SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES

• US 20130123017A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eardish Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eardish Corporation
• Inventors: Underhill, Rod, Murphy, Daniel Patrick
• Application Number:
  US13/293,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20130123017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A sweepstakes solution-generating computer system includes a processor and a memory for storing computer-executable instructions causing the computer system to receive sweepstakes parameters for a proposed sweepstakes (the sweepstakes parameters including sponsor information and prize information) and provide an indication of whether the value of the prizes identified by the prize information exceed a predetermined amount which requires consulting an attorney in order to generate a sweepstakes solution. Based on the indication that the value of the prizes does not exceed the predetermined amount, the system generates a sweepstakes solution.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable storage devices comprising computer-executable instructions causing a computer to perform a method of implementing a sweepstakes, the method comprising:

receiving a request for production of a sweepstakes proposal from an online user via a server;

responsive to the request, generating and delivering to the user a series of queries regarding the sweepstakes proposal;

receiving a plurality of responses to the queries that have been generated and delivered to the user; and

based on the plurality of responses to the queries, developing a sweepstakes solution,

wherein the sweepstakes solution comprises generating a sweepstakes rules for publication based, at least in part, on plurality of responses to the queries.

2. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 1, wherein the acts of generating and delivering a series of queries and receiving the plurality of responses comprises:

requesting sponsor information about the name and contact information of a sponsor of the sweepstakes proposal;

receiving the sponsor information;

requesting prize information about the prizes that are to be distributed by the sponsor via the sweepstakes solution; and

receiving the prize information.

3. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to the prize information, determining whether the sweepstakes solution can be generated without consulting an attorney.

4. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 3, wherein the act of determining whether an attorney needs to be consulted comprises:

determining a total value of the prizes associated with the prize information, the total value being determined by assigning a value to each prize that is to be distributed and summing up all of the values assigned to the prizes to obtain the total value of the prizes;

comparing the total value of the prizes to a predetermined value to determine if the total value exceeds the predetermined value; and

if the total value exceeds the predetermined value, providing an indication that an attorney must be consulted by the user.

5. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 2, wherein the prize information comprises prizes of monetary value.

6. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 5, wherein at least some of the prize information is received via a dropdown menu listing possible prizes, each of the possible prizes having a pre-assigned value associated with the possible prizes.

7. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 6, wherein the possible prizes comprise at least one downloadable music file.

8. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 6, wherein the possible prizes comprise at least one physical item that has been autographed.

9. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 3, further comprising:

based on an indication that no attorney consultation is required, generating the sweepstakes solution and publishing a sweepstakes rules, the sweepstakes rules identifying the sponsor of the sweepstakes solution and the prizes that are to distributed by the sponsor; and

receiving entries from a plurality of participants in the sweepstakes solution.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 9, wherein the entries are restricted to participants who are pre-registered.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 10, wherein pre-registration comprises:

linking a profile of a participant to a profile of another entity on a social networking site.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 9, wherein the acts of generating and delivering a series of queries and receiving the plurality of responses comprises:

requesting information about the sweepstakes period, the sweepstakes period being the period in which entries can be received from the plurality participants; and

receiving the sweepstakes period information from the user.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 12, wherein a graphical user interface is provided to the user, the graphical user interface being configured to show a calendar view to facilitate generation of the sweepstakes period information by the user.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 13, wherein the graphical user interface permits the user to select non-continuous blocks of time for the sweepstakes period.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

restricting the entries of participants to a certain demographic, the certain demographic being limited by age and appreciation of a musical genre by the participant.

16. A method implemented at least in part by one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

receiving sweepstakes parameters for a proposed sweepstakes, the sweepstakes parameters including sponsor information and prize information;

receiving an indication of whether the total value of the prizes identified by the prize information exceed a predetermined amount which requires consulting an attorney in order to generate a sweepstakes solution;

based on an indication that the total value of the prizes does not exceed the predetermined amount, generating the sweepstake solution;

receiving entries from a plurality of participants, the entries being responsive to the publication of the sweepstakes solution;

selecting one or more winners of the sweepstakes solution from the entries received from the plurality of participants; and

distributing the prizes identified by the prize information to the one or more winners.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the entries are restricted to participants who are pre-registered by linking a profile of the participant to a profile of another entity on a social networking site.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the sweepstakes parameters further comprise a time period for the sweepstakes solution, the method further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface on the computing device which permits selection of the time period in which the sweepstakes solution can be run; and

receiving the time period identified by a user of the computing device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein after receiving the prize information, the method further comprises:

prompting the user of the computing device to consider additional prizes, the additional prizes being selectable via a dropdown menu listing possible prizes, each of the possible prizes having a pre-assigned value associated with the possible prizes; and

adjusting the total value of the prizes based on the selection of additional prizes.

20. A sweepstakes solution-generating computer system comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions causing the computer system to;

receive sweepstakes parameters for a proposed sweepstakes, the sweepstakes parameters including sponsor information and prize information;

provide an indication of whether the value of the prizes identified by the prize information exceed a predetermined amount which requires consulting an attorney in order to generate a sweepstakes solution;

based on an indication that the value of the prizes does not exceed the predetermined amount, generate the sweepstake solution;

receive entries from a plurality of participants, the entries being responsive to the publication of the sweepstakes solution;

select one or more winners of the sweepstakes solution from the entries received from the plurality of participants; and

distribute the prizes identified by the prize information to the one or more winners.