Method and apparatus for determining a caller's eligibility for a lottery and advising lottery winner during a same call
First Claim
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1. A method for entering a caller into a lottery, comprising:
- receiving an indication that communication services are being provided to the caller so that the caller can at least receive communication information from a called party; and
performing the following steps while providing the communication services to the caller;
determining whether the caller is eligible for entry into a lottery;
determining if the caller is a winner of the lottery, if the caller is eligible for entry into the lottery; 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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Abstract
A method and apparatus determine a caller'"'"'s eligibility to enter a lottery, determine whether the caller has won the lottery and advises the caller of the winning status while communication services are provided between the caller and a called party. Thus, the caller can enter, win and be advised of winning status while communication, e.g. telephone voice communication, takes place between the caller and a called party. The caller need not dial a specific telephone number to enter the lottery. Instead, communication with any desired called party can take place.
24 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 being provided to the caller so that the caller can at least receive communication information from a called party; and performing the following steps while providing the communication services to the caller; determining whether the caller is eligible for entry into a lottery; determining if the caller is a winner of the lottery, if the caller is eligible for entry into the lottery; and advising the caller that the caller has won the lottery if the caller is determined to have won the lottery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A communication system comprising:
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means for receiving an indication that communication services are being provided to the caller so that the caller can communicate with a called party; means for determining whether the caller is eligible for entry into a lottery; means for determining if the caller is a winner of the lottery, if the caller is eligible for entry into the lottery; and means for advising the caller that the caller has won the lottery while providing communication services to the caller if the caller is determined to have won the lottery.
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9. A lottery module for use with a communication system, comprising:
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a memory that stores at least information related to caller'"'"'s lottery authorization information; a lottery generator that determines whether an authorized caller has won a lottery; and a controller that receives a signal from the communication system that indicates communication services are being provided to a caller, that determines whether the caller is authorized for entry into a lottery based on information stored in the memory, and advises the caller that the caller has won a lottery while communication services are being provided to send communication information between the caller and a called party. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification