US4996705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Use of telecommunications systems for lotteries
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1987-09-01
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Granted: 1991-02-26
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Expires: 2007-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A lottery system using a public switched network to enter a lottery and to receive an indication of winning while connected on a lottery call. A lottery customer dials a telephone number to enter the lottery. The customer has his eligibility verified by a credit card number or the telephone number of the calling station. The customer is then prompted to speak or key a lottery entry which may be a full number, partial number, or an indication that a lottery comparison number is to be generated by a lottery processor. From the customer's lottery entry, a lottery comparison number is generated. This is compared with a random lottery target number generated by the lottery processor. If the comparison number and target number match, the customer is informed of his winning. Advantageously, lottery customers are quickly notified of their winnings.
Inventors
- 👤 John K. Entenmann
- 👤 John A. Hooke
- 👤 Eric E. Kampmeier
- 👤 Barry L. Posterick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:47
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/08; A63F3/081; G07C; G07C15/00; G07C15/005; G07F17/0014; H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; A63F2003/082; A63F2003/086; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/10; H04M2203/1066; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42059; H04M3/4872; H04M3/4878; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
Telemarketing apparatus, comprising: means connectable to a switched common carrier network for requesting a connection over said network to a telephone station; announcement means, responsive to a continuance of a call-in-progress signal from said telephone station, for announcing a telemarketing message and a lottery prompt to said telephone station; means for receiving information signals over said connection from said telephone station, said information signals representing data for a lottery entry; processing means for determining whether said data for said lottery entry represents a winning entry, said processing means comprising means for determining a lottery target number, means for processing said information signals for said lottery entry to form a lottery comparison number, and means for matching said lottery target number and said lottery comparison number to determine whether said lottery entry is a winning entry; said announcement means further for notifying a customer at said telephone station of the winning entry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
Telemarketing apparatus, comprising: means connectable to a switched common carrier network for requesting a connection over said network to a telephone station; announcement means, responsive to a continuance of a call-in-progress signal from said telephone station, for announcing a telemarketing message and a lottery prompt to said telephone station; means for receiving information signals over said connection from said telephone station, said information signals representing data for a lottery entry; processing means for determining whether said data for said lottery entry represents a winning entry, said processing means comprising means for determining a lottery target number, means for processing said information signals for said lottery entry to form a lottery comparison number, and means for matching said lottery target number and said lottery comparison number to determine whether said lottery entry is a winning entry; said announcement means further for notifying a customer at said telephone station of the winning entry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for processing said information signals is responsive only to information signals received after completion of announcement of said telemarketing message.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |