Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
  • G06Q50/10—Services
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/04—Billing or invoicing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
  • G07F17/3216—Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
  • G07F17/3218—Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects wherein at least part of the system is portable
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
  • G07F17/3223—Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a gaming system and method.
• the gaming system and method is particularly relevant to a lottery.
• ⁇ ⁇ participants may be limited to submitting one entry to a game at one time
• the present invention seeks to provide a gaming system and method that alleviates some or all of these problems to some extent.
• a gaming system comprising:
• an invoicing means for invoicing the player for participating in the game the invoicing means arranged to be coupled to the communications network and independent of the games facilitator but operable to communicate therewith via the communications network;
• the games facilitator is operable to receive a first communication from the player containing a set of game entry information, the first communication being sent via the communications means via the communications network;
• the invoicing means is operable to generate a game participation invoice having a unique invoice identifier in response to the notification and to communicate the unique invoice identifier to the games facilitator via the communications network;
• the games facilitator is operable to enter the player in the game and associate the player's game entry with the unique invoice identifier;
• the games facilitator is operable to determine a winner of the game by comparing the set of game entry information with a set of winning criteria, and, if the player is determined to be the winner, to send a second communication to the player containing winning information.
• the communications means is a mobile phone.
• the communications identifier may be the phone number of the mobile phone.
• the gaming method further comprises registering the player to participate in the game.
• the step of registering the player may comprise:
• the registration identifier may be a password. It is advantageous for the password to satisfy predetermined criteria for increased security.
• the predetermined criteria may require the password to be of at least four characters in length and comprise a combination of letters and numerals.
• the gaming method further comprises associating the communications identifier with the player's game entry.
• the first communication is sent via a mobile phone.
• the Communications identifier may be the phone number of the mobile phone.
• the gaming method includes selecting the game to be entered from a plurality of games.
• the server comprises processing means operable to:
• the processing means is further operable to send the second communication to the player determined to be the winner.
• the server further comprises registration means for registering the player to participate in the game.
• the registration means allocates the player a registration identifier that is included in the set of game entry information, and is associated with the player's game entry and the unique invoice identifier.
• the password satisfies predetermined criteria.
• the second communication is received via the communications means.
• the communications identifier is the phone number of the mobile phone.
• the server further comprises games program means stored in storage means of the server or storage means of the communications means to facilitate the entry of the player in the game.
• the games program means is transferable to the storage means of the communications means from the storage means of the server.
• Figure 1 is a schematic of a first embodiment of a gaming system and method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a network diagram of the gaming system and method of Figure 1.
• FIG. 1 and 2 there is shown a first embodiment of a gaming system 10 in accordance with the present invention.
• the gaming system 10 comprises:
• communications means in the form of a mobile phone 12
• invoicing means in the form of an invoicing system 18; and a games facilitator 20.
• the mobile phone 12 is owned and operated by a player 22.
• the mobile phone 12 has storage means in the form of a memory, not shown, adapted to store the games program 14 after transfer or download thereto. Additionally, the mobile phone 12 has an operating system, not shown, for executing application software stored in the memory, such as the games program 14.
• the communications means is not limited to being a mobile phone, however.
• the communications means may be any communications device capable of sending and optionally receiving messages via a communications network, including any mobile communications device, Personal Computer (“PC") 13, Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”) 15, satellite phone, landline telephone 17, wrist watch communicator, input device, or dedicated gaming device.
• PC Personal Computer
• PDA Personal Digital Assistant
• the communications network 16 includes all features of known cellular radiotelephone networks - including a number of base stations BS1 , BS2, and a network service centre 24.
• the communications network 16 comprises a number of "cells" 25 - each cell being served by a base station.
• Mobile stations such as the mobile phone 12, can roam within the communications network 16, and are in communication with the base station serving the cell in which they are located - provided that they are either in an active mode or a standby or "listening" mode.
• the mobile stations are able to send and receive signals to and from the base stations BS1 , BS2 to transmit data - such as audio, control and text data - to the network service centre 24, and from there to it's intended recipient, such as other mobile stations, or servers such as Internet servers.
• the carrier provides a Short Message Service (“SMS”) on the communications network 16, and, in this regard, the network service centre 24 includes a short message service centre (“SMSC”) 27 that is operable to manage the SMS functions of the communications network 16.
• SMSC 27 receives SMS messages from a variety of sources, identifies the sender, the content and the recipient for the message, and delivers it to that recipient.
• a subscriber or user of the communications network 16 can send or receive text messages using the SMS provided on the communications network 16, for example using a mobile station such as the mobile phone 12, or using a computer such as a facilitator computer 29 of the games facilitator 20 coupled to an SMS gateway via the Internet, or any other suitable means.
