Patent Publication Number: US-2016232741-A1

Title: Lottery Ticket Vending Device, System and Method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to lottery ticket vending machines, and more particularly to a device, system and method for providing specially adapted touch screen interfaces for lottery ticket vending machines. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Lottery retailers work with lottery operators to distribute tickets and collect payments, and lottery retailers often earn payments from lottery operators based on selling winning tickets as well as overall sales. Further, unattended lottery vending machines (LVMs) have become more pervasive as an alternative vending option to clerk-attended retail locations for various lottery products. 
     Touch screen interfaces on LVMs are known. However, the positioning of icons on the visual display of an LVM&#39;s touch screen interface is generally static or only changed by a controller of the vending machine. The icon positioning is not manipulable by a user or purchaser of the lottery product offered by the vending machine. As a result, different types of tickets appear at eye-level for different types of people depending upon each person&#39;s height and/or physical capabilities. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present invention provide a touch screen vending device for lottery tickets. In various embodiments of the present invention, instant tickets and tickets for draw-based games are shown on a display of a touch screen interface of a vending device. A user inserts a form of payment into the vending machine and selects one or more ticket icons by touching the screen where the desired icon resides. The machine processes the order and dispenses the selected ticket(s) into a bin at the bottom of the machine. 
     In addition to touching the screen associated with a ticket position, several functional icons can be selected in accordance with aspects of the present invention, including “Help”, “Language” and “Flip Screen” icons. Touching the Flip Screen icon causes the system of the present invention to visually re-arrange the tickets. For example, the tickets initially appearing at the top of the screen can be brought to the bottom portion of the screen, and vice versa. In this way, a person who may be unable to reach the top of the screen can bring any desired ticket icons from the top down to the bottom of the screen for selection. Alternatively, a very tall person who may not wish to stoop to read tickets at the bottom of the screen can bring ticket icons from the bottom of the screen to the top for selection. The positioning of the “Flip Screen” and other functional icons can be at the bottom, in the middle, or elsewhere in a similarly easily accessible location on the display screen. 
     Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and vending device incorporating a touch-screen communications interface configured to receive input and display output, a memory, and at least one processor configured to present, on the communications interface, a plurality of ticket purchase options in a first arrangement, with each ticket purchase option being associated with an independent ticket game. The processor is further configured to present, on the communications interface, a position adjustment selection option and receive, via the communications interface, a selection from a user of the position adjustment selection option. According to various embodiments, in response to the received selection, the processor can re-present the ticket purchase options in a second arrangement that is different from the first arrangement. In various embodiments, a portion of the ticket options are for instant wagering games and a portion of the ticket options are for draw-based wagering games. Further, the first arrangement can include at least two ticket purchase options in a first configuration, and at least two ticket purchase options in a second configuration, with the first configuration being presented above the second configuration on the display, and wherein the second arrangement includes the second configuration presented above the first configuration on the display. 
