PROMOTIONAL GAMING DEVICE

Abstract: A promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence of characters or symbols. The gaming device is comprised of a substrate having at least one row of location designating symbols and at least one column of location designating symbols disposed in relation to each other so that a position may be designated by a combination of at least one of the symbols from the row and at least one of the symbols from the column. Groups of sequence representing elements are disposed on the substrate which represent elements having a corresponding position designated by the positional combination of at least one of the symbols from the row and at least one of the symbols from the column. A promotional product label having a plurality of marks disposed thereon is addressable by one of the sequence representing elements when the substrate is placed over the promotional product label, and each of the marks identifies a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to the predetermined winning sequence.

Description: "PROMOTIONAL GAMING DEVICE" The present invention relates to reusable gaming devices and more particularly to promotional gaming devices which can be readily integrated with traditional and new marketing channels. Marketing and promotional incentives have previously been devised to interest consumers in particular products by encouraging at least some level of interaction, particularly through the use of gaming, i.e. games of chance which offer prizes or rewards to successful participants. There are many marketing channels open to advertisers, such as: on-pack promotions; the internet; WAP mobile phones; interactive digital television (iDTV); printed media including customer magazines; direct mail; short messaging service (SMS) on mobile telephones; field marketing; and voice access through landline phones and mobiles. Conventional games of chance and skill include instant ticket-type games, scratch tickets, traditional lottery drawing games, and match games as well as more sophisticated electronic and video games. One system of gaming is that of the instant ticket game. In the case of typical paper instant tickets, a computer generates a randomised prize data stream comprised of a finite series of win/lose outcomes. Each outcome is assigned to a lottery ticket, and each ticket contains one or more game chances which yield the assigned outcome. The player cannot change the ticket outcome; he or she merely scratches off an opaque covering on the ticket in accordance with the rules of the game to reveal win/lose results or prize status. Remote gaming systems, and more particularly, off-line systems for playing games of chance including instant-type lottery games typically embody playing tickets on a game computer. These systems offer the same convenience as typical paper scratch-off tickets without the gaming computer ever having to be physically or electronically connected to a lottery system network during play. In both types of instant win games, the primary benefits to the maker of the game are an incoming revenue stream and/or product promotion. The advantage to players of instantwin tickets is the ability to obtain immediate gratification. Unlike holders of tickets for scheduled prize drawings, for example, who must await completion of the drawings to determine whether they have won any prize, purchasers or recipients of instant-win tickets are able to discern the extent of their successful play immediately after acquiring the tickets. However, empirical evidence suggests that some purchasers prefer a greater degree of involvement or interaction with the games presented on the tickets than many instant-win tickets typically provide. As a consequence, more recently created games have been extended to provide additional play tickets. These types of games are either multiple in number or are not limited to removing a single opaque covering. Match games of chance such as Bingo and Keno are also becoming more popular world wide, particularly in the United States. Bingo parlors are proliferating, both as charity fund raisers and as legal for-profit ventures. Also, in the United States currently at least 30 state and provincial lotteries have adopted a bingo card format for their instant prize winner lottery cards. These cards are typically "S cratch er Bingo" games in which a caller's card and as many as four separate bingo squares are displayed. The player scratches off the play spaces which match numbers on the caller's card, attempting a traditional bingo match of vertical, horizontal or diagonal lines or four corners. The game cards can take a full 10 to 15 minutes to complete and are popular due to the hands-on participation required. Typically a player has a chance to win multiple prizes from a single card via the multiple bingo squares. Keno, although less well known, is proliferating as well with the expansion of legal gambling facilities. Games of chance are now linked with the personal computers of those who purchase the instant-type lottery tickets or play match games such as Bingo or Keno. Products are available which allow players to purchase tickets from existing retailers, then use their home computer or a retail gaming system to play interactive lottery games. There is no skill involved because the outcome of the game is controlled by the ticket. When players win they simply bring their tickets back to the retailer and collect the prize. The Internet provides gaming opportunities directly to a person in the privacy of his own home through cyberspace while at the same time exposing the person to an advertiser's or marketer's promotional material. In addition to Internet gaming, regardless of whether it is provided to the consumer strictly for his own entertainment or to induce him to purchase consumer products, a more desirable and convenient method of promoting the sale of consumer products and services could be developed. It is an object of the present invention to seek to provide a promotion method which limits, or even eliminates, the requirement for paper manufacturer's coupons and allows manufacturers an opportunity to promote specific products without altering product containers or attaching special coupons to the products or store shelves. Further, the method could also allow consumers personally to select product categories and products within the selected categories for refund or discount information in advance of their shopping trip, and, to be effective, the method could generate consumer interest and excitement by the use of a game format for the selected product categories. Finally, the method would save valuable natural resources by specifically targeting rebate and coupon offers only to those consumers who actively solicit such offers. Any physical device for putting the method into practice would be re-usable. Many marketing channels are available to an advertiser. However, there has been a lack of complete integration of traditional marketing channels, customer acquisition and electronic commerce (e-commerce) by most companies. Although e-commerce sites are using traditional media such as advertising to draw people to their sites, research shows that traditional advertising does not work efficiently to get visitors to a web site. It has been found that, if a company is to succeed with an e-commerce strategy, then the customer experience must be both tangible and interactive. Companies involved in e-commerce, mobile-commerce using Internet enabled mobile telephones and interactive digital television services (iDTV) face the problem of encouraging people to access their site. The shift to more traditional methods of advertising is evidence that consumers do not find a specific site just through surfing the web. Research shows that only 11% of people went to a site because of TV advertising, 4% because of the radio and 4% from poster advertising. A survey of UK users showed 2% of people went to a site because of posters; 3% because of information in retailers and 7% because of TV advertisements. Clearly, site owners have a problem in targeting, attracting and retaining consumers. Most traditional sales promotional campaigns usually only promote one product or service at a time. This is by a range of promotional mechanics including money-off offers, free product, competitions, points collection schemes and instant-win systems. The form of the promotion varies according to the product or service being promoted. There have been promotioϊis linked to the Internet but these tend to be one-offs and tend not attract repeat visits. Points based mechanics are also available, such as Beenz, are being used but with the same disadvantages as any of these schemes in that the public has to accrue a substantial number of points in order to redeem them on something they want. Most promotional mechanisms have typically not transferred well across different products. An example is scratchcards that work well in newspapers but do not work well on consumables. There can be an instant-win on both but you cannot use an identical system. The same applies to media such as the Internet. For example, although there have been scratchcard promotions offered by newspapers, there could only be transferred with difficulty to, for example, cans of lager. The main reason why there have been no fully integrated campaigns is that there has been no promotional mechanic that can work equally well on virtually all products; that can be used on the Internet as well as the upcoming media such as Internet enabled mobile phones, Wireless Application Protocol phones (WAP Phones) and iDTV; that has simple distribution of the mechanic; that can be run for a long period of time and has a reasonable cost with no long-term liabilities. The invention contemplates a reusable promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence of characters or symbols. The gaming device and method, in various embodiments, is ideally suited for integration with many marketing channels, such as: on-pack promotions; the internet; WAP mobile phones; interactive digital television (iDTV); printed media including customer magazines; direct mail; short messaging service (SMS) on mobile telephones; field marketing; and voice access through landline phones and mobiles. In one embodiment, the invention consists of a substrate having at least two rows of location designating symbols so that a position may be designated by a combination of at least one of the symbols from each row. The invention also contemplates groups of sequence representing elements disposed on the substrate. These sequence representing elements have a corresponding position designated by the positional combination of at least one of the symbols from each row of location designating symbols. The invention furthermore contemplates a promotional product label having marks disposed on the label. Each of the marks are addressable by one of the sequence representing elements when the substrate is placed over the promotional product label. Each mark furthermore identifies a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to the predetermined winning sequence. The substrate of the gaming device may be either transparent or translucent. The location designating symbols are arranged in a row and in a column, and the sequence representing elements may be comprised of either integers or letters. These sequence representing elements may be predisposed on the substrate in either varying patterns or in a random fashion. The invention also contemplates a method of playing a game using a gaming device. The first step in playing the game is the placing of a gaming card over marks disposed on a promotional product label. The gaming card is a substrate having at least two rows and at least two columns of designating symbols disposed in relation to each other so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one symbol from each row and each column. The substrate has disposed onto it groups of sequence representing elements having corresponding positions designated by a positional combination of at least one of the designating symbols from each row and column. Each of the marks disposed on the promotional product label is addressable by one of the sequence representing elements disposed on the substrate when the gaming card is placed over the promotional product label. Subsequent steps in playing the game involve locating each address where the marks on the promotional product label are visible below each of the sequence representing elements, identifying a corresponding sequence element which forms a portion of a gaming sequence, and comparing the gaming sequence representing elements to a predetermined winning sequence. In the method of playing the game the substrate may be either transparent or translucent, and the location designating symbols are arranged in a row and in a column. The sequence representing elements may be comprised of integers or letters, and they may be disposed onto the substrate in either varying patterns or in a random manner. The invention further contemplates a promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence. This device contains a first graphical element having at least one row and at least one column of location designating symbols. These location designating symbols are disposed in relation to each other so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one symbol from one row and at least one symbol from one column. The device also contains groups of sequence representing elements that are displayed on the first graphical element. These sequence representing elements have a corresponding position designated by the positional combination of at least one symbol from each row and at least one symbol from each column. The device further contains a second graphical element having marks disposed on it. Each of the marks are addressable by one of the sequence representing elements when the first graphical element is place over the second graphical element, and each mark identifies a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to the predetermined winning sequence. The graphical elements (or just the winning number sequence and/or the location designating symbols) may be displayed electronically on a computer screen. The computer screen may be connected to a remote database, and the remote database may be located on the Internet. In this embodiment of the promotional gaming device, the user can position a computer-imaged cursor over the first graphical element and activate a dragging element enabling the user to position the first graphical element over the second graphical element. The marks can be perceived through the first graphical element and can be correlated with sequence representing elements, which are compared to a predetermined winning sequence. The graphical elements of the gaming device may have a unique identifying code associated with them enabling them to be validated by the game administrator. Another method of playing the game using a gaming device as above can be carried out by placing a gaming card over marks pre-printed onto an item, locating each address where the marks are visible below each of the sequence representing elements when the gaming card is placed over the promotional