Game or lottery with a reward validated and/or redeemed online

• US 6,251,017 B1
• Filed: 04/21/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: David Leason, Scott L. Sullivan
• Inventors: Leason, David, Sullivan, Scott L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US09/295,943
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 273/139, 273/138.2, 705/14, 700/91, 700/92, 463/40-42, 463/16-18, 463/25, 283/903
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method for conducting a promotional game or lottery in which the awards are access to one or more predetermined internet-based services or sites. Validation codes are distributed to customers on game cards or purchase receipts. The validation code is entered into a computer which is communicatively connected to the internet, and a number of e-points are awarded if the input validation code matches one of a plurality of validation codes stored at a remote site. The e-points are a measure of an amount of a benefit which is spent like money or elapses like time in response to usage of a designated internet service or site. The greater the number of e-points, the greater the benefit conferred upon the player. The e-points are exchangeable for limited access to the designated sites or services on the internet. The magnitude of the e-point reward may be based upon purchase transactions made in a retail store. Also disclosed is a method for encouraging a customer to go online and visit one or more designated internet sites and thereafter receive a benefit at a store but only if the customer first registers the validation code at one or more of the designated internet site(s).

Claims

1. A method for encouraging an individual to visit a designated Internet site prior to visiting one or more dirt-world stores, comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a code from the individual at the designated Internet site, the code being printed on a supporting medium;

b) thereafter, receiving the supporting medium having the printed code from the individual at one of the dirt-world stores; and

c) providing a benefit to the individual if the received code matches the obtained code.

2. The method as in claim 1, including the additional step of distributing the code that is obtained in step (a) to the individual in response to a purchase transaction and prior to step (a).

3. The method as in claim 2, including the additional step of voiding the received code after step (c).

4. The method as in claim 1, including the additional step of electronically comparing the received code to the obtained code for a match prior to step (c).

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises scanning a machine readable version of the code at a point of sale terminal.

6. A method for encouraging a customer to visit a designated Internet site prior to visiting a predetermined dirt-world store, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a visible validation code to the customer;

b) receiving the validation code at the designated Internet site;

c) voiding the received validation code; and

d) providing the customer with a benefit at the predetermined dirt-world store if the customer tenders the voided validation code.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the visible validation code is provided on one of a game card, a receipt, product packaging, and a product label.

8. The method as in claim 6, wherein step (d) includes the step of electronically comparing the tendered validation code to the received validation code for a match and providing the customer with the benefit in response to the match.

9. A promotional campaign for rewarding consumers who interact with a designated Internet site prior to visiting a predetermined dirt-world store, comprising the steps of:

a) distributing a code to the individual at the predetermined dirt-world store;

b) obtaining the code from the individual at the designated Internet site;

c) thereafter receiving the code from the individual at the predetermined dirt-world store; and

d) providing a benefit to the individual only if the received code matches an obtained code.

10. The promotional campaign as in claim 9, wherein the predetermined dirt-world store is one store in a chain of stores.

11. The promotional campaign as in claim 9, wherein the benefit can be redeemed without the customer'"'"'s identity being disclosed.

12. The method as in claim 9, wherein the visible validation code is provided on one of a game card, a receipt, product packaging, and a product label.