Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to coordinate meetings between users of mobile devices on a mobile communications network. Users of the mobile communication network send one another meeting invitations over the network. The system receives the current geospatial position of one or more such users, as well as category selections that relate to attributes of potential meeting locations meetings. The system selects meeting locations for users using the current geospatial positions of the users and the category selections such that meeting locations are located at a geospatial positions between the users. The system can additionally select meeting locations that factor in user preferences and historical activities.

Abstract: A method and system for a cellular mobile communication system (900) are provided. The location of a mobile communication unit (905) in the cellular wireless communications system (900) can be estimated from: a first estimate of position, based on received signal power difference for signals received by the mobile communication unit (905) from at least two base stations (910); and a second estimate of the position of the mobile communication unit (905), from further information. A likelihood function for each estimate is weighted. The weighted first and second likelihood functions are combined, and one or more locations are selected as the estimated location. Propagation model parameters may be iteratively updated and/or refined, using location estimates obtained for large numbers of calls in the cellular mobile communication system (900).

Abstract: Mobile communication circuit reporting location information and methods thereof are provided. The circuit comprises a receiver, a transmitter, and a control circuit. The receiver receives first and second location information requests comprising respective first and second timing periods at first and second reference times respectively. The transmitter transmits first location information at a first reporting time having a first timing lapse from the first reference time in response to the first location information request and the second location information at a second reporting time in response to the second location information request. The control circuit, coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, calculates a timing difference between the first reporting time and the second reporting time, and determines second location information according to the first location information when the timing difference is less than or equal to a predetermined timing difference threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided which may be implemented in various devices having one or more computing platforms to obtain signaling characteristics for one or more transmitting devices. The signaling characteristics may, for example, be based, at least in part, on one or more signals received by a receiving device from the transmitting device(s), and may comprise at least a received signal strength measurement and a propagation time measurement. Such methods and apparatuses may further be implemented to determine whether a mobile station is to use or not use positioning data for one or more transmitting device(s) in a positioning function based, at least in part, on the received signal strength measurement and the propagation time measurement.

Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for position determination. In some examples, the method includes receiving, by a device, position information from at least one other device. The method further includes modifying, by the device, an initial position based on the position information from the at least one other device to form a refined position. The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the refined position to the at least one other device. The method further includes revising, by the device, the refined position based on refined position information received from the at least one other device to form a final position.

Abstract: A system and methodology that can utilize measurement data collected by a set of femto access points (FAPs), during a network listen procedure, to detect one or more areas with weak macro network coverage and/or high interference. Moreover, an automatic cell planning (ACP) component can be employed to analyze the measurement data and update a transmission parameter(s) associated with a macro access point. After the update is implemented, the ACP component can trigger another network listen procedure at the set of FAPs and receive new measurement data. The ACP component can evaluate the new measurement data to dynamically verify that the implementation of the update resulted in an improvement of macro network coverage and/or interference within the one or more areas.

Abstract: It is inter alia disclosed to respectively link at least two objects of a plurality of objects to one or more respective regions of a grid of regions. The at least two objects are respectively related to a respective coverage area representation and/or a respective coverage-providing entity. At least two of the at least two objects are associated with each other based on a finding that both have been linked to at least one same region of the grid of regions. At least one of the at least two associated objects is an object related to a first communication system and at least one other of the at least two associated objects is an object related to a second communication system that is different from and/or operated by another operator than said first communication system.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for determining a location of a portable wireless device in relation to a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a first base station that includes a first transceiver for being positioned about a vehicle. The first transceiver is configured to operate at a first operating frequency for transmitting and receiving at least one first signal to and from the portable wireless device to provide a first distance of the portable wireless device with respect to the vehicle. The first operating frequency generally corresponds to a distance accuracy value and the first distance generally corresponds to an actual distance of the portable wireless device from the vehicle that is adjusted by the distance accuracy value.

Abstract: Some embodiments use scanning devices to characterize radio signals received at a number of locations within a geographical area of interest. The signal characteristics along with the location information associated with the characteristics are stored in a centralized reference database. A mobile device characterizes signals it receives at a certain location and compares the characteristics with the signal characteristics stored in the reference database to obtain accurate location information of the certain location.

