Method and apparatus for operating lotteries and for generating and processing lottery entries

• US 7,387,569 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Sparico, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCulloch, William H
• Application Number:
  US11/424,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463 25- 27, 463 40- 43, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/13, 273/139, 273/269, 283/49, 283/51, 379/13
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0605 Lottery games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• 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 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, methods, media, and apparatus are described for facilitating play of a lottery game. An indication of a lottery entry is received, the lottery entry being active in at least a first lottery drawing. An indication is received that the lottery entry is to be active in at least one second lottery drawing if the lottery entry fails to qualify for a prize in the first lottery drawing. A result of the first lottery drawing is determined with respect to the lottery entry, and the lottery entry is activated in each second lottery drawing, in turn, until the lottery entry is a winner.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a lottery entry,

the lottery entry being active in at least a first lottery drawing;

receiving an indication that the lottery entry is to be active in at least one second lottery drawing if the lottery entry fails to qualify for a prize in the first lottery drawing,

each second lottery drawing being subsequent to the first lottery drawing;

determining a result of the first lottery drawing with respect to the lottery entry; and

activating the lottery entry in each second lottery drawing, in turn, until the lottery entry is a winner.

2. A method comprising:

receiving from a terminal a request of a customer to purchase a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is a winner, and

in which each lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of lottery entries;

registering the lottery entry for the customer; and

transmitting information about the registration of the lottery entry to the terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining that the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing; and

automatically entering the lottery entry in the second lottery drawing.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing; and

automatically entering the lottery entry in a subsequent lottery drawing.

5. A computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform steps of:

receiving from a terminal a request of a customer to purchase a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is a winner, and

in which each lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of lottery entries;

registering the lottery entry for the customer; and

transmitting information about the registration of the lottery entry to the terminal.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform steps of;

receiving from a terminal a request of a customer to purchase a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is a winner, and

in which each lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of lottery entries;

registering the lottery entry for the customer; and

transmitting information about the registration of the lottery entry to the terminal.

7. A method comprising:

registering a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing;

transmitting information about the registration of the entry to a terminal;

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing; and

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into further subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is identified as a winning entry,

in which each lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of different lottery entries.

8. A computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform steps of:

registering a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing;

transmitting information about the registration of the entry to a terminal;

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing; and

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into further subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is identified as a winning entry,

in which each lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of different lottery entries.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform steps of;

registering a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing;

transmitting information about the registration of the entry to a terminal;

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing; and

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into further subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is identified as a winning entry,

in which each lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of different lottery entries.