Classifications

• • 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
  • 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
  • G06Q50/34—Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• • 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
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
  • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• • 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
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
• • 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
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
  • G06Q20/12—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• • 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
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
  • G06Q20/387—Payment using discounts or coupons
• • 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
  • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• • 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
  • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C15/00—Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus
  • G07C15/005—Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus with dispensing of lottery tickets
• • 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
  • G07F17/3248—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• • 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
  • G07F17/3255—Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
  • G07F5/24—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks with change-giving
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
  • G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G1/00—Cash registers
  • G07G1/0036—Checkout procedures
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G1/00—Cash registers
  • G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G5/00—Receipt-giving machines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to point-of-sale terminals, and, more specifically, to
• This invention relates to a lottery ticket transaction system. More particularly, the
• present invention relates to a system and a method for selling lottery tickets using point-of-
• Government-conducted lotteries offer the public a
• the lottery terminal operator inserts the lottery playslip into a reader at the lottery terminal, which optically reads the lottery playslip using a known mark-sense
• the dedicated lottery terminal then communicates the player's selected numbers to
• a variety of games may be played in a typical lottery.
• conventional lottery games In conventional lottery games,
• a player purchases a lottery ticket.
• a lottery ticket Inscribed on that lottery ticket are one or more lottery
• serial number functions as a simple method of fraud
• the player can determine if the lottery ticket is a winner - immediately after purchase.
• fractions of certain high-priced lottery tickets e.g., a half, or quarter share of a lottery
• These retail stores typically place the dedicated lottery terminal away from one or more POS
• merchandise transaction line is not slowed-down or blocked by customers wishing to make
• Separate terminals may also force the customers to wait in two separate lines, or may
• a dedicated lottery terminal uses counter
• the current lottery system does not allow for the sale of fractional value lottery
• POS point-of-sale
• POS terminals such as cash registers.
• Store cashiers use POS terminals for calculating the total
• Some POS terminals furthermore track purchases made and adjust a database of store
• the amount of change due is the difference between the purchase price and the
• terminals merely calculate purchase prices and amounts of change due, and cannot reduce
• ticket numbers allow both the ticket holder and a lottery agent to identify whether the ticket
• the serial number uniquely identifies the lottery ticket, and is
• the serial number may be used to verify whether the ticket numbers inscribed on a
• a typical lottery ticket has six ticket numbers, each selected from a range, such as
• POS point-of-sale
• a customer may bring a purchase to a POS terminal, and the POS terminal may calculate the purchase
• the customer may be sold a 26% share of a $1 lottery ticket in
• Point-of-sale terminals such as cash registers, are used in a wide variety of
• POS terminals may be further useful in performing related
• POS terminals may be used with
• An upsell as defined therein and used herein, means a product (good or
• Types of upsells include (i) an upgrade
• a first product for $1.74 may be offered a second product in exchange for $0.26 (the change
• a POS terminal may calculate the
• the POS terminal determines which of a plurality of upsells may
• Point-of-sale terminals such as cash registers, are used in a wide variety of items.
• Some POS terminals are POS terminals
• a POS terminal may perform a supplementary process in addition to performing the
• a supplementary process can increase sales, and thereby increase
• the POS terminal determines an upsell in
• the upsell price $0.26, thus depends on the purchase price $1.74.
• Patent No. 5,353,219 describes a system for suggesting items for a customer to purchase
• Patent Application No. 08/841,791 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELLING SUBSCRIPTIONS
• Such supplementary processes may be performed solely within the POS terminal
• a cash register may be programmed to calculate an amount of change
• supplementary process may be performed with the assistance of a device in communication
• a remote server computer connected to the cash register
• a communications network may determine an upsell to offer in exchange for the change
• a supplementary process performed at a POS terminal may undesirably slow the rate
• Point-of-sale terminals such as cash registers, are used in a wide variety of items.
• Some POS terminals are POS terminals
• the POS terminal determines an upsell in dependence on a purchase of the customer
• a customer purchasing a first product for $1.74 and tendering $2.00 may be
• the upsell price $0.26, thus depends on the purchase price $1.74; the upsell
• a business may have several different upsells that may be offered. In fact,
• offering an upsell may in addition to the difficulty of selecting an upsell to offer.
• offering an upsell will prompt the customer to accept the upsell and, consequently, provide
• Point-of-sale terminals such as cash registers, are used in a wide variety of items.
• terminals may also be used with an offering system in order to provide offers to customers.
• Such offering systems may be intended to increase sales, and thereby increase the average
• upsell price (the amount of change due) based on the purchase. For example, a customer
• the upsell price $0.26, thus depends on the purchase price $1.74.
• Another type of offering system is a computer-determined "suggestive sell". U.S.
• Patent No. 5,353,219 describes a system for suggesting items for a customer to purchase at
• customer at a fast-food restaurant may include a soda, large French fries, or a dessert.
• Precisely which upsell to offer may be chosen according to a predetermined program at
• the "best" offer may be evaluated with respect to one or more criteria, yielding
• the profit may be less likely to be accepted by customers than other offers.
• the profit may be less likely to be accepted by customers than other offers.
• the profit may be less likely to be accepted by customers than other offers.
• derived from an accepted offer is another performance rate that may be used to evaluate the
• Unanticipated events such as a high state lottery jackpot or a good article in a
• a POS terminal Generally, according to one aspect of the present invention, a POS terminal
• the point-of-sale terminal preferably maintains a database of at least one upsell
• the upsells and upsell prices are established so that upsells are profitably exchanged for the
• the POS terminal When a customer brings a purchase to a POS terminal, the POS terminal generates
• the required payment amount indicates the amount the customer is expected to pay.
• POS terminal then generates a rounded price, preferably by rounding up the purchase price
• the POS terminal may determine whether the round-up amount corresponds
• the POS terminal identifies the upsell corresponding to this
• the upsell price and outputs signals indicative of the identified upsell.
• the output signals are preferably displayed text or graphics that explain to the customer and/or the cashier that the
• upsell may be purchased for the specified amount of change due.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the POS controller of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the POS terminal of FIG 1.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the lottery data processing system.
• FIG. 5 is a table depicting the local lottery ticket database within the POS controller
• FIG. 6 is a table depicting the lottery ticket database within the lottery data
• FIG. 7 is a table depicting the POS controller database within the lottery data
• FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting the lottery transaction at the POS terminal.
• FIG. 9 is an example of a store sales receipt in accordance with the preferred
• FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the operation of the POS controller.
• FIG. 1 1 is a flow chart of the operation of the lottery data processing system.
• FIG. 12 is a flow chart depicting the telephone authentication process.
• FIG. 13A is a schematic illustration of a POS terminal provided in
• FIG. 13B is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the POS
• FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention for
• FIG. 15 is an exemplary illustration of a storage area of the POS terminal of FIG.
• FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of an upsell database of the POS terminal of FIG.
• FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of a customer database of the POS terminal
• FIG. 18 is a schematic illustration of an inventory price database of the POS terminal
• FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of an offered price database of the POS terminal
• FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention for evaluating a
• FIG. 21 is a schematic illustration of an identifier database of the POS terminal of
• FIG. 13A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 13A.
• FIG. 22 is a schematic illustration of POS terminal connected to a lottery data
• FIG. 23 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the customer database
• FIG. 24 A is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention for storing
• FIG. 24B is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention for storing
• FIG. 25 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention for applying
• FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention for receiving a
• FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating another method of the present invention for
• FIG. 28 is a schematic illustration of a network of POS terminals provided in
• FIG. 29 is a schematic illustration of a store controller of the network of FIG. 28.
• FIG. 30 is a schematic illustration of a POS terminal of the network of FIG. 28.
• FIG. 31 is a schematic illustration of an alternate embodiment of a POS terminal of
• FIG. 32 is a schematic illustration of a ticket supply database of the store controller
• FIG. 33 is a schematic illustration including exemplary data for the ticket supply
• FIG. 34 is a schematic illustration of a transaction database of the store controller of
• FIG. 35 is a schematic illustration of records of a fractional ticket database of the
• FIG. 36 is a schematic illustration including further exemplary data for the ticket
• FIG. 37 is a flow chart illustrating a method for allocating portions of lottery tickets.
• FIG. 38 is a schematic illustration of a winning lottery ticket database of the store
• FIG. 39 is a schematic illustration of a frequent shopper database of the store
• FIG. 40 is a flow chart illustrating a method for redeeming a fractional lottery ticket.
• FIG. 41 is a schematic illustration of a POS terminal provided in accordance with the
• FIG. 42 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the POS terminal of
• FIG. 43 is a schematic illustration of an inventory database of the POS terminal of
• FIG. 44 is a schematic illustration of a possible upsells database of the POS terminal
• FIG. 45 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an upsell offer database of
• FIG. 46 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the upsell offer
• FIG. 47 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the upsell offer
• FIG. 48 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the upsell offer
• FIG. 49 is a flow chart illustrating a method for providing a supplementary product
• FIG. 50 is a schematic illustration of a POS terminal provided in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 51 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the POS terminal of FIG. 50.
• FIG. 52 is a flow chart illustrating a method provided in accordance with the present invention for controlling the performance of a supplementary process at a POS terminal.
• FIG. 53 is a table illustrating an offer schedule that depends on an activity rate of a POS terminal.
• FIG. 54 is a schematic illustration of an override decision manager of the POS terminal of FIG. 51.
• FIG. 55 is a schematic illustration of a network of POS terminals.
• FIG. 56 is a table illustrating an offer schedule that depends on an activity rate of a
• FIG. 57 is a schematic illustration of a POS terminal provided in accordance with the
• FIG. 58 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the POS terminal of
• FIG. 57 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 57.
• FIG. 59 is a schematic illustration of a network of POS terminals.
• FIG. 60 is a schematic illustration of an inventory database of a POS terminal.
• FIG. 61 is a schematic illustration of a rounding code database of a POS terminal.
• FIG. 62 is a schematic illustration of data used in determining an amount of money
• FIG. 63 is a schematic illustration that represents information relating to
• FIG. 64 is a flow chart describing a method for determining a rounded price for a
• FIG. 65 is a flow chart describing a method for determining a rounded price for a
• FIG. 66 is a schematic illustration of data used in determining an amount of money
• FIG. 67 is a schematic illustration of a POS terminal provided in accordance with the
• FIG. 68 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the POS terminal of
• FIG. 67 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 67.
• FIG. 69 is a schematic illustration of a network of POS terminals.
• FIG. 70 is a table illustrating an embodiment of a database of offers.
• FIG. 71 is a schematic illustration of a record of a transaction database.
• FIG. 72 is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling offers that are provided
• FIG. 73 is a table illustrating an embodiment of a performance rate database.
• FIG. 74 is a table illustrating another embodiment of a performance rate database.
• FIG. 75 is a schematic illustration of databases employed in determining offers
• FIG. 76 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of databases employed in
• FIG. 77 is a table illustrating another embodiment of a database of offers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• the present invention is directed to a system for performing lottery ticket transactions at
• the customer can also report the amount of time it takes to ring up bread or milk at a POS terminal.
• the present invention enables the
• the present invention provides a consumer with a convenient and convenient
• the term "quick-pick” refers to a lottery ticket in which the lottery numbers are randomly
• a fractional lottery ticket is a lottery ticket in which the customer will receive only a portion
• FIG. 1 shows an overall system block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• a POS controller 20 is linked to at least one POS terminal 30
• POS terminals 30 are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number of POS terminals 30 are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number of POS terminals 30 are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number of POS terminals 30 are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number of POS terminals 30 are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number of POS terminals 30 are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number of POS terminals 30 are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number of
• the POS terminals 30 can be used.
• the POS network 40 does not have to be a hard wired
• network it can include any of a wide variety of means suitable to transmit and receive data
• a lottery ticket transaction can be initiated from any one of
• sales event information can also be passed between the POS terminal 30 and the POS
• the POS controller 20 is also linked to a lottery data processing
• the data network 50 can be
• PSTN public switched telephone network 76
• integrated PSTN public switched telephone network
• ISDN service digital network
• packet switched network a packet switched network
• private data communication a private data communication
• the POS terminals 30 and the POS controller 20 depicted in FIG. 1 may be embodied in
• transaction processor to receive and transmit merchandise price and other merchandise
• store network server may be accomplished in various ways, such as reprogramming the
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the POS controller 20.
• the POS controller 20 includes a CPU
• POS controller 20 also includes a read only memory
• ROM read only memory 22
• RAM random access memory 23
• a clock circuit 24 provides a clock signal which is
• the POS controller 20 also includes a communication port 25 connected to a data network
• the communication port 25 enables the CPU
• the POS controller 20 to communicate with devices external to the POS controller 20.
• the POS controller 20 to communicate with devices external to the POS controller 20.
• communication port 25 permits communication with the POS terminals 30 and also with the
• lottery data processing system 60 While a modem (not shown) and a dedicated telephone
• the CPU 21 can also store information to, and read information from, a data storage device
• the data storage device 26 includes a local lottery ticket database 26a and other
• databases including a local sales database 26b that a store may conventionally maintain.
• the local lottery ticket database 26a is described below.
• FIG. 2 depicts separate databases, a single
• FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation depicting the preferred layout and the information stored
• the local lottery ticket database 26a includes a date
• the sale amount field F4 would contain the fractional amount of the lottery ticket
• records may be transferred to a different storage device or deleted after some predetermined
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the preferred POS terminal 30, which can be located at a
• the POS terminal 30 includes a CPU 31, ROM 32,
• RAM 33 random access memory
• clock circuit 34 communication port 35
• a data storage device 36 The
• the POS terminal 30 includes an input device 37 to receive input from an operator. Any
• buttons depression-actuated buttons, keys, membranes, a mouse, touchscreens, bar code scanners,
• the input device 37 may interface directly with the CPU 31 , as shown in FIG.
• an appropriate interface circuit may be placed between the CPU 31 and the
• the POS terminal 30 also includes a display device 38 for conveying information to the
• the POS terminal 30 also includes a data storage device 36, in which transaction processor
• these transaction types may include "quick-pick” lottery tickets, lottery tickets other than
• the POS terminal 30 further includes a printer 39 for recording the transaction performed by
• the printer 39 may interface directly with the CPU 31, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, an appropriate interface circuit may be placed between the CPU 31
• the POS terminal 30 may incorporate some of features of the POS controller 20
• FIG. 4 Shown in FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the lottery data processing system 60. Like the POS
• the lottery data processing system 60 includes a CPU 61,
• the data network interface 71 is connected to the data network interface 71.
• One POS controller 20 is
• any number of POS controllers 20 can be linked to the lottery data
• the communication port 65 is also connected to an IVRU interface 74.
• a customer assistance IVRU 75 is linked to the lottery data processing
• the customer assistance IVRU 75 is also connected
• the customer assistance IVRU 75 is provided to the PSTN 76, the public switched telephone network.
• the customer assistance IVRU 75 is provided to the PSTN 76, the public switched telephone network.
• the CPU 61 can also store information to, and read information from the data storage
• the data storage device 68 includes a lottery ticket database 68a, a POS
• the data storage device 68 includes instructions which can be
• FIG. 4 depicts separate databases, a single database that incorporates all
• databases 68a, 68b and 68c can also be used. Additional databases may be
• the lottery data processing system 60 also includes a random number generator 66 and a
• the random number generator 67 When requested by the CPU 61 , the random number generator
• the cryptographic processor 67 is used to encrypt an authentication code
• cryptographic processor 67 is also used to decrypt encrypted authentication codes which are
• cryptographic processor 67 as separate elements within the lottery data processing system 60, it should be understood that other methods of performing their functions may be used.
• these functions may be implemented in a computer program stored in the data
• FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of the information stored in the lottery ticket database
• the lottery ticket database 68a includes a POS controller ID number field F6. a date
• the sale amount field F10 would contain the fractional
• controller ID number field F6 is a unique code corresponding to each POS controller 20 that
• cryptographic code field F12 stores the encrypted authentication code, as discussed in detail
• time to time records may be transferred to a different storage device or deleted to conserve
• FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation depicting the information stored in the POS controller
• the POS controller database 68b includes a POS controller ID number field
• the POS controller name field F14 stores the name of the store or
• the POS controller location field F15 F15
• F16 stores the telephone number associated with each POS controller 20.
• one POS controller location is depicted in FIG. 7, but any number of records may be stored.
• ticket database 68 A corresponds to field F13 in the POS controller database 68B).
• FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary lottery ticket transaction process performed at
• step SI pick" lottery tickets in step SI .
• the "quick-pick" lottery tickets can be either full
• the customer may make this decision to buy lottery tickets as a
• step S2 the POS terminal operator initiates a lottery transaction by actuating a pre ⁇
• the number of "quick-pick” lottery tickets may also include fractional lottery tickets. This
• the customer may or course purchase full value lottery tickets.
• the customer may also be prompted for additional lottery
• ticket information such as the type of lottery game to be played and the particular lottery
• a particular lottery system may offer
• step S4 the POS terminal operator enters the number of lottery tickets requested by the
• step S6 the POS
• Shown in FIG. 9 is an example of a store sales receipt 80 according to the one embodiment
• the store sales receipt 80 includes non-lottery ticket related
• the bottom portion contains lottery ticket information
• a lottery telephone number 87 including a plurality of lottery numbers 82. a store ID number 83, a receipt number 84, a date 85, a time 86, a price 89, a lottery telephone number 87, and an encrypted
• FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an exemplary operation of the POS controller 20. The steps of the
• process shown in FIG. 10 may be implemented in a computer program that may be installed
• POS controller 20 receives in step S7 a lottery ticket transaction request which includes, in
• the POS controller 20 temporarily stores this information in RAM 23,
• processing systems may be available as secondary or back-up lottery data processing
• the POS controller 20 also transmits its POS controller identification number (e.g. Fl in FIG. 7). In step S9, the POS controller 20 receives one or more groups of lottery
• step S10 (e.g. Rl in FIG. 5) is created in the local lottery ticket database (26a in FIG. 2) in step S10.
• step SI 1 the POS controller 20 stores in the newly created record the date, receipt
• the POS controller 20 then transmits the lottery ticket
• the POS controller 20 may also handle non-" quick-pick"
• FIG. 1 1 is a flow chart of the operation of the lottery data processing system 60. The steps
• the lottery ticket transaction request Upon receiving the lottery ticket transaction request and the POS controller identification number from the POS controller 20, the lottery ticket transaction request and the POS controller identification number from the POS controller 20, the lottery ticket transaction request and the POS controller identification number from the POS controller 20, the lottery ticket transaction request and the POS controller identification number from the POS controller 20, the lottery ticket transaction request and the POS controller identification number from the POS controller 20, the lottery ticket transaction request and the POS controller identification number from the POS controller 20, the lottery
• step S13 accesses the POS controller database 68b (shown in
• the lottery data processing system 60 searches the POS controller database
• step SI 4 the POS controller identification number
• step SI 5 the lottery ticket database 68a (shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) is accessed and a new
• lottery transaction entry is added in the appropriate POS controller record (e.g. R2 in FIG.
• step SI 6 the lottery data processing system 60 generates one or more groups of random
• step S 15 lottery transaction entry added in step S 15 is then updated in step S 16 by storing these
• the lottery data processing system 60 also generates an authentication code based on the
• This authentication code is a
• numeric string including all the data of one record in the lottery ticket database 68a.
• 23456 represents the POS controller ID number
• 011597 represents the
• step SI 8 using the cryptographic processor 67 (shown in FIG. 4), the authentication code
• S 15 is then updated again by storing the encrypted authentication code in the appropriate
• the lottery data processing system 60 then transmits the lottery ticket numbers and the
• This authentication code provides an added level of security and protection for the purchase
• the communication with the POS controller 20 takes place via the communication port 65
• additional information may be transmitted from the POS
• controller 20 to the lottery data processing system 60. This could include, as described
• data processing system 60 would store the customer-selected lottery numbers in the lottery
• FIG. 12 is a flow chart depicting the telephone authentication process. The process starts
• step S20 By dialing the telephone number 87, the customer is connected to the
• step S22 the customer assistance IVRU 75 communicates this information to the lottery data processing system 60
• step S23 the lottery data processing system 60 searches the cryptographic code field F12
• the lottery data processing system 60 communicates to
• the IVRU 75 that the encrypted authentication code provided by the customer is not valid.
• the IVRU 75 then prompts the customer to re-enter the encrypted authentication code.
• the lottery data processing system 60 decrypts the encrypted
• the decrypted information is then communicated to the customer
• the customer assistance IVRU 75 in step S25. Based on this information, the customer assistance IVRU
• a winning lottery ticket may be redeemed at one of the POS terminals 30 or at any
• the POS terminal operator initiates a lottery ticket verification process by
• the POS operator then enters the encrypted authentication code printed on the
• data processing system 60 decrypts this information and accesses the lottery ticket database
• the lottery data processing system 68a and the winning lottery ticket number database 68b.
• included in this communication are, for example, the winning prize amount, the fractional
• ticket transaction may be generated by the POS controller 20. These lottery numbers would
• the invention uses the same equipment provided for
• the dual utility of the sales equipment makes the invention cost-effective for merchants.
• the systems and methods provided permit speedy and efficient purchasing of lottery tickets
• the invention enables the quick and efficient sale of fractional lottery tickets with what
• the present invention further provides systems and methods whereby an easy to print, easy
• sales receipt is printed containing both the sales of goods/services and lottery ticket
• the ticket includes authenticating information, including at least one
• an "upsell” is a product (good or service) which is offered along with a
• upsells which are described in detail herein include (i) an upgrade from a first product to a
• customers may recognize a greater value from the transaction while reducing or
• the present invention allows businesses to more effectively sell aged
• perishables can be sold, thereby generating additional revenue and reducing the costs of
• a POS terminal 1010 includes a POS processor 1012
• POS processor 1012 comprises at least one microprocessor 1020, such as an Intel 80386
• microprocessor which is connected to a storage device 1022, such as a RAM, floppy disk,
• the microprocessor 1020 and the storage device 1022 may each be (i)
• a remote communication link such as a serial port cable, telephone line or radio
• the POS processor 1012 For example, the POS processor 1012
• the remote server computer may comprise one or more cash registers connected to a remote server computer for
• Such terminals may only require
• FIG. 13B illustrates another embodiment of the POS terminal 1010 in which
• a first device 1032 communicates with a second device 1034 via a remote communication
• the first device 1032 which may be a cash register, comprises the input device
• the second device 1034 may be, for
• the second device 1034 comprises the storage device 1022, the printer 1016
• microprocessor 1038 which performs some of the functions of the microprocessor
• the input device 1014 is preferably a keypad for the input device 1014 .
• the printer 1016 is for registering indicia on a portion of a roll of paper or other
• the display device 1018 is preferably a video monitor for displaying
• the storage device 1022 stores a POS program 1024 for controlling the
• microprocessor 1020 in accordance with the present invention, and particularly in
• the POS program 1024 also provides
• device drivers for interfacing with each of the input device 1014, printer 1016 and display device 1018.
• Appropriate device drivers are necessary program elements, such as “device drivers” for interfacing with each of the input device 1014, printer 1016 and display device 1018.
• the storage device 1022 also stores a required payment amount 1026, which
• the microprocessor 1020 may determine, for
• required payment amount may comprise a single stored value or a plurality of values which
• the storage device 1022 furthermore stores an inventory price database 1028,
• the inventory price database which includes products and corresponding product prices.
• An upsell database 1030 stored in the storage device 1022 includes upsells
• An upsell price as used herein is a price, set of prices or
• the upsell price is
• the upsell price of one additional small soda is a
• the upsell price may possibly be a range having a lower bound of 20.
• an upsell price should not exceed the price of a
• this upsell price should not exceed the cost of a large soda, for example, 900. Otherwise, the
• the price of a product to a customer is different from the cost of
• price database 1028 may indicate that the price of a small soda is 550 and the price of a
• a restaurant is 200 for a small soda and 220 for a large soda, and thus that the cost of such an
• profit point can only be determined as a function of the costs.
• upsells remain substantially or completely unaffected by offering upsells.
• a restaurant may offer an upsell comprising an upgrade
• electronics store may offer an upsell that extends the effective term of a warranty.
• a restaurant may offer an upsell comprising a promotional cup or a
• a video store may offer an upsell comprising a movie rental ticket, additional
• vending machine may offer an upsell that provides an extra
• FIG. 14 illustrates a method 1040 for determining an upsell of a purchase at a
• the POS terminal of this embodiment for example the POS terminal 1010,
• step 1042 maintains a database of upsell prices and corresponding upsells.
• step 1044 the terminal furthermore generates a purchase price of a purchase (step 1044), and sets the
• the step of generating a purchase price may comprise, for example, (i) pressing keys on the input device 1014 (FIG. 13 A) which each correspond to a product, (ii) pressing numeric
• the POS terminal then generates a "rounded” price (step 1048), and
• step 1050 calculates a round-up amount (step 1050) equal to the difference between the purchase price
• the rounded price may be calculated as, for example, the smallest
• the POS terminal determines at least one upsell to be exchanged for the
• the POS terminal Preferably, to identify the upsell, the POS terminal
• step 1052 to identify at least one upsell having an upsell price including the round-up
• step 1056 identifies an upsell (step 1056) which corresponds to that upsell price, thereby
• the POS terminal then outputs signals indicative of the
• identified upsell such as displaying text and/or graphics that explain to the customer and/or the cashier that the identified upsell may be purchased for the round-up
• the customer indicates to the cashier whether he accepts or rejects the offered
• the cashier then presses a button on the POS terminal or otherwise generates a
• step 1062 the customer tenders cash, a check
• payment amount may comprise a single stored value or a plurality of values which each
• price may comprise (i) setting a stored unitary value to be equal to the rounded price; or (ii)
• the POS terminal generates therefrom the purchase price $1.62, and sets the
• the POS terminal then generates a "rounded" price of $2.00 (using, in this
• the customer may easily tender bills and receive either no change or change
• the POS terminal compares the round-up amount 1074 with at least one of
• the round-up amount 74 corresponds to a
• the POS terminal identifies an upsell 80 in the
• upsell database 1030 which corresponds to the upsell price 1076.
• the round-up amount 1074 may be purchased for the specified amount of change due (the round-up amount 1074).
• the customer indicates to the cashier whether he accepts or rejects the offered
• the cashier then presses a button on the POS terminal or otherwise generates a
• selection signal for indicating selection between the identified upsell 1080 and change.
• the selection signal does not indicate selection of change, but instead selection of the upsell
• the required payment amount 1026 is set to be equal to the rounded price.
• the POS terminal determines
• the upsell(s) by identifying at least one upsell in the database that corresponds to the
• an upsell comprising a small soda may correspond to
• a purchase condition is a condition in effect when the purchase is processed
• Some types of purchase conditions are the purchase price, time of day,
• a customer and be exchanged for change due. For example, at certain times during a day, a
• the POS terminal generates the
• a clock signal can provide
• the purchase recorded by the POS terminal can provide the identity of
• a "frequent shopper card" can provide signals indicative of the customer's
• an upsell database 1090 which is one embodiment of
• the upsell database 1030 of FIG. 13 A includes upsell prices 1092, upsell descriptors 1094
• the entries in the upsell database 1090 may be uniquely
• upsell codes 1 104 identified by upsell codes 1 104.
• FIG. 17 illustrates a customer database 1110, which includes unique customer
• identifiers 1112 as well as customer-specific information, such as name 1114, address 1116,
• the POS terminal 1010 The POS terminal 1010
• FIG. 13 A may employ the customer database 1110 to determine various purchase
• the customer may type his customer
• identifier into the POS terminal, or may "swipe" (pass) a frequent- shopper card containing a
• an inventory price database 1130 which is one embodiment
• the inventory price database 130 may also include
• the value of upsells to consumers may be determined, and the upsell
• the upsell may be eliminated from the database or may be offered in exchange for
• FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of an offered upsell database 1150 stored
• the offered upsell database 1150 includes upsells
• upsell database 1150 such as the date 1158 of the offered upsell, a unique customer

Landscapes

• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Development Economics (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
• Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
• Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
• Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Operations Research (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Primary Health Care (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
• Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (17)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=27574310

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (45)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 1998
  • 1998-03-20 IL IL13114398A patent/IL131143A0/xx unknown
  • 1998-03-20 KR KR1019997008595A patent/KR20010005536A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 1998-03-20 CA CA002284662A patent/CA2284662C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-03-20 EP EP98913082A patent/EP1016012A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-03-20 BR BR9815463-0A patent/BR9815463A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-03-20 AU AU67714/98A patent/AU6771498A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-03-20 WO PCT/US1998/005787 patent/WO1998043149A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-03-20 CN CN98803555A patent/CN1253644A/zh active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events