Method and apparatus for determining a caller's odds for winning a lottery based on caller history
First Claim
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1. A method for entering a caller into a lottery, comprising:
- receiving an indication that communication services are to be provided to the caller so that the caller can at least receive information from a called party that is not associated with entering the caller into a lottery;
determining if the caller is eligible for entry into a lottery;
adjusting an odds of winning the lottery for the caller based on a participation history for the caller;
determining if the caller is a winner of the lottery using the adjusted odds of winning; and
advising the caller that the caller has won the lottery while providing communication services to the caller and the called party if the caller is determined to have won the lottery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus determine a caller'"'"'s eligibility to enter a lottery, determine whether the caller has won the lottery and advise the caller of the winning status in response to a caller'"'"'s request for communication services. The odds of winning a lottery for the caller can be adjusted based on the caller'"'"'s participation history, such as a past number of calls made or total call time logged by the caller. Thus, frequent users of a communication service can be rewarded with increased odds of winning a lottery each time a request for communication services is made and communication services are provided.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for entering a caller into a lottery, comprising:
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receiving an indication that communication services are to be provided to the caller so that the caller can at least receive information from a called party that is not associated with entering the caller into a lottery; determining if the caller is eligible for entry into a lottery; adjusting an odds of winning the lottery for the caller based on a participation history for the caller; determining if the caller is a winner of the lottery using the adjusted odds of winning; and advising the caller that the caller has won the lottery while providing communication services to the caller and the called party if the caller is determined to have won the lottery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for entering a caller into a lottery, comprising:
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receiving an indication that communication services are to be provided to the caller so that the caller can at least receive information from a called party that is not associated with entering the caller into a lottery; determining if the caller is eligible for entry into a lottery; adjusting an odds of winning the lottery for the caller based on a participation history for the caller, the participation history including at least one of a number of past lotteries entered, a number of past lotteries won, call destination information, and a time of day or day; determining if the caller is a winner of the lottery using the adjusted odds of winning; and advising the caller that the caller has won the lottery if the caller is determined to have won the lottery.
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8. A lottery device associated with a communication system that sends communication information between a caller and a called party, the lottery device comprising:
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a memory that stores information regarding at least a participation history for a caller; a lottery generator that adjusts the caller'"'"'s odds of winning a lottery based on the caller'"'"'s participation history and determines if the caller has won the lottery based on the adjusted odds of winning; and a controller that determines if the caller is eligible to enter the lottery, and notifies the caller while providing communication services to the caller and the called party if the caller has won the lottery. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification