U.S. patent application number 14/285682 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for systems and methods for conducting lottery games.
This patent application is currently assigned to INVENTOR HOLDINGS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is INVENTOR HOLDINGS, LLC. Invention is credited to Jeffrey Y. Hayashida, Russell P. Sammon, Gregory J. Scribner, Zachary T. Smith, Renny S. Talianchich, Stephen C. Tulley, Jay S. Walker.
Application Number | 20140256397 14/285682 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40468377 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140256397 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walker; Jay S. ; et
al. |
September 11, 2014 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONDUCTING LOTTERY GAMES
Abstract
Described are methods, systems and apparatus for enabling a
lottery player to receive information corresponding to a lottery
outcome in association with receipt of an incoming communication.
In an implementation, the method includes receiving an indication
of an incoming communication, determining a lottery entry outcome,
and determining an audible output based on the lottery entry
outcome and on the indication of the incoming communication. The
method also includes outputting the audible output via a player
device to indicate both the incoming communication and the lottery
entry outcome.
Inventors: |
Walker; Jay S.; (Ridgefield,
CT) ; Tulley; Stephen C.; (Monroe, CT) ;
Hayashida; Jeffrey Y.; (San Francisco, CA) ; Sammon;
Russell P.; (San Francisco, CA) ; Scribner; Gregory
J.; (Southbury, CT) ; Smith; Zachary T.;
(Norwalk, CT) ; Talianchich; Renny S.; (San
Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INVENTOR HOLDINGS, LLC |
STAMFORD |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
INVENTOR HOLDINGS, LLC
STAMFORD
CT
|
Family ID: |
40468377 |
Appl. No.: |
14/285682 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12234144 |
Sep 19, 2008 |
8758137 |
|
|
14285682 |
|
|
|
|
61043234 |
Apr 8, 2008 |
|
|
|
61024088 |
Jan 28, 2008 |
|
|
|
60984941 |
Nov 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
60973975 |
Sep 20, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2003/086 20130101;
A63F 3/0605 20130101; G07F 17/329 20130101; G07C 15/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/17 |
International
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20060101
G07F017/32 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising; receiving, by a player device comprising
at least one processor, an indication of an incoming communication;
determining, by the player device, a lottery entry outcome of at
least one lottery game; determining, by the player device, an
audible output based on the lottery entry outcome and on the
indication of the incoming communication; and outputting the
audible output via the player device, the audible output indicating
both the incoming communication and the lottery entry outcome.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the audible output
comprises: determining that the lottery entry outcome is a winning
lottery entry outcome; and selecting a ringtone that indicates the
winning lottery entry outcome.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the audible output
comprises: determining that the lottery entry outcome is a losing
lottery entry outcome; and selecting a ringtone that indicates the
losing lottery entry outcome.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of an
incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a text
message.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of an
incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of an
email.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of an
incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a
telephone call.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of an
incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a
voicemail.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the
information associated with the at least one lottery game on the
player device.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an
initiating party based on the indication of the incoming
communication.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein outputting the audible output
occurs only if the initiating party corresponds to a party
identified by a lottery player.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the lottery entry
outcome comprises randomly determining the lottery entry outcome
based on a probability associated with the lottery game.
12. The method of claim 1, the instructions being further
configured to direct the processor to, prior to outputting the
audible output, determine that a player condition has been
satisfied.
13. An apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a storage device
operably connected to the processor, the storage device storing
instructions configured to direct the processor to: receive an
indication of an incoming communication; determine a lottery entry
outcome of at least one lottery game; determine an audible output
based on the lottery entry outcome and on the indication of the
incoming communication; and output the audible output via the
player device, the audible output indicating both the incoming
communication and the lottery entry outcome.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein determining the audible
output comprises: determining that the lottery entry outcome is a
winning lottery entry outcome; and selecting a ringtone that
indicates the winning lottery entry outcome.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein determining the audible
output comprises: determining that the lottery entry outcome is a
losing lottery entry outcome; and selecting a ringtone that
indicates the losing lottery entry outcome.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein receiving an indication of
an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a
text message.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein receiving an indication of
an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of an
email.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein receiving an indication of
an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a
telephone call.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein receiving an indication of
an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a
voicemail.
20. The apparatus of claim 13, the instructions being further
configured to direct the processor to store the information
associated with the at least one lottery game on the player
device.
21. The apparatus of claim 13, the instructions being further
configured to direct the processor to determine an initiating party
based on the indication of the incoming communication.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein outputting the audible
output occurs only if the initiating party corresponds to a party
identified by a lottery player.
23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein determining the lottery
entry outcome comprises randomly determining the lottery entry
outcome based on a probability associated with the lottery
game.
24. The apparatus of claim 13, the instructions being further
configured to direct the processor to, prior to outputting the
audible output, determine that a player condition has been
satisfied.
25. A method, comprising: receiving an indication of payment for at
least one lottery entry outcome; providing the at least one lottery
entry outcome to a player device; receiving an indication of an
incoming communication to the player device, wherein the incoming
communication comprises at least one of: a telephone call, a text
message, a voicemail and an email; selecting a lottery entry
outcome; determining that the selected lottery entry outcome is a
winning lottery entry outcome; and in response to receiving the
indication of the incoming communication to the player device,
instructing the player device to provide an audible output that
indicates both the incoming communication and the winning lottery
entry outcome.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the audible output comprises a
ringtone.
27. An apparatus, comprising: a processor in communication with at
least one player device; and a storage device operably connected to
the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured
to direct the processor to: receive an indication of payment for at
least one lottery entry outcome; provide the at least one lottery
entry outcome to a player device; receive an indication of an
incoming communication to the player device, wherein the incoming
communication comprises at least one of: a telephone call, a text
message, a voicemail and an email; select a lottery entry outcome;
determine that the selected lottery entry outcome is a winning
lottery entry outcome; and in response to receiving the indication
of the incoming communication to the player device, instruct the
player device to provide an audible output that indicates both the
incoming communication and the winning lottery entry outcome.
28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the audible output comprises
a ringtone.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/234,144 filed Sep. 19, 2008 and entitled
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONDUCTING LOTTERY GAMES. The entirety of
the above-identified application is incorporated by reference
herein for all purposes.
[0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/234,144 claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/973,975 filed Sep.
20, 2007. The entirety of the above-identified application is
incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/234,144 claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/984,941, filed Nov.
2, 2007. The entirety of the above-identified application is
incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/234,144 claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/024,088 filed Jan.
28, 2008. The entirety of the above-identified application is
incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
[0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/234,144 claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/043,234, filed Apr.
8, 2008. The entirety of the above-identified application is
incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention generally relates to methods, systems
and apparatus that enable a player to receive information
corresponding to a lottery game outcome in association with receipt
of an incoming communication. More specifically, described are
methods, systems and apparatus for providing a predetermined
audible output, such as a modified or altered ringtone, that
indicates an incoming call to a call recipient (or player), wherein
the type, tone and/or frequency of the ringtone also indicates a
particular lottery entry outcome.
[0007] Advantages and features of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the contents of this document, and the nature
of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the
following detailed description of the invention, the appended
claims and to the drawings attached hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1A is a simplified block diagram illustrating an
example system that may be useful for implementing one or more of
the various features according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0009] FIG. 1B is a simplified diagram of a telephone that may be
used for implementing one or more aspects of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart of a process for providing
information about a lottery outcome (or lottery outcomes) to a
player that may be performed, for example, by a server, controller,
or other computing device (associated with a telephone company)
and/or by a user device (such as a mobile phone) in accordance with
the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3A is a flowchart of an example process that includes
checking that the player meets eligibility requirements and is
registered before activating a player's lottery account according
to an embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 3B is a flowchart of another example process according
to the invention wherein a telephone company controller determines
if a call recipient is registered and a lottery controller
determines if the call recipient is eligible to receive lottery
outcomes;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of another example process that
includes checking that a call recipient and/or player meets
eligibility requirements before indicating a lottery outcome by
altering the ringtone on the player's telephone in accordance with
an embodiment of the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of yet another example process
according to the invention wherein an eligible call recipient
receives either a winning ringtone or a losing ringtone at the call
recipient's mobile phone depending on the lottery outcome.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Presented are methods, systems and apparatus for a telephone
user (e.g. a recipient of a cell phone call) to receive information
corresponding to a lottery outcome in conjunction with the receipt
of an incoming telephone call and/or other communication (e.g. text
message, page, e-mail, etc.), where at least a portion of the
information corresponding to the provision of the lottery outcome
is provided to the call recipient as one or more audible output(s)
(for example, telephone ringtone(s)). Thus, the telephone user can
receive both an incoming communication that has nothing to do with
a lottery game, and information concerning a lottery entry.
[0016] In some embodiments, an audible output (such as a ringtone)
may be determined at least in part based on information associated
with the lottery outcome. For example, a first audible ringtone may
be determined and output to a call recipient (e.g. at the time of
receiving a telephone call) if the lottery outcome is determined to
be a winning result, and a second, different audible ringtone may
be determined and output if/when the lottery outcome is determined
to be a losing game result.
[0017] In some embodiments, a first audible ringtone may be output
if a winning lottery outcome is associated with a first payout
value (e.g. a $5 win may correspond to the output of "Ringtone A")
and a second audible ringtone may be output if/when a winning
lottery outcome is associated with a second payout value that is
different than the first payout value (e.g. a $30 win may
correspond to the output of "Ringtone B", and a $100 payout may
correspond to the output of "Ringtone C").
[0018] According to some embodiments, information associated with
one or more winning lottery outcomes may be transmitted to,
received by and stored at/on a call recipient's telephone (e.g.
cell phone, smart phone) or other device associated with the
recipient (for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device,
a "Blackberry.TM." device, and/or a SONY PSP.TM. device). The
information may then be used by the recipient to redeem (or
otherwise claim) any payout associated with such lottery
outcome(s).
