U.S. patent application number 13/177323 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-10 for method and system to assign a lottery-awarded good.
Invention is credited to Manar AL ANI.
Application Number | 20130012287 13/177323 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47438973 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130012287 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
AL ANI; Manar |
January 10, 2013 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ASSIGN A LOTTERY-AWARDED GOOD
Abstract
There are described a method and relative system to assign a
lottery-awarded good. A message of participation is sent to the
lottery through a communication device. A central electronic
processor stores information representative of the telephone number
of origin of the message of participation received into a database.
The processor increases a counter by an amount equal to the amount
of participation. The counter indicates an amount representative of
an overall current amount of participation. The processor compares
the overall amount with a predetermined value made available for
purchasing goods belonging to the category of prizes offered. If
the overall amount of participation is less than such predetermined
value, further messages of participation in the lottery are
accepted. If the overall amount of participation is equal to the
predetermined value, goods are awarded in that predetermined
category of prizes offered.
Inventors: |
AL ANI; Manar; (LONATO DEL
GARDA, IT) |
Family ID: |
47438973 |
Appl. No.: |
13/177323 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/329 20130101;
A63F 3/0605 20130101; G07F 17/3225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/17 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method to assign a lottery-awarded good, comprising: sending,
by a user through a communication device, a message of
participation in the lottery to a central electronic processor, the
message of participation comprising information representative of
the amount of participation in the lottery; storing into a
database, by the central electronic processor, information
representative of the telephone number of origin of the message of
participation received; increasing a counter, by the central
electronic processor, based on the information representative of
the amount of participation in the lottery, by an amount equal to
the amount of participation, the counter indicating an amount
representative of an overall current amount of participation;
comparing, by the central electronic processor, the overall current
amount of participation in the lottery with a predetermined value
made available for purchasing goods belonging to the category of
prizes offered; if the overall amount of participation is less than
said predetermined value accepting, by the central electronic
processor, further messages of participation in the lottery; and if
the overall amount of participation is equal to said predetermined
value awarding, by the central electronic processor, goods in that
predetermined category of prizes offered, wherein said awarding
comprises: randomly drawing, by the central electronic processor, a
telephone number from the database; sending, by the central
electronic processor, a free notification message of the award of
goods to the telephone number drawn, such notification message
comprising a reservation code of a nominal prepaid card of the
value corresponding to the predetermined value made available for
purchasing goods in the category of prizes offered.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said awarding further
comprises blocking, by the central electronic processor, the
receipt of further messages of participation for that specific
category of prizes offered.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said message of
participation in the lottery is a message of SMS type.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said message of
participation in the lottery is a voice call.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said sending, if the
user takes part in the lottery by making a voice call, comprises
guiding, by the central electronic processor, the user through an
automated response along an alphanumerical response menu for
obtaining an identification code of the category of prizes offered
selected by the user.
6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said sending, if the
user takes part, in the lottery by sending a message of
participation of SMS type, comprises sending to the user, by the
central electronic processor, a free confirmation message of
SMS.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending to
the user, by the central electronic processor, a free confirmation
message for the participation in the lottery.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said sending, if the
user takes part in the lottery by making a voice call, comprises
automatically answering to the user, by the central electronic
processor, through an automated response for informing him/her of
the confirmation of his/her participation in the lottery.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said sending, in the
case of participation in the lottery by the transmission of a
message of participation of SMS type, comprises sending, by the
central electronic processor, a free notification message of SMS
containing the reservation code of the prepaid card.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sending, in the
case of participation in the lottery by voice call, comprises
sending, by the central electronic processor, a message comprising
the telephone number to call and the reservation code of the
nominal prepaid card to a call management centre suitable for
contacting the user the telephone number whereof has been drawn by
telephone.
11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending, by
the central electronic processor, along with the step of sending
the free notification message of the award of goods to the
telephone number drawn, a message comprising the name of the user
the telephone number whereof has been drawn and the reservation
code of the prepaid card to a bank or other financial institution
whereat the user will go for the identification and the subsequent
collection of the prepaid card awarded as a prize.
12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising resetting,
by the central electronic processor, the counter corresponding to
the awarded category of prizes offered.
13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising restarting,
by the central electronic processor, the participation by the
lottery users for the category of prizes offered and already
awarded by unlocking the possibility of receiving messages of
participation in the lottery.
14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying,
by a display device, information representative of goods offered in
a lottery for a predetermined category of prizes.
15. A system for awarding goods offered in a lottery, comprising: a
communication device, associated to a user, configured for sending
a message of participation in the lottery, the message of
participation comprising information representative of the amount
of participation in the lottery, to a central electronic processor;
a central electronic processor and a database, said central
electronic processor being configured for storing information
representative of the telephone number of origin of the message of
participation received to the database; and a counter configured
for indicating an amount representative of an overall current
amount of participation in the lottery, said central electronic
processor being configured for increasing such counter, based on
the information representative of the amount of participation in
the lottery, by an amount equal to the amount of participation,
wherein said central electronic processor is further configured for
comparing the overall current amount of participation in the
lottery with a predetermined value made available for purchasing
goods belonging to the category of prizes offered, if the overall
amount of participation is less than said predetermined value, the
central electronic processor is configured for accepting further
messages of participation in the lottery, if the overall amount of
participation is equal to the predetermined value, the central
electronic processor is configured for awarding goods in that
predetermined category of prizes offered, said central electronic
processor being further configured for randomly drawing a telephone
number from the database, said central electronic processor being
further configured for sending a free notification message of the
award of goods to the telephone number drawn, such notification
message comprising a reservation code of a nominal prepaid card of
the value corresponding to the predetermined value made available
for purchasing goods in the category of prizes offered.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the communication
device is a mobile phone.
17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the communication
device is a landline phone.
18. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a display
device configured for displaying information representative of
goods offered in a lottery for a predetermined category of
prizes.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein such communication
device is a TV, said information being displayed on a television
channel dedicated to the lottery.
20. The system according to claim 18, wherein such communication
device is a local electronic processor, said information being
displayed on an Internet website dedicated to the lottery.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present description relates to the field of lotteries
and of prize contests, and in particular to a method and relative
system assign a prize or goods.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Methods to assign prizes or lotteries exist wherein a user
takes part by purchasing a lottery ticket whereto an identification
number is associated which, if drawn at the end of the lottery
allows the user to win the prize offered.
[0003] Other methods to assign prizes, so-called instant, allow the
user to purchase a ticket wherein, removing a removable area
(mostly, silvery) it is possible to instantly know whether a prize
has been won and the value of the win, if any.
[0004] Both methods to assign prizes described above exhibit the
drawback of requiring the user to necessarily go to a sales point
to purchase the lottery ticket (either traditional or instant).
Moreover, the lottery ticket that the user wants to purchase may be
out of stock at that sales point, forcing the same user to a
further travel to reach another sales point.
[0005] In order to overcome these drawbacks, over the years, such
traditional methods assign goods (traditional lottery and instant
lottery) have been joined with similar methods to assign prizes
that allow a user to purchase a ticket of a traditional lottery or
of an instant lottery or to directly take part in such lottery
electronically, for example over the Internet with his/her home
computer or other portable device (mobile phone) provided with
access to the Internet.
[0006] However in this way, the possibility of taking part in this
type of online lottery is strongly reduced for that group of
people, especially old people, who are not familiar with the new
technologies and therefore are not capable of navigating the
Internet or in general, of using a personal computer or a mobile
phone to this end.
SUMMARY
[0007] According to some aspects of the present description, a
method to assign goods is provided which allows obviating at least
partly the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the prior
art, and in particular which allows taking part in a lottery or a
prize contest directly from home or from the office or even in
mobility while allowing access to such lotteries or contests also
to people that are less familiar with the modern
computer/electronic technologies.
[0008] According to a first aspect, there is provided a method to
assign a lottery-awarded good, comprising: sending, by a user
through a communication device, a message of participation in the
lottery to a central electronic processor, the message of
participation comprising information representative of the amount
of participation in the lottery; storing to a database, by the
central electronic processor, information representative of the
telephone number of origin of the message of participation
received; increasing a counter, by the central electronic
processor, based on the information representative of the amount of
participation in the lottery, by an amount equal to the amount of
participation, the counter indicating an amount representative of
an overall current amount of participation; comparing, by the
central electronic processor, the overall current amount of
participation in the lottery with a predetermined value made
available for purchasing goods belonging to the category of prizes
offered; if the overall amount of participation is less than said
predetermined value accepting, by the central electronic processor,
further messages of participation in the lottery; and if the
overall amount of participation is equal to said predetermined
value awarding, by the central electronic processor, goods in that
predetermined category of prizes offered, wherein said awarding
comprises: randomly drawing, by the central electronic processor, a
telephone number from the database; sending, by the central
electronic processor, a free notification message of the award of
goods to the telephone number drawn, such notification message
comprising a reservation code of a nominal prepaid card of the
value corresponding to the predetermined value made available for
purchasing goods in the category of prizes offered.
[0009] According to a second aspect, there is provided a system to
assign a lottery-awarded good, comprising: a communication device,
associated to a user, configured for sending a message of
participation in the lottery, the message of participation
comprising information representative of the amount of
participation in the lottery, to a central electronic processor; a
central electronic processor and a database, said central
electronic processor being configured for storing into the database
information representative of the telephone number of origin of the
message of participation received; and a counter configured for
indicating an amount representative of an overall current amount of
participation in the lottery, said central electronic processor
being configured for increasing such counter, based on the
information representative of the amount of participation in the
lottery, by an amount equal to the amount of participation, wherein
said central electronic processor is further configured for
comparing the overall current amount of participation in the
lottery with a predetermined value, made available for purchasing
goods belonging to the category of prizes offered, if the overall
amount of participation is less than said predetermined value, the
central electronic processor is configured for accepting further
messages of participation in the lottery, if the overall amount of
participation is equal to the predetermined value, the central
electronic processor is configured for awarding goods in that
predetermined category of prizes offered, said central electronic
processor being further configured for randomly drawing a telephone
number from the database, said central electronic processor being
further configured for sending a free notification message of the
award of goods to the telephone number drawn, such notification
message comprising a reservation code of a nominal prepaid card of
the value corresponding to the predetermined value made available
for purchasing goods in the category prizes offered.
[0010] Further aspects are provided in the description, drawings
and claims of the present application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further features and advantages of the method and system
according to the present invention will appear more clearly from
the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given
by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the annexed
figures, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a system to assign a good
according to an embodiment of the present description, and
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a block diagram of a method
to assign a good according to an embodiment of the present
description.
DESCRIPTION
[0014] With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1, reference
numeral 100 indicates a system to assign a good, hereinafter also
referred to simply as system.
[0015] In the present description, a good is defined as a product
offered in a lottery or a prize contest such as, for example:
[0016] a nominal prepaid card in the amount corresponding to a
predetermined value (for example in Euro or dollars) made available
for the purchase of goods only and exclusively in the vehicle (for
example cars, motorcycles, campers, trailers, mopeds, boats) and
gas station category;
[0017] nominal prepaid card in the value corresponding to the value
(for example in dollars or Euro) made available for the purchase of
goods only and exclusively in the supermarket category, to be used
until the expiration of the validity (for example two years);
[0018] nominal prepaid card in the value corresponding to the
predetermined value (for example in dollars or Euro) made available
for the purchase of goods only and exclusively in the gas station
category, to be used until the expiration of the validity (for
example two years);
[0019] nominal prepaid card in the value corresponding to the
predetermined value (for example in dollars or Euro) made available
for the purchase of goods only and exclusively in the
electronics/computer/household centres category, to be used until
the expiration of the validity (for example two years);
[0020] nominal prepaid card in the value corresponding to the
predetermined value (for example in dollars or Euro) made available
for the purchase of goods only and exclusively in the clothing and
shoe category, to be used until the expiration of the validity (for
example two years);
[0021] nominal prepaid card in the value corresponding to the
predetermined value (for example in dollars or Euro) made available
for the purchase of goods only and exclusively in the furniture and
accessories for home and office category, to be used until the
expiration of the validity (for example two years);
[0022] nominal prepaid card in the value corresponding to the
predetermined value (for example in dollars or Euro) made available
for the purchase of goods only and exclusively in the travel
category from travel agencies (also online), to be used until the
expiration of the validity (for example two years);
[0023] nominal prepaid card in the value corresponding to the
predetermined value (for example in dollars or Euro) made available
for the purchase of goods only and exclusively in the real estate
sector through real estate agencies; and so on.
