Methods and systems for a gesture-controlled lottery terminal

• US 9,218,723 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intralot, Inc. (Intralot SA)
• Original Assignee: Intralot Sa-Integrated Lottery Systems and Services
• Inventors: Alexopoulos, Ilias
• Primary Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/847,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20130252691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 37
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/579 from motion
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3262 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising

Abstract

A method including providing a lottery terminal that includes a graphical user interface and a motion capture device to facilitate a user to play in a lottery. The method further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, a first image with content that includes drawing lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, lottery games, dynamically-generated animations, and advertisements and detecting, by the motion capture device, a gesture of the user in a three dimensional space surrounding the lottery terminal. The method may further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, a second image with content based, at least in part, on the gesture of the user; receiving, by the lottery terminal, a payment from the user for playing the lottery; and distributing, by the lottery terminal, a lottery ticket, based, at least in part, on the gesture of the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a lottery terminal comprising a graphical user interface and a motion capture device so as to facilitate a first potential user to play in a lottery;

displaying, by the lottery terminal on the graphical user interface, at least one first image, wherein a first content of the at least one first image is selected from the group consisting of drawing lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, lottery games, dynamically-generated animations, and advertisements;

detecting, by the motion capture device, a first passing motion of the first potential user in a three dimensional space recognized by the motion capture device of the lottery terminal wherein the first passing motion is a motion produced by the first potential user passing next to the lottery terminal,

i) wherein the three dimensional space at least partially surrounds the first potential user'"'"'s skeleton of the user positioned next to the lottery terminal, and

ii) wherein the detecting of the first passing motion of the first potential user is based on a pixel depth analysis of the first potential user'"'"'s skeleton identification involving a plurality of;

the first potential user'"'"'s body, at least one part of the first potential user'"'"'s at least one limb, and the first potential user'"'"'s head;

detecting, by the motion capture device, a second passing motion of a second potential user in the three dimensional space;

wherein the second passing motion is a motion produced by the second potential user passing next to the lottery terminal,

i) wherein the three dimensional space at least partially surrounds the second potential user'"'"'s skeleton of the user positioned next to the lottery terminal, and

ii) wherein the detecting of the second passing motion of the second potential user is based on a pixel depth analysis of the second potential user'"'"'s skeleton identification involving a plurality of;

the second potential user'"'"'s body, at least one part of the second potential user'"'"'s at least one limb, and the second potential user'"'"'s head;

determining, by the motion capture device, a first position of the first potential user and a second position of the second potential user;

comparing, by the motion capture device, the first position of the first potential user position to the second position of the second potential user to determine who is positioned closer to the lottery terminal; and

displaying, by the lottery terminal on the graphical user interface, at least one second image, wherein the at least one second image is a first ever personalized communication from the lottery terminal to the first potential user or the second potential user, and wherein a second content of the at least second image is personalized based, at least in part, on;

1) at least one first characteristic of the first potential user when the first potential user is positioned closer to the lottery terminal, wherein the at least one first characteristic of the first potential user is detected by the motion capture device, and wherein the at least one first characteristic of the first potential user is selected from the group consisting of;

gender, height, weight, position, age, facial feature, hairstyle, clothing, handicap, or any combination thereof, and

2) at least one second characteristic of the second potential user when the second potential user is positioned closer to the lottery terminal, wherein the at least one second characteristic of the second potential user is detected by the motion capture device, and wherein the at least one second characteristic of the second potential user is selected from the group consisting of;

gender, height, weight, position, age, facial feature, hairstyle, clothing, handicap, or any combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the lottery terminal, at least one payment from the first potential user or the second potential user for playing the lottery,

wherein the at least one payment comprises currency, credit card, debit card, and/or payment with a mobile electronic device having a mobile application configured for payment; and

distributing, by the lottery terminal, at least one lottery ticket, based, at least in part, on the first passing motion of the first potential user or the second passing motion of the second potential user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one lottery ticket is selected from the group consisting of an electronic representation form lottery ticket and a physical form lottery ticket.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

conducting the receiving and distributing steps with the first potential user or the second potential user.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising

changing the at least one first image based, at least in part, on:

i) an inventory of the drawing and/or instant lottery tickets;

ii) the at least one payment; and

/or

iii) the first passing motion of the first potential user or the second potential user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the changing step comprises removing or changing a color of the at least one first image of the drawing and/or instant lottery tickets based, at least in part, on:

i) unavailability of the drawing and/or instant lottery tickets in the inventory of the drawing and/or instant lottery tickets; and

