EP1188155B1 - Method, computer system and program for processing bets or games of chance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of processing of bets or gambling, the tip-ups and winnings requirements include, via the telephone network, addresses assigned to you by callers, using a computer system connected to the telephone network, to the one database as well as headsets and headsets are connected.

Such methods are, for example, from US-A-5 679 077 or WO 89/02139 known.

US-A 5 679 077 is concerned with a bingo game system, whereby made over the telephone tip-offs ("Ticking Bingo numbers ") along with a caller identification number be processed with the help of speech recognition. As caller identification number can also phone number information (CLID) of the caller. A burden of Customer account is via the phone bill or credit card possible. In the event of a profit, the system itself dials the telephone number of the winner and informs him about the profit.

WO 89102139 discloses a kind of "online one-armed bandits", i.e. at which the caller's lottery prize is determined immediately. The system works again with speech recognition as well as CLID. In the case of a profit on "periodic" Like betting, the system itself chooses the winner.

US 5,415,416 describes a computerized system to accept lottery tickets via the telephone network with a Voice menu system, completely from the caller via keypad input (DTMF), to the entry of Credit card numbers via DTMF, with voice output confirmations to the caller.

A comprehensive automatic processing of bets or Gambling, which also has a low acceptance threshold for The entry offers, however, is in the known systems currently not available, and indeed - as the applicant for the first time has recognized - for the following reason: profit requirements always include the specification of an address to which the Payout of the profit should be made, what for the mentioned Prior art systems represent an insurmountable problem represents. Because according to the level of development available today speaker-independent speech recognition method is the Speech recognition of a substantially unlimited sentence worldwide possible addresses in a realistic computing time not possible. Only for a limited catchment area of potential customers, e.g. Addresses from an environment of about 100,000 inhabitants, speech recognition would be feasible. Already at a catchment area of customers from all over Germany but the system would have to be capable of about 80 million different Recognize addresses. As the target audience of phone-based automatic betting and gambling systems in principle aimed at potential new customers whose Catchment area is not limited, this is so far an insoluble technical problem.

Also evading human agents for inclusion The addresses of all players is state of the art unthinkable: Shortly before the closing date of a bet or a Gambling usually enters an explosive increase the number of incoming calls, so that a corresponding proportional number of jobs for employees and therefore also a corresponding number of employees are provided would have to be able to accommodate all addresses. In essence However, there are periods between betting or gambling a large proportion of jobs are without function.

The present invention is therefore based on the object Process for processing bets or gambling create, which overcomes the mentioned disadvantages. These Task is with a method of the type mentioned with the Characteristics of claim 1 solved.

In the present specification, the term "Tipabgabe" all kinds of participation in a bet, one Gambling, a lottery or the like. understood, be it one Typing, betting, "playing", "placing" an insert, etc. The term Tipabgabe covers all conceivable participation variants.

The invention is based on the surprising finding that in principle the distinction is to be made, whether it at a game participation over the phone to a setting (= Tipabgabe) or take off (= profit request) acts, and the insight that in the former case the speech recognition of the Address of a caller is not necessary, but only Credit Card debit, bank account debit transaction or the like. to be detected by means of speech recognition need what with today's speech recognition means easily is feasible. This results in several advantages: With the caller ID can automatically a credit be linked so that the caller anonymous Betting account can be established. The use according to the invention Speech recognition reduces the number of labor-intensive ones Workplaces with headsets and headsets by the factor (M + N): M. Last but not least reduces the continuous speech recognition in the tipabgabephase the acceptance threshold for the Game participation, which is a particularly economical operation guaranteed.

