WO2002078801A1

WO2002078801A1 - Wireless encounter lottery system

Info

Publication number: WO2002078801A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/000542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adnan ÖZDEMIR
Original assignee: Oezdemir Adnan
Priority date: 2001-04-02
Filing date: 2001-04-02
Publication date: 2002-10-10

Abstract

It is an electronic unit that can be implemented either independently, as a seperate device or can be embedded in a suitable medium, like mobile phones, handheld computers, PDAs, gameboys, toys, GPS sets, vehicles, buildings etc... Each unit is capable of wireless communication with other units, either via RF (Radio Frequency) or via infrared. Each unit has an unique identification code and when specific multiple units (≥2) meet each other at any place on earth within their communication range, unit owners would have the chance to win specific prizes and awards (depending on predetermined criterion by the 'Encounter Lottery Center' based on a list of identification code combinations or some variations of it derived from specific formulas), or units collect 'Encounter Points' increasing with successful encounters they make with other units, and when 'Encounter Points' reach some predetermined values, the unit owners win specific prizes, awards.

Description

Wireless Encounter Lottery System

DESCRIPTION:

This invention relates to an electronic lottery unit capable of wireless communication and can be implemented either .as a portable, independent, separate device or can be embedded in other suitable appliances, mediums such as mobile phones, toys, vehicles etc.

Technical JEield-and Background -Art of the Invention

Today, wireless communication devices are spreading all over the world and most of the traditional devices -using wired¹ communication are being transformed to wireless forms fast. Wireless keyboards, microphones, mice, wireless data transfer of hand phones and palm size computers -can .be -seen more -often in -daily .life. Wireless communication is mostly achieved via using RF (Radio frequency) or infrared modules capable of transmitting data or signals between tw -points with varying .range and .bandwidth depending on the power and technical specifications of the related transmitter & receiver or transceiver and/or antenna sets.

Wireless xommunication _and various wireless devices either using RF or infrared are the concern of various patents or patent applications. Lots of patents or patent applications containing "-wireless -communication" -and/or "lottery" terms can be found through patent searches as well. They are mostly adaptation of classical lottery systems with today's technology -e^. "WIRELESS .LOTTERY GAME" - International Publication Number: WO 01/03786 Al, "PLAYING DEVICE SYSTEM" - US Patent No: US006117013A)

The third type of patents and patent applications is wireless communicating game devices. The patent -application -published under the title "Hide and Find Toy Game" (International Publication Date: WO 00/45921) is a good example for these. This application mostly sounds like the embo i ent ~of_~a -treasure -or metal detector (which, beeps when a certain kind of hidden metal is nearby) as a form of wireless game system. It is based on hiding some element wit aJxansmitter-placed-Qn, ,and finding it with devices embodying receiver units. Today, components for building wireless communication devices either via RF or via

widely available.

Disclosure of Invention

1. Wireless Encounter Lottery System can be assembled independently as a separate device oi .can Jbe embedded in other appliances, in any physically suitable medium, . like mobile phones, palm computers, toys, cars, vehicles, buildings (Fig. 1) etc...

(From this pjoiιιι,_any -appliance that -has this feature embedded in it or any standalone, independently manufactured encounter lottery unit will be referred as WELS in the rest of ±he_article),

2. WELSs can be manufactured using either RF (Radio Frequency) or infrared transmitter ,& -receiver .pairs (px iransceivers). For both types, RF and infrared, each WELS unit will have at least a controller unit (microcontroller type), a ROM type memory, an JEEP-ROM .type memory, a pair of transmitter & receiver (or a transceiver), and necessary analog and digital peripheral components, and optional -ois ay_^J^y-S,- ^^iional-a it onal M. (Fig. 2)

3. WELSs will be able to communicate and transfer data with other WELSs between each other within iheir .eo nmunicatiαn range. The communication could be implemented as half duplex or full duplex. Some common networking protocols and Jechniques -should -be .applied Jar -successful communication. The communication range will be predetermined and technically suitable transmitter & receiver sets will be used for that-πange. -Tcansmitter .and receiver sets capable of communicating at various ranges are commercially available today. RF communication is more flexible when compar^-toJrLfiared. RFjleyicesiio JiotJieed to see each other directly (Fig. 3 A) but infrared communication requires direct visual route between receiver and transmitter for communication. -(Eig.-3B)

