System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals

• US 6,267,670 B1
• Filed: 03/21/1997
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Jindal, Sanjay K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US08/822,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/21, 705/14, 235/383, 235/278, 235/279, 235/280, 235/281, 186/61, 463/17, 463/48, 463/16, 273/269, 283/49, 902/22, 902/23
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/00 Games not otherwise provided for aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00 ; miscellaneous sporting games A63B67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/04 Means for returning surplus or unused coins
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 : electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 : Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A system and method for performing integrated lottery ticket and merchandise transactions using a point-of-sale terminal that generates a single sales receipt containing all pertinent lottery ticket and merchandise transaction information The lottery tickets generated include fractional value and “quick-pick” lottery tickets. A group of point-of-sale terminals are connected to a POS controller which communicates with a lottery data processing system. An encrypted authentication code also printed on the sales receipt allows the lottery player to verify all lottery ticket transaction information, as needed. In at least one embodiment, a method is provided for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal. The method includes the steps of (1) calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction; (2) receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount; (3) transmitting a request for a lottery ticket, the request including the change amount; (4) receiving lottery ticket information that is based on the change amount; and (5) printing the lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, the lottery ticket information including a plurality of lottery numbers. Numerous other embodiments are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction;

receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount;

transmitting a request for a lottery ticket, the request including the change amount;

receiving lottery ticket information that is based on the change amount; and

printing the lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, the lottery ticket information including a plurality of lottery numbers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating merchandise information; and

in which the step of printing comprises;

printing the lottery ticket information and the merchandise information on the receipt.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the lottery ticket information comprises at least one of a price, an authentication code, and a plurality of lottery numbers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving additional lottery ticket information that comprises at least one of;

a lottery game,

a number of lottery tickets, and

a plurality of lottery numbers.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a customer to provide additional lottery ticket information.

4. An apparatus for performing a lottery ticket transaction, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory connected to the processor,

the memory storing executable program instructions,

the processor operative with the program instructions to calculate a change amount of a merchandise transaction,

receive a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount,

transmit a request for a lottery ticket,

receive lottery ticket information that is based on the change amount, and

print the lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, the lottery ticket information including a plurality of lottery numbers.

5. A method for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

receiving a request for a lottery ticket;

calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction;

receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount;

calculating a fractional amount of a full lottery ticket, the full lottery ticket having a full price, the fractional amount being based on the change amount and the full price; and

storing in a database, if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, an indication of the fractional amount and an indication of the full lottery ticket, the indication of the full lottery ticket including a plurality of lottery numbers.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating an authentication code based on the fractional amount and full lottery ticket.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating an authentication code based on the request.

7. A method for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction;

receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount; and

printing lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received.

8. A method for use at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

receiving a request from a customer to purchase goods;

calculating a change amount for the customer during the purchase of the goods;

selling at least one fractional lottery ticket to the customer based on the change amount; and

generating a receipt that contains information related to the at least one fractional lottery ticket.

9. A method for use at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

calculating a change amount for a customer during a merchandise transaction;

allowing the customer to purchase at least one fractional lottery ticket based on the change amount;

receiving a request to purchase one or more fractional lottery tickets in exchange for the change amount; and

printing lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase the one or more fractional lottery tickets in exchange for the change amount is received.