[0024] Going back to the example of FIG. 1, system 100 comprises at
least one display device 1, associated to a user U1, configured for
allowing user U1 to take part in the lottery or prize contest.
[0025] In the present description, the term user is defined as a
physical person that has the necessary and legal requirements to
take part in the lottery, that is, he/she is adult, is resident for
example in the state where the lottery is called and has a
registered landline and/or mobile telephone service.
[0026] The display device 1 for example is a TV that broadcasts a
television channel dedicated to lotteries. As an alternative, the
display device for example is a local electronic processor 1
(personal computer or notebook) provided with an access to a
computer network NTW (for example the Internet) wherethrough user
U1 can follow the progress and take part in the online lottery
connecting to a dedicated website.
[0027] User U1 can take part in the lottery through such display
device 1 (for example the TV or the local electronic
processor).
[0028] The lottery is each time dedicated to a category of prizes
offered, each one whereof has been described above.
[0029] In particular, to allow the user to follow the progress and
take part in the lottery, for each category of prizes offered, the
display device 1 can for example display the following
information:
[0030] the category of the prizes offered;
[0031] an identification code of the category of prizes
offered;
[0032] a predetermined value (in dollars or Euro) made available
for the purchase of the goods belonging to the category of prizes
offered;
[0033] telephone number for sending a message of SMS type;
[0034] telephone number to make a voice call through a mobile
telephone network or landline telephone network;
[0035] predetermined value (in dollars or Euro) corresponding to
the amount of participation in the lottery (for example dollars or
Euro 2.00, dollars or Euro 5.00, dollars or Euro 10.00; and so
on);
[0036] counter configured for indicating the overall amount of
participation in the lottery (in dollars or euro) which increases
by every amount of participation in the lottery upon receipt of
every message of SMS type or voice call of participation in the
lottery. The counter increase procedure may for example be managed
by a central electronic processor 3, described hereinafter.
[0037] For simplicity of description, the display device 1 of FIG.
1 (TV and/or local electronic processor) only shows counter C.
[0038] System 100 of FIG. 1 further comprises an electronic
communication device 2, associated to user U1, configured for
allowing user U1 to send a message M of participation in the
lottery to a central electronic processor 3, which shall be
described hereinafter. Such message M of participation comprises
information representative of the amount of participation in the
lottery.
[0039] In more detail, such communication device 2 for example is a
mobile phone and the message M of participation for example is a
message of SMS type that user U1 sends to the dedicated number
indicated by the lottery through the mobile telephone network. Such
message M of participation includes information representative of
the amount of participation in the lottery.
[0040] In an alternative embodiment, such communication device 2 is
a landline or mobile phone and the message M of participation is a
voice call to a telephone number indicated by the lottery. To this
end, the voice call made by user U1 is received and manacled by the
central electronic processor 3, as shall be explained
hereinafter.
[0041] System 100 further comprises the central electronic
processor 3 comprising a data processing unit, a memory for loading
and executing program codes for implementing a management procedure
for the lottery it is intended for. In particular, such central
electronic processor 3 comprises a database DB for storing data
representative of the users that send messages of participation in
the lottery.
