US008784198B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Walker et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`*Jul. 22, 2014
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONDUCTING OR FACILITATING A
`
`PROMOTION
`
`(71) Applicant: Walker Digital. LLC, Stamford, CT
`(US)
`
`Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Ridgefield, CT (US);
`Geoffrey M. Gelman, Brooklyn, NY
`(US); James A. Jorasch, New York, NY
`(US); Peter Kim, Cupertino, CA (US);
`Timothy A. Palmer, Mountain View, CA
`(US); Keith Bemer, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
`Andrew P. Golden, Jamaica Plain, MA
`(US); Scott Allison, Stamford, CT (US)
`
`Assignee:
`
`Inventor Holdings, LLC, Stamford, CT
`(US)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`13/734,034
`
`Jan. 4, 2013
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2013/0130787 A1
`
`May 23,2013
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 13/226,191, filed on
`Sep. 6, 2011, now Pat. No. 8,366,544, which is a
`continuation of application No. 11/425,027, filed on
`Jun. 19, 2006, now abandoned, which is a continuation
`of application No. 09/604,898, filed on Jun. 28, 2000,
`now abandoned.
`
`Provisional application No. 60/183,391, filed on Feb.
`18, 2000.
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC .......................................................... .. 463/29
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC .............................. .. 463/29—33, 42; 705/14.4
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,069,453 A
`5,227,874 A
`
`12/1991 Koza et a1.
`7/ 1993 Von Kohorn
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`
`4/1993
`05101236 A
`OTHER PUBLICAHQNS
`
`McQuillen, Daniel, “Coupons Go Digital”, Sep. 1995, Incentive,
`Section: vol. 169, No. 9, ISSN: 1042-5195, CODEN: ICTMBW, atp.
`9.1Pg~
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Ronald Laneau
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm —Fincham Downs, LLC;
`Magdalena M. Fincham
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method and apparatus for conducting a promotion and for
`distributing promotions to potential users provide a merchant
`or promotion organizer flexibility in the way they conduct the
`promotion as well as an ability to change one or more aspects
`of the promotion during the operation of the promotion. One
`or more outcomes are generated by a controller and provided
`to a user. In addition, one or more codes which allow the
`outcomes to be revealed or unlocked are generated by the
`controller and provided to an intermediary. In exchange for
`completing or satisfying a qualifying action or criteria, the
`user may receive a code from the intermediary. The user can
`then unlock an outcome to reveal a prize, benefit, symbol,
`value, etc., associated with the unlocked outcome. The user
`may provide a redemption request to either the controller or
`the intermediary based on the unlocked outcome to receive a
`benefit or prize associated with the unlocked outcome.
`
`G06F 17/00
`
`(2006.01)
`
`33 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`/-50
`
`CONTROLLER
`52
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`NETWORK
`53
`
`USER
`DEVICE
`
`E
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`DEVICE
`
`5§
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 1
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 1
`
`

`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`Page 2
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`>D>>D>J>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>
`
`10/1993 Johnsen
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`5,806,045
`9/1998 Biorgeetal.
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`2/1999 Schneier etal.
`5,871,398
`3/1999 Teicher etal.
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`6/1999 Von Kohorn
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`5,918,211
`8/1999 Nelson
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`11/1999 Tracyetal.
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`5/2000 Eggleston et al.
`6/2001 Leason etal.
`................. .. 463/42
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`6,685,562
`7/2010 Walker etal.
`7,753,792
`7/2010 Walker etal.
`7,753,793
`.............. .. 463/16
`7/2011 Kroeckeletal.
`7,976,373 132*
`.............. .. 463/20
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`7,976,376 132*
`382/107
`..
`4/2012 Rhoadsetal.
`8,160,304 132*
`2002/0128903 A1*
`9/2002 Kernahan ...................... .. 705/14
`2003/0050831 A1
`3/2003 Klayh
`2005/0033642 A1
`2/2005 Mothwurf
`2005/0221889 A1
`10/2005 Dupray et al.
`3/2006 Herz etal.
`2006/0069749 A1
`8/2007 Hatakeyama ............... .. 713/176
`2007/0180249 A1*
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`................. .. 463/42
`
`McQueen, Patricia A., “Worldwide Web Surfing Adventure”, Jul.
`1996, Intemational Gaming and wagering Business, Section: ISSN:
`8750-8222, at p. 65, 2 pp.
`Rowh, Mark, “The Low-Cost, No-Cost Approach to Software;Brief
`Article”, Nov. 1, 1999, OfficeSystems99.Section: No. 11, vol. 16,
`ISSN: 8750-3441, at p. 8, 2 pp.
`
`Stock, Helen, “Supermarket Industry Shopping for Ways to Reduce
`Payment Expenses”, Nov. 29, 1999, Monday, The American Banker,
`Section: Cards; at p. 13, 2 pp.
`“Creating an Online Promotion Just Got Easyl, Realtime Media7S
`‘Easy Money’ Provides Easy, Low-Cost Method to Offer Instant-Win
`Prizes Up to $50,000”, Dec. 28, 1999, Tuesday, PR Newswire, Sec-
`tion: Financial News, 2 pp.
`“Cinram Cuts Second E-Commerce Deal”, Feb. 7, 2000, DVD
`Report, Section: vol. 5, No. 6, 1 pg.
`“Cybergold Tour”. Download Date Feb. 14, 2000, www.cybergold.
`com/tour/index.html, 3 pp.
`Declaration of Non-Establishment of International Search Report
`PCT/US01/05235 dated Apr. 19, 2001. 2 pp.
`Written Opinion for PCT/US01,’05235 dated Mar. 12. 2008, 4 pp.
`Washington Post article “Facing the Crowds” Stephanie Stoughton,
`Dec. 4, 1999. 3 pp.
`Ofice Action for U.S.App1. \Io. 09/604,898 mailed Aug. 12, 2013,
`21 pp.
`0 11ceAction forU.S.Appl.1\o. 09/604,898 mailedJan. 14,2004, 19
`PP
`O fice Action for U.S. Appl.
`47 pp.
`0 lfice Action for U.S. Appl.
`21 pp.
`Final Oflice Action for U.S. Appl. No. 09/604,898 mailed Oct. 19,
`2 06, 22 pp.
`0 fice Action for U.S.Appl.1\o. 09/604,898 mailed Mar. 5, 2007, 16
`PD
`0 fice Action for U.S. Appl. I\o. 09/604,898 mailed Dec. 7,2007, 21
`PD
`0 fice Action for U.S. Appl.
`24 pp.
`0 fice Action for U.S.Appl.No.11/425,038 mailed Oct. 19, 2010, 10
`PP-
`Final Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/425,038 mailed Mar. 4,
`2 11, 12 pp.
`Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/425,027 mailed Oct. 19, 2010, 9
`PP
`Final Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/425,027 mailed Mar. 3,
`2 11, 15 pp.
`0 ‘lice Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/425,031 mailed Oct. 29, 2010, 9
`PD
`0 “lice Action for U.S. Appl. No. 13/226,191 mailed May 4, 2012, 6
`P11
`Notice of Allowance for U.S. Appl. No. 13/226,191 mailed Oct. 5,
`2 12, 5 pp.
