Abstract:
A method and system for providing real time scratch-off lottery like games over a wireless network. The method and system allow a user of a wireless station to play a lottery game electronically with the feel of real-time scratch and win determination. Substantially concurrently, security, including win/loss determination is maintained by a betting service provider on a system apart from the wireless station of the user. The system tracks user accounts, outstanding lottery games, and randomly determines win/loss information. The user is notified of win or loss (or the value “underneath” the scratch-off block in near real time. The wireless station transmits minimal amounts of data, typically a lottery ticket identifier and description of the users actions to the betting service provider and receives a value to display from the betting service provider.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to gaming entertainment and, more particularly, to providing real time lotto-type games in an interactive wireless environment.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    During the last few decades, same-time-same-place gambling has been complemented by same-time-different-place activities. Telephone betting has a long history that includes activities that have been proscribed (e.g., starting price or S.P. bookies), that have been approved (e.g., on-course bookies), and, in some countries, that have been State-conducted (e.g., phone-betting with State Government Totalisator Agency Boards or TABs).  
           [0003]    It has long since been recognized that the virtualization of gambling could result in major changes to society. Whereas in 1975 few people might have contemplated a future in which bets could be placed on which member of the British Royal Family would die next, or on which state would next erupt in civil war, such bets can now be placed in the United Kingdom and in several other nations around the world. Betting houses offering such services are becoming readily accessible on the Internet.  
           [0004]    Gambling is increasingly becoming a major feature of interactive networks. So much so, it appears to be one of the largest sources of revenue generation on the Internet. Use of the Internet for gambling is especially significant because it is fully operational, it uses an existing and pervasive infrastructure, and its market reach is already very wide. In addition to its physical advantages the growth rate of the Internet is dramatic and it is intrinsically extra-, and even supra-jurisdictional, making it extremely resistant to existing regulatory frameworks.  
           [0005]    Satellite and cable infrastructures may be used to operate services independent from the Internet. It is important to note, however, that they are also entirely capable of being used as carrier mechanisms for Internet traffic, and indeed to support both proprietary and Internet channels at the same time. If satellite and/or cable come to supplant the public switched telephone network (PSTN) carried Internet, it will not necessarily supplant the Internet itself.  
           [0006]    With particular regard to betting, real-time betting is quite difficult to carry out in a way that allows the remoteness of the activity to be transparent o the user. That is, current real-time betting systems do not create an environment for a user that emulates the timing, and sensation, of carrying out a live, on location activity. Further, the real-time betting systems that do exist are not intuitive or easy to use by a majority of bettors.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The disclosed embodiments provide a method and system for providing real time scratch-off lottery like games over a wireless network. The method and system allow a user of a wireless station to play a lottery game electronically with the feel of real-time scratch and win determination. Substantially concurrently, security, including win/loss determination is maintained by a betting service provider on a system apart from the wireless station of the user. The system tracks user accounts, outstanding lottery games, and randomly determines win/loss information. The user is notified of win or loss (or the value “underneath” the scratch-off block in near real time. The wireless station transmits minimal amounts of data, typically a lottery ticket identifier and description of the users actions to the betting service provider and receives a value to display from the betting service provider.  
           [0008]    The disclosed innovations provide several advantages. For example, the security of the win/loss information is maintained by the betting service provider. Moreover, in the presently preferred embodiment, the win/loss determination is not made until a button is pressed. Therefore, unlike a physical scratch-off lottery ticket, there is no a priori knowledge of the value of any ticket in the game. For another example, the user experiences real-time betting in a location remote from the betting service provider. This remote location aspect allows the gaming to occur at anytime and anywhere. For another example, betting losses can be controlled by managing the account of a user electronically. For another example, the disclosed embodiment prevents against a sell-out situation. Such a situation can occur with paper tickets when a particular game in popular. For another example, if the user wins on a particular ticket, the value of the win is credited to an account instantaneously. This instantaneous crediting eliminates the need for a player to go to a physical location to collect the winnings. It also eliminates the need to track a winning paper ticket. For another example, unlike paper lottery tickets, the winning tickets are not determined a priori and are not separately printed and mixed in with other tickets. Therefore, it is not possible to predict winning tickets based on print time or position.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The disclosed inventions will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments of the invention, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart of the presently preferred embodiment;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of connections and communication flow between the wireless station user and the betting service;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a possible configuration of the game of the presently preferred embodiment; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of a wireless station that can make use of the disclosed embodiments.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred embodiment. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others.  