Abstract: Location information is received at a mobile device from the memory of a vehicle device. The mobile device is updated based on the location information. Sensor data is received from at least one sensor measuring movement of the mobile device, and an estimated location of the mobile device is calculated based at least in part on the location information and the sensor data.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program storage device cooperate to provide a quality position estimation of a mobile communication device by determining a reference area. The reference area includes the position of the mobile communication device as well as a plurality of transmitters. Transmitters that are detected as being outside of the reference area are excluded from contributing to the position estimate. The reference area is centered at a standard position, which may be a previous position or a GPS based position, for example. The range of the reference area includes a component that considers the range of a transmitter, as well as a GPS error or an estimated move distance of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the location of a mobile device in a communications network or the proximity of the device to a node in the network. A location request may be received for a mobile device served by a base station in the network. A set of nodes associated with the serving base station may then be tasked and downlink data collected at a first node, the downlink data from a downlink signal received from the serving base station. Downlink frame timing may then be determined as a function of the collected downlink data and uplink data collected at a second node as a function of the determined downlink frame timing. A geographic location for the device or proximity thereof to a node may be determined as a function of the collected uplink data.

Abstract: Techniques are described for obtaining high-resolution physical locations for a wireless device by leveraging the high-resolution physical location capabilities of wireless peers of the wireless device to provide a peer-to-peer location service and facilitate location targeting. Wireless devices provide location updates to a computing cloud, which stores records associating wireless device identifiers with received location information for the corresponding wireless devices. A wireless device issues a peer discovery request to dynamically identify nearby wireless peers in its network. The wireless device then sends wireless device identifiers for the nearby wireless peers in a location request to the computing cloud, which estimates a location for the wireless device using the previously recorded location information for the nearby wireless peers. The computing cloud returns the estimated location to the requesting wireless device.

Abstract: A method, a mobile device, and a computer-readable recording medium for a location-aware application are provided. In the method, at least one signal source around the mobile device and a signal strength thereof are detected by using a signal detecting module. Then, each detected signal source and the signal strength thereof are compared with a signal source and a signal strength thereof recorded in multiple system profiles, so as to find a system profile having matched signal source and signal strength, in which the system profiles include signal sources and signal strengths thereof which are recorded and detected by the mobile device at multiple different locations and a system setting of the mobile device applicable to each location. Finally, a system setting of a matched system profile is executed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to generate a vehicle communication system. The vehicle communication system can determine which devices are within the vehicle. From this determination, the vehicle communication system may create a universal bus and hotspot where applications, data, multimedia information, and resources can be shared both with the vehicle and with the other devices in the vehicle.

Abstract: An example apparatus is provided that receives a first message following conclusion of a voice call between a first apparatus and a second apparatus over a network. And in response to the first message, the apparatus obtains a geographic location of at least the first apparatus, and prepares a second message for transmission to the first apparatus. The second message includes a telephone number of a quality server to enable the first apparatus to initiate a voice call to the telephone number to participate in a voice quality test with the quality server, where the voice quality test includes calculation of a score reflecting a quality of the voice call. The apparatus receives the score, and correlates the score with the geographic location of at least the first apparatus and other network parameters obtained during the test to facilitate tuning the network based on the score and the geographic location.

Abstract: Embodiments infer position information using captured content items. A computing device such as a mobile computing or a cloud service analyzes one or more content items to generate information describing the content items. For content items that include photographs, for example, the photographs are processed to identify faces, objects, places, text, etc. The generated information is compared to reference content items (e.g., image comparison), user data (e.g., calendar data, contact information, etc.), and/or public data (e.g., address information, event information, etc.) to identify at least one match. Location information associated with the matched reference content items, user data, and/or public data is obtained. A position is determined for the content items based on the location information obtained from the matched reference content item, user data, and/or public data.

