Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02770426 2012-03-01
Patent Application
Of
Kishor Chandra Desai
For
TITLE: LOTTO PLAYER'S PAPERLESS TERMINAL
CROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: LOTTO PLAYER'S TERMINAL, PROVISIONAL
APPLICATION FILED ON 01/13/2011, APPLICATION NUMBER 61/461,083.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH: NONE.
SEQUENCE LISTING: Not Applicable
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001]This application relates in general to methods and systems adapted for
use in selling
lotto game tickets. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
method and system
for selling the on-line Lotto game tickets, without marking the Lotto game
cards and
running them through the main lottery terminal located in the retail store, as
is currently
done. In order to achieve the final printing of the lotto ticket the player
has to pick the
numbers he/she wants to play and communicate the numbers to the machine
through the
medium, that medium is the "Lotto player's paperless terminal" and the purpose
of this
invention is to do it paperless, except for the final ticket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0002] Lottery games have become very popular and have proven to be successful
means by
which the public authorities sponsoring the games have been able to generate
revenues for
the welfare of the public. There are two types of games. First one is a pre-
printed or an
"instant win" lottery game. The second one is an on-line game, more commonly
thought of
as a "lotto" type game which requires that a game player fill out a game play
card with
series of lottery play numbers thereon and /or designate a "quick pick", for
the purpose of
this application it will be "Auto Pick", in which either an on-site lottery
terminal or an off-site
lottery system computer generates the lottery play numbers.
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The lottery play slip is scanned into a lottery terminal, typically a stand-
alone terminal found
in a convenience store, supermarket or a liquor store, whereupon a ticket is
authorized by
the lottery system and printed at the lottery terminal. The on-line games are
the types of
lottery games conducted on a daily basis such as 3, 4 and 5 number games. Bi-
weekly or
weekly games like Lotto and Mega Money are available to play on state-wide
basis in several
states, as are the regional lottery games such as the Power Ball, Mega
Millions and other Big
Game lotteries played in the United States. Similar national and regional
games exist in
foreign nations as well.
[0003]As well known to lottery authorities and lottery game players, both the
pre-printed
and on-line lottery games are typically purchased at a retail or convenience
type of store
provided with the requisite lottery terminal for on-line games.
[0004]ln the effort to promote the popularity of lottery games and thus
improve lottery
generated revenues, the respective lottery authorities have been looking for
ways to expand
at least the reach of the on-line lottery games to the larger population of
players, as well as
to reduce overhead expenses and increase profitability. The biggest
expenditure is
stationery printing and delivery to thousands of retailers. For every game
that is available
the players will have to fill out a card and the sales associate will have to
run it through the
lottery machine in order to print the ticket. Besides the players filling out
the game cards,
some cards are mismarked, spoiled and torn etc; and every card is discarded
after being run
through the machine and that creates tons of waste paper and a huge impact on
the
environment as well, as they are not recycled, good for one time use only.
[0005]The present invention addresses all the above mentioned problems and
offers a clean
solution to resolve all the after effects of the lotto games and at the same
time will increase
profitability for the States or Countries offering the on-line lotto games.
[0006]Besides eliminating the waste in form of discarded stationery, the
current invention is
a very active, "Interactive" lotto games selling tool. By prompting players to
play more
panels than one, multiple draws and multiple plays and at the end of each game
switching it
back to page 1 and flashing more choices of games, makes it a very desirable
selling tool in
the armor of the State offering to sell the lotto games to the general public.
[0007] Efforts have been made in the past by inventors to increase sales by
placing a lottery
terminal at each of the selected POS terminals of the store, each of which is
equipped with a
bar code reader or scanning device. One such approach is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No.
5,216,595 to Protheroe.
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[0008]The system of Protheroe, however, is disadvantageous in that provides a
relatively
invasive and complicated system which positions a lottery terminal at, and
requires the
integration of the lottery terminal with, the store's POS terminals.
[0009] U. S. Patent No. 5,239,165 to Novak discloses a bar code lottery ticket
handling
system that provides a free standing lottery "pick stand" separate and apart
from the POS
system, but which pick stand is otherwise networked to a separate lottery
device provided
at each POS terminal. The use of the pick stand requires the store customers
to go to the
pick stand, select the numbers they wish to play or indicate that they wish to
have a quick-
pick series of play numbers generated for them, print a dummy lottery game
ticket at the
pick stand, and take it to a POS terminal for being scanned into the POS
system.
[0010] Once the dummy ticket is scanned into the POS system, the lottery
device at the POS
terminal will detect the appropriate lottery game code, and will then
communicate with
either the pick stand and/or an off-site lottery system to authorize the
ticket, and then print
the ticket at the POS terminal. The system of Novak, however, requires once
again that a
"lottery device" be positioned at each POS terminal, and that the lottery
device be
positioned between the bar code scanner and POS terminal. So constructed, the
system of
Novak is invasive in that the lottery system must be integrated into each POS
terminal as
Novak requires a separate lottery device/terminal at each POS terminal, and an
in-store pick
stand networked with each of the lottery devices. Such a lottery game system
may thus be
somewhat costly to construct for the many types of POS systems that are
available and in
use, does not appear to be capable of being easily retrofitable to existing
multi-lane retail
store operations.
[0011]While the system of Novak addresses the lottery sales in a multi lane
store operation
and requires the lottery players to get a dummy ticket after the game
selection, to be
scanned at the POS terminal, this particular invention simplifies the whole
process and lets
the player pick the set of numbers for the on-line game or allows the
alternative choice of a
quick-pick or machine picked set of numbers and send the selection, to the
main lottery
terminal, completely paperless, no dummy tickets or tokens. Pay at the POS
terminal and get
the "Lotto" tickets.
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[0012]U.S. Pat. No. 201,198, 817 Al to Behm et.al discloses a system and
method of selling
pre-printed lottery game tickets, on line lottery game tickets, or a
combination of pre-printed
and on-line lottery game tickets in a retail store. At least one lottery game
token is provided
bearing a game identification code thereon for being scanned at a POS terminal
provided as a
part of in-store POS network. The scanned identification code is detected by a
POS monitor
determining from the scanned code the type of lottery game to be played. The
POS monitor,
or a separate ticket controller in communication with POS monitor, will then
issue a dispense
ticket command to a ticket dispenser located at the POS terminal for each pre-
printed lottery
game to be played. For each on-line lottery game to be played, the detection
of the game
identification code will result in the generation of a random series of
lottery play numbers,
whereupon the POS monitor or the ticket controller will instruct a lottery
ticket printer
located at the POS terminal to print at least one lottery ticket thereat
bearing the lottery play
numbers thereon.
[0013]The systems of Behm et. al and Novak are more or less just the same in
operation, the
system of Behm et. al does not give a choice to the players to select their
own set of
numbers, in the current invention both choices are not only addressed but
token and dummy
tickets are completely eliminated.
[0014]The patent to Blumberg et al; U. S. Patent No. 5,588649 teaches a
promotional gaming
method for use as a part of a promotional game system in retail stores. In
Blumberg et al. a
game token is given to store patrons within the store, or provided as a part
of a product
package. A bar code reader at the POS terminal scans the token and a code is
read there
from. A promotional game program stored within the store's POS system then
determines if
the code from the token corresponds with a stored "winning" code number, and
then
randomly determines a prize to be awarded to the store customer. As such,
Blumberg et al.
teach an in-store merchandising tie-in and promotional system rather than any
form of a
lottery system.
[0015]U. S. Pat. No. 6,119,099 to Walker et al. discloses an "up-sell" lottery
game that can be
conducted through the POS terminals of a multi-lane store. The '099 patent
employs a lottery
program stored within the POS operating system of a store in which the program
prompts a
sales clerk at a POS terminal to ask a customer if they wish to play a lottery
type game for the
change they are due after having received the customer's payment for the
products already
purchased. The '099 patent envisions using the customer's change as an up-
sell, with the up-
sell lottery monies going into a common storewide lottery jackpot. The lottery
program
determines who among the store's customers will be a winner. As such, Walker
et al. do not
teach a statewide on-line lottery system and gaming method.