`
`0. 09/604,898 mailed Nov. 30, 2004,
`
`'0. 09/604,898 mailed Mar. 24, 2006,
`
`'o. 09/604,898 mailed Dec. 15, 2008,
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 2
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`NETWORK
`
`53
`
`USER
`
`DEVICE
`
`54
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`
`DEVICE
`
`fl
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 3
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`GENERATE OUTCOME AND
`
`ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF OUTCOME
`
`M
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF
`
`ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`RECEIVE REDEMPTION REQUEST
`
`REDEEM OUTCOME/
`
`PROVIDE BENEFIT
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 4
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`RECEIVE CODE
`
`ASSOCIATE QUALIFYING
`
`ACTION WITH CODE
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF
`
`QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`VERIFY COMPLETION OF
`
`QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`PROVIDE CODE
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 5
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 4 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`RECEIVE INDICATION OF
`
`QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`COMPLETE QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`RECEIVE CODE
`
`UNLOCK OUTCOME
`
`PROVIDE REDEMPTION REQUEST
`
`RECEIVE BENEFIT
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 6
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`400
`
`I
`
`CONTROLLER GENERATES OUTCOME
`
`AND ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`102
`
`USER COMPLETES QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`M
`
`CONTROLLER PROVIDES INDICATION
`OF OUTCOME TO USER
`
`INTERMEDIARY VERIFIES COMPLETION
`
`OF QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`M
`
`M
`
`USER RECEIVES INDICATION
`OF OUTCOME FROM
`CONTROLLER
`
`INTERMEDIARY PROVIDES
`CODE TO USER
`
`CONTROLLER PROVIDES
`INDICATION OF ASSOCIATED CODE TO
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`
`E
`
`USER RECEIVES CODE
`FROM INTERMEDIARY
`
`INTERMEDIARY RECEIVES ASSOCIATED
`
`CODE FROM CONTROLLER 202
`
`USER UNLOCKS OUTCOME
`
`INTERMEDIARY ASSOCIATES
`QUALIFYING ACTION WITH
`ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`INTERMEDIARY PROVIDES
`INDICATION OF QUALIFYING
`ACTION TO USER
`
`USER RECEIVES INDICATION OF
`QUALIFYING ACTION FROM
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`
`304
`
`USER PROVIDES REDEMPTION
`
`REQUEST TO CONTROLLER 312
`
`CONTROLLER RECEIVES REDEMPTION
`REQUEST FROM USER
`
`M
`
`CONTROLLER PROVIDES
`BENEFIT TO USER
`
`USER RECEIVES BENEFIT
`FROM CONTROLLER
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 7
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`GENERATE AN OUTCOME,
`
`ASSOCIATED CODE, AND ASSOCIATED
`QUALIFYING ACTION Q
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF OUTCOME
`
`M
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF ASSOCIATED
`
`QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`M
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF
`
`ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`RECEIVE ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`PROVIDE BENEFIT
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 8
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 7 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`GENERATE AN OUTCOME,
`
`ASSOCIATED CODE, AND ASSOCIATED
`QUALIFYING ACTION E
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF OUTCOME
`
`M
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF ASSOCIATED
`
`QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`M
`
`PROVIDE INDICATION OF
`
`ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`RECEIVE ASSOCIATED CODE
`
`VERIFY COMPLETION OF ASSOCIATED
`
`QUALIFYING ACTION
`
`E
`
`PROVIDE BENEFIT
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 9
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 8 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`PROCESSOR
`M
`
`COMMUNICATION
`PORT
`
`&
`
`CONTROL PROGRAM
`
`12
`
`CENTRAL CONTROLLER
`
`OUTCOME DATABASE
`
`1
`
`USER DATABASE
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`
`DATABASE
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 10
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 10
`
`

`
`OUTCOME
`|DEN.|.|F|ER
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`STATUS
`
`USER
`
`DEVICE
`IDENTIFIER
`
`PAYOUT
`
`REDEEMED
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`IDENTIFIER
`
`PAID FOR
`
`
`
`_650
`
`@
`
`E
`
`E
`
`E
`
`E
`
`O-000001
`
`ISSUED
`
`12/4/2003
`
`U D 589D
`
`o-000002
`
`ISSUED
`
`12/4/2003
`
`uD453D
`
`
`
`
`
`vmz‘zz‘Inf.1,u911a([‘Sn
`
`91J06199IlS
`
`
`
`Zfl86I‘I78L‘8Sfl
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 10 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`USER
`
`DEVICE
`
`IDENTIFIER
`
`FINANCIAL
`
`ACCOUNT
`
`IDENTIFIER
`
`ADDRESS
`
`E
`
`_
`
`M
`
`706
`_
`
`UD_234D
`
`UD-593D
`
`“D202”
`
`JOE
`SMITH
`
`HANK
`SANDERS
`
`JANET
`FONZA
`
`0000-0000-
`0000-0000
`
`1111-1111-
`m1_1 111
`
`2222-2222-
`2222-2222
`
`1039 SUMMER ST.
`STAMFORD, 01
`
`203-654-3210
`
`JANET@
`FONZA.COM
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 12
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 12
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 11 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`/— 618
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`DEVICE
`IDENTIFIER
`E
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`
`E
`
`D 353
`
`m 251
`
`ID-933
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`ADDRESS
`E
`
`SERV|CE@
`JOESOUP.COM
`
`40 MAIN ST
`NORWALK, CT
`
`JOE'S
`soup
`
`SAM'S
`GRILL
`
`JANE'S
`APPAREL
`
`212-345-6789
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 13
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 13
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 12 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`PROCESSOR
`E
`
`COMMUNICATION
`PORT
`
`E
`
`USER OUTCOME
`
`DATABASE
`
`750
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 14
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 14
`
`

`
`OUTCOME
`POSITION
`
`OUTCOME
`IDENTIFIER
`
`PAYOUT
`
`STATUS
`
`CATEGORY
`
`INTERMEDIARY
`IDENTIFIER
`
`800
`
`802
`
`@
`
`806
`
`fl
`
`fl
`
`fl
`
`OP 0001
`
`OI 34503
`
`$100
`
`USED
`
`568943
`
`GOLD
`
`OP-0002
`
`OI-54303
`
`USED
`
`345234
`
`SILVER
`
`OP-0003
`
`OI-67890
`
`UNUSED
`
`GOLD
`
`
`
`1H9113cI°S'fl
`
`vmz‘zz‘Inf
`
`za86I‘v8L‘8Sn91J091was
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 15
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 14 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`PROCESSOR
`@
`
`COMMUNICATION
`PORT
`
`@
`
`CONTROL PROGRAM
`
`NL
`
`U OC
`
`K DATABA E
`
`S
`
`862
`
`fl .
`
`TRANSACTION
`
`DATABASE
`
`2
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 16
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 16
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 15 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`K 880
`
`ACTIVITY
`
`ACTIVITY
`
`IDENTIFIER
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`M
`
`M
`
`M
`
`A-O01
`
`A-002
`
`PURCHASE
`> $100
`
`IN LINE
`> 3 MINUTES
`
`568943
`
`345234
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 17
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 17
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2014
`
`Sheet 16 of 16
`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`TRANSACTION
`
`IDENTIFIER
`
`E
`
`E
`
`%
`
`%
`
`T-0001
`
`T-0002
`
`568943
`
`345234
`
`12/6/2003
`4:30 PM
`
`12/6/2003
`4:32 PM
`
`UD-423D
`
`UD-523D
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 18
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 18
`
`

`
`US 8,784,198 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONDUCTING OR FACILITATING A
`PROMOTION
`
`The present application is a Continuation Application of
`U.S. application Ser. No. 13/226,191, filed on Sep. 6, 2011 in
`the name ofWalker et al. and entitled METHOD AND APPA-
`RATUS FOR CONDUCTING OR FACIEITATING A PRO-
`
`5
`
`MOTION, which application is a ContinuationApplication of
`U.S. application Ser. No. 11/425,027, now abandoned, filed 10
`on Jun. 19, 2006 in the name of Walker et al. and entitled
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING OR
`
`FACILITATING A PROMOTION. Application Ser. No.
`11/425,027 is, in turn, a Continuation Application of U.S.
`ap olication Ser. No. 09/604,898, now abandoned, which was 15
`filed on Jun. 28, 2000 i11 the name of Walker et al., entitled
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING OR
`FACILITATINGA PROMOTION and claimed the benefit of
`
`U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/ 183,391 (which
`Provisional Application was filed on Feb. 18, 2000 in the
`name of Walker et al. and entitled STORED OUTCOMES
`
`ON A PDA). The entirety of each of these applications is
`incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates generally to a method and
`apparatus for conducting a promotion and, more particularly,
`to a method and apparatus for distributing promotions to
`potential participants and for allowing the promotion partici-
`pants to receive benefits associated with the promotions.
