WO2005048150A1

WO2005048150A1 - Method and system for servicing online game with lotto

Info

Publication number: WO2005048150A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000160
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang-Sik Kim
Original assignee: Chang-Sik Kim
Priority date: 2003-11-15
Filing date: 2004-01-29
Publication date: 2005-05-26
Also published as: KR100433780B1

Abstract

A lotto-based online game service method for use in an online lotto go-stop game service method over an Internet includes the steps of: a) generating randomly a lotto number upon receipt of a predetermined lotto number generation control signal; b) displaying the acquisition item synthesized with the randomly-generated lotto number image on an online lotto go-stop game image screen if a predetermined acquisition item appears during an online lotto go-stop game service; c) searching for a number area o game slip image of a corresponding member from a member lotto-ticket management database (DB) associated with the generated lotto number, and marking the searched number area; d) providing a member with a lotto-ticket serial number if the number of lotto areas of the game slip image stored in the member lotto-ticket management DB is equal to a predetermined number of issuable lotto-tickets, and transmitting a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of the lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information to an affiliated lotto-ticket provider capable of issuing a real lotto-ticket over a dedicated Internet network at intervals of a predetermined time; e) issuing a lotto-ticket over an interface connected to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider, and remitting an amount of the issued lotto-ticket to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider; and f) upon receipt of lotto-ticket prize-winning information, displaying the received lotto-ticket prize-winning information on a homepage, and transmitting an information message indicative of a prize-winning fact to a corresponding prizewinner.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SERVICING ONLINE GAME WITH LOTTO

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an online game service system, and more particularly to an online game service method for providing a user or customer with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game, and a system for the same.

