Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2001-08-14
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S041000, C463S042000, C273S138200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273816
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for rewarding groups of communication service users. For example, a group of communication service users can be entered into and win a lottery if one member of the group makes a call using a communication service.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditional lottery systems, or other similar games of chance, require players to purchase lottery tickets or make some other similar directed action to enter a lottery. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,999 to Entenmann et al. describes a system that allows a player to enter a lottery by calling a specific telephone number and entering the lottery over the telephone. Thus, in the Entenmann system, the player can enter, win and be advised of winning the lottery during a single telephone call specifically made to enter the lottery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method and apparatus for rewarding a group of communication service users. The communication service used can be a telecommunications service or any other type of communication service including wired and wireless communication services, such as radio communication services, computer networks, the Internet, etc. A group of communication service users can be rewarded by being entered into and winning a lottery when one member of the group is associated with a call made using the communication service. For example, one member of the group could make a telephone call and, in response, be entered into and win a lottery on behalf of the group. A member of the group can be associated with a call and enter the group into a lottery by making a call, receiving a call or otherwise being associated with a call, such as by allowing another caller to make a call using the member's communication device. Groups can be formed, for example, by individuals advising a communication service provider that a group, for lottery purposes, should be formed that includes the individuals. Groups can also be automatically formed by a communication service provider; for example, a group could be automatically formed of all individuals that are associated with a particular social, civic, professional or other organization.
Thus, a member of a group need not make a specific directed action, e.g., telephone a specific telephone number, to enter and win a lottery on behalf of the group. Instead, according to at least one aspect of the invention, a group can enter and win a lottery when a caller calls any called party.
When a call is made by a caller to communicate with a called party, a group associated with the call for lottery purposes is identified. The group associated with the call for lottery purposes can be identified as a group that includes at least one of the caller, the called party or some other entity, such as the owner of a communication device (e.g., telephone) used to make the call. A determination is also made whether the call is eligible for a lottery. This determination can be made based on various criteria, e.g., the call is a credit card telephone call, a regular long-distance call, a dial-around code based call, the time of day the call was made, a “call destination”, etc.
If the call is eligible for entry into a lottery, a determination can next be made whether the group corresponding to the call has won the lottery. This determination can be adjusted based on various criteria, including the number of individuals in the group and/or the group's participation history, which can include a total number of calls made by at least one member of the group over a past period of time, e.g., the last 30, 60 or 90 days, a total amount of call time used by at least one member in the group, the types of calls made/received by the group, a number of past lotteries entered, a number of past lotteries won, a type of calls made, call destination information, a time of day or day, a dial-around code for past calls, etc..
Thus, for example, the group's odds for winning the lottery can be adjusted based on the number of individuals in the group. For example, if a lottery has defined odds for winning, e.g., one in ten thousand, the group could be provided with two or more entries into the lottery to adjust the odds of winning. Alternately, the group could be given one entry into the lottery and the odds for winning the lottery could be adjusted in another way. By adjusting the odds for winning, groups of frequent callers or users of the communication system can be rewarded with increased odds of winning as compared to groups of less frequent callers. At least one member of the group can be advised that the group has won the lottery during the call that entered the group into the lottery. However, this is not necessary and the group can be advised at some later time.
A prize or group of prizes can be determined for a winning group and awarded to members of the group. A single prize, such as an amount of money, can be divided among the members of a group, either on a pro rata basis, or based on other criteria, such as a number of calls or total call minutes made by each member of the group. Alternately, a single prize can be awarded to the group. For example, a group of two people living in two different places can be awarded a single round-trip airline ticket between the two places so that one member can visit the other. Of course, other prize award schemes can be used, such as awarding each member of a group with an identical prize, e.g., a number of “free” call minutes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4792968 (1988-12-01), Katz
patent: 4845739 (1989-07-01), Katz
patent: 4996705 (1991-02-01), Entenmann et al.
patent: 5073929 (1991-12-01), Katz
patent: 5083272 (1992-01-01), Walker et al.
patent: 5128984 (1992-07-01), Katz
patent: 5251252 (1993-10-01), Katz
patent: 5327485 (1994-07-01), Leaden
patent: 5354069 (1994-10-01), Guttman et al.
patent: 5403999 (1995-04-01), Entenmann et al.
patent: 5564700 (1996-10-01), Celona
patent: 5608785 (1997-03-01), Kasday
patent: 5713795 (1998-02-01), Kohorn
patent: 5835576 (1998-11-01), Katz
Bansal Pradeep K.
Begeja Lee
Creswell Carroll W.
AT&T Corp
Layno Benjamin H.
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