Source: https://insight.rpxcorp.com/pat/US6016338A
Timestamp: 2020-08-05 22:15:39
Document Index: 250950380

Matched Legal Cases: ['arty 2', 'arty 2', 'arty 2', 'arty 2', 'arty 2', 'arty 2']

Patent US 6,016,338 A
A method and apparatus for rewarding communication service users can enter a call into a lottery, if the call is eligible. A party associated with the call for purposes of the lottery is identified; and if the call has won the lottery, the lottery winner is advised of the winning status. The odds of winning a lottery for the call can be adjusted based on a participation history for the associated party including a history of past lottery prizes won and refused. Thus, a lottery winner can be given the opportunity to refuse a lottery prize won in return for a chance to win a better prize in a future lottery. Prizes won by the lottery winner can also be matched to the lottery winner'"'"'s preferences and/or the lottery winning call.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the call is a winner of the lottery comprises adjusting the call'"'"'s odds of winning the lottery based on a participation history for the associated party.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a prize from an inventory database to match at least one of the call and a lottery winner'"'"'s preference as closely as possible.
14. The lottery device of claim 10, wherein the lottery generator adjusts a call'"'"'s odds of winning the lottery based on a participation history for the associated party.
15. The lottery device of claim 10, wherein the lottery generator adjusts a call'"'"'s odds of winning the lottery based on a comparison of a participation history for the associated party to stored odds of winning criteria, wherein the participation history includes at least one of past lottery prizes refused, a number of past lotteries entered, a number of past lotteries won, a total number of calls made by the associated party during a previous time period, a total amount of call time logged by the associated party during a previous time period, a type of calls made, call destination information, a time of day or day, and a dial-around code for past calls.
This application is related to the following concurrently filed, commonly assigned applications: entitled "Method And Apparatus For Rewarding Groups Of Communication Service Users;" entitled "Method And Apparatus For Determining A Caller'"'"'s Odds For Winning A Lottery Based On Caller History;" entitled "Method And Apparatus For Determining A Call-Based Lottery Winner'"'"'s Prize Tier Based On Caller Participation History;" and entitled "Method And Apparatus For Determining A Caller'"'"'s Eligibility For A Lottery And Advising Lottery Winner During A Same Call."
For example, the call'"'"'s odds for winning the lottery can be adjusted based on the participation history of the person, group or entity associated with the call for lottery purposes. As one example, if a lottery has defined odds for winning, e.g., one in ten thousand, the call could be provided with two or more entries into the lottery to adjust the odds of winning. Alternately, the call could be given one entry into the lottery and the odds for winning the lottery could be adjusted in another way. By adjusting the odds for winning, frequent callers of the communication system can be rewarded with increased odds of winning as compared to less frequent users. The person, group or entity associated with the call for lottery purposes, now the lottery winner, can be advised that the call has won the lottery during the call that entered the group into the lottery. However, this is not necessary and the lottery winner can be advised at some later time.
A prize or prizes awarded to a lottery winner can be selected from a changing inventory of prizes based on various criteria, such as a geographical origin of the call, a geographical destination of the call, a type of services provided during the call, etc. For example, if a caller calls a specific theater for any purpose, not just to buy tickets to a show, the caller could be entered into and win a lottery. A prize selected for award to the caller could be determined based on the call destination of the call, i.e., the theater. Thus, the caller could be awarded with a prize provided by the theater, such as free tickets to a show that evening. Likewise, the caller could be awarded with a prize for free limousine transportation between the caller'"'"'s home and the theater, or any other prize(s).
The invention is described below in connection with a telecommunication system. That is, as described below, callers make telephone calls to request communication services and communicate with a desired called party. However, it will be appreciated that the invention can be used with other types of communication systems, including wired and wireless communication systems, computer or other similar networks such as the Internet, etc. For example, the invention could be used as part of an Internet service provider (ISP) system such that each time a user accesses the Internet, a particular web site, a particular number or combination of web sites, or other similar computer network through the ISP'"'"'s system, the user can be entered into and win a lottery. The user can access the Internet, computer network or other information source through a cable, satellite or other network or combination of networks. Likewise, communication service users that connect to a particular Internet web site, or view/interact with a particular television or other communication channel (either digital or analog), can be entered into and win a lottery. For example, users could be rewarded for viewing a particular television or other similar communication channel. Thus, the invention is not limited to use with telecommunication systems.
