System and method for automated play of lottery games

• US 7,837,549 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• 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: Packes, Jr., John M., Golden, Andrew P., Walker, Jay S., Steib, Michael F., Sparico, Thomas M., Jorasch, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Ross A.
• Application Number:
  US11/199,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17, 463 40- 42, 463 16- 20, 709/206
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• 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 method according to one embodiment of the present invention provides for receiving data indicating a request by a player for an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of lottery outcomes. The method further provides for determining at least one parameter associated with the automated session and for determining at least one lottery outcome. The method also includes providing the at least one lottery outcome based on the at least one parameter.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining at least one parameter associated with an automated session, in which the automated session corresponds to a set of instant lottery outcomes;

generating the set of instant lottery outcomes for the automated session based on the at least one parameter;

determining session data based on the set;

after generating all of the instant lottery outcomes of the set of instant lottery outcomes, storing the session data for the automated session;

receiving, by a lottery server, at least one selection by the player for how the stored session data is provided to the player, the at least one selection comprising an indication of a period of time between deliveries of portions of the session data to the player; and

providing, by the lottery server, at least a portion of the session data to the player, in accordance with the at least one selection by the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the automated session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an account associated with the automated session; and

crediting the account based on a payout.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a limiting criterion based on the at least one parameter;

determining if the limiting criterion has occurred; and

terminating the automated session if the limiting criterion has occurred.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an indication of the set of instant lottery outcomes.

6. The method of claim 5, in which storing comprises:

determining a device associated with the automated session; and

storing the indication of the set of instant lottery outcomes at the device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request by the player to purchase the set of instant lottery outcomes.

8. A method comprising:

determining at least one parameter associated with an automated session, in which the automated session corresponds to a set of instant lottery outcomes;

generating the set of instant lottery outcomes for the automated session based on the at least one parameter;

determining session data based on the set;

after generating all of the instant lottery outcomes for the set of instant lottery outcomes, storing the session data for the automated session;

determining, by a lottery server, a device associated with the automated session;

determining, by the lottery server, at least one selection by a player for how the stored session data is provided to the device, the at least one selection comprising an indication of a period of time between deliveries of portions of the session data to the device; and

transmitting, by the lottery server, at least one portion of the session data to the device, in accordance with the at least one selection by the player.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

initiating the automated session.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an account associated with the automated session; and

crediting the account based on a payout.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a limiting criterion based on the at least one parameter;

determining if the limiting criterion has occurred; and

terminating the automated session if the limiting criterion has occurred.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing an indication of the set of instant lottery outcomes at the device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a request by the player to purchase the set of instant lottery outcomes.

14. A non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to perform:

determining at least one parameter associated with an automated session, in which the automated session corresponds to a set of instant lottery outcomes;

generating the set of instant lottery outcomes for the automated session based on the at least one parameter;

determining session data based on the set;

after generating all of the instant lottery outcomes of the set of instant lottery outcomes, storing the session data for the automated session;

receiving, by a lottery server, at least one selection by the player for how the stored session data is provided to the player, the at least one selection comprising an indication of a period of time between deliveries of portions of the session data to the player; and

providing, by the lottery server, at least a portion of the session data to the player, in accordance with the at least one selection by the player.

15. The computer readable memory of claim 14, the instructions being further configured to direct the computing device to perform:

initiating the automated session.

16. The computer readable memory of claim 14, the instructions being further configured to direct the computing device to perform:

determining an account associated with the automated session; and

crediting the account based on a payout.

17. The computer readable memory of claim 14, the instructions being further configured to direct the computing device to perform:

storing an indication of the set of instant lottery outcomes.

18. The computer readable memory of claim 14, in which storing comprises:

determining a device associated with the automated session; and

storing the indication of the set of instant lottery outcomes at the device.

19. The computer readable memory of claim 14, the instructions being further configured to direct the computing device to perform:

receiving a request by the player to purchase the set of instant lottery outcomes.

20. A lottery server comprising:

a processor;

a user interface in communication with the processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

determining at least one parameter associated with an automated session, in which the automated session corresponds to a set of instant lottery outcomes;

generating the set of instant lottery outcomes for the automated session based on the at least one parameter;

determining session data based on the set;

after generating all of the instant lottery outcomes of the set of instant lottery outcomes, storing the session data for the automated session;

receiving at least one selection by the player for how the stored session data is provided to the player, the at least one selection comprising an indication of a period of time between deliveries of portions of the session data to the player; and

providing at least a portion of the session data to the player, in accordance with the at least one selection by the player.