Method, apparatus, and system for determining whether a computer is within a particular location

• US 20070214058A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adam Rouhi, Ramin Rouhi
• Original Assignee: Adam Rouhi, Ramin Rouhi
• Inventors: Rouhi, Adam, Rouhi, Ramin
• Application Number:
  US11/688,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20070214058A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method of determining whether a lottery player or the player'"'"'s computer is within a particular location. The player'"'"'s computer is connected to a computer network. The method transmits, through the computer network, a pass code and a telephone number to the lottery player'"'"'s computer. The method requests the lottery player or the player'"'"'s computer to call the number and provide the pass code within a pre-determined amount of time. The method determines whether the pass code is provided within a predetermined amount of time after the transmission of the pass code from a telephone specified to be within the particular location. The method verifies whether the lottery player or player'"'"'s computer is within the particular location, based on the determination.

Claims

1-116. -116. (canceled)

117. A method of determining whether a computer is within a particular location, said computer connected to a computer network, the method comprising:

a) through the computer network, transmitting to the computer a pass code and a telephone number for dialing to establish a telephone session to provide the pass code;

b) rejecting calls to the telephone number from outside of the particular location; and

c) determining whether the pass code is provided within a predetermined amount of time after the transmission of the pass code.

118. The method of claim 117 further comprising:

a) retrieving a caller identification number when the telephone number is dialed;

b) determining whether the caller identification number corresponds to a telephone number within the location;

c) if the identification number is from inside of the location, responding to the telephone call; and

d) if the identification number is from outside of the location, rejecting the telephone call.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein for cases where a telephone line of the dialer of the telephone number has caller-identification block, the method further comprising requesting the dialer to disable the caller identification block.

120. The method of claim 117 wherein a telephone company restricts calls from outside of the particular state to the supplied telephone number.

121. The method of claim 117 further comprising receiving a notice from a telephone company that a call to the supplied telephone number is from outside of the particular state.

122. The method of claim 117 further comprising rejecting the pass code when the pass code is not provided within the predetermined amount of time.

123. The method of claim 122 wherein the method rejects the pass code permanently.

124. The method of claim 122 wherein the method rejects the pass code for a pre-specified duration of time.

125. A method of selling lottery for a state through a computer network, the method comprising:

a) through the computer network, receiving a request from a computer to purchase the state'"'"'s lottery ticket;

b) determining whether the computer passes a physical location criteria; and

c) allowing the computer to purchase the state'"'"'s lottery tickets if the computer passes the physical location criteria.

126. The method of claim 125 wherein determining whether the computer passes the physical location criteria comprises:

a) through the computer network, transmitting to the computer a pass code and a telephone number for dialing to establish a telephone session to provide the pass code;

b) rejecting calls to the telephone number from outside of the state; and

c) determining whether the pass code is provided within a predetermined amount of time after the transmission of the pass code.

127. The method of claim 126 wherein the computer dials the transmitted telephone number.

128. The method of claim 127 wherein the computer automatically dials the telephone number.

129. The method of claim 128 wherein the computer automatically provides the pass code when a successful telephone session is established.

130. The method of claim 127 wherein an individual using the computer provides the pass code when a successful telephone session is established.

131. The method of claim 127 wherein an individual using the computer instructs the computer to dial the supplied telephone number.

132. The method of claim 131 wherein the computer automatically provides the pass code when a successful telephone session is established.

133. The method of claim 131 wherein the individual provides the pass code when a successful telephone session is established.

134. The method of claim 126 wherein an individual using the computer dials the supplied telephone number and provides the pass code when a successful telephone session is established.

135. The method of claim 127 further comprising:

a) retrieving the caller identification number when the telephone number is dialed;

b) determining whether the caller identification number corresponds to a telephone number within the state;

c) if the identification number is from inside of the state, responding to the telephone call; and

d) if the identification number is from outside of the state, rejecting the telephone call.

136. The method of claim 135, wherein for cases where a telephone line of the dialer of the telephone number has caller-identification block, the method further comprising requesting the dialer to disable the caller identification block.

137. The method of claim 127 wherein a telephone company restricts calls from outside of the state to the supplied telephone number.

138. The method of claim 127 further comprising receiving a notice from a telephone company that a call to the supplied telephone number is from outside of the state.

139. The method of claim 126 further comprising rejecting the pass code when the pass code is not provided within the predetermined amount of time.

140. The method of claim 139 wherein the method rejects the pass code permanently.

141. The method of claim 139 wherein the method rejects the pass code for a pre-specified duration of time.