[0019] In addition to the above aspects, methods for the provision,
acquisition and administration of lottery outcome information are
disclosed herein. For example, according to some embodiments,
lottery outcome information may be acquired and/or accessed by a
player and/or a call recipient by direct purchase via the player's
and/or recipient's telephone (e.g. via an application on the
player's cell phone); or via one or more physical retail
establishment(s) (e.g. via a ticket (or other medium) bearing a
code, which may be issued via a lottery terminal associated with a
physical store or lottery agent), and/or via one or more other
player device(s) (e.g. via a personal computer having access to a
lottery authority web site). Numerous other aspects and embodiments
are described herein.
A. DEFINITIONS
[0020] The following definitions are provided to aid the reader in
understanding the present methods, systems and apparatus.
[0021] A "Transmission Request" is an indication of an incoming
communication. In some embodiments, an incoming communication may
include a phone call (mobile, voice-over-IP, or land line), SMS
message (Short Message Service), EMS message (Enhanced Message
Service), MMS message (Multimedia Message Service), voicemail,
e-mail, and the like.
[0022] A "Transmitting Party" is a party that initiates a
transmission request to a receiving party. A transmitting party may
commonly be referred to as a "caller," though the transmission
request from a caller may not be limited to a phone call (see above
definition). The transmitting party or caller may be an actual
person, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, or automated (e.g.
outbound) messaging service.
[0023] A "Receiving Party" is a party that receives a transmission
request from a transmitting party. The receiving party may be
referred to in some embodiments as a "call recipient." Of course,
as discussed above, a transmission request need not be limited to a
phone call.
[0024] A "Player" is a participant in a game of chance such as a
lottery. In some embodiments, the receiving party or call recipient
is considered to be a player since she or he may be associated with
one or more lottery entries or outcomes and/or may receive
information associated with one or more lottery entries or
outcomes.
[0025] A "Telephone" may comprise any of the following devices:
[0026] A pre or post-paid cellular telephone (aka "cell phone").
Examples of cell phone manufacturers include, but are not limited
to, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, LG, and Sanyo. [0027] A PDA, smart
phone, or tablet computer with network capabilities (e.g., Apple
iPhone.TM., Nintendo DS.TM.). [0028] A traditional telephone (e.g.,
a "land line", meaning a telephonic device that is connected by one
or more wires to a telephone network). [0029] A satellite
telephone. [0030] An alphanumeric pager. [0031] A VoIP phone,
wherein "VoIP" corresponds to "Voice Over Internet Protocol".
Examples of companies that provide VoIP phone services include, but
are not limited to, Skype and Vonage. In addition, a personal
computer with speakers and a microphone may be able to function as
a VoIP phone. One example of a VoIP handset is the Linksys
CIT200.TM.. It should also be understood that a Telephone may
include hardware components and have an operating system that
enables it to run applications (such as a lottery ringtone
application (LRA), which is described below). Examples of operating
systems that may operate on cell phones include, but are not
limited to, Symbian.TM., Windows.TM. Mobile, Windows.TM. Pocket PC,
PalmOS.TM., and Linux.TM.
[0032] A "Ringtone" is an audible output that indicates an incoming
communication. Ringtones may be pre-installed on a telephone, and
may also be downloaded and installed on mobile phones by mobile
phone or smart phone users. In some embodiments, a ringtone may be
transmitted (e.g. "pushed") to the phone by a telephone company
("telco") or lottery administrator in conjunction with the
determination of an incoming communication.
[0033] The term "Ringback" means an audible indication that may be
heard by a transmitting party or caller, after dialing, but prior
to a call being answered by a call recipient. A ringback commonly
in use in North America is generated by summing a 440 Hz tone and
480 Hz tone to create a 40 Hz tone. The resulting tone is played in
a 2 second on, 4 second off interval.
[0034] A "Lottery Outcome" is information associated with one or
more instance(s) of a game of chance and provided in exchange for
consideration (e.g. monetary consideration). According to some
embodiments, a lottery outcome may comprise or include information
such as (i) whether or not one or more lottery outcome(s) is/are
"winning outcomes" (e.g. correspond to a payout or prize) and/or
(ii) any particular payout or prize associated with the outcome if
the outcome is indeed a winning outcome. According to some
embodiments, a lottery outcome may include an indication for
display in a display area of a call recipients cell phone, such as
"You Win", "You win $5", "Sorry--Not a winner", "Win $0", and the
like.
[0035] In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, whether
or not a particular lottery outcome is a winning outcome may or may
not be predetermined (e.g. by a lottery authority). For example, a
first lottery outcome may be predetermined by (or on behalf of) a
lottery authority and thereafter provided and/or indicated to a
player and/or recipient, whereas a second lottery outcome may be
determined to be a winning outcome contingent upon an event (e.g. a
lottery drawing), which event may occur subsequent to the
entitlement or provision (and/or indication) of certain information
(e.g., information about an entry in the lottery drawing) to the
player/call recipient. For example, according to an embodiment, a
previously determined lottery outcome may be provided (or become
entitled) to a call recipient and/or player in conjunction with the
determination that the call recipient and/or player is receiving an
incoming communication (e.g. a telephone call, text message, etc.).
According to some embodiments, a call recipient and/or player may
receive an entry into a subsequent lottery drawing (first
information) in conjunction with the determination that the call
recipient and/or player is receiving an incoming communication. In
accordance with such embodiments, the determination as to whether
the received entry is a winning entry may be contingent upon one or
more result(s) (second information) which may be determined
subsequent to the provision of the entry information to the call
recipient and/or player. More specifically, after a lottery drawing
is held, an outcome (e.g. a result and/or payout information
associated with the lottery entry) may be determined based on a
comparison of the lottery result(s) information to the
previously-provided lottery entry information.
[0036] A "Lottery Authority" is an entity primarily responsible for
the operation and oversight of various lottery hardware, software,
data and/or systems. For example, a lottery authority may be
contracted by a governmental agency, such as a state lottery
authority, to conduct and/or administer various functions
associated with lottery games.
[0037] A "Lottery Retailer" is a location or service provider via
which any one or more of the following may take place: [0038] A
player may register for a lottery outcome; [0039] A player may
obtain the right to receive information associated with one or more
lottery outcome(s), in accordance with the methods described
herein; [0040] An additional or new lottery ticket/lottery entry
may be purchased; [0041] A winning lottery outcome may be
presented, verified and/or redeemed; and/or [0042] A player/call
recipient may receive a payout and/or a prize associated with
obtaining or receiving a winning lottery outcome. Convenience
stores, gas stations, supermarkets and the like are various
examples of traditional lottery retailers.
[0043] A "Lottery Ringtone Application" (LRA) is an application
that may reside on a player's mobile phone, smart phone or other
device associated with a player/call recipient. An LRA may assist
in performing various functions described herein, such as player
registration, determining player eligibility, receiving and/or
processing one or more lottery outcome(s), storing player
information, and/or displaying historical lottery outcomes (e.g.
results, summaries) to the player. The LRA may be preloaded on the
device associated with a player/call recipient and/or may be
downloaded from one or more of: a mobile phone provider; a
manufacturer; a lottery retailer or operator; and/or a third party
vendor.
[0044] "Lottery Information" is information associated a lottery
outcome. Examples of lottery information may include, but are not
limited to whether a lottery entry of the player won or lost (E.g.,
ringtone #1 for a win, ringtone #4 for a loss); an amount of a
lottery win (E.g., ringtone #1 corresponds to a win of less than
$10, ringtone #2 corresponds to a win of $10 to $50, and ringtone
#3 corresponds to a win of more than $50, or a caller id window
shows amount of win "Lotto Win! $15 credited to your account");
whether the player has been entered into a lottery game (E.g., if
player is only entered into lottery under certain circumstances
(see player preferences described below), or for example, ringtone
#1 for a "lottery entry", and ringtone #2 for "no lottery entry
this time"); if the player was entered, then which lottery game a
player has been entered into (E.g., name of the lottery game may be
displayed in a caller id window on a player's cell phone "You have
been entered in the Texas Tea Lotto"); a remaining balance of a
player account (E.g., if a player has a monetary account that is
used to fund lottery entries; or a ringtone #1 if account balance
is over or under a predefined amount, or an amount credited to
player account ("You have now accumulated $100 of winnings, which
will automatically be transferred to your bank account"), or a
remaining number of entries in a set of entries (E.g., "outcome #22
has been determined out of your 100 pre-purchased outcomes"); a
cost of a lottery entry (E.g., ringtone #1 for $0.10 lottery entry,
ringtone #2 for $0.50 lottery entry); lottery game play information
(E.g., a video of a lottery scratch card being scratched so that an
outcome is revealed); what type of prize a player has won in a
lottery win (E.g., if a player is eligible to win non-monetary
prizes (e.g., cell phone minutes, free text messages, Internet
bandwidth, this next phone call is free)); accumulated and/or
aggregated information pertaining to a plurality of lottery
outcomes (for example, a total amount of money won so far (e.g.,
"Total won this month=$23"), or a total number of wins (e.g.,
"Phone call #54/100--your 6.sup.th win in this set")).
[0045] A "Controller" is one or more computing device(s) (e.g., a
central controller, a server) operatively configured to receive,
transmit, store, output and/or manage data relating to various
aspects of the embodiments described herein, including data
associated with one or more of: lottery outcomes; sales agents;
sales (e.g. statistics); the provision of one or more outcome(s);
payout instances; redemption amounts; redemption instances;
accounting functions; player information; player device information
and/or other aspects described herein. Some or all of the
operations of a controller may be overseen by, or may be performed
on behalf of, a lottery authority, as described above.
