Method and system for marketing and game selection for lottery products

• US 7,247,095 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Lee Nulph, LLC
• Original Assignee: James L. Nulph
• Inventors: Nulph, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US10/961,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 18, 463 40- 42, 273/269, 273/139, 235/375
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A game selection device for use in a lottery system includes data storage for a plurality of game types, information corresponding to each of the game types, and at least one play option corresponding to one or more of the plurality of game types. The game selection device further includes a user interface configured to display the plurality of game types and at least one play option associated with each game type, receive a game type selection input from the user, and receive a play option selection input from the user. Additionally, the game selection device includes an encoder for encoding the user'"'"'s selections as a code. A code writer writes the code onto a play card. Also disclosed, is a scanning device to scan an enhanced bar code. A method of utilizing the aforementioned game selection device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A lottery system for game selection by a user, the lottery system comprising:

a game selection device, wherein the game selection device is comprised of;

a.) data storage for;

(i) information corresponding to a plurality of games; and

(ii) game play options;

b.) a user interface configured to;

(i) display identification information pertaining to one or more of the plurality of games and at least one play option associated with each displayed game; and

(ii) receive at least one game selection input from the user;

c.) an encoder for encoding the at least one game selection input as a code; and

d.) a code writer for writing the code onto at least one play card; and

a game marketing server, wherein the game marketing server is not communicatively connected at any time to a central lottery system computer and no physical communication link exists therebetween, wherein the game selection device is not communicatively connected at any time to the central lottery system computer and no physical communication link exists therebetween, further wherein the game marketing server is configured to;

transmit game data to the game selection device, wherein the game data is additional games and corresponding play options operative on the game selection device; and

receive player data from the game selection device.

2. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of games are traditional lottery drawing games.

3. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of games are two or more of:

raffle games;

regional non-statewide games;

multi-jurisdiction games;

permutation games;

non-number games;

combination games; and

instant win online games.

4. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the game play options comprise one or more of:

numbers to be played;

objects to be played;

drawing dates to be played;

amount of games to be played; and

amount to be wagered.

5. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the game selection device is situated in a retail establishment.

6. The lottery system of claim 5, wherein the at least one of the plurality of games is a co-branded game associated with the retail establishment.

7. The lottery system of claim 5, wherein the at least one of the plurality of games is a co-branded game associated with a product sold in the retail establishment.

8. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the code is one of a bar code and an alphanumeric code.

9. The lottery system of claim 1, further comprising a discrete sales device physically removed from the game selection device, wherein the sales device is configured to retrieve the code from the play card.

10. The lottery system of claim 9, wherein the sales device is configured to transmit the at least one game selection input as an electronic record to the central lottery system computer.

11. The lottery system of claim 9, wherein the sales device is configured to associate the at least one of the plurality of games and the at least one play option with a player record.

12. The lottery system of claim 11, wherein the player record is one of:

a paper ticket having the at least one of the plurality of games and the at least one play option printed thereon;

a smart card having the at least one of the plurality of games and the at least one play option stored therein; and

a player card having an identifier, wherein the identifier corresponds to the electronic record of the computer system.

13. The lottery system of claim 9, wherein the sales device is a remotely located lottery managed computer system.

14. The lottery system of claim 9, wherein the code is one of:

an enhanced bar code on a play card;

digital data stored on a player card; and

digital data stored on a smart card.

15. The lottery system of claim 14, further comprising a scanning device interfaced to the sales device, wherein the scanning device includes at least one of:

an enhanced bar code scanner configured to scan the enhanced bar code from the play card;

a reader configured to read the player card; and

a smart card reader configured to read the smart card.

16. The lottery system of claim 15, wherein the scanning device is configured to:

decode the at least one of the plurality of games and the at least one play option;

translate the decoded at least one of the plurality of games and the at least one play option into data compatible with the sales device; and

transmit the data to the sales device.

17. The lottery system of claim 16, wherein the scanning device is attached to the sales device.

18. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the game selection device is a personal computer.

19. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the game selection device is one of an ATM terminal, gas pump, and a kiosk.

20. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the game data further includes:

marketing graphics for display on the user interface of the game selection device;

surveys;

player reward notifications; and

advertising.

21. The lottery system of claim 20, wherein the player data is at least one of:

player identification information, wherein the player identification information uniquely identifies each player;

game selection input;

play option selection input; and

marketing data.

22. The lottery system of claim 21, wherein the game marketing server is configured to transmit the game data in response to player identification information received by the game marketing server.

23. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a touch-screen.

24. The lottery system of claim 1, wherein the game marketing server is communicatively connected to the game selection device.

25. A method for game marketing and game selection in a lottery system comprising the steps of:

a.) providing a game selection device having a user interface;

b.) storing information corresponding to a plurality of games in the game selection device;

c.) displaying information to identify one or more games and at least one play option associated with each displayed game;

d.) receiving a game selection input from the user via the user interface, wherein the game selection input corresponds to at least one of the plurality of games stored in the game selection device;

e.) receiving a play option selection input from the user via the user interface, wherein the play option selection input corresponds to at least one play option associated with the at least one of the plurality of games selected by the user;

f.) encoding the at least one game selection input and the at least one play option as a code;

g.) writing the code onto a play card;

h.) providing a game marketing server, further wherein the game selection device is configured to;

transmit game data to the game selection device, wherein the game data is additional games and corresponding play options operative on the game selection device; and

receive player data from the game selection device;

i.) carrying the play card to a physically removed sales device, wherein the sales device is configured to retrieve the code from the play card; and

j.) transmitting the at least one game selection input and the at least one play option as an electronic record to a computer system, wherein the computer system is a central lottery system computer, wherein the game marketing server is not communicatively connected at any time to a central lottery system computer and no physical communication link exists therebetween, and wherein the game selection device is not communicatively connected at any time to the central lottery system computer and no physical communication link exists therebetween.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of interfacing a scanning device with the sales device, wherein the scanning device is external to the sales device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

a.) scanning or reading the code from the play card;

b.) decoding the at least one of the plurality of games and the at least one play option represented by the code;

c.) translating the decoded at least one of the plurality of games and the at least one play option into data compatible with the sales device; and

d.) transmitting the data to the sales device.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the game marketing server is communicatively connected to the game selection device.