Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INSTANT LOTTERY GAME HAVING
VARYING PRIZE INFORMATION INDICATED TO A CUSTOMER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to lottery ticket games, and more particularly
to a method and
system for providing an instant lottery game having varying prize information
indicated to a
customer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Instant lottery games have become an important source of income to governments
and numerous
non-for-profit organizations. Typically, a set of instant lottery tickets is
imaged with play and
prize value indicia under a scratch-off coating or break-open tab according to
a predetermined
prize structure. The prize structure comprises a small number of large value
prize tickets, a
number of lesser value prize tickets, and a large number of non-winning
tickets. The prizes are
distributed randomly to the tickets such that each player has an equal chance
to win one of the
prizes.
The tickets are then distributed to ticket retailers - such as, for example,
liquor stores,
convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations, gift shops, etc. ¨ for
dispensing the tickets to
consumers and for validating the tickets when they are presented for
redemption.
With numerous lottery games on the market it has become a challenge to sustain
public interest.
Non-instant lotteries such as, for example, 6/49 and Super 7 have
substantially increased public
interest by offering large and varying jackpots. With one or two draws per
week, the varying
prize information is updated accordingly, i.e. new prize information is
indicated to the customer
once or twice a week.
Since instant lottery tickets are impulse purchase items frequently indicating
changed prize
information - for example, a progressive jackpot pool - to the customer
substantially increases
Page 1 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
interest and thus marketability of an instant lottery game.
It is desirable to provide a method and system for providing an instant
lottery game having
frequently varying prize information indicated to a customer.
It is also desirable to provide a method and system for providing an instant
lottery game having
frequently varying prize information indicated to a customer, with the varying
prize information
being associated with a progressive jackpot pool.
It is also desirable to provide a method and system for providing an instant
lottery game having
frequently varying prize information indicated to a customer, with the varying
prize information
being associated with a predetermined set of lottery retailers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a method and
system for providing
an instant lottery game having frequently varying prize information indicated
to a customer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for
providing an
instant lottery game having frequently varying prize information indicated to
a customer, with
the varying prize information being associated with a progressive jackpot
pool.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for
providing an
instant lottery game having frequently varying prize information indicated to
a customer, with
the varying prize information being associated with a predetermined set of
lottery retailers.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method
for providing an
instant lottery game. A plurality of lottery tickets associated with the
instant lottery game is
provided. Each ticket of the plurality of lottery tickets has a unique ticket
identifier related to
ticket data stored in a trusted database. At least two subsets of the
plurality of lottery tickets are
activated by providing data indicative of the ticket identifier of the lottery
tickets of the at least
Page 2 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
two subsets to a trusted processor in communication with the trusted database.
After activation
each of the at least two subsets is stored in a respective dispensing
container. When dispensing a
lottery ticket of the at least two subsets data associated with the dispensed
lottery ticket are
provided to the trusted processor. Using the trusted processor, prize data are
determined in
dependence upon the data indicative of the ticket identifier of the lottery
tickets of the at least
two subsets and the data associated with the dispensed lottery ticket. The
prize data are then
displayed in a human comprehensible fashion.
According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method
for providing an
instant lottery game. A plurality of lottery tickets associated with the
instant lottery game is
provided. Each ticket of the plurality of lottery tickets has a unique ticket
identifier related to
ticket data stored in a trusted database. At least two subsets of the
plurality of lottery tickets are
activated by providing data indicative of the ticket identifier of the lottery
tickets of the at least
two subsets to a trusted processor in communication with the trusted database.
After activation
each of the at least two subsets is stored in a respective dispensing
container. When dispensing a
lottery ticket of the at least two subsets data associated with the dispensed
lottery ticket are
provided to the trusted processor. Using the trusted processor, prize data are
determined in
dependence upon the data indicative of the ticket identifier of the lottery
tickets of the at least
two subsets and the data associated with the dispensed lottery ticket. The
prize data are then
displayed in a human comprehensible fashion. The prize data are determined
such that the prize
data are indicative of a prize associated with the remaining lottery tickets
of the combined at
least two subsets or such that the prize data are indicative of a prize
associated with the
remaining lottery tickets of each of the at least two subsets and wherein the
prize data are
provided to the respective dispensing device for display.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
instant lottery ticket
dispensing system. The instant lottery ticket dispensing system comprises a
dispensing container
for storing a subset of a plurality of lottery tickets associated with an
instant lottery game therein.
