Methods and systems for selectively providing a networked service

• US 20070055439A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ticketmaster (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Denker, Dennis, Suasman, Adam, Nachman, MyDung
• Application Number:
  US11/412,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Methods and systems of determining the approximate location of a terminal are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer system receives from a first mobile computer terminal and/or from a communication system in communication with the first mobile computer terminal, global positioning satellite and/or cellular network location data, wherein the location data corresponds to the approximate location of the first mobile computer terminal. Based at least in part on the location data, the system determines if the first mobile computer terminal is within a first area, wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to be authorized to access a first service. The system, at least partly in response to failing to determine that the first mobile terminal is in the first area, transmits to the first mobile computer terminal location information regarding at least a first location in the first area.

Claims

1. A computer system configured to selectively provide access to a service, comprising:

a first instruction configured to receive a lottery order from a first user;

a second instruction configured to determine if the user is identified in a governmental database as being prohibited from participating in at least a first lottery; and

a third instruction configured to determine if the lottery order is to be fulfilled at least partly based on determining whether the user is identified in the governmental database as being prohibited from participating in at least the first lottery.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising determining with other users are relatively more suitable to be members of the lottery pool at least partly based on historical purchase information for performance event tickets.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the indication that at least the first other user is more suitable to be a member of the lottery pool than the second other user is provided by listing the first other user relatively higher up in a list than the second other user.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication that the first other user is to be invited to join the lottery pool; and

transmitting an invitation to the first other user to join the lottery pool.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

storing a lottery pool group name;

storing a lottery pool password;

receiving from the first user an indication that the first other user is to be invited to join the lottery pool; and

transmitting an invitation to the first other user to join the lottery pool, the invitation including the lottery pool group name, the lottery pool password, and a link to a user interface via which the first other user can accept the invitation.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the transaction data for at least one of the other users includes data related to lottery participation frequency.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the transaction data for at least one of the other users includes data related to lottery winnings.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the transaction data for at least one of the other users includes data related to a lottery number chosen by the one other user.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the transaction data for at least one of the other users includes data related to the types of lotteries played by at least one other user.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the presentation of other users includes the corresponding names or aliases of the other users.

15. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising identifying to the first user other users having a lottery-related account and that are also in a contact database associated with the first user.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying contacts in a contact database associated with the first user that have a lottery-related account and that have opted in to receive invitations to participate in a lottery pool; and

transmitting a message to the first user that identifies at least a portion of the contacts in the contact database that have a lottery-related account and that have opted in to receive invitations to participate in a lottery pool.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing information to the first user regarding the number of lottery pools the first user is participating in.

5. A method of processing data, the method comprising:

receiving over a network an indication from a first user that the first user is interested in forming a lottery pool;

accessing historical lottery transaction data for the first user from a data store;

accessing historical lottery transaction data for other users from the data store;

determining which other users are relatively more suitable to be members of the lottery pool at least partly based on the historical lottery transaction data for the first user and for other users; and

transmitting over the network to a terminal associated with the first user a presentation of other users with an indication that at least a first other user is more suitable to be a member of the lottery pool than a second other user.

18. A method of processing data, the method comprising:

receiving over a network an indication from a first user that the first user is interested in forming a lottery pool;

identifying contacts in a contact database associated with the first user that have a lottery-related account and that have opted in to receive invitations to participate in a lottery pool;

transmitting a message to the first user that identifies at least a portion of the contacts in the contact database that have a lottery-related account and that have opted in to receive invitations to participate in a lottery pool; and

receiving an indication from the first user that an invitation to join the lottery pool is to be sent to at least a first of the contacts identified in the message.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising transmitting an invitation to join the lottery pool to the first contact.

20. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising transmitting an invitation to join the lottery pool to the first contact, the invitation including a group name and a password.

21. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising:

transmitting an invitation to join the lottery pool to the first contact;

receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the first contact; and

recording the acceptance in a database.