4. The target is to enable as many as people all around the world to possess WELSs. The all WELS owners around -the world will .build a group, network; whose members will have the chance to win specific awards or prizes when multiple WELSs (>2) meet within their cornrt ιnir:atirm range (based -on^cdetermined criterion by the Encounter Lottery Center based on a list of "identification code combinations" or some variations of it derived from specific formulas)

5. Each WELS will have a preset identification code written in its ROM type memory.

The ROM _rmay .also xontain .some additional predetermined data specific to that WELS. When their power is set ON, (Fig. 4) WELSs will start checking the specific communication .band -whether to see if there are any other WELSs around with their power set ON. If they sense one or more than one WELS around them, they will try to .exchange .ID .Codes and related specific ROM Data, then make calculations based on some predetermined criterion and derive a result to make some comparisons whether to see if there is an award match and encounter among their group. If there is an award winning match, WELSs may give an alert, by generating a sound, or with vibrating effect, -or ti ey may have displays (e.g. LCD Screen) and display a message to inform their owners.

6. Rewarding process may be organized in many different ways. It may have a fixed, totally predetermined structure, or may partly include a random method to raise the excitement in the system. The point is to reward when multiple and specific WELSs come -togethe within their communication range and realize a specific match. Most likely method is to reward WELS owners when a predetermined set of WELS come together to -r-ealize a specific "identification codes combination". These possible combination sets of ID Codes will be programmed to each WELS' ROM with variations.

A typical implementation for deciding which WELSs will win a prize when they meet, and what kind -of -data they will contain in their ROM can be as follows. For example, a WELS has the ED=15, and the following data in its ROM. Part of the Prize table of WELS with ID Code=15

If we interpret the above table, 1^st Row means, if the WELS with 10=15 encounters the WELS with O=23, they both may win or only WELS (ID=15) wins the prize with the code=5 -(prizes predetermined and proclaimed beforehand). Prize column may directly address to the prizes other than prize codes, like a car, a T-shirt, a drink etc... 2^nd Row means that if WELS (ID=15) meets WELSs (with ID codes 234, 456, 7800) sequentially or at the same time, all of them or only WELS (ID=15) may be awarded wiib-the prize-coded s 100.

Rewarding system containing some random parameters and methods can be realized as follows. When multiple -sets -(≥2) come together within their communication range, each WELS makes a calculation based on a specified formula using its ID and/or some -data in its JIGM, plus some .random data generated at the time of encounter. Each WELS makes a comparison between its own result and the results others generated, and searches ibr-a.malch based xai predetermined criterion.

7. A very important feature to remark that, each WELS will have a counter in EEPROM -type-memory-to-collect "Encounter Points" after successful encounters. This could be based on either exactly keeping the number of all encounters, incrementing one by

A possible variation is; to realize a successful encounter, the sequence of the

125 encounter and the TD code of the unit encountered should be same (1^st encounter should be with the Unit m _Code⁼l, 8^th encounter with the Unit ID c₀de=8 etc.). If the counter reaches some predetermined specific values, the WELS owner is rewarded, for example, Encounter P-oints=500 deserves a T-Shirt, Encounter Points=1000 deserves a bike, Encounter Points=10000 deserves a TV Set etc... Necessary measures will be

130 -taken, implemented in .software code to avoid incrementing counters among a small group of WELSs (e.g. 3 units interacting continuously with each other to increment the counter .values) -to .cheat the system and reach the high counter values in a very short time.

135 Brie Description -of -Drawings

Fig. 1: Examples for possible implementations and realizations of WELS. Either as a standalone, independent -unit -with -keys&display or embedded in other devices and mediums such as a mobile phones, a cars etc... 140

Fig. 2: Typical implementation and components of a WELS. Additional RAM, analog and digital peripheral .-components, (eg. antenna) are not shown, only basic components are drafted. Transceiver could be implemented as a pair of a transmitter and receiver.

145 Fig. 3 A: WELSs-communicating via RF.

Fig 3B: WELSs conimunicating via infrared needs a direct visual route for communication.

Fig --Sώψlifi^ilow-chart-θf-pro esses a WELS performs after switching it ON.

150

Best Mode For Carrying Out the Invention

RF Communication 4s -more Uexible than infrared. RF will enable WELS owners to have more contacts with other WELS owners during the day. In any time of they day, they would

155 have ciiance_to mn pήzes jsdihout needing direct contact with other WELSs. When multiple

WELSs encounter within their communication range regardless of what their owners are doing at that time, the units would have chance to exchange data and check if there is a prize- winning encounter.

