U.S. patent application number 12/309881 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-25 for network for electronic notification of wind for instant prize games, using rfid identifiers for the participants.
Invention is credited to Claudio Balosetti.
Application Number | 20100075758 12/309881 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38596126 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100075758 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Balosetti; Claudio |
March 25, 2010 |
NETWORK FOR ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION OF WIND FOR INSTANT PRIZE
GAMES, USING RFID IDENTIFIERS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
Abstract
Network for electronic notification of wins in prize games,
comprising: at least one portable electromagnetic identifier,
provided with a medium to which is fixed a transponder, the
transponder including a memory containing an item of personal
information for unique recognition of a user or object carrying the
identifier; at least one mediation device accessible to the user
and equipped with a contactless reader of the transponder's memory
and with means of transmitting the recognition information read in
the transponder's memory; a remote processor connected to the
mediation device through a data communication network, the
processor including means of verifying the recognition information
transmitted by the mediation device over the data communication
network, and a random generator of notification of a winning status
matching the verification; a means of communicating the
notification of the winning status to the user of the identifier,
the communication means being connected to the data communication
network.
Inventors: |
Balosetti; Claudio;
(Borgosesia, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACOBSON HOLMAN PLLC
400 SEVENTH STREET N.W., SUITE 600
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
38596126 |
Appl. No.: |
12/309881 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
July 27, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/057760 |
371 Date: |
September 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2006 |
IT |
MI2006A001532 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. An apparatus for the participation of a user to a plurality of
prize games related to products on sale in a plurality of
commercial establishments without paper medium, comprising
transponders incorporated in respective products transmitting
recognition signals to transponders readers of mobile phones,
characterized in that it also includes a remote processor provided
with archives of products authorized for a price game and of users
subscribed to one or more price games connected by a data
communication network to said mobile phones, said recognition
signals being transmitted to the remote processor and matched with
product's recognition codes stored in said archives, said matching
being notified to the user by the same mobile phone, registering
means, in particular a website, transmitting signals to the remote
processor for registering and updating said archives, a random
generator generating a win or loose signal transmitted to the
mobile phone for notification of the user, said transponders being
provided with a rewritable memory in which is stored at least one
updatable code for re-participating in different or the same prize
game.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said
mobile phone is provided with means actuating the transmission of a
signal to the remote processor to authorize the participation to a
price game.
13. The network according to claim 12, wherein the mediation device
comprises means for contactless updating of the contents of the
rewritable memory of said transponder, each time the reader detects
said transponder.
14. The network according to claim 11, wherein said means of
communicating the notification is comprised in said mediation
device.
15. The network according to claim 11, wherein said means of
communicating the notification is a mail server to which said user
is registered or is an SMS messaging server-of a mobile phone
network to which said user is subscribed, an email address or
mobile telephone number of said user, being stored in said remote
processor in association with said unique recognition
information.
16. The network according to claim 11, wherein either one of said
mediation device and said remote processor comprises means of
controlling a transaction, said processor including memorised
instructions for activating said random generator in response to
said means of controlling the transaction.
17. The network according to claim 11, wherein said mediation
device is installed in a commercial establishment and said medium
is an object on sale at said commercial establishment.
18. The network according to claim 11, wherein said medium is any
object belonging to the user, selected preferably between a mobile
telephone, a smartphone, a rigid card and a token.
19. The network according to claim 11, wherein said mediation
device is any object belonging to the user, selected preferably
between a mobile telephone, a smartphone or other portable
mediation device.
20. The network according to claim 11, wherein said transponder is
of RFID type and said memory is comprised in a smartcard of
contactless type, or RFDC, NFC or ZigBee or WiFi.
Description
[0001] The present invention has as its subject a network for
electronic notification of wins in instant prize games, using RFID
identifiers for the participants.
[0002] Electronic apparatuses are currently known, capable of
locally or remotely generating notifications of wins of money,
goods or services, through the users' participation in prize
competitions or lotteries, or the purchase of so-called "Scratch
and Win" cards or the use of slot-machines.
[0003] The paper media which enable the generation of the request
for an immediate or deferred draw, to be submitted to the
electronic apparatuses, can carry printed on them a bar-code for
validating the win, and obviously require printing. This entails
the preparation and distribution of a large number of tickets
which, among other things, notwithstanding that they carry
sufficient information to validate the win, impose limitations
principally because of their static quality and poor security.