[0042] Moreover, as already mentioned above, the central electronic
processor 3 is operatively connected to the counter C. In addition,
the central electronic processor 3 is operatively connected to both
the site dedicated to the lottery, through the computer network
NTW, and to the dedicated television channel.
[0043] In more detail, based on the program codes loaded therein,
the central electronic processor 3 is configured for performing the
following operations:
[0044] receiving the message M of participation in the lottery from
user U1;
[0045] storing information representative of the telephone number
of origin of the message B of participation received into the
database DB;
[0046] increasing the counter C, based on the information
representative of the amount of participation to the lottery
contained in the message M of participation, by an amount equal to
the single amount of participation. The amount indicated by the
counter is representative of an overall current amount of
participation in the lottery. According to an embodiment of the
description, the counter increase is visible to user U1 in real
time on the display device 1 (either the television tuned to the
dedicated television channel, or the local electronic processor
connected to the dedicated Internet website);
[0047] sending to the user U1 a free confirmation message of
participation in the lottery.
[0048] In particular, if user U1 takes part in the lottery by
sending a message M of participation of SMS type, containing the
identification code of the category of prizes offered selected by
user U1, the central electronic processor 3 is configured for:
[0049] receiving the message M of participation of SMS type;
[0050] entering the telephone number of user U1 who sent the
message to database DB;
[0051] increasing the counter C for adding an amount equal the
single amount of participation to the overall current amount of
participation in the lottery;
[0052] sending to the user U1 a free confirmation message of SMS
type.
[0053] In another embodiment, wherein user U1 participates in the
lottery by making a voice call, the central electronic processor 3
is configured for:
[0054] receiving the voice call from user U1 and guiding the user
U1 through an automated response along an alphanumerical response
menu for obtaining the identification code of the category of
prizes offered selected by user U1;
[0055] entering the telephone number of user U1 who made the voice
call into the database DB;
[0056] increasing the counter C for adding an amount equal to the
single amount of participation to the overall current amount of
participation in the lottery;
[0057] automatically answering to the user U1 by an automated
response for informing him/her of the confirmation of his/her
participation in the lottery.
[0058] As regards the conduction of the lottery and the award of
the goods offered, for each category of prizes offered, at each
increase of the overall current amount of participation in the
lottery, the central electronic processor 3 is further configured
for comparing the overall amount of participation with the
predetermined value (in dollars of Euro) made available for
purchasing goods belonging to the category of prizes offered.
[0059] If the total amount of participation is lower than such
predetermined value, the central electronic processor 3 is
configured for accepting further messages of participation in the
lottery (of SMS type or voice calls).
[0060] If the total amount of participation is equal to the
predetermined value, the central electronic processor 3 is
configured for blocking the lottery and awarding goods in that
predetermined category of goods offered.
[0061] In more detail, the central electronic processor 3 is
configured for:
[0062] blocking the receipt of further messages of participation as
of SMS type or voice calls for that specific category of prizes
offered;
[0063] randomly drawing one telephone number, from database DB
where the telephone numbers of users that have taken part in the
lottery for that specific category of prizes offered are
stored;
[0064] sending a free message of notification of the award of goods
to the telephone number drawn. Such notification message comprises
a reservation code of a nominal prepaid card of the value
corresponding to the predetermined value made available for
purchasing goods in the category of prizes offered.
[0065] In the case of participation in the lottery by the
transmission of a message of SMS type, the central electronic
processor 3 is configured for sending a free notification message
of SMS type containing the reservation code of the prepaid
card.
[0066] On the other hand, in the case of participation in the
lottery by voice call, the central electronic processor 3 is
configured for sending a message comprising both the telephone
number to call and the reservation code of the nominal prepaid card
to a call management centre (not shown in FIG. 1) that will contact
the user the telephone number whereof has been drawn by
telephone.
[0067] The central electronic processor 3 is further configured for
sending electronically (for example through the computer network
NTW), along with the transmission of the free notification message
of the award of goods to the telephone number drawn, a message
comprising the name of the user the telephone number whereof has
been drawn and the reservation code of the prepaid card to a bank
or other financial institution (not shown in the figure) whereat
the user will go for the identification and the subsequent
collection of the prepaid card awarded as a prize.
