U.S. Pat. No. 8,419,530

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the following discloses example methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus including, among other components, software executed on hardware, it should be noted that such methods and apparatus are merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of these hardware and software components could be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware, or in any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Accordingly, while the following describes example methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus, the examples provided are not the only way to implement such methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in an at least one example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible medium such as a memory, DVD, CD, etc. storing the software and/or firmware.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming method and system having a game controller arranged to implement a game including a progressive jackpot having a prize defined by a plurality of digits, where the progressive jackpot is incremented by incrementing a digit of the plurality of digits in response to a trigger event corresponding to the digit.

General Construction of Gaming System

The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system includes several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface50and a game controller60as illustrated inFIG. 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism52to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays54, a game play mechanism56that enables a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place bets), and one or more speakers58.

The game controller60is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor62that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory64but can also be hardwired. Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine10is illustrated inFIG. 2. The gaming machine10includes a console12having a display14on which are displayed representations of a game16that can be played by a player. A mid-trim20of the gaming machine10houses a bank of buttons22for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim20also houses a credit input mechanism24which in this example includes a coin input chute24A and a bill collector24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device.

A top box26may carry artwork28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel29of the console12. A coin tray30is mounted beneath the front panel29for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine10.

The display14shown inFIG. 2is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display14may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box26may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display14, or of a different type.

FIG. 3shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 2.

The gaming machine100includes a game controller101having a processor102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor102are stored in a memory103, which is in data communication with the processor102. Typically, the gaming machine100will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters104for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface105for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine100. The input/output interface105and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module113generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown inFIG. 3, a player interface120includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller101include one or more displays106, a touch screen and/or buttons107, a card and/or ticket reader108, a printer109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism110and a coin output mechanism111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine100, or hardware may be omitted based on the specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine100may include a communications interface, for example a network card112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.

FIG. 4shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory103. The memory103includes RAM103A, EPROM103B and a mass storage device103C. The RAM103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor102and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor102using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100to be distributed, for example input/output devices106,107,108,109,110,111to be provided remotely from the game controller101.

FIG. 5shows a gaming system200in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system200includes a network201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines202, shown arranged in three banks203of two gaming machines202inFIG. 5, are connected to the network201. The gaming machines202provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines10,100shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on the rules, guidelines, preferences, and/or requirements for implementing game play. While banks203of two gaming machines are illustrated inFIG. 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays204may also be connected to the network201. For example, the displays204may be associated with one or more banks203of gaming machines. The displays204may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server205implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server206may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices202in a database206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server207will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server212may also be provided.

In a thin client embodiment, game server205implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine202and the gaming machine202essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server205provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network200, including for example a gaming floor management server208, and a licensing server209to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal210is provided to allow an administrator to run the network201and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming system200may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server205could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games based on the terminals.

Further Detail of Gaming System

As individual games are played on the gaming machines202, data including the contributions of individual games is sent over the network to the Jackpot server207, which performs the accounting functions for the progressive jackpot game. It will be appreciated that in a progressive jackpot, individual gaming machines may contribute towards a single jackpot or several jackpot pools, the value of which is maintained by the Jackpot server207. It will also be appreciated that in a progressive jackpot, data representing contributions received from the gaming machines is sent to the Jackpot server207and the jackpot pool is incremented according to these contributions. However, it will be further appreciated that the jackpot pool and the jackpot prize available to be won by the player need not be the same value and thus the jackpot prize to be won by the player need not be incremented in relation to the incoming contributions and may be incremented in a different manner.

Furthermore, it will also be appreciated that a jackpot module of the game controller60may be used in collaboration with the Jackpot server207to perform functions other than accounting, such as determining whether a jackpot prize should be awarded to a player, controlling the value of the contributions made by the gaming machines towards the jackpot pool and incrementing the jackpot prize. For example, the jackpot module may perform the function of determining whether the jackpot prize should increment and, if so, determining the value of which it is to increment.

Referring now toFIG. 6, the player operates game play mechanism56to make a selection and input game instructions, selected from a plurality of available instructions, to the game controller60. As described above, the game play mechanism56can be in the form of a touch screen and/or buttons. In an embodiment, the player may qualify to participate in a progressive jackpot by playing a base game. The player may only participate in the progressive jackpot subject to an eligibility criterion such as playing the maximum credits available.

In an alternative embodiment, the player may need to actively make a selection to participate in the progressive jackpot, for example by placing an ante bet. Typically, where a plurality of individual gaming machines contribute to a collective progressive jackpot prize, it is envisaged that the prize may be formed from the contributions of a single machine.

In one example, a game is conducted by the gaming machine with a progressive jackpot and an outcome generator622operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism56to generate a game outcome which will then be evaluated by outcome evaluator623and jackpot module624. In an embodiment, the outcome evaluator623evaluates the generated game outcome and the jackpot module624evaluates whether the generated game outcome corresponds to an event relating to the progressive jackpot. For example, the generated game outcome may correspond to a trigger event corresponding to the progressive jackpot being incremented in value. Alternatively, the trigger event may be a game event other than a game outcome, such as the number of games played.

In an example, a jackpot trigger event determiner626in the jackpot module624determines a generated game outcome or other game event corresponds to a trigger event to increment the progressive jackpot. However, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the determination of a trigger event may be made at the Jackpot server207, rather than locally at the jackpot module624, in the case where the gaming machine is connected across a network. In this scenario, data could be sent to the jackpot module624indicating that the progressive jackpot has increased or could be displayed on a display54controlled by the jackpot module of the game controller60and viewable from the gaming machine. Also, an indication to make an award, or that award has been made, of the progressive jackpot would be sent to the gaming machine played by the player.

In one embodiment, the outcome generator622forms the game outcome by employing random number generator621to randomly select symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data641. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller625which causes them to be displayed on display54at a set of display positions. In one example, outcome generator622selects symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. Thus, the symbol sets641specify a sequence of symbols for each reel such that the outcome generator622can, in one example, select symbols for display by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display54. In addition, the progressive jackpot may be a prize defined by a plurality of digits, which is displayed to the player on the display54by the display controller625. For example, the prize is a six digit prize having a maximum value of $9999.99.

In one embodiment, the outcome evaluator623evaluates the game outcome generated by the outcome generator622, displayed as symbols arranged at a set of display positions, to determine if the outcome corresponds to a winning combination specified in the prize data642A based on game rules642. For example, the game rules may specify that all combinations are evaluated left to right or can be evaluated right to left or both. Also, to obtain a desired return to player, a probability table having weighted outcomes may be stored in the game rules642and employed when selecting the symbols. In addition to these game rules, further rules for incrementing the progressive jackpot prize may be stored in the memory64. For example, designated game outcomes may be stored in the game rules642as the corresponding combination of symbols to be determined by a jackpot trigger event determiner626of the jackpot module624as the event to trigger the prize displayed to the player be incremented.

An example of a designated game outcome may be the occurrence of three king symbols in a row. The occurrence of three kings may correspond to a particular value of a digit, e.g. $1000.00 (i.e. the “thousands” digit) to increment the jackpot prize. The jackpot trigger event determiner626may also make additional determinations of game outcomes known in the art. For example “scatters” (scattered symbols) may be determined as a trigger event irrespective of whether they are on a played arrangement of symbol positions.

In another example, the probabilities of jackpot trigger events, such as designated game outcomes or scattered symbols, can be assigned using the random number generator621. This can be arranged by the random number generator621generating a random number between 1 and a designated number so that the outcome generator622generates a game outcome corresponding to a trigger event when the generated number is a 1 and the trigger event determiner626determines the outcome as a trigger event. Alternatively, the jackpot module624is in communication with the random number generator621and upon receipt of a generated random number equalling 1, the trigger event determiner626determines that a corresponding trigger event occurs without analysing the game outcome. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the random number generator621generates numbers in a defined range (e.g. 0 to 1) and that these can be mapped to the desired number range.