Each ticket of the plurality of lottery tickets has a unique ticket identifier
related to ticket data
stored in a trusted database. A first reader for reading the ticket identifier
of the lottery tickets of
the subset and for providing data indicative thereof to a trusted processor in
communication with
Page 3 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
the trusted database is connected to the dispensing container such that the
ticket identifier of the
lottery tickets of the subset is passed by the first reader for reading and
the lottery tickets of the
subset are subsequently provided to the dispensing container for storage
therein. A dispensing
mechanism is connected to the dispensing container for removing a lottery
ticket from the
dispensing container and dispensing the same. A second reader is provided for
reading data
associated with the dispensed lottery ticket after removal from the dispensing
container and for
providing the data to the trusted processor. A display receives prize data
from the trusted
processor and displays the same in a human comprehensible fashion with the
prize data being
determined in dependence upon the data provided by the first and the second
reader.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method and system
for providing an
instant lottery game having frequently varying prize information indicated to
a customer.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method and
system for
providing an instant lottery game having frequently varying prize information
indicated to a
customer, with the varying prize information being associated with a
progressive jackpot pool.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method and
system for
providing an instant lottery game having frequently varying prize information
indicated to a
customer, with the varying prize information being associated with a
predetermined set of lottery
retailers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures la and lb are simplified block diagrams illustrating a system for
providing an
instant lottery game having frequently varying prize information indicated to
a customer
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Page 4 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
Figures lc and ld are simplified block diagrams illustrating an instant
lottery ticket
dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figures 2a and 2b are simplified block diagrams illustrating a preferred
lottery ticket for
use with the instant lottery ticket dispensing device according to a preferred
embodiment
of the invention;
Figure 3 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a method for providing an
instant lottery
game having frequently varying prize information indicated to a customer
according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention; and,
Figures 4a to 4c are simplified block diagrams illustrating data association
during
activation according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same meaning
as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the
invention belongs.
Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described
herein can be used
in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and
materials are now
described.
Referring to Figures la to ld, a system 100 for providing an instant lottery
game having
frequently varying prize information indicated to a customer according to a
preferred
embodiment of the invention is provided. The system 100 comprises a central
data processing
unit which is connected to instant lottery ticket dispensing devices 120 via a
computer network
110 such as, for example, the Internet, forming a "linked kiosk network".
Preferably, the central
data processing unit is placed in a trusted entity such as, for example, an
administrative center or
headquarters of the lottery operator and comprises, for example, a trusted
server computer 102
and a trusted database 108, while communication with the instant lottery
ticket dispensing
devices 120 is performed in a secure manner using state of the art encryption
technology. The
Page 5 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
instant lottery ticket dispensing devices 120 are located at ticket retailers
for dispensing the
tickets and for validating the tickets when presented for redemption.
Operation of the system 100
and execution of the method for providing an instant lottery game described
herein below are
performed, for example, using the processor 104 for executing executable
commands preferably
stored in non-volatile memory 106 such as, for example, a hard-drive or flash
memory. The
processor 104 then communicates with the processors 122 of the dispensing
devices 120 via the
computer network 110 according to a standard communication protocol such as,
for example, the
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
Optionally, the system 100 comprises a plurality of subsets ¨ for example,
subsets 120A and
120B, as illustrated in Figure lb - of instant lottery ticket dispensing
devices 120. The subsets
are, for example, related to dispensing devices 120 located in different local
areas with, for
example, each area being associated with a specific postal code. Provision of
a plurality of
subsets of instant lottery ticket dispensing devices 120 enables
implementation of an instant
lottery game having "localized" prizes such as a progressive jackpot pool with
the pooling
network being related to the dispensing devices 120 of a single subset. For
example, a
predetermined portion of the ticket prize of each ticket sold at dispensing
devices 120 of a subset
is provided to the progressive jackpot pool which is then associated with one
or more winning
tickets.
Referring to Figures lc and ld, an instant lottery ticket dispensing device
120 according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. The various components of
the dispensing
device 120 are, preferably, housed in a substantially secure and tamper
resistant housing 122 that
enables access only to authorized personnel - for example, for maintenance -
using, for example,
a secure locking mechanism known in the art. Optionally, opening of the
housing 122 is
controlled by the server computer 102, for example, a message is sent to the
server computer 102
when the housing 122 is opened.
The dispensing device 120 comprises a dispensing container 128 for temporarily
storing a subset
of a plurality of lottery tickets 200 associated with an instant lottery game
therein. Preferably,
each lottery ticket 200 of the plurality of lottery tickets has a unique
ticket identifier 230, as
Page 6 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
illustrated in Figure 2a, related to ticket data stored in the trusted
database 108. The lottery
tickets 200 are, for example, single tickets loosely disposed or placed within
the dispensing
container 128 into which dispensing container, lottery tickets are placed
prior to dispensing,
which dispensing container comprises, for example, a hopper-like bottom
structure 130 for
facilitating receiving, handling and positioning of one or more lottery ticket
200 for activation
and dispensing. The dispensing container 128 may be made, for example, of a
transparent
material such as glass or plexi-glass in order to display the lottery tickets
200 to the customer in
an aesthetically appealing fashion while the lottery tickets are within the
dispensing container
which is, optionally, further enhanced by keeping the lottery tickets 200 in
motion while being
disposed in the dispensing container 128 using mechanisms known in the art
such as, for
example, a rotating actuator or a flow of pressurized air.
Alternatively, an opaque dispensing container 128 is disposed inside the
housing 122 and various
other means are employed for attracting a customer's attention such as, for
example, a display
for displaying lottery ticket in an aesthetically appealing fashion. Further
alternatively, a single
stack of lottery tickets 200 is stacked inside the dispensing container 128 or
a band comprising a
plurality of lottery tickets 200 in a folded or rolled fashion is provided.
Each lottery ticket 200 is
then separated from the remaining band prior to dispensing using, for example,
a conventional
cutting mechanism.
The dispensing device 120 further comprises a first reader 126 for reading the
ticket identifier
230 of each lottery ticket 200 of the subset and for providing data indicative
thereof to a trusted
processor 104 in communication with the trusted database 108. Preferably, the
first reader 126 is
interposed between lottery ticket input port 124 and the dispensing container
128 such that each
lottery ticket 200 of the subset is passed by the first reader 126 for reading
the ticket identifier
230 and subsequently provided to the dispensing container 128 for storage
therein. The first
reader 126 is provided, for example, in the form of a bar code scanner for
scanning a linear or
matrix barcode but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the lottery tickets
200 are provided as a
band comprising the subset of lottery tickets 200 with each lottery ticket 200
being passed by the
first reader 126. Further alternatively, the band comprises a single
identifier indicative of the
subset of lottery tickets 200 which is read upon provision of the band for
storage in the
Page 7 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
dispensing container 128.
Dispensing mechanism 132 is connected to the dispensing container 128 for
removing a lottery
ticket 200 from the dispensing container 128 and dispensing the same through
dispensing
opening 136. Dispensing mechanisms are well known in the art and employed, for
example, in
ticket vending machines in public parking or public transportation. The
dispensing mechanism
132 receives and dispenses, for example, a lottery ticket 200 after receiving
instructions via, for
example, a push button operated by a sales clerk of the lottery retailer or,
alternatively, after
receiving instructions from a payment device or other signal source.
Preferably, a second reader
134 is disposed inside the housing 122, for example, interposed between the
dispensing
mechanism 132 and the dispensing opening 136 for reading the ticket identifier
230 disposed on
the ticket prior dispensing of the lottery ticket 200 through dispensing
opening 136. The second
reader 134 is provided, for example, in the form of a bar code scanner for
scanning a linear or
matrix barcode but is not limited thereto.
Alternatively, the second reader 134 is provided outside the housing 122 for
enabling reading of
a prize identifier 217 and for providing data indicative thereof to the
trusted processor 104 with
the prize identifier being disposed on the dispensed lottery ticket 200 in an
at least partially
concealed fashion and for being revealed by a player of the dispensed lottery
ticket.
The dispensing device 120 further comprises a display 146 for receiving prize
data from the
trusted processor 104 and for displaying the same in a human comprehensible
fashion.