[0046] A "Retailer Terminal" is one or more computing device(s)
(e.g., a point of sale terminal (POS), a digital cash register,
etc.) operatively configured to receive and transmit data to/from a
controller and/or player device on behalf of a retailer/agent
and/or output information/data for use by a player and/or retailer.
Such data may include, for example: identifying data associated
with one or more outcome(s); data associated with one or more
lottery entries; game(s); player(s) and/or player device(s) (e.g. a
telephone number, player ID, ticket identifier, etc.); identifying
data associated with one or more redemption request(s); and/or
payout data. For example, the ALTURA.RTM. lottery terminal
manufactured by GTECH Corp. of Providence, R.I. may be one example
of a suitable device that may be adapted to perform various
functions of a retailer terminal as described herein.
[0047] A "Player Database" is a database that may store information
relating to a player such as: payment information, player
preferences, player registration, lottery outcomes associated with
a player and/or other information. In some embodiments, such
information may be used to create a lottery account by or on behalf
of a receiving party.
[0048] A "Telco" is a Telecommunications company, which may include
mobile telephone service providers such as: AT&T, Verizon,
Sprint, T-Mobile; or regional providers such as: AT&T, MCI, and
Qwest Communications.
B. EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0049] FIG. 1A illustrates is an example system 100 according to an
embodiment that may be useful for implementing one or more of the
various features described herein. The example system 100 includes
various types of controllers, such as a lottery administrator
controller 102, and a telco controller 104, which are connected to
a telephone company main exchange 106 (telco main exchange). The
telco main exchange 106 is also shown connected to a plurality of
voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephones 110A, 110B to 110N
through a VOIP call processor 108. Also shown connected to the
telco main exchange 106 are a telco mobile exchange 112, which is
operatively connected to a plurality of mobile phones 116A, 116B to
116N (for example, cell phones and/or smart phones) through at
least one telco cellular tower 114. Lastly, shown connected to the
telco main exchange is a telco local exchange 118 and a plurality
of landline telephones 120A, 120B to 120N. Thus, the telco main
exchange 106 may be connected in or to a variety of networks,
exchanges, processors, apparatus, and user devices, which apparatus
may be used in one or more of the described embodiments.
[0050] In some embodiments, the telco controller 104 receives a
transmission request from a transmitting party. The telco
controller may be located at a telco main exchange capable of
receiving transmission requests from one or more local exchanges
and/or mobile exchanges. The transmission request may be in the
form of a telephone call originating from a mobile phone, or a
voice-over-IP phone, or a landline phone, an SMS, EMS, or MMS
message, or could be an incoming email, or a voicemail
notification. The transmission request may include information
relating to the transmitting party such as the transmitting party's
telephone number or network address, the time which the
transmitting party sent the request, and/or a message originating
from the transmitting party (which could include information
relating to the call recipient such as the call recipient's
telephone number, and/or the call recipient's name). The telco
controller may determine if the call recipient is associated with a
record in a player database and/or has an associated lottery
account. In some embodiments, the telco controller 104 looks up the
call recipient's phone number in a player database and checks to
see if that phone number is associated with a lottery account.
[0051] The telco controller 104 may determine if the call recipient
should go through further eligibility screening, or if the call
recipient may be eligible to receive a lottery entry outcome. In
one embodiment, the telco controller 104 determines that the call
recipient has an associated lottery account and contacts a lottery
administrator's controller 102 for further eligibility screening of
the call recipient. In another embodiment, the telco controller
determines that the call recipient has an associated lottery
account and processes additional eligibility screening of the call
recipient. In yet another embodiment, the telco controller
determines that the call recipient is eligible for a lottery
outcome and sends a request for a lottery outcome to a lottery
administrator's controller 102.
[0052] In an example, a user of a mobile phone 116A transmits a
request to receive a lottery outcome each time he receives a call
on his mobile phone (e.g. smart phone). In order to do this, the
user accesses and indicates this desire on his telco's website. The
user also chooses an option that adds payment for any received
lottery outcomes to his mobile phone bill. An indication of the
user's selected options are then stored in a database that can be
accessed by the telco's controller and/or other device.
[0053] Referring again to FIG. 1A, upon receiving a request for
transmission of a communication to the user, the telco's controller
104 determines that the user has opted to receive a lottery outcome
with each incoming call (i.e., by looking up the call recipient's
preferences in the database). The telco controller 104 then
requests an indication of a lottery outcome from the lottery
administrator controller 102. When a winning lottery outcome is
determined (by the lottery administrator controller), the telco
controller 104, through the telco main exchange 106 and telco
mobile exchange 112, causes the call recipient's mobile phone 116A
to ring with a winning lottery ringtone. For example, the winning
lottery ringtone may include a recorded message that repeats the
phrase, "You're a winner! You're a winner!" The telco controller
may also record an indication of the winning outcome in the
database.
[0054] In some embodiments, a lottery authority or other party may
develop and/or deploy a lottery ringtone application (LRA) for use
by a user/player, player device, and the like. The LRA may function
to establish at least two ringtones, at least one of which may be
audibly communicated to the player and/or user upon receipt of an
incoming communication. More specifically, the application may
establish a first ringtone for use when an incoming communication
is received from a first source (e.g. a first telephone number or
first calling party identified in an address book of the user's
player device) and a second, different ringtone for use when an
incoming communication is received from at least a second source
(e.g. a second telephone number, any telephone number other than
the first telephone number, any telephone number other than the
first telephone number and for which no specific ringtone has
previously been assigned by the user). For example, the application
may function to create and or install an entry in an "address book"
or "contact list" of a cellular phone of a user, and to associate
the created entry with a specific (e.g. "winning") ringtone (e.g.
"Ringtone A-1"). In some embodiments, the address book entry may be
associated with a lottery authority, such as for example, "The New
York Lottery". In some embodiments, the first and second ringtones
may be audibly similar in nature, such as for example "Ringtone
1-A" and "Ringtone 1-B" (e.g. each ringtone may comprise four bars
of music, with each of the first three bars being audibly
identical).
[0055] Along with the winning lottery ringtone, the telco
controller 104 may additionally send or transmit the call recipient
a text (or other) message that includes a payout amount and
instructions for receiving the payout. For example, the text
message may read, "You just won $60, go to http://www.LottoRing.com
to claim your prize!"
[0056] FIG. 1B is a simplified diagram of a device 150 of a type
that may be used to practice one or more embodiments described
herein. In this example embodiment, the device 150 is a mobile
telephone (or cell phone) that includes a housing 151, an antenna
152, a speaker 154, a display 156, a keyboard 158 that includes a
plurality of keys to access phone functions and to place calls, and
a microphone 160. The mobile telephone 150 also contains various
components (not shown) within the housing 151 such as a processor,
storage or memory device (computer readable medium), input/output
circuits, and other circuitry that enables a user to place and to
receive calls. A computer readable medium that is either housed
within the mobile telephone 150, or that may be operatively coupled
to it (for example, an SD card inserted into a connector in the
mobile phone), may store a lottery ringtone application (LRA),
and/or may store instructions configured to direct a processor to
provide the functions discussed herein, such as receiving
information corresponding to a lottery outcome in conjunction with
the receipt of an incoming telephone call and/or other
communication (e.g. text message, page, e-mail, etc.). For example,
the LRA may be configured to provide lottery information when an
incoming telephone call is initiated, and that lottery information
may include an indication of a winning lottery outcome in the form
of a winning lottery ringtone to the call recipient by utilizing
the telephone speaker 154. The LRA may also be configured to
provide/trigger a losing ringtone via the speaker 154 when the
lottery information includes an indication of a losing lottery
outcome, and to display other lottery information, such as payout
information, via the display 156. Such a mobile telephone 150 is
typically lightweight and portable, and designed for use with one
or more telephone companies (telcos) to provide the functionality
described herein.
[0057] In some embodiments, an incoming communication (e.g. a text
message or an audio call) from a first source (e.g. a telephone
number associated with the state lottery) may trigger the provision
and/or output of the first ringtone to the lottery player/mobile
telephone user, thereby indicating that the telephone user has
qualified to receive a payout or other prize from a lottery
authority. For example, an incoming telephone call from a
previously-specified number or other network address may trigger
the provision and/or output of the first ("winning") ringtone to
the player/telephone user.
[0058] In some embodiments, a Lottery Ringtone Application (LRA)
may be installed on a user's telephone (e.g., installed by a
manufacturer, a telephone user, a lottery retailer, or a third
party), and the LRA may be capable of receiving and transmitting an
indication of payment from the user. The indication of payment may
be used to authorize the provision of a predetermined number of
predetermined lottery outcomes, which, for example, may be stored
in a memory device on the user's telephone. In one example, a user
can pre-purchase a block of lottery outcomes. In some embodiments,
lottery outcomes may be stored in an encrypted or encoded format to
prevent tampering or viewing by unauthorized parties.
[0059] In response to an indication of an incoming communication
(e.g. a telephone call or SMS), the LRA may select a lottery
outcome from the number of predetermined lottery outcomes and may
determine information associated with the selected outcome (e.g. if
the outcome is a winning or losing outcome, the amount of any
payout(s) associated with the outcome, etc.). In some embodiments,
the player may be able to select a desired ringtone to be
associated with a winning lottery outcome, and the player may also
be able to select different ringtones to be associated with
different winning payout amounts. In addition, the player may be
able to select a desired losing ringtone. A losing ringtone may
help to notify the player when a lottery outcome was issued, but
did not result in a winning outcome. The player may select multiple
ringtones to be used in different conditions such as a winning
streak, a specific winning ringtone associated with one or more
specific Caller ID(s), and/or a time of day. The ringtones may be
selected from a third-party content provider. Thus, in a case of a
winning outcome being selected and/or identified, the LRA may
instruct the telephone to ring with an associated winning ringtone,
and if a losing outcome is selected, the LRA may instruct the
telephone to ring with an associated losing ringtone. One or more
ringtones associated with a type of lottery outcome may be stored
within memory located on the telephone.
