Abstract:
The present application provides for a virtual scratch card-like system in a wireless network environment. The virtual scratch card system allows for receipt of token-based payments, the redemption of those payments, and for the exchange of token-based payments for smaller denominations of token-based payments.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to electronic commerce, and more specifically, to a method and system for providing virtual “scratch card” payments over a wireless communications network.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Scratch cards are well-known promotion and gaming items in which a consumer scratches off a layer of material to reveal some type of prize or message on the scratch card. The scratch cards have been used for both promotions and gaming rewards and other forms of amusement, as well as security devices. However, conventional scratch cards require some form of physical distribution. Accordingly, there is a need and desire for a similar mechanism to distribute rewards, promotions, gaming and the like.  
           [0003]    In wireless networking environments, it has been conventional to send voice and digital data across wireless networks. However, it has been difficult to send secure payments and/or promotions via such wireless networks. Accordingly, there is a need for some type of promotion or payment mechanism that may be securely transmitted across wireless networks as forms of promotion, gaming, and the like.  
           [0004]    In particular, there is a need and desire for combining the promotion and amusement features of scratch cards with a secure payment mechanism and wireless communications.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    To fulfill the unmet technological needs of previous systems, the present invention provides a method and system of issuing virtual scratch cards in a wireless network. In one aspect of the present invention, the virtual tokens are retrieved from a token database and sent to a consumer device in a wireless network to issue a virtual scratch card to a consumer. The token database is then updated to mark that virtual token as issued so that it will not be issued again.  
           [0006]    The virtual scratch cards may then be redeemed over the wireless network or via a conventional telephone network. When initiating the redemption process, a redemption request is authenticated using a consumer device, such as a cellular phone. The authentication includes validating a virtual scratch card included in the redemption request. Once the virtual scratch card is validated, the consumer receives a credit to an account associated with their consumer device. Again, the token database is updated to reflect that the virtual scratch card has been used and, therefore, cannot be used again.  
           [0007]    In another aspect of the present invention, the virtual scratch cards may be exchanged for “change cards” that are of a smaller denomination. The change process includes authenticating a change request from a consumer device, including validating an original virtual scratch card included in the change request. Next, a number of virtual scratch cards of smaller denomination than the first virtual scratch card are retrieved and sent to the consumer device. In addition, the original virtual scratch card is marked invalid so that it may not be used again and the change tokens are marked as issued in the VSC database. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram of a number of telecommunication devices connected to a mobile communications device for issuing and redeeming virtual scratch cards in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of a number of devices connected to a mobile communications device for issuing, redeeming, and making change for virtual scratch cards in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating several components of the interactive voice response server shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 used to communicate and authenticate a consumer in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating several of the components of a third party server shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 used to issue virtual scratch cards in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating several of the components of a prepaid billing system server shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 used to process the redemption of virtual scratch cards in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating several of the components of a change-making device shown in FIG. 2 used to make change for virtual scratch cards in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the actions taken by a third party server, short message service center, mobile switching center, and mobile communications device when issuing a virtual scratch card to a consumer in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the actions taken by a mobile communications device, interactive voice response server, prepaid billing system server, and virtual scratch card database when redeeming a virtual scratch card in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the actions taken by a mobile communications device, mobile switching center, short message service center, virtual scratch card proxy, prepaid billing system, and virtual scratch card database when redeeming a virtual scratch card using a wireless messaging system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the actions taken by a mobile communications device, mobile switching center, short message service center, virtual scratch card change-making device, and third party database, and virtual scratch card database when requesting change for a virtual scratch card in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is an overview flow diagram illustrating a process of issuing a virtual scratch card from a third party server in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 is an overview flow diagram illustrating a process for redeeming a virtual scratch card utilizing interactive voice technology in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 13 is an overview flow diagram illustrating a virtual scratch card redemption process performed via the prepaid billing system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 14 is an overview flow diagram illustrating a virtual scratch card change-making process performed by a change-making device in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate exemplary screen shots showing the receipt verification and value verification of a virtual scratch card respectively, in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    The present invention is directed to providing a virtual payment or scratch card method and system that will allow consumers of devices within a wireless network to receive virtual scratch cards. These virtual scratch cards may be embodied in text messages sent to consumers. More specifically, the invention provides for issuing these virtual scratch cards to consumer devices over a wireless network. In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, the virtual payment system and method provides for the redemption of these virtual scratch cards and for the issuance of change to a virtual scratch card. This enables the consumer to both receive and use the virtual scratch cards in an efficient and effective manner. Additionally, the issuer of the scratch cards is able to do away with physical distribution points and the cost and hassle of providing physical scratch cards to the consumer. A better understanding of how this is accomplished will be found in the detailed description below.  