     Various other image and design elements can be incorporated with the interface for the vending device, system and method according to embodiments of the present invention, including displaying a “New” symbol on the interface display to denote new games, or a “Quantity Left” symbol on the interface display to denote the number of tickets left. The present invention can also display a game animation on the interface, a touch-screen area to select a predetermined number of tickets (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 tickets), ticket numbers or a predetermined purchase price (e.g., $2 or $4 ticket), a ticket animation showing the selected ticket “falling” to the bottom of the screen, while the interior components of the vending machine dispense an actual ticket into the receiving bucket of the machine, and a messaging area which provides a visual indication of a machine issue such as paper low, door open, no inventory, or other messaging, through color coding or other coding, for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sample schematic diagram illustrating components associated with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a sample vending device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3 through 11  are exemplary communications interface displays in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTIVE ASPECTS 
     With reference to the system  10  in the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and depending upon the implementation, a wager request from a purchaser (“purchaser” may also be called a “player”, “user” or “wagerer” herein)  13  may be received at a lottery vending machine (LVM) device  15 . The wager request can be processed locally by the LVM device  15 , and details about the transaction can then be transferred to the central system and/or central controller  20 . For instance, a purchaser  13  may purchase an available instant ticket by pressing an icon on the interface  12  of the device  15  associated with the desired ticket, and the LVM device  15  can then process the input to burst a ticket corresponding to the selected game from within the LVM device  15 , such that the ticket falls to a dispenser tray ( 21  in  FIG. 2 ) for retrieval by the purchaser. Details about the purchase can be communicated to central controller  20  via network  25 , for example. Alternatively, the wager request can be transferred to the central controller  20  in order to be processed, and then appropriate wager communications can be sent back to the LVM device  15  in order to issue a ticket to the purchaser  13  according to the wager made. For instance, if the purchaser  13  desires to purchase a lottery ticket for a draw-based game using a “quick pick” feature, the numbers for the purchaser&#39;s wager can be randomly determined by the central controller  20 , returned to the LVM device  15 , and printed on a ticket. Details about the purchased ticket, such as the player numbers selected and printed on the ticket, the LVM device from which the ticket was purchased, and other details can be stored via the central controller  20 . Various types of lottery tickets can be purchased at the LVM devices  15 , including instant, scratch-off tickets as well as tickets for draw-based games. 
     In various embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention can operate with one or more LVM devices  15  in networked connection with a centralized management computer system and/or controller  20 . The centralized computer system and/or controller  20  can provide instructions to the one or more vending units  15  as the vending units  15  carry out their designed functions. It will be appreciated that system  10  can be deployed with direct connections from central controller  20  to a device  15  via network  25 , or indirect connection through a local computing system  22 . Processing of the actual transaction request can occur at the central controller  20  or another controller associated with transaction and wager processing for the selected ticket, including any loyalty and related player account details, for example, and such processing will not be described in substantial detail herein. At a minimum, though, controller  20  processes data about the transaction for use in LVM-level analysis, and such data can be obtained, reviewed, manipulated and managed via administrative component  36 , for example. 
     The centralized computer system and/or controller  20  can be provided with various components or aspects, such as an instant ticket game management component  30 , a draw-based ticket game management component  31 , an animation component  32 , a pricing component  33 , a payment processing component  34 , a touch-screen function component  35 , an administrative component  36 , a communications component  37  and other components. Such components can comprise, for example, software programming stored in memory in one or more databases to be executed by one or more processors to carry out the processes and functions described herein. 
     These components can access and employ various databases for storing and retrieving data in accordance with the desired functions of the present invention. Databases can include, for example, an accounts database  50 , a game database  51 , a display database  52  and an administrative database  53 . The accounts database  50  can store information related to player accounts, including player identification details, player usage and transaction history, player preferences, player financial information and account details and other information. The game database  51  can store information pertaining to available games for selection and deployment, including graphic designs, indicia, scratch-off locations, available wager amounts, odds and other game-related elements. The display database  52  can store a library of displays to be presented on the vending device interfaces  15 , including player selection options (e.g., for touch-screen selection) as well as visual outcome displays or animations employed during inactive periods or for entertainment during player use. The display database  52  can also store configuration options, and other elements. Administrative database  53  can store information such as device-specific statistics to permit lottery service providers (LSPs), lottery operators and retailers to better understand device usage, including game-related statistics, ticket volumes, retailer statistics and other information that can assist in better servicing players, increasing revenue and overall management of devices, for example. 
     Administrative component  36  can be used to configure LVM device settings for deployment, ticket game offerings, inventory management and other back-end functions. The administrative component  36  further processes administrative related information, such as statistics and administrative control information, to and from administrative database  53 . Such information can be employed by external systems  18  such as an external administrative operator, or by local systems, such as system  22 , which can be a retailer operation controlling multiple devices  15  as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example. 
