Bar code lottery ticket handling system

• US 5,239,165 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc. (Datalogic ADC Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Novak, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/954,462
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/383, 364/411, 364/412
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/145 PLU-management

Abstract

A point of sale system involving a series of check stands with POS cash registers and bar code scanners includes a lottery ticket issuing and redemption system. A number pick stand in the store, apart from the checkout stands, enables the customer to choose numbers. Pick slips can be generated by the customer at this stand, and bear a bar coded transaction number which can be communicated to a lottery device at each check stand. The pick slip is readable at the check stand bar code reader along with a series of store-inventory items. The customer is automatically charged for the lottery ticket, and the ticket is printed at the check stand. At the time the ticket is issued, the lottery transaction is recorded via modem to the central lottery computer of the state or other controlling agency. In another embodiment the number pick stand may encode the actual picked numbers on the pick slip, in an extended field bar code. The system of the invention enables lottery ticket transactions to be smoothly and efficiently handled at each check stand of a supermarket without in substantially the same manner grocery items are handled and without burdensome and expensive duplication of lottery equipment.

Claims

1. In a point of sale bar code reader system having capability for scanning purchased store-inventory items and for entering data related to purchased items into a point of sale network which includes a plurality of point of sale cash registers, and the bar code reader system including bar code scanners connected into the point of sale network at check stands in the store, and including a store controller in the network, a system for issuing of and redemption of lottery tickets, comprising,

a lottery pick slip generating device having means for enabling a lottery player to enter selected lottery numbers for playing a lottery game, means for storing in memory the selected lottery numbers in association with a look-up number, and means for printing on a lottery pick slip a bar code representing the look-up number and identifying the pick slip transaction,

lottery data receiving means connected to the bar code scanner at least at some of the check stands and being connected between the bar code scanner and the point of sale network at such check stands,

the lottery data receiving means including means for recognizing the bar coded look-up number imprinted on the pick slip when the pick slip is read by the scanner, for differentiating pick slips from store-inventory items, and for receiving data from the pick slip generating device including the selected lottery numbers in association with the look-up number when the bar code on the pick slip is read by the scanner,

ticket printing means connected to the lottery data receiving means for printing a lottery ticket based on the numbers selected by the lottery player, and showing the selected numbers on the printed lottery ticket,

modem means connected to the lottery data receiving means for telephone line communication with a remote central lottery processor, and for sending data relating to each lottery transaction and the numbers selected by the player for the lottery game, and for receiving back from the central lottery processor an appropriate confirmation,

the lottery data receiving means including lottery transaction transmitting means for sending data relating to particular lottery transactions at a check stand to the modem means for communication to the central lottery processor,

the lottery data receiving means further including means for communicating with the store point of sale network and presenting lottery transaction data to the POS network that can be understood by the store controller in the same manner as purchased store-inventory item data is understood and received, thus not requiring new programming of the point of sale network or any of the point of sale cash registers,

and the store point of sale network including means for sending to the point of sale cash register data charging the lottery player/customer and causing the lottery ticket issuance transaction and sale to be recorded by the point of sale cash register and reflected on a receipt along with purchased store-inventory items.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lottery pick slip generating device is connected to each of the lottery data receiving means in the store, and the lottery data receiving means having call-up means for calling up from the memory of the lottery pick slip generating device the selected lottery numbers after the bar coded look-up number has been read by the scanner.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein all of the lottery data receiving means at check stands in the store are connected together in a network, with the lottery pick slip generating device also connected into the network.

4. A method for generating and processing lottery tickets in connection with a point of sale bar code reader system having capability for scanning purchased store-inventory items and for entering data related to purchased items into a point of sale network which includes a plurality of point of sale terminals with cash registers, with the bar code reader system also including bar code scanners connected into the point of sale network at check stands in the store, and with a store controller in the point of sale network, without requiring new programming of the point of sale network or the point of sale terminals and in a manner which is compatible with and transparent to the point of sale network, the method comprising:

a) providing a pick slip stand, for use by lottery-playing customers,

b) providing a lottery data receiving or "black box" device at each of several check stands in the store, with all of the black box devices connected to the pick slip stand so as to enable data stored at the pick slip stand to be called up at a check stand, generating, via a lottery playing customer, a pick slip at the pick slip stand, the pick slip having printed on it a look-up number representative of play numbers as selected by the customer, and storing the play numbers in memory at the pick slip stand,

c) at a check stand of the store, causing the bar coded look-up number on the pick slip to be read by the check stand bar code scanner,

d) automatically determining via the black box device whether the read bar code represents a lottery item before the bar code data goes to the point of sale terminal and into the point of sale network, and if the bar code does represent a lottery transaction, preventing the bar code data from going to the point of sale terminal and into the point of sale network,

e) obtaining data relating to the customer'"'"'s picked play numbers from the memory at the pick stand, by automatic look-up in association with the read, barcoded look-up number, and temporarily storing the data including the lottery play numbers in a memory or buffer,

f) calling a central lottery computer using a modem and telephone line, and sending the lottery transaction data including the customer'"'"'s lottery play numbers to the central lottery computer,

g) receiving acknowledgement of the lottery transaction from the central lottery computer over the telephone line and modem, along with a lottery transaction serial number,

h) printing a lottery ticket for the customer, showing the selected lottery play numbers and including the lottery transaction serial number printed in bar code format,

i) sending a record to the point of sale network denoting a debit to the customer for the lottery sale transaction,

j) through the store point of sale network, debiting the customer for the lottery sale transaction and showing the lottery transaction and debit on a cash register receipt being printed at the cash register at the point of sale terminal,

k) advancing the lottery ticket to the customer, and

l) when all check stand sale transactions have been completed, charging the customer for all sale transactions including the lottery transaction, and issuing a receipt for the customer denoting the sale of store-inventory items and the lottery transaction,

whereby the lottery transaction is handled independent of the store point of sale network and is compatible with and transparent to the point of sale network, without requiring any different programming of the point of sale network than that which exists for processing store-inventory item purchases.

5. The method of claim 4, further including, at the check stand, printing the customer'"'"'s selected play numbers on the pick slip, so that they may be read and verified by the customer.

6. The method of claim 4, further including continuing to pass normal grocery or store inventory items through the check stand and reading their bar codes using the bar code scanner at the check stand, while steps (d) through (h) are conducted.

7. In a point of sale bar code reader system having capability for scanning purchased store-inventory items and for entering data related to purchased items into a point of sale network which includes a plurality of point of sale cash registers, and the bar code reader system including bar code scanners connected into the point of sale network at check stands in the store, and including a store controller in the network, a system for issuing and redemption of lottery tickets, comprising,

lottery data receiving means connected to at least one of the bar code scanners so as to receive data scanned by bar code scanners at such check stands,

the lottery data receiving means including means for recognizing b bar coded number carried on a lottery slip generated by or for the customer when the slip is read by the scanner, and for differentiating lottery slips from store-inventory items, said bar coded number comprising either a series of lottery numbers selected by or for the customer or a coded look-up number by which the lottery data receiving means can determine lottery numbers picked by or for the customer,

the lottery data receiving means further including means for communicating with the store point of sale network and presenting lottery transaction data to the POS network that can be understood by the store controller in the same manner as purchased store-inventory item data is understood and received, thus not requiring new programming of the point of sale network or any of the point of sale cash registers,

and the store point of sale network including means for sending to the point of sale cash register data relating to the lottery transaction.

8. The system of claim 7, further including communication link means connected to the lottery data receiving means for communication with a remote central lottery processor, and for sending data relating to each lottery transaction and the numbers selected by the player for the lottery game, and for receiving back from the central lottery processor an appropriate confirmation.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the store point of sale network includes means for charging the lottery player/customer and causing the lottery ticket issuance transaction and sale to be recorded by the point of sale cash register and reflected on a receipt along with purchased store-inventories items.

10. The system of claim 7, further including a lottery pick slip generating device, having means for enabling a lottery player to enter customer-selected or randomly selected lottery numbers for playing a lottery game, means for storing in memory the selected lottery numbers in association with a look-up number, and means for printing on a lottery pick slip a bar code representing the look-up number and identifying the pick slip transaction, comprising said coded look-up number, and wherein the lottery data receiving means include means for recognizing the bar coded look-up number imprinted on the pick slip when the pick slip is ready by the scanner, and for receiving data from the lottery pick slip generating device including the selected lottery numbers in association with the look-up number, identified by the bar code on the pick slip read by the scanner.

11. The system of claim 10, including ticket printing means connected to the lottery data receiving means for printing a lottery ticket based on the numbers selected by the lottery player, and showing the selected numbers on the printed lottery ticket.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the lottery data receiving means includes lottery transaction transmitting means for sending data relating to particular lottery transactions at a check stand to the communication link means for communication to the central lottery processor.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the lottery pick slip generating device is connected to each of the lottery data receiving means in the store, and the lottery data receiving means having call-up means for calling up from the memory of the lottery pick slip generating device the selected lottery numbers after the bar coded look-up number has been read by the scanner.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein all of the lottery data receiving means at check stands in the store are connected together in a network, with the lottery pick slip generating device also connected into the network.

15. A method for generating and processing lottery tickets in connection with a point of sale bar code reader system having capability for scanning purchased store-inventory items and for entering data related to a purchased items into a point of sale network which includes a plurality of point of sale terminals with cash registers, with the bar code reader system also including bar code scanners connected into the point of sale network at check stands in the store, and with a store controller in the point of sale network, without requiring new programming of the point of sale network or the point of sale terminals and in a manner which is compatible with and transparent to the point of sale network, the method comprising:

a) providing a lottery data receiving or "black box" device connected to at least one of several check stands in the store, with means for at least one of several check stands in the store, with means for recognizing a bar coded number carried on a lottery slip generated by or for the customer when the slip is read by the scanner, and for differentiating lottery slips from store-inventory items, said bar coded number comprising either a series of lottery numbers selected by or for the customer or a coded look-up number by which the lottery data receiving means can determine lottery numbers picked by or for the customer,

b) at a check stand of the store, causing a bar coded number on such a lottery slip to be read by the check stand bar code scanner,

c) automatically determining via the black box device whether the read bar code represents a lottery item before the bar code data goes to the point of sale terminal and into the point of sale network, and if the bar code does represent a lottery transaction, preventing the bar code data from going to the point of sale terminal and into the point of sale network,

d) obtaining data relating to the customer'"'"'s picked play numbers from the bar coded number on the lottery slip if contained therein, or from a storage memory if the bar coded number is a coded look-up number, and temporarily storing the data including the lottery play numbers in a memory or buffer,

e) sending a record to the point of sale network denoting a debit to the customer for the lottery sale transaction,

f) when all check stand sale transactions have been completed, charging the customer for all sale transactions including the lottery transaction,

whereby the lottery transaction is handled independent of the store point of sale network and is compatible with and transparent to the point of sale network, without requiring any different programming of the point of sale network than that which exists for processing store-inventory item purchases.

16. The method of claim 15, further including providing a pick slip stand for use by lottery playing customers, with all of the black box devices connected to the pick slips stand so as to enable data stored at the pick slip stand to be called up at a check stand, and generating, via a lottery playing customer, a pick slip at the pick slip stand, the pick slip having printed on it a look-up number as said bar coded number on the lottery slip, representative of play numbers as selected by the customer, and including storing the play numbers in memory for later retrieval, and, at the check stand, reading the bar coded look-up number on the pick slip as bar coded number on the lottery slip, then calling from memory the customer'"'"'s pick play numbers associated with the look-up number.

17. The method of claim 15, further including, following step (d), calling a central lottery computer using a communication link and sending the lottery transaction data including the customer'"'"'s lottery play numbers to the central lottery computer, and receiving acknowledgement of the lottery transaction from the central lottery computer over the communication link, along with a lottery transaction serial number.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the bar coded number on the lottery slip is a coded look-up number, and including sending the customer'"'"'s picked play numbers to the central lottery computer on the communication link in association with the coded look-up number, and storing the play numbers and look-up number in the central lottery computer until the customer'"'"'s lottery slip is read at the check stand of the store, then sending the play numbers to the black box device for processing in the point of sale network.

19. The system of claim 15, further including, at the check stand, printing the customer'"'"'s selected play numbers on the pick slip, so that they may be read and verified by the customer.

20. The system of claim 15, further including, subsequent to step (d), printing a lottery ticket for the customer, showing the selected lottery play numbers.

21. The method of claim 15, further including continuing to pass normal grocery or store inventory items through the check stand and reading their bar codes using the bar code scanner at the check stand, while steps (c) and (d) are conducted.