[0004] An example which avoids some of the disadvantages which
characterise paper ticketing by bar-code is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 7,017,805, which proposes a disposable paper ticket on which
the traditional validation bar-code is replaced by an RFID (Radio
Frequency Identifier) circuit, attached to the paper medium and
accompanied by the conventional layer, removable by scraping, which
hides the immediate notification of the win. By means of the RFID
circuit attached to each paper ticket, the seller of the ticket can
activate the individual ticket before sale, in such a way that in
case of a win the ticket is recognised as valid.
[0005] However, a paper ticket equipped with RFID has the
disadvantage of being able to be used for only one game and
exclusively in anonymous form.
[0006] Further examples are price contests called by single firms
which promote the sell of products, and the user after buying a
product can, by a mobile telephone, send a SMS to a reserved number
receiving immediately on the cellular phone the result of the
winning or of the not winning.
[0007] Further examples are kiosk in shopping centers which can
call price contests reading the bar code of the product just bought
and participate to the extraction of a price.
[0008] Further examples are nominative cards which can be read by
device like POS to participate again to price contests, point
accumulation, gifts, discounts and similar.
[0009] All these examples need simple apparatus manageable on-site
or from a remote site like kiosks or need paper supports difficult
to manage like "Scratch & Win" useable only once, obviously
without any data connection, very expensive and difficult to
manage, or using a mobile telephone, the user inputs only few
informations which result expensive and little manageable.
[0010] These are only some examples mostly used in price
contests.
[0011] The principal task of the present invention is to obviate
the disadvantages mentioned above, by contriving a solution which
enables participation in a plurality of lotteries or prize games
while providing a unique identification for the player, which may
even be in anonymous form.
[0012] Within the scope of this task, an object of the invention is
to facilitate the player or user in the communication of his/her
participation in the lottery or prize game and in notification that
a win has occurred, in whatever environment the player or user may
be.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to create a ticketing
system which is not limited to the paper medium only.
[0014] Again, the present invention aims at the further object of
ensuring security in the communication of the player's
participation in the game and in notification that a win has
occurred.
[0015] Not the least of the objects of the invention is to create a
system of high reliability, which can be relatively easily
implemented at competitive cost.
[0016] This task, as well as other objects which will appear more
clearly in what follows, are achieved by a network for electronic
notification of wins in prize games, comprising: [0017] at least
one portable electromagnetic identifier, provided with a medium to
which a transponder is fixed, the transponder including a memory
containing an item of personal information for unique recognition
of a user or object carrying the identifier; [0018] at least one
mediation device accessible to the user and equipped with a
contactless reader of the transponder's memory and with means of
transmitting the recognition information read in the transponder's
memory; [0019] a remote processor connected to the mediation device
through a data communication network, the processor including means
of verifying the recognition information transmitted by the
mediation device over the data communication network and a random
generator of notification of a winning status matching the
verification; [0020] a means of communicating the winning status to
the user of the identifier, the communication means being connected
to the data communication network.
[0021] The transponder's memory is preferably rewritable, for
example of R/W EEPROM type, so that the identifier can be re-used
for an unlimited number of games. In particular, the transponder's
memory can be rewritten by the mediation device used for
participating in the prize game.
[0022] The expression "prize game" will be used hereinafter to mean
in general any game which requires a random draw of an item of
information, code or winning event (for example a lottery, but also
a slot machine, a video poker game or an online scratch-and-win
game), with or without payment of money by the participating user
or player.
[0023] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become more evident from the description of preferred, but not
exclusive, embodiments of the network according to the invention,
illustrated by way of indication but without limiting effect in the
attached drawings, where:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the network according to the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is an RFID transponder used in the invention;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the
network according to the invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the
network according to the invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the
network according to the invention;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the
network according to the invention.
[0030] With reference to the figures mentioned, in which equal
reference numbers correspond to equal or equivalent
characteristics, network 1 for electronic notification of wins in
prize games according to the invention is made up of at least one
portable electromagnetic identifier 2, provided with a medium 21 to
which is fixed a transponder 22 having a memory 23 containing an
item of personal information for unique recognition of a user or
object carrying the identifier 2.
[0031] Medium 21 can be any mobile phone or smartphone 27, but even
a card 28 or a personal token 29, the latter being particularly
practical because it is usable with a standard token machine
accompanied by an RFID reader or similar inside it or other
portable mediation device.
[0032] Alternatively, medium 21 can be an object or product 211 on
sale in a commercial establishment, to which transponder 22 is
attached in such a way that it can be removed.
[0033] Transponder 22 is preferably of RFID or RFDC (Radio
Frequency Data Communication) or contactless smartcard type. In
particular, transponder 22 is equipped with an antenna 26 and an
electronic chip 24 which is programmed for managing all the
intelligent activity of communication and identification. Chip 24
includes a permanent memory, in which is indelibly stored a code
which represents the unique recognition information of the owner or
user of the identifier 2 or of the object to which the identifier 2
is attached. Chip 24 is also programmed for managing the power
supply of the entire transponder, taking it from the signals
received from the antenna 26.
[0034] By contrast with the transponders used in known identifiers
or tags, the transponder 22 is equipped with a further, rewritable,
memory 23, for example of R/W EEPROM type, which has stored in it
at least one updatable code for participation in the prize game, so
that the identifier can be re-used in different prize games or in
the same prize game. Other information can be updatably stored in
memory 23, for example an ON/OFF flag for activating the "unaware"
mode of participating in prize game.
[0035] Memory 23 is readable and rewritable by means of suitable
signals (e.g. RFID, RFDC or NFC or ZigBee or WiFi) received from
the antenna 26 and forwarded through the chip 24.
[0036] Optionally, the identifier 2 can also include a marker 25 of
EAS (Electronic Antitheft System o Electronic Article Surveillance)
type, to signal that the identifier may be leaving a delimited area
such as, for example, a commercial establishment where products are
sold which are fitted with the identifier 2.
[0037] The network according to the invention includes furthermore
at least one mediation device 3, accessible to the user. The
mediation device 3 is electronic, for example a slot-machine or
other electronic amusement station situated in a commercial
establishment, and is equipped with a contactless reader 4 (for
example RFID, RFDC or NFC or ZigBee or WiFi) for memories 23-24 of
transponder 22. The reader 4 includes at least one antenna capable
of providing a power supply for transponders 22 which are in its
vicinity, and of interrogating such transponders for communication
of the stored codes, whether these be identification codes for the
user/object or participation codes, and capable also of updating
the codes stored in the rewritable memories 23 of identifiers
2.
[0038] The mediation device 3 also includes a control unit 5
connected to the reader 4 and programmed for providing a means of
transmitting the recognition information read in the permanent
memory of the transponder 22 via reader 4. The control unit 5 is
preferably a microcomputer equipped with suitable software for
managing in real time the interfaces with the antennae of the
reader 4, as well as conducting interrogations and updates of the
transponders 22, and managing possible collisions between the reply
messages from the transponders, and the interfaces with the
information systems in the mediation device 3.
[0039] The mediation device 3 can furthermore contain a means of
checking transactions, for example a token machine or banknote
reader or credit cards reader, to verify that payment has been made
of the fee for participation in the prize game, if required.
Alternatively or in addition, the means of checking the transaction
can exploit apparatuses 10 outside notification network 1, for
example being accessible in known manner via mobile phone or
smartphone 27 or other portable mediation device, as will be
described in relation to FIG. 5.
[0040] In a particular embodiment of the invention, illustrated
schematically in FIG. 5, the mediation device 3 can be the user's
mobile phone itself or smartphone 27, which contains the
transponder reader 4 and the control unit 5. In this case, the
identifier 2 is attached to the object or product 211 on sale in
the commercial establishment, and the recognition information for
the object 211 is suitable for uniquely identifying the object or
the type of product.
[0041] According to another embodiment of the invention,
illustrated schematically in FIG. 6, the mediation device 3 is an
automatic distributor 30, in which are stored foodstuffs or other
products such as shoes, pullovers, mobile telephones, ecc.