     Communications component  37  can be employed to manage communications between the central controller  20  and LVM devices over network  25  and any local computing systems  22 , which can include local area networks (LANs), for example. Touch-screen function component  35  can be employed to configure what functions, such as “Help”, “Language” and “Flip Screen” are offered on the interface  12  of each LVM  15 . 
     Instant ticket game management component  30  can be used (optionally with administrative component  36 ) to manage which instant ticket games and icons are available on the LVM devices, as well as to manage inventory levels and popularity in order to inform relevant business analysis. The draw-based ticket game management component  31  can be used (optionally with administrative component  36 ) similarly to the instant ticket game management component  30 , but with regard to draw-based games instead of instant games. Ticket icons can be presented by the central controller  20  to one or more LVM devices  15  in the form of specifications from database  52 . Once received, the LVM device  15  can execute programming to reveal the specified ticket icons on the display  12 . It will be appreciated that ticket icons for display on the communications interface are employed to match the physical tickets that have been received and stored within the LVM device for dispensing when selected by a purchaser. In various embodiments, once physical tickets are identified to the LVM device as the tickets being inserted in ticket dispensing bins of the LVM device, corresponding ticket icons are identified and subsequently presented on the display  12  as being available for purchase through the LVM device  15 . 
     Animation component  32  can be used to manage different types of animations and visual displays to be employed on the LVM device interfaces  12 . In various embodiments of the present invention, instant tickets can be shown on the user interface with a vending animation, where virtual tickets are shown as dropping toward the bucket from their position in the GUI grid. Online, or draw-based, tickets can have a print and vending animation where they drop toward the bucket from the online ticket quick pick selection interface, such as that shown at  116  in  FIG. 4 , for example. 
     In various embodiments, in-ticket animations can be provided as well. In such embodiments, small animations can be shown on a per ticket button, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the snapshots  52 ,  54  of the animated instant ticket display show a frog  55  initially with a small tongue  56 , and subsequently with a tongue reaching out as at  58  to catch a fly  60 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the snapshots  65 ,  67  of the animated draw-based ticket display show a jackpot amount in smaller size at  68 , then in larger size at  69 . Animations can be presented by the central controller  20  to one or more LVM devices  15  in the form of specifications from database  52 . Once received, the LVM device  15  can execute programming to reveal the specified animation on the display  12 . 
     Pricing component  33  can be used to manage the ticket prices for various ticket games offered on the LVM devices. Payment processing component  34  can be used to process and account for financial transactions associated with the LVM devices, including credit, debit, cashless, ticket-based, loyalty reward/redemption, cash and other forms of payment, for example. 
     In various embodiments, the LVM devices  15  include at least one processor, memory and software programming stored in memory and executable by the at least processor to conduct various operations required by the LVM devices. For instance, the LVM devices  15  include programming to process codes associated with unpurchased tickets being loaded into physical bins within the device. The LVM devices  15  further include programming to process financial transactions for purchasers  13  of tickets, process received inputs, display appropriate visual and auditory displays, and operate ticket processing functions, such as bursting and tearing tickets from ticket rolls within the LVM devices. The LVM devices  15  can further include programming to display appropriate icons, informational content and entertaining animations in order to provide a functional and visually appealing interface  12  for purchasers  13 . Depending upon embodiments being employed, the LVM devices  15  may operate according to locally stored instructions, or may operate based upon instructions received from the central system  20 . 