         [0025]    A virtual payment system  100  utilizing interactive voice technology formed in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, the system  100  comprises an interactive voice response server  300 , a third party server  400 , and a prepaid billing system server  500 . In addition to the interactive voice response server  300 , third party server  400  and a prepaid billing system server  500 , the system  100  includes at least one mobile switching center  110 , short message service center  120 , virtual scratch card (VSC) database  130 , third party database  140 , mobile communications device  150  and optionally a landline telephone  155 . Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that while only one interactive voice response server  300 , third party server  400 , prepaid billing system server  500 , mobile switching center  110 , short message service center  120 , VSC database  130 , third party database  140 , mobile communications device  150  and optional landline telephone  155  are depicted in FIG. 1, numerous interactive voice response servers  300 , third party servers  400 , prepaid billing system servers  500 , mobile switching centers  110 , short message service centers  120 , VSC databases  130 , third party databases  140 , mobile communications devices  150  and optional landline telephones  155  may be interconnected to operate in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0026]    Another embodiment of the virtual payment system, which provides for wireless messaging, is shown in FIG. 2. The system  200  comprises an interactive voice response server  300 , third party server  400 , and a prepaid billing system server  500 . In addition, the system  200  includes at least one mobile switching center  110 , short message service center  120 , VSC database  130 , third party database  140 , mobile communications device  150 , a VSC proxy  210  and a VSC change maker  600 . Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that while only one interactive voice response server  300 , third party server  400 , prepaid billing system server 500 , mobile switching center  110 , short message service center  120 , VSC database  130 , third party database  140 , mobile communications device  150 , VSC proxy  210  and a VSC change maker  600  are depicted in FIG. 2, numerous interactive voice response servers  300 , third party servers  400 , prepaid billing system servers  500 , mobile switching centers  110 , short message service centers  120 , VSC databases  130 , third party databases  140 , mobile communications devices  150 , VSC proxies  210  and a VSC change makers  600  may be interconnected to operate in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 depicts several of the key components of an interactive voice response server  300  used to authenticate and interact with consumers using voice signals in accordance with the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the interactive voice response server  300  includes many more components than those shown in FIG. 3. However, it is not necessary that all of these generally conventional components be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the interactive voice response server  300  includes a network interface  330  for connecting to a digital and/or telephony network (not shown). As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the network interface  330  includes the necessary circuitry for such connection, and is constructed for use with appropriate protocols (e.g., networking protocols and/or telephony protocols), the particular network configuration of the network it is connecting to, and a particular type of coupling medium. Alternatively the interactive voice response server  300  may also be equipped with additional network interfaces for connecting to other networks as known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0028]    The interactive voice response server  300  also includes a central processing unit  310 , optionally a display  340 , and a memory  350  connected via a bus  320 . The memory  350  generally comprises random access memory (“RAM”), and read-only memory (“ROM”) and a persistent mass storage device such as but not limited to a hard disk drive, tape drive, optical drive (such as a CD ROM or DVD ROM), floppy disk drive, or combination thereof. The memory  350  stores an operating system  355  for controlling the operation of the interactive voice response server  300 . The memory also includes an interactive voice response service  360  which includes voice recognition and voice synthesis capabilities as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally the memory contains an interactive voice response virtual scratch card redemption routine  1200  for recognizing and processing virtual scratch card information in accordance with the present invention, and as further described below with regard to FIG. 12. It will be appreciated that these components may be stored on a computer readable medium and loaded into memory  350  of the interactive voice response server  300  using a drive mechanism associated with the computer-readable medium, such as a floppy or a CD ROM/DVD ROM drive, or the network interface  330 .  