`2. Description of the PriorArt
`Merchants and manufacturers often use promotions to
`entice people to try or purchase products, shop or conduct 35
`transactions in certain stores, or to make people aware of
`products, store locations, sales, etc. Unfortunately, many such
`promotions suffer from a number of drawbacks. For example,
`promotions for which paper coupons, flyers, invitations, pro-
`motion entry forms, promotion rules, etc., must be printed
`may incur significant printing and distribution costs. Further-
`more, knowing how many paper coupons, flyers, invitations,
`promotion entry forms, promotion rules, etc., to print may be
`difficult to predict, thereby often causing a merchant or manu-
`facturer conducting the promotion to print too many or too
`few of the necessary items.
`Additional problems for print based promotions may result
`when a merchant or manufacturer conducting the promotion
`desires to change a rule, benefit, prize, entry criteria, redemp-
`tion criteria, or other aspect of the promotion once the pro-
`motion has started, or at least after the merchant or manufac-
`turer has printed or distributed the printed items necessary for
`the promotion. Merchants and manufacturers may desire to
`change one or more aspects of a promotion while the promo-
`tion is on-going so as to encourage more people to participate
`in the promotion, to correct or change any inconsistencies or
`errors in the promotion or promotion related materials, etc.
`Many promotions are based on a randomized distribution
`of prizes among promotion tickets or coupons. That is, a
`person may be given or sold one or more coupons or coupon
`numbers. Ifthe person’ s coupon or coupon number is deemed
`to be a “winning” coupon, the person may win a prize asso-
`ciated with the winning coupon. For example, a classic lottery
`allows a person to pick or receive a set of numbers associated
`with a lottery ticket. If the person’s numbers are chosen, the
`person generally wins a monetary prize. Such a lottery pro-
`motion is typically conducted by a government regulated
`
`2
`
`lottery organization, which contracts with merchants to sell
`lottery tickets to consumers. The merchants have little control
`over the price of the lottery tickets, the prizes or benefits
`associated with winning lottery tickets, the advertising of the
`lottery promotion, or any conditions that a co11sumer must
`satisfy before purchasing a lottery ticket. Therefore, mer-
`chants have little ability to tailor such promotions to their
`products or market niches, customer demographics, inven-
`tory levels, etc.
`Thus, despite the state of the art methods and systems for
`conducting lotteries and other promotions, there remains a
`need for a method and apparatus for conducting a promotion
`that overcomes the problems associated with print oriented
`promotions while providing a merchant or promotion orga-
`nizer flexibility in the operation of the promotion as well as
`the ability to change one or more aspects of the promotion
`during the operation of the promotion.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a method and apparatus for conducting or enabling a
`promotion and to provide a method and apparatus for distrib-
`uting promotions or portions ofpromotions to potential users.
`The method and apparatus ofthe present invention provides a
`merchant or promotion organizer flexibility in the way they
`conduct or operate the promotion as well as an ability to
`change one or more aspects of the promotion during the
`operation of the promotion. Such benefits can be achieved
`while reducing, or even eliminating in some cases, the costs
`and other shortcomings associated with print based promo-
`tions.
`
`Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the
`invention shall be set forth in part in the description that
`follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in
`the art upon examination of the following or may be learned
`by the practice of the invention. The objects and the advan-
`tages may be realized and attained by means of the instru-
`mentalities and in combinations particularly pointed out in
`the appended claims.