Preferably, the prize data are determined for indicating frequently varying
prize information to a
customer. The display 146 is provided, for example, in the form of a standard
flat screen TV
mounted in a prominent location in proximity to the dispensing device.
Alternatively, the display
146 is integrated or mounted to the housing 122 of the dispensing device 120.
Operation of the dispensing device 120 is enabled using an off-the-shelf
computer processor 138
for executing executable commands preferably stored in non-volatile memory 140
such as, for
example, a hard-drive or flash memory. The processor 138 is connected to the
computer network
110 via port 142 for communicating with the processor 104 of the trusted
server computer 102.
Page 8 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
The display 146 is connected to the processor 138 via communication link 144.
Optionally, the
communication of the processor 138 with the computer network 110 and/or the
display includes
wireless communication.
Optionally, third reader 148 is provided outside the housing 122 ¨ mounted to
the housing 122,
as illustrated in Figure id, or as a separate unit connected to the processor
138 via a cable or
wireless communication - for enabling reading of a prize identifier 217 and
for providing data
indicative thereof to the trusted processor 104 with the prize identifier
being disposed on the
dispensed lottery ticket 200 in an at least partially concealed fashion and
for being revealed by a
to player of the dispensed lottery ticket.
Further optionally, a user interface 150 is disposed in the housing 122 or in
a separate unit, as
illustrated in Figure ld, and connected via communication link 152 to the
processor 138 for
displaying display data to the player 154 in a human comprehensible fashion
and for receiving
user commands 156. For example, the user interface 150 is provided using an
off-the-shelf touch
screen or a combination of a display and push buttons. Preferably, the display
is adapted to
display data to the player during user interactions such as, for example,
playing of a second
chance opportunity game.
Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a preferred lottery ticket 200 for use with the
dispensing device 120.
The lottery ticket 200 comprises a sheet type body such as, for example, a
semi-rigid sheet of
paper, cardboard, or boxboard. The ticket activation identifier 230 is printed
on the front 204 of
the ticket 200 in the form of, for example, a linear barcode, or a matrix
barcode. Preferably, the
ticket activation identifier is uniquely related to the lottery ticket such
that each lottery ticket of
the plurality of lottery tickets has a unique identifier with data indicative
thereof being stored in
the trusted database 108. The lottery ticket 200 further comprises play area
218 disposed on the
back 212 of the ticket 200 in a concealed fashion together with the prize
identifier 217 which is
provided in the form of, for example, a linear barcode, or a matrix barcode.
Optionally, at least a
portion of the identifiers 217 and 230 is encoded using, for example, an error
correcting code
such as a Reed Salomon code to provide an indication that the identifier has
been corrupted
and/or to retrieve the identifier in case the barcode has been damaged. The
play area 218 and the
Page 9 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
prize identifier 217 are revealed by the player opening break-open tabs 220A
to 220E.
Referring to Figure 3, a method for providing an instant lottery game having
frequently varying
prize information indicated to a customer according to a preferred embodiment
of the invention
is provided. At 10, a plurality of lottery tickets 200 associated with an
instant lottery game is
provided. Each lottery ticket has a unique ticket identifier 230 related to
ticket data stored in the
trusted database 108. At least two subsets of the plurality of lottery tickets
200 are activated ¨
12- by providing data indicative of the ticket identifier of the lottery
tickets 200 of the at least
two subsets to the trusted processor 104 in communication with the trusted
database 108. The
data indicative of the ticket identifier are provided using the first reader
126 for reading the
ticket identifier 230 of each lottery ticket 200 of the subset or,
alternatively, a single identifier
indicative of the subset of lottery tickets 200 when the subset of lottery
tickets 200 is provided,
for example, as a band. After activation, each of the at least two subsets of
lottery tickets 200 is
stored ¨ 14 - in the dispensing container 128 of a respective dispensing
device 120. After
purchase, a lottery ticket 200 of the at least two subsets is dispensed ¨ 16 -
to a player. At 18,
data associated with the dispensed lottery ticket 200 are provided to the
trusted processor which
is provided as data associated with the ticket identifier 230 of the dispensed
lottery ticket 200 ¨
18.1 ¨ and/or as data associated with a prize identifier 217 disposed on the
dispensed lottery
ticket 200 in an at least partially concealed fashion and for being revealed
by a player of the
dispensed lottery ticket 200.