It should be noted that the credit on the betting account also over debit or settlement by telephone bill, per Electricity bill, direct debit, electronic means of payment, customer cards, Prepaid cards, vouchers etc. can be made; In the present Description includes the terms "credit card, Bank account or similar "," credit card, bank account or the like "," credit card company, Bank companies or the like "all these variants.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention Method is characterized in that at non-evaluable or non-existing caller ID a new one Caller ID is generated and voice delivered. Thereby Also, new customers can immediately participate in the game and the to exploit the full functionality of the system.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the automatic Evaluate the caller ID based on a from the public telephone network transmitted telephone number of Caller. If the caller ID from the telephone network is not transmitted or if the fixed allocation of Game participants to certain telephone connections not desired Alternatively, the automatic evaluation of the Caller ID using a voice recognition method, that compares with a second limited sentence built from given, possible spoken caller IDs Language component patterns. In any case the caller ID is independent of address and thus in the second Case using today available speech recognition method evaluable.

Preferably, the caller ID includes an account number and a password to increase security.

For recognizing the caller's choice, there are two preferred ones Variants. On the one hand, the selection can be made by one of the Telephone network determined telephone dialing number, which for the caller in the manner of an extension extension in appearance occurs, so that the basic choice between tipabgabe and profit request from the caller already when selecting the Systems can be taken. Alternatively, the selection is made of the caller by means of speech output and speech recognition, so that the system outwards with a dial-up number in appearance occurs and is continuously voice-controlled.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a computer program, which implements the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1 ein Blockschaltbild eines telefongestützten Wett- bzw. Glückspielsystems nach dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 2 ein schematisches Blockschaltbild des erfindungsgemäßen Systems;

die Fig. 3a bis 3c Flußdiagramme des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;

Fig. 4a ein Blockschaltbild eines an sich bekannten Spracherkennungsverfahrens;

Fig. 4b ein Flußdiagramm des bei der Erfindung zum Einsatz kommenden Spracherkennungsverfahrens; und

Fig. 5 das Blockschaltbild einer praktischen Realisierungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Computersystems.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art phone-based gaming system; FIG.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the system according to the invention;

FIGS. 3a to 3c are flowcharts of the method according to the invention;

4a is a block diagram of a known speech recognition method;

Fig. 4b is a flow chart of the speech recognition method used in the invention; and

5 shows the block diagram of a practical implementation of the computer system according to the invention.

In the drawings, reference numerals are used, which partly directly as abbreviations for those designated by the so-called Serve components executed functions. Annex 2 contains a list of abbreviations used.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the structure of a known computerized system for processing bets or gambling over the telephone. Call distribution means ACD are connected via K trunks A to the public telephone network PSTN. In the case shown, the call distribution means ACD are composed of a private branch exchange PBX and an interactive voice response module IVR, which outputs voice menus and messages and, if necessary, can be controlled via touch-screen input of a caller A _i . The call distribution means ACD distribute the incoming calls to a number K of headsets P ₁ to P _K , three of which are representative.

Employees at the workstation P _i receive calls and enter or read data from terminals T ₁ to T _K. The data stations T ₁ to T _K are connected to a database DB. The call distribution means ACD can also be in communication with the database DB, for example to distribute calls according to specific priorities to the headsets P ₁ to P _K.

The configuration of Fig. 1 is computerized Call center architecture known and requires K occupied workstations.

Fig. 2 shows the computer system according to the invention. Call distribution means ACD are again connected via K trunks A ₁ to A _K to the (not shown) public telephone network. The call distribution means ACD divide incoming calls on the trunks under control (as will be explained in detail later) to K processing queues Q ₁ to Q _K. Thus, the call distribution means ACD makes the basic decision as to whether calls to a set A of M headsets P ₁ to P _M or to a set B of N speech recognition modules ASR ₁ to ASR _{N are} forwarded.

The processing queues Q ₁ to Q _K may be actual batch-hold latches and queues, eg first-in / first-out, or mere forwarding channels, in which case the call distribution means ACD will simply operate in the form of a private branch exchange.

The number of outgoing queues or channels Q ₁ to Q _K need not be equal to the number of incoming trunks A ₁ to A _K , but may, for example, be less, so that several callers can be in a processing queue.

The control of the call distribution means ACD for forwarding to sentence A or sentence B depends on an automatic Evaluation of a selection made by the caller, u.zw. if he wants a tip (sentence B) or a win request (Sentence A).

