data communication with the game controller. The player interface comprising a display that displays game outcomes to the player and operable to cause a free mode instruction to be communicated to the game controller. The game controller is configured to deactivate the credit meter in response to receipt of a free mode instruction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a plurality of outcomes of a game of chance are provided. In a spinning reel game, for example, a first game event may be provided in which a plurality of symbols are spun up on a plurality of spinning reels to form an array of symbols, each spinning reel spinning up at least three symbols and at least one of the spinning reels being defined so that at least two feature symbols can be simultaneously spun up on that reel. A result of the spin is evaluated to assess whether two or more feature symbols have been spun up on the same reel. If so, a second game event is provided in which the two or more feature symbols and all other symbols spun up on the same reel are converted to special symbols. The special symbols have an enhanced play characteristic in comparison to the other symbols, and the outcome of the game is re-evaluated to establish whether any outcomes exist which define a winning combination. A prize or an award is awarded if one or more winning combinations exist.

Abstract: A gaming machine is disclosed that provides a game in which a player of the gaming machine stakes a wager on one or more outcomes of the game that are represented as symbols arranged in an array of symbol display positions. The player controls the number of outcomes on which a wager is staked by operating a user interface. During play of the game the gaming machine causes a display to display indicia representative of the total number of outcomes selected but not display indicia representative of every available outcome and not display indicia of every selected outcome. Indicia representative of an individual outcome is displayed when that outcome defines a winning combination. A method of providing a graphical user interface for a gaming machine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus (10) and a game controller (36) for a gaming apparatus is provided. A game provided on the gaming apparatus (10) under the control of the game controller (36) selects an outcome indicating part (60) and allocates an award based on the selection. A subset of the possible awards have a low probability of occurring and may result in a substantially larger allocated award than the other outcome indicating parts (60), while retaining an expected probability of winning based on a visual evaluation of the secondary game. A game controller and method of providing a game is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event of combination of events results, the machine awards a prize. A predetermined symbol from a set of symbols of the game is selected as a bonus symbol. The display is an interactive display means such that, when at least one of the bonus symbols appears then, by a player touching a part of the display overlying the, or each, occurrence of the bonus symbol, a bonus prize is revealed in respect of the, or each, bonus symbol.

Abstract: A computer-based method is provided for modeling and visualizing a property of a subterranean earth formation while drilling a borehole therethrough. The computer-based method gathers electromagnetic signals corresponding to a current measurement station location of a measurement-while-drilling tool, and generates a multilayer model corresponding to such electromagnetic signals. A histogram characterizing uncertainty of the multilayer model is used to generate a set of color hue values which represent predictions of the formation property for depth values above/below the tool, and a corresponding set of saturation values (which represent uncertainties for these predictions). A curtain plot is generated and displayed. The curtain plot employs colors to visualize formation property predictions for depth values above/below the tool over successive measurement station locations. A new column of the curtain plot is generated for the current measurement station location.

Abstract: An instant lottery game system (10) includes a game play defining element (12). A symbol display zone (14) is carried on the game play defining element (12), the symbol display zone (14) containing a plurality of symbols related to gaming machine games. A masking medium (20) covers the symbols of the symbol display zone (14) prior to use. A symbol interpretation zone (16) is also carried on the game play defining element (12), the symbol interpretation zone (16) carrying a plurality of indicia with the indicia being used in interpreting symbols revealed after removal of the masking medium (20) to determine a prize outcome.

Abstract: A change-set validator is invoked at the end of every transaction on a target model. The change-set validator may also be used as a transaction committer wherein after validating the change-set, changes are made to the source model, thereby bringing both models in sync. A Transformation Adapter deals with transformation of source meta-model objects to target meta-model objects. The Inverse Transformation Adapter is a special case of the change-set validator used also as the transaction committer, and deals with transformation of target meta-model objects to source meta-model objects. The change-set validator can be implemented as a rule. The change-set committer can be implemented as a Semantic Procedure.

Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events arc caused to be displayed on the display (14) and, if a predefined winning event results, the machine (10) awards a prize which is credited to a credit meter of the machine (10). The credit meter includes two meter displays, a first meter display (42.1) indicating credit which is available for expenditure in the machine (10) to play at least one game and a second meter display (42.2) indicating credit set aside by at least one of a player and the game controller and which credit is unavailable to the player for wagering on a game but which is only available by termination of a playing session.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event of combination of events results, the machine awards a prize. A predetermined symbol from a set of symbols of the game is selected as a bonus symbol. The display is an interactive display means such that, when at least one of the bonus symbols appears then, by a player touching a part of the display overlying the, or each, occurrence of the bonus symbol, a bonus prize is revealed in respect of the, or each, bonus symbol.

Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. The gaming machine 10 comprises a bonus feature that is triggered when a trigger condition occurs in a base game and an indicator incorporated in the bonus feature indicates to the player that the chance of winning during the bonus feature is higher than in the base game that triggered the bonus feature.