The caller 1'"'"'s request for communication services can take different forms, depending upon the type of communication network 3 used to provide the communication services. In this example, the communication network 3 is a switched telecommunications network, and so the request for communication services can include a dialed telephone number. However, the communication network 3 can include other communication systems, and the request for communication services will likely change accordingly.
When the communication network 3 receives the call request and provides communication services, e.g., sends communication information between the caller 1 and the called party 2, a lottery module 4 is notified of the call. The lottery module 4 then determines a person, group or other entity associated with the call for purposes of a lottery, and determines if the call is eligible for entry into a lottery. In this example, a possible other entity associated with the call could be a person, group or business entity that maintains or is otherwise associated with the communication device used by the caller 1 or the called party 2. For example, a caller 1, who is actually using a communication device to make a telephone call, may be borrowing another person'"'"'s telephone to make the call. In this case, the lottery module 4 can determine that the person who owns the telephone or is responsible for paying for calls made using the telephone is eligible for entry into the lottery, rather than the actual caller.
In contrast, the lottery module 4 could determine whether the actual caller 1 should be associated with the call for lottery purposes, even if the caller 1 is not usually associated with the telephone being used to make a call. In this case, the caller 1 can enter an identification number, dial a specific access telephone number or follow some other procedure to identify the caller 1'"'"'s identity to the lottery module 4 regardless of the telephone or other communication device being used to obtain communication services.
While communication services are being provided to the caller 1, the lottery module 4 determines whether the call is eligible for entry into a lottery and, if so, whether the call, and therefore the associated party, is a winner of the lottery. As discussed above, the call'"'"'s odds of winning the lottery can be adjusted (e.g., increased), if desired, based on the associated party'"'"'s past participation or call history, or other factors. If the associated party is a winner, the associated party or a member of the associated party, such as the caller 1 or called party 2, is preferably advised of the winning status while communication services are being provided. For example, the lottery module 4 could interrupt the call to advise the caller 1 of the winning status, call the caller 1 on another telephone line, display a video message on the caller 1'"'"'s communication device or otherwise advise the caller 1 of the winning status. If the associated party is not a winner of the lottery, the lottery module 4 can either advise the caller 1 or called party 2 that the associated party did not win the lottery this time, or make no announcement at all. When the caller 1 or called party 2 wishes to terminate the communication services, e.g., by hanging up the telephone, the communication services are terminated. The lottery winner need not be advised that the lottery has been won while communication services are being provided. Instead, the lottery can be entered and won, and the lottery winner notified after communication services have been terminated.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one example of a lottery module. In this example, the lottery module 4 includes a controller 41 that receives and sends signals over a line 44, which communicates with the communication network 3. For example, the controller 41 can receive a signal over the line 44 from the communication network 3 indicating that a call request has been made and communication services are being provided to a caller 1. In response to the received signal, which can include information identifying the caller 1, the call'"'"'s originating telephone number, the destination telephone number, other call destination information, etc., the controller 41 identifies the associated party for the call and determines whether the call is eligible for entry into a lottery. The associated party can be identified by comparing a caller 1'"'"'s, called party 2'"'"'s and/or other entity'"'"'s identity (e.g., corresponding telephone number) to a stored set of information. Of course, other methods for identifying an associated party can be used, e.g., requesting a caller 1 to enter identifying information into a communication device.
The eligibility determination can be based on various factors including information received from the communication network 3 and/or other information stored in a memory 43. The memory 43 can store information such as a caller 1 or other entity'"'"'s profile, including a number of calls made/received by the associated party during a past period of time, a total amount of call time used by the associated party, the types of calls made/received, etc. The controller 41 can also use information such as the time of day or day that a call is made, a specific dial-around code used to place a call, a call destination, or other information. In short, the controller 41 can use any desired information to make the eligibility determination. Alternately, all calls on the communications network 3 can be eligible for entry into a lottery.
Once the controller 41 determines that a call is eligible for entry into a lottery, the controller 41 sends a signal to a lottery generator 42 to enter the call into a lottery. The lottery generator 42 can enter the call into a standard lottery having defined odds and then provide an indication to the controller 41 whether the call has won the lottery. Alternately, the lottery generator 42 can adjust the odds of winning the lottery for the call based on the associated party'"'"'s participation history, which can include any of the information discussed above. For example, the call'"'"'s odds of winning can be adjusted based on past prizes won and refused by the associated party, a number of calls placed by the associated party during a past time period, a total call time logged by the associated party, the types of calls, e.g., credit card calls, dial-around calls, etc., a call destination such as a telephone number or geographical region, a time of day, a number of past entries into lotteries, a number of past lottery wins, etc. The odds of winning can be adjusted in any desired way, including providing the call with multiple entries into a lottery having predefined odds for winning, or providing the call with a single entry into a lottery that has adjusted odds.
If the call wins the lottery, the controller 41 sends a signal to the communication network 3 to notify the lottery winner of the winning status. Preferably, the lottery winner is notified while the call that prompted entry into the lottery is ongoing. However, the lottery winner can be notified after the call has been terminated. The lottery winner can be notified of the winning status in various ways, including providing a voice message to the lottery winner, displaying a message on the lottery winner'"'"'s communication device, telephoning the lottery winner on a separate telephone line, sending a facsimile or e-mail message to the lottery winner, etc.
Once the call is determined to be eligible and a person, group or other entity is associated with the call for lottery purposes, the lottery generator 42 determines if the call has won the lottery. The call could be entered into a lottery having defined odds, e.g., one in ten thousand, or the call'"'"'s odds of wining could be adjusted as discussed above. For example, the caller 1 could have won and returned a lottery prize in the past or made more than a threshold number of calls using a specific dial-around code during the last month, and therefore be entitled to increased odds of winning the lottery. Of course, other criteria can be used to determine whether and to what extent a call is entitled to adjusted odds of winning a lottery. Therefore, lottery winners who return prizes won during a lottery can be rewarded with increased odds of winning a subsequent lottery. One possible way of adjusting a call'"'"'s odds is to provide the call with multiple entries into a lottery having defined odds. If the call wins the lottery, the lottery winner is advised of the winning status, preferably while communication services are being provided.
In step 300, a determination is made whether the call is eligible for a lottery. The eligibility determination can be based on various different eligibility criteria such as information regarding an associated party'"'"'s participation history including a number of calls or total call time for the associated party during a past time period, or other information related to the call such as a time of day, a call destination (e.g., a specific telephone number or geographic region), a dial-around code used to place the call whether the call was made using a credit card, etc. This determination can be made by comparing the eligibility criteria obtained regarding the call with stored eligibility data. For example, a dial-around number used to initiate the call can be compared with a set of stored dial-around numbers; and if the obtained dial-around number matches one of the stored numbers, the call can be determined eligible for entry into a lottery. Of course, the eligibility determination can be made based on two or more criteria in any way as desired. For example, even if a dial-around number used to make a call matches a stored dial-around number, a further determination can be made whether the number of calls placed by the associated party during the last month is equal to or greater than a desired threshold number. Thus, even if the caller used an appropriate dial-around number that would otherwise entitle the call entry into a lottery, if the associated party has not placed a specified number of calls using the dial-around number in the past, entry into a lottery can be denied.
For example, the call'"'"'s odds of winning the lottery can be adjusted based on a call participation history for the associated party. The participation history can include information such as a number of calls recently made by the associated party, a total call time logged by the associated party, etc. For example, a call'"'"'s odds of winning the lottery can be increased if the associated party has won, but refused/returned a lottery prize in the past or made more than a threshold number of calls during a past time period. The call'"'"'s odds of winning can be adjusted by adjusting a number of entries allotted to the call into a lottery, adjusting the odds of winning the lottery, etc.
Creswell, Carroll W., Begeja, Lee, Bansal, Pradeep K.
379/93.13, 379/93.12, 379/90.01, 379/110.01, 273/183.1, 463/17, 463/41
A63F 2003/086 : played via telephone, e.g. ...