         [0029]    Although in one embodiment the interactive voice response server is a general purpose computing device, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the interactive voice response server  300  could be any of a number of specially configured devices capable of communicating with and interpreting responses from a consumer in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 depicts several of the components of a third party server  400  used to implement the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the third party server  400  includes many more components than those shown in FIG. 4. However, it is not necessary that all of these generally conventional components be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the third party server  400  is connected to a network and other devices in the system  100  or system  200  via a network interface  430 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the network interface  430  includes the necessary circuitry for connecting the third party server  400  to the other devices of the system  100  and the system  200 , and is constructed for use with the appropriate network protocols.  
         [0031]    The third party server  400  also includes a central processing unit  410 , optionally a display  440  and a memory  450  connected via a bus  420 . The memory  450  generally comprises RAM, ROM, and some form of persistent mass storage device such as a hard disk drive, tape drive, optical drive (such as a CD ROM or DVD ROM), floppy disk drive, or combination thereof. The memory  450  stores an operating system  455  for controlling the operation of the third party server  400 . Additionally the memory  400  stores a virtual scratch card issuing routine  1100  for issuing virtual scratch cards to consumers in accordance with the present invention. The virtual scratch card issuing routine  1100  is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 11. It will be appreciated that these components may be stored on a computer readable medium and loaded into memory  450  of the third party server  400  using a drive mechanism associated with the computer-readable medium, such as a floppy or a CD ROM/DVD ROM drive, or the network interface  430 .  
         [0032]    Although in one embodiment the third party server  400  is a general computing device, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the third party server  400  could be any type of customized device capable of issuing virtual scratch cards to a consumer in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 depicts several of the key components of a prepaid billing system server  500  used to implement the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the prepaid billing system server  500  includes many more components than those shown in FIG. 5. However, it is not necessary that all of the generally conventional components be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the prepaid billing system server  500  includes a network interface  530  for connecting to a network and/or other devices in system  100  or system  200 . It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art the network interface  530  includes the necessary circuitry for such a connection, and is constructed for use with the appropriate network protocols, the particular network configuration it is connecting to, and a particular type of coupling medium as known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0034]    The prepaid billing service server  500  also includes a central processing unit  510 , optionally a display  540 , and a memory  550  connected via a bus  520 . The memory  550  generally comprises RAM, ROM and some form of persistent mass storage device such as a hard disk drive, tape drive, optical drive, floppy disk drive, or combination thereof. The memory  550  stores an operating system  555  for controlling the operations of the prepaid billing system server  500 . The memory  550  also includes a billing service for managing the crediting, debiting and oversight of consumer accounts as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally the memory  550  includes a virtual scratch card billing interface routine  1300  for crediting or debiting a consumer&#39;s account in accordance with the present invention. The virtual scratch card billing interface routine  1300  is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 13. It will be appreciated that these components may be stored on a computer readable medium and loaded into memory  550  of the prepaid billing system server  500  using a drive mechanism associated with the computer-readable medium, such as a floppy or a CD ROM/DVD ROM drive, or the network interface  430 . Although in one embodiment the prepaid billing service server  500  is represented as a general purpose computing device, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the prepaid billing service server  500  may be any form of general or specialized computing device capable of handling prepaid billing operations in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 depicts several of the key components of a virtual scratch card change-making device  600  used to make change for virtual scratch cards in accordance with the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the virtual scratch card change-making device  600  includes many more components than those shown in FIG. 6. However, it is not necessary that all of these generally conventional components be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the virtual scratch card change-making device  600  includes a network interface unit  630  for connecting to a network (not shown). As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the network interface unit  630  includes the necessary circuitry for such a connection, and is constructed for use with the appropriate network protocols, the particular network configuration of the network it is connecting to, and a particular type of coupling medium.  
         [0036]    The virtual scratch card change-making device  600  also includes a central processing unit  610 , optionally a display  640 , and a memory  650  connected via a bus  620 . The memory  650  generally comprises RAM, ROM and a persistent mass storage device such as a hard disk drive, tape drive, optical drive, floppy disk drive, or a combination thereof. The memory  650  stores an operating system  655  for controlling the operation of the virtual scratch card change-making device  600 . The memory  650  also includes a virtual scratch card change-making routine  1400  for making change from virtual scratch cards in accordance with the present invention. The virtual scratch card change-making routine  1400  is described in greater detail below with regard to FIG. 14. It will be appreciated that these components may be stored in a computer-readable medium and loaded into memory  650  of the virtual scratch card change-making device  600  using a drive mechanism associated with the computer-readable medium, such as a floppy or CD ROM/DVD ROM drive, or the network interface  630 .  
         [0037]    While FIGS.  3 - 6  describe separate devices, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one or more of the devices illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 6  as well as the other devices and databases illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be combined into one or more devices and still operate in accordance with the present invention. For example, the interactive voice response server  300  and the prepaid billing system server  500  may be incorporated into a unitary device without otherwise affecting the operation of the present invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 illustrates the actions taken by the third party server  400 , third party database  140 , short message service center  120 , mobile switching center  110 , and the mobile communications device  150  to enable a message containing a virtual scratch card to be issued to a consumer in possession of the mobile communications device  150  in accordance with the present invention. The process of which is illustrated and described in greater detail in FIG. 12. Returning to FIG. 7, the virtual scratch card issuing process is initiated when a third party server  400  requests  705  a virtual scratch card from a third party database  140 . The third party database  140  returns the virtual scratch card  710  to the third party server  400 . Once the third party server  400  has a virtual scratch card it is then able to format  715  a message containing the virtual scratch card. Then the message is sent  720  to the mobile communications device  150  using a wireless messaging system, such as one containing a short message service center  120  and a mobile switching center  110  which route the message to the mobile communications device  150 . Next the third party server marks the virtual scratch card as issued  725  by issuing it to the third party database  140 . The third party database  140  then also marks the virtual scratch card as issued  730  so that the same virtual scratch card is never issued again.  
         [0039]    Once a consumer has a virtual scratch card, they may use it, or alternately, trade it with other entities (consumers or merchants) in exchange for currency, goods, or services. In particular, this is facilitated by using e-mail or wireless messaging between mobile communication devices. By simply copying the text embodying the virtual scratch card, the consumer is able to transfer the value to another recipient.  
         [0040]    It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the order of operations in FIG. 7 may be altered without substantially affecting the operation of the present invention. For example, the third party server  400  may mark a virtual scratch card as issued prior to sending a message to the mobile communications device  150  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate actions taken by a consumer to redeem a virtual scratch card in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 8 illustrates redeeming a virtual scratch card utilizing an interactive voice response server  300  and FIG. 9 illustrates redeeming a virtual scratch card utilizing a text messaging system.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 8 illustrates the actions taken by the mobile communications device  150  (or optionally, a land line phone  155 ), an interactive voice response server  300 , prepaid billing system server  500  and a virtual scratch card database  130  to redeem a virtual scratch card in accordance with the present invention. See also FIGS. 12 and 13 below. The virtual scratch card redemption process begins when the mobile communications device  150  receives an authentication prompt  801  from the interactive voice response server 300 , and responds with authentication information  805  to the interactive voice response server  300 . This authentication information  805  may be any form of authentication information known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as a consumer name and password or other forms of conventional authentication information. However, in one embodiment of the present invention the interactive voice response server  300  is operative to use voice recognition technology to authenticate a consumer based on their voice and previous voice authentication information. Once the interactive voice response server  300  receives the authentication information  805 , the interactive voice server  300  then authenticates the consumer  810  and returns an authentication confirmation  815  to the mobile communications device  150 . Next, the mobile communications device  150  communicates the virtual scratch card number  820  to the interactive voice response server  300 . This may be accomplished in a myriad of fashions either through the consumer reading off a series of numbers representing the virtual scratch card, the consumer keying in the sequence of virtual scratch card numbers, or the consumer sending a message in audio format or other recognizable format to the interactive voice response server  300 . The interactive voice response server  300  then formulates a message with the virtual scratch card number and consumer identification  825 . This message  830  is then sent to the prepaid billing system server  500 . The prepaid billing system server  500  then makes a virtual scratch card validity inquiry  835  to the virtual scratch card database  130 . The virtual scratch card database checks to see that there is such a virtual scratch card that was validly issued and, if so, validates  840  the virtual scratch card. The validation is then returned  845  to the prepaid billing system server  500 . The prepaid billing system server  500  then credits  850  the consumer&#39;s accounts with the value of the virtual scratch card and sends a signal to the virtual scratch card database  130  marking  855  the virtual scratch card as used in the redemption process. The prepaid billing system server  500  may also send a credit confirmation  860  back to the mobile communications device  150  passed via the interactive voice response server  300  to let the consumer know that the virtual scratch card has been redeemed and how much the consumer&#39;s account has been credited.  
         [0042]    Similar to FIG. 8, FIG. 9 also illustrates a virtual scratch card redemption process, however, FIG. 9 illustrates the actions taken by the mobile communications device  150 , mobile switching center  110 , short message service center  120 , a virtual scratch card proxy  210  and the prepaid billing system server  500  along with the virtual scratch card database  130  to redeem a virtual scratch card through a wireless messaging system. The wireless messaging virtual scratch card redemption process begins when the mobile communications device  150  forwards a virtual scratch card and consumer identification in a wireless message via the mobile switching center  110  and the short message service center  120  to the virtual scratch card proxy  210 . The virtual scratch card proxy  210  then extracts  910  the virtual scratch card number from the message and the virtual scratch card number and consumer identification are sent  915  to the prepaid billing system server  500 . The prepaid billing system server  500  sends a virtual scratch card validity query  920  to the virtual scratch card database  130  which then validates  925  the virtual scratch card. The virtual scratch card validation  930  is then returned to the prepaid billing system server  500 . Once validated the prepaid billing system server  500  then credits the consumer&#39;s account with the value of the virtual scratch card  935  and marks the virtual scratch card as used  940  with the virtual scratch card database  130 . The prepaid billing system server may also return a credit confirmation via the virtual scratch card proxy  210  short message service center  120  and mobile switching center  110  to the mobile communications device  150 .  
