Method and apparatus for electronic support and delivery of multiple lottery and sweepstake programs, in substantially off-line environments

• US 20040148224A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gauthier, Patrick, Farnsworth, Jean Elizabeth, Salmon, Diane
• Application Number:
  US10/401,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148224A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A method for providing an instant win program during a transaction between a base device and a portable device is provided. The method comprises: establishing a connection between the portable device and the base device to initiate the transaction between the portable device and base device; determining information for the instant win program at the base device; and using the information to determine if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the instant win program during the transaction.

Claims

1. A method for providing an instant win program during a transaction between a base device and a portable device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between the portable device and the base device to initiate the transaction between the portable device and base device;

determining information for the instant win program at the base device; and

using the information to determine if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the instant win program during the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining information comprises determining a reference parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining information comprises determining an instant win program parameter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein using the information to determine if the portable device is eligible for the prize comprises:

logically comparing the reference parameter and the instant win program parameter; and

determining the eligibility based on the comparison.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the base device is associated with an operator and further comprising:

using the information to determine if the operator is eligible for another prize in the instant win program.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the prize for the instant win program.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining a distribution method for distributing the prize.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the distribution method comprises an immediate distribution method, a delayed distribution method, and a conditional distribution method.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing information for the distribution method on the portable device using a secure method.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the distribution method further comprises requiring a positive action by a user of the portable device in order for the user to receive the prize.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating distribution information for the distribution method to the portable device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the distribution information allows the portable device to redeem the prize.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating information for the prize to a user of the portable device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating information for the transaction to an administrative host.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of determining information and determining the eligibility are performed by the portable device and the base device in a substantially off-line fashion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transaction is at least one of a loyalty transaction, payment transaction, and transaction requiring the use of the portable device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information used to determine if the portable device is eligible for the prize includes information relating to at least one of the loyalty transaction, payment transaction, and transaction requiring the use of the portable device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device includes at least one of a smartcard, smartmedia card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a pager, a payment card, a security card, a transponder, and an access card.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein during a transaction between the portable device and the base device and wherein determining if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the instant win program comprises determining one or more prizes for a plurality of instant win programs;

and further comprising;

distributing the one or more prizes.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the base device includes at least one of a point of sale (POS) device, a cellular phone, a PDA, a computer, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, a kiosk, an electronic cash register (ECR), a virtual cash register (VCR), a security system, an automatic teller machine (ATM), and an access system.

21. A method for providing a loyalty program in conjunction with an instant win program, the method comprising:

processing one or more loyalty transactions associated with the loyalty program for a portable device;

determining if the portable device is eligible for the instant win program based on at least information associated with the one or more loyalty transactions; and

if eligible for the instant win program, determining, for the portable device, a result of the instant win program based on at least information related to the one or more loyalty transactions.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining if the portable device is eligible for a loyalty incentive based on the result of at least the instant win program.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the result comprises determining a reference parameter and determining an instant win program parameter;

and further comprising;

logically comparing the reference parameter and the instant win program parameter; and

determining the result based on the comparison.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining a prize for the instant win program in response to the result.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining a distribution method for distributing the prize.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the distribution method comprises an immediate distribution method, a delayed distribution method, and a conditional distribution method.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising requiring a positive action by a user of the portable device in order for the user to receive the prize.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising communicating distribution information for the prize to the portable device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the distribution information allows the portable device to redeem the prize.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising storing information for the distribution method of the prize on the portable device using a secure method.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising communicating information for the prize to a user of the portable device.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating information for the transaction to an administrative host.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein processing one or more loyalty transactions, determining if the portable device is eligible, and determining the result are performed by the portable device and the base device in a substantially off-line fashion.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the portable device includes at least one of a smartcard, smartmedia card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a pager, a payment card, a security card, a transponder, and an access card.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the base device includes at least one of a point of sale (POS) device, a cellular phone, a PDA, a computer, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, a kiosk, an electronic cash register (ECR), a virtual cash register (VCR), a security system, an ATM, and an access system.

36. A method for providing an instant win program during a transaction between a base device and a portable device, the method comprising:

determining a first parameter for the instant win program;

determining a second parameter for the instant win program;

logically comparing the first parameter and the second parameter;

determining, for the portable device, a result of the instant win program based on the comparison during the transaction at the base device.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first parameter is determined at least in part on information related to the portable device;

and wherein the second parameter is determined at least in part on information related to the base device.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising determining a prize for the instant win program based on the result.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising determining a distribution method for distributing the prize.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the distribution method comprise an immediate distribution method, a delayed distribution method, and a conditional distribution method.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising requiring a positive action by a user of the portable device in order for the user to receive the prize.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising distributing the prize based on the distribution method.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising storing information for the distribution method of the prize on the portable device using a secure method.

44. The method of claim 36, further comprising communicating information about the transaction to an administrative host.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein the transaction is one or more loyalty transactions.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of determining the result further comprises determining the result using information relating to the loyalty transaction.

47. The method of claim 36, further comprising using information from the transaction to determine an incentive for a loyalty program.

48. A base device for providing an instant win program during a transaction between the base device and a portable device, the base device comprising:

a communicator configured to communicate with the portable device to enable the transaction;

an information generator configured to retrieve information from the portable device and generate information for the transaction; and

a result generator configure to generate a result for the instant win program based on the generated information.

49. The base device of claim 48, further comprising a prize generator configured to determine a prize for the instant win program based on the result.

50. The base device of claim 49, further comprising a distribution method module configure to determine a distribution method for distributing the prize.

51. The base device of claim 48, further comprising a result communicator configured to communicate the result of the instant win program to an administrative host.

52. The base device of claim 48, further comprising a result communicator configured to communicate the result of the instant win program to the portable device.

53. The base device of claim 48, further comprising a security module configured to secure information associated with the instant win transaction.

54. The base device of claim 48, wherein the generated information is based on at least one of information retrieved from the portable device, information stored in the base device, and information from the transaction.

55. The base device of claim 48, wherein the information generator generates a reference parameter and an instant win program parameter, and wherein the result generator logically compares the reference parameter and the instant win parameter to generate the result.

56. The base device of claim 48, wherein the transaction is a loyalty transaction.

57. The base device of claim 48, further comprising a set of rules governing the operations of the instant win program.

58. The base device of claim 57, wherein the set of rules is uploaded to the base device by an administrative host.

59. The base device of claim 58, wherein when the set of rules is modified, the administrative host uploads the modified set of rules to the base device.

60. The base device of claim 48, further comprising storage for prior instant win program results that were loaded on the portable device.

61. The base device of claim 48, wherein the communicator is configured to communicate prior instant win program information to a user of the portable device, wherein the information allows customer service to be performed using the prior instant win information.

62. A system for providing an instant win program during a transaction, the system comprising:

a portable device; and

a base device configured to communicate with the portable device, the base device comprising;

logic to determine information for the instant win program; and

logic to use the information to determine if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the instant win program during the transaction.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the transaction is one or more loyalty transactions.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the information used to determine if the portable device is eligible for the prize includes information relating to the loyalty transaction.

65. The system of claim 62 wherein the base device further comprises:

logic to determine the prize for the instant win program.

66. The system of claim 62, wherein the information relating to the instant win program is used to determine an incentive earned by the portable device during a loyalty transaction.

67. The system of claim 62, wherein the base device further comprises:

logic to determine a distribution method for distributing the prize.

68. The system of claim 62, further comprising an administrative host;

wherein the base device is configured to communicate details for the transaction to the administrative host.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the base device further comprises a plurality of rules governing operations of the instant win program, and wherein the administration host downloads the plurality of rules to the base device.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein when the plurality of rules of portions thereof are modified, the administrative host downloads the modified plurality of rules or portions thereof to the base device.

71. A method for providing an instant win program in a system using a plurality of portable devices and a plurality of base devices, the method comprising:

determining eligibility information for determining if a portable device in the plurality of portable devices is eligible for the instant win program;

determining result methods for use in determining if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the one or more instant win programs;

downloading the eligibility information and results methods to the plurality of base devices, the eligibility information and results methods being usable by a base device in the plurality of base devices to determine if a portable device in the plurality of portable devices is eligible for the instant win program and if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the one or more instant win programs.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

determining distribution methods for distributing the prize for the one or more instant win programs; and

downloading the distribution methods to the plurality of base devices.

73. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

receiving a request for distribution of the prize to a user of the portable device; and

determining if the prize should be distributed to the user of the portable device upon the determination that the portable device is eligible for the prize and uploading the determination to the base device.

74. The method of claim 71, further comprising receiving the result of the determination if the portable device is eligible for the prize.

75. An administrative host for providing a plurality of instant win programs in a system using a plurality of portable devices and a plurality of base devices, the administrative host comprising:

an eligibility module configured to store eligibility information for determining if a portable device in the plurality of portable devices is eligible for the instant win program;

a result module configured to store result methods for use in determining if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the instant win program; and

a communicator configured to download the eligibility information and the results methods to the plurality of base devices, the eligibility information and the results methods being usable by a base device in the plurality of base devices to determine if a portable device in the plurality of portable devices is eligible for one or more instant win programs in the plurality of win programs during a transaction and if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the one or more instant win programs during the transaction.

76. The administrative host of claim 75, further comprising:

a fraud module configured to detect fraud in connection with the plurality of instant win programs.

77. The administrative host of claim 75, a distribution module configured to provide methods of distribution, wherein the communicator downloads the methods of distribution to the plurality of base devices.

78. The administrative host of claim 75, further comprising a billing module configured to receive information for the transaction and to settle the transaction with one or more entities associated with the one or more instant win programs.

79. The administrative host of claim 75, further comprising a reporting module configured to report information for the transaction and the one or more instant win programs to one or more entities associated with the one or more instant win programs.

80. The administrative host of claim 75, wherein the transaction is one or more loyalty transactions.

81. A base device for providing a plurality of loyalty programs in conjunction with a plurality of instant win programs, the base device comprising:

a loyalty module configured to process one or more loyalty transactions associated with a loyalty program in the plurality of loyalty programs for a portable device;

an information generator configured to determine information from the processing of the one or more loyalty transactions; and

an instant win program module configured to determine, for the portable device, a result of an instant win program in the plurality of instant win programs based on the determined information.

82. The base device of claim 81, further comprising a prize generator configured to determine a prize for the instant win program based on the result.

83. The base device of claim 81, further comprising an incentive generator configured to determine an incentive for the loyalty program based on the result of the instant win program.

84. The base device of claim 81, further comprising a result communicator configured to communicate the result of the instant win program to an administrative host.

85. The base device of claim 81, further comprising an interface configured to communicate the result to a user of the portable device.

86. The base device of claim 81, further comprising an interface configured to allow user of a portable device to fulfill conditions required for distribution of a prize.

87. A portable device for use in one or more instant win programs, the portable device comprising:

information usable to enable participation in the one or more instant win programs; and

logic to allow the base device to determine from the information if the portable device is eligible to participate in a transaction for an instant win program in the one or more instant win programs and if the portable device is eligible for a prize in the instant win program.

88. The portable device of claim 87, further comprising storage for storing information relating to the instant win transaction.

89. The portable device of claim 87, wherein the information includes information unique to the portable device.

90. The portable device of claim 87, wherein the information is usable to allow participation in one or more loyalty programs.

91. The portable device of claim 87, further comprising storage for storing information for a distribution method determined by the base device.