`To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accor-
`dance with the purposes ofthe present invention, as embodied
`and broadly described herein, a method for conducting a
`promotion includes generating an outcome, generating an
`unlock code associated with the outcome, providing an indi-
`cation of the outcome, providing an indication of the unlock
`code, and providing an indication of a benefit associated with
`the outcome. In general, when created, an outcome is
`“locked” or otherwise hidden or covered so that any prize,
`value, symbol or other benefit associated with the outcome
`may only be viewed, displayed or otherwise determined after
`the outcome is “unlocked” or otherwise revealed with an
`unlock code.
`
`Outcomes and/or unlock codes may be generated and/or
`provided by a controller or other central source. The control-
`ler or central source may be operated by, for or on behalf of a
`lottery organization or other organization desiring to operate
`or conduct a promotion.
`Either or both of an outcome and an unlock code may be
`provided to a user, user device, intermediary and/or interme-
`diary device. Typically, an intermediary may be, include, or
`function on behalf of a merchant, a group of merchants (e.g.,
`a shopping mall), a franchisee, etc. that desires to operate a
`promotion or participate in a promotion. In some embodi-
`ments, a controller may provide an outcome to a user or user
`device and an unlock code capable of unlocking the outcome
`to an intermediary or intermediary device, or vice versa. The
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 19
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 19
`
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`
`US 8,784,198 B2
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`3
`
`user may then receive the unlock code for the outcome from
`the intermediary or intermediary device.
`In son1e embodiments, a qualifying action may be associ-
`ated with either the outcome or the unlock code. The benefit
`
`associated with the outcome may not be provided until after
`he qualifying action is completed. Completion or satisfac-
`ion of the qualifying action may need to be verified in some
`embodiments or implementations. In other embodiments, the
`outcome, unlock code, benefit and/or qualifying action may
`rave an expiration date associated with them or they may
`otherwise be terminated from further use.
`
`After a user or user device unlocks an outcome, the user or
`Jser device may provide a redemption request or other indi-
`cation to the controller. The redemption request may inform
`he controller of the unlocking of the outcome, request that
`he user be provided with a benefit (e.g., a free dinner at a
`*estaurant, a discount coupon, a car, five hundred dollars, a
`free lottery ticket, a free outcome, a free unlock code, a cruise,
`etc.) associated with the outcome, request another outcome or
`unlock code, etc. In some embodiments, an intermediary or
`intermediary device may provide the redemption request.
`There may be a one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one,
`and many-to-many relationship between outcomes and
`unlock codes. Thus, an outcome may be unlockable by one
`and only one unlock code or by many unlock codes. In addi-
`tion, an unlock code may be able to unlock only one outcome
`or many outcomes. In some embodiments, an unlock code
`may be capable of unlocking many outcomes, but the unlock
`code may not be reused after it is used to unlock a first one of
`the many outcomes.
`To further achieve the foregoing and other objects and in
`accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as
`embodied and broadly described herein, a system for con-
`ducting a promotion includes a memory, a communication
`port, and a processor connected to the memory and the com-
`munication port, said processor being operative to generate
`an outcome, generate an unlock code associated with the
`outcome, provide an indication of the outcome, provide an
`indication of the unlock code; and provide an indication of a
`benefit associated with the outcome.
`
`Also to achieve the foregoing and other objects and in
`accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as
`embodied and broadly described herein, a computer readable
`medium for use in a promotion system, the computer readable
`medium storing a computer program including computer
`readable means for producing an outcome, computer read-
`able means for producing a reveal code associated with the
`outcome, computer readable means for sending an indication
`of the outcome, computer readable means for sending an
`indication of the reveal code, and computer readable means
`for sending an indication of a benefit associated with the
`outcome.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and form a part of the specification, illustrate the preferred
`embodiments of the present invention, and together with the
`descriptions serve to explain the principles of the invention.
`In the Drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of system components for an
`embodiment of an apparatus usable with the method of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method in accordance with the
`
`present invention as conducted by the controller of FIG. 1;
`
`4
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method in accordance with the
`
`present invention as conducted by the intermediary device of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method in accordance with the
`
`present invention as conducted by the user device of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method illustrating the combina-
`tion of the flowcharts of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a method
`
`in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a third embodiment of a method in
`
`accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a representative con-
`troller of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 9 is a tabular representation of a possible data struc-
`ture for the outcome database of FIG. 8;
`FIG. 10 is a tabular representation of a possible data struc-
`ture for the user database of FIG. 8;
`FIG. 11 is a tabular representation of a possible data struc-
`ture for the intermediary database of FIG. 8;
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a representative user
`device of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 13 is a tabular representation of a possible data struc-
`ture for the user outcome database of FIG. 12;
`FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a representative
`intermediary device of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 15 is a tabular representation of a possible data struc-
`ture for the unlock database of FIG. 14; and
`FIG. 16 is a tabular representation of a possible data struc-
`ture for the transact'on da abase of FIG. 14.
`
`DETAIL 4D D 4 SCRIPTION OF THE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus
`for conducting a promotion wherein one or more outcomes
`are generated or created by a controller or other source and
`then provided to a user. A user may win, or be entitled to
`receive, upon the completion or satisfaction of a qualifying
`action or criteria, an outcome with a specific prize or benefit
`associated with it that, such as a television, ten-thousand
`dollars, a coupo11 worth a ten percent discount on a purchase
`of a future product, a free oil change for a car, etc. Altema-
`tively, an outcome may not have a specific or identifiable prize
`or benefit associated with it, but may have a value, symbol, or
`other identifier associated with it, such as a picture of a cherry
`or orange, the number “4,” an alphanumeric prize identifier,
`etc. A prize or benefit may then be associated with the value,
`symbol or other identifier associated with the outcome at a
`later time by a merchant, manufacturer, controller or other
`central source, or other entity or device. For example, a mer-
`chant may associate a prize of a ten-percent off coupon with
`an outcome of “cherry” while a different merchant may asso-
`ciate a prize of a free product with an outcome of “cherry.”
`Each outcome may be generated, transmitted and’or stored
`by a controller or other device in electronic form. Therefore,
`a user may receive or download one or more outcomes via
`electronic transmission from the controller and store the out-
`
`comes on a user or customer device, such as a personal digital
`assistant, laptop computer, cellular telephone, etc. In some
`embodiments, a user may be able to receive hundreds, thou-
`sands, etc., of outcomes and store and use them simulta-
`neously on a single user or other customer device.
`When originally created, an outcome may be hidden, cov-
`ered up, masked, concealed, encoded, or otherwise “locked”
`(with includes a partially “locked” outcome) such that the
`result of the outcome or the prize, benefit, value, symbol, etc.
`associated with the outcome is not knowable solely as a result
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 20
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1001 Page 20
`
`

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`US 8,784,198 B2
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`5
`
`6
`
`of having possession of, or access to, the outcome. In some
`embodiments, a “locked” outcome carmot be revealed,
`accessed, displayed, determined, etc. by anyone who receives
`the outcome witl1 an appropriate “unlock” code that allows
`the prize, benefit, value, symbol, etc., associated with the
`outcome to be revealed, displayed, accessed, determined, etc.
`The term “locked,” as used herein, should be construed
`broadly and is not meant to imply or suggest any specific
`manner or method of hiding, covering, encoding or encrypt-
`ing, storing, screening, concealing, masking, etc. a prize,
`value, symbol, or otherbenefit associated with an outcome or
`to limit how a prize, value, symbol, or other benefit associated
`with the outcome is hidden, covered, encoded or encrypted,
`stored, screened, concealed, masked, etc.
`In some embodiments, an unlock code used to unlock an
`outcome may include or otherwise provide some or all of the
`information or data needed to associate a benefit with an
`
`outcome, identify, select or otherwise determine a benefit
`associated with the outcome, complete a benefit being
`revealed by the unlock code, etc.
`In general, a user having a locked outcome will need to
`reveal, display, uncover or otherwise “unlock” the outcome in
`order to see or reveal the prize, benefit, value, symbol, etc.