product label, collecting points based on the result of a mathematical computation derived from the integral values corresponding to the marks at each of the addresses, and redeeming the points collected from the mathematical computation for a prize. The game can furthermore be played using a telephone by calling a telephone number designated by the game administrator and listening to prerecorded messages or advertisements. The caller would then obtain information specifying a location at which a gaming device would be placed, place the gaming device at that place over a group of marks disposed on a promotional product label, and locate each address where the marks are visible below each of the sequence representing elements. The player then identifies a corresponding sequence element that forms a portion of a gaming sequence and compares the gaming sequence representing elements to a predetermined sequence. This gaming method may also have a unique identifying code associated with it for validation purposes, and it may be played across a telephonic paging system. Furthermore, the inventive system may be used in conjunction with an Interactive Voice Telephony system or an Interactive Voice Response/Recognition system. Yet another embodiment of the invention contemplates a method for obtaining biographical and geographical information relating to a consumer prior to playing the game. The number of opportunities to play the game may be linked to the number of questions the player is prepared to answer. The first step of this method is the electronic interconnection of an electronic computer with a remote database which may be connected at an Internet site. The second step is the electronic displaying on the computer monitor of advertisements and a graphical element which can be dragged over and dropped onto a second graphical element which contains marks. The marks on this second graphical element are addressable by sequence representing elements when the first graphical element is dragged and dropped over the marks. Alternatively, in a simpler version of this embodiment just the winning number sequence and/or the location designating symbols are displayed by the computer. The third step is the allowance of a player to collect a prize if the player's first graphical element recites a winning sequence. The final step involves the player's collection of his prize, assuming the player wins. Still another aspect of the invention contemplates a method of verifying information collected by comparing a first piece of data collected to a subsequent piece of data collected. The first piece of data is then compared to the second piece of data, and, if the two pieces of data are in response to the same question and if they differ, the data is flagged and verified by the game administrator. In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the substrate of the gaining device; Figure 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the recording means of the gaming device; Figure 3 is a schematic cut-away view of the recording means shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the gaming device. Figure 5 is a plan view of the gaming device; Figure 6 is a plan view of the gaming device shown in use; Figure 7 is a plan view of the recording means of the gaming device shown in use; Figure 8 is a plan view of the gaming device showing the recording means at a correct location; Figure 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the substrate of the gaming device; Figure 10 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the substrate of the gaming device; Figure 11 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the substrate of the gaming device; Figure 11a is a plan view of the substrate of the gaming device placed partially inside of its protective sleeve; Figure 12 is a plan view of the inventive system applied to an Internet gaming scheme and illustrating a web page of a manufacturer subscribing to t he gaming system; Figure 13 is a computer-screen view of a web page illustrating a virtual substrate and a virtual recording means; Figure 13a is a front view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the reference and winning numbers are given over a computer system, but the game is played with a physical gaming device; Figure 14 is a plan view of the substrate of the gaming device placed partially inside its protective sleeve and having an identifying number printed directly on the substrate; Figure 15 is a plan view of the substrate of the gaming device placed partially inside its protective sleeve and having an identifying number printed directly on the protective sleeve; and Figure 16a/b is a flow diagram showing the operation of a system embodying the present invention. Central to one embodiment of the invention is a gaming device 10 which comprises a substrate 12, which may be made from plastic, paper, or a similar material. Further, the substrate 12 may be transparent, coloured, or frosted and have a header portion 13 which is opaque to facilitate printing on the front and backsides of the header portion 13, for example, for printing the name and/ or logo of a business. Location designating means are disposed on the substrate 12 by printing, etching or the like. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the location designating means comprises first location designating symbols, such as letters 14 disposed on the substrate in a row and second location designating symbols, such as numerals 16 disposed on the substrate 12 in a column. A location 18 (for example H3) is thus designated by the letter H of the first location designating symbols 14 and the numeral 3 of the second location designating symbols. Sequence representing means, such as sequence representing numerals, in this case the integers from 0 to 9, are disposed on the substrate 12 in groups. For example, in this embodiment, the first group is enclosed in dashed-box 20 and a second group is enclosed in dashed-box 21. In this embodiment, each group, for example, 20 and 21, consists of five consecutive rows and two adjacent columns, comprising the integers 0 through 9. Each group has a sequence of the integers 0 through 9 that is different from the sequence of its adjacent groups. Thus, by placing a plurality of groups side-by-side, the sequence representing numerals appear random. Or, the sequence representing numerals may actually be placed on the card in a random manner. Alternatively, the formation of the groups may consist of, for example, one row or column comprising the integers 0 through 9. Additionally, symbols (such as letters) representing numerals may comprise the sequence representing means. Figure 2 shows recording means 22 of the gaming device 10. In this embodiment, the recording means 22 is made up of individual cells 24 of a grid system 26. The recording means 22 records a predetermined sequence, such as the winning or losing numbers of a lottery-type game. The recording means 22 in this embodiment includes location aiding means 29 which is a portion marked by a shadowed area or some other mark that helps to align the recording means with the sequence representing means (shown in Figure 1). Figure 3 is a cutaway view showing the layers comprising the recording means 22. In this embodiment the recording means 22 is printed directly on the manufacturer's products, promotional items, or direct mail items. Alternatively, the recording means 22 may include a sheet member 23 which is paper backed by an adhesive 25. The adhesive 25 is protected by a protective backing 27, which may be peeled away so that the recording means 22 may be adhered to the packaging of a manufacturer's product or the product itself. Referring to Figure 4, an intended use of the first embodiment of the gaming device 10 will be described. The substrate 12 has a plurality of first location designating symbols, such as letters 14 disposed in a row. A plurality of second location designating symbols, such as numerals 16, are disposed in a column. The first and second location designating symbols are disposed in relation to each other so that a location 18 may be designated by a combination of one of the first location designating symbols, for example the letter H, and one of the second location designating symbols, for example the numeral 3. Thus, as shown by a line-of-sight line 33, the location aiding means 29 of the recording means 22 is located at location H3 (as shown in Figure 5). Therefore, the player merely has to be supplied with location H3 by the game maker in order to correctly line up the recording means 22 with the substrate 12. A combination of a letter 14 and a numeral 16 may be selected for designating the location where the substrate 12 will be placed to determine the numbers to be compared to a sequence of potentially winning numbers. In this manner, D7 can be selected as the location in which case the player places the substrate 12 to determine whether a pattern printed on the recording means 22 corresponds to a predetermined sequence of numbers and is thus the winning sequence. This game is known as the Pinwin (trademark) game. Referring to Figure 4 through Figure 7, the recording means 22 is comprised of a paper sheet 23 having an adhesive backing 25. To determine his win/lose status the player places the substrate 12 over the recording means 22 so that the grid system 26 of the recording means 22 lines up with the sequence representing means or a grid system 26 disposed on the substrate 12 (shown in Figure 10). The locating means 28 of the recording means 22 is thus visible through the substrate 12 at a selected location, in this case, H3. Next, the player, determines which numbers on the substrate 12 correspond with a preprinted pattern or marks 30 on the recording means. For example, as shown in Figure 5 through Figure 7, if the winning sequence is 7336, the preprinted pattern or marks 30 on the recording means 22 will correspond to those numbers on the substrate. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturer may remove the sheet member 23 from its protective backing 27 to expose the adhesive 25 and place the recording means 22 on its product or packaging, or it may pre-print the recording means directly onto its product, packaging, direct mail, or any other material. For example, the recording means 22 can be printed on a package of a manufacturer's food product, and the consumer can determine if he is a winner by placing his substrate 12 over the printed recording means 22. If the printed recording means 22 corresponds to the proper predetermined sequence of numbers, the consumer is a winner. The consumer then notifies the manufacturer of the winning sequence, and the manufacturer verifies the winning by matching the pattern on the recording means 22 with the serial number of the substrate 12. Once the consumer contacts the manufacturer to notify the manufacturer that the consumer has matched the sequence, the manufacturer has obtained data pertaining to who has bought its product and the consumer's demographic location. Instead of printing the recording means 22 on the package, the manufacturer may enclose a game card with the printed recording means 22 on it inside the package. In this instance, the winning consumer need only to mail the winning ticket to the manufacturer for verification. As shown in Figure 8, if the substrate 12 is placed over the recording means 22 and the player is a "loser," the sequence which will be perceived by reading the marks 30 (in this case 5055) will not correspond with the desired winning sequence. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the substrate 12 has a plurality of holes 32 and each hole corresponds with one of the sequence representing elements. Therefore, in accordance with this embodiment, the player merely has to match up the pattern made by the recording means 22 corresponding with holes 32 of the substrate 12 to determine if the player is a winner." Referring to Figure 1 through Figure 7, methods for writing and reading winning and losing sequences using the gaming device 10 will be described. The method of writing the winning and losing sequences for the gaining device 10 comprises the steps of placing the substrate 12 over the recording means 22 so that the locating aiding means 29 is visible through the substrate 12 at a preselected location (for example, H3). Or, alternatively, sequences can be written by placing a transparent recording means 22 over the substrate 12. Next, the individual cells 24 of the recording means 22 which are associated with each sequence representing element which sequentially corresponds with a respective sequence element of the winning or losing sequence are perceived. Finally, each of the appropriate individual cells 24 are marked, for example, by placing a mark 30, so as to thereby record winning or losing sequences. Once the sheet member 23 of the recording means 22 has been marked as described above, it may be read by the following method in order to determine if the sequence is a winner or a loser. First, the substrate 12 is placed over the recording means 22 at the preselected location (for example, H3). Next, the individual marks 30 in the cells 24 of the recording means 22 are perceived through the substrate 12 to thereby read the respective sequence representing element and thus reconstruct the winning or losing sequence, in this case 7336. Referring to Figure 11, an embodiment of the gaming device 10 is shown in which letters 14 are disposed so that each of the columns of numbers is designated by a letter. In this case, every other column has the numerals 1 through 5 and its adjacent column has the numerals 0 through 6. By this arrangement, every group of numbers (2 columns times 5 rows) will have the digits 0 through 9, thus, facilitating the use of the invention. The gaming device 10 can be held and carried in a protective sleeve 34, as shown in Figure 11a, while not in use. One application of the gaming device involves the operation of a collectibles or loyalty system where the numbers shown give a number of points that, when collected, allow for the redemption of prizes from a catalog. The individual marks 30 in the cells 24 of the recording means 22 are perceived through the substrate 12 and read. The values of the numbers corresponding to the individual marks 30 are then summed to arrive at a point value. The points can then be redeemed for prizes or banked to collect a larger prize at a later date when more points are collected. The system may also be operated across landline and mobile telephone networks, as well as telephonic paging systems. A player having a gaming device 10 and a recording means 22 pre-printed on a card, the protective sleeve 34 holding the gaming device 10, or some other item can call a telephone number and listen to prerecorded messages about products, offers, and services. Lifestyle information is collected in exchange for a location aiding means 29 and a winning number sequence. In the telephone version, as in all versions, if a person wishes to participate and he has not already received details of the promotion, a gaming device 10 and a recording means 22 can be sent to the person in exchange for his providing of his lifestyle data as well as his address. The lifestyle information and player responses can be collected using Interactive Voice Telephony or Interactive Voice Response/ Recognition. The inventive system can be played on a computer connected to either a remote database or the Internet. Figure 12 depicts the inventive system as it would be applied to an Internet gaming scheme. In this embodiment 1 10, a computer monitor is shown illustrating a web page of a manufacturer which subscribes to the inventive gaming system. After a player registers with the manufacturer or a company providing promotional services for a group of manufacturers and becomes a game player, a virtual substrate 112 appears as an icon on a portion of the player's computer screen as the player navigates the various manufacturer web sites that subscribe to the promotional gaming system. Virtual substrate 112 contains all of the characteristics of substrate 12 described earlier, but is virtually projected onto the viewing screen when a game player visits the web site of a subscribing manufacturer or supplier of goods or services. Virtual substrate 112 is mated with virtual recording means 122 by "clicking and dragging" virtual substrate 112 and dropping it onto recording means 122. Figure 13 illustrates the virtual substrate 112 as it is "clicked on and dragged" over to the virtual recording means 122. In the same manner as in Figure 5, if the virtual marks 130 of the virtual recording means 122 match the winning numbers (in this case 3041), then the player is a winner. The player may then contact the web site host by e-mail or post to notify it of his winning match-up and collect his prize. Alternatively, only the reference and winning sequence numbers may be given to a player over the computer as shown in Figure 13 A. Here, the player obtains the reference and winning sequence numbers from the computer according to the usual preset parameters, but instead the player uses the physical version of the gaming device to determine if he is a winner. Responses and information collected as a result of a person playing the game either over the computer or by telephone can also be verified under the system. For example, if a player has entered an answer inconsistent with a previous answer for the same or similar questions, both answers are flagged. The inconsistency in the one answer (or both answers if neither have been reported outside the system) can then be corrected before the information is disseminated. In both the telephone and Internet versions of the game, as well as other versions of the game, each gaming device 10 may have a unique identifying number 40 associated with it enabling the administrator of the game or promotion to recognise which promotion the gaming device 10 relates to. The unique identifying number 40 may be printed directly on the card as in Figure 14, or it may be printed on the protective sleeve of the card 34 as shown in Figure 15. Players using the gaming device 10 via the Internet or telephone could be required to enter the unique identifying number 40 prior to participating in the promotion in order to allow the administrator of the game to determine whether the player has played the game before and, if so, to which promotion the gaming device 10 relates. This unique identifying number 40 would allow the game administrator to switch from a promotional device on products, etc., to the Internet or telephone version. With respect to the above description, it is realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. It will be appreciated that the gaming device and method can be implemented in many diverse forms, both tangible (i.e. on a card or label) and intangible (i.e. in electronic format). The gaming device provides the link to the many marketing channels available to today's advertiser, including both manufacturers of product and service providers such as Internet based e-commerce companies. The invention drives customers to a web site - not just once but time and time again. By using a combination of traditional medial and I.T. technology embodiments of the invention attract consumers to a site and ensure that they regularly revisit that site. Embodiments of the invention provide the link between these new channels and the use of traditional media to increase sales and loyalty. Embodiments of the invention allow the Internet, WAP and iDTV to be used to their fullest potential by companies as it drives customers to their sites on a daily basis. It goes on to collect and, more importantly, validate information about these people. It is the first integrated marketing solution that can be used across virtually all marketing channels. By integrating the use of traditional marketing channels with e-commerce increased sales and profits can be realised. Marketing channels which can be readily integrated with the present invention include on-pack promotions; the internet; WAP mobile phones; interactive digital television (iDTV); printed media including customer magazines; direct mail; short messaging service (SMS) on mobile telephones; field marketing; and voice access through landline phones and mobiles. The integration of a company's current marketing mix with new media technology allows them to exploit the opportunities that the Internet, WAP and iDTV bring now and in the future. The collection of validated data and consumer profiling is of immense interest and value to companies as it allows Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in its fullest form. In use, embodiments of the invention facilitate companies to achieve their overall marketing strategy as it can integrate the marketing mix for all their products. It allows a company to find out who their customers are and what they do. It gives a consistent approach to promoting their complete product range while capturing data about people. Companies will have ongoing market research and a means to communicate constantly with their customers. This has not been possible with earlier attempts at integrating gaming devices with such a wide range of marketing channels. It allows cross-selling and the ability to lock their customers into their complete range of products. New products and services can be introduced to a known consumer base. New products can be test marketed, the final product rolled out and ongoing feedback obtained. The unique validation process gives an opportunity for niche marketing. All of this reduces a company's overall costs of promotion while increasing sales and profits. Current estimates are that marketeers will spend $14 billion on on-line promotion by 2005. The programmes will tend to be targeted, layered promotions that alter consumer behaviour at key points in the buying cycle. The present invention is already well placed to take advantage of this and link these to more traditional marketing channels. It increases sales, promotes loyalty and locks the consumer into products and services. The invention provides a link between traditional and new media promotion. This complete integration has not been possible before and, as a result, there has been fragmentation of a company's marketing message. It is this ability to pull together all the elements of the marketing mix that makes embodiments of the present invention so beneficial. A company can give a unified message to their ultimate customers. The invention seeks to make a company's marketing activities become more effective and helps them improve their overall competitive position. It gives companies an opportunity to achieve their overall strategic goals while building on the promotional activities that they have previously been using. There will now be described how