Abstract: An information communication apparatus having a display section, according to one aspect of the present invention, includes: a sensor section used for communication between an information communication terminal and another apparatus; a terminal information storing section configured to store information about the position of the sensor section in the information communication terminal and information about the position and the size of the display section in the information communication terminal; and a control section configured to calculate the relative positional relationship of the sensor section and the display section, based on the information stored in the terminal information storing section, generate an indicator that allows the position of the sensor section to be specified, and display the indicator on the display section.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of extracting a paging message from paging channel downlink communications. A first and second page bursts and received. When the signal to noise ratio of the first and second bursts exceeds a threshold, a Viterbi decoder is executed and an error checking code calculated to determine whether the paging message is successfully extracted. If not, a third page burst is received and a Viterbi decoder executed to extract the paging message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low overhead paging in a wireless communications network are described herein. In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication includes a receiver and a processor. The receiver receives a request from a first device. The request indicates a first period of a plurality of periods corresponding to a periodicity for transmitting paging messages. The processor assigns the first device to a group scheduled to receive paging messages at most every first period based on the request and determines a start time for transmitting paging messages to the first device based on schedules for transmitting paging messages to a plurality of other devices. In other aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication includes a processor and memory. The processor derives an information sub-unit from an information unit associated with a paging message, compresses the information sub-unit, and generates a second information unit associated with the method of compression.

Abstract: A network architecture uses an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server which allows paging and call routing across different types of wireless and wireline access networks. The ASAA. server provides connectivity between am external voice or data network and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), The external voice or data network may be a public switched, telephone network (PSTN) or a public data network (PDN), so that the connectivity between, the external network and the WTRU is provided through the access networks using data from the ASAA server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile phone and a method for processing short messages adapted for the mobile phone. The mobile phone stores a first and a second groups of keywords, at least one folder, and a plurality of relationships between the at least one folder and the first group of keywords. When the mobile phone 1 receives a short message, the mobile phone 1 determines whether the short message is junk or useful according to the keywords predefined by the user. If the short message is junk, the mobile phone 1 directly deletes the short message. If the short message is determined to be useful or desirable, the mobile phone 1 stores the short message in a corresponding folder to later display. The processing of the desirable and useful messages only is rendered convenient for the user.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for using text messages, e.g., SMS messages, to trigger a device update and/or to update a communications device, e.g., cell phone, are described. The cell phone can be updated/programmed from a remote device. The updating can use SMS messages to accomplish the update. An SMS message may include a command and, optionally, other update information in the message body. Received SMS messages are checked to determine if they include an update command. If an update command is present the command is performed after a security check is satisfied. In some but not necessarily all embodiments, a simplified user interface is supported in addition to SMS update features.

Abstract: A Short Message Service (SMS) delivery method and apparatus is provided for delivering an SMS message efficiently by selecting a network domain to attach to according to the service provided to a Mobile Station (MS) by the mobile operator network. An SMS delivery method of the present invention includes receiving, at a network node, an Attach/Routing Area Update (RAU) Request message including a parameter indicating an attach/update type and SMS-only service, and transmitting, when SMS in a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) is supported at the core network node, to the mobile station an Attach Accept message including a parameter indicating that SMS in SGSN is supported. The SMS delivery method of the present invention is capable of delivering SMS message efficiently in the wireless communication system.

Abstract: A method for accessing content during a client server application session involves receiving an instruction to switch from using a network communication protocol to a text messaging service (TMS) protocol for data communication of the client server application session, wherein accessing the content is based on an user interface (UI) when the network communication protocol is used for the client server application session; sending a text identifier associated with a UI data item of the UI, where the text identifier is sent to a global textsite platform (GTP) using the TMS protocol, and where the UI data item is for requesting a portion of the content from a computer server; receiving a text page from the GTP using the TMS protocol, wherein the text page is derived from the portion of the content; and presenting the text page to a user during the client server application session.