     The LVM device touch-screen communications interface  12  can be configured, for example, to receive input and display output on the communications interface. In various embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , for example, the interface  12  can display instant ticket game selection options  14  and draw-based ticket game selection options  16 . For draw-based games, the display can receive input from a purchaser indicating that the purchaser wants to select his or her own numbers, and can further receive input from a purchaser indicating that the purchaser would like the numbers randomly selected, such as by central controller  20 . In the event the purchaser wishes to purchase a ticket for a draw-based game, the purchaser may first select one of the ticket options from the draw-based game menu (see  16  in  FIG. 2 ), and then the player may either select his or her own numbers, enter a ticket playslip through a slot (such as slot  23  in  FIG. 2 ) or may select a quick-pick option. For example, as shown in the interface  112  of  FIG. 4 , the purchaser can select numbers directly from a first portion  114  of the interface  112 , or may alternatively select a quick-pick option from a second portion  116  of the interface  112 . Further, the purchaser can make multiple wagers and selections that can be displayed at the same time on a third portion  118  of the interface  112 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the LVM device  15  can include a bill collector  19  and a ticket dispenser tray  21 . 
     As shown in display  12  of  FIG. 3 , a banner  17  is provided that houses the terminal prompts/call-to-actions/messaging area  19 , the terminal credits  27 , and functional buttons (e.g.,  18 ,  20 ). The functional buttons can include functions such as LANGUAGE (to change the language), HELP  20 , and FLIP SCREEN  18 , as described elsewhere herein. These buttons can be positioned just below the physical center of the screen, vertically, but can be re-positioned elsewhere, in various embodiments of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a plurality of ticket purchase options  29  can be presented in a first arrangement  38 , such as draw-based ticket purchase options  16  being positioned below instant ticket purchase options  14  in interface  212 , with each ticket purchase option  29  being associated with an independent ticket game. The processor is further configured to present, on the communications interface  212 , a position adjustment selection option such as “Flip the Screen” icon  18  and receive, via the communications interface  212 , a selection from a user of the position adjustment selection option  18 . According to various embodiments, in response to receiving the “Flip Screen” or other position adjustment selection option, the processor can re-present the ticket purchase options in a second arrangement  39  on interface  312 , wherein the second arrangement is different from the first arrangement  38 . In various embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a portion  14  of the ticket options are for instant wagering games and a portion  16  of the ticket options are for draw-based wagering games. Further, the first arrangement  38  can include at least two ticket purchase options in a first configuration, and at least two ticket purchase options in a second configuration, with the first configuration being presented above the second configuration on the display. Such is the case with instant ticket options  14  being presented above the draw-based game selection options  16  in interface  212  of  FIG. 5 . In the interface  312  showing the second arrangement  39 , the second configuration (e.g., draw-based game selection options  16 ) is presented above the first configuration (e.g., instant ticket selection options  14 ) on the display  312 . 
     In addition to receiving a player request to re-configure positioning of ticket selection options on the interface, the LVM can receive a wager request from a player, including the selection of a desired game, ticket design, number of tickets, wager level, prize structure or other selection. Such selections can be made through touching one or more user inputs on interface  12 . Once the payment and ticket selection have been received by the device  15 , an internal communications component on the LVM can send the information to central controller  20  via network  25 , whereupon the communications component  35  of the central controller  20  receives the specific inputs and game data that have been transferred. The data can be collected and automatically populated into administrative user displays, or alternatively, the data can be entered manually into one or more computer systems operating programming according to the present invention. 
     The specific software components described herein can comprise computer-readable instructions stored in suitable memory and operable by one or more processors to perform the functions necessary for operation of the embodiments of the present invention. For instance, the instant ticket  30  and draw ticket  31  management components can operate to deliver instructions to the vending devices  15  for operation, including, for example, what instant and draw ticket icons to display on the graphical user interface, and the touchscreen component can operate to deliver instructions to the devices  15  as to what format to use in the display. 
     The communications component  35  operates to communicate with the vending devices  15  and external providers  18  over network  25  to perform functions in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. For example, if a user desires to publish information associated with the operation of the present invention to a lottery operator website, the communications component  35  can operate to send the information to a suitable external system  18  for appropriate action. 
