Wagering system using smartcards for transfer of agent terminal data
First Claim
1. A wagering system for accepting wagers and managing payout on winning wagers, comprising:
- a central data processor having a central data memory;
a plurality of agent terminals openable to receive player entry data from players, the agent terminals and the central data processor being operable in conjunction by communications including data transmitted from the central data processor to respective said agent terminals defining available wagers for sale, data transmitted from the agent terminals to the central data processor reporting wagers sold, and data transmitted from the central data processor to the agent terminals authorizing payout for winning player entries;
a plurality of agent data modules for issue to agents, the agent modules being self contained and transportable, and being connectable in data communication with at least one of the agent terminals, the agent data modules having an on-board memory including at least one of;
magnetic media, integrated circuit memory and laser optical memory, said agent data modules also being connectable in data communication with the central data processor, the agent data modules including on-board security means operable for at least one of blocking unauthorized access and automatic self cancellation; and
,wherein the agent data modules are operable to download from the central data processor, and to store, data representing a series of available player entries and verifications of the available player entries, for sale to players, the agent data modules being coupleable in data communication with the agent data terminals and operable in conjunction with the agent data terminals to record assignment of said available player entries to said players, whereby player entries can be dispensed from the agent data terminals and payouts verified, without contemporaneous communication with the central data processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wagering system for random drawing lotteries has a central data processor managing acceptance of player entries and payout authorization. Remote agent terminals receive player entry data from players and process authorized payouts. Portable agent data modules having an on-board memory and security provisions are issued to the agents and carry data in both directions between the central data processor and the terminals. Preferably the agent modules are integrated circuit cards or "smartcards". Available player entries are downloaded from the central data processor to the agent data modules, stored on the agent data modules for transport to the agent data terminals, and uploaded under security protection to the agent data terminals when processing a wager. The agent data modules record assignment of the available player entries to players for reporting to the central processor and can obtain payout authorizations or credits. Player entries can be dispensed from the agent data terminals without a need for contemporaneous communication with the central data processor, with protection of security aspects included in the agent data modules. The invention is applicable to verified wager lotteries, instant games and immediate payout number matching games, and is also useful for transferring invoicing and promotional information, etc., using the smartcard as the transfer media.
815 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A wagering system for accepting wagers and managing payout on winning wagers, comprising:
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a central data processor having a central data memory; a plurality of agent terminals openable to receive player entry data from players, the agent terminals and the central data processor being operable in conjunction by communications including data transmitted from the central data processor to respective said agent terminals defining available wagers for sale, data transmitted from the agent terminals to the central data processor reporting wagers sold, and data transmitted from the central data processor to the agent terminals authorizing payout for winning player entries; a plurality of agent data modules for issue to agents, the agent modules being self contained and transportable, and being connectable in data communication with at least one of the agent terminals, the agent data modules having an on-board memory including at least one of;
magnetic media, integrated circuit memory and laser optical memory, said agent data modules also being connectable in data communication with the central data processor, the agent data modules including on-board security means operable for at least one of blocking unauthorized access and automatic self cancellation; and
,wherein the agent data modules are operable to download from the central data processor, and to store, data representing a series of available player entries and verifications of the available player entries, for sale to players, the agent data modules being coupleable in data communication with the agent data terminals and operable in conjunction with the agent data terminals to record assignment of said available player entries to said players, whereby player entries can be dispensed from the agent data terminals and payouts verified, without contemporaneous communication with the central data processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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8. The wagering system according to claim wherein the central data processor is operable to download general information of interest to the agents apart from said available entries and verifications.
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15. A method for conducting a wagering system in which player wagers are accepted at points of sale remote from a central data processor and managed by the central data processor, comprising the steps of:
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providing a central data processor having a central dam memory; receiving player entry data from players at agent terminals remote from the central processor; issuing agent data modules to agents, the agent modules being self contained and transportable, and being coupleable in data communication with at least one of the agent terminals, the agent data modules having an on-board memory including at least one of;
magnetic media, integrated circuit memory and laser optical memory, said agent data modules also being coupleable in data communication with the central data processor;coupling the agent data modules to the central data processor and downloading data to the agent data modules from the central data processor, and storing the data on the agent data modules, the data representing a series of available player entries and verifications of the available player entries, for assignment to players; decoupling the agent data modules from the central processor and coupling the agent data modules to the agent data terminals, and operating the agent data modules in conjunction with the agent data terminals to record assignment of said available player entries to said players; wherein the central processor and the agent data terminals are operable to conduct bidirectional communications for managing at least one of acceptance of player entries, verification of player entries, and payout authorization for player entries, using the agent data modules for transporting data in both directions between the central data processor and the agent data terminals; and during data communication with the agent data modules, detecting unauthorized access, and blocking operation of the agent data modules upon detection of unauthorized access, using security means self contained and independently operable in the data modules. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification