| Systems and methods for facilitating play of lottery games -> Monitor Keywords |
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Systems and methods for facilitating play of lottery gamesRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance Application, Lot Match Or Lot Combination (e.g., Roulette, Lottery, Etc.)Systems and methods for facilitating play of lottery games description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070197279, Systems and methods for facilitating play of lottery games. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/930,717, "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED PLAY OF LOTTERY GAMES" filed Aug. 15, 2001, which: [0002] (i) claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/225,319, "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED LOTTERY GAME PLAY" filed Aug. 15, 2000; and [0003] (ii) is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/437,204, "AUTOMATED PLAY GAMING DEVICE" filed Nov. 9, 1999; which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,983, "AUTOMATED PLAY GAMING DEVICE" filed Dec. 30, 1996, and granted Jan. 11, 2000. The entirety of each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0004] The present invention relates generally to methods, systems, and apparatus for facilitating play of lottery games. [0005] A purchase of a lottery ticket typically requires a visit to an authorized lottery agent, where the process varies depending on the type of game to be played. Some known types of games include "instant" tickets, or "scratch" tickets, where the winning status is apparent on the face of the ticket, and "Lotto" games, where the player picks or otherwise receives a set of entry numbers, and the status of the numbers is determined by comparison with numbers selected in a subsequent lottery drawing. [0006] With respect to "scratch-off"-style or instant lottery games, a player typically purchases a paper or cardboard game ticket from a participating lottery agent. In the case of most instant lottery games, the player then reveals combinations of symbols or values by physically uncovering a portion of the game ticket that is concealed by a covering material, such as latex. Certain revealed combinations of symbols or values may correspond to prizes, which in some cases may be provided to a player at a participating lottery agent. Thus, once a player purchases a ticket, an outcome corresponding to the ticket may immediately be determined, and any resultant prize may then be claimed. The ability of a player of an instant lottery game to determine the value of a prize immediately upon purchase, or at his convenience, contributes to the appeal of instant lottery games. [0007] The typical requirements of travel to a lottery agent and/or physical play of the ticket, however, may be a hardship on a player. Further, a potential player may decide not to purchase a lottery ticket because of these requirements, or may decide to purchase a lesser number of lottery tickets than desired. In addition, the overall cost associated with the production and distribution of physical game tickets may make it prohibitive or undesirable to offer instant tickets for sale below a certain price point, such as one dollar ($1.00). [0008] Limited options have been made available whereby lottery tickets may be purchased without visits to a lottery agent. Some lotteries now offer subscription, or advance-play sales of "Lotto"-type lottery tickets. With a subscription ticket, lottery entries are automatically re-entered into drawings for a predefined number of weeks or drawings. Such subscription tickets may be made available at a discounted price. The Vermont State Lottery, for example, has offered multiple drawing "contracts," or a subscription, whereby a player can enter selected numbers in multiple drawings. [0009] Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,398, "OFF-LINE REMOTE SYSTEM FOR LOTTERIES AND GAMES OF SKILL", issued to Schneier, et al. (hereinafter "the '398" patent), describes systems and methods for the electronic representation of instant lottery games via an electronic hand-held ticket viewer (HTV). As described in the '398 patent, the HTV may comprise a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other electronic device (e.g., a personal computer) having hardware and/or software means operable to facilitate the methods described therein. [0010] A game of Keno typically consists of matching a series of player-selected numbers against a series of numbers drawn by the Keno system. Once the player has selected the series of numbers, the player selects a certain number of games for which those numbers are valid. Thus, by selecting several games, the player may bet on future games without further interaction with the system, much like subscription play lotteries. An establishment, such as a casino, typically determines how and when the outcomes of Keno games are provided to players. For example, the numbers are drawn by the system and broadcast or transmitted to a number of screens throughout the establishment. Furthermore, the Keno games and/or the drawing of numbers in Keno may continue indefinitely or in a continuous manner, without regard to: (i) a particular player's status; (ii) a particular player's participation; or (iii) the outcome of a prior game. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0011] FIG. 1A is a view of an embodiment of a player device; [0012] FIG. 1B is a view of an embodiment of a graphical display of the player device of FIG. 1A; [0013] FIG. 2 is a view of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 3 is a view of an embodiment of the lottery server of FIG. 2; [0015] FIG. 4 is a view of an embodiment of the player device of FIG. 2; [0016] FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of the player database of FIG. 3; [0017] FIG. 6 is a view of an embodiment of the automated session database of FIG. 3; [0018] FIG. 7 is a view of an embodiment of the player device database of FIG. 3; [0019] FIGS. 8A and 8B are a flow diagram of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and [0020] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating one example of termination of automated play. 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