[0060] In some embodiments, the LRA may provide additional
information associated with the selected lottery outcome to the
mobile phone user. Additional information may include: a history of
selected lottery outcomes, a payout amount associated with one or
more winning lottery outcomes, a number of remaining lottery
outcomes, instructions for claiming a payout amount, a summary of
some or all outcomes having been provided, and/or a visual output
associated with the outcome (e.g. an animated rendering associated
with the outcome). Further details relating to functionality are
described herein below.
[0061] For example, a telephone user who wishes to receive a
lottery outcome whenever he receives an incoming call on his cell
phone downloads and installs a LRA to his mobile phone. The user
chooses and pays for a block of 50 lottery entry outcomes to be
downloaded and stored on his mobile phone, wherein one of each of
the fifty lottery entry outcomes is to be indicated to the user
whenever he receives an incoming call. The user also chooses to
have a payment for the 50 lottery entry outcomes added to his
monthly mobile phone bill. In addition, the user selects, via the
LRA's user interface, a winning ringtone to be used if a winning
lottery entry outcome is determined. The user may also opt to use
his mobile phone's default ringtone if a losing outcome is
determined and/or to be indicated.
[0062] Upon receiving an incoming call, the call recipient's mobile
phone requests one lottery entry outcome from the fifty lottery
entry outcomes previously stored using the LRA. In response to the
request, the LRA selects (for example, randomly or sequentially)
one of the 50 lottery entry outcomes stored in memory. The LRA
determines that the selected lottery entry outcome is a winning
lottery outcome and instructs the mobile phone to ring with the
previously-selected winning ringtone, thereby indicating the
occurrence of a winning outcome to the player/call recipient.
[0063] The LRA may be initiated or launched by the user at any time
in order to access additional information pertaining to the lottery
outcomes stored on his mobile phone. For example, if and/or when
the user receives a winning outcome, the LRA may direct the phone
to display an X-digit redemption code, which may be used to redeem
an associated payout at and/or from a lottery retailer (e.g. via a
dedicated retailer terminal).
[0064] In some embodiments, a player may be able to select an
amount of lottery entries or which lottery games to play. For
example, the lottery player may be able to specify that each
lottery entry costs $0.10 instead of each lottery entry costing
$0.50. The player may also be able to customize a package of
lottery entries, for example, a package of 50 lottery entries that
costs $23 to include 100.times.$0.10 entries (one-hundred ten cent
entries), 8.times.$1 entries (eight one-dollar entries), and
1.times.$5 entry (one five-dollar entry). A rules-based system or
random selection may be used to determine which lotto entry is
applied on each transmission request. In addition, different
lottery games may offer different pay tables, graphics, animations
or other entertaining features.
[0065] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example process 200 for
providing information about a lottery outcome (or lottery outcomes)
to a player (e.g., a phone user). The process may be performed, for
example, by a server, controller, or other computing device (e.g.,
associated with a telco; for example, see FIG. 1A) and/or by a user
device (e.g., a mobile phone). Of course, any process described
herein may be performed by any device or combination of devices
that is practicable and desirable. Furthermore, as also applies to
all processes described herein, the steps and functions described
may be performed in an order different from that illustrated, and
additional or different steps may be included. Similarly, some
steps may be omitted or combined.
[0066] Referring again to FIG. 2, the process 200 includes
determining a lottery entry outcome associated with at least one
lottery game 202. For example, a lottery entry outcome may be
selected from a plurality of lottery outcomes (e.g., from entry
outcomes that are stored by a lottery authority, a telco, or a
mobile phone). In another example, the result of a lottery drawing
may be determined. In some embodiments, determining an outcome
comprises at least one of: determining if a payout is associated
with the at least one lottery game; and determining a payout amount
associated with the at least one lottery game. Determining the
outcome may comprise determining the lottery outcome randomly based
on a probability associated with a lottery game. In other
embodiments, the outcome may be selected in sequence or at random
from a plurality of predetermined lottery outcomes.
[0067] The process 200 also includes receiving an indication of an
incoming communication 204. In some embodiments, the incoming
communication comprises at least one of: a call; a text message;
and/or an e-mail. For example, a telco may receive an indication of
a phone call initiated by one caller to another phone user.
[0068] The process 200 also includes determining an audible output
206. The audible output is determined based on (i) the outcome and
(ii) the indication of an incoming communication. For example, as
described above, a particular ringtone may be selected based on the
determined outcome (e.g., based on whether the outcome is a winning
or losing outcome, and/or based on an associated value for the
outcome) and also based on the incoming communication (e.g., in
response to an incoming phone call). In other examples, determining
the audible output may be based on who the call is from, when the
call is made, what type of communication it is, and/or other
factors. The process also includes outputting the determined
audible output via a device associated with a player 208 (e.g., in
response to the indication of the incoming communication). For
example, a selected ringtone for a winning outcome is output at a
mobile phone in response to (e.g., to announce) an incoming call.
In some embodiments, the outputting of the audible output is
further based on the entitlement of the player/recipient to an
outcome associated with the at least one lottery game.
[0069] According to some embodiments, the process may include
receiving information associated with at least one lottery game.
For example, as described above, a user may register to receive
lottery outcomes. In another example, a player may be entered in a
lottery drawing, and the information includes information about the
player's entry and/or the lottery drawing (e.g., numbers that may
be drawn in the lottery drawing). In some embodiments, receiving
information associated with at least one lottery game may comprise
receiving information representing a pre-determined outcome for
each of a plurality of lottery games. In other embodiments,
receiving such information comprises receiving information
corresponding to a total payout associated with a plurality of
lottery outcomes. Determining an outcome may comprise, in
accordance with some embodiments, receiving information associated
with the at least one lottery game.
[0070] In some embodiments, the information associated with the at
least one lottery game may be stored on a device associated with a
player. For instance, storing may include, but need not necessarily
comprise, storing the information associated with the at least one
lottery game in a format that renders the information not
human-recognizable (e.g. by encryption, etc.). For example, the
information associated with the lottery game may be stored in a
machine-readable format only (which may be an encrypted format)
that cannot be read and/or recognized by a lottery player.
[0071] In some processes, human-recognizable information
corresponding to the outcome associated with the at least one
lottery game may be output upon determination of the outcome and in
response to the incoming communication. For example, as described
above, in response to an incoming communication, a mobile phone may
display a text message of "You Win $5!" which can be read by the
lottery player. This could occur if the mobile phone was set to
silent mode at the time, or may occur in conjunction with the
audible output.
[0072] Some processes may include a step of determining an
initiating party based on the indication of the incoming
communication (e.g. caller ID, cross-reference to contacts stored
on phone, etc.). In some embodiments, a step of determining an
outcome may be performed only if the initiating party is determined
to be an identifiable party and/or a particular identified party
(e.g. a particular friend or family member, etc.).
[0073] Some embodiments may include one or more of the following:
determining redemption information (e.g., determining a code or
other indicia by which a player may redeem any winning outcomes)
and/or outputting redemption information to a player associated
with a device.
[0074] Some embodiments allow for a player to redeem any winnings
(e.g., to receive a payout amount). In one embodiment, an
indication of redemption information is received, for example, via
at least one of: a retailer terminal; the device associated with
the player; and a web site. In some embodiments, a payout amount is
determined based on the redemption information, and an indication
of the payout amount for the player is output (e.g., via a retailer
terminal, via a website).
[0075] In some embodiments, a telephone user may register for a
lottery ringtone account which may enable the user's telephone to
receive an indication of a lottery outcome. The registration
process may include: storing preferential conditions under which
the user would like to receive a lottery outcome, providing payment
information (e.g. in exchange for a pre-paid number of lottery
outcomes); storing information identifying a device associated with
the user (e.g. an indication of a particular handset model and/or
telephone number); billing information (e.g. billing address);
and/or any other information that may be required to register a
user to be eligible to receive lottery outcome information in
accordance with the present methods (e.g. including providing an
audible output in conjunction with the receipt of an incoming
communication by the user device).
[0076] Additional information associated with one or more lottery
entry outcomes may be made available once a lottery entry outcome
has been indicated to the user. The additional information may
include e.g.: a history of lottery entry outcomes for a user, a
payout amount associated with one or more winning lottery entry
outcomes, a number of remaining lottery entry outcomes, a method of
claiming a payout amount associated with at least one winning
lottery entry outcome, and the like.
[0077] FIG. 3A is a flowchart of an example process 300 according
to an implementation for activating a player's lottery account. A
request is received 302 from a player for a lottery outcome (or
lottery entry) that is associated with a transmission request. For
example, a player may request to receive twenty outcomes that will
be provided in conjunction with one or more phone calls. Next, a
determination is made as to whether the player meets eligibility
requirements 304 (for example, for age and/or residency). If not,
the process ends 306. Otherwise, a determination is made as to
whether the player has previously registered 308. If so, the
player's registration information is recalled 310. Otherwise,
player registration information (various examples of which are
described herein) is received and verified 312. If a payment
identifier is not required 314, then a lottery account is activated
316 for the player. If, at step 314, a payment identifier is
required, the player's lottery account is activated 316 after the
payment identifier is received 318.
[0078] Regarding determining eligibility to receive a lottery
outcome, a controller may utilize information associated with the
transmission request in order to determine if a call recipient is
eligible to receive a lottery outcome. The controller also may
utilize information associated with a call recipient to determine
if a call recipient is eligible to receive a lottery outcome. A
call recipient's eligibility to receive a lottery outcome may be
determined by a telco controller, a lottery administrator
controller, and/or a third-party controller operatively connected
with at least one of a telco controller or a lottery administrator
controller. Thus, an indication of a call recipient's eligibility
to receive a lottery outcome is sent to a controller capable of
determining a result associated with a lottery outcome. In some
embodiments, a single controller determines a call recipient's
eligibility to receive a lottery outcome as well as a result and/or
a payout associated with the lottery outcome, while in other
embodiments, two or more controllers are utilized. In some other
embodiments, a separate controller is used to determine the lottery
entry outcome and/or payout information.
[0079] FIG. 3B is a flowchart of an example process 350 for
determining the eligibility of a call recipient to receive a
lottery entry outcome according to an embodiment. The process 350
includes a telco controller receiving 352 a transmission request
from a caller to a call recipient, looking up 354 the call
recipient's phone number in a player database, and determining 356
whether the call recipient is registered to receive a lottery entry
outcome. If not, the process ends 358. But if the call recipient is
registered, then the telco controller transmits 360 an indication
of the call recipient to a lottery controller. The lottery
controller then determines 362 whether the call recipient is
eligible to receive a lottery entry outcome. If yes, then the
lottery controller transmits 364 an indication of a lottery entry
outcome to the lottery controller. If the call recipient is not
eligible in step 362, then the lottery controller transmits 366 to
the telco controller an indication of the call recipients'
ineligibility, and the process ends 368.
[0080] Thus, in some embodiments, when an indication of an incoming
call (or other communication, such as an SMS or e-mail) is received
(e.g., prior to ringing the call recipient's telephone), a telco
controller may request an indication of one or more lottery
outcomes from a lottery controller. The lottery controller may then
transmit an indication of an outcome to the telco controller (e.g.
a winning or losing lottery outcome) and may also record the
lottery outcome result within a database, such as a player
database. In a case of receiving an indication of a winning lottery
outcome, the telco controller may instruct the call recipient's
telephone to ring with an associated winning ringtone.
Alternatively, if an indication of a losing lottery outcome is
received, the telco controller may instruct the call recipient's
telephone to ring with an associated non-winning ringtone.
[0081] According to some embodiments, prior to receiving a lottery
outcome associated with a transmission request, a player must
complete a registration process. The player's registration
information may be received in various ways. For example, the
player's registration may be received via telephone (E.g., a call
recipient provides identification information including their
mobile phone number, then purchases 50 lottery outcomes to be
received over their next 50 incoming mobile phone calls).
Registration may be completed using an Interactive Voice Response
(IVR) system capable of detecting voice and touch-tones during a
call, or registration may be completed by a call center
representative. A lottery retailer could register a player, wherein
the player provides payment and registration information to the
lottery retailer and receives a registration identifier such as a
plastic card or paper slip, such means denoting the player's
account number or other identifier. For example, a player may also
be able to initiate a transaction at a lottery terminal and
indicate that he would like to receive a lottery outcome every time
his mother calls him on his mobile phone. The player provides the
necessary registration information including a debit account number
that is billed for each outcome he receives. Another registration
method involves use of a website, wherein the Website may be
associated with the lottery retailer, or the Website may be
associated with the lottery authority, or the Website may be
associated with the telco provider. Registration could also occur
by use of a WAP browser, or an i-Mode browser, or by SMS, EMS or
MMS messaging. A player could also register via a specialized
application on a mobile phone (E.g., a Lottery Ringtone Application
(LRA) on a mobile phone may prompt a player to provide the required
registration information the first time it is executed). Such a
specialized application may be preloaded on the mobile phone by a
manufacturer, downloaded and installed on the mobile phone, or
installed by a third party such as a telco provider or lottery
administrator.
[0082] Registration information associated with a player may be
received during the registration process and may be stored for
later use in a database (e.g., a player database). Such information
may include: a player's name; information that may require
verification by a lottery authority, a lottery retailer, or a
telco; a player's residential address (E.g., A player may need to
provide a driver's license or other form of identification that
includes the player's residence address to a lottery retailer); a
player's birth date; a player's social security number; one or more
phone numbers associated with the player; one or more email
address(es) associated with the player; and/or a player's bank
account number and bank routing number (E.g., Winning payouts may
automatically be credited to a player's bank account).
[0083] Stored player information could be recalled during future
lottery outcome purchases so that a player would not have to
re-enter their registration information. The player database may be
managed by a telco, lottery authority, or a third-party data
management service, or the information could be stored on and/or
indicated by a lottery receipt. For example, player information
could be indicated by a barcode located on a paper receipt, or
stored via the magnetic strip of a dedicated card. The player
information could also be stored on a player's phone (E.g., a
lottery ringtone application located on a player's phone may store
the player's registration information and player preferences),
and/or be stored on a memory card such as a Compact Flash, SD card,
SIM card, mini-SD card, or Memory Stick.
[0084] A player's payout preferences, such as how and when they
would like to receive a winning payout, may also be stored, for
example, in a player database (E.g., a player may prefer to have
winning payouts directly deposited into a bank account, or a player
may prefer to have winning amounts credited towards outstanding
bills such as a mobile phone bill or credit card bill). Other
information may also be required and stored, such as a login name
and password (e.g., that may be used to access the player's
information), and/or a confirmation entry of previously supplied
information (E.g., a player re-enters a password), and/or one or
more security questions selected by the player with answers chosen
by the player, for future use to verify the identity of the player
when the player's account is accessed and/or when the player
engages in future transactions.
[0085] A payment identifier may be required for a player to receive
lottery information in conjunction with the receipt of a
transmission request. The payment identifier may be provided by the
call recipient/player. For example, a call recipient may provide a
payment identifier in the form of: a mobile phone number or mobile
phone account number, a credit card number, a debit account number,
a gift card distributed by an authorized lottery agent, a bank
account number, and/or a billing address. The payment identifier
may be used to purchase a set of lottery outcomes, to purchase a
single lottery outcome, and/or for purchasing an unlimited number
of lottery outcomes during a specific time period (e.g. a billing
period). The payment identifier may be used to purchase one or more
lottery outcomes during player registration. Alternatively the
payment identifier may be used to purchase one or more lottery
outcomes following player registration.
[0086] According to some embodiments, no payment may be required.
For example, lottery outcomes may be free or complimentary (For
example, a mobile phone carrier may provide a call recipient with
ten complimentary lottery outcomes each month, with a single
outcome being received for each of the call recipient's first ten
received calls occurring within the month). Lottery outcomes may be
paid for by a telco or other mobile phone service provider (E.g., a
telco that wishes to enhance revenue derived from phone usage may
provide lottery outcomes for calls during "peak" hours; or a telco
may allow a customer to turn their rollover minutes into an equally
valued number of lottery outcomes; or the telco may provide one or
more lottery outcomes to a call recipient if the call recipient
signs up for one or more agreement(s), and/or added calling
features, for example, the telco may offer a call recipient one
lottery outcome for each of their next 100 calls if the call
recipient signs up for a continuous 2-year service agreement). A
lottery outcome may be paid for by a third party, for example, in
exchange for the ability to output advertisements or other content
via the call recipient's phone.
[0087] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example process 400 for
recording lottery entry outcomes in a player database. The process
400 includes receiving a transmission request from a transmitting
party to a receiving party 402, and determining 404 whether the
receiving party is eligible to receive a lottery outcome based on a
transmission request (for example, based on whether the receiving
party meets age and residency requirements). If not, the process
ends 406. If the receiving party is eligible, then the process
includes determining 408 a lottery outcome, and checking 410 the
lottery outcome to determine if it is a winning outcome. If it is
not a winning outcome, then the lottery outcome is recorded in a
player database 412 and the process ends 406. But if the lottery
outcome is determined to be a winning outcome in step 410, then the
winning outcome is indicated 414 by modifying and/or altering
and/or substituting and/or otherwise providing a winning outcome
ringtone on the receiving party's phone. In some embodiments, a
payout is provided to the receiving party 416, and the winning
outcome is recorded in a player database before the process ends
406.
[0088] A lottery outcome may be indicated to a call recipient via a
specified ringtone indicating a phone call, a SMS, an EMS, a MMS,
and/or email. In some embodiments, the ringtone is "pushed" to the
call recipient's phone. In another embodiment, a ringtone
associated with a winning lottery outcome is stored on the call
recipient's phone, and the call recipient's phone may be instructed
by a LRA associated with the phone to play the winning ringtone. In
some embodiments, a text message, voicemail, or phone call
indicating a winning lottery outcome may be sent to the call
recipient as an indication, in addition to the winning or losing
ringtone, or instead of a winning or losing ringtone. The message
may include lottery information, such as a winning amount, the
number(s) matched, or instructions for how to receive a payout.
[0089] The lottery outcome may be indicated to the call recipient
via a ringtone before call, a caller id before call, an
introduction voice-over dub at the start of the call, a text
message at the end of the call (e.g., a call recipient is only
eligible to receive a lottery outcome for calls longer than 10
minutes, or a call recipient may receive one text message each day
summarizing their lottery outcome(s) for that day), and/or an image
or video clip (e.g., via MMS on a cell phone, for example, a cell
phone application may display a video clip with associated audio
showing slot machine reels spinning and landing on "BAR-BAR-BAR",
or a cell phone application may display a video clip with
associated audio showing a cartoon character, or a video of symbols
being revealed on a lottery scratcher card). In addition, in some
embodiments, lottery outcome indications may be provided to other
parties. For example, a call recipient may choose to automatically
notify their friends if they receive a winning outcome above a
threshold amount.
[0090] In some embodiments, a call recipient may be able to review
previous lottery entries or outcomes. In one embodiment, losing
outcomes may not be indicated to a call recipient. In this case,
the call recipient may check the number of remaining lottery
outcomes by sending a text message containing his phone number to a
lottery administrator. In another embodiment, a call recipient may
be able view information relating to previously-used and/or unused
lottery entries by viewing via web site, receiving a text message
summary of entries/wins/losses, by viewing lottery entries and
outcomes listed in additional column on a billing statement (e.g.,
a mobile phone billing statement, a ringtone lottery billing
statement), or by launching the LRA on his cell phone.
[0091] In some embodiments, indicating lottery information to a
call recipient includes pushing a set of purchased lottery outcomes
to a player's mobile phone and storing the outcomes within an LRA
on the phone. The lottery entries may be encrypted in order to
ensure that the entries are not tampered with and/or viewed by
unauthorized parties, and a duplicate set may also be stored in a
player database, lottery controller database, lottery authority
database, etc. A duplicate set of lottery outcomes for a player may
be used for verification of any winning outcome(s) and/or payout
amount(s). In another embodiment, an indication of the purchased
lottery outcomes may be stored within a player database of a
lottery controller. The lottery controller may transmit a lottery
outcome to a player's phone upon receiving a request from a telco
controller. In yet another embodiment each lottery outcome may be
dynamically generated (e.g. based on a statistical model) upon
request from a telco controller. In some embodiments, lottery
outcomes are gifted from a customer and sent to another person. For
example, a woman buys her mother 50 lottery outcomes for her
birthday and those outcomes are transmitted to the mother's cell
phone and stored within an LRA on that phone.
[0092] Regarding providing payouts to receiving parties, in some
embodiments the payout amount may vary. For example, a payout for a
large win (e.g., $100,000) may be treated differently than a payout
for a small win (e.g., $10). In addition, different mechanisms of
payout are possible for different win amounts or in accordance with
player preferences. In some embodiments, a winning payout may be
credited to a call recipient's account. For example, a winning
payout is credited to the call recipient's mobile phone bill, or a
winning payout is deposited into the call recipient's specified
bank account, or a winning payout credited to the call recipient's
credit card account. It is recognized that a call recipient may
have multiple accounts, and thus different amounts could be divided
out and credited to different accounts. In addition, a call
recipient may have one account for purchasing entries, for example,
and a second account for accumulating lottery wins (E.g., a lottery
account is used to purchase entries, and to credit wins, and a
credit card account is used to recharge the lottery account if
funds run low in the lottery account). An account may be
denominated in dollars, points, credits, or other currency.
[0093] In some embodiments, a call recipient may be provided
payment for a winning outcome in the form of a check or other
cash-equivalent, for example, a call recipient is sent a check in
the mail. A winning payout may be provided by a lottery retailer
upon verification of a winning lottery outcome. In addition, a call
recipient may be provided with an ATM card during the lottery
ringtone registration process. Upon receiving a winning lottery
outcome, the call recipient also receives a valid PIN code that may
be used to withdraw funds from an account associated with the ATM
card.
[0094] In some embodiments, a winning payout may be used to
purchase additional lottery entries. If the payout value is less
than a predetermined threshold amount, the lesser amounts may
accrue until they reach a total threshold balance (e.g. at least
$10), at which time the receiving party/player may receive access
to the total threshold amount. A winning outcome may be restricted
for use to purchase additional lottery entries, and other
restrictions may be applied by a lottery administrator or by a
telco.
[0095] In some embodiments, a winning payout may be used to
purchase items. For example, a player may use part of his winnings
as a down payment on a automobile, or a player may use her winnings
to purchase a weekend vacation. In some embodiments, one or more of
the described features (and/or elements thereof) may not be
necessary.
[0096] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example process 500 for
outputting a ringtone to indicate either a winning or losing
lottery outcome to a registered call recipient. One or more of the
indicated steps may be performed, for example, by a user device
(e.g., based on instructions of an LRA). The process 500 includes
receiving 502 registration information from a call recipient,
transmitting 504 an indication of prepaid lottery entries to a call
recipient's phone, storing 506 an indication of lottery outcomes at
a user device (e.g., in an LRA of a phone of the call recipient),
receiving 508 a transmission request from a caller to the user
device (e.g., to a call recipient's phone), and determining 510
whether the call recipient is eligible for a lottery outcome. If
the recipient is not eligible, the process ends 512. If the
recipient is eligible to receive a lottery outcome, the method
includes determining 514 a lottery outcome, and, if it is
determined to be a winning outcome in step 516, outputting 518 a
winning ringtone on the call recipient's phone, and the process
ends 520. If, in step 516 it is determined that the lottery outcome
is not a winning outcome (it's a losing outcome), then the method
includes outputting 522 a losing ringtone to the call recipient's
phone, and then the process ends 520.
C. EXAMPLE CONDITIONS FOR INDICATING LOTTERY OUTCOMES
[0097] In some embodiments, a player may specify one or more
conditions for when lottery outcomes should be indicated to the
player/call recipient. In addition, the player may also specify one
or more conditions when they should not receive a lottery outcome.
Various conditions for determining if and/or when lottery outcomes
should be indicated to the player/call recipient may be used. For
example, lottery outcomes could be indicated to the player only
during specific times of the day (e.g. not between the hours of 9
AM and 5 PM), or be limited to a schedule (e.g. once an hour, on
the hour daily between noon and 8 PM). An indication of a lottery
outcome may occur upon receiving an incoming communication only
from a specified caller, caller group or phone number(s).
Similarly, the player may specify specific callers with which to
disassociate from lottery outcomes (e.g., based on a contacts list
or address book stored in a phone's memory).
[0098] A lottery outcome may be indicated to a player/call
recipient based on location information associated with the call
recipient. For example, the call recipient may request to only
receive a lottery outcome when he is within his local area code.
Call recipient location may be determined using information
obtained from cellular towers operatively connected to the call
recipient's mobile phone. Location information may also be
determined using GPS information (e.g. if the call recipient's
mobile phone is GPS-enabled). Similarly, a lottery outcome may be
indicated to a player based on location information associated with
the caller. For example, a call recipient may request to only
receive a lottery outcome when they are called by someone located
within their hometown. A caller location may be determined using
the caller's area code or local prefix, or the caller location may
be determined using information obtained from cellular towers
operatively in communication with the caller's mobile phone, or the
caller location may be determined using GPS information (e.g. if
the caller mobile phone is GPS enabled).
[0099] In addition, a player may wish to receive lottery outcomes
at specific intervals (E.g., after every other phone call; after
every 10.sup.th incoming call, etc.), Or the player may wish to
receive lottery outcomes upon the occurrence of an
irregularly-scheduled external event (e.g. indicate/reveal one
lottery outcome on each day the New York Yankees win). In addition,
lottery outcomes may be indicated based on conditions relating to a
call recipient's phone ("state" or "mode" of the phone). For
example, a call recipient may or may not wish to receive a lottery
outcome if they are already on the phone, or a call recipient may
or may not wish to receive a lottery outcome if they are currently
using an application on their phone (E.g., a call recipient may not
wish to have his phone ring if he is in the middle of writing an
email). Furthermore, since many phones have different ringtone
loudness levels, a lottery outcome indication may be disabled if a
phone's ringtone level is set to a level less than 2 (quiet). An
indication of a lottery outcome may also be based on the call
recipient's calendar (wherein the call recipient may have a
calendar stored on his phone or on a server). For example, if the
call recipient's calendar shows that he is in a meeting, then
lottery outcome indications may be suppressed, postponed, etc.
D. EXAMPLES OF PROCESSES
[0100] Bob, a player/user, visits www.XYZstatelottery.com where he
specifies his cellular telephone number, billing address and
handset model and initiates a download of a ringtone application
from the XYZ State Lottery web site for use on his cellular phone.
As part of the application download and installation process, Bob
selects a winning and non-winning pair of ringtones for use in
audibly communicating lottery outcome information. As further part
of the ringtone application download and installation process, the
application installs an address book entry and corresponding
("winning") ringtone on Bob's cellular phone. The address book
entry includes a telephone number from which any incoming
communication will trigger the audible output of the corresponding
("winning") ringtone to Bob, thereby informing him that he has
qualified for a payout/prize, for example, from the state lottery.
In addition, the application installs a new default ringtone for
Bob's cellular telephone, such that any incoming communications not
originating from the number associated with the address book entry
will trigger the output/provision of the new default ringtone
(which may be largely audibly similar to the "winning"
ringtone).
[0101] Following the download, installation and configuration of
the ringtone application, on Tuesday, January 2.sup.nd, Bob visits
a local lottery retailer to purchase lottery eligibility/chances in
the XYZ State Lottery Ringtone Game. As part of the purchase
process, Bob fills out a sense mark form at the retailer to specify
his cellular telephone number. The retailer scans the sense mark
form into the retailer's lottery terminal, which derives the
information form the sense mark strip or form and transmits an
indication of the telephone number to a centralized lottery system
(e.g. in order to verify that the cellular phone associated with
the number has previously downloaded and installed the lottery
ringtone application, as described above). The centralized system
then selects at least one predetermined outcome (e.g. including
win/loss information and associated prize(s)/payout(s) (if any)
from a predetermined pool of available lottery outcomes). In this
case, Bob's particular lottery outcome is determined to be a wining
outcome and is associated with a cash prize of $4. The centralized
system then instructs the lottery terminal to print a paper ticket
bearing an alphanumeric code, associated with the selected outcome
and that may be utilized by the player/user, for example, to query
the lottery system for information associated with that particular
game instance. In addition to the alphanumeric code, the ticket
includes printed information similar to the following: "Thank you
for playing the XYZ State Lottery Ringtone Game. You are now
eligible to participate in the Wednesday, January 3.sup.rd game.
Here's how it works: Listen for the winning ringtone from your cell
phone between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM on January 3.sup.rd. If you hear
the winning ringtone, YOU'RE A WINNER! Simply present this ticket
to any authorized lottery retailer to claim your prize. Good luck
and THANKS for playing the XYZ State Lottery Ringtone Game!"