         [0043]    It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the order of operations in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be altered without substantially affecting the operation of the present invention. For example, the prepaid billing system server may send out a credit confirmation  860  or credit confirmation  945  before marking the virtual scratch card as used  855 ,  940  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0044]    As in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 illustrates a process using wireless messaging from a mobile communications device  150 . FIG. 10 illustrates the actions taken by the mobile communications device  150 , mobile switching center  110 , short message service center  120 , a virtual scratch card change-maker  600 , third party database  140 , and the virtual scratch card database  130  to enable a consumer to make change from a virtual scratch card. The virtual scratch card change-making process begins when the mobile communications device forwards a virtual scratch card in a wireless message via the mobile switching center  110  and the short message service center  120  to the virtual scratch card change-maker  600 . The virtual scratch card change-maker  600  then extracts  1010  the virtual scratch card and change instructions. For example, a virtual scratch card of a denomination of 20 might have change instructions of one 10, one 5 and five 1 denomination scratch cards as the desired change. The virtual scratch card change-maker then inquires  1015  of the third party database  140  whether the virtual scratch card is valid. The third party database  140  validates  1020  the virtual scratch card and returns  1025  with the virtual scratch card validation to the virtual scratch card change-maker  600 . The virtual scratch card change-maker  600  next requests  1030  change virtual scratch cards from the third party database  140  for the correct amount in change. Next, the original virtual scratch card is invalidated  1035  by sending a message to the third party database  140 . The third party database  140  marks  1040  the virtual scratch card as invalid and returns the change virtual scratch cards  1045  as a substitute for the now invalidated original virtual scratch card. Additionally, the third party database  140  synchronizes  1043  with the virtual scratch card database  130  so that the virtual scratch card database will know that the old or original virtual scratch card is now invalid. The status of being invalid does not mean that it has been issued and is therefore redeemable; it means that it is no longer issued and no longer usable hence the term “invalid.” Once the virtual scratch card change-maker receives the change virtual scratch cards, the virtual scratch card change-maker  600  confirms via a wireless message  1050  (that passes through the short message service center  120  and the mobile switching center  110  to reach the mobile communications device  150 ) that the change transaction has completed and the message includes the change virtual scratch cards for the consumer. Meanwhile, the virtual scratch card change-maker  600  informs  1055  the third party database that the change virtual scratch cards have been issued. The third party database  140  then marks the change virtual scratch cards as issued  1060 .  
         [0045]    It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the order of operations in FIG. 10 may be altered without substantially affecting the operation of the present invention. For example, the change virtual scratch cards may be returned to the virtual scratch card change-maker  600  prior to invalidating the original virtual scratch card without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0046]    The present invention is directed to providing consumers with compensation, coupons and other benefits via their mobile communications devices  150  in a manner similar to conventional physical scratch cards. However, instead of physical “scratch cards,” the consumer receives a virtual representation that provides similar benefits along with other benefits not found with physical scratch cards. For example, the consumer may transfer the virtual scratch card electronically, or even use it to pay bills online. Accordingly, FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary logic routine  1100  on the third party server  400  for issuing virtual scratch cards to a consumer using their mobile communications device  150 . Routine  1100  starts at block  1101  and proceeds to block  1105  where a virtual scratch card is retrieved from a third party database  140 . Next, in block  1110 , a message is formatted for issuing to the consumer enclosing the virtual scratch card. The message is then forwarded to a short message service center  120  in block  1115  for issuing to the consumer. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a properly addressed message to a short message service center will be routed in a conventional manner to a designated recipient such as the consumer of the present invention via the mobile switching center  110  and the mobile communications device  150 . In block  1120 , the virtual scratch card is marked as issued in the third party database  140  to indicate that it has been issued to a consumer. Routine  1100  then ends in block  1199 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 12 illustrates the logic flow of a virtual scratch card redemption routine  1200  from the viewpoint of the interactive voice response server  300 . Routine  1200  begins in block  1201  and proceeds to block  1203  where an authentication prompt is sent by the interactive voice response server  300  to the mobile communication device  150 . Next, in block  1205  authentication information is received back from the mobile communication device  150 . As discussed above with regard to FIG. 8, the authentication information may be any form of authentication known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Next, in block  1210  the authentication information is authenticated and if in decision block  1215  it is determined that the authentication was successful, then processing continues to block  1220 , otherwise if it was unsuccessful, routine  1200  returns back to block  1203  to again prompt for authentication information.  
         [0048]    Assuming that the authentication information as determined by decision block  1215  was authenticated, then processing continues to block  1220  and the interactive voice response server  300  sends an authentication confirmation to the mobile communication device  150 . Now that the consumer has been authenticated in the next block  1225  when the virtual scratch card is received, the virtual scratch card can be associated with the authenticated consumer. Accordingly, in the next block  1230 , a message is formulated with the consumer identification from the mobile communication device  150  and the virtual scratch card. Next in block  1235 , the message with the consumer&#39;s identification and the virtual scratch card is forwarded to the prepaid billing system server  500  for further processing of the redemption (see FIG. 13). Processing of routine  1200  then ends at block  1299 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 13 illustrates the continuation of the redemption process on the prepaid billing system server  500 . Routine  1300  begins at block  1301  and proceeds to block  1305  where the virtual scratch card and consumer identifier are received from the mobile communication device  150 . Next, in block  1310 , the virtual scratch card is validated at the virtual scratch card database  130 . Next, a determination is made in decision block  1315  whether the virtual scratch card is both unused and valid. If a determination is made in decision block  1315  that the virtual scratch card is either redeemed or invalid, then processing continues to block  1335  where an error is transmitted to the consumer and routine  1300  ends at block  1399 . If, however, in decision block  1315  it was determined that the virtual scratch card is both valid and unredeemed, then the logic flow continues to block  1320  where a credit is issued to the consumer&#39;s account as identified by the consumer identification with the value of the virtual scratch card. Then, in block  1325 , the virtual scratch card is marked as used and stored in the VSC database  130  so that it may not be used again. In block  1330 , the prepaid billing system server  500  transmits a confirmation of the credit back to the consumer. Then, at block  1399 , routine  1300  ends.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 14 illustrates a change-making routine  1400  implemented by a virtual scratch card change-maker device  600  issuing “change” virtual scratch cards to a mobile communication device in response to the submission of a virtual scratch card along with a request for “change” in the form of virtual scratch cards. Routine  1400  begins at block  1401  and proceeds to block  1405  where a virtual scratch card change request including an original virtual scratch card is received from a mobile communications device  150 . The contexts of the change request are then extracted in block  1407 . Next, in block  1410 , the original virtual scratch card is checked for validity with the third party database  140 . Next a determination is made in decision block  1415  whether the original virtual scratch card is unredeemed and valid. If a determination is made in decision block  1415  that the original virtual scratch card is either redeemed or invalid, then processing continues to block  1445  where an error is transmitted to the consumer via the mobile communication device  150  and routine  1400  ends at block  1499 . If, however, in decision block  1415  it was determined that the virtual scratch card is both valid and unredeemed, then the logic flow continues to block  1420  where the original virtual scratch card and instructions on the desired change scratch cards are transmitted to the third party database  140 . Next, the original or old virtual scratch card is marked as invalid by the third party database  140  in block  1425 . In block  1430 , the multiple change virtual scratch cards are received from the third party database. Once the change virtual scratch cards have been successfully received, then the change virtual scratch cards are transmitted to the consumer in block  1435 , along with a change confirmation. Finally, an indication is sent to the third party database to mark the virtual scratch cards as issued in block  1440  and processing ends in block  1499 . It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the communications between the change-making device  600  and the consumer via their mobile communications device  150  may either take the form of wireless messages or may utilize an interactive voice response server such as interactive voice response server  300 , similar to the voice and wireless message redemption steps in FIGS. 8 and 9.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate exemplary screen shots of mobile communications devices  150 . In particular, FIG. 15 illustrates the receipt of a issuance of a virtual scratch card. Screen  1510  illustrates a message to the consumer indicating that they have received a prize (e.g., virtual scratch card) with a particular number and that they can dial a telephone number or send a wireless message to determine the value of the scratch card. FIG. 16 meanwhile illustrates the redemption of a virtual scratch card in accordance with the present invention. In particular, screen  1610  illustrates a message to the consumer confirming that a scratch card with a particular number had a value of $10 and that $10 has been credited to their account with their wireless service provider.  
         [0052]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, the virtual scratch cards themselves may constitute numbers, letters or any combination thereof which would allow a consumer to receive and redeem the virtual scratch card in accordance with the present invention. Still further, it is noted that the order of operations of various routines and communications between devices may at points be altered without substantially departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.