Abstract: Methods for enabling provision of data to be used in a performance analysis are provided. The communication device obtains an input to set up at least one rule within the communication device to be fulfilled in order to create at least one performance management counter to count occurrences of a performance management parameter related to the communication device. The communication device sets up the at least one rule and detects an impulse. The communication device determines if the at least one rule has been fulfilled. The communication device monitors data associated to the communication device if the at least one rule has been fulfilled, and creates the at least one performance management counter to count occurrences of the at least one performance management parameter based on the monitored data. A message including a result of the at least one performance management counter is transmitted to another device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for a first station (STA) comprising: obtaining available channel information by accessing a database that manages the available channel information within the white space band, and transmitting a white space map (WSM) generated according to the available channel information to a second STA, the WSM includes a channel map field having a variable length, a length field including the length of the channel map field, and map ID information indicating a type of the WSM and whether the WSM being updated; and if the available channel information obtained from the DB indicates that no available channel exists within the white space band, a map ID is set to indicate that the WSM is the updated WSM, and the first STA transmits the WSM which is set as the length field to indicate that the length of the channel map field is 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling uplink transmit power in a mobile communication system. A mobile communication includes a first base station and a second base station which are located in two mutually adjacent cells, respectively, at least one base station of the first and second base stations which generate a subframe offset of transmit power (SOTP), and transmits a subframe offset of transmit power generated by at least one base station of the first and second base stations to at least one terminal which belongs to a corresponding cell. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce signaling times for transmit power control, and to accurately control transmit power.

Abstract: A mobile wireless device maintains a radio sector database. When receiving no response or a negative response from a radio sector to a transmitted signaling message, the mobile wireless device adds or updates the radio sector database. When receiving a positive response from the radio sector, the mobile wireless device deletes the radio sector from the radio sector database. Before transmitting signaling messages to a radio sector, the mobile device determines a time delay value if the radio sector is in the radio sector database. The mobile wireless device discards the signaling message when an elapsed time since a most recently transmitted signaling message to the radio sector does not exceed the determined time delay value. In an embodiment, each radio sector in the radio sector database includes a failure count value, and the determined time delay value depends on the failure count value.

Abstract: When a mobile station registered at a closed-type femtocell base station is in a connection state in a cell area covered by the femtocell base station, the transfer power of the femtocell base station for a cell identification signal is adjusted according to one scale estimating the receiving quality of the cell identification signal at the mobile station. When no mobile station is located in the cell area covered by the femtocell base station, the cell identification signal is sent with the minimum transmission power necessary for a mobile station to make a call in the cell area to reduce the power consumption of the femtocell base station and also to reduce interference with other macrocell base stations and other femtocell base stations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in a radio communications network for controlling a transmission power of a user equipment (12) transmitting data to a radio base station (10) in the radio communications network. The radio base station (10) retrieves a target signal to interference ratio value and measures a signal to interference ratio of a signal transmitted with a current transmission power from the user equipment (12). The radio base station (10) then determines a user equipment capability of power control of the user equipment (12). Furthermore, the radio base station (10) computes a power control command based on the measured signal to interference ratio, the retrieved target signal to interference ratio, and the user equipment capability of power control, which power control command indicates a power control adjustment step of the user equipment (12). The radio base station (10) then transmits the power control command to the user equipment (12).

Abstract: A communication device includes memory, an input interface, a processing module, and a transmitter. The processing module receives a digital signal from the input interface, wherein the digital signal includes a desired digital signal component and an undesired digital signal component. The processing module identifies one of a plurality of codebooks based on the undesired digital signal component. The processing module then identifies a codebook entry from the one of the plurality of codebooks based on the desired digital signal component to produce a selected codebook entry. The processing module then generates a coded signal based on the selected codebook entry, wherein the coded signal includes a substantially unattenuated representation of the desired digital signal component and an attenuated representation of the undesired digital signal component. The transmitter converts the coded signal into an outbound signal in accordance with a signaling protocol and transmits it.

Abstract: In order to input/output only necessary information in accordance with the form of application, a mobile phone includes: a wireless circuit 22 to connect to a first network in order to communicate with a device connected to the first network; a wireless LAN circuit 23 to connect to a second network different from the first network in order to communicate with a device connected to the second network; and a setting mode switching portion 21 to switch between a first setting mode capable of activating wireless circuit 22 and wireless LAN circuit 23 and a second setting mode capable of activating only wireless circuit 22 among wireless circuit 22 and wireless LAN circuit 23.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of extracting and processing screen information outputted through a display of a mobile communication terminal, in which an output screen of the mobile communication terminal is extracted and merged with a previously stored device image, and an image data synthesizing the outer appearance of the mobile communication terminal and an output image is created and stored. An image combining an output screen and an outer appearance of the mobile communication terminal is created and stored in capturing a display screen of the mobile communication terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for more accurately and easily recording signatures electronically/digitally. The preferred signing experience is generating a “wet” signature by putting a pen to paper as a pen and paper are ubiquitous and portable as well as familiar to most people. The present invention preserves this experience while combining it with a digital rendering of a document using conventional mobile communication devices having a camera feature in order to record a wet signature of a user and store a digital representation of the document that includes the recorded wet signature in the signature block of the document.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an LTE communication card, which comprises: an SDIO interface, comprising data pins adapted to be selectively inserted into an SDIO card slot of an electronic device; an LTE baseband processing unit connected to the data pins, being configured to obtain from the data pins a first data signal supplied by the electronic device and modulate the first data signal; an LTE transceiving unit, being configured to obtain the first data signal that has been modulated; and an antenna unit, being configured to transmit the first data signal, and further obtain an LTE radio frequency (RF) signal from the outside and transmit the LTE RF signal to the LTE transceiving unit, and the LTE RF signal being transmitted by the LTE transceiving unit to the LTE baseband processing unit and then demodulated by the LTE baseband processing unit to obtain a second data signal for transmission to the electronic device via the data pins. The present disclosure further discloses an LTE communication system.

Abstract: The present disclosure allows transmission of multiple signals between masthead electronics and base housing electronics in a base station environment. At least some of the received signals from the multiple antennas are translated to being centered about different center frequencies, such that the translated signals may be combined into a composite signal including each of the received signals. The composite signal is then sent over a single feeder cable to base housing electronics, wherein the received signals are separated and processed by transceiver circuitry. Prior to being provided to the transceiver circuitry, those signals that were translated from being centered about one frequency to another may be retranslated to being centered about the original center frequency.

Abstract: In order to improve utilization efficiency of communication resources in a case of acquiring a reception status at a user equipment of a radio signal upon providing LCS, an E-SMLC (40) forming a mobile communication system requests an eNB (10) to notify a result of measurement on a reception status at a UE (20) of a radio signal at least from the eNB (10) for a predetermined number of times. The E-SMLC (40) calculates a location of the UE (20) using the result of the measurement when the notification is performed for the number of times, and provides a service corresponding to the location. In response to the request, the eNB (10) instructs the UE (20) to perform the measurement for the number of times and sequentially notifies the E-SMLC (40) of the result of the measurement reported from the UE (20) for the number of times. The UE (20) performs measurement on the reception status for the number of times and sequentially notifies the eNB (10) of the result of the measurement for the number of times.

Abstract: The disclosure claims a speed dialing method, a Subscriber Identity Module/User Identity Model (SIM/UIM) and a mobile terminal. A contact number field on the SIM/UIM is divided into two fields. One field is used for storing the contact numbers, and the other is the speed dialing position field configured to store the speed dialing information of contacts (101). 0XFF characters are set between the two fields for separating the two fields (102). After speed dialing of the contacts in the SIM/UIM is set, the speed dialing can be commonly used in different mobile terminals. The universality of the speed dialing functions is added. And, ID and speed dialing information recorded by the contacts on the SIM/UIM is written in mobile terminal. Then the name and the speed dialing information of the contacts is obtained only according to the contact ID when needing to be loaded.