• the invoicing system 18 is operably associated with the SMSC 27 to generate an invoice or charge to the sender of the SMS identified by the SMSC 27.
• the amount of the invoice or charge generated may vary according to a number of factors which may include the identity of the sender, the identify of the recipient, and/or the content of the SMS as identified by the SMSC 27.
• the mobile phone 12 is in data communication with the facilitator computer 29 of the games facilitator 20 via the communications network 16.
• the facilitator computer 29 of the games facilitator 20 is also in data communication with the invoicing system 18 via the communications network 16.
• the invoicing system 18 has an accounts database 26.
• the accounts database has a plurality of records 28. Each record 28 comprises a set of account information relating to a user of the communications network 16, including:
• the password must satisfy predetermined criteria.
• the password must be of at least four characters and comprise a combination of letters and numerals.
• Each record 28 is allocated to a particular user of the communications network 16.
• One of the records 28 is for the player 22, and hereafter shall be referred to as the player record 30.
• the player record 30 facilitates the invoicing of the player 22 by the carrier for the player's 22 use of the communications network 16.
• the carrier allocates a pre-designated telephone number to the games facilitator 20.
• the pre-designated telephone number is used to designate the games facilitator 20 as the recipient of communication messages sent via the communications network 16.
• the pre-designated telephone number is a global or worldwide telephone number, and may be used from a connection to the communications network 16 anywhere in the world to identify the games facilitator 20 as the recipient of a communication message sent thereby.
• a first time player 22 sends an SMS message 32 to the pre-designated number via the mobile phone 12.
• the facilitator computer 29 of the games facilitator 20 comprises a gaming application server cluster having facilitator memory for storing a registration database 36, a game entry database 48, a facilitator program, not shown, and a facilitator operating system for executing application software stored in the facilitator memory, such as the facilitator program. Additionally, the facilitator computer 29 comprises a processor, not shown, coupled to the facilitator memory.
• the facilitator computer 29 receives the SMS message 32 sent to the pre- designated number.
• the facilitator computer 29 transmits an address of the facilitator memory at which the games program 14 is located to the mobile phone 12 and requires the player 22 to execute a download sequence to download the games program 14.
• the mobile phone 12 stores the games program 14 in the memory of the mobile phone 12.
• the games program 14 is executable by the operating system on command of the player 22.
• the games facilitator 20 sends the player 22 an SMS message 40 confirming that the player 22 has successfully registered to participate in the game and informing the player 22 of the allocated registration number 38.
• the games program 14 records the allocated registration number 38 in the memory of the mobile phone 12.
• the games facilitator 20 may be unable to enter the set of registration information in the registration database 36. This may occur when, for example, there is an error in the credit card account details provided by the player 22. In such a situation, the games facilitator 20 sends the player 22 an SMS message 42 informing the player 22 that the player's 22 attempt to register to participate in the game has been unsuccessful and prompting the player 22 to repeat the registration process.
• the date of birth information included in the details of the player record 30 may reveal that the player 22 is too young to legally participate in the game.
• the games facilitator 20 sends the player 22 an SMS message 43 informing the player 22 that the player 22 is too young to register to participate in the game and inviting the player 22 to attempt to register again once the player 22 is older.
• the games program 14 If the player 22 has been successfully registered, the games program 14 presents a set of game questions to the player, requesting information pertinent to the game.
• the game is a lottery, and the pertinent information includes six numbers between 1 and 44 selected by the player 22, as well as th ⁇ registration number 38.
• the player's 22 responses to the set of game questions comprises a set of game entry information.
• the games program 14 sends the set of game entry information in an SMS message 44 to the games facilitator 20 via the mobile phone 12.
• the games facilitator 20 conducts a predetermined number of rounds of games over a particular time period, with the opportunity for the player 22 to enter a particular round ceasing at a predetermined time at the end of the period. If the player 22 attempts to enter a particular round after the predetermined time has lapsed, the player 22 is entered in the game of the following round. The procedure for game entry is described in further detail below.
• the games facilitator 20 conducts two rounds of lottery each week, one on a first predetermined day, and one on a second predetermined day.
• the opportunity for the player 22 to enter the round conducted on the first predetermined day expires at a first predetermined time on the first predetermined day.
• the opportunity for the player 22 to enter the round conducted on the second predetermined day expires at a second predetermined time on the second predetermined day.
• the player 22 attempts to enter the round conducted on the first predetermined day after the first predetermined time has expired, the player 22 is entered rn the following round, conducted on the second predetermined day. In a similar manner, if the player 22 attempts to enter the round conducted on the second predetermined day after the second predetermined time has expired, the player 22 is entered in the following round, conducted on the first predetermined day.