embodiments of the present invention, such as the substrate 12, are integrated into various marketing channels to assist promotion of a product, product range or service. One embodiment of the invention is a system that will attract consumers to a specifically promoted site. Behind this is a process that allows the collection of customer data, the guiding of the consumer around the site; ongoing validation and loyalty resulting in improved profits and reduced costs. The system has been designed to be simple for consumer interaction and for maintenance and operation. It is extremely versatile. The system works by having a physical item, the subsfrate 12 - a so-called Pinwincard, which can "decode" pre-printed or displayed symbols as previously described. This gives an "instant win" system, a points collectible, both instant win and points or a game of skill. The Pinwincard delivers the initial impact, ensures retention and acts as a constant reminder to interact with the promotion, whether it is using new or traditional methods. In addition, the Pinwincard serves a further use as a far as the consumer is concerned. It allows them to recall security codes such as PIN numbers. This means that the Pinwincard will be kept long after a promotion has finished. The Pinwincard is the element that is always kept and allows the integration of the marketing mix. It is the common element in all the different forms of the system. In its simplest form, the pre-printed symbols which it decodes can be printed on almost any item, from detergent packs to lager cans, from mailings to vouchers as well as in newspapers and other printed media. More importantly, these symbols can be displayed on a screen and matched up. The Internet, WAP and iDTV versions go a number of steps further. If one uses the example of a newspaper, the Pinwincard would be given out in the paper for a couple of days. This allows players to play a game, particular the Pinwin game, and win prizes or gain points from the decoded symbols in the newspaper. Those with Internet access of WAP phones can go to the newspaper's web site. They click on a play button and are taken to a gaming site which has the same look and feel as the game(s) offered in the newspaper. The process is then as follows: the player enters their unique Pinwincard identifier (unique identifying number 40). If they have not already signed up to the promotion, they are asked for their name and address. This is verified where possible; they are shown any offers or special information that the newspaper wants them to see, they are asked a couple of questions; they go on to pay a game with the Pinwincard; they are reminded to go back the next day. The use of the Internet, telephones and iDTV allows data collected from individuals to be cross referenced and updated on a regular basis. By running the Pinwin game for more than one company, this data can be verified and continuously refined. This is a major leap forward in thinking and one of the factors that makes the system unique. An example of operation of the system is shown in Figure 16. The eight previously mentioned marketing channels on-pack promotions; the internet; WAP mobile phones; interactive digital television (iDTV); printed media including customer magazines; direct mail; short messaging service (SMS) on mobile telephones; field marketing; and voice access through landline phones and mobiles can be run concurrently for a customer. Once a customer has trialed the system, it is envisaged that they will start using all its different forms across a wide range of products. Customers that may wish to use the system fall into the following categories: Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG); newspapers and magazines; direct selling (via direct marketing); Internet portals; Internet Service Providers (ISDP's); on-line auctions; mobile phone operators; retailers (both High Street and on-line); lotteries; and other specific vertical markets such as tour operators. It should be appreciated that this list of possible customers is exemplary and not exhaustive. These are all companies who have products and services but, on the whole, do not know who buys them or why. There is little loyalty amongst their customer base despite various schemes to increase this. Their cost of promotion tends to be very high and, at present, they have no means of reducing this. There is now presented an example application of the system embodying the present invention for an international FMCG group. The example FMCG group has a variety of different consumer brands such as detergents, food and hair care products. This outlines a phased integrated promotional campaign for the company based on the system and the game (Pinwin) associated therewith. In part, this is standard tactical marketing that this company already uses. However, it will soon become apparent that the system has a large strategic element as well as other benefits. Phase 1 - On Pack Promotion for Single or Multiple Brands within a group company. The first stage would be a pilot project using the Pinwin game as an instant win promotional mechanic in, for example, a single European country. A Pinwincard would be provided attached to the brand packs. If the promotion covers more than one brand, the Pinwincard would be branded with the different products that are being promoted. Benefits to FMCG Group • Cross-selling. The consumer is reminded about the different groups of products that a company within the group produces so that they start buying a more complete range of products such as hair care, cleaning products etc. • The promotion is cost-effective. • The promotion can continue for a number of years and be integrated into an overall marketing plan. • Additional sales and profit. Phase 2 - On Pack Promotion for a wider range of Brands and across other Companies. The second stage would be the phased expansion of the project across more brands and other companies within the group. Again, a Pinwind card would be provided attached to the new brand packs joining the promotion. The FMCG group would have the option of reissuing the Pinwincard or topping up the number of Pinwincards in circulation. Benefits to FMCG Group • Cross-selling but with the added benefit of beginning to lock the consumer into their total brand portfolio. Again, the consumer is reminded about the different range of products that the Group produces. • The promotion is even more cost-effective as a proportion of the capital cost has already been spent as consumers who already have a Pinwincard do not need another. • The promotion is beginning to be integrated into an overall marketing plan. • Additional sales and profit. Phase 3 - Continuation of On Pack Promotion for Brands coupled with Internet, WAP Phones and iDTV The third stage would be the phased expansion of the project to include promotions on the Internet by means of computer access, WAP phones and iDTV. This would include linking the on-pack promotions to these sites along with data collection and validation. Benefits to FMCG Group • Continuing to lock the consumer into their total brand portfolio. • For the first time, the names, addresses and lifestyles of the Group's ultimate customers is known and linked to the products they buy. • This information is validated. • New products can be announced on the Web Site thereby reducing overall costs of promotion. • New products from all group companies can be tested on a wider range of consumers before launch. • Ongoing communication between the Group and the consumer. • Ongoing market research with consumer feedback at minimum expense. • Information is being gathered at a very low overall cost. • The promotion is becoming even more cost-effective. • The promotion is becoming fully integrated. • Additional sales and profit. Phase 4 - Extension of System to the rest of Europe The fourth stage would be the expansion of the project to the rest of Europe. This can either be phased or rolled out on a country basis. Benefits to FMCG Group • As Phase 3 but across Europe. Phase 5 - Extension of System to other markets. The fifth stage would be the expansion of the project to other intemationai markets. Again, this can either be phased or rolled out on a country by country basis. Benefits to FMCG Group As Phase 4 but across remainder of their World markets. This shows an extremely phased example but the company could link an on- pack promotion to the Internet immediately. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A method of determining whether a user has matched a predetermined sequence of characters or symbols on a gaming card comprising (i) a substrate having at least one row of a plurality of first location designating symbols and at least one column of a plurality of second location designating symbols, said first location designating symbols being disposed in relation to said second location designating symbols so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; and (ii) a plurality of groups of sequence representing elements disposed on said substrate, said sequence representing elements having a corresponding position designated by said positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols, the method comprising the steps of: notifying the user of a positional combination of location designating symbols; notifying the user of a winning sequence of characters or symbols; the user placing the gaming card with respect to a label in accordance with the position dictated by the positional combination of location designating symbols, the label having a plurality of marks addressable by at least one of the sequence representing elements, each of the marks identifying an element of the sequence for the positional combination; and comparing the notified winning sequence with the sequence for the positional combination. 2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the gaming card is associated with an identifying code and the user is notified of the positional combination of location designating symbols and the winning sequence of characters or symbols in response to the submission by the user of the identifying code for the user's gaming card. 3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the method comprises part of a promotional activity, at least some of the steps being effected in one or more of the following media: on-pack promotions; the Internet; Internet enabled mobile phones, e.g. WAP; interactive digital television; printed media; direct mail; short messaging service on mobile telephones; field marketing; and voice access through landline phones and mobile phones. 4. A promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence of characters or symbols, said gaming device comprising: (a) a substrate having at least one row of a plurality of first location designating symbols and at least one column of a plurality of second location designating symbols, said first location designating symbols being disposed in relation to said second location designating symbols so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one of said first designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; (b) a plurality of groups of sequence representing elements disposed on said substrate, said sequence representing elements having a corresponding position designated by said positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; and (c) a promotional product label having a plurality of marks disposed thereon, each of said marks being addressable by one of said sequence representing elements when said substrate is placed over said promotional product label, each of said marks identifying a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to said predetermined winning sequence. 5. The gaming device according to claim 4 wherein said substrate is transparent. 6. The gaming device according to claim 4 wherein said substrate is translucent. 7. The gaming device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said first location designating symbols are arranged in a row and said second location designating symbols are arranged in a column. 8. The gaming device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein said sequence representing elements comprise the integers 0 through 9. 9. The gaming device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein said sequence representing elements comprise letters. 10. The gaming device according to any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein said predisposed sequence representing elements of each group are predisposed on said substrate in varying patterns. 11. The gaming device according to any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein said predisposed sequence representing elements of each group are predisposed on said substrate in a random manner. 12. The gaming device according to any one of claims 4 to 11 wherein said gaming device can be reused for subsequent games. 13. The gaming device according to any one of Claims 4 to 12, wherein the substrate and the promotional product label are virtual items displayed on a graphical user interface. 14. A system for promoting a product or service using one or more marketing channels incorporating a gaming device according to any one of Claims 4 to 13. 15. A method of playing a game using a gaming device comprising the steps of: placing a gaming card over a promotional product label having a plurality of marks disposed thereon, said gaming card comprising (i) a substrate having at least one row of a plurality of first location designating symbols and at least one column of a plurality of second location designating symbols, said first location designating symbols being disposed in relation to said second location designating symbols so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; and (ii) a plurality of groups of sequence representing elements disposed on said substrate, said sequence representing elements having a corresponding position designated by said positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; each of said marks being addressable by one of said sequence representing elements when said gaming card is placed over said promotional product label; locating each address where said marks are visible below each of said sequence representing elements; identifying a corresponding sequence element, said sequence element forming a portion of a gaming sequence; comparing said gaming sequence representing elements to a predetermined winning sequence. 16. The method as in claim 15, wherein said substrate is transparent. 17. The method as in claim 15, wherein said substrate is translucent. 18. The method as in any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein said first location designating symbols are arranged in a row and said second location designating symbols are arranged in a column. 19. The method as in any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein said sequence representing elements comprise the integers 0 through 9. 20. The method as in any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein said sequence representing elements comprise letters. 21. The method as in any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein said predisposed sequence representing elements of each group are predisposed on said substrate in varying patterns. 