Abstract: A device includes a housing having a front surface, a rear surface and first and second side surfaces; the rear surface configured engage a user's palm. The device includes a radiotelephone communications transceiver and a contact-sensitive display, supported by the housing. The contact sensitive display is configured to display an image at the front surface of the housing, and produce an output signal in response to moving contact of an object along a contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive display. The device also includes a controller configured to control at least one of the display and the radiotelephone communications transceiver and to scroll displayed rows along an axis of the display based upon the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer. The controller has a mode that is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer, the second mode being entered in response to an input from a user.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an output unit, a storage unit, an antenna, a sensor, and a controller. The output unit outputs a video or voice. The storage unit stores information about a user interface operation. The antenna transmits/receives a wireless signal of a corresponding communication frequency band and is moveable. The sensor acquires information of at least one motion of the antenna. The controller processes a wireless signal through the antenna and outputs the user interface operation according to the information received from the sensor, to the output unit with reference to the information of the storage unit.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising: a display; a housing enclosing the display and defining an exterior surface region adjacent to the display, the exterior surface region having a plurality of surface zones indicated thereon, the surface zones being capable of being written on by a user to save a written marking thereon; a memory; and user input apparatus; the device having: a first mode in which the device performs a function in respect of a subject entity and in which in response to operation of the user input apparatus to indicate one of the zones the device stores the entity in the memory in association with that zone; and a second mode in which in response to selection of a zone by means of the user input apparatus the device performs a function in respect of an entity stored in association with the selected zone.

Abstract: A system, comprising a mobile communication device, receptive to receive a start time and an incoming communication notification intensity setting, and operable to adjust the incoming communication notification intensity to the received incoming communication notification intensity setting at the received start time. The mobile communication device, comprising an incoming communication notification, an incoming communication notification intensity, and an original incoming communication notification intensity setting.

Abstract: An apparatus for the dissipation of emitting radiations from a communication device or any other radiation emitting devices by meeting or exceeding manufactures specifications includes a radiation dissipation body, an audio passage, a radiation dissipation distance, and an attachment mechanism. The radiation dissipation body includes an ear side, a lateral wall, and a speaker side. The ear side and the speaker side are oppositely positioned from each other and the lateral wall is positioned around the ear side and the speaker side. The attachment mechanism is positioned below the speaker side, and the audio passage is traversed through the ear side and the speaker side. The radiation dissipation distance extends from the ear side to the speaker side where the radiation dissipation distance meets or exceeds the manufactures specifications.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling and/or monitoring a plurality of racing vehicles on a racetrack which are controlled by participants in a race is disclosed. Each racing vehicle provided with one vehicle memory in which vehicle data which are read out from a receiving/reading device assigned to the racetrack are stored in a database. Each participant in the race is provided with separate a participant memory in which participant data is stored, the participant data being read out from a receiving/reading device and stored in the database in which the vehicle data are also stored. The vehicle data and participant data which are stored in the database are assigned to one another. The vehicle data and participant data are read and the assignment of the vehicle data which are read with the participant data which are read is compared with the assignment which was previously assigned.

Abstract: Exemplary systems, methods and computer-accessible mediums can be provided for generating and playing a game or a puzzle. For example, it is possible to determine at least one game symbol corresponding to a portion of a gestalt figure for each location in a grid. Further, it is possible to provide, to a player, at least one hint or other information about a location of each symbol in the grid. A guess and/or a response as to a content of the location of each symbol can be received from the player.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to a player (e.g., player may access the video presentation online). This allows a player to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). A player who purchases such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith.

Abstract: A computer network system allows a user to register for games of chances in accordance with national, state and local laws and ordinances. This system analyses the geographical location and residency information of a user in relation to the geographical access and participation areas. If the user is not located within a permitted area or falls within an excluded or restricted area, the user will not be allowed to access or participate in the game of chance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system, device, and method providing a cascading symbols feature. For a play of a game, the system generates and displays one of a plurality of symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display areas, and determines any awards associated with the displayed symbols. If a triggering event occurs, the system determines a set of the displayed symbols. For each displayed symbol of the determined set, the system removes that displayed symbol, resulting in an empty symbol display area. For each empty symbol display area, the system repositions one of the other displayed symbols, which creates a second empty symbol display area, and causes at least one of any repositioned symbols to be a wild symbol. The system generates and displays one of the symbols at each of any second empty symbol display areas, and determines any additional awards associated with the displayed symbols.

Abstract: A method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of groups of at least two symbols for a play line played by a player; displaying the selected groups at respective ones of a plurality of display positions on the play line; linking groups of symbols based on at least one symbol linking rule; and awarding a prize to the player if sufficient of the groups of symbols on the play line have been linked.