(represented in FIG. 6 by the generic object 211), each of them
possibly provided with its own identifier 2 if the distributor
includes a traditional coinbox for receiving coins 31. The
automatic distributor 30 anyway contains the reader 4, which may be
positioned so as to be able to read the recognition information of
the identifier 2 located on the object 211 or on the external
personal media 21 of the user, which are provided with an
identifier 2, such as the card 28 and/or the token 29.
[0042] Returning to FIG. 1, the network according to the invention
includes furthermore a remote processor or host 6, connected to the
mediation device 4 through a data communication network 7, for
example the internet or an intranet, a telephone network or a
wireless network, or a satellite communication network 8. The
processor 6 can be located at the premises of a operator of the
entire notification network 1, and is able to manage a plurality of
mediation devices 3.
[0043] The remote processor 6 includes means of verifying the
recognition information transmitted by the mediation device 3 over
the data communication network 7, and a random notification
generator (of any information: numerical, alphanumeric, nominative)
of a winning status matching the verification.
[0044] The verification means and the random generator are suitable
software procedures preferably installed on the remote processor 6.
In particular, the verification means include software instructions
suitable for extracting the recognition information of the
identifier 2 from an appropriate message transmitted by the
mediation device 3 and from an archive of personal data relating to
the user of the identifier 2, or to the products to which the
identifier 2 is attached, or to the vendor of such products. This
archive can be a database 61, a web service 62, a messaging service
63, an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system 64 or other
archive 65, remote or local.
[0045] Correspondence between the identification information
received from the mediation device 3 and the pre-existing
information in the archive accessible by the processor 6 leads to
the activation of the random notification generator of the winning
status, possibly after verification that a payment has been
made.
[0046] The random generator is any software application capable of
randomly generating the information of a win, for example by
randomly choosing a time of day at which to treat as winner the
recognition code or participation code of the identifier 2 received
from the processor 6, or by performing a random draw of numbers or
alphanumeric characters and reporting a winning outcome in the
event of correspondence between the sequence of numbers/characters
generated and the recognition or participation code received, or
using an algorithm designed according to the type and needs of the
game, and so forth. An expert in the field will have no difficulty
in creating other types of random generators matching the
characteristics required by the invention.
[0047] The network 1 according to the invention is completed by a
means of communicating the winning status detected by the generator
to the user of the identifier 2. The means of communication is
connected indirectly to the data communication network through the
mediation device 3 or through the remote processor 6, and receives
the instruction to notify the win from the remote processor 6.
[0048] In more detail, the means of communication can be a software
application 9a installed on the control unit 5 of the mediation
device 3, capable of advising the user that he/she has won or
failed to win, for example using the display on the device 3 with
which the user was able to interact to participate in the prize
game, or a loudspeaker.
[0049] Alternatively or in addition, the communication means can be
installed in a position remote from the user, for example it can be
an SMS messaging application 9b or an email server 9c (FIG. 5).
[0050] The operation of the invention is as follows. A user who
wishes to participate in a prize game in non-anonymous form, enrols
his/her personal data in an archive accessible by the remote
processor 6, using any intermediary enabled for enrolment, for
example at a shop or an office or registering in the dedicated
website.
[0051] After enrolment has been completed, the user is provided
with a personal identifier 2, which contains a personal recognition
code which is also stored in the area of the remote processor
archive 6 reserved for the user. At this point, the user is
authorised to participate in numerous prize games which exploit
mediation devices 3 having RFID, RFDC, NFC or ZigBee or WiFi or
similar readers. This participation can occur even if the user does
not pay, for example in prize competitions.
[0052] With reference to FIG. 3, identifier 2 is fitted to a
personal object belonging to the user, in such a way as to be
always available especially in those situations where the user is
not aware of the existence of mediation devices inside the store
visited. Participation in the prize game may require payment of the
participation fee, which the user can make directly through the
mediation device 3 or by means of a mobile phone or smartphone 27
or other portable mediation device.
[0053] Obviously, it is possible for participation in the prize
game not to require any outlay of money by the user, for example in
cases where the prize game is offered by the store visited by the
user. The fact that the transponder includes a rewritable memory
with an updatable participation code allows the user to take part
in the prize game each time he/she visits the same store, even
without being aware of it.
