Method and apparatus for facilitating the play of fractional lottery tickets utilizing point-of -sale terminals

• US 20040054593A1
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew S. Van Luchen
• Original Assignee: Andrew S. Van Luchen
• Inventors: Van Luchen, Andrew S.
• Application Number:
  US10/643,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a store controller determines a monetary value, such as an amount of spare change due to a customer. The store controller also selects a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers. Subsequently, the store controller purchases at least one lottery ticket based on the monetary value and the set of ticket numbers. The store controller then outputs the information to a POS terminal, which prints a fractional lottery ticket redeemable for a portion of the lottery ticket'"'"'s prize. The fractional lottery ticket includes the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value. The fractional lottery ticket value may be, for example, equal to the monetary value, or may be the monetary value rounded to the nearest nickel. After a drawing date for the lottery ticket, the customer redeems the fractional lottery ticket, typically at a POS terminal, if a prize is due. The POS terminal communicates with the store controller, which receives the ticket numbers and the fractional lottery ticket value therefrom. From the received information, the store controller may determine a prize value of the corresponding lottery ticket. The customer is, in turn, provided with a portion of the prize value based on the fractional lottery ticket value.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

determining a monetary value;

selecting a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchasing at least one lottery ticket based on the monetary value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

outputting the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining a monetary value comprises:

determining a monetary value based on an amount of change due for a purchase.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the step of selecting comprises:

creating the ticket record.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the step of selecting comprises:

selecting a ticket record randomly.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicating selected ticket numbers.

6. The method of claim 5, in which the step of selecting comprises:

searching a plurality of ticket records to select a ticket record that indicates the selected ticket numbers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing a total value amount of the selected ticket record in accordance with the fractional lottery ticket value.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

adjusting an amount to round up based on the increased total value amount.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the step of selecting comprises:

selecting a ticket record having an amount to round up at least as great as the fractional lottery ticket value.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the step of selecting comprises:

determining a set of ticket records that each have an amount to round up at least as great as the fractional lottery ticket value; and

selecting a ticket record from the set of ticket records which has a minimal amount to round up.

11. A method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

determining an amount of change due for a purchase;

determining a monetary value based on the amount of change due;

selecting a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchasing at least one lottery ticket based on the value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

outputting the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the step of determining a monetary value comprises:

rounding the amount of change due to a predetermined multiple, thereby generating a rounded change amount; and

setting the monetary value equal to the rounded change amount.

13. The method of claim 12, in which the step of rounding the amount of change due comprises:

rounding down the amount of change due to a predetermined multiple, thereby generating a rounded-down change amount.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

outputting an offer to exchange a fractional lottery ticket for change due.

15. A method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

determining a monetary value;

selecting a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchasing at least one lottery ticket based on the value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

outputting the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value;

determining a prize value of the at least one lottery ticket; and

providing a portion of the prize value based on the fractional lottery ticket value.

16. A method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

determining a total value amount corresponding to a set of ticket numbers; and

acquiring at least one lottery ticket having the set of ticket numbers based on the total value amount.

17. The method of claim 16, in which the step of acquiring is performed at predefined periods.

18. The method of claim 16, in which the step of acquiring is performed at a predefined time before a drawing.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining an amount to round up based on the total value amount; and

in which the step of acquiring is performed when the amount to round up is below a predetermined value.

20. An apparatus for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

determine a monetary value;

select a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchase at least one lottery ticket based on the monetary value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

output the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value.

21. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

determining a monetary value;

selecting a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchasing at least one lottery ticket based on the monetary value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

outputting the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value.

22. An apparatus for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

determine an amount of change due for a purchase;

determine a monetary value based on the amount of change due;

select a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchase at least one lottery ticket based on the value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

output the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value.

23. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

determining an amount of change due for a purchase;

determining a monetary value based on the amount of change due;

selecting a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchasing at least one lottery ticket based on the value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

outputting the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value.

24. An apparatus for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

determine a monetary value;

select a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchase at least one lottery ticket based on the value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

output the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value;

determine a prize value of the at least one lottery ticket; and

provide a portion of the prize value based on the fractional lottery ticket value.

25. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

determining a monetary value;

selecting a ticket record that includes a set of ticket numbers;

purchasing at least one lottery ticket based on the value and the set of ticket numbers after the step of selecting; and

outputting the ticket numbers and a fractional lottery ticket value that is based on the monetary value;

determining a prize value of the at least one lottery ticket; and

providing a portion of the prize value based on the fractional lottery ticket value.

26. An apparatus for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

determine a total value amount corresponding to a set of ticket numbers; and

acquire at least one lottery ticket having the set of ticket numbers based on the total value amount.

27. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for facilitating the purchase of fractional lottery tickets using a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

determining a total value amount corresponding to a set of ticket numbers; and

acquiring at least one lottery ticket having the set of ticket numbers based on the total value amount.