[0068] Following the drawing of the telephone number and the
transmission of the notification message to the user drawn, the
central electronic processor 3 is configured for resetting counter
C corresponding to the awarded category of prizes offered. Such
reset is visible at the same time on both the dedicated television
channel and on the Internet website dedicated to the lottery.
[0069] Moreover, the central electronic processor 3 is configured
for restarting the participation by the lottery users for the
category of prizes offered and already awarded by unlocking the
possibility of receiving messages of participation of SMS type or
voice calls.
[0070] Going back to the collection of the prize by the user, it
should be noted that once a predetermined period (for example, 180
days) from the transmission of the notification message of the
goods award to the user has passed without the user having
confirmed such notification or without the user having collected
the goods awarded, the goods may be deemed as not awarded or not
collected. The goods not awarded or not collected tray be given,
for example, to charity to scientific research.
[0071] Based on the categories of goods mentioned above with
reference to the goods that may be awarded and on the system to
assign a good just described, the partner companies involved in the
subject of the present description may be, for example: mobile
telephone companies, landline telephone companies, automobile
dealers, gas stations, supermarkets, electronics/computer/household
centres, clothing and shoe stores, home and office furniture and
accessory stores and lighting stores, travel agencies, real estate
agencies, banks or financial institutions, software companies,
television companies, and so on.
[0072] With reference also to FIG. 2, a method 200 is now described
to assign a lottery-awarded good, hereinafter also referred to
simply as method, according to an embodiment of the present
description.
[0073] Method 200 comprises a symbolic step of start STR.
[0074] Method 200 further comprises a step of displaying 201, for
example by the display device 1 of FIG. 1, information
representative of goods offered in a lottery for a predetermined
category of goods.
[0075] Moreover, such method 200 comprises the step of sending 202,
for example by a user U1 through the communication device 2 of FIG.
1, a message of participation (for example message M of FIG. 1) in
the lottery to a central electronic processor, for example the
central electronic processor 3 of FIG. 1. Such message M of
participation comprises information representative of the amount of
participation in the lottery.
[0076] Method 200 further comprises a step of storing 203, by the
central electronic processor 3, information representative of the
telephone number of origin of the message M of participation
received into a database (for example the database DB of FIG.
1).
[0077] Subsequently, method 200 comprises the step of increasing
204, for example by the central electronic processor 3 of FIG. 1, a
counter C, based on the information representative of the amount of
participation in the lottery, by an amount equal to the single
amount of participation, the amount indicated by counter C being
representative of an overall current amount of participation.
[0078] Subsequently, method 200 comprises the step of sending 205 a
free confirmation message of participation in the lottery the user
(for example user U1), by the central electronic processor (for
example the central electronic processor 3).
[0079] Subsequently, method 200 comprises the step of comparing
206, by the central electronic processor (for example the central
electronic processor 3), the overall consent amount of
participation in the lottery with a predetermined value made
available for purchasing goods belonging to the category of prizes
offered.
[0080] If the overall amount of participation is lower (<) than
such predetermined value, the method comprises the step of
accepting 207, by the central electronic processor (for example the
central electronic processor 3) further messages of participation
in the lottery.
[0081] If the overall amount of participation is equal (=) to the
predetermined value, the method comprises the step of awarding 208,
by the central electronic processor, goods in that predetermined
category of prizes offered.
[0082] In particular, such step of awarding 208 comprises a step of
blocking 209, by the central electronic processor, the receipt of
further messages of participation (of SMS type or voice calls) for
that specific category of prizes offered.
[0083] Moreover, such step of awarding 203 comprises the step of
randomly drawing 210, by the central electronic processor, one
telephone number, from database DB where the telephone numbers of
users that have taken part in the lottery for that specific
category of prizes offered are stored.
[0084] Subsequently, such step of awarding 208 comprises a step of
sending 211, by the central electronic processor, a free message of
notification of the award of goods to the telephone number drawn.
Such notification message may for example comprise a reservation
code of a nominal prepaid card of the value corresponding to the
predetermined value made available for purchasing goods in the
category of prizes offered.
[0085] Going back to the step of sending 205, if user U1 takes part
in the lottery by sending a message M of participation of SMS type,
such step of sending 205 may comprise a step of sending 212, by the
central electronic processor, a free confirmation message of SMS
type to the user.
[0086] In another embodiment, wherein the user takes part in the
lottery by making a voice call, the step of sending 202 comprises
the step of guiding 213, by the central electronic processor, the
user through an automated response along an alphanumerical response
menu for obtaining the identification code of the category of
prizes offered selected by the user.
[0087] Moreover, always if the user takes part in the lottery by
making a voice call, the step of sending 205 comprises a step of
automatically responding 214 to the user, by the central electronic
processor, through an automated response for informing him/her of
the confirmation of participation in the lottery.
[0088] Going back to the step of sending 211, it should be noted
that in the case of participation in the lottery by sending a
message of SMS type, the step of sending 211 comprises a step of
sending 215, by the central electronic processor, a free
notification message of SMS type containing the reservation code of
the prepaid card.
[0089] On the other hand, in the case of participation in the
lottery by voice call, the step of sending 211 comprises the step
of sending 216, by the central electronic processor, a message
comprising both the telephone number to call and the reservation
code of the nominal prepaid card to a call management centre (not
shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) that will contact the user the telephone
number whereof has been drawn by telephone.
[0090] Method 200 further comprises a step of electronically
sending 217, by the central electronic processor (for example
through the computer network NTW of FIG. 1), along with the
transmission of the free notification message of the award of goods
to the telephone number drawn, a message comprising the name of the
user the telephone number whereof has been drawn and the
reservation code of the prepaid card to a bank or other financial
institution (not shown in the figures) whereat the user will go for
the identification and the subsequent collection of the prepaid
card awarded as a prize.
[0091] Moreover, method 200, following the drawing of the telephone
number and the transmission of the notification message to the user
drawn, comprises the step of resetting, by the central electronic
processor, the counter (for example counter C of FIG. 1)
corresponding to the awarded category of prizes offered. Such reset
may be visible at the same time on both the dedicated television
channel and on the Internet website dedicated to the lottery.
[0092] Moreover, method 200 comprises a step of restarting, by the
central electronic processor, the participation by the lottery
users for the category of prizes offered and already awarded by
unlocking the possibility of receiving messages of participation in
the lottery (of SMS type or voice calls).
[0093] In the example shown in FIG. 2, method 200 ends with a
symbolic step of end ED.
[0094] The method for awarding goods described allows the user to
not have to purchase tickets and coupons at sales points with the
additional risk of not finding immediate availability of tickets or
coupons.
[0095] Moreover, the provision of a display device such as for
example the TV allows also those without experience with the modern
technologies or with the Internet to easily and intuitively follow
the lottery progress being informed of the availability of games in
real time (the counter has not yet reached the predetermined value
for the prize) and also having the possibility of taking part from
home or from the office by sending a simple SMS message or making a
voice call.
[0096] Moreover, since the notification of the winnings takes place
through the transmission of a simple message of SMS type or through
an automated voice call or even through a voice call by an operator
of a call management centre, it reaches the recipient quickly and
in a quite simple manner.
[0097] The actual award of the prize (prepaid card) takes place
safely and allows the user to immediately use the prize going to an
authorised sales point for purchasing goods in the awarded
category.
[0098] According to some embodiments of the present description,
the prepaid card may also be used for online purchases, if
desired.
[0099] A man skilled in the art may make several changes,
adjustments and replacements of elements with other functionally
equivalent ones to the embodiments of the method for awarding goods
and relative system described above in order to meet incidental
needs, without departing from the scope of the following claims.
Each of the features described as belonging to a possible
embodiment can be obtained independently of the other embodiments
described.
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