System and method for dispensing tickets
First Claim
1. A method of dispensing at least one ticket to a purchaser within a store, the store having at least one point-of-sale terminal, the at least one point-of-sale terminal having at least one dedicated key for requesting ticket information including number and type of ticket from a central computer and a cash tender key that is actuated by store personnel when the purchaser tenders payment for completing a ticket purchase, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) monitoring the electrical communications between the point-of-sale terminal and the central computer with a point-of-sale monitor in communication with a ticket dispenser, the point-of-sale monitor passively monitoring the communications from the point-of-sale terminal that are addressed directly to the central computer;
b) with the point-of-sale monitor, intercepting the electrical communications between the point-of-sale terminal and central computer corresponding to actuation of the at least one dedicated key and storing information retrieved from the intercepted electrical communications related to the number and type of ticket requested, and subsequent to actuation of the at least one dedicated key and storing of information related to the number and type of ticket requested, intercepting the electrical communications corresponding to actuation of the cash tender key of the at least one point-of-sale terminal; and
c) upon intercepting the electrical communications corresponding to actuation of the cash tender key, the point-of sale monitor retrieving the stored information related to the number and type of ticket requested and instructing the ticket dispenser to dispense the number and type of tickets from the ticket dispenser in accordance with the electrical communications produced by the at least one point-of-sale terminal by actuation of the at least one dedicated key.
18 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of dispensing lottery game tickets to a purchaser. A point-of-sale (“POS”) terminal is provided with a ticket dispenser assembly in communication with the point-of-sale terminal and a central inventory computer. The POS terminal has at least one dedicated key for requesting ticket information from the central computer and a cash tender key for completing a ticket purchase. The ticket dispenser assembly includes a POS monitor, a ticket controller and a ticket dispenser. The POS monitor passively monitors the electrical communications of the point-of-sale terminal, including the engagement of the dedicated key and the cash tender key, and intercepts the electrical communications corresponding to the engagement of the dedicated key. Upon actuation of the dedicated key and the cash tender key, the POS monitor sends a message to the ticket controller to dispense the desired number of tickets from the ticket dispenser according to the electrical communication produced by the POS terminal.
87 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing at least one ticket to a purchaser within a store, the store having at least one point-of-sale terminal, the at least one point-of-sale terminal having at least one dedicated key for requesting ticket information including number and type of ticket from a central computer and a cash tender key that is actuated by store personnel when the purchaser tenders payment for completing a ticket purchase, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) monitoring the electrical communications between the point-of-sale terminal and the central computer with a point-of-sale monitor in communication with a ticket dispenser, the point-of-sale monitor passively monitoring the communications from the point-of-sale terminal that are addressed directly to the central computer; b) with the point-of-sale monitor, intercepting the electrical communications between the point-of-sale terminal and central computer corresponding to actuation of the at least one dedicated key and storing information retrieved from the intercepted electrical communications related to the number and type of ticket requested, and subsequent to actuation of the at least one dedicated key and storing of information related to the number and type of ticket requested, intercepting the electrical communications corresponding to actuation of the cash tender key of the at least one point-of-sale terminal; and c) upon intercepting the electrical communications corresponding to actuation of the cash tender key, the point-of sale monitor retrieving the stored information related to the number and type of ticket requested and instructing the ticket dispenser to dispense the number and type of tickets from the ticket dispenser in accordance with the electrical communications produced by the at least one point-of-sale terminal by actuation of the at least one dedicated key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for dispensing tickets in use with at least one point-of-sale terminal, the at least one point-of-sale terminal having at least one dedicated key for transmitting a ticket request signal including number and type of ticket to a computer containing information related to the tickets offered for sale, and a cash tender key that is separately actuated upon a purchaser tendering payment for completing the purchase of the ticket, said system comprising:
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a point-of-sale monitor constructed and arranged to passively monitor electrical signals transmitted from the at least one point-of-sale terminal directly to the computer for a first ticket request signal corresponding to the actuation of the at least one dedicated key and a subsequent second signal corresponding to the actuation of the cash tender key, the point-of-sale monitor retrieving and storing information from the first ticket request signal related to the number and type of tickets to be purchased; and at least one ticket dispenser in electrical communication with the point-of-sale monitor, the point-of-sale monitor being constructed and arranged to retrieve the stored information from the first ticket request signal and to instruct the at least one ticket dispenser to dispense the desired number of tickets as requested by the ticket request signal upon receipt of the second signal corresponding to actuation of the cash tender key. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A system for dispensing a ticket comprising:
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at least one point-of-sale terminal in communication with a computer database, the at least one point-of-sale terminal having at least one dedicated key for requesting ticket information from the computer database, and a cash tender key that is subsequently actuated upon a purchaser tendering payment for a ticket for completing the purchase of the ticket; a point-of-sale monitor constructed and arranged to passively monitor electrical signals transmitted from the at least one point-of-sale terminal directly to the computer database, and await a first ticket request signal that includes number and type of ticket corresponding to the actuation of the at least one dedicated key and a subsequent second cash tender signal corresponding to the actuation of the cash tender key, the point-of-sale monitor retrieving and storing information from the first ticket request signal related to the number and type of tickets to be purchased; and at least one ticket dispenser in communication with the point-of-sale monitor, the point-of-sale monitor being constructed and arranged to retrieve the stored information from the first ticket request signal and to instruct the at least one ticket dispenser to dispense the desired number of tickets as requested by the ticket request signal upon receipt of the second signal corresponding to actuation of the cash tender key. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification