A SYSTEM FOR DRAWING WINNERS IN A LOTTERY

Abstract: System for use of a microprocessor for drawing of winners in a lottery with an in advance given dividend, at which each lottery ticket includes at least one counter of bingo type with a number in rows and columns provided numbers as well as for the lottery ticket unique identification. The identification of each lottery ticket and number row of a counter are stored in a first register which is readable by a microprocessor, that a number of number sequences are created and stored in a second register which is readable by a microprocessor, in such a way that each of the number sequences is unique and gives a number of prize-winning rows of numbers among the counters, which number corresponds to the given dividend. One of the number sequences in the second register is selected by a random draw. The microprocessor compares this chosen number sequence with the number rows in the first register and shows the identifications that indicate counters with a prize-winning row of numbers.

Description: A System for Drawing Winners in a Lottery. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention refers to a system for use of a micro¬ processor at drawing of winners in a lottery with an in advance given dividend, whereby each lottery ticket includes at least one counter of bingo type with a number of numbers provided in rows and columns as well as an identification that is unique for the lottery ticket. PRIOR ART At conventional lotteries one simply draws prize tickets from the total number of lottery tickets, until an in advance givennumber of prize tickets has been obtained. The results of such draws are published by means of lottery prize-list. A disadvantage of usual lotteries is that the excitement moment is short-lived. Interactive games of bingo type engages the participants considerably more and are therefore experienced as more exciting. A problem at games of bingo type is that the random draw of numbers gives an unpredictable dividend. It is true, that the dividend in long-term can be statistically calcula¬ ted, but the uncertainty is yet very big before each indivi¬ dual draw. THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM The purpose of the invention is therefore to achieve a system that makes it possible to achieve an in advance given divi¬ dend at games of bingo type. THE SOLUTION For this object the invention is characterized in that the identification of each lottery ticket and number row of a counter are stored in a first register which is readable by a microprocessor, that a number of number sequences are created and stored in a second register which is readable by a microprocessor, in such a way that each of the number sequences is unique and gives a number of prize-winning rows of numbers among the counters, which number corresponds to the given dividend, that one of the number sequences in the second register is selected by a random draw, and that the microprocessor compares this chosen number sequence with the number rows in the first register and shows the identifica¬ tions that indicate counters with a prize-winning row of , numbers. Advantageous variants of the invention are illustrated by the subsequent subclaims. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The system according to the invention is based on the use of the conventional bingo-counter for variation games. Normally such a counter includes 75 numbers distributed in five co¬ lumns with 15 rows each, with numbers 1-15 in the first column, 16-30 in the second column, 31-45 in the third co¬ lumn, 46-60 in the fourth column, and 61-75 in the fifth column. The invention is however not limited to this size, but can be modified regarding the number of rows and columns. There are a total of 50.625 different ways to combine a bingo counter with 75 numbers in five columns. Each lottery ticket includes at least one of these counters. It can manageably be appropriate to use series of for example 10.000 lottery tickets per series. Then 10.000 of the total number of bingo counters are selected. The counters are each printed and provided with an identification number, so that every lottery ticket in each series has a unique counter and a unique identification number. If several series are present, for example nine, there are therefore 90.000 lottery tickets with nine identical counter series and 90.000 different lottery ticket numbers. Each lottery ticket number in a series consequently repre- sents a unique counter. The lottery ticket numbers and their respective counters are stored in a first register readable by a microprocessor. , Before each draw the prize plan shall be known. One can for example choose that there shall be 90 winners per 10.000 lottery tickets. The draw is carried out after finished sale and before the presentation of the draw result. This presen¬ tation may for example be carried out on TV, in such a way that it seems as if the draw, being of bingo character, is done in the moment of broadcasting. The presentation can fur- thermore be published in the daily press after the broad¬ casting. In a second register readable by a microprocessor, a number of number sequences are stored, which include 17-20 different numbers between 1 and 75. These number sequences are unique and constructed such, that they give an exact number of winners at the use of 10.000 counters. To satisfy the demand of randomness the number of number sequences for example may include 2.000. The draw is carried out by randomly selecting a number sequ- ence among the mentioned 2.000 in the second register. Thus it is entirely random sample that determines which 90 coun¬ ters per series that is a winning one. After this draw a computer run takes place in which the selected number sequence is compared to the counters in the first register. In this way prize lottery ticket numbers are successively put together until all prize tickets in all series have been