         [0015]    The presently preferred embodiment of the disclosed innovations is a scratch-off lottery ticket-like game. However, it should be noted that the disclosed innovations can be implemented in a variety of ways in a wireless network.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart of the presently preferred embodiment. In FIG. 1, a wireless station user logs onto an electronic betting service (Step  102 ). A user authentication routine is executed by the betting service (Step  104 ). Once the user is authenticated, a choice of electronic lottery ticket-like games is presented and the user selects one or more “tickets” (Step  106 ). Once a selection is made, the betting service randomly selects game tickets and transmits them to the user (Step  108 ). Typically, a debit for each ticket selected will be taken from the betting service account of the user. Each game ticket has a lottery ID number associated with it that identifies it to the betting service. The lottery ID number is transmitted to the user along with the parameters of the game. The parameters can include, for example, the button array, game rules, ticket display layout, etc. Once received by the user, the game ticket can be played on a wireless station. In the presently preferred embodiment, the game is presented as an electronic representation of a scratch-off-type lottery ticket. Game play is described in further detail below. A determination of winning or losing is made as the user plays the game (Step  110 ). If the user has lost, the user may play another ticket, select another game or quit playing and log-off the betting service (Step  112 ). If the user wins the lottery game, the designated prize, for example, a certain amount of money, is credited to the betting service account of the user (Step  114 ). The credit to the user can also be made in the form of the issue of new lottery game tickets (with or without additional credit to the users account). The user may then play another selected ticket (Step  110 ), select another ticket (Step  106 ), or log-off the betting service (Step  112 ).  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of connections and communication flow between the wireless station user and the betting service. In the presently preferred embodiment, transmissions take place over the air. A wireless station  202  and a base station  204  make up the over-the-air transmission network. No particular over-the-air transmission system is required, for example, the system could be a TDMA, CDMA, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, AMPS, Bluetooth, WLAN, or other system. The wireless station  202  provides the necessary firmware, hardware, and display to enable playing the selected game. In the presently preferred embodiment, the wireless station  202  is the game terminal. The wireless station communicates with a betting service provider  210 . In the presently preferred embodiment, the betting service provider  210  delivers betting services to the wireless station  202  via the base station  204  over an IP type connection. That is, the base station  204  is connected to the Internet or another IP based network. Data is delivered from the betting service provider  210  to the base station  204  over the network. The base station  204  then delivers the data to the wireless station  202  over-the-air, Of course, data delivery is not dependent on a network running IP. Other network protocols, for example, X.25, X.400, etc. can be used. Moreover, the betting service provider  210  may be WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) enabled such that it delivers the game in a more user-friendly format.  
         [0018]    In the presently preferred embodiment, the betting service provider  210  is a server  206  connected to a network which is accessible by the base station  204 . The server  206  receives communications from the wireless station e.g.,  202  wishing to purchase and execute electronic betting games, such as the lottery-type game of the present application. For example, user log-on and lottery ticket selection (Steps  102  and  106 ) require communication between the server and the wireless station. The server  206  executes one or more programs to manage the accounts of users registered to play such games. Additionally, the server  206  executes one or more programs to distribute the games to various wireless stations e.g.,  202 . In the presently preferred embodiment, user account management and game distribution are tracked using at least one database  208 . The credits and debits and current total in the account of a user as well as log-in authentication information are kept in the database.  
