Method and system for a scratchcard

• US 20090083055A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sky Castle Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Sky Castle Global Limited
• Inventors: Tan, Edwin
• Application Number:
  US11/903,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083055A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/347
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products

Abstract

A method and a system are provided for providing online services associated with a scratchcard, such as domain name registration, online storage and Internet hosting. The method includes providing the scratchcard to a user, the scratchcard including a non-visible portion displaying an identifier. The method includes, responsive to a user request, verifying the identifier as valid. The method includes registering a domain name for the user if the identifier is verified as valid.

Claims

1. A device for registering a domain name, comprising:

a scratchcard including an identifier concealed by an opaque substance, the identifier being adapted for a system for registering domain names, the opaque substance being adapted for at least partial removal from the card in order to expose the identifier to a user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the opaque substance includes latex and is configured to adhere to the scratchcard.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the opaque substance is removed by scratching.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the scratchcard is packaged to be dispensed from an automated kiosk.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is dispensed from the automated kiosk after being activated.

6. A method of making a scratchcard for providing online storage, comprising:

providing a scratchcard with an identifier to a user, the identifier adapted for a system for providing online storage; and

concealing the identifier on the scratchcard with an opaque substance, the opaque substance being adapted to be partially removed by the user in order to reveal the identifier.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the opaque substance includes latex and is configured to adhere to the scratchcard.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the opaque substance is removed by scratching.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the scratchcard is packaged to be dispensed from an automated kiosk.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the scratchcard is dispensed from the automated kiosk after being activated.

51. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifier is used by the system in providing online storage to a user

11. A system for providing online storage, comprising:

a user interface adapted to receive an identifier from a user, the identifier being adapted for the system for providing online storage and being carried on a scratchcard, the identifier being initially concealed on the scratchcard with an opaque substance, and being revealed to the user after the opaque substance is at least partially removed;

a validation component adapted to validate the received identifier; and

an accessible memory for storing files responsive to user requests.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a medium accessible to the validation component, the medium including a set of valid identifiers and metadata associated with each identifier.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the opaque substance includes latex and is configured to adhere to the scratchcard.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the opaque substance is removed by scratching.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the scratchcard is packaged to be dispensed from an automated kiosk.

16. A method for enabling a user to providing Internet hosting, comprising:

providing a scratchcard to the user, the scratchcard carrying an identifier concealed by an at least partially removable opaque substance, the identifier being adapted for a system for providing Internet hosting.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

activating the scratchcard responsive to a user purchase of the scratchcard; and

before providing Internet hosting, further verifying the scratchcard has been activated.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the scratchcard is provided to the user in exchange for currency.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the scratchcard is packaged to be dispensed from an automated kiosk.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the scratchcard is dispensed from the automated kiosk after being activated.

21. A system for registering a domain name, comprising:

a user interface adapted to receive an identifier from a user terminal, the identifier being adapted for the system for registering domain names and being included on a computer-readable medium;

a validation component adapted to validate the received identifier; and

a registration component adapted to register a requested domain name if the identifier is valid.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a storage accessible to the validation component, the storage including a set of valid identifiers and metadata associated with each identifier.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the user interface communicates with the user terminal over the Internet.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable medium is dispensed to a user from an automated kiosk in exchange for currency.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the computer-readable medium is dispensed to the user after being activated.

26. A method for enabling a user to register a domain name, comprising:

providing a scratchcard to the user, the scratchcard carrying an identifier concealed by a removeable opaque substance, the identifier being adapted for a system for registering domain names.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

activating the scratchcard responsive to a user purchase of the scratchcard; and

before registering the domain name, further verifying the scratchcard has been activated.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the scratchcard is packaged to be dispensed from an automated kiosk.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the scratchcard is provided to the user in exchange for currency.

30. A method for registering a domain name, comprising:

receiving an identifier from a user, the identifier being adapted to a system for registering domain names and being carried on a scratchcard, the identifier being initially concealed on the scratchcard with an opaque substance, and being revealed to the user after the opaque substance is at least partially removed;

validating the identifier; and

if the identifier is valid, registering a domain name requested by the user.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the identifier is received from the user over the Internet.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the validating includes comparing the identifier to a set of valid identifiers.

33. A system for registering a domain name, comprising:

a user interface adapted to receive an identifier from a user, the identifier being adapted for the system for registering domain names and being carried on a scratchcard, the identifier being initially concealed on the scratchcard with an opaque substance, and being revealed to the user after the opaque substance is at least partially removed;

a validation component adapted to validate the received identifier; and

a registration component adapted to register a requested domain name if the identifier is valid.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a medium accessible to the validation component, the medium including a set of valid identifiers and metadata associated with each identifier, the validation component adapted to validate the received identifier against the set of valid identifiers.

35. A method for registering a domain name, comprising:

receiving a scratchcard, the scratchcard carrying an identifier concealed on scratchcard with an opaque substance;

at least partially removing the opaque substance to reveal the identifier;

providing the identifier to a domain name registration system; and

providing a requested domain name to the domain name registration system;

wherein the domain name is requested by the domain name registration system if the identifier is valid.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the identifier and the requested domain name are provided over the Internet.

37. A device for providing online storage, comprising:

a scratchcard including an identifier concealed with an opaque substance, the identifier being adapted for a system for providing online storage to a user, the opaque substance being adapted for at least partial removal from the card in order to expose the identifier to the user.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the opaque substance includes latex and is configured to adhere to the scratchcard.

39. The device of claim 37, wherein the scratchcard is packaged to be dispensed from an automated kiosk.

40. The device of claim 37, wherein the opaque substance is at least partially removed by scratching.

41. A method of enabling a user to receive online storage service, comprising:

providing a scratchcard to the user, the scratchcard carrying an identifier concealed by a removable opaque substance, the identifier being adapted for a system for providing online storage.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

activating the scratchcard responsive to a user purchase of the scratchcard; and

before providing online storage, verifying that the scratchcard has been activated.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the scratchcard is packaged to be dispensed from an automated kiosk.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the scratchcard is provided to the user in exchange for currency.

45. A method for providing online storage, comprising:

receiving an identifier from a user, the identifier being adapted for a system for providing online storage and being carried on a scratchcard, the identifier being initially concealed on the scratchcard with an opaque substance, and being revealed to the user after the opaque substance is at least partially removed;

validating the identifier; and

if the identifier is valid, providing online storage to the user.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the identifier is received from the user over the Internet.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the validating includes comparing the identifier with a set of valid identifiers.

48. A system for providing Internet hosting, comprising:

a user interface adapted to receive an identifier from a user, the identifier being adapted for the system for providing Internet hosting and being carried on a scratchcard, the identifier being initially concealed on the scratchcard with an opaque substance, and being revealed to the user after the opaque substance is at least partially removed;

a validation component adapted to validate the received identifier; and

a registration component adapted to register a requested domain name if the identifier is valid.

49. The system of claim 48, further comprising:

a medium accessible to the validation component, the medium including a set of valid identifiers and metadata associated with each identifier.

50. A method for providing Internet hosting, comprising:

receiving a scratchcard, the scratchcard carrying an identifier concealed on the card with an opaque substance;

at least partially removing the opaque substance to reveal the identifier;

providing the identifier to an Internet hosting system; and

activating an Internet hosting account on the Internet hosting system;

wherein the Internet hosting account is activated if the identifier is valid.