IE20030675A1

IE20030675A1 - Lottery top-ups

Info

Publication number: IE20030675A1
Application number: IE20030675A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Paul Kidney
Original assignee: Paul Kidney
Priority date: 2003-09-15
Filing date: 2003-09-15
Publication date: 2006-08-23

Abstract

Unique numbers are generated on a Central Database and sent via modem, GSM or Landline or GPRS to a Point of sale terminal in a retail outlet which are then sold to the general public in various denominations and numbers that are then used on a mobile phone to allow the consumer play the Lottery or similar games on the mobile phone handset.

Description

Background A lot of mobile phones are now given access to the Network by means of a pre-paid electronic voucher. This voucher contains 10-16 digits that represent the amount of money paid for the access to the network. These vouchers are now sold electronically through POS terminals, ATM’s, vending machines, Internet, SMS and scratch cards.

The outline of the invention is to combine or modify this number range to allow the purchaser to top-up the mobile phone and enter into a Lottery at the same time using the mobile phone technology to identify the timing and owner of the winning prize.

For example a consumer, over 18 or whatever the legal age pertaining, walks into a retail store and asks for a €13 Lottery-up. A unique/lumber is issued by the E-Top up terminal and is not the same as a normal mobile phone top-up. In this example €10 euro used for phone top-up and €3 euro is used for a play in the Lottery.

The consumer enters the 10-16 digit e-Top-up number in his/her mobile phone.

The caller line identifier on the SIM card is logged automatically with the mobile phone operator. This will register and identify the time and unique number used to enter the game.

A draw then takes place and the winner is notified by text message, national paper, TV or Internet This type of transaction can also occur through a vending machine, ATM, Internet or by SMS.

The following Claims were filed on 10 June 2004 IE 0 3 0 6 7 5 Submission of a Patent Application Inventor Paul Kidney Date 11 September 2003.

Invention Lottery Top-ups AbstractUnique numbers are generated on a Central Database and sent via modem, GSM or Landline or GPRS to a Point of sale terminal in a retail outlet which are then sold to the general public in various denominations and numbers that are then used on a mobile phone to allow the consumer play the Lottery or similar games on the mobile phone handset.

For example a consumer, over 18 or whatever the legal age pertaining, walks into retail store and asks for a €13 Lottery-top up. A unique number is issued by the E-Top up terminal and is not the same as a normal mobile phone top-up. In this example €10 euro used for phone top-up and €3 euro is used for a play in the Lottery.

The consumer enters the 10-16 digit e-Top-up number in his/her mobile phone.

The transaction can also be conducted by issuing a new unique number to the consumer that allows the consumer to buy 1,2 3,4, 5, 6 etc games in advance without the need to visit the retail store once or twice weekly.

The Lottery top-up is a separate transaction identifier to the traditional mobile phone top-up. ΙΕ ο 3 Ο 67 5 Steps 1. The owner of a mobile phone sends a text message to the Network Operator saying the words Lotto or Lottery. 2. The Network responds and sends back a text message asking name, age or some form of ID such as passport number, National ID no, Social Welfare number.

. The mobile phone owner/user texts back ‘joe Murphy, 25, passport no 1235679 4. The Caller Line Identification (CL1) is recorded to match the player, the handset and the mobile phone number.

. The Network Operator sends a small application to the mobile phone that allows the owner/user play the lottery/game 6. The Mobile Operator registers that person i.e. Joe Murphy and ID and phone in central database. 7. The consumer can now go to any store with a terminal/EPOS and ask for a Lottery Top-up. 8. They hand over the money and request either a number of games i.e. 10 games or €20 euro worth of Lottery Top-up 9. The player enters his Lottery selection in the handset application previously sent by the Mobile Phone Operator (see point 4 above) . When the numbers are selected the player enters his Lottery Top-up unique number and sends the text back to the Mobile Operator.

IL These numbers are registered and sent to the National Lottery or Game organiser. 12. The amount used on play credit is recorded by the Network Operator. A balance is recorded for next play. 13. The Lottery occurs as normal and all winners a using a Lottery Top-up are notified by text message with a unique code. 14. The code is stored as a text message in the mobile phone.

. The winner proceeds to a retail outlet to claim the prize with the relevant handset and ID (see point 3) 16. The shopkeeper enters into the POS/Electronic terminal the unique numbers. These numbers are then sent via GSM, GPRS or Landline to the Network Operator. They are validated and a small receipt is printed on the POS/Electronic Terminal. The payment is made to the player. 17. The transaction is over.

Claims

Claims A method of playing lottery type games on a mobile phone by issuing a unique Lottery Top-up transaction identifier or identifiers.

1. The normal playing of a lottery is done by playing in store. Lottery top-up eliminates the need to play in the shop.

2. The Lottery Top-up allows th,e consumer to keep his call credit on the mobile phone and not run-out of call time.

3. The Lottery top-up allows the consumer to play anytime or anyplace.

4. The Lottery Top-up allows the consumer to buy 1,2 3,4, 5,6 etc games in advance without the need to visit the retail store once or twice weekly.

5. The Lottery Top-up allows the Mobile Phone Networks preserve their call credit (ARPU) high.

6. If the Lottery Top-up is not used and the call credit is used instead, the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) would fall and the value of remaining cull time to the networks would also fall.

7. The payment of prizes is done by way of issuing an encrypted code that allows the winner present his mobile phone in the store and the winning number is entered into a POS terminal where the winning entry is identified at the central database and deemed to have been paid to the winner by the retailer.

8. The Lottery top-up is a separate transaction identifier to the traditional mobile phone top-up.

9. No credit cards are needed to play with Lottery Top-up

10. No post paid mobile phone account is needed with Lottery Top-up

11. All pre-paid phone owners/users can play with Lottery Top-up

12. No travelling to the store is needed with Lottery Top-up

13. No long queues at the store need form with a Lottery Top-up

14. Only when the handset, the player with ID and the winning transaction identifier are presented will payments be made.

15. The Lottery Top-up registration eliminates the playing of the game by any underage persons.

16. The Lottery Top-up can be a unique lottery only access number or a combination of Top-up credit for the mobile phone and a lottery play (by denomination or by a requested number of plays)