Methods and systems for conducting lottery games with portable devices enabled for near field communication (NFC)

• US 8,678,905 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intralot, Inc. (Intralot SA)
• Original Assignee: Intralot Sa-Integrated Lottery Systems and Services
• Inventors: Aligizakis, Ioannis, Kakos, Dimitrios, Pachnis, Spiridon, Vrahatis, Konstantinos Angelos, Athanasopoulou, Chrysoula, Diamandis, Argiris, Karra, Gianna
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Application Number:
  US13/781,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 42, 705 141- 1473
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a computer system that includes a processor executing the code to: receive an indication indicating that a player desires to participate in a lottery game based on a near field communication (NFC) between a mobile device of the player and a first game piece associated with the lottery game conducted by a game conducting authority; conduct a drawing in accordance with rules of the lottery game; receive an indication identifying an action performed by the player in accordance with the rules of the lottery game where the action is based on: i) a result of the drawing and ii) NFC communication between the mobile device of the player and a second game piece associated with the lottery game; and distribute a prize to player in accordance with the rules of the lottery game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

specifically programming at least one computer system of a game conducting authority to perform at least the following;

receiving at least one first indication indicating that at least one first player desires to participate in at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one first indication is received based, at least in part, on at least one first near field communication (NFC) between a first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one first physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicating with the first mobile device of the at least one first player to verify an identity of the at least one first player by the game conducting authority;

receiving, from the first mobile device of the at least one first player, at least one first payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one first player;

conducting at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority in accordance with at least one first rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receiving at least one second indication identifying at least one first action performed by the at least one first player in accordance with at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one first action is based, at least in part, on;

i) a result of the at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one second NFC between the first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one second physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

distributing at least one first prize to the at least one first player in accordance with at least one third rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receiving at least one third indication indicating that at least one second player desires to participate in the at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one third indication is received based, at least in part on, at least one third NFC between a second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one third physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicating with the second mobile device of the at least one second player to verify an identity of the at least one second player by the game conducting authority;

receiving, from the second mobile device of the at least one second player, at least one second payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one second player;

conducting at least one second drawing by the game conducting authority in accordance with the at least one first rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receiving at least one forth indication identifying at least one second action performed by the at least one second player in accordance with the at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one second action is based, at least in part, on;

i) a result of the at least one second drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one fourth NFC between the second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one fourth physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority; and

distributing at least one second prize to the at least one second player in accordance with the at least third rule of the at least one first lottery game.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first and the at least one second drawings are among a plurality of players of the at least one first lottery game.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first and the at least one second drawings are the same.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first and the at least one third physical game pieces are the same.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second and the at least one fourth physical game pieces are the same.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first lottery game is selected from the group of:

a treasure hunt type game, a Hot Spot type game, and a lotto type game.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first action performed by the at least one first player and the at least one second action performed by the at least one second player are further based on the at least one first player and the at least one second player jointly playing the at least one first lottery game.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first prize is a first portion of at least one third prize and the at least one second prize is a second portion of the at least one third prize.

9. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

specifically programming at least one computer system of a game conducting authority to perform at least the following;

receiving at least one first indication indicating that at least one first player desires to participate in at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one first indication is received based, at least in part, on at least one first near field communication (NFC) between a first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one first physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicating with the first mobile device of the at least one first player to verify an identity of the at least one first player by the game conducting authority;

receiving, from the first mobile device of the at least one first player, at least one first payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one first player;

receiving at least one second indication indicating that at least one second player desires to participate in the at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one second indication is received based, at least in part on, at least one second NFC between a second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one second physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicating with the second mobile device of the at least one second player to verify an identity of the at least one second player by the game conducting authority;

receiving, from the second mobile device of the at least one second player, at least one second payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one second player;

conducting at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority in accordance with at least one first rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receiving at least one third indication identifying at least one first action performed by the at least one first player in accordance with at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one first action is based, at least in part, on;

i) a result of the at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one third NFC between the first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one third physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

receiving at least one forth indication identifying at least one second action performed by the at least one second player in accordance with the at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one second action is based, at least in part, on;

i) the result of the at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one fourth NFC between the second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one fourth physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

distributing at least one first prize to the at least one first player in accordance with at least one third rule of the at least one first lottery game; and

distributing at least one second prize to the at least one second player in accordance with the at least one third rule of the at least one first lottery game.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the at least one first drawing is among a plurality of players of the at least one first lottery game.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the at least one first and the at least one second physical game pieces are the same.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the at least one third and the at least one fourth physical game pieces are the same.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the at least one first action performed by the at least one first player and the at least one second action performed by the at least one second player are further based on the at least one first player and the at least one second player jointly playing the at least one first lottery game.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the at least one first prize is a first portion of at least one third prize and the at least one second prize is a second portion of the at least one third prize.