• Each round is allocated a unique round number 47 by the games facilitator 20.
• the unique round number 47 is used to identify the round.
• the carrier charges a game entry fee to the player record 30 via the invoicing system 18 as follows.
• SMS messages are received by the SMSC 27 of the network service centre 24.
• an invoice number 46 recording and containing details of this charge, is allocated by the invoicing system 18 and communicated to the SMSC 27.
• the SMSC 27 then delivers the SMS message 44, and the invoice number 46, to the games facilitator 20.
• the games facilitator 20 On receipt of the SMS message 44 containing the set of game entry information, and the invoice number 46, the games facilitator 20, via the facilitator computer 29, records the time of receipt of the same in a time stamp 49, that is subsequently used to determine the unique round number 47 of the game the player 22 will be entered into. It is important to note that the time stamp 49 records the time of receipt of the SMS message 44 by the games facilitator 20, and not the time the SMS message 44 was sent according to the mobile phone 12. The games facilitator 20 then enters the player 22 in the game via the facilitator computer 29. This is achieved by entering the set of game entry information including the registration number 38, the corresponding invoice number 46, and the time stamp 49 in the game entry database 48.
• the set of game entry information including the registration number 38, the corresponding invoice number 46, and the time stamp 49, comprise one entry in the game entry database 48, and are allocated a unique entry number 50 by the games facilitator 20 via the facilitator computer 29.
• the games facilitator 20 sends the player 22 an SMS message 52 confirming that the player 22 has successfully entered the game, and informing the player 22 of the following information which is subsequently recorded by the games program 14 in the memory of the mobile phone 12:
• the games facilitator 20 In the event that the games facilitator 20 is unable to enter any of the set of game entry information, the corresponding invoice number 46, the time stamp 49, or the unique round number 47 in the game entry database 48, the games facilitator 20 sends the player 22 an SMS message 54 informing the player 22 that the player's 22 attempt to enter the game has been unsuccessful and prompting the player 22 to try again. This may be the case when the set of game entry information provided by the player 22 only includes three numbers, rather than six, for example.
• the games program 14 facilitates the player 22 saving a plurality of sets of six "lucky" numbers in the memory of the mobile phone 12.
• a particular set of lucky numbers from the plurality of sets of lucky numbers may be selected by the player 22 in response to the set of game questions when entering a game.
• the games program 14 also facilitates the player 22 sending a plurality of entries to a game simultaneously, as an alternative to submitting one entry at a time.
• the SMSC 27 of the carrier determines the number of entries in the plurality of entries by counting the number of semicolons, and a proportionate game entry fee is charged via the invoicing system 18;
• the games facilitator 20 sends the player 22 an SMS message 58 notifying the player 22 of their win.
• the SMS message 58 additionally instructs the player 22 to contact the games facilitator 20 within five working days by sending an SMS message via the mobile phone 12 stating the registration number 38, the player's 22 password, the invoice number 46 and the entry number 50 to claim a prize.
• the prize is an amount of money.
• the prize is an item of value, such as a house or car.
• the prize for the game round "jackpots" and is added to the prize for the following game round.
• the player 22 On receipt of the SMS message 58, to claim a prize the player 22 sends an SMS message 60 in response to the games facilitator 20 confirming that the player 22 wishes to receive the prize and stating the registration number 38, the player's 22 password, the invoice number 46 and the entry number 50.
• the facilitator computer 29 of the games facilitator 20 compares the registration number 38, the player's 22 password, the invoice number 46 and the entry number 50 contained in the SMS message 60 and the phone number of the phone used to send the SMS message 60 with:
• the games facilitator 20 provides the prize to the player 22 in an appropriate manner depending on the prize. For example, in the embodiment described where the prize is an amount of money, the games facilitator 20 posts the prize to the address of the player 22, or credits the prize to the credit card account of the player 22. Where necessary, the games facilitator 20 retrieves the necessary address or credit card account details from the set of registration information in the registration database 36 corresponding to the registration number 38.
• the game's facilitator 20 may deliver the prize to the player's 22 address.
• the games facilitator 20 may organise to meet with the player 22 to arrange for transfer of ownership of the house to the player 22.
• the games facilitator 20 can receive SMS messages from communications devices other than the mobile phone 12, such as a personal computer, or a different mobile phone.
• the games facilitator 20 will disregard any SMS messages it receives from such communications devices purporting to be the SMS message 50. In this manner, the sender of such an SMS message will not be verified as the player 22 and the prize will not be posted or credited.
• the games facilitator 20 also determines a first and a second consolation prize winning entry 64 and 66 from the entries in the game entry database 48.
• the entry for which five of the six numbers selected in the set of game entry information match five of the numbers in the set of six random numbers is deemed to be the first consolation prize winning entry 64.