[0102] As explained above, the previously-determined outcome
associated with Bob's particular game instance was determined to be
$4, and thus the centralized lottery system determines (e.g.
randomly, according to a pre-set formula or rule(s), etc.) a time
within the 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, January 3.sup.rd time
frame to initiate a telephone call to the cellular telephone number
provided during registration and subsequent game purchase. For
example, the system may determine to place an outgoing call to the
provided telephone number at 2:45 PM on January 3.sup.rd.
Accordingly, at 2:45 PM on January 3.sup.rd, the centralized system
initiates an automated outbound telephone call to Bob's cellular
phone from the number previously included in the winning number
entry included in the address book of Bob's phone during the
application download and install process. The incoming call is
received by Bob's cellular phone, which determines (e.g. based on
automatic number identification (ANI)) that the incoming call is
associated with a specific ringtone (in the address book) to be
audibly output, thereby indicating that Bob's particular game
instance resulted in winning a prize. Bob's cellular phone then
rings with the "winning" ringtone (stored in association with the
address book entry), thereby informing Bob that he is indeed
entitled to a lottery payout/prize.
[0103] It is noted that, prior to the incoming 2:45 PM call, all
other inbound communications were indicated to Bob via a second
(albeit slightly different than the winning ringtone) default
ringtone. For example, each of the two different ringtones may
comprise an identical crescendo with alternate endings.
[0104] Thus, at 2:45 PM, Bob answers the incoming call and is
greeted with an automated message: "Congratulations! You've won $4
playing the XYZ State Lottery Ringtone Game. Present your printed
game ticket to any authorized lottery retailer to claim your prize.
Thanks for playing!" In addition to the automated call, at 8:00 PM
on January 3.sup.rd, Bob receives a text message from the automated
outbound lottery system recapping his $4 win and providing backup
instructions on how to claim his prize.
[0105] On January 4.sup.th, Bob again visits his local lottery
retailer and presents his prior day's game ticket for validation.
The retailer scans the ticket through the retailer's lottery
terminal, which verifies the $4 payout with the centralized lottery
system. The retailer then pays the $4 to Bob, who is free to use
the money to purchase another ticket and/or keep some or all of his
prize for some other use.
E. EXAMPLE OF INCOMING COMMUNICATION FROM PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED
PARTY(IES) THAT INITIATES THE PROVISION OF LOTTERY OUTCOME
INFORMATION TO THE USER
[0106] In some embodiments, a lottery authority or other party may
develop and/or deploy a lottery ringtone application for use by a
user/lottery player, player device, or the like. In some
embodiments, the application may provide entitlement of a lottery
outcome (vs. the outcome itself) to be indicated to a
user/recipient via an audible ringtone if/when an incoming
communication is received from a party or device previously
identified by the user/recipient.
[0107] In some embodiments, a user/recipient may configure the
application to provide an indication of a lottery outcome each time
an incoming call is received from any one of up to "X" identified
calling parties (e.g. specific friends, relatives, groups,
entities, and the like). In accordance with such embodiments, the
application may function to monitor if/when an incoming
communication is received from such a previously identified party
and thereafter initiate the provision of lottery outcome
information to the user/call recipient. More specifically, the
application may interface with an address book function of the user
device in order to identify such calling party(ies) (e.g. by
comparing ANI information to information stored in the user device
address book).
[0108] For example, Alice, a lottery player/call recipient/user
visits the XYZ State lottery web site, where she registers the
number of her smart phone, identifies her telephone handset model
and initiates the download and installation of a Lottery Ringtone
Application (LRA). Upon installation of the application on her
smart phone, Alice is prompted to select up to five entries from
her address book for use in conjunction with the Ringtone
Application. Alice navigates a menu and selects three friends and
two family members for use in conjunction with the Ringtone
Application, and assigns to those parties an audible ringtone
included in the downloaded application. Whenever Alice is an active
participant in the game and receives an incoming communication from
any one of the five identified parties, the incoming communication
will trigger the provision of lottery outcome information to Alice,
including the audible ringtone.
[0109] Upon having installed the application and identifying
calling parties for use, Alice visits her local lottery retailer,
where she purchases a game ticket bearing a unique serial number.
The game ticket/serial number will enable the provision of a
lottery outcome to Alice each time she receives an incoming
communication from any one of the identified calling parties (up to
a predetermined number of times from parties among the group). For
example, the ticket may be good for the next 20 incoming phone
calls of all calls received from among the five identified calling
parties, or for each of the next four calls from each of the five
parties. Via an interface of the Ringtone Application installed on
her smart phone, Alice then enters the ticket serial number. An
activation screen then indicates to Alice that the game has begun
and that for each of her next twenty calls from among the
identified parties, one lottery outcome will be provided. Later
that day, Alice receives a call from her friend Jan. In accordance
with the game, Alice had previously configured the Ringtone
Application such that any incoming calls from Jan would trigger the
provision of a lottery outcome. Upon receiving that call, Alice's
phone determines that Jan's phone number is associated with the
newly-installed application and/or ringtone and outputs the audible
ringtone, thereby indicating to Alice that she is entitled to
receive a lottery outcome by virtue of having received a call from
one of the previously-identified calling parties (i.e. Jan). Alice
answers the call and talks with Jan for a few minutes. After Alice
hangs up, her phone (via the application) then indicates via an
alert that she may now view the result (e.g. win/loss and/or any
associated payout) of the provided lottery outcome. Alice then
activates the application on her phone and views an animated
representation of a scratch-off lottery ticket. The animated
representation reveals that Alice has won $5 for that particular
outcome and has 19 calls remaining with which to play. Over the
course of the next few days, the remaining 19 calls are received
and for each, a lottery outcome is provided in the manner described
immediately above. After all 20 calls have been received, Alice has
accrued a total of $14 in winnings, which is indicated to her via a
summary screen/interface included with the application.
[0110] In order to claim her prize, Alice returns to her local
lottery retailer and presents her previously-purchased printed
ticket/serial number. The retailer scans the ticket into the
retailer's online lottery terminal, which verifies with the XZY
State back-end lottery system that the serial number included on
Alice's ticket corresponds to a total payout/prize of $14. The
retailer is then instructed to provide a $14 cash payment to the
party bearing the ticket.
F. ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS
[0111] F.1. Lottery Ringback
[0112] In some embodiments, a controller or LRA determines that a
caller may be eligible to receive a lottery outcome. The lottery
outcome is indicated to the caller using a unique ringback tone.
For example, the controller enters a caller into a lottery when the
caller places a call to a member of their "buddy" list. If the
lottery outcome is determined to be a winning outcome, the ringback
tone that the caller hears may be a custom "winning" tone. In
addition or as an alternative to the custom ringback, the caller
may receive a "winning" image, a "winning" vibration pattern, a
"winning" light display, or a call from a call center
representative.
[0113] In some embodiments, a notification signal that the caller
won may also be provided to the receiving party. Also, in some
embodiments, a telco may restrict Lottery Ringback as an optional
service only available for use between/amongst its members.
[0114] F.2 Shared Winnings
[0115] A lottery payout may be split or shared between a caller and
a call recipient. In some embodiments, a call recipient may have an
option to predetermine a percentage split between them and a
caller, and/or predetermine which callers may receive a share of a
winning lottery payout. For example, only a caller associated with
a winning lottery outcome is eligible to share in a winning payout,
or the specified group the caller belongs to may share in a winning
outcome's prize. The player may also be able to split the winnings
after a winning outcome has been determined.
[0116] A winning call recipient may be able to designate the caller
as a recipient of a specific percentage of the winnings. For
example, Sarah receives a call from Sam, and hears a winning
ringtone. Sarah had designated in her player database preferences
that if she received a winning call from Sam, she would split the
winnings with him, and the player database contains contact
information for both Sam and Sarah so that both are able to go to
the lottery retailer to redeem their winnings. In some embodiments,
a payout could be credited to a party other than the player (for
example, a contribution to charity). In a specific example, a
player may designate that all of the player's wins of less than $10
are contributed to a particular charity.
[0117] F.3 Family Plan Ringtones
[0118] A "family plan" may be defined as two or more mobile phone
numbers that are combined on a single bill. Each member of a family
plan may have their own mobile phone as well as their own distinct
phone number.
[0119] In some embodiments, the controller or LRA may provide
lottery entries to a subset of family plan members based on
eligibility requirements such as a minimum age. A single
predetermined block of lottery outcomes may be associated with all
eligible members of a family plan. Family plan lottery ringtone
options may include limiting lottery outcomes to members eligible
to participate in the lottery (the members of the account, LRA,
controller, a Lottery authority or content provider may
determine/decide eligibility). In addition, member controlled
allocations of lottery entries amongst eligible family plan members
may be offered. For example, Suzy purchases a package of 50 lottery
outcome ringtones. She later accesses a player database where she
allocates 10 lottery outcomes from that package to herself and
designates John to have the other 40 lottery entries because he
receives more phone calls than Suzy. Once allocated, John and Suzy
are able to individually choose their own preferences concerning
how their individual lottery outcome allocations are triggered.
[0120] F4. Lottery Entries
[0121] In some embodiments, the lottery information may comprise or
include an entry into a lottery drawing. The entry information may
be received and/or indicated to a call recipient in conjunction
with a transmission request.
[0122] The call recipient may receive an entry into a weekly or
bi-weekly lottery drawing. The call recipient may continue to
collect/receive entries until sometime prior to the occurrence of
the lottery drawing (e.g. up to one hour prior).
[0123] In some embodiments an outcome associated with a lottery
entry may be determined based on the output of a random number
generator, information associated with the call recipient, and/or
Information associated with the caller. For example, a payout
associated with a winning lottery outcome is multiplied by 5 if the
caller is the call recipient's spouse. In another example, the
caller may have been previously recruited by the player for
purchasing a package of lottery outcomes (e.g., in a
friend-to-friend type marketing program).