`associated with the outcome. An unlock code may also be
`generated by a controller or other device and associated with
`the outcome so that a user that has or receives the unlock code
`from the controller can see, access, or otherwise “unlock” the
`previously received locked outcome, thereby allowing the
`user to determine or see a result of the outcome or a prize,
`benefit, value, symbol, etc., associated with the outcome. As
`used herein, in addition to its common meaning, the phrase
`“associated with” for describing a relationship between an
`outcome and an unlock code shall also be taken to describe
`the fact that the unlock code can unlock the outcome and that
`
`the unlock code is capable ofunlocking the outcome. Thus, an
`outcome might be associated with one or more unlock codes
`and an unlock code may be associated with one or more
`outcomes.
`
`In some embodiments, a user or user device may receive an
`unlock code for an outcome before receiving the locked out-
`come itself. An unlock code can comprise or include a writ-
`ten, spoken or data entered password, a radio or television
`signal, a sequence or group of keypad selections or entries, a
`sequence or group of handwritten or spoken entries, an elec-
`tronic or electromagnetic signal, a numerical or alphanumeri-
`cal sequence, a sequence, group or combination of musical
`notes or other sounds, words, syllables, phrases, tones, etc. to
`be provided audibly or symbolically to unlock an outcome, a
`barcode, a decoding key, rule or algorithm for a code or
`cypher, etc. An unlock code can also be based on, include, or
`comprise an identifier associated with a particular user, user
`device, intermediary, intermediary device, etc. receiving the
`unlock code or otherwise being allowed to use or distribute
`the unlock code
`
`An unlock code may also include user biometric informa-
`tion (e.g., voiceprint, fingerprint, retinal scan, DNA, etc.
`information) so that the unlock code may only be used by a
`specific user. A controller or other device generating the
`unlock code may access a database of previously stored bio-
`metric information when generating or otherwise creating the
`unlock code. Altematively, a user requesting an unlock code
`may supply the biometric information when providing the
`request so that the biometric information can be included in
`the unlock code or otherwise used to create the unlock code.
`
`associate a specific outcome with a specific user, change an
`outcome depending on which user has possession of the out-
`come, etc.
`Software resident and operating on a user device may keep
`any outcomes received by and stored on the user device
`locked until a code is available to unlock the outcome. When
`a user receives an unlock code, the software on the user device
`may allow the user to unlock one or more of the outcomes
`stored on the user device. The user may be able to determine
`or select an outcome to unlock. Alternatively, the user device
`and associated software may determine or select which out-
`come to unlock. In some embodiments, an unlock code may
`be able to unlock only one outcome, such as in implementa-
`tions where a one-to-one relationship exists between unlock
`codes and locked outcomes. An unlock code also may be
`generated, transmitted and/or stored i11 electronic form or as
`an electronic signal.
`In general, one or more outcomes will be generated and
`provided to one or more users or other people by a central
`source, such as a controller, a manufacturer, etc. The control-
`ler may also generate and provide the outcomes and associ-
`ated codes to an intermediary, such as a merchant or retailer.
`The merchant, retailer or other intermediary can then provide
`a code to a user, thereby allowing the user to unlock one ofthe
`previously received outcomes. In some embodiments, the
`merchant intermediary may or may not know the prize, ben-
`efit, value, symbol, etc., associated with any outcome pro-
`vided by the merchant intermediary to the user.
`In order to receive an unlock code that will activate or
`
`unlock an outcome, a user may have to satisfy or complete
`one or more qualifying actions or other criteria. Note that the
`terms “qualifying action” and “qualifying criteria” will be
`used interchangeably herein. For example, a user may have to
`shop at or at least visit a specific merchant, purchase a specific
`product, use a specific credit card to purchase a product,
`redeem a specific coupon, participate in a game or group
`activity, travel to a particular destination by a certain day,
`notify at least five people of a promotion being conducted by
`a merchant, hand out leaflets, switch long distance telephone
`service providers, agree to purchase a magazine subscription,
`convince at least one other person to download an outcome,
`attend a particular basketball game, become a museum
`docent, answer survey questions, apply for a credit card,
`prov