Telephone lottery play system

• US 5,327,485 A
• Filed: 12/01/1992
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacific Bell (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Bell (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leaden, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US07/984,130
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90, 379/93, 379/96-99, 379/88, 379/89, 379/95, 379/102, 379/104, 379/105, 379/245, 379/246, 273/138 A, 273/269, 273/139, 273/439, 364/412, 364/410
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1066 Game playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

Playslip booklets are printed with bar code and numeric identification plus individual ticket identification numbers on each playslip. At purchase, the booklet is authorized for play through the telephone lottery computer, which provides a PIN for the booklet. To play, the bettor calls the telephone lottery computer and provides the booklet identification number and the PIN. The computer uses interactive voice capabilities to guide the player through play entry. For each lottery play, the bettor provides a playslip number. The selected lottery game wager numbers/symbols are verified by the player and may be recorded on the playslip. The telephone lottery computer returns a transaction number to be written on each ticket played to serve as a hard copy identification/verification of the transaction. The tickets then serve as the claim tickets required to collect a prize.

Claims

1. An interactive telephone lottery system for operating in conjunction with a state lottery computer so as to allow the lottery wagers to be placed through a telephone, said interactive telephone lottery system comprising:

a) means for authorizing telephone lottery playbooks for use, each said telephone lottery playbook having an associated playbook identification number and at least one playslip, each said playslip having an associated playslip identification number, said authorizing means also for providing a Personal Identification Number ("PIN") for use with an authorized telephone lottery playbook;

b) means, coupled to said telephone, for placing lottery wagers, comprising

i) means for prompting a user for said playbook identification number and said playbook PIN,

ii) means for verifying validity of said playbook identification number and said playbook PIN,

iii) means for prompting said user for an identification number for a playslip from said playbook,

iv) means for prompting said user for a wager selection for said playslip, and

v) means for communicating said wager selection to said state lottery computer.

2. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 1, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number of said wager selection.

3. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 2, wherein said playbook identification number is bar-coded on said playbook, wherein said playbook authorizing means is coupled to said telephone lottery computer and comprises a retail location playbook scanner for scanning said bar-coded playbook identification number and for communicating a retailer identification number and said playbook identification number to said telephone lottery computer.

4. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 3, wherein said playslip identification numbers are bar-coded on said playslips, said interactive telephone lottery system further comprising means, coupled to said central state lottery computer, for scanning said bar-coded playslip identification number and for identifying winning playslips.

5. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 4, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number for said lottery wager selection information.

6. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 3, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number for said wager selection.

7. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 1, wherein said lottery wager placing means comprises a telephone lottery computer and an interactive voice response unit coupled between said telephone and said telephone lottery computer, wherein said telephone lottery computer is additionally coupled to said central state lottery computer.

8. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 7, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number for said wager selection.

9. An interactive telephone lottery system for operating in conjunction with a central state lottery computer so as to allow lottery wagers to be placed through a telephone, said interactive telephone lottery system comprising:

a) a telephone lottery computer coupled to said central state lottery computer;

b) a retail location playbook scanner for scanning a telephone lottery playbook, said telephone lottery playbook having an associated playbook identification number and at least one playslip, each said playslip having an associated playslip identification number, wherein said playbook scanner also communicates said playbook identification number to said telephone lottery computer and displays an authorization number provided by said telephone lottery;

c) a local response unit, including an automatic call distributor and an interactive voice response unit, coupled between said telephone and said telephone lottery system, said interactive voice response unit including means for prompting a user for said playbook identification number and said authorization number, said playslip identification number, and lottery wager selection information, wherein said interactive voice response unit is further for communicating said playbook identification number, said authorization number, said playslip identification number, and said lottery wager selection information to said telephone lottery computer.

10. A method of operating a lottery, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a telephone lottery playbook, each playbook having an associated playbook number and at least one playslip, each playslip having a playslip identification number;

b) thereafter coupling a telephone to a telephone lottery computer;

c) thereafter prompting a user for said playslip identification number;

d) thereafter determining whether wager selection information has previously been provided for said playslip;

e) thereafter, if wager selection information has not previously been provided for said playslip, prompting said suer for wager selection information for said wager selection information and information identifying said playslip to a state lottery computer.

11. An interactive telephone lottery system for operating in conjunction with a central lottery computer so as to allow lottery wagers to be placed through a telephone, said interactive telephone lottery system comprising:

a) a telephone lottery computer coupled to said central lottery computer;

b) a retail location playbook scanner for scanning a telephone lottery playbook, said telephone lottery playbook having an associated playbook identification number and at least one playslip, each said playslip having an associated playslip identification number, wherein said playbook scanner also communicates said playbook identification number to said telephone lottery computer and displays an authorization number provided by said telephone lottery;

c) a local response unit, including an automatic call distributor and an interactive voice response unit, coupled between said telephone and said telephone lottery system, said interactive voice response unit including means for prompting a user for said playbook identification number and said authorization number, said playslip identification number, and lottery wager selection information, wherein said interactive voice response unit is further for communicating said playbook identification number, said authorization number, said playslip identification number, and said lottery wager selection information to said telephone lottery computer.

12. An interactive telephone lottery system for operating in conjunction with a central lottery computer so as to allow lottery wagers to be placed through a telephone, said interactive telephone lottery system comprising:

a) means for authorizing telephone lottery playbooks for use, each said telephone lottery playbook having an associated playbook identification number and at least one playslip, each said playslip having an associated playslip identification number, said authorizing means also for providing a Personal Identification Number ("PIN") for use with an authorized telephone lottery playbook;

b) means, coupled to said telephone, for placing lottery wagers, including

i) means for prompting a user for said playbook identification number and said playbook PIN,

ii) means for verifying validity of said playbook identification number and said playbook PIN,

iii) means for prompting said user for an identification number for a playslip from said playbook,

iv) means for prompting said user for a wager selection for said playslip, and

v) means for communicating said wager selection to said state lottery computer.

13. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 12, wherein said lottery wager placing means comprises a telephone lottery computer and an interactive voice response unit coupled between said telephone and said telephone lottery computer, wherein said telephone lottery computer is additionally coupled to said central state lottery computer.

14. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 13, wherein said playbook identification number is bar-coded on said playbook, wherein said playbook authorizing means is coupled to said telephone lottery computer and comprises a retail location playbook scanner for scanning said bar-coded playbook identification number and for communicating a retailer identification number and said playbook identification number to said telephone lottery computer.

15. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 14, wherein said playslip identification numbers are bar-coded on said playslips, said interactive telephone lottery system further comprising means, coupled to said central state lottery computer, for scanning said bar-coded playslip identification number and for identifying winning playslips.

16. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 15, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number for said lottery wager selection information.

17. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 12, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number for said wager selection.

18. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 13, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number for said wager selection.

19. The interactive telephone lottery system of claim 14, wherein said lottery wager placing means further comprises means for communicating to said user a verification number for said wager selection.