Lottery game system, product and method with encrypted planar displays

A lottery system, ticket product and method incorporate a lottery ticket product having encrypted planar displays, wherein results are revealed through malforming the ticket, such as by manipulating the ticket to decrypt information contained on the ticket.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to lottery game systems, products and methods, and more particularly to a lottery system with specially designed lottery ticket product and method where planar displays are encrypted and results are revealed through malforming the ticket.

BACKGROUND ART

Traditional lottery game systems issue instant lottery tickets where a game is displayed on a first planar surface thereof. In order to assess whether the ticket is a winner, players can scratch off a removable coating on the first planar surface of the ticket to reveal player indicia results. The player indicia results can be compared to game indicia results on the first planar surface to determine whether the ticket is a winner and the value of the winnings. The player indicia and game indicia are not encrypted or incomplete in any aspect, and the player has all of the information necessary on the first planar surface to assess whether the ticket is a winner. The second planar surface, or back side, of the ticket can include game play information and redemption instructions, for example. One or more codes can be applied to the first planar surface and/or the second planar surface of the ticket for validation purposes, as will be understood in the art.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to lottery systems, ticket products and methods, including a lottery ticket product having encrypted planar displays, wherein results are revealed through malforming the ticket, such as by manipulating the ticket a certain way to decrypt information contained on the ticket.

According to various embodiments, the present invention can be provided as the sole winning ticket determination mechanism, or as one of multiple ways to win on a ticket, including as a bonus mechanism. In various embodiments, the bonus feature is not identified as a winner or non-winner until the ticket is turned and a corresponding bonus symbolization on the back of the ticket matches or completes the symbolization on the front.

Among other elements, embodiments of the present invention provide a lottery ticket product and method of playing a lottery game in which the winning status of the ticket cannot be determined by simply viewing one planar face of the ticket. Instead, a player must twist, bend and/or otherwise physically or electronically malform or manipulate the ticket to match a symbolization (or portion thereof) on the back planar surface of the ticket with another symbolization (or portion thereof) on the front planar surface of the ticket.

In general, a lottery ticket comprises front and back planar surfaces, each of which has an upper edge, a lower edge, and left and right side edges. The ticket need not necessarily be rectangular to include such surfaces and edges. According to various embodiments, a first area located adjacent one of the side edges on the front planar surface can be provided with a first gaming symbolization disposed thereon that forms a first portion of a prize symbol or other game symbolization. A second area located adjacent the upper edge on the back planar surface can be provided with a second gaming symbolization disposed thereon that forms a second portion of a prize symbol or other game symbolization. The arrangement is such that, upon twisting the ticket and positioning the second gaming symbolization adjacent the first gaming symbolization, the winning status of the lottery ticket or an aspect of the lottery ticket is determined. For example, if the symbolization on the first planar surface identifies a first portion of a phrase, word (e.g., “WI” of the word “WIN”) and/or design (e.g., a portion of a turtle), and the symbolization on the second planar surface identifies a second portion of a phrase, word and/or design that completes the phrase, word and/or design when paired with the first symbolization, then the completed prize symbolization indicates that the player is a winner. As an alternative, a player can win by matching symbolizations on the first planar surface with symbolizations on the second planar surface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a lottery game with a ticket comprises the steps of: (a) twisting the ticket such that a first gaming symbolization on the back planar surface is positioned adjacent a second gaming symbolization on the front planar surface; and (b) positioning the second gaming symbolization adjacent the first gaming symbolization. The lottery ticket is a winning ticket if the combined symbolizations spell a phrase or word (e.g., “WIN”) and/or complete a design (e.g., a turtle).

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, a lottery ticket product10is shown. The lottery ticket product10can be fabricated from paper stock material that is relatively light in weight, in various embodiments of the present invention. Preferably, the lottery ticket product10can be produced locally by a lottery terminal (e.g.,15inFIG. 4) that is in communication with a central processing station (e.g.,49inFIG. 4). It should also be understood that the lottery ticket product10according to various embodiments of the present invention can be fabricated from any material that is capable of having data applied or printed thereon, and is resilient in nature so that the player can easily manipulate the lottery ticket in a manner such as described below.