In a first variant, this selection can be made by the caller using keypad input (MFV or DTMF) which are evaluated in the call distribution means ACD become. For example, the call distribution means ACD evaluates the last digits of a telephone number dialed by the caller in the manner of an extension extension.

In a second variant, the selection is made by the caller using voice commands. For this purpose, separate, provided in the call distribution means ACD speech recognition modules can be used (not shown). Preferably, however, those speech recognition modules ASR ₁ -ASR _N , which are also used for the conversion of spoken tippings explained below, are also used. For example, in cooperation with a controller S and one or more voice response modules VR connected to the call distribution means ACD, the caller may be requested to enter this selection.

It is understood that the arrangement of the controller S only is exemplary; The controller S may also be in one of the components ACD, ASR, DB or VR arranged or distributed be as known in computer technology.

The speech recognition modules ASR _{i of} the sentence B convert from the caller spoken tip-offs into machine-processable records and store them in a database DB. The spoken tips can be present in a single continuous speech string or - as requested by the voice response module VR - in several individual speech strings.

Each Tipabgabe comprises at least one caller ID and an identifier of the selected game. In case of a bet includes the tip-off also the Wettip and prefers the amount of the bet.

The spoken taps are detected in each speech recognition module ASR _i by comparison with one or more sets V of predetermined speech constituent patterns, such as phonemes, syllables, words, etc. supplied to the speech recognition modules ASR _i .

Fig. 4a shows schematically the sequence of a known per se Speech recognition method. In a first step 41 will be from digital voice information 40 significant features extracted, for example, by subdivision into time periods (frames), sectionwise Fourier transforming and subsequent extraction of certain voice-relevant frequencies. The features of a section form a feature vector.

In a second step 42, the feature vectors the language sections classified, for example phonemes with the help of given sentences V of language constituent patterns.

In a third step 43, a probability evaluation takes place possible word strings, the stored ones Language component pattern sets V are also used can. A well-known probability evaluation model is the hidden Markov model. The N most likely word strings are available at the exit of the procedure.

For a detailed overview of procedures and methods for speech recognition is on Shaughnessy, 0 .: Speech Communication, Human and Machine, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990; and Schukat-Talamazini, E.G .: Automatic Speech Recognition - basics, statistical models and efficient algorithms, Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1995.

The recognition rate of the method can be further increased when the N-best lists of adjacent words are replaced by a Comparison with predefined word combination options be correlated. This procedure is based on the example of Fig. 4b with respect to the voice input "Bayern against Stuttgart" explained in more detail.

The speech recognition process isolates the two team words and gives a N-Best list of recognized teams back, which sorts on the basis of the hit probabilities is. By indistinct or dialectical pronunciation or the uncertainty of speech recognition in general may occur that one or both of the teams are not at the top Stand in the line. For optimization, therefore, the list all offered games from database DB. Through this correlation evaluation, the detection rate in the Compared to the sole recognition of single words significantly increased become.

In the database DB are via (not shown) terminals notes the results of the games of chance or bets, linked to the mentioned records and corresponding from them Profits calculated. The results and profits can be from Callers can be polled using the same system.

The contents of the database DB are also available on the headsets P ₁ to P _M via terminals (not shown) for verifying profit requests, adding addresses to the database and initiating or authorizing payments. Withdrawals can then be made in any desired manner, for example via a network of local branches which is connected to the database DB in online connection. Alternatively, the computer system itself could also credit card, bank account transactions or the like. carry out.

A concrete embodiment of the method of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3c. Fig. 3a essentially shows the first voice menu section for processing the registration in the system, Fig. 3b, the language menu for the administration of the betting account by the user, and Fig. 3c, the language menu for Tipabgabe.

In the further description are under the expression "Entries" always understood language inputs, unless expressly so otherwise stated, and under "Expenditure" or "Requirements" always voice issues.

The basic decision between the forwarding of the call to one of the hearing and speaking sets P _i of the set A in the winning request event or to a speech recognition modules of the set B in Tipabgabefall is realized through the main menu 301 and the Option 3 of the account menu 302 (Fig. 3b) After a preceding, optional logon process Fig. 3a, the caller makes the selection between Tipabgabe, option 1 of the main menu 301, and profit request, option 2 of the main menu 301 and option 3 of the account menu 302. In the first case, the questionnaire Fig. 3c branches, in the second case to one of the headsets and headphones P _i .

Beginning with FIG. 3a, an incoming call is made first In block 303 checks whether one from the public telephone network transmitted Caller ID (CLID) available and registered is. If yes, the caller becomes block 304 Entering a password (PIN number) prompted and in the block 305 checks whether the completed caller ID from CLID, which is also used as an account number, and Password (PIN number) is valid. If yes, it will become the main menu 301 branches.

If block 305 rejects the caller ID, then in a loop over the blocks 306, 307 and 304 two more recent Logon attempts allowed, where block 306 is the number the attempts count and block 307 the explicit input of a Account number instead of the CLID. After three invalid ones Login attempts block 306 drops the call to an employee on a headset Pi.

If block 303 determines that a CLID is not available or is registered, blocks 308 and 309 give an input menu Options 1 = Logon, 2 = New Customer Registration, 3 = explanation and 4 = staff provides. Option 1 of menu 309 branches to block 307 and option 2 Blocks 311 to 318 for the generation of a new caller ID.

The generation of a new caller ID is after one introductory explanation in block 311 with the selection of a currency in block 312, entering the age in block 313 and the Age verification in block 314, with minors the call is ended. Otherwise, one will new account number and a new password (PIN number) in the block 315, output at block 316 and requested at block 317, whether the issue was understood. If so, the caller can in block 318 leave additional information that be recorded as a voice message, without further processing by machine to become. Subsequently, it becomes the CLID or account number entry 307 branches.

After successful registration in the system becomes the main menu 301 of Fig. 3b has progressed. Option 1 of menu 301 is the Selection "Tipabgabe" and branches first to a block 320, which checks whether the betting account of the caller has a credit having. If there is no credit, in block 321 a Warning issued that no bets can be made. Around but to give new customers the opportunity to get to know the system, before they can make a deposit, nevertheless to the Tipabgabemenü Fig. 3c will be continued. In this Case remains, however, the actual placement of bets blocked.

If there is a credit, the balance is at block 322 and also proceeded to the Tipabgabemenü Fig. 3c.

If the caller in the main menu 301, the option 2 = account management selects, branches to account menu 302. This offers the options 1 = nominal account balance (via block 323), 2 = Update account (see below), 3 = Load account or Payout request (see above), 4 = give account report and 5 = Call state-of-last-transaction.

Option 4 returns after entering the period of interest in block 324, an activity report on the account in Block 325.

Updating the account in option 2 can be done with Help of a credit card debit, bank account debit transaction or the like. be made. After announcement of the account balance In block 326 there is the possibility to enter a Credit card, bank account number or the like. (e.g., value card data, Voucher numbers, identification for an electronic form of payment, etc.), after verification (328) of an expiry date in Block 329 and after verification (330) of an amount to be debited in block 331. After re-verification (332), the entire transaction in block 333 repeated again, in the block 334 is again awaiting confirmation, and at block 335 the transaction is carried out.

Each credit card debit, bank account debit transaction or the like. is stored in the database. One to the database connected credit card, bank account or the like. gateway Checked on demand or regularly (polling) all pending transactions awaiting validation for credit standing through interplay with a credit card company, banking company or the like, as known in the art.

In block 236, the caller has the option to wait for this validation or not. If so, loop 337-338 remains in the loop until the transaction is verified. If the result of the validation was positive, block 339 branches to block 341, where the new account balance is issued, otherwise, an error message is output in block 340 and the call is forwarded to a workstation P _i .

Option 5 of account menu 302 allows for later Checking the transaction status; the blocks 342 to 345 essentially correspond to blocks 337 to 341.

Fig. 3c shows the procedure for the tip, starting at Tipabgabemenü 346. In the Tipabgabemenü 346 can first the desired Type of bet, gambling or lottery to be chosen. In the example shown, there are several types of Sports betting, u.zw. Option 1 = football bet, option 2 = car race etc.

The Football Bet Option 1 is further illustrated and branches off to a football betting 347th Here are again different types of bets, u.zw. Single bet Option 1, combined bet Option 2 and goal bet option 3.

The single bet option 1 first requests in block 348 Enter the desired game on which voice input above has already been explained with reference to FIG. 4b. Subsequently the odds of winning in block 349 are posted and in block 350 to enter the desired tip 1, 0 or 2 prompted.

The combination bet in blocks 351 to 355 consists of the successive input of multiple individual bets, the Blocks 351 to 353 correspond to blocks 348 to 350 of the single bet and a loop control over the blocks 354 and 355 takes place.

The goal bet 356 again asks for the desired k Play on, analogous to block 248, and in block 357 can the desired tip can be entered.

After a combination bet or goal bet will be in block 358 the chances are spent.

All three options open at block 359, which checks to see if the remote credit card debit, bank account debit transaction, or the like. has been validated in the meantime. If so, the system branches to block 360 and outputs the result of the transaction. If negative, block 361 drops the call to a workstation P _i . Otherwise, or if no transaction was pending, an insert is requested at block 362.

Block 363 checks to see if the bet is within predefined Borders lies. If not, at block 364, the minimum and the maximum bet is announced and it will be re-entered asked.

Otherwise, block 364 'checks whether the bet from the betting account is covered. If this is not the case, it will be under Output of a warning in block 365 again branches to block 362.

If this test has been passed, is in the Blökken 366 and 367 again asked for confirmation. He follows the acknowledgment, block 368 stores the tip-off as a record in the database.

Fig. 5 shows a practical implementation of the system. A telecommunications system of the type Alcatel 4400 is via three ISDN basic connections A, which each 30 trunks include, connected to the public telephone network PSTN and serves as a call distribution means ACD.

Connected to the ACD are two IVR master servers 511 and 512, which perform the interactive voice response functions and implement the functions of the modules VR and S of FIG. 2. Simple speech recognition methods, such as recognition of single digits or letters, can also from these servers are running.

The IVR master servers 511 and 512 as well as the call distribution means ACD are on a LAN with each other and with the other components of the system in connection. These include a management terminal 501 for administration and an application generator terminal 502 for programming the system.

Complex and computationally intensive speech recognition methods, as stated in particular in blocks 348, 351 and 356 are outsourced to slave server clusters 521 and 522. The computing power is thus scalable in a simple manner.

Over a firewall hub 503 can also be a direct connection of the system to the Internet.

The workstations of the employees or call agents are also connected to the LAN, each comprising a terminal T _i and a headset P _i . An SQL server 504 implements the database DB. A gateway server 505 provides the gateway for validating credit card debit, bank account debit transactions, or the like. and is connected to one or more credit card companies, banks or the like via a connection (not shown). in connection.

The programming of the entire system is modular e.g. using graphical development tools to create IVR applications, such as the application generator software VIOLA available from Alcatel. When Speech recognition software on the slave server clusters 521 and 522 will be the software-based product L & H ASR 1500 / TSO the Company Lernout and Houspie used. This product is in the Lage, with speaker-independent recognition an active vocabulary of about 500 words in six different languages recognize a recognition rate of 95%.