It will also be appreciated that the trigger event to increment the jackpot prize may be based on an average number of games played rather than any specified game outcome. In this case, the probability of incrementing the progressive jackpot is assigned by allocating a number of games to be conducted before the trigger event occurs which can also be implemented using the random number generator621. For example, the number of games to be conducted before a trigger event occurs is assigned an average number and a random number generator621generates a random number between 1 and the assigned number for each conducted game, or conducted game round within a game, so that the conducted game corresponding to a trigger event occurs when the random number equals 1. In this example, the assigned number of games to be conducted may be stored in the game rules642in a table and the jackpot trigger event determiner626of the jackpot module624determines a trigger event occurs when it receives, or determines, a generated random number of 1 from the random number generator621. Table 1 below shows an example of probabilities of incrementing each digit of the prize based on the allocated number of games being the upper limit of the defined range of random numbers generated, i.e. the random number generator621generates a random number between 1 and the allocated number of games and a trigger event to increment a digit occurs when the generated random number equals 1.

TABLE 1DigitNumber ofGames Probability$0001100.10$0010200.05$0100500.02$10001000.01

It will also be appreciated that, in addition to the trigger event being a designated outcome or being based on the number of games, a random game event, such as a random symbol occurrence or another random event such a random number of coins being fed into the gaming machine, could correspond to a trigger event. It is envisaged that the random number generator621could be employed to generate the random game event.

In another embodiment, jackpot module624includes a prize controller627to control incrementing the progressive jackpot by incrementing a digit of the plurality of digits of the prize. That is, the prize controller627controls incrementing each digit of the prize independently, in response to a trigger event corresponding to the digit occurring. For example, the prize controller627increments a digit of the prize according to the trigger event determiner626determining that a game outcome, other event, or received indication, corresponds to a trigger event to increment that digit.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that varying probabilities of trigger events occurring may be employed corresponding to the different digits being incremented. One way of implementing the varying probabilities is in a table of probability of occurrence of trigger events corresponding to each digit of the prize. The table of probabilities may also be a table of possible game outcomes corresponding to incrementing each digit of the prize and the tables could be stored in the game rules642.

The trigger event determiner626determines for each digit in a progressive jackpot whether a trigger event corresponding to any digit has occurred and if so the prize controller627controls incrementing the corresponding digit(s) accordingly. Alternatively, the jackpot module624may receive instructions remotely that a trigger event has occurred and that a digit of the prize has been incremented accordingly.

In the embodiment where the jackpot prize is a 6 digit number, with 2 numbers after the decimal point, i.e. $1234.56, the prize controller627controls incrementing each of the six digits simultaneously, i.e. in each progressive jackpot game. In addition, each of the six digits may have a corresponding trigger event corresponding to an increment trigger for the digit. In one example, the random number generator621can be used by the jackpot module626to generate six individual game events, or outcomes, simultaneously in a progressive jackpot, so that the trigger event determiner626determines on six occasions whether a corresponding trigger event occurs. In this case, more than one digit can be incremented in a progressive jackpot. In another example, the random number generator is employed to generate one trigger event in a progressive jackpot and the trigger event determiner626determines if the result corresponds with a trigger event for any of the digits.

The prize controller627may also control the number of increment units to increment each digit of the prize. For example, the trigger event determiner626may determine a game outcome corresponds to a trigger event to increment a digit and the prize controller controls, based on a table of assigned increment units for game outcomes, the number of units to increment that digit of the prize. A person skilled in the art would understand that the table of assigned increment units and corresponding game outcomes may be stored in the game rules642.

By way of an example, the random number generator621is used to assign the probabilities of trigger events corresponding to each digit occurring by generating a random number between 1 and a designated number. In this example, the designated number is 100, and the probability of that trigger event occurring is 0.01. As would be appreciated, this method enables the probability to be easily varied for one or each digit or for the number of increment units applied to each digit. In another example, the probability of increasing the most significant digit of the jackpot prize may be 0.01 during normal games but after the occurrence of a game event such as the prize reaching a designated value, the probability of increasing the most significant digit may be decreased to 0.001. Other examples of game events include a jackpot award being made to the player and a jackpot reset event. However, it will be appreciated that this list is not exhaustive and in addition to other game events being used, game outcomes, such as the occurrence of symbols, may be used to vary the assigned probabilities.

In another embodiment, a table of probabilities is employed where each digit of the prize is randomly assigned a probability of being incremented when a corresponding trigger event occurs from a table of probabilities (e.g. for six digits the probabilities are: 0.1, 0.01, 0.01, 0.001, 0.005, 0.05). In this example, the probability of the most significant digit incrementing may be randomly assigned a probability of 0.1 in one game and in a subsequent game, or after the digit is incremented, the probability of the most significant digit incrementing may be randomly assigned a probability of 0.05.

Further to this embodiment, each digit may be assigned a pathway of probabilities to be incremented from a table of probabilities corresponding to the number of increment units for each digit. For example:

TABLE 2Most Significant DigitProbabilityIncrement Unitsto increment$10000.1$20000.2$30000.001$40000.01

It is envisaged that such the pathway of probabilities to increment a digit can be reassigned when a game event occurs, such as when the progressive jackpot is won or reset, when the jackpot prize is within a certain range of values, or after a certain number of games. For example (in the event where the jackpot prize is now above $5000):

TABLE 3Most Significant DigitProbabilityIncrement Unitsto increment$10000.05$20000.01$30000.001$40000.001

Alternatively, the pathway of probabilities to increment the digit can be reassigned on the occurrence of a random game event, such as a random value of coins into the gaming machine or a random symbol occurrence. Furthermore, random game events could be assigned as trigger events to increment a digit of the prize by a number of increment units.

A method700of gaming is summarised inFIG. 7and involves conducting710a progressive jackpot including a prize defined by a plurality of digits, determining720if a trigger event corresponds to said digit and incrementing730the digit of the prize in response to the determined trigger event.

For example, when conducting a progressive jackpot, each digit of the prize can be incremented independently in response to corresponding trigger events occurring in a progressive jackpot game. In this example, the method700of gaming enables the appearance of random increases in the prize to the player to provide the perception that the prize may increase substantially during play if the most significant digit is increased.

In the above example, to ensure that the step of incrementing a digit of the prize conforms to game rules of providing a minimum pay out over time, or other equivalent rules, the method of gaming further includes assigning the probability of trigger events corresponding to each digit occurring. Also, to further ensure conformance to the game rules, the method further includes assigning a number of increment units to varying the increment of each digit of the prize when a corresponding trigger event occurs. However, as described above, it is possible that the assigned probability of a trigger event occurring varies when a particular game event occurs, such as a jackpot award or reset event.

By way of example of a sample game800, incrementing the progressive jackpot and displaying the progressive jackpot prize810to a player is shown inFIGS. 8a-8c. In the sample game, the progressive jackpot is a six digit prize with a maximum value of $9999.99. However, it is envisaged that the prize may have more or less digits. Each digit is displayed to the player in a sequence of digit displays820,830,840,850,860and870, corresponding to decimal positions of the prize, and each digit display can be updated independently.

In the sample game, atFIG. 8a, the progressive jackpot has a total of $1000.00 and is incremented to $1100.00 in response to a trigger event occurring in the game corresponding to the second most significant digit. Consequently, display830is updated to display the numeral ‘1’ instead of ‘0’ to the player inFIG. 8b.

In this example, the second most significant digit is incremented by a single unit. It is envisaged that a number of increment units (from 1-9) can be assigned to increment the digit in response to a trigger event. It also envisaged that the probabilities for each digit being incremented by different numbers of units can be assigned to the game rules and may be assigned as a pathway of probabilities table.

In addition, it is envisaged that a trigger event may correspond to more than one digit in the jackpot prize and, in one embodiment, a trigger event may correspond to a trigger to increment more than one digit of the prize by any number of increment units. For example, a game outcome of 4 Aces in a row may correspond to both the most and second most significant digits incrementing by $1000 and $500 respectively. In this example, if the progressive jackpot prize was displayed to the player as $1000 in the display810, it would be incremented to $2500.

In another example of the sample game, the progressive jackpot prize displayed atFIGS. 8aand8bhas not yet been awarded to a player and is still accumulating in response to trigger events. InFIG. 8c, a trigger event corresponding to the most significant digit being incremented occurs in the sample game and the display820shows the most significant digit of the prize being incremented by two units, i.e. from $1000 to $3000. The progressive jackpot will continue to increment according to the game rules until it is awarded to a player in response to a corresponding jackpot award or a reset jackpot event occurs.

Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the system. It will be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implemented digitally by a processor. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of the embodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that program code provides a series of instructions executable by the processor.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of the invention can be combined to form further embodiments.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments and/or aspects without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. For example, it will be apparent that certain features of the invention can be combined to form further embodiments. The present embodiments and aspects are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. Certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system, for example.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.