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[0016]The need still remains, therefore, for an efficient lottery gaming
system and method
for an efficient on-line lottery game system and sales method which will be
minimally
intrusive, either used with existing POS systems or not and which will not
require undue
amounts of store labor to safely and efficiently handle and dispense the
lottery products, and
which will also lower the cost of handling, stocking and replenishing on-line
lottery supplies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017]The system and method of the present invention sharply and notably
differs from all
presently known inventions, makes an attempt of elimination of all stationary
and the
resultant waste, which presently results in major overhead costs and reduces
profits,
considerably. Only the final ticket is the known stationary cost in this
invention and is
fractionally minimal.
[0018]lt is also an active "Interactive" Lotto games selling tool. At the end
of one particular
game played, the device will keep switching the terminal back to page 1, with
so many
choices of games being offered to the player and also prompting him/her to
play multiple
plays and multiple draws and a "Combo of all the games", by flashing the
choices in a pre-
selected mode of flashing, makes it a most wanted device in the State's armor.
[0019] Integration with the POS system is also not the prime purpose of this
invention,
although it may be optional and may offer a better control of sales and
minimize lost dollars
due to human error, however, that has to be achieved through the main lottery
terminal
hook-up.
[0020]The present invention also reduces the work the associate has to do in
order to
process the on-line game ticket or tickets and that sometimes results in so
many cancelled
tickets due to errors both on part of the sales associate and the player and
avoids resultant
re-plays (and subsequent cancellations).
[0021]The present invention gives a paperless terminal to the player and he or
she may play
and edit the game(s) over and over again, until they finally decide to send it
to the main
lottery terminal located near the POS for the final printed on-line game
ticket, by the sales
associate. Although the sales associate will be able to do the final edit, but
that may not be
necessary, as the players will have sufficient ways and means to edit their
game and that will
eliminate extra labor put in by the sales associates and give them time to
plus sell other
items of merchandise that the store offers.
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[0022]The system and method of the present invention integrates the functions
of on-line
gaming input by the player and all of the underlying infrastructure thereof,
with the
functionality of a heretofore unknown on-line lotto game ticket printing and
sales method
for use in a retail store environment. In addition, the present invention
provides an
improved on-line lottery gaming system that overcomes the deficiencies of the
known on-
line lottery systems.
[0023]In this embodiment, therefore, the present invention comprises a system
embedded
in a computer device, also known as a "Lotto Player's Paperless Terminal",
will be
hereinafter referred to as a "Device" similar to a lap-top computer which is
mountable on
the table top for the convenience and safety of the device, could also very
well be a laptop
or a portable device, that will allow the player to choose the game he/she
wants to play, will
provide instructions for the game to be played, for the player to read or
player will have
option to go to the game card, if they are familiar with the game. Once the
player marks the
required numbers on the panel or on the multiple panels, he/she will be
prompted to play
multiple play and/or multiple bet like $5 or $10, per panel or to push the
finish button, the
screen will revert back to page 1 and the device will prompt the player to go
to the other
games available or a combo of the games, if such combos are available, by
flashing various
games in a preset series of motion. At the end of each game the player will
have an option
to void the game played, panel by panel. If the player chooses to play another
game, they
will have to choose the other game from the first screen and then go to the
game card and
mark the required numbers per panel. Each game will also offer edit option, if
the player so
wishes, if not they can go to other games or choose an option for final edit
on page 1, before
sending the basket of games to the main lottery terminal. If they do not wish
to edit, they
will choose the option to send the saved games played to the main lottery on-
line game
terminal, by utilizing the "Send" option on page 1. Once they choose the send
option the
player's games will be saved and stored, all in one basket. The device will
display a key pad,
with numbers from 1 through 9 and a 0 (zero). The key pad will also display
the alphabets A
through Z. The player will be given an option to select a combination of
numbers and/or
words, for example "123SAM", or "Sammy Dayl" to identify the player's basket
at the main
lottery terminal. The games sent from the device will thus be identified at
the main terminal,
when the player approaches the POS. The main terminal would have received the
games and
the sales associate will be able to identify the set of game(s) played by the
player's code that
will be displayed at the main lottery terminal. The sales associate will have
a final option to
edit the games, if necessary or to delete the games, if the player changes the
mind. The
associate will also be able to delete the set of games, if the player never
approaches the
POS; to pay for the games played, within the time limit.
