System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals

{
  "publication_number": "US6267670B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "System and method for performing lottery ticket transactions utilizing point-of-sale terminals",
  "abstract": "A system and method for performing integrated lottery ticket and merchandise transactions using a point-of-sale terminal that generates a single sales receipt containing all pertinent lottery ticket and merchandise transaction information The lottery tickets generated include fractional value and “quick-pick” lottery tickets. A group of point-of-sale terminals are connected to a POS controller which communicates with a lottery data processing system. An encrypted authentication code also printed on the sales receipt allows the lottery player to verify all lottery ticket transaction information, as needed. In at least one embodiment, a method is provided for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal. The method includes the steps of (1) calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction; (2) receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount; (3) transmitting a request for a lottery ticket, the request including the change amount; (4) receiving lottery ticket information that is based on the change amount; and (5) printing the lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, the lottery ticket information including a plurality of lottery numbers. Numerous other embodiments are also provided.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising: calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction; receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount; transmitting a request for a lottery ticket, the request including the change amount; receiving lottery ticket information that is based on the change amount; and printing the lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, the lottery ticket information including a plurality of lottery numbers.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating merchandise information; and in which the step of printing comprises: printing the lottery ticket information and the merchandise information on the receipt.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, in which the lottery ticket information comprises at least one of a price, an authentication code, and a plurality of lottery numbers.",
    "4. An apparatus for performing a lottery ticket transaction, comprising: a processor; and a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing executable program instructions, the processor operative with the program instructions to calculate a change amount of a merchandise transaction, receive a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount, transmit a request for a lottery ticket, receive lottery ticket information that is based on the change amount, and print the lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, the lottery ticket information including a plurality of lottery numbers.",
    "5. A method for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising: receiving a request for a lottery ticket; calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction; receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount; calculating a fractional amount of a full lottery ticket, the full lottery ticket having a full price, the fractional amount being based on the change amount and the full price; and storing in a database, if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received, an indication of the fractional amount and an indication of the full lottery ticket, the indication of the full lottery ticket including a plurality of lottery numbers.",
    "6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: generating an authentication code based on the fractional amount and full lottery ticket.",
    "7. A method for performing a lottery ticket transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising: calculating a change amount of a merchandise transaction; receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount; and printing lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for the change amount is received.",
    "8. A method for use at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising: receiving a request from a customer to purchase goods; calculating a change amount for the customer during the purchase of the goods; selling at least one fractional lottery ticket to the customer based on the change amount; and generating a receipt that contains information related to the at least one fractional lottery ticket.",
    "9. A method for use at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising: calculating a change amount for a customer during a merchandise transaction; allowing the customer to purchase at least one fractional lottery ticket based on the change amount; receiving a request to purchase one or more fractional lottery tickets in exchange for the change amount; and printing lottery ticket information on a receipt if the request to purchase the one or more fractional lottery tickets in exchange for the change amount is received.",
    "10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving additional lottery ticket information that comprises at least one of: a lottery game, a number of lottery tickets, and a plurality of lottery numbers.",
    "11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prompting a customer to provide additional lottery ticket information.",
    "12. The method of claim 5, further comprising: generating an authentication code based on the request."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "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-sale (“POS”) terminals that generate sales receipts containing both merchandise sales information and lottery ticket information.\n\nMany states in the United States, as well as some foreign countries, have government-conducted lottery systems. Government-conducted lotteries offer the public a desirable product (usually the chance to win a large cash prize), and have the benefit of increasing governmental revenues without burdening the public with additional or increased taxes. In many instances, the revenue generated from a governmental lottery is dedicated to a particular purpose or goal, such as improving the education system or reducing property taxes.\n\nIn a typical government-conducted lottery system, a central lottery computer is used to communicate with dedicated lottery terminals. A player selects numbers on a lottery playslip, and 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 process. The dedicated lottery terminal then communicates the player's selected numbers to a central lottery computer which in turn stores them. After the lottery numbers have been stored, the dedicated lottery terminal, under the control of the central lottery computer, prints and issues the lottery ticket.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06Q 20/387",
    "A63F 9/00",
    "G06Q 10/087",
    "G06Q 20/00",
    "G06Q 20/12",
    "G06Q 20/20",
    "G06Q 30/02",
    "G06Q 30/0212",
    "G06Q 30/0225",
    "G06Q 30/0238",
    "G06Q 30/06",
    "G07C 15/005",
    "G07F 17/32",
    "G07F 17/3248",
    "G07F 17/3255",
    "G07F 17/329",
    "G07F 5/24",
    "G07F 9/02",
    "G07F 9/04",
    "G07G 1/0036",
    "G07G 1/12",
    "G07G 5/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06Q 20/00",
    "G07C 15/00",
    "G07F 17/32",
    "G07F 5/24",
    "G07F 9/02",
    "G07G 1/00",
    "G07G 1/12",
    "G07G 5/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Walker Digital LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jay S. Walker",
    "James A. Jorasch",
    "Sanjay K. Jindal"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1997-03-21",
  "publication_date": "2001-07-31",
  "grant_date": "2001-07-31",
  "priority_date": "1997-03-21",
  "application_number": "US-82270997-A",
  "family_id": "25236750",
  "cited_by_count": 346,
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}