Mobile lottery terminal including features facilitating use by visually impaired ticket agents

• US 20040054623A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT Rhode Island LLC (International Game Technology), Organizacion Nacional De Ciegos Espanoles
• Original Assignee: Organizacion Nacional De Ciegos Espanoles
• Inventors: Hultzman, Scott, Collins, Christopher, Romano, Kevin, Businger, Kurt, Letiecq, Dana
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/242 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/064 Electric devices for filling-in or checking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/065 Tickets or accessories for use therewith A63F3/0625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/00 Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/002 Writing aids for blind persons devices for Braille writing G09B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A mobile lottery terminal is disclosed. The mobile lottery terminal includes a processor. The mobile lottery terminal may include a Braille keypad in communication with the processor. The mobile lottery terminal may also include a customer information input device in communication with the processor and operable to input information indicative of a customer-selected lottery number. A system incorporating mobile lottery terminals and method of vending lottery tickets using mobile lottery terminals is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent, comprising:

a processor,

a keypad in communication with the processor and including a plurality of keys, at least a subset of the plurality of keys having Braille identifiers; and

a customer information input device in communication with the processor and operable to input information indicative of a customer-selected lottery number.

2. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 1, wherein

the customer input device includes a lottery play slip reader.

3. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 2 wherein

the lottery play slip reader includes a bar code scanner.

4. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 1, wherein

the customer input device includes a magnetic stripe card reader.

5. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 1, wherein

the customer input device includes a smart card reader.

6. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio output device in communication with the processor and operable to produce a plurality of distinct sounds.

7. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 6, wherein

a key of the keypad is uniquely associated with a respective one of the plurality of distinct sounds and

the audio output device is configured, in response to the activation of the key of the keypad, to produce the respective one of the plurality of distinct sounds with which the key is uniquely associated.

8. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 6, wherein

the audio output device is configured to produce a unique sound in response to a successful attempt to input customer information using the customer input device.

9. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 6, wherein

the audio output device is configured to produce a unique sound in response to an unsuccessful attempt to input customer information using the customer input device.

10. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 1, further comprising:

a lottery ticket printer in communication with the processor.

11. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 10, wherein

the lottery ticket printer is operable to print a lottery ticket including the customer-selected lottery number.

12. The mobile lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless communication I/O device in communication with the processor and configured to provide wireless communications between the lottery terminal and a central lottery server.

13. A mobile lottery terminal, comprising:

a processor;

a customer input device in communication with the processor and configured to receive information indicative of a lottery number selected by a ticket purchaser;

an agent input device in communication with the processor and configured to receive input from a ticket; and

a housing dimensioned to be held in one hand and containing the processor and retaining the agent input device.

14. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, wherein

the housing retains the customer input device.

15. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a ticket printer in communication with the processor.

16. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 15, wherein

the ticket printer is configured to print a lottery ticket including the lottery number selected by the ticket purchaser.

17. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 15, wherein the ticket printer is retained in the housing.

18. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a display in communication with the processor.

19. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 18, wherein the display is configured to display prompts to the ticket agent.

20. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

an audio output device.

21. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 20, further comprising:

a voice synthesizer operable to produce voice prompts with the audio output device.

22. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 21, wherein

the voice synthesizer is part of the processor.

23. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 21, wherein

the voice synthesizer is part of the audio output device.

24. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 20, wherein

the audio output device comprises an earphone.

25. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 20, wherein

the agent input device includes a keypad having a plurality of keys, and

the audio output device is operable to produce a set of distinct sounds respectively associated with one of the plurality of keys, each sound produced in response to the activation of the respectively associated one of the plurality of keys.

26. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a wireless communication I/O device in communication with the processor and configured to allow wireless communication between the lottery terminal and another system.

27. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 26, wherein

the wireless communication I/O device is configured to allow communication with a central lottery server.

28. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 26, wherein

the wireless communication I/O device supports the GPRS protocol.

29. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 26,

the wireless communication I/O device supports GSM protocol.

30. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 26, wherein the

the wireless communication I/O device is configured to use a second backup wireless communication network when a first primary wireless communication network is unavailable.

31. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

an attachment device secured to the housing and operable to allow the mobile lottery terminal to be transported by a person in a hands-free manner.

32. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, wherein

the housing has dimensions less than or equal to 10 cm by 21 cm by 5 cm.

33. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, wherein

the customer input device includes a bar code scanner.

34. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, wherein

the customer input device further includes a magnetic stripe card reader.

35. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, wherein

the customer input device includes a smart card reader.

36. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a means for determining the geographic location of the mobile lottery terminal.

37. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising

a GPS receiver.

38. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising

an alarm means for reporting an emergency condition to a central server.

39. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a security device configured to produce a digital signature.

40. The mobile lottery terminal of claim 39, wherein

the digital signature is included in transaction processing information sent by the mobile lottery terminal toward a central lottery server.

41. A lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent, comprising:

a processor;

a keypad in communication with the processor, the keypad including a plurality of keys which are tactilely distinct, the keypad configured to provide inputs to the processor from the ticket agent;

an audio output device in communication with the processor; and

a lottery ticket printer in communication with the processor and operable to print lottery tickets including user-selected lottery numbers.

42. The lottery terminal for use by a visually impaired ticket agent of claim 41, wherein

the audio output device is configured to produce a set of distinct sounds, each of the set of distinct sounds respectively associated with one of the plurality of keys and configured to be produced by the audio output device in response to the activation of the respectively associated one of the plurality of keys.

43. The lottery terminal of claim 41, wherein

the audio output device is configured to produce voice prompts directing the operation of the terminal by the ticket agent.

44. The lottery terminal of claim 41, further comprising:

a customer information input device operable to receive information indicative of customer-selected lottery numbers.

45. The lottery terminal of claim 44, wherein

the audio output device is configured to produce a distinct sound indicative of the successful receipt of the information indicative of customer-selected lottery numbers.

46. The lottery terminal of claim 44, wherein

the audio output device is further configured to produce a distinct sound indicative of an unsuccessful attempt to input customer-selected lottery numbers.

47. A lottery system, comprising:

a central lottery server;

a plurality of mobile lottery terminals further comprising

an input device configured to receive a customer-selected lottery number; and

a wireless communications interface operable to provide communications between the mobile lottery terminals and the central lottery server including transmission of the customer-selected lottery number from the mobile lottery terminal to the central server.

48. The lottery system of claim 47, wherein the plurality of mobile lottery terminals further comprise

a printer configured to printer lottery tickets including the customer-selected lottery number.

49. A mobile lottery terminal comprising:

a processor;

a keypad in communication with the processor and having a plurality of keys, at least a subset of the keys including Braille identifiers;

an input device configured to receive information indicative of a customer-selected lottery number, said input device including at least one of;

a smart card reader, a bar code scanner, a magnetic stripe card reader;

a wireless network interface in communication with the processor and operable to send a customer-selected lottery number toward a central lottery server via a wireless network;

a display in communication with the processor;

an audio output device configured to produce a set of distinct tones, each of the distinct tones respectively associated with one of the keys of the keypad and produced by the audio output device in response to the activation of the respectively associated key; and

a printer in communication with the processor and configured to print a lottery ticket including a customer-selected lottery number.

50. A method of vending a lottery ticket, comprising:

receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket at a mobile lottery terminal;

receiving information indicative of a customer-selected lottery number; and

transmitting the customer-selected lottery number from the mobile lottery terminal toward a central lottery server via a wireless connection.

51. The method of vending a lottery ticket of claim 50, further comprising:

printing a lottery ticket at a mobile lottery terminal, the lottery ticket including the customer-selected lottery number.

52. The method of vending a lottery ticket of claim 51, further comprising:

storing the customer-selected lottery number in the central server;

associating a unique authentication code with the customer-selected lottery number; and

transmitting the unique authentication code to the lottery terminal.

53. The method of vending a lottery ticket of claim 52, further comprising:

printing the unique authentication code on the lottery ticket.

54. The method of vending a lottery ticket of claim 50, further comprising:

transmitting a digital signature uniquely associated with the mobile lottery terminal toward the central lottery server via a wireless network.