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The player's identification code will start flashing at the main lottery
terminal, when the
time limit has exceeded. The time limit will be longer if the main terminal is
not congested, if
the main terminal is congested, it will allow only the stipulated time limit.
The main terminal
will communicate the time limit, with the device, when games are sent from the
player's
terminal, however this will be an optional feature, in order not to make the
software
program excessively expensive, however, the time limit will be conveyed to the
player in the
game instructions as well as on the game card. The main terminal will also
save the games
for a certain period of time and if the stored game exceeds certain time limit
and the main
terminal is getting congested, it will automatically delete the games played
for which the
payment was not received and final ticket was not printed.
[0024]Objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will
become
apparent upon reading the specification when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings, to which the invention is directed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025]FIG. 1 displays the first page of the "Lotto Player's Paperless
Terminal", which shows
imaginary games not connected with any particular state. Page 1 has the send
button which
sends the game basket comprising of all games played by the player to the main
lottery
terminal. Page 1 also has the "Final Edit" option. When the player wants to
edit, he/she will
have to touch the final edit button and then touch the game button, that has
to be edited
and the device will show that game card that was previously played, for the
player to edit.
[0026]FIG. 2 displays page number2. After the game selection, by choosing the
option
number 1, the device will show: Detailed instructions on "how to play the game
selected?'
for the player to read. Pressing option number 2 will display the selected
game card. Page 2
and 3 both have the back buttons, just in case the players change their mind
after reading
the instructions or before reading and decide not to play the game, the back
button will
revert the screen back to page 1.
[0027]Fig. 3 displays the instructions, the result of choosing Option numberl.
For each game
selected by the player, the device will have different instructions for each
game, or one
consolidated page of generalized instructions, generic in nature that will fit
all the games
offered. After reading the player will press the game card button to go to the
game card or
the back button, in case they decide not to play and this will revert back to
page #1.
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[0028]Fig. 4 displays the actual game card, in this case for an imaginary game
called "FAB 5"
The game card will be marked with a selected set of numbers, appropriate for
the game
chosen. The number to be marked will be touched on the touch screen with a
stylus and it will
be high-lighted. After marking the first panel, player can either go to the
rest of the panels to
mark more panels or will have the following options available: The device will
prompt the
player to Edit, Void, play Advance plays or Multiple bets like $5 or $10. If
the player completes
the game, he or she will push the finish button and that will revert back to
page 1 and will
prompt the player to go to the next game or choose a "Combo" of the games, if
available or will
prompt to "Send" the game(s) played to the main lottery terminal.
[0029]FIG. 5 shows part of the lotto player's table with two "Lotto Player's
Paperless Terminals"
mounted on the table. There could be multiple terminals, depending on the
space and size of
the lottery business for that particular business location. Fig. 5 also shows
wireless connection
of the terminal with the main Lotto terminal, via satellite.
[0030]Fig. 6 shows the lotto players table with two "Lotto Player's Paperless
Terminal"
mounted on the table, this time with wire connections with the main lottery
terminal, thus
there are two options to connect the device with the main lottery terminal,
with wire or
wireless connection.
[0031]Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 and Fig.11 are the process flow charts
of method of playing
and finally printing on-line lottery game ticket.
[0032]Fig.12 shows the key pad being displayed, shows numbers 1 through 9 and
a zero. It also
shows the alphabets, A through Z. It also has a send button. The time limit
will be displayed,
within which the player must approach the POS and pay for and request the
finally printed
game tickets, from the sales associate. Fig. 12 also shows the player's
identification code in the
bottom left corner. If the player wants to change an incorrect code, he/she
will have to type
over to correct the code.
[0033]Fig. 13 shows the "Combo" game symbol being displayed and not the game
card as in
case of the other games. Since this is the only game where one can not pick a
set of the
numbers of one's choosing, instead the device will either pick set of numbers
for each and
every game offered by the State and a set of numbers for the free ticket, or
will convey
instructions to the main lottery terminal to randomly pick numbers for the
combo game.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference
characters indicate like
parts throughout the several views, FIG.1 illustrates the first page that will
be displayed on
touch of the screen of the "Lotto Players Paperless Terminal".
In FIG. 7 the flow chart describes box #1, which is same as FIG.1 being
displayed on touch of
the button, which shows the player the choice of the games being offered.
Player touches the
icon and picks the game he/she wants to play.
[0035]As illustrated in FIG.2 the options will be displayed to the player,
whether to select
option 1 and read the instructions about the game being played or to proceed
with option 2
and go to the game card, in case the player is familiar with the rules. The
flow chart described
in Fig. 7 shows this as #2 box, where the player can choose the options. If
the player chooses
option 1, the flow chart FIG. 7 points it out as box #3 and that will show the
relevant game
instructions as illustrated by FIG.3.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows the game instructions, however, each time the player
presses the game
icon and then chooses option 1, the relevant game instructions will be
displayed.
[0037]When the player chooses option2, as described in FIG.2, the relevant
game card will be
displayed for the player to play their game of choosing. The flow chart FIG. 7
shows this box
as #4. If the player wants to play only one set of machine picked numbers,
he/she will push
the AP button, player then pushes the finish button, the screen will revert
back to page 1,
then the player pushes the send button, than onwards the flow chart will
follow the path as
described in Fig. 10.
[0038]Player than proceeds with playing the game, as described in the flow
chart FIG. 7, box
#5. As the player touches the required set of numbers per panel, the played
numbers will be
high-lighted. The player has a choice to play one or more, or all the panels.
[0039]Player pushes the finish button on completion of the game marked as box
#6 on the
flow chart, FIG.8.
[0040]On hitting the finish button the player will be prompted to go for
multiple draws or
multiple plays. The flow chart, Fig.8 shows it as box #7
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[0041] Player may play multiple draws and/or multiple plays, on the flow chart
FIG. 8, the box is
marked as #8. If the player decides not to play multiple draw or multiple
plays will hit the finish
button, which is shown as box #9, in the flow chart, FIG. 8.
[0042]On completion of multiple draw and/or multiple plays, the player will be
prompted to
edit or void the play, if they so wish and the box marked as #10, FIG. 8
refers.
[0043]lf player decides to edit or void certain or all panels, on completion
will hit the finish
button and in case the player decides not to void or edit the play, will still
hit finish button. The
boxes are marked as #11 and#12 respectively, in FIG. 8 of the flow chart.
[0044]Finishing the game would result in the screen being reverted to page 1
and the player
may choose to play more games. If player decides to play a combo game then the
terminal will
follow the flow chart as described in FIG. 9. If the player's choice is to
play any other game
besides Combo game that would result in the terminal following the flow chart
as described in
FIG.7 and than toFIG.8.
[0045]If the player chooses not to play any more games and decides to hit the
send button, as
described in FIG. 8, the box marked as #13, would result in the terminal
following the flow chart
as described in FIG. 8, box #14 and then to Fig.10.
[0046]When player chooses to play the Combo game, events described in FIG. 9
will occur.
Player chooses to play the Combo game box #15 refers. If the player chooses to
play another
game and not the combo game, events described in Fig. 7 and Fig.8 will occur.
[0047]Player is given an option 1 to read the rules of the game, box #16, Fig
9 refers. Player may
read the rules and then push back button and then option #2, or may choose to
go to option
#2, without reading the rules, by pushing back button. In this case option #2
will re-display the
combo game icon and pushing that icon will prompt the device to pick a set of
machine picked
numbers for all the games plus a set of numbers for the free game ticket (or
just the
instructions for the main lottery terminal to pick the set of numbers for the
game) and store
them in the player's basket. In case of the "Combo" game the player does not
have an option to
choose individual game numbers and multiple plays and multiple draws are not
allowed. This
game picks a set of numbers for the immediate next draw only, for all the
games offered by the
State, plus a set of numbers for the free game picked by the device. Besides
the game icon in
option #2, for this particular game only, there will be cancel button, in case
the player decides
not to play, Fig. 13 refers.
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[0048]If player chooses to read the rules, when finished will hit the back
button, box#17 FIG.9
refers, and then option#2, to play the game.
[0049]Player hits option2, the game icon will be re-displayed and there will
be a cancel button
too. When the game icon is hit, the terminal will pick a set of random numbers
for all the games
offered by the State and will do the same for the free ticket as well (or will
generate
instructions for the main lottery terminal to pick random set of numbers for
the game). Multi-
State games like Power Ball and Mega Ball are not covered by Combo games.
Combo games usually offer a free ticket to entice players to play all games,
all at the same time.
Box# 18, FIG.9 refers. If the player decides not to play the game and hits the
cancel button, the
screen will revert back to page 1.
[0050]When player is done playing all the games, he/she will push the "Send"
button. The Key
pad will appear on the screen as shown in Fig. 12, the player will punch in a
code like "123 Sam"
to identify his/hers basket at the main terminal. The basket will be sent to
the main lottery
terminal, near POS. Box #19, FIG. 9 refers.
[0051]Player's games are in the main lottery terminal. Sales associate
identifies the player's
basket by player's code"123Sam". Box #20, FIG. 10.
[0052]Sales associate will push the player's identification code and a list of
all the games in the
player's basket will appear on the main lottery terminal screen, Fig. 10, box
#21 refers. The
screen may look as follows:
* 3 CASH 24 *VOID *EDIT * MEGA MILLIONS *VOID *EDIT
* 4 CASH 24 *VOID *EDIT *MEGA DOLLARS *VOID *EDIT *COMBO *VOID *EDIT
* FAB 5 *VOID *EDIT *POWERBALL *VOID *EDIT
TOTAL SALE $ 40.00
Against each game played, there will be a "VOID" and "EDIT" symbol. By pushing
the void
symbol, the associate can void that game entirely or by pushing that edit
button the associate
will be able to edit the game panel by panel of that particular game. This is
the last time player
will be able to edit their games. The final sales will be adjusted for edited
and voided games.
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The sales associate will proceed to ring up the sale and hit print button to
print the tickets,
either manually, Fig. 10 box #22 refers, or in case the POS terminal is linked
to the printer, the
POS will prompt the printer to print the tickets, Fig.10, box #23 refers. That
will conclude the
sale.
[0053]Fig. 11 shows the flow chart that will be applicable when player decides
to play only
machine picked set of numbers. Picking option #2, will display the game card,
as shown in Fig.
11, box 24.
[0054]Player will check the tiny square box in the panel which says AP, short
for auto pick or a
set of machine picked set of numbers, for that panel. Player may check one or
more panels or
alternatively all the panels, Fig. 11, box 25 refers.
[0055]When player is done playing, will hit the finish button and that will
revert the screen back
to page 1. Player may choose to play more games, in which case the flow chart
will follow the
flow chart as explained in Fig.7 and the subsequent charts. If the player
chooses not to play any
more games and hits the "Send" button the key pad will be displayed and the
player will
identify the player's basket with the identification code like "123SAM" than
the flow chart will
follow the path of flow cart as displayed in Fig. 10.
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