[0124] In some embodiments, the outcome may be determined by a
Lottery administrator controller operatively connected to a telco
controller, a Telco controller that may be operatively connected to
a lottery administrator, and/or a third party controller associated
with a lottery administrator controller or telco controller.
[0125] F.5. Collection of Symbols
[0126] The lottery system may implement a game (for example,
similar to bingo) in which a player may collect symbols over the
course of multiple transmission requests. If the player accumulates
a full set of symbols, then the player may win a prize. For
example, a player gets a new letter each time he receives a phone
call (and the player may receive duplicate letters); a player may
"win" symbols based on lotto results (and there may be no guarantee
of a symbol being provided each time); a Ringtone indicates
accumulated symbols; and/or at the end of set of outcomes, the
player gets a prize based on number of accumulated symbols.
[0127] In some embodiments, symbols may be removed from a player's
account based on conditions. For example, symbols are removed at
the end of each set of lotto outcomes (e.g., when lotto outcomes
purchased in a group), and/or symbols are removed for account
inactivity, which may be defined as not enough phone calls being
made during a predetermined time period. In some embodiments, a
player may be required to perform qualifying activity to keep
symbols active.
[0128] F.6 Player Notifications and Result Inquiries
[0129] In some embodiments, a player/call recipient may receive one
or more notification(s), for example, if/when a predetermined
amount of time has elapsed since obtaining eligibility to receive
lottery outcome information (e.g. lottery outcome information
indicated via an audible ringtone in conjunction with an incoming
communication). For example, a player who has obtained one or more
winning outcome(s) may be notified of such winning outcome(s)
automatically (and/or periodically) and/or in accordance with one
or more notification channels (e.g. the player may be notified at
6:00 PM, every weekday via text message). Notification channels may
include channels associated with the player device (e.g., if the
device is a cell phone, notification channels may include a
telephone call, e-mail or text message to the cell phone) and/or
other means (e.g. postal mail and/or another device associated with
the player). In some embodiments, automatic and/or periodic
notification may be useful or desired, for example, if/when a
player is unable to ascertain lottery outcome information for some
reason (for example, that player has turned off his or her cell
phone, the player device has become lost or damaged, etc.).
[0130] A player may initiate a lottery outcome result inquiry. For
example, the player/call recipient may initiate an outgoing phone
call to an automated system (e.g., an automatic system of a Lottery
Authority) and/or may access a web site to inquire as to the
status(es) of one or more lottery outcome(s).
[0131] F.7. Determination/Alterations of Outcome Distribution Based
on Incoming Communications Volume
[0132] In some embodiments, an outcome distribution (and/or payout
amount(s)) may be determined and/or altered based on a volume of
incoming communications associated with a call recipient/player.
For example, where a first recipient is determined to be associated
with a relatively-low (first) volume of incoming communications
(for example, on average fewer than 10 incoming communications per
week), a $7 outcome distribution may be determined to comprise the
following sequence:
Comm .1 Comm .2 Comm .3 Comm .4 Comm .5 0 $5 0 0 $2 = $7
##EQU00001##
[0133] However, a second recipient may be determined (e.g. by a
telco) to be associated with a relatively-high(er) (second) volume
of incoming communications (e.g. on average, greater than 100
incoming communications per week), a $7 outcome distribution may
comprise the following sequence:
Comm .12 Comm .26 Comm .48 Comm .67 Comm .100 $2 .00 $1 $0 .50 $3
.50 0 = $7 ##EQU00002##
[0134] In some cases, it may be preferable or desirable to allow
for the determination and/or alteration of an outcome distribution
based on a volume of incoming communications associated with a
player/call recipient in order to adapt the delivery of lottery
outcome information to "fit" at least a minimum amount or duration
of time (for example, in some embodiments outcome information may
be communicated periodically throughout the entire course of a
week, instead of communicated over the course of a given number of
incoming communications).
G. RULES OF INTERPRETATION
[0135] Numerous embodiments have been described, and were presented
for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not
intended to be limiting in any sense. The novel processes,
apparatus and systems are widely applicable to numerous
embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure herein.
These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable
those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
structural, logical, software, electrical and other changes may be
made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
present invention may be practiced with various modifications and
alterations. Although particular features may have been described
with reference to one or more particular embodiments or figures
that form a part of the present disclosure, and in which are shown,
by way of illustration, specific embodiments, it should be
understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one
or more particular embodiments or figures with reference to which
they are described. The present disclosure is thus neither a
literal description of all embodiments of the invention nor a
listing of features of the invention that must be present in all
embodiments.
[0136] The terms "an embodiment", "embodiment", "embodiments", "the
embodiment", "the embodiments", "an embodiment", "some
embodiments", "an example embodiment", "at least one embodiment",
"one or more embodiments" and "one embodiment" mean "one or more
(but not necessarily all) embodiments of the present invention(s)"
unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "including",
"comprising" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited
to", unless expressly specified otherwise.
[0137] The term "consisting of" and variations thereof mean
"including and limited to", unless expressly specified
otherwise.
[0138] The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or
all of the items are mutually exclusive. The enumerated listing of
items does not imply that any or all of the items are collectively
exhaustive of anything, unless expressly specified otherwise. The
enumerated listing of items does not imply that the items are
ordered in any manner according to the order in which they are
enumerated.
[0139] The term "comprising at least one of" followed by a listing
of items does not imply that a component or subcomponent from each
item in the list is required. Rather, it means that one or more of
the items listed may comprise the item specified. For example, if
it is said "wherein A comprises at least one of: a, b and c" it is
meant that (i) A may comprise a, (ii) A may comprise b, (iii) A may
comprise c, (iv) A may comprise a and b, (v) A may comprise a and
c, (vi) A may comprise b and c, or (vii) A may comprise a, b and
c.
[0140] The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless
expressly specified otherwise.
[0141] The term "based on" means "based at least on", unless
expressly specified otherwise.
[0142] The methods described herein (regardless of whether they are
referred to as methods, processes, algorithms, calculations, and
the like) inherently include one or more steps. Therefore, all
references to a "step" or "steps" of such a method have antecedent
basis in the mere recitation of the term `method` or a like term.
Accordingly, any reference to a `step` or `steps` of a method is
deemed to have sufficient antecedent basis.
[0143] Headings of sections provided in this document and the title
are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the
disclosure in any way.
[0144] Devices that are in communication with each other need not
be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly
specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication
with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries.
[0145] A description of an embodiment with several components in
communication with each other does not imply that all such
components are required, or that each of the disclosed components
must communicate with every other component. On the contrary, a
variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide
variety of possible embodiments.
[0146] Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or
the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes,
methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate
orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be
described in this document does not, in and of itself, indicate a
requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of
processes described herein may be performed in any order practical.
Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being
described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because
one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the
illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not
imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations
and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated
process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention, and
does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.
[0147] It will be readily apparent that the various methods and
algorithms described herein may be implemented by, e.g.,
appropriately programmed general purpose computers and computing
devices. Typically a processor (e.g., a microprocessor or
controller device) will receive instructions from a memory or like
storage device, and execute those instructions, thereby performing
a process defined by those instructions. Further, programs that
implement such methods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted
using a variety of known media.
[0148] When a single device or article is described herein, it will
be readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or
not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device and/or
article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is
described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be
readily apparent that a single device and/or article may be used in
place of the more than one device or article.
[0149] The functionality and/or the features of a device may be
alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not
explicitly described as having such functionality and/or features.
Thus, other embodiments of the present invention need not include
the device itself.
[0150] The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to
any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions)
that may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such
a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to,
non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media may
include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other
persistent memory. Volatile media may include dynamic random access
memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Common
forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy
disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic
medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper
tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a
PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge,
a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from
which a computer can read.
[0151] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in
providing sequences of instructions to a processor. For example,
sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a
processor, (ii) may be wirelessly transmitted, and/or (iii) may be
formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols,
such as Transmission Control Protocol, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP),
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G.
[0152] Where databases are described, it will be understood by one
of ordinary skill in the art that (i) alternative database
structures to those described may be readily employed, and (ii)
other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed.
Any schematic illustrations and accompanying descriptions of any
sample databases presented herein are illustrative arrangements for
stored representations of information. Any number of other
arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by the tables
shown. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databases
represent exemplary information only; those skilled in the art will
understand that the number and content of the entries can be
different from those illustrated herein. Further, despite any
depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including
relational databases, object-based models and/or distributed
databases) could be used to store and manipulate the data types
described herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a
database can be used to implement the processes of the present
invention. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be
stored locally or remotely from a device that accesses data in such
a database.
[0153] For example, as an example alternative to a database
structure for storing information, a hierarchical electronic file
folder structure may be used. A program may then be used to access
the appropriate information in an appropriate file folder in the
hierarchy based on a file path named in the program.
[0154] It should also be understood that, to the extent that any
term recited in the claims is referred to elsewhere in this
document in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done
for the sake of clarity only, and it is not intended that any such
term be so restricted, by implication or otherwise, to that single
meaning. In addition, unless a claim element is defined by reciting
the word "means" and a function without reciting any structure, it
is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted
based on the application of 35 U.S.C. .sctn.112, sixth
paragraph.
[0155] Computers, processors, computing devices and like products
are structures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such
products can be operable to perform a specified function by
executing one or more programs, such as a program stored in a
memory device of that product or in a memory device which that
product accesses. Unless expressly specified otherwise, such a
program need not be based on any particular algorithm, such as any
particular algorithm that might be disclosed herein. It is well
known to one of ordinary skill that a specified function may be
implemented via different algorithms, and any of a number of
different algorithms would be a design choice for carrying out the
specified function.
[0156] While various embodiments have been described it should be
understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited
to the particular embodiments explicitly described. Many other
variations and embodiments would be understood by one of ordinary
skill in the art upon reading this disclosure.
* * * * *
References