22. A method of establishing a lottery account for a user, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the user to establish an account related to lotteries;

storing an electronic copy of a government document including information identifying the user, the user'"'"'s age, and an address associated with the user;

determining if the user is a customer of a first internet service provider;

accessing a database to determine if the user is to be excluded from lottery participation; and

establishing an account for the first user at least partly in response to determining that the government document information indicates that the first user meets at least one governmental rule for participating in a lottery, that the user is within the authorized area, and that the database does not indicate that the first user is to be excluded from lottery participation.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:

storing in computer readable memory a maximum lottery ticket charge limit for at least a first credit card; and

refusing a charge to the first credit card related to at least one lottery if the charge would result in the maximum lottery ticket charge limit being exceeded.

24. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:

tracking the number and/or amount of charges that have been declined and/or that have been charged backed by a user; and

if the number and/or amount of charges exceed a predetermined threshold, refusing at least one charge.

25. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:

tracking the number and/or amount of charges that have been declined and/or that have been charged backed by a user; and

if the number and/or amount of charges exceed a predetermined threshold, causing the user to be reported to a government entity.

32. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:

storing in computer readable memory a maximum lottery ticket charge limit for at least a first credit card; and

refusing a charge to the first credit card if the charge would result in the maximum lottery ticket charge limit being exceeded.

33. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:

tracking the number and/or amount of charges that have been declined and/or that have been charged backed by a user; and

if the number and/or amount of charges exceed a predetermined threshold, refusing at least one lottery-related charge.

34. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:

tracking the number and/or amount of charges that have been declined and/or that have been charged backed by a user; and

if the number and/or amount of charges exceed a predetermined threshold, causing the user to be reported to a government entity

35. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:

receiving at least one rule from the user that indicates that a first portion of a future lottery winning is to be deposited in a first account and that a second portion is be deposited in a second account; and

receiving at least one rule from a governmental entity that indicates that winnings above a specified amount are to be distributed in a manner specified by the governmental entity,

wherein the at least one rule from the governmental entity takes precedence over at least one rule from the user.

26. A method of establishing a lottery account for a user, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the user to establish an account related to lotteries;

determining if the user is a customer of a first internet service provider;

receiving personal data related to the user from the first internet service provider; and

establishing an account for the first user at least partly in response to the data received from the first internet service provider.

27. The method as defined in claim 26, further comprising using at least a portion of the personal data from the first internet service provider to at least partly determine whether the user is eligible to participate in at least a first lottery.

28. The method as defined in claim 26, further comprising accessing a database that identifies individuals that are not eligible to participate in at least one.

29. The method as defined in claim 26, further comprising accessing a black list data store that identifies specific individuals that are not to be allowed to participate in at least one lottery.

30. The method as defined in claim 26, wherein the personal data from the first internet service provider indicates the user'"'"'s residence.

31. The method as defined in claim 26, wherein the personal data from the first internet service provider indicates the user'"'"'s age.

36. A method of distributing lottery funds, the method comprising:

storing in computer readable media at least one rule from a user that indicates that a first portion of a future lottery winning is to be deposited in a first account and that a second portion is be deposited in a second account; and

storing at least one rule from a governmental entity that indicates that winnings above a specified amount are to be distributed in a manner specified by the governmental entity,

wherein the at least one rule from the governmental entity takes precedence over at least one rule from the user.

37. The method as defined in claim 36, wherein a first user rule specified that a first amount of the future lottery winning is to be deposited in the first account and that an amount over the first amount is to be deposited in the second account.

38. The method as defined in claim 36, wherein a first user rule specified that a first percentage of the future lottery winning is to be deposited in the first account.

39. The method as defined in claim 36, wherein a first rule from the governmental entity specifies that for a lottery winning greater than a first amount, additional user identity verification is to be performed.

40. A method of distributing lottery funds, the method comprising:

storing in computer readable media a user instruction that indicates that at least a portion of a future lottery winning be automatically used to make a lottery-related purchase;

determining that the user has lottery winnings; and

automatically applying at least a portion of the lottery winnings to a first lottery related purchase in accordance with the user instruction.

41. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the lottery first lottery related purchase is for a lottery ticket.

42. A method of processing a lottery-related user instruction, the method comprising:

storing in computer readable media a user instruction that indicates that a lottery-related purchase is to be automatically made when a jackpot reaches a user-defined threshold;

determining that a first jackpot reached and/or exceeded the user-defined threshold; and

automatically applying at least a portion of the lottery winnings to a first lottery related purchase in accordance with the user instruction.

43. A method of processing data, the method comprising:

receiving a lottery order from a first user;

determining if the user is identified in a governmental database as not being eligible to participate in at least a first lottery;

determining if the lottery order complies with a first user rule specified by the first user prior to the lottery order; and

at least partly based on determining if the user is identified in a governmental database as not being eligible to participate in at least a first lottery and on determining if the lottery order complies with a first user rule specified by the first user prior to the lottery order, determining if the lottery order is to be fulfilled.

2. The computer system as defined in claim 43, wherein the governmental database is operated by a non-governmental entity.

3. The computer system as defined in claim 43, further comprising a rule stored in computer readable media that prevents at least one lottery-related transaction when a frequency of lottery-related transactions meets and/or exceeds a first threshold.

4. The method as defined in claim 43, further comprising a rule stored in computer readable media that prevents at least one lottery-related transaction when a first lottery purchase amount and/or exceeds a first threshold.

44. The method as defined in claim 43, wherein the governmental database is operated by a non-governmental entity.

45. The method as defined in claim 43, wherein the first rule relates to a frequency of lottery purchases.

46. The method as defined in claim 43, wherein the first rule relates to lottery purchase amounts.

47. The method as defined in claim 43, the method further comprising determining whether the lottery order complies with a government rule related to lottery purchase amounts and/or lottery purchase frequency.

48. A method of recommending lotteries to a first user, the method comprising:

accessing historical lottery transaction data for the first user from a computer readable data store;

accessing location information for the first user; and

at least partly based on the historical lottery transaction data and the location information, recommending at least a first lottery to the first user.

49. The method as defined in claim 48, the method further comprising:

accessing historical performance event ticket purchase data for the first user from a computer readable data store; and

at least partly based on the historical performance event ticket purchase data, recommending at least a second lottery to the first user.

50. The method as defined in claim 48, the method further comprising:

accessing historical ticket purchase data related to concerts and/or sport events for the first user from a computer readable data store; and

at least partly based on the historical performance event ticket purchase data, recommending at least a second lottery to the first user.

51. The method as defined in claim 48, the method further comprising offering a discount for at least a first performance event ticket if the first performance event ticket is purchased using lottery winnings.

52. The method as defined in claim 48, the method further comprising selectively providing the first user with information on a future performance event at least partly based on historical purchase data.

53. The method as defined in claim 48, the method further comprising selectively providing the first user with information on a future performance event at least partly based on historical purchase data and on location data for the first user.

54. A method of configuring a lottery, the method comprising:

causing a form for configuring a lottery to be presented on a display, the form including the following fields;

a lottery identifier;

a lottery start date;

a lottery end date;

a lottery drawing date;

date information regarding when online access to the lottery is to be provided to the public;

types of bets, wherein a user can select one or more bet-types that will be permitted in the lottery;

number of characters or indicia allowed in a lottery ticket or bet identifier; and

a lump sum field, wherein the user can indicate that a lump sum payment option is available for the lottery.

55. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising:

generating a plurality of lottery ticket or bet identifiers, wherein the plurality of lottery ticket or bet identifiers are generated by a non-governmental entity; and

transmitting the plurality of lottery ticket or bet identifiers to a governmental entity.

56. The method as defined in claim 54, wherein the form further comprises:

an annuity pay-out field, wherein the user can indicate that an annuity payment option is available for the lottery;

a starting number of alphanumeric string to be used for a first lottery ticket or bet identifier; and

a lottery ticket or bet identifier increment.