Systems and methods wherein a lottery number combination is associated with a limited number of occurrences

• US 8,579,692 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Steib, Michael F., Sammon, Russell Pratt, Walker, Jay S., Tulley, Stephen C., Van Vooren, William P., Buckley, Patrick J., Packes, Jr., John M., Golden, Andrew P., Vogel, Peter J., Fincham, Magdalena M., Gilman, Norman C., Bemer, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiva, Frank M
• Application Number:
  US12/752,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/25, 463/29, 273/269
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 17/3262 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

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment, the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a lottery ticket transaction, the lottery ticket having an assigned lottery number combination for a lottery drawing operated by a lottery authority, comprising:

receiving, by a lottery terminal, an indication of a request to purchase the lottery ticket for the lottery drawing, wherein the lottery authority does not limit duplicate purchases for the same number combination in the lottery drawing;

receiving, by the lottery terminal, an indication from a player, wherein the indication from the player comprises a request that the lottery number combination be sold for only a limited number of occurrences for the lottery drawing; and

determining, by the lottery terminal, a price for the lottery ticket based at least in part on the received indication that the lottery number combination is to be sold for only a limited number of occurrences.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited number of occurrences comprises a limited number of tickets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited number of occurrences comprises a limited number of players.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lottery ticket comprises a ticket for a pari-mutuel lottery game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the request via the lottery terminal comprises receiving the request via at least one of (i) a Web site, (ii) the Internet, (iii) a player device, (iv) a personal digital assistant, (v) a kiosk, (vi) an electronic mail message, (vii) postal mail, (viii) a telephone, (ix) an interactive voice response unit, (x) an operator terminal, and (xi) a point of sale terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the indication via the lottery terminal comprises receiving the request via at least one of:

(i) a Web site, (ii) the Internet, (iii) a player device, (iv) a personal digital assistant, (v) a kiosk, (vi) an electronic mail message, (vii) postal mail, (viii) a telephone, (ix) an interactive voice response unit, (x) an operator, (xi) a point of sale terminal, and (xii) a database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining one of a first amount and a second amount upon which to base the price.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining the price based on the limited number of occurrences.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining the price based on a number of occurrences of lottery tickets that have already been sold with the lottery number combination.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining the price based on an expected value associated with the lottery ticket.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed using at least one of (i) a predetermined formula, (ii) a predetermined rule, (iii) a predetermined table, and (iv) a random outcome.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an indication of a number of occurrences currently sold for the lottery number combination.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the lottery number combination.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining of the lottery number combination comprises:

receiving, from a player device, an indication of the lottery number combination.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining of the lottery number combination comprises:

selecting the lottery number combination from a set of appropriate lottery number combinations based on at least one random outcome.

16. A system comprising:

a user interface; and

a controller operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to;

provide, from a player, a request to purchase a lottery ticket, the lottery ticket being assigned a lottery number combination and a lottery drawing, wherein the lottery drawing is conducted by a lottery authority that is not limiting a number of sales of lottery tickets for any available lottery number combination for the lottery drawing;

provide, from the player, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be sold for a limited number of occurrences for the lottery drawing; and

provide, from the player, payment of a price for the lottery ticket, the price being based on the indication.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is embodied in a mobile terminal.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the user interface is embodied in a mobile terminal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile terminal comprises one or more of a PDA, a pager, a telephone, and a smart card.

20. A method of playing a lottery, comprising:

providing, via a lottery terminal, a request to purchase a lottery ticket, the lottery ticket being assigned a lottery number combination and a lottery drawing, wherein the lottery drawing is conducted by a lottery authority that is not limiting a number of sales of lottery tickets for any available lottery number combination for the lottery drawing;

providing, via the lottery terminal and from a player, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be sold for a limited number of occurrences for the lottery drawing; and

providing payment, via the lottery terminal, for a price of the lottery ticket, the price being based on the indication.