/or

ii) a cost of the drawing and/or instant lottery ticket exceeding the payment.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting, by the motion capture device, a third passing motion of the first potential user or the second potential user in the three dimensional space.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second content of the at least first image is based, at least in part, on the third passing motion of the first potential user or the second potential user.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the distributing step is based, at least in part, on the third passing motion of the first potential user or the second potential user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting is further based on at least one change in a facial expression of the first potential user or the second potential user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one part of the first potential user'"'"'s or the second potential user'"'"'s at least one limb is selected from the group consisting of arm, hand, leg, foot, finger, and toe.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the lottery terminal, visible and/or audible feedback to the first potential user or the second potential user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the visible and/or audible feedback to the first potential user or the second potential user is based, at least in part, on the first passing motion of the first potential user or the second passing motion of the second potential user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the visible and/or audible feedback comprises an avatar display, an advertising display, and a request for the first potential user or the second potential user to play in the lottery and/or a cursor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the avatar display comprises an avatar configured to:

i) facilitate selection, by a first potential user or a second potential user, of drawing lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, and/or lottery games and/or

ii) repeat the first passing motion of the first potential user or the second passing motion of the second potential user.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, by the lottery terminal, lack of movement and/or lack of sound from the first potential user or the second potential user for a predetermined time.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing, by the lottery terminal, visible and/or audible feedback to the first potential user or the second potential user for a sufficient time so as to result in the first potential user or the second potential user departing the three dimensional space.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the first passing motion to identify the at least one lottery ticket selected by the first potential user or the second potential user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein different passing motions correspond to identification of the same at least one lottery ticket selected by the first potential user or the second potential user.

20. A system comprising

a lottery terminal, wherein the lottery terminal comprises:

a graphical user interface configured to display at least one image;

a motion capture device configured to;

(i) a detect a first passing motion of a first potential user in a three dimensional space recognized by the motion capture device wherein the first passing motion is a motion produced by the first potential user passing next to the lottery terminal;

wherein the three dimensional space at least partially surrounds the first potential user'"'"'s skeleton of the user positioned next to the lottery terminal, and

wherein the detecting of the first passing motion of the first potential user is based on a pixel depth analysis of the first potential user'"'"'s skeleton identification involving a plurality of;

the first potential user'"'"'s body, at least one part of the first potential user'"'"'s at least one limb, and the first potential user'"'"'s head;

(ii) detect a second passing motion of a second potential user in the three dimensional space recognized by the motion capture device wherein the second passing motion is a motion produced by the second potential user passing next to the lottery terminal; and

i) wherein the three dimensional space at least partially surrounds the second potential user'"'"'s skeleton of the user positioned next to the lottery terminal, and

ii) wherein the detecting of the second passing motion of the second potential user is based on a pixel depth analysis of the second potential user'"'"'s skeleton identification involving a plurality of;

the second potential user'"'"'s body, at least one part of the second potential user'"'"'s at least one limb, and the second potential user'"'"'s head;

(iii) determine a first position of the first potential user and a second position of the second potential user;

(iv) compare the first position of the first potential user position to the second position of the second potential user to determine who is positioned closer to the lottery terminal;

and

(v) display at least one image on the graphical user interface based, at least in part, on the passing motion of the first potential user or the second potential user, wherein the at least one image is a first ever personalized communication from the lottery terminal to the first potential user or the second potential user, and wherein a content of the at least one image is personalized based, at least in part, on;

1) at least one first characteristic of the first potential user when the first potential user is positioned closer to the lottery terminal, wherein the at least one first characteristic of the first potential user is detected by the motion capture device, and wherein the at least one first characteristic of the first potential user is selected from the group consisting of;

gender, height, weight, position, age, facial feature, hairstyle, clothing, handicap, or any combination thereof, and

2) at least one second characteristic of the second potential user when the second potential user is positioned closer to the lottery terminal, wherein the at least one second characteristic of the second potential user is detected by the motion capture device, and wherein the at least one second characteristic of the second potential user is selected from the group consisting of;

gender, height, weight, position, age, facial feature, hairstyle, clothing, handicap, or any combination thereof.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a payment receiving device configured to receive at least one payment from the first potential user or the second potential user.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a lottery ticket dispensing mechanism configured to provide one or more lottery tickets to at least one first potential user or the second potential user.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface is selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode screen, and a projector screen.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the lottery terminal further comprises an audio device configured to provide audio feedback to the first potential user or the second potential user.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the audio device comprises a microphone and a system configured to recognize speech of the first potential user or the second potential user.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the lottery terminal further comprises a lottery ticket reader.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the lottery ticket reader comprises a camera and/or scanner configured for viewing a lottery ticket.

28. The system of claim 20, further comprising a touchscreen.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface is configured for viewing a dispensing of a physical form lottery ticket.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to provide real-time and/or delayed video conferencing.