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

• US 7,780,514 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• 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): Vo, Peter Dungba
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCULLOCH JR, WILLIAM H
• Application Number:
  US12/135,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/25, 463/26, 273/138.1, 273/138.2
• 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 processing lottery entries. One embodiment provides for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry, receiving with the request an indicator that the lottery entry is to be entered into at least one lottery drawing until a lottery drawing identifies the lottery entry as a winner, and storing the lottery entry.

Claims

1. A method for processing lottery entries, comprising the steps of:

receiving, via a terminal, a request to purchase a lottery entry;

receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to be entered into at least one lottery drawing until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;

storing, by a lottery server, said lottery entry;

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

automatically entering the lottery entry in a second lottery drawing;

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.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further including the step of charging a fee for said lottery entry, said fee based at least in part on said indicator.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further including the steps of:

associating with said lottery entry a lottery ticket number; and

storing said lottery ticket number with said lottery entry.

4. Apparatus for processing lottery entries, comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor;

said processor operative to

receive a lottery entry, and

receive with said lottery entry an indicator that said lottery entry is to be entered into at least one lottery drawing until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner,

store said lottery entry in said memory;

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

automatically enter the lottery entry in a second lottery drawing;

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

automatically enter the lottery entry in a subsequent lottery drawing.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said processor further operative to calculate a fee for said lottery entry, said fee based at least in part on said indicator.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said processor further operative to:

associate with said lottery entry a lottery ticket number; and

store said lottery ticket number with said lottery entry in said memory.

7. A computer readable memory storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;

receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to be entered into at least one lottery drawing until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;

storing said lottery entry;

determining, by a lottery server, that the lottery entry is not a winning entry in a first lottery drawing;

automatically entering the lottery entry in a second lottery drawing;

determining, by the lottery server, 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.

8. The computer readable memory of claim 7, the instructions being configured further to direct the computing device to perform:

charging a fee for said lottery entry, said fee based at least in part on said indicator.

9. The computer readable memory of claim 7, the instructions being configured further to direct the computing device to perform:

associating with said lottery entry a lottery ticket number; and

storing said lottery ticket number with said lottery entry.