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, the lottery ticket product10has a substantially rectangular-shaped body with front12and back14planar surfaces. It will be appreciated that the ticket can be provided in different geometrical shapes and sizes in various other embodiments of the invention. The front planar surface12has an upper edge22, a lower edge24, a left-hand edge26and a right-hand edge28. The back planar surface14has an upper edge32, a lower edge34, a left-hand edge36and a right-hand edge38. The respective surfaces25,35of the front12and back14planar surfaces of the lottery ticket10include a plurality of areas having printed or applied material, such as the name of the lottery game, bar code information, time and date information, etc. Such information can be used for validation purposes, for example. It will be appreciated that the term “printed” need not necessarily include the use of inks, but can include the application of heat to thermal ticket stock in order to activate thermally sensitive coatings that display desired content upon being heated.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the surface25of the front face12near the left hand edge24includes a first gaming symbolization (or set of gaming symbols)23,27and/or29, and this symbolization can be printed thereon such as by employing a printing process, for example. As shown inFIG. 1, symbolization23includes the left portion of the words “TWIST SYMBOL”, symbolization27is the left half of a design symbol, and symbolization29is the left portion of the word “WIN”. The first gaming symbolization can be any of the symbolizations23,27and29individually, or any combination thereof. These symbolizations can be considered as encrypted because they do not provide a completed and recognizable symbol, such as a word, phrase or graphic design.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the surface35of the back face14near the upper edge32includes a second gaming symbolization (or set of gaming symbols)33,37and/or39, and this symbolization can be printed thereon such as by employing a printing process, for example. Symbolizations33,37and39are oriented differently from other content17on surface35. For instance, symbolizations33,37and39are oriented in a ninety degree rotation from the instruction wording17. Further, if one were to view the front surface25of the ticket10and view symbolizations23,27and29in their proper, left-to-right horizontal orientation for reading, and then one were to flip the ticket10around to view the back surface35while keeping the symbolizations23,27and29oriented horizontally, the symbolizations33,37and39would not be oriented left-to-right horizontally, but would rather be oriented from top-to-bottom, vertically. As a result, when the ticket is manipulated as described elsewhere herein, the symbolizations33,37and39will rotate orientation so as to have a consistent orientation with symbolizations23,27and29on the front surface25. Such rotation facilitates a fast, visually constructive reading to assess whether a match or a fully formed symbolization has occurred.

As shown inFIG. 1, symbolization33is the right portion of the word “WIN”, symbolization27is the right half or side of a design symbol, and symbolization39are the right portion of the words “TWIST SYMBOL”. The second gaming symbolization can be any of the symbolizations33,37and39individually, or any combination thereof. The full phrase “TWIST SYMBOL”, the full design symbol and full word “WIN” are thus encrypted and only provided on each planar surface in incomplete form. Thus, the ticket product ofFIGS. 1 through 3is not capable of having a single planar surface12,14read in order to assess whether the ticket is a winner of the game represented on both surfaces.

As shown inFIG. 3, when the ticket is physically manipulated such as by twisting the back planar surface14of the ticket over top of the front planar surface12, the upper edge32of the back surface14can be folded and twisted so as to align the second gaming symbolization33,37and/or39with the first gaming symbolization23,27and/or29on the front surface12. In so doing, the word “WIN” can be spelled out and the design element formed by the design portions27,37can be fully formed in a winning ticket. It will be appreciated that a losing ticket would not result in a match or full formation of the word “WIN” and/or a match or full formation of the design portion, in various embodiments of the present invention. It will also be appreciated that the ticket can be a winner if a single element is fully formed, whether that element be a phrase such as “TWIST SYMBOL”, a word such as “WIN” or a design such as the turtle design shown. Thus, it is not necessary that multiple elements be fully formed in order for the ticket to be a winner. In the embodiments of the present invention where matching results in a win, as opposed to forming a fully formed word, phrase or design, the symbolization on the first planar surface matches the symbolization on the second planar surface resulting in a pair of matched elements or symbolizations.