The SQL database managed by the SQL Server 504 is based on the Microsoft SQL Server 6.5. In order to abstract the access of the described programs to the database, the functions listed in Table 1 below were defined as interfaces to the database and implemented in the form of stored procedures. function description SP_GetSpofNoWeek Returns the WettNr. based on the week and game no. SP_GetAccount Seek out the WettKtoNr. due to the Caller ID SP_Logon Sign in with WettKtoNr. and PIN code SP_CreateAccount Create a new betting account for new customers SP GetBalance Returns the account balance of a betting account SP_PayIn Deposit on the betting account by credit card SP_CheckTrans Check a credit card transaction SP_GetCBHistory Provides an overview of placed multiple bets SP_GetSMHistory Provides an overview of placed single bets SP_GetPayHistory Provides an overview of deposits and withdrawals on the betting account SP_GetSpofNo Returns the WettNr. based on the team names SP_GetOdds Returns the odds to a bet SP_PlaceSMBet Placing a single bet SP_GetCBOfferNo Returns the WettNr. the combo bet SP_GetStakeAmt Returns the min and max bets for a bet SP_PlaceGoalBet Placing a goal bet SP_PlaceCBBet Placing a combination bet SP_GetOpenMatches Returns a list of all open games and teams

Access to these functions can be achieved by using a ODBC driver from almost any system; such drivers are available for many types of operating systems. The exact specification of the parameters listed in Table 1 Procedures are listed in Appendix 1.

The database DB also allows complete logging all user activities. If desired, you can in the database also all incoming calls as speech strings be logged (voice logging).

The invention can be applied to all types of bets, Games of chance, lotteries, telephone games or the like apply and is of course not on the illustrated embodiments but includes all variants which in fall within the scope of the attached claims.

ANNEX 1 Definition of the database interface 1) SP_GetSpofNoWeek

input parameters @weekno ( int ) / @coupmatchno ( int ) output parameters @betofferno (int) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

2) SP_GetAccount

input parameters @callerid ( varchar (30) ) output parameters @accountno (latest for specified caller id) (int) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

3) SP_Logon

input parameters @accountno (int) / @pinno (varchar (5)) /
@callerid (optional) ( varchar (30)) / output parameters @language ( varchar (8)) (if no account exists, return an empty string) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

4) SP_CreateAccount

input parameters @DOB ( varchar (11)) / @language (default
German) (varchar (8)) / @ currency char (3) /
@caller id (optional) ( varchar (30)) output parameters @accountno (int) / @pinno (char (5)) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

5) SP_GetBalance

input parameters @accountno ( int ) output parameters @currency ( char (3)) / @ balance ( int) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

6) SP_PayIn

input parameters @credcardno ( varchar (30)) / @expdate ( int ) /
@accountno ( int ) / @amount ( int ) output parameters @transcode ( int) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

7) SP_CheckTrans

input parameters @transcode ( int) output parameters @state ( smallint ) 0 = rejected / invalid card number 1 = rejected / internal error 2 = not processed 3 = successfully processed return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

8) SP_GetCBHistory

input parameters @accountno ( int) / @datefr ( datetime) output parameters none return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set Details of the combo bet as follows:
bet number date name
Use: stake profit : winnings
Status: state Result: (right / wrong)
(List of single bets summarized in this combo bet)
bet number match name date
Tip: option Quote: odd Status: state

9) SP_GetSMHistory

input parameters @accountno ( int) / @datefr ( datetime) output parameters none return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set Details of the bets as follows:
Bet number date betname
Tip option Quote odd Use: stake
Profit: winnings Status: state
Result: (right / wrong)

10) SP_GetPayHistory

input parameters @accountno ( int) / @datefr ( datetime) output parameters none return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set Details of the payment as follows:
Date type of payment
fund customer balance

11) SP_GetSpofNo

input parameters @ team1 ( varchar (30)) / @ team2 (optional)
( varchar (30)) / @matchdate (optional)
( varchar (12)) output parameters none return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set Details of each match of input parameters; The details of each match correspond to a row in the result set and include match name, bet offer number and match date.

12) SP_GetOdds

input parameters @betofferno ( int ) output parameters none return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set List of options and odds for the bet offer number. Includes goal and single bets. The columns in the result set are as follows: odds / option.

13) SF_PlaceSMBet

input parameters @betofferno ( int ) / @optinono (smallint) /
@stake ( int ) / @accountno (int) output parameters @Returncode ( smallint) 1 = bet successfully sold 2 = bet closed return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result Satzs none

14) SP_GetCBOfferNo

input parameters none output parameters @combobetofferno ( int) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

15) SP_GetStakeAmt

input parameters @spofno ( int ) / @accountno ( int ) output parameters @maxstake ( int ) / @minstake ( int ) return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

16) SP_PlaceGoalBet

input parameters @predictedscore ( varchar (30)) / @betofferno
( int) / @stake ( int) / @accountno ( int) output parameters @Returncode (smallint) 1 = bet successfully sold 2 = bet closed return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

17) SP_PlaceCBBet

input parameters @cbbetofferno ( int ) / @accountno ( int ) /
@smbetofferno ( varchar (50)) (numbers concatenated with "*") / @optinos ( varchar (20)) (concatenated with "*") /
@stake ( int) output parameters @Returncode ( smallint) 1 = bet successfully sold 2 = bet closed return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set none

18) SP_GetOpenMatches

input parameters @fnweek ( int ) Output parameters none return code 0 = success / 1 = failure result set Each line contains matchname, team 1 and team 2 in this match

ANNEX 2 List of abbreviations

ACD

Automatic call distribution
(Automatic Call Distribution)

ASR

Automatic speech recognition
(Automated Speech Recognition)

CLID

Caller ID (Caller ID)

CSTA

Computer Supported Telecommunication Architecture

DTMF

Multi-frequency dialing (DTMF)
(Dual Tone Multiple Frequency)

IVR

Interactive Voice Response (Interactive Voice response)

LAN

Local Area Network

ODBC

Open Database Connectivity

PBX

PBX (Private Branch Exchange)

pin code

Personal identification number
(Personal Identification Number)

PSTN

Public telephone network
(Public Switched Telephone Network)

SQL

Structured Query Language

VR

Voice Response

Claims (9)

1. A method of processing bets or games of chance, comprising wagering and prize requests, from callers with addresses assigned to them, over the telephone network using a computer system connected to the telephone network, to which system a database and headsets are connected, involving the following steps:

   a) making available a first restricted set of predetermined speech component patterns in the database, which patterns build up possible spoken wagers,

   b) acceptance of an incoming call by the computer system,

   c) automatic evaluation of an address-independent caller identifier of the caller or, in the event of a non-evaluatable or absent caller identifier, generation and voice output of a new address-independent caller identifier, with preceding or subsequent

   d) identification of a selection made by the caller between address-less wagering on the one hand or a prize request on the other hand and, depending on what is identified, either

   d1) in the case of wagering: conversion of the caller's spoken wager(s) using a speech recognition method, which performs a comparison with the first set of speech component patterns, into a machine-processable data record and storage of the data record together with the caller identifier in the database, or

   d2) in the case of a prize request: forwarding of the prize request to a headset for the caller to pass on his/her address for the purpose of prize allocation.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that automatic evaluation of the caller identifier takes place on the basis of the caller's telephone number transmitted by the public telephone network.
3. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that automatic evaluation of the caller identifier takes place using a speech recognition method, which performs a comparison with a second restricted set of predetermined speech component patterns, which build up possible spoken caller identifiers.
4. A method according to claim 3, characterised in that the caller identifier comprises an account number and a password.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised by the steps of
      making available a third restricted set of predetermined speech component patterns in the database, which patterns build up possible spoken credit card payment or bank account debit transactions or the like, and
      conversion of a caller's spoken credit card payment or bank account debit transaction or the like using a speech recognition method, which performs a comparison with the third set of speech component patterns, into a machine-processable transaction record, which is stored in the database with the caller identifier.
6. A method according to claim 5, characterised in that the transaction records in the database are checked for creditworthiness via a credit card or bank account verification terminal or the like.
7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the selection in step d) takes place using a telephone dial digit transmitted by the telephone network.
8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the selection in step d) takes place using voice output and speech recognition.
9. A computer program, implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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