System and method for automated play of lottery games

• US 6,964,611 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Packes, Jr., John M., Steib, Michael F., Golden, Andrew P., Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Sparico, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/930,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42, 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 273/292, 273/293, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

A method according to one embodiment of the present invention provides for receiving data indicating a request by a player for an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of lottery outcomes. The method further provides for determining at least one parameter associated with the automated session and for determining at least one lottery outcome. The method also includes providing the at least one lottery outcome based on the at least one parameter.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a player at least one preference for delivery of game outcomes;

storing an indication of the at least one preference for delivery in a database;

determining a plurality of game outcomes;

retrieving the at least one preference for delivery from the database; and

in accordance with the at least one preference for delivery of game outcomes, transmitting the plurality of game outcomes to a communication device that is associated with the player.

2. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving from the player a preference for revealing game outcomes; and

revealing at least one of the plurality of game outcomes via the communication device in accordance with the preference for revealing game outcomes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

revealing at least one of the plurality of game outcomes via the communication device in response to a signal from a lottery server.

4. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the plurality of game outcomes to the communication device that is associated with the player in accordance with the at least one preference for delivery of game outcomes comprises:

transmitting a first game outcome to the communication device; and

transmitting a second game outcome to the communication device a predetermined period of time after transmitting the first game outcome.

5. The method of claim 4, in which no request for delivery of the second game outcome is received from the player after the first game outcome is transmitted.

6. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the plurality of game outcomes to the communication device that is associated with the player in accordance with the at least one preference for delivery of game outcomes comprises:

automatically transmitting at least one of the plurality of game outcomes to the communication device in accordance with a schedule.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a request by a player to purchase a plurality of lottery game outcomes;

receiving at least one selection by the player for how lottery game outcomes are delivered to the player,

in which each selection comprises at least one of the following;

an indication of a time of day to provide a lottery game outcome to the player,

an indication of a number of a cellular telephone,

an indication of a period of time between delivery of lottery game outcomes, and storing an indication of the at least one selection in a database;

an indication of an e-mail address;

retrieving the at least one selection from the database;

determining a first lottery game outcome;

communicating the first lottery game outcome to the player in accordance with the at least one selection for how lottery game outcomes are delivered to the player; and

updating a credit balance associated with the player based on the first lottery game outcome.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a request to provide a plurality of lottery game outcomes to a communication device of a player;

receiving from the communication device at least one parameter for providing lottery game outcomes to the player,

storing an indication of the preference in a database;

the at least one parameter including a preference for delivery of the lottery game outcomes to the communication device;

retrieving an indication of the preference from the database;

determining a first lottery game outcome; and

transmitting the first lottery game outcome to the communication device accordance with the preference for delivery of the lottery game outcomes.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the preference for delivery comprises at least one time of day at which to provide a lottery game outcome.

10. The method of claim 8 in which the preference for delivery comprises a period of time between providing lottery game outcomes.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

automatically transmitting a second lottery game outcome to the communication device after the period of time has passed since transmitting the first lottery game outcome.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the preference for delivery comprises a format for outputting the lottery game outcomes at the communication device.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the preference for delivery comprises a network address.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the network address comprises at least one of:

an e-mail address, and

an telephone number.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the lottery game outcomes comprises predetermined outcomes.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the lottery game outcomes comprises random outcomes.