obtained. It is now possible to carry out the presentation of the selected number series, for example in live TV, in such a way that the spectators may get the impression that the draw, of bingo game character, occurs in the moment of broadcas¬ ting. The creation of number sequences is carried out by means of random number generator in the computer. At first five lists of random numbers (one per column) are genererated with random mutual order of the numbers 1-15 in the first list, 16-30 in the second list, 31-45 in the third list, 46-60 in the fourth list and 61-75 in the fifth list. Subsequently a random number between one and five is genererated. This number determines in which list of random numbers (column) that the last number shall be drawn. Then a suitable number of numbers in each of five lists of random numbers are drawn by means of a new random number between 1-15 for each draw. This random number points onto a position in the actual list of random numbers. This position contains the number that shall be used in the number sequence. In this way the func¬ tion of random numbers of the computer is used twice to obtain a drawn number. Furthermore it is provided that the order among the numbers generated is mixed, so that not all numbers from the same column appear consecutively . The dis¬ tribution of numbers from the different columns is done in an appropriate way in relation to the number of winners, for example a draw of three numbers in column 1, two numbers in column 2, five numbers in column 3, one number in column 4 and three numbers in column 5 give a total of 90 winners. In this way each number sequence is generated. The computer is now used for going through and ascertain on which number counters there is a horizontal line with five drawn numbers. If the number of prize counters corresponds to the given dividend this number sequence is accepted, in other case it is rejected. In this way accepted number sequences are ge¬ nererated until the numbers form a statistical distribution number in relation to the number of lottery tickets in each series. After a finished lottery round the selected number sequence is erased from the other register. A new draw sequence is instead created in the above described way, so that before each lottery round there is always available the amount of sequences determined in advance to choose among. The system according to the invention is very flexible and can easily be adapted to various average distributions of dividend. The invention is not limited to the above described embodi- ments, but several variants are conceivable within the scope of subsequent claims. For example counters with more or fewer numbers than described above can be used.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. System for use of a microprocessor for drawing of win¬ ners in a lottery with an in advance given dividend, at which each lottery ticket includes at least one counter of bingo type with a number in rows and columns provided numbers as well as a for the lottery ticket unique identification, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the identification of each lottery ticket and number row of a counter are stored in a first register which is readable by a microprocessor, that a number of number sequences are created and stored in a second register which is readable by , a microprocessor, in such a way that each of the number sequences is unique and gives a number of prize-winning rows of numbers among the counters, which number corresponds to the given dividend, that one of the number sequences in the second register is selected by a random draw, and that the microprocessor compares this chosen number sequence with the number rows in the first register and shows the identifica¬ tions that indicate counters with a prize-winning row of numbers. 2. System according to the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the numbers in the randomly selected number sequence are shown one by one in a bingo-manner. 3. System according to the claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the first register contains all possible number series. 4. System according to the claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the first register contains a selected number of number series. 5. System according to any of the claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the second register occupies at least so many number sequences, that the number sequences form a statistical distribution amount in relation to the number of number series. 6. System according to any of preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that each number sequence is created with consideration to the number of number rows, to the number of winners in the prize plan and to how long the number sequence must be to indicate prize rows. 7. System according to claim 6, whereby the counter includes number 1-75, arranged in five columns, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that each number sequence is created by means of the internal random number generator of a computer, whereby a number of lists of random numbers are generated that correspond to the number columns, with random mutual order of the numbers 1-15 in the first list, 16-30 in the second list, 31-45 in the third the list, 46-60 in the fourth list and 61-75 in the fifth list, that a random number between one and five is generated, which number determines in which list of random numbers the last number shall be drawn, that one to five numbers are drawn in each of the lists of random numbers by means of a new random number between 1-15 for each draw, which random number points onto a position in the actual list of random numbers, so that this position contains the number that shall be used in the number sequence.

Inventors: LUNDIN PER, LUNDIN, PER
Applicants: LJUNG & LUNDIN, LUNDIN PER
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G07C15
IPC codes: G06F19, G07C15, G07F17