160 The communication range of these RF devices preferably should be less than a 100m, to avoid communication piroblems that may arise in crowded places. Also, the communication band that WELSs will use should be chosen carefully to avoid legal problems.

WELSs preferably, should .be integrated into all suitable mediums such as mobile phones, 165 cars, toys, buildings whereas they could be assembled as separate, independent devices at the same time. AU WELS Jaosting .points will build up a wide network with millions of prize- winning encounter combinations.

A WELS center should be organized to arrange, organize and execute prize related processes. 170 This center will -announce the prize -lists and will be responsible of solving conflicts that may arise.

The target is to spread WELS everywhere so that, any WELS owner would have chance to win

day, regardless of what he/she is doing. 175

180

185

190

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A unit capable of two way wireless data communication with other units of its kind within a specific, preαeiermined xange, comprising;

195

Each unit has a unique identification code and some preset data addressing a prize table

jpwsmeteis) written in its ROM like memory. This prize table contains combinations of possible prize winning encounters between different units based on their ID codes and cOirespimding .prizes ibr. those. encounters. When multiple units (> 2) encounter

200 within their communication range, they exchange their identification codes, then each unit compares the eceived ID .codes with .prize table data to check if there is an award- winning match, encounter has occurred. If the answer is yes, the unit alerts and informs the owner and the owner deserves the right lo get the specified prize. The point is to reward, give a prize when multiple units come together within their communication range and realize a specific

205 matcb-based-on some-predetermined criterion.

The encounter lottery unit is wireless communicating via RF (Radio Frequency).

The encounter lottery unit keeps the number of other units encountered in a counter in 210 EEPROM like memory (rewritable, non volatile). After each successful encounter this counter value is incremented and the unit owner gains the right to win a prize if this counter value exceeds some predetermined values.

2. In another yersion,4he encounter -lottery system in Claim 1. is wireless communicating via 215 infrared.

3. In another version, the encounter lottery system in Claim 1. exchanges some preset data additional t D -Codes -with other units at the time of the encounter. This data is put into a predetermined formula and result is compared with prize table data whether to see a prize-

220 winning en ounter has occurre

4. In another version, the encounter lottery system in Claim 1. uses random numbers it generates tp.be .used in .data exchange and the calculation to derive a result to be used in the comparison whether to see a prize-winning encounter has occurred.

225

5. In another version, the encounter lottery system in Claim 1. uses some personal data and information-of the-u t -owner keyed -in by uni owner beforehand and kept in EEPROM type memory) in the calculation to derive a result to be used in the comparison whether to see a prize-winning-encounter Jias -occurred.

230

6. In another version, the encounter lottery system in Claim 1. is integrated into other devices, mediums such-as mobile jihones, toys, electronic toys, vehicles (e.g. cars, airplanes, boat), computers (laptop, notebook, palm size), PDAs, GPS sets etc...

235 7. The .method: -For -the -encounter Jcttery system in Claim 1. some of the encounter lottery units with specific ID Codes (e.g. TD=100, 1000, 5000, 10000 etc ..) are placed in various predetermined points, .buildings, shops, offices, concert halls, malls, museums, restaurants, cafes, under the ground and under the sea at specific points etc., and also are given to celebrity. ublic figure Λo -carry during .specific times (e.g. during a concert). In order to win

240 the prizes based on the number of encounters a unit has made (whether the counter value has exceeded some -predetermine values), the unit owners should visit these places (or get close to that specific celebrity public figure during specific times) just at the corresponding sequence of their .counter value.andthe ID Code of the unit placed in that specific point, (e.g. The counter value of encounters of a unit is 99, to make it a 100, it should if and only if visit

245 the place that, hosts the, unit with TD -C de=100l To summarize some predetermined, specific encounters should be made with specific units whose ID Codes are corresponding to the value

the Unit _ro code=500 etc...)

250 8. The method: For the encounter lottery system in Claim 1. the sequence of each encounter should be s me with the ID Code of the other unit encountered, in order to increment the counter values and to win a prize based on by reaching some predetermined counter values, (e.g. 1^st encounter with the Unit _{ro C}ode= 1, 8^th encounter with the Unit ro code=8, 234^th encounter with the Unit _ID c_ode=234 etc...)

255