The matching symbolization23,33,27,37,29,39can be the primary or sole game on the ticket10, or can be a secondary or bonus game. As shown inFIG. 1, the primary game is a scratch-off instant ticket game whereby a player can win by matching any of “Your Numbers” as at18with the “Winning Numbers” as at19. In this example, the matching of first and second gaming symbolizations as described above is a bonus game. Thus, it will be understood that the lottery ticket10of the present invention can provide a player with multiple opportunities to win on a single ticket, as with an instant ticket, but can be generated by a standard terminal since there are no special materials to be applied to the ticket. The player “plays” by aligning the first and second gaming symbolizations, whether the symbolizations include individual or multiple elements. This provides excitement to the game as the player cannot determine whether the bonus game has been won by merely viewing a single planar surface of the ticket.

According to various embodiments, the ticket products of the lottery game system and method according to the present invention can be printed physical tickets, or can also be electronic tickets that are played using any of various electronic devices, including mobile communications devices (e.g., smart phones), personal computing devices (e.g., desktops, laptops), stand-alone video lottery terminals, retailer terminals and other known devices, for example, as represented by15inFIG. 4. In one embodiment of the present invention, electronic tickets can be presented to the user of an electronic device over a network that is connected to a host computer that creates, issues, validates and/or redeems tickets using suitable programming stored in a memory thereof and operable via a computer processor maintained within the host. The player's electronic device also includes suitable programming, memory and processing capability to facilitate electronic representation of the game of the present invention on a display associated with the electronic device.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing a lottery game system and product is provided. The method includes providing a ticket having potentially winnable prizes via first and second planar surfaces according to the various embodiments shown and described herein.

As noted above, the game system can employ physical ticket products, or virtual tickets accessible via a computing device, including mobile devices. A ticket can be obtained at a retail location from a clerk operating a point-of-sale device or from a self-service kiosk, for example. A ticket can also be obtained through a website, through a mobile application, and through other physical and virtual locations. Any device15operable to display, construct or print a ticket according to the present invention can be referred to as a vending device herein.

In various embodiments, the present invention can operate with one or more vending units15in networked connection with a remote central host computer system49, as shown inFIG. 4and described elsewhere herein. The central host computer system49can provide instructions to the one or more vending devices15as these devices carry out their designed functions. As shown inFIG. 4, it will be appreciated that system10can be deployed with direct connections from central host49to a vending device15via network75, or through an indirect connection through a local computing system40. As further shown inFIG. 4, the central host49can be provided with various components such as, for example, device management component50, game management component52, loyalty component54, player management component56, financial management component58, communications component60, general management component62and randomizer component77. These components can access and employ various databases for storing and retrieving data in accordance with the desired functions of the present invention. Databases can include, for example, an accounts database70, a game database71, a loyalty database72, a display database73and a management database74.

The accounts database70can store information related to user accounts, including user identification details, user transaction history, user preferences, user financial information and account details and other information. The game database71can store information pertaining to available games for selection, including graphic designs, grids, words, relationship links for grids, available wager amounts, odds and other game-related elements. Loyalty database72can store various loyalty-related data, including redemption prizes, qualifying levels and other loyalty items. The display database73can store a library of displays (e.g., surfaces12and14) to be presented on the device interfaces, including player selection options (for touch-screen selection or manipulation) as well as visual outcome displays or animations employed during inactive periods or for entertainment during player use. Management database74can store information such as device-specific statistics to permit lottery service providers and retailers to better understand device usage, including game-related statistics, ticket volumes, retailer statistics and other information that can assist in better servicing players, increasing revenue and overall management of devices.

The specific components can comprise software or hardware, incorporating computer-readable instructions stored in suitable memory and operable by one or more processors to perform the functions necessary for operation of the embodiments of the present invention. For instance, the device management component50operates to receive instructions from the vending devices15, process the desired transactions and requests, and deliver instructions to the vending devices15for printing, displaying and/or otherwise executing the desired device functions. The game management component52operates to process specific game-related instructions such as, for example, selecting desired game details from the game database71, configuring the details according to player requests and game rules, and delivering the details to the vending device15for printing, display and/or other operations. The loyalty component54operates to process loyalty-related transactions as appropriate based on player interaction, including adding to or subtracting from a loyalty points total, redeeming loyalty points and issuing prizes as appropriate. The player management component56processes user-related details, including user transaction requests, and updates the accounts database70accordingly. The financial management component58operates to process financial transactions initiated at the vending devices15, including communicating with accounts database70and any other external providers58, such as financial institutions, for example. The communications component60operates to communicate with the vending devices15and external providers58over network75to perform functions in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. The management component62processes management-related information, such as usage statistics and control information, to and from management database74. Such information can be employed by external systems58such as an external management operator, or by local systems, such as system100, which can be a retailer operation controlling multiple devices15as shown inFIG. 4, for example. The randomizer component77operates to randomly select games and symbolizations from the games database71in order to populate game details and symbolizations to be represented on the multiple surfaces of each ticket product.

In various embodiments, the games database71can be initially populated with various ticket product constructions and relationship compatibility links, including at least a first set of ticket product constructions that have matching symbolizations and a second set of ticket product constructions that do not have matching symbolizations.

In operation, a user may be presented with a game selection display from which to choose a game in which to wager on for a wagering game associated with the present invention. The selection display may be presented, for example, on a display of the user's computing device15, on a display of a self-service operated kiosk vending device15, or on a display of a retailer-operated vending device15, wherein the user selects the game by communicating with a sales clerk operating the device15, for example. With reference toFIG. 4, and depending upon the implementation, a wager request may be received at a vending device15and then transferred to the central host49. Payment can be handled at the device through via cash, bank card account and/or player account, for example. The wager request can further include the selection of a desired game, ticket design, wager level, prize structure or other selection. Once the payment and ticket/ticket selection have been received by the device15, the player inputs are transmitted to the central host49for processing and storing, or a subset of player inputs are transmitted.

In response to a user selecting a specific game, for example, the host49operates randomizer component77to randomly select ticket indicia and symbolizations corresponding to the selected game.

It will be appreciated that, in various embodiments and usingFIGS. 1 and 2as an example, tickets are generated by (1) randomly generating the indicia and symbolization(s) for application to the first planar surface, including at least one primary encrypted (e.g., partially completed) symbolization associated with a game on the ticket; (2) randomly generating the symbolization on the second player surface, including at least one secondary encrypted symbolization associated with the game; and (3) applying the first planar surface symbolization to the first planar surface and the second planar surface symbolization to the second planar surface. In various embodiments, the at least one primary encrypted symbolization is applied along at least one side edge of the first planar surface of the ticket, and the at least one secondary encrypted symbolization is applied along one of the top edge or the bottom edge of the second planar surface of the ticket. When these steps are completed, a single ticket is created, and these steps are repeated as many times as necessary in order to create all of the pools and/or subsets of tickets for a given game.

In accordance with various embodiments, the present invention provides a system including a set of physical game tickets for playing a first game, wherein each physical game ticket of the set of physical game tickets includes a substrate having first and second planar surfaces, wherein each of the first and second planar surfaces includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and at least one side edge, and wherein each physical game ticket has applied thereon a primary encrypted symbolization along the at least one side edge of the first planar surface of the ticket and a secondary encrypted symbolization along the top or bottom edge of the second planar surface of the ticket. The system further includes a first subset of the game tickets associated with a first number of potentially winnable prizes, with such subset of tickets forming a completed winning symbolization in the form of the combination of the primary encrypted symbolization and the secondary encrypted symbolization when the ticket is twisted, which aligns the primary encrypted symbolization from the at least one side edge of the first planar surface of the ticket with the secondary encrypted symbolization from the top or bottom edge of the second planar surface of the ticket. The system further includes a second subset of the game tickets forming a non-winning incompatible combination comprising the primary encrypted symbolization and the secondary encrypted symbolization when the ticket is physically twisted to align the primary encrypted symbolization from the at least one side edge of the first planar surface of the ticket with the secondary encrypted symbolization from the top or bottom edge of the second planar surface of the ticket.

The first game can be the sole game on the ticket, or can be one of multiple games on the ticket, including a bonus game, for example. Other games, such as an instant matching game, can be presented entirely on either the first or second planar surface of the ticket, as shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, for example.

In the above process, it will be appreciated that the remote server randomly generates the indicia and symbolization(s), including the encrypted (e.g., partially completed) symbolization(s). The user can be issued a ticket by having a physical ticket printed by or through use of the vending device15. Alternatively, a virtual ticket can be displayed on such devices15and optionally printed thereafter as desired by the user. As a further alternative, pre-printed tickets can be provided for selection by a user at a retail establishment. Winnings can be awarded in a number of ways. For example, winnings can be awarded based on whether the primary encrypted symbolization and secondary encrypted symbolization form a completed and recognizable symbolization. It will be appreciated that various embodiments employ encrypted symbolizations such that first and second encrypted symbolizations form a word, and third and fourth encrypted symbolizations form a design, wherein creating either one or both of the complete word and/or complete design are required in order to win. As shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, first encrypted symbolization29is the left portion of the word “WIN”, second encrypted symbolization is the right portion33of the word “WIN”, third encrypted symbolization27is the left half of a design symbol, and fourth encrypted symbolization is the right half37of a design symbol. Further, a fifth encrypted symbolization23is the left half of the phrase “TWIST SYMBOL” and the sixth encrypted symbolization39is the right half of the phrase “TWIST SYMBOL”.

It will be appreciated that all of the disclosed methods and procedures herein can be implemented using one or more computer programs or components. These components may be provided as a series of computer instructions on any conventional computer-readable medium, including non-transitory computer-readable media. RAM, SATA DOM or other storage media. The instructions may be configured to be executed by a processor which, when executing the series of computer instructions, performs or facilitates the performance of all or part of the disclosed methods and procedures. The present invention can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof, and can be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In various embodiments, the invention is directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein.

Unless otherwise stated, devices or components of the present invention that are in communication with each other do not need to be in continuous communication with each other. Further, devices or components in communication with other devices or components can communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate devices, components or other intermediaries. Further, descriptions of embodiments of the present invention herein wherein several devices and/or components are described as being in communication with one another does not imply that all such components are required, or that each of the disclosed components must communicate with every other component. In addition, while algorithms, process steps and/or method steps may be described in a sequential order, such approaches can be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any ordering of steps described herein does not, standing alone, dictate that the steps be performed in that order. The steps associated with methods and/or processes as described herein can be performed in any order practical. Additionally, some steps can be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously.

It will be appreciated that algorithms, method steps and process steps described herein can be implemented by appropriately programmed general purpose computers and computing devices, for example. In this regard, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor or controller device) receives instructions from a memory or like storage device that contains and/or stores the instructions, and the processor executes those instructions, thereby performing a process defined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement such methods and algorithms can be stored and transmitted using a variety of known media. At a minimum, the memory includes at least one set of instructions that is either permanently or temporarily stored. The processor executes the instructions that are stored in order to process data. The set of instructions can include various instructions that perform a particular task or tasks. Such a set of instructions for performing a particular task can be characterized as a program, software program, software, engine, module, component, mechanism, or tool. Common forms of computer-readable media that may be used in the performance of the present invention include, but are not limited to, RAM, USB drive or any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The term “computer-readable medium” when used in the present disclosure can refer 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 can exist in many forms, including, for example, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, USB and other persistent memory. Volatile media can include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media may include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires or other pathways that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying sequences of instructions associated with the present invention to a processor. For example, sequences of instruction can be delivered from RAM to a processor, carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM, CDMA, EDGE and EVDO. Where databases are described in the present disclosure, it will be appreciated that alternative database structures to those described, as well as other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed. The drawing figure representations and accompanying descriptions of any exemplary databases presented herein are illustrative and not restrictive arrangements for stored representations of data. Further, any exemplary entries of tables and parameter data represent example information only, and, despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributed databases) can be used to store, process and otherwise manipulate the data types described herein. Electronic storage can be local or remote storage, as will be understood to those skilled in the art. Appropriate encryption and other security methodologies can also be employed by the system of the present invention, as will be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art.