22. The method as in any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein said predisposed sequence representing elements of each group are predisposed on said substrate in a random manner. 23. A promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence comprising: (a) a first graphical element having at least one row of a plurality of first location designating symbols and at least one column of a plurality of second location designating symbols, said first location designating symbols being disposed in relation to said second location designating symbols so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; (b) a plurality of groups of sequence representing elements displayed on said first graphical element, said sequence representing elements having a corresponding position designated by said positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; and (c) a second graphical element having a plurality of marks disposed thereon, each of said marks being addressable by one of said sequence representing elements when said first graphical element is placed over said second graphical element, each of said marks identifying a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to said predetermined winning sequence. 24. The promotional gaming device of claim 23, wherein said first graphical element is electronically displayed by a computer on a computer screen. 25. The promotional gaming device of any one of claims 23 to 24, wherein said second graphical element is electronically displayed by a computer on a computer screen. 26. The promotional gaming device of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein said computer is connected to a computer that is connected to a remote database. 27. The promotional gaming device of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein said computer is connected to the Internet. 28. The promotional gaming device of any one of Claims 23 to 27, wherein said promotional gaming device has an identifying code associated with it. 29. The promotional gaming device of any one of Claims 23 to 28, wherein a user can position a cursor over said first graphical element and activate a dragging element enabling said user to position said first graphical element over said second graphical element. 30. The promotional gaming device of any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein said marks are perceivable through said first graphical element and each of said marks correlate with a sequence representing element, each of said sequence representing elements which correlate with a mark combined to form a gaming sequence which is compared to a predetermined winning sequence. 31. A method of playing a game using a gaming device comprising the steps of: placing a gaming card over a plurality of marks disposed on a promotional product label having a plurality of marks disposed thereon, said gaming card comprising (i) a substrate having at least one row of a plurality of first location designating symbols and at least one column of a plurality of second location designating symbols, said first location designating symbols being disposed in relation to said second location designating symbols so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; and (ii) a plurality of groups of sequence representing elements disposed on said substrate, said sequence representing elements having a corresponding position designated by said positional combination of at least one of said first location designating symbols and at least one of said second location designating symbols; each of said marks being addressable by one of said sequence representing elements when said gaming card is placed over said promotional product label; locating each address where said marks are visible below each of said sequence representing elements; collecting points based on the result of a mathematical computation derived from the integral values corresponding to said marks at each of said addresses; and redeeming points collected from said mathematical computation for a prize. 32. A method of playing a game using a telephone comprising the steps of: calling a telephone number; listening to at least one pre-recorded message; obtaining information specifying a location at which is placed a gaming device having sequence representing elements disposed thereon; placing said gaming device card at said specified location over a plurality of marks disposed on a promotional product label; locating each address where said marks are visible below each of said sequence representing elements; identifying a corresponding sequence element, said sequence element forming a portion of a gaming sequence; and comparing said gaming sequence representing elements to a predetermined sequence. 33. The method of playing a game using a telephone as in claim 32, wherein said promotional gaming device has an identifying code associated with it. 34. The method as in claim 32 or 33, wherein said game is played across a telephonic paging system. 35. The method as in any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein information is given by a person in exchange for obtaining information relating to said specified location at which is said gaming device is placed. 36. The method as in claim 35, wherein information is given and responded to using Interactive voice Telephony or Interactive Voice Response/ Recognition technology. 37. A method for obtaining biographical and geographical information relating to a consumer comprising the steps of: interconnecting electronically an electronic computer with a remote database; collecting biographical and geographical information relating to the player; and displaying electronically on a computer monitor at least a winning number sequence and information indicative of location designating symbols ; allowing a player to collect a prize if the player matches the winning sequence. 38. A method according to Claim 37, wherein the information indicative of location designating symbols comprises a display of the location designating symbols. 39. A method according to Claim 37, wherein the computer displays a first graphical element which can be dragged over and dropped onto a second graphical element containing a plurality of marks, each of said marks being addressable by one of a plurality of sequence representing elements when said first graphical element is dragged and dropped over said marks. 40. A method as in any one of Claims 37 to 39, wherein said remote database is located at an Internet site. 41. A method of verifying information collected comprising the steps of: collecting a first piece of data from a player in response to a question asked by a game administrator; collecting a subsequent piece of data from said player in response to said question asked by said game administrator; comparing said subsequent piece of data collected from said player and said first piece of data collected from said player; determining whether said first piece of data collected from said player and said subsequent piece of data collected from said player is the same; and marking for further inquiry said first piece of data collected from said player and said subsequent piece of data collected from said player if said first piece of data collected from said player and said subsequent piece of data collected from said player are not the same.

Inventors: GOEDE WOUTER, KNOWLES ALLAN, O'NEILL CONOR, GOEDE, WOUTER, KNOWLES, ALLAN, O'NEILL, CONOR
Applicants: GOEDE WOUTER, KNOWLES ALLAN, NEILL CONOR O, GOEDE, WOUTER, KNOWLES, ALLAN, O'NEILL, CONOR
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A63F3
IPC codes: A63F3