Off-line remote system for lotteries and games of skill

• US 7,887,405 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital 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: Schneier, Bruce, Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US11/426,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 9- 13, 463 16- 20, 463 25- 30, 463/36, 463 39- 43, 273/269, 273236-237, 273292-293, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/138.3, 273/139, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.13, 700 91- 93
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

An off-line remote lottery system which enables players to purchase instant-type lottery game outcomes from a randomized prize data stream in a central computer, and view the outcomes on remotely disposed gaming computers which do not require an on-line connection during play.

Claims

1. A system for enabling games of chance for prizes on at least one remote game computer, where each game has at least one associated outcome that is predetermined by a central authority with an associated central management computer that authorizes game play on the remote game computer and provides for verification of any winnings represented by said at least one outcome after game play comprising:

at least one handheld ticket viewer including associated memory and processing means for executing at least one program from said associated memory, said at least one program including a game program, said processing means executing said game program to enable the player to play at least one game on said handheld ticket viewer upon receipt of outcome and game authorization data in response to a purchase request, said data representing at least one predetermined outcome where game play results in revealing said at least one predetermined outcome to the player; and

a central management computer having associated memory, processing means for executing at least one program from said central management computer associated memory, and central management computer authentication means operatively associated therewith for generating and authenticating authenticable messages, said central management computer for enabling an authenticated session to communicate said data through a direct electronic connection to said handheld ticket viewer to enable said central management computer to authorize game play on said handheld ticket viewer while said handheld ticket viewer is off-line with respect to the central management computer during play, and to enable prize redemption after game play,

said associated memory storing in association with the player an indication of at least one free game play authorization rewarded to the player in exchange for the player purchasing at least a predetermined total number of game plays,

said central management computer being further operable in accordance with execution of the at least one program to authorize the at least one free game play authorization for the player.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one handheld ticket viewer comprises a cellular phone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one handheld ticket viewer comprises a GPS receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined outcome is determined prior to a purchase request.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined outcome is determined in response to a purchase request.

6. A method for playing games of chance on at least one remote game computer, where each game has at least one outcome that is predetermined by a central gaming authority having an associated central management computer prior to game play, comprising:

identifying a handheld ticket viewer to said central management computer;

requesting, by said handheld ticket viewer, a number of game authorizations from said central management computer;

receiving by said handheld ticket viewer via a direct electronic connection with said central management computer an authenticatable game authorization message formed by said central management computer and representing at least one predetermined outcome, after payment authorization for said authorized games by the player;

said game computer authenticating said authenticatable game authorization message and, if authenticated, said handheld ticket viewer revealing said at least one predetermined outcome represented in said authenticatable game authorization message while said handheld ticket viewer is off-line with respect to the central management computer; and

said game computer awarding at least one free predetermined outcome to the player in exchange for the player purchasing at least a predetermined total number of game authorizations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one handheld ticket viewer comprises a cellular phone.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one handheld ticket viewer comprises a GPS receiver.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined outcome is determined prior to a purchase request.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined outcome is determined in response to a purchase request.