• the entry for which four of the six numbers selected in the set of game entry information match four of the numbers in the set of six random numbers is deemed to be the second consolation prize winning entry 66.
• the amount of money comprising the prize in the embodiment described is evenly distributed amongst the winning players.
• the prize is an item, such as a house, and more than one player has an entry corresponding to the winning entry 56, the item is sold, and the amount of money raised through the sale of the item is evenly distributed amongst the winning players.
• Revenue generated from the player's 22 participation in the game arising from the game entry fee charged is shared between the games facilitator 20 and the carrier according to an agreement between them. Such agreement may also include the sharing of revenue generated from communications sent by the player 22 to the games facilitator 20 via the communications network 16, such as SMS message 32.
• the game is a set of sporting competitions, such as a set of football matches ("footy tipping"), a set of boxing matches, or a set of horse races ("horse betting”).
• the information pertinent to the game requested by the set of game questions includes a team or an individual selected by the player 22 to win each sporting competition in the set of sporting competitions, as well as the registration number 38.
• the winning entry 56 is determined by the games facilitator 20 noting the team or individual who actually wins each sporting competition, and comparing this with the team or individual selected in the set of game entry information for each entry in the game entry database 48. The entry for which the most number of winners is picked is deemed to be the winning entry 56.
• the game can be any game or competition from which a winner can be determined.
• the game comprise casino gaming, network gaming, and board gaming.
• the information pertinent to the game requested by the set of game questions includes a notification that the player 22 wishes to have a random, or "slikpik" entry.
• the games facilitator 20 randomly chooses the selections for the set of game entry information for the player 22, according to the game being played.
• the games facilitator 20 may provide a plurality of games, such as a lottery, footy tipping and horse betting.
• the games program 14 is operable to allow the player 22 to select which of the plurality of games they wish to participate in.
• the player 22 may operate the games program 14 to participate in a lottery game, and then subsequently operate the games program 14 to participate in a footy tipping game.
• the set of registration information may be stored in the memory of the mobile phone 12.
• the games program 14 copies the set of registration information directly from the memory of the mobile phone 12.
• the games facilitator 20 may have a games website which may be accessed to initiate the transmission of the games program 14 from the games facilitator 20 to the mobile phone 12.
• the mobile phone 12 additionally comprises a Wireless Application Protocol ("WAP") browser.
• WAP Wireless Application Protocol
• the WAP browser is operable by the player 22 via the mobile phone 12 to access the games website and download and store the games program 14 in the memory of the mobile phone 12.
• the games facilitator 20 may have a registration website facilitating the registration of the player 22. To register, the player 22 accesses the registration website. The registration website then presents the set of registration questions to the player 22.
• the player's 22 responses to the registration questions namely the set of registration information, is processed by the games facilitator 20 as described previously once the player 22 has responded to all of the registration questions, with the games facilitator 20 communicating with the player 22 via the registration website.
• the player 22 may enter games without using the games program 14.
• the player 22 sends an SMS message comprising the registration number 38 and the set of game entry information to the games facilitator 20.
• the invoicing system 18 may be owned and/or operated by an entity other than the carrier, provided that the entity is independent of the games facilitator 20.
• the facilitator computer of the games facilitator may comprise security means, such as a firewall, to prevent unauthorised access thereto;
• the games facilitator may comprise identifying means for identifying a communications message sent from or via an unauthorised source.
• the unauthorised source may, for example, be a player who is not permitted to participate in the game because of residence in a country where participation in the game is illegal or because of committing a prohibited action, an unwelcome marketeer such as a spammer, or a communications network operated by a different carrier or service provider.
• the games facilitator preferably further comprises blocking means to block communications messages identified by the identifying means as being sent from or via an unauthorised source;
• Communications sent via the communications network 16 from the mobile phone 12 such as the SMS message 44 may be encrypted.
• Such encryption reduces the likelihood of fraud being committed, and also reduces the likelihood of errors in communications sent.

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• 2005
  • 2005-07-07 US US11/631,903 patent/US20080254887A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-07-07 EP EP05756655A patent/EP1782305A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-07-07 CN CNA200580028406XA patent/CN101048792A/zh active Pending
  • 2005-07-07 JP JP2007519567A patent/JP2008504911A/ja active Pending
  • 2005-07-07 CA CA002572849A patent/CA2572849A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-07-07 WO PCT/AU2005/000998 patent/WO2006002494A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-07-07 KR KR1020077003018A patent/KR20070048187A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-07-07 TW TW094123306A patent/TW200629800A/zh unknown
• 2007
  • 2007-01-25 ZA ZA200700702A patent/ZA200700702B/en unknown

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