[0054] Advantageously, if identifier 2 is built into a token 29, it
is possible to use a traditional token machine as a reader 4,
making participation in the game extremely intuitive.
[0055] Once token 29 has been inserted or, more generally, once
medium 21 of transponder 22 has come into proximity with reader 4,
the mediation device 3 interrogates the transponder 22 in a
traditional manner, through reader 4, and waits for the
communication of the unique recognition information stored in it.
The transponder 22 can also communicate to the reader 4 the
participation code stored in the rewritable memory 23.
[0056] The mediation device 3, after carrying out some formal
checks on the correctness of the codes received and of the payment
of any fee for participation in the game or paying the bought
goods, creates and sends to the remote processor 6 a message
containing the unique recognition code and the participation
code.
[0057] If necessary, the mediation device 3 updates the
participation code stored in the identifier 2, so that the
identifier can be used for a subsequent game.
[0058] The processor 6 verifies the correspondence of the
recognition code received with the recognition code stored in
archive 61-65 and, if it matches, activates the random generator
and verifies the winning status, on the basis of any participation
code received.
[0059] Finally, the processor 6 creates a message notifying the
outcome of the game, which is communicated to the user, for
example, by a display on the mediation device 3 or via the user's
mobile phone, whose number is known because it is recorded in the
archive in the remote processor 6 in association with the unique
recognition code.
[0060] With reference to FIG. 4, the identifier 2 is attached to an
object or product 211 purchased by the user. The personal
recognition information stored in the identifier 2 may correspond
to the naming of the specific product 211, or to the type of
product, possibly in association with the personal data of the
vendor of product 211. In this case, from the point of view of the
user who purchases the product, participation in the game can be
completely anonymous, being based entirely on the identifier fixed
to the product 211 and on a reader or mediation device in the
possession of the vendor; or it can be not anonymous and be
integrated with the basic functionality as "activator" of the game
which is provided by the transponder 22 fitted to the user's
personal media, e.g. mobile phone or smartphone 27, which can be
used to authorise participation in the prize game.
[0061] Alternatively, as said above in relation to FIG. 5, the user
can make use of a personal portable apparatus 271 as a mediation
device to read an identifier 2 attached to a purchased product 211.
By bringing the personal apparatus 271 into proximity with the
product 211, the user activates participation in the game. If the
personal apparatus 271 is the user's mobile phone or smartphone, it
is possible, advantageously, to authorise the payment of the
participation fee through the GSM (BSS) base station and the mobile
phone network which the user can access.
[0062] Once authorisation, or the confirmation of the occurrence of
the transaction, has been received, the unique recognition code
stored in the transponder 22 of the product 211 is sent
automatically by the telephone 271 to the remote processor 6 over
the network 7, which in this case coincides with the mobile phone
network which the user can access.
[0063] When the draw has taken place, the remote processor 6
proceeds to send the message notifying the win over the same mobile
phone network, for example by SMS message, or over a different
network, for example by email.
[0064] It has been established in practice that the device
according to the invention fully performs the task which has been
set for it, as it allows participation in a plurality of lotteries
or prize games while ensuring a unique identification for the
player, even in the event that the player wishes to remain
anonymous. In fact, by specifying the use of a transponder with a
unique item of recognition information, the user can receive
notification of the win because he/she is already provided with a
nominative identifier or because he/she comes into possession of an
identifier at the moment of purchase of a product, without the
mediation devices being able to extract or interpret the user's
personal data.
[0065] In addition, both the communication of the player or user's
participation in the prize game and the notification that a win has
occurred are very much facilitated, in whatever environment the
player may be.
[0066] In addition, the rewritable memory allows the player or user
to take part in a potentially infinite number of games.
[0067] Clearly, numerous modifications will be apparent and can be
readily performed by an expert in the field without departing from
the protective scope of the present invention.
[0068] It is also evident that the inventive concept at the base of
the present invention is independent of the actual implementation
of the software, which can be embodied in any language and on any
hardware platform.
[0069] Therefore, the protective scope of the claims must not be
limited by the illustrations or by the preferred forms of
embodiment illustrated in the description by way of examples, but
rather the claims must include all the characteristics of
patentable novelty inherent in the present invention, including all
the characteristics which would be treated as equivalent by an
expert in the field.
* * * * *