15. A computer system, comprising:

at least one computer having a non-transient computer tangible readable medium having stored thereon software instructions executable by at least one processor of the computer, which when executed by the at least one processor of the computer, causes the at least one computer to;

receive at least one first indication indicating that at least one first player desires to participate in at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one first indication is received based, at least in part, on at least one first near field communication (NFC) between a first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one first physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicate with the first mobile device of the at least one first player to verify an identity of the at least one first player by the game conducting authority;

receive, from the first mobile device of the at least one first player, at least one first payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one first player;

conduct at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority in accordance with at least one first rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receive at least one second indication identifying at least one first action performed by the at least one first player in accordance with at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one first action is based, at least in part, on;

i) a result of the at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one second NFC between the first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one second physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

distribute at least one first prize to the at least one first player in accordance with at least one third rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receive at least one third indication indicating that at least one second player desires to participate in the at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one third indication is received based, at least in part on, at least one third NFC between a second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one third physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicate with the second mobile device of the at least one second player to verify an identity of the at least one second player by the game conducting authority;

receive, from the second mobile device of the at least one second player, at least one second payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one second player;

conduct at least one second drawing by the game conducting authority in accordance with the at least one first rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receive at least one forth indication identifying at least one second action performed by the at least one second player in accordance with the at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one second action is based, at least in part, on;

i) a result of the at least one second drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one fourth NFC between the second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one fourth physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority; and

distribute at least one second prize to the at least one second player in accordance with the at least third rule of the at least one first lottery game.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the at least one first action performed by the at least one first player and the at least one second action performed by the at least one second player are further based on the at least one first player and the at least one second player jointly playing the at least one first lottery game.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the at least one first prize is a first portion of at least one third prize and the at least one second prize is a second portion of the at least one third prize.

18. A computer system, comprising:

at least one computer having a non-transient computer tangible readable medium having stored thereon software instructions executable by at least one processor of the computer, which when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one computer to;

receive at least one first indication indicating that at least one first player desires to participate in at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one first indication is received based, at least in part, on at least one first near field communication (NFC) between a first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one first physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicate with the first mobile device of the at least one first player to verify an identity of the at least one first player by the game conducting authority;

receive, from the first mobile device of the at least one first player, at least one first payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one first player;

receive at least one second indication indicating that at least one second player desires to participate in the at least one first lottery game, wherein the at least one second indication is received based, at least in part on, at least one second NFC between a second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one second physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

communicate with the second mobile device of the at least one second player to verify an identity of the at least one second player by the game conducting authority;

receive, from the second mobile device of the at least one second player, at least one second payment for playing the at least one first lottery game by the at least one second player;

conduct at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority in accordance with at least one first rule of the at least one first lottery game;

receive at least one third indication identifying at least one first action performed by the at least one first player in accordance with at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one first action is based, at least in part, on;

i) a result of the at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one third NFC between the first mobile device of the at least one first player and at least one third physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

receive at least one forth indication identifying at least one second action performed by the at least one second player in accordance with the at least one second rule of the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority, wherein the at least one second action is based, at least in part, on;

i) the result of the at least one first drawing by the game conducting authority, and ii) at least one fourth NFC between the second mobile device of the at least one second player and at least one fourth physical game piece associated with the at least one first lottery game conducted by the game conducting authority;

distribute at least one first prize to the at least one first player in accordance with at least one third rule of the at least one first lottery game; and

distribute at least one second prize to the at least one second player in accordance with the at least one third rule of the at least one first lottery game.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the at least one first action performed by the at least one first player and the at least one second action performed by the at least one second player are further based on the at least one first player and the at least one second player jointly playing the at least one first lottery game.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the at least one first prize is a first portion of at least one third prize and the at least one second prize is a second portion of the at least one third prize.