Preferably, prior to performing the activation process - using the processor
104 based on the data
indicative of the ticket activation identifier 230 received from the processor
138 of the dispenser
120 - each lottery ticket 200 has a zero prize value associated therewith.
Further preferably, after
the activation process the lottery tickets 200 of each subset have prize
information regarding the
respective subset associated therewith such as, for example, the number of
winning tickets in the
subset, and/or the number tickets having a specific prize value, as
illustrated in Figure 4a, while
each specific lottery ticket 200 is still associated with a zero prize value,
as illustrated in Figure
4b in order to reduce the risk of tampering while the activated lottery
tickets 200 are stored in the
dispensing container 128. Provision of the prize information related to the
activated subset as a
whole is sufficient for determining frequently varying prize information, for
example, prize
Page 10 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
information relating to a progressive jackpot pool which is changing with each
sold and/or
redeemed lottery ticket 200. The prize information comprises, for example, a
number of
activated tickets, a number or ratio of winning tickets, a number or ratio of
winning tickets
associated with a specific or minimum prize value, etc.
The association of a lottery ticket 200 with a specific prize value is then
performed after the
ticket identifier 230 or the prize identifier 217 of the lottery ticket 200 is
read using the second
reader 134 and/or the third reader 148 after removal of the lottery ticket 200
from the dispensing
container 128. For example, the data indicative of the ticket identifier 230
when provided the
second time is combined with the data indicative of the ticket identifier 230
provided during
activation, as illustrated in Figure 4c, or the data indicative of the ticket
identifier 230 are
combined with the data indicative of the prize identifier 217, as illustrated
in Figure 4d, resulting
in a number referring to a memory address with a predetermined prize value or
factor indicative
of a percentage of the jackpot stored therein.
Optionally, data indicative of a second chance opportunity are determined.
There are various
options for implementing the second chance opportunity. In a first option data
indicative of a
second chance opportunity prize associated with the ticket are determined. For
example, using
the processor 104 a mathematical algorithm determines if the ticket is a
winner at that instant in
a random or pseudo-random fashion. Alternatively, the processor 104 activates
a second chance
opportunity game which is performed in communication with processor 138 and
user interface
150. The second chance opportunity game is, for example, a skill based game, a
probability
game, or a combination thereof. In dependence upon the outcome of the second
chance
opportunity game data indicative of a second chance opportunity prize are then
determined and
provided to the display 154 for display.
Using the trusted processor 104 prize data are then determined ¨ 20 - in
dependence upon the
data indicative of the ticket identifier 230 of the lottery tickets 200 of the
at least two subsets and
the data associated with the dispensed lottery ticket 200. For example, prize
data are related to a
progressive jackpot pool are determined in dependence upon the total number of
activated lottery
tickets, the number of dispensed lottery tickets, and the prizes associated
therewith. The prize
Page 11 of 17
CA 02759625 2011-11-23
data are updated when a lottery ticket is dispensed or a prize associated with
a ticket is
redeemed. The updated prize data are then displayed ¨22 - in a human
comprehensible fashion
using display 146. The displayed prize data include, for example, a number of
activated tickets, a
number or percentage of winning tickets, a number or percentage of winning
tickets associated
with a specific prize or minimum prize, a maximum prize, etc. Preferably,
displayed the prize
data are frequently changed. For example, the displayed prize data are changed
at each instance
the prize information changes due to dispense of a ticket or redemption of a
prize. Alternatively,
the displayed prize data are changed in predetermined time intervals.
The prize data are determined ¨ 20.1 - such that the prize data are indicative
of a prize associated
with the remaining lottery tickets of the combined at least two subsets, for
example, the activated
subsets stored in the dispensing devices of a predetermined area.
Alternatively, the prize data are
determined ¨ 20.2 - such that the prize data are indicative of a prize
associated with the
remaining lottery tickets of a specific dispensing device 120 and are provided
thereto for display.
As is evident, while the method for providing an instant lottery game having
frequently varying
prize information indicated to a customer is preferably implemented using the
system 100 with
the lottery ticket dispensing device 120 it is not limited thereto. The method
is implementable,
for example, using conventional lottery kiosks with each kiosk communicating
with a trusted
central unit.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of
variations and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
described
herein.
Page 12 of 17