     In various embodiments, new tickets made available for purchase can be marked with a “NEW” graphic call out, as illustrated at  50  and  52  in interface  412  of  FIG. 6 , for example. Further, instant tickets can be marked with an indication of the quantity of tickets left once the storage bin falls below a configurable threshold, as illustrated at  55  in interface  512  of  FIG. 7 , for example. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, secondary screens, as exemplified in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , can show ticket and purchase options. For example, screen  612  in  FIG. 8  can show purchase options for instant tickets as pre-selected quantities of tickets (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) as indicated at  42 , as well as the number of tickets remaining, as indicated at  44 . Purchase options for online tickets can be represented as pre-selected price points as indicated at  45  of interface  712  in  FIG. 9 , for example, including with special options included. It will be appreciated that default prices can depend on the game. For example, with a POWERBALL game, quick picks can be priced at $2, $4, $10 and $20. 
     In various embodiments, the present invention can operate with one or more vending units in networked connection with a centralized management computer system, as shown in  FIG. 1  and described elsewhere herein. The centralized computer system can provide instructions to the one or more vending units as the vending units carry out their designed functions. The centralized computer system can be provided with various components or aspects, such as an instant ticket game management component, a draw-based ticket game management component, an animation component, a pricing component, a payment processing component, a touch-screen function component and other components. Such components can comprise, for example, software programming stored in one or more databases to be executed by one or more processors to carry out the processes and functions described above. 
     It will be appreciated that all of the disclosed methods and procedures herein can be implemented using one or more computer programs or components. These components may be provided as a series of computer instructions on any conventional computer-readable medium, including RAM, SATA DOM or other storage media. The instructions may be configured to be executed by a processor which, when executing the series of computer instructions, performs or facilitates the performance of all or part of the disclosed methods and procedures. 
     Unless otherwise stated, devices or components of the present invention that are in communication with each other do not need to be in continuous communication with each other. Further, devices or components in communication with other devices or components can communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate devices, components or other intermediaries. Further, descriptions of embodiments of the present invention herein wherein several devices and/or components are described as being in communication with one another does not imply that all such components are required, or that each of the disclosed components must communicate with every other component. In addition, while algorithms, process steps and/or method steps may be described in a sequential order, such approaches can be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any ordering of steps described herein does not, standing alone, dictate that the steps be performed in that order. The steps associated with methods and/or processes as described herein can be performed in any order practical. Additionally, some steps can be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously. 
     It will be appreciated that algorithms, method steps and process steps described herein can be implemented by appropriately programmed general purpose computers and computing devices, for example. In this regard, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor or controller device) receives instructions from a memory or like storage device that contains and/or stores the instructions, and the processor executes those instructions, thereby performing a process defined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement such methods and algorithms can be stored and transmitted using a variety of known media. At a minimum, the memory includes at least one set of instructions that is either permanently or temporarily stored. The processor executes the instructions that are stored in order to process data. The set of instructions can include various instructions that perform a particular task or tasks. Such a set of instructions for performing a particular task can be characterized as a program, software program, software, engine, module, component, mechanism, or tool. Common forms of computer-readable media that may be used in the performance of the present invention include, but are not limited to, RAM, USB drive or any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The term “computer-readable medium” when used in the present disclosure can refer to any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium can exist in many forms, including, for example, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, USB and other persistent memory. Volatile media can include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media may include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires or other pathways that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. 
     Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying sequences of instructions associated with the present invention to a processor. For example, sequences of instruction can be delivered from RAM to a processor, carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM, CDMA, EDGE and EVDO. Where databases are described in the present disclosure, it will be appreciated that alternative database structures to those described, as well as other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed. The drawing figure representations and accompanying descriptions of any exemplary databases presented herein are illustrative and not restrictive arrangements for stored representations of data. Further, any exemplary entries of tables and parameter data represent example information only, and, despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributed databases) can be used to store, process and otherwise manipulate the data types described herein. Electronic storage can be local or remote storage, as will be understood to those skilled in the art. Appropriate encryption and other security methodologies can also be employed by the system of the present invention, as will be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims of the application rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.