         [0019]    The betting service provider  210  must also maintain information on the types of games available for lottery selection. Once a game is selected by a user and transmitted to a wireless station e.g.,  202 , the server  206  must track the lottery ID number. Such tracking can include linking the lottery ID number to a specific user to verify that a win is being reported by the user who purchased the game (or the wireless station to which the game transmitted). In addition, the betting service provider  210  must maintain the randomness and fairness of the games being played.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a possible configuration of the game of the presently preferred embodiment. The betting service provider  210  will provide the wireless station  202  with the data needed to play the game. The data includes the lottery ID number and a button set. The betting service provider tracks the lottery ID number and the button set. The example depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B is a lottery game called Ace. If Ace is selected as a lottery ticket in Step  106 , a display similar that depicted in FIG. 3A appears on the wireless station  202 . The nine blocks  302  in the display are the equivalent of the opaque scratch-off squares of a paper lottery ticket. Each block is linked to a corresponding button of the wireless station  202 . The top left block, for example, is linked to the button, or key, labeled “1” and the bottom right block, for example, is linked to the button labeled “9”. Although there can be many different electronic lottery games, just as there are many different paper lottery games, the linking of the opaque blocks of each game to a key of a wireless station  202  is typical. The game is played by touching a button of the wireless station which is linked to a block of the game. Once a button is selected, the wireless station transmits the lottery ID number and the selected button to the betting service provider  210 . The betting service provider  210  matches the button selected for the lottery ID number to a value. The value, which can be a dollar amount or even a “WIN” or “NO WIN” display, is chosen and communicated back to the wireless station  202 . Such an action is equivalent to scratching off the coating of a block on a paper lottery ticket to reveal a picture, or other display underneath.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3B depicts the Ace game after having been played. The button selected corresponds to, for example, the button labeled “2”. Once selected, the display “underneath” the opaque block corresponding to the chosen button is revealed.  
         [0022]    Of course, the game Ace is only an example of the many different scratch-off type games that can be played on the wireless station  202 . For example, a scratch-off game in which three buttons are selected and the values “underneath” the three must match to win can also be played on the wireless station  202 . However, each game is exemplified by the use of the betting service provider  210  in mapping buttons to values to be displayed. The betting service provider  210  is responsible for the randomness and fairness of the betting activity. The game, as it exists on the wireless station  202 , does not contain the information needed to determine win or loss. The betting service provider  210  makes the win/loss determination. In the presently preferred embodiment, the betting service provider  210  receives a lottery ID number and the selected button from the wireless station  202 . The betting service provider then randomly generates a value. The value, for example, can be an amount of money or a “NO WIN”. In this manner, the security of the game is enhanced. Once generated, the betting service provider  210  transmits the value to the wireless station  202 . The value received at the wireless station is then displayed in the block corresponding to the selected button.  
         [0023]    From the perspective of the user, the game, as it is played on the wireless station  202 , is self contained. That is, the user perceives the game as though it is an electronic scratch-off ticket. Ideally, the data transmission between the wireless station  202  and the betting service provider  210  is not significantly delayed, enabling the display to appear to respond to the selection of button in apparent real-time.  
         [0024]    In an alternative embodiment, each game ticket downloaded to a wireless station, or other terminal, for playing includes the win/loss information. That is, in addition to the lottery ID number and game parameters, information regarding the value behind the button or buttons selected, is known or derived at the wireless station. In this alternative embodiment, the betting service provider  210  no longer generates random values after a button is selected. Rather, the betting service provider  210  generates random values prior to transmitting the ticket and transmits them with the other game parameters. The betting service provider  210  serves to verify that the buttons selected for the particular lottery ID number would result in a winning ticket and properly credit a users account. Of course, given appropriate security measures, the wireless station  202 , instead of the betting service provider, can be enabled to generate the random values associated with the buttons of the lottery game.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of a wireless station, or mobile station,  400  that can make use of the disclosed embodiments. The mobile station  400  includes, in this example:  
         [0026]    A control head  402  containing an audio interface, i.e. a speaker  404  and microphone  406 .The control head  402  generally includes a display assembly  408  allowing a user to see dialed digits, stored information, messages, calling status information, including signal strength, etc. The control head generally includes a keypad  410 , or other user control device, allowing a user to dial numbers, answer incoming calls, enter stored information, and perform other mobile station functions. The control head also has a controller unit  434  that interfaces with a logic control assembly  418  responsible, from the control unit perspective, for receiving commands from the keypad  410  or other control devices, and providing status information, alerts, and other information to the display assembly  408 ;  
         [0027]    A transceiver unit  412  containing a transmitter unit  414 , a receiver unit  416 , and the logic control assembly  418 . The transmitter unit  414  converts low-level audio signals from the microphone  406  to digital coding using a codec (a data coder/decoder)  420 . The digitally encoded audio is represented by modulated shifts, for example, in the frequency domain, using a shift key modulator/demodulator  422 . Other codes transmission utilized by the logic control assembly  418 , such as station parameters and control information, may also be encoded for transmission. The modulated signal is then amplified  424  and transmitted via an antenna assembly  426 ;  
         [0028]    The antenna assembly  426  contains a TR (transmitter/receiver) switch  436  to prevent simultaneous reception and transmission of a signal by the mobile station  400 . The transceiver unit  412  is connected to the antenna assembly  426  through the TR switch  436 . The antenna assembly contains at least one antenna  438 ;  
         [0029]    The receiver unit  416  receives a transmitted signal via the antenna assembly  426 . The signal is amplified  424  and demodulated  422 . If the signal is an audio signal, it is decoded using the codec  420 . The audio signal is then reproduced by the speaker  404 . Other signals are handled by the logic control assembly  418  after demodulation  422 ; and  
         [0030]    A logic control assembly  418  usually containing an application specific integrated circuit (or ASIC) combining many functions, such as a general purpose microprocessor, digital signal processor, and other functions, into one integrated circuit. The logic control assembly  418  coordinates the overall operation of the transmitter and receiver using control messages. Generally, the logic control assembly operates from a program that is stored in flash memory  428  of the mobile station. Flash memory  428  allows upgrading of operating software, software correction or addition of new features. Flash memory  428  is also used to hold user information such as speed dialing names and stored numbers. The various disclosed embodiments typically function from this or another section of the mobile station&#39;s memory. In the presently preferred embodiment, the display  408  and keypad  410  of the wireless station are used to play the game.  
         [0031]    In addition to flash memory  428 , the mobile station will typically contain read only memory (ROM)  430  for storing information that should not change, such as startup procedures, and random access memory (RAM)  432  to hold temporary information such as channel number and system identifier.  
         [0032]    As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovative concepts described in the present application can be modified and varied over a tremendous range of applications, and accordingly the scope of patented subject matter is not limited by any of the specific exemplary teachings given.  
         [0033]    For example, the betting service provider is described as determining the win/loss of the lottery ticket after a button is selected. However, it is possible that all of the buttons associated with the game are mapped to values prior to the transmission of the game. Moreover, the values could be mapped after transmission but before reception of the selected button.  
         [0034]    For another example, while the presently preferred embodiment of the disclosed innovations is described as communications over the air. Such innovations can be delivered over any type of network, wireless or wired. Terminals connected to a network, e.g., the Internet, through phone lines or other physical connections can make use of the disclosed innovations.  
         [0035]    For another example, the location of the wireless station can be used, via GPS, Bluetooth, or another location system, to provide a selection of tickets, or games, with a theme associated with the location. As an example of a theme, if a ticket is to be played in a hockey arena, the selection of games (and their associated parameters) would be keyed to hockey e.g., “Blue Line”, “Face-Off”, etc.  
         [0036]    For another example, in wireless stations that are enabled with communications facilities other than radio frequency, e.g., infra-red, the ticket and game parameters can be transmitted to the wireless station from other than a radio frequency wireless network.  
         [0037]    For another example, the lottery game can be purchased at a known geographic location designed for such purchases. For example, a night club or other entertainment center, such as the hockey arena scenario described above, may be equipped to vend the games. The games could be transmitted over radio frequency, infra-red, or downloaded via a physical interface. In confined spaces, a low-power radio frequency, such as that provided by Bluetooth or WLAN could be used. Win values could be redeemed at the location instead of receiving electronic credit to a user account.