Background Art

With the increasing development of communication and network technologies, a variety of Web-sites such as game-, chatting-, community-, and shopping mall-sites, and their associated services have recently been provided to users or customers . Particularly, following the current trend of rapidly increasing the number of users of the online game services from among a variety of online services provided to users over the Internet, many developers have conducted intensive research into the online game services to provide the users with more improved online game services such that many more users have frequent such online game Web-sites over the Internet throughout the world. The higher the number of users of such online game services, the higher the number of free- of-charge game site to pay-for-use game site conversions. With the increasing number of users of online game services over the Internet and the increasing number of free-of-charge game site -to- pay-for-use game site conversions, a variety of portal site providers and online game service providers have conducted intensive research into a variety of online games available on the Internet such that users or customers can freely their desired online games on the Internet anywhere they wish. A variety of online games have currently been provided to the users over the Internet, for example, educational games such as typing games, arcade games such as tetris, board games such as baduk, janggi, and bingo-bingo games, Go-Stop games such as a common go-stop game and a modified go-stop game (also called a Mak-go game in Korea) adapted for only two players, poker games such as a Seven Poker, action/strategy games such as a Grand Chase, and RPGs (Roll Playing Games) such as Lineage and Laghai games, etc. Particularly, the Go- Stop games from among the aforementioned online games have been used more frequently than other online games because most general offline games can be configured in the form of online game services on the Internet, resulting in the creation of a large number of users registered as members in a corresponding server. A representative example of the above-described Go-Stop game service method using the Internet has been disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2002-13650, entitled "Go-Stop game service method and system using the Internet", filed in Korean Intellectual Property Office on March 13, 2002 by inventor Seung-tack OH, and assigned to Neowiz Corporation, which is incorporated herein by reference. Referring to the Korean Patent Application No. 2002-13650, the go-stop game service method and system has been designed to recompense a user who has successfully carried out a specific duty assigned for every game step for his or her successful duty, resulting in increased interest in the go-stop game. In the meantime, the lotto business widely used throughout the world to provide users or customers with lotto prize-winning opportunities reduces the number of illegal or fraudulent gambling actions, and is currently provided to people as a healthy leisure activity, such that a large number of people currently have a great interest in lotto tickets and participate in buying them. For example, the lotto 6/45 service system enables a lottery customer or user to select 6 desired numbers from among 45 numbers of 1~45 using an OMR (Optical Mark Reader) -based game slip, and transfers selected lottery data to a central computer center (e.g., a central server) over a dedicated communication network in such a way that a lotto ticket having the selected lottery data is issued and sold. In this way, if a total number of all the lotto tickets sold by a closing deadline are summed up in real time, and a prescribed lottery system draws a lucky number from a specially designed box, the final ranking of winners is determined by comparing the lucky number with individual lottery numbers. In other words, the greater the number of matching numbers between the selected numbers and the individual lottery numbers, the more prize-money is awarded. The aforementioned lotto 6/45 service system and method has been slightly modified in various ways, for example, Lotto 6/49 and Lotto 6/37 systems, etc., and has also been widely used in a plurality of countries throughout the world such that most people have experience in purchasing the lotto tickets. With the spread of a variety of lotto X/Y service systems, a variety of lotto tickets using lotto number wheels have rapidly come into wide use over the Internet, and lotto- associated services enable a user either to purchase a desired lotto ticket using a user' s mobile terminal or to directly purchase the desired lotto ticket without using the mobile terminal. In this way, a variety of lotto tickets and associated services have been widely used in a plurality of countries throughout the world. Therefore, if there is newly proposed an improved online service system which can enable the user to enjoy a desired online game on the Internet and can also provide the user with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game, the online game user can receive an improved online game service from an online game provider and the online game provider can also register many more users as members in a dedicated server of the provider. Particularly, if the online service system enables a user who enjoys an online go-stop game to receive a multipoint voice service and the opportunity to participate in a lotto game to increase user's pleasure, the online game user can receive an improved online go-stop game service from an online game provider and the online game provider can also register many more users as members in a dedicated server of the provider.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an online game service method and system for providing a user or customer with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game. It is another object of the present invention to provide an online go-stop game service method and system for providing a user or gamer with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game while the user or customer enjoys a multipoint online go-stop game over the Internet. It is yet object of the present invention to provide an online go-stop game service method and system for providing users or gamers with not only a multipoint realtime voice conversation service needed for increasing the gamers' pleasure, but also the opportunity to participate in a lotto game . It is yet object of the present invention to provide an online service method for providing a user or customer with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game during an online service time over the Internet. In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a lotto-based online game service method for use in an online game service method over Internet, comprising the steps of: a) randomly generating a lotto number upon receipt of a predetermined lotto number generation control signal; b) if a predetermined acquisition item appears during an online game service, displaying the acquisition item synthesized with the randomly-generated lotto number image on an online game image screen; c) storing a lotto number in a member lotto-ticket management database (DB) associated with the generated lotto number, and managing the stored lotto number using the member lotto-ticket management DB; d) if the number of lotto numbers managed by the member lotto-ticket management DB is equal to a predetermined number . of issuable lotto-tickets, providing a member with a lotto-ticket serial number, and transmitting a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of the lotto- ticket serial number and its associated member information to an affiliated lotto-ticket provider capable of issuing a real lotto-ticket over a predetermined communication network at intervals of a predetermined time; e) issuing a lotto-ticket over an interface connected to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider, and remitting an amount of the issued lotto-ticket to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider; and -f) upon receipt of lotto-ticket prize-winning information, displaying the received lotto-ticket prize-winning information on a homepage, and transmitting an information message indicative of a prize- winning fact to a corresponding prizewinner. Preferably, the term "LOTTO" for use in the present invention indicates a specific lotto-number drawing scheme based on lotto X/Y formats such as Lotto 6/45, Lotto 6/49, and Lotto 6/37 formats. In more detail, the specific lotto-number drawing scheme based on such Lotto X/Y formats enables a lotto-ticket purchaser to directly select X desired numbers from among y numbers using a game slip based on an OMR card.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an online game service system for providing a user with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an online lotto go-stop game service system provided by applying the online game service system of Fig. 1 to an online go-stop game service in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of each lotto- ticket service unit of Figs. 1~2 in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an online game service method for providing a user with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an overall control method for use in the online lotto go-stop game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a sub-routine for controlling a lotto-number area marking operation of the step 110 shown in Fig. 5 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a control method for changing a duplicate-marked lotto number to another number in accordance with a preferred embodiment, of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a communication interface procedure between an online lotto go-stop game service device 2 and -its affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is an exemplary screen image of a homepage for use in the online lotto go-stop game service in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is an exemplary screen image of a specific lotto card called "KoJuBOO" in Korea in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 11 is an exemplary screen image of a game slip on which a lotto number is recorded in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 12 is an exemplary screen image of a specific game play status where the lotto KoJuBOO card of Fig. 10 is displayed on the screen during an online lotto go-stop game in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 13 is an exemplary screen image of a specific game play status where lotto poker cards are displayed on the screen during an online lotto poker game in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 14 is an exemplary screen image of a specific game play status where lotto baduk stones are displayed on the screen during an online lotto baduk game in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 15 is an exemplary screen image of a specific game play status where lotto janggi pieces are displayed on the screen during an online lotto janggi game in accordance with the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an online game service system for providing a user with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an online lotto go-stop game service system provided by applying the online game service system of Fig. 1 to an online go-stop game service in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For the convenience of description and better understanding of the present invention, the aforementioned online game service system of Figs. 1~2 can also be called a lotto-based online game service system. Referring to Fig. 1, the lotto-based online game service system includes a lotto-based online game service unit 2a accessing the Internet 4 to provide a user or customer with a specific online game service capable of providing a user with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game. A plurality of user terminals 6a~6n gain access to the Internet 4. A user terminal 32 and a branch remote-control service unit 38 may gain access to a foreign network 30 composed of networks administered by other countries. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, not only a user who resides in one country having the lotto-based online game service unit 2a, but also other users who reside in foreign countries other than the country can receive the lotto-based online game service from a predetermined game server using their user terminals 32. The branch remote-control service unit 38 accessing the foreign network 30 can solve a variety of obstacles which may be encountered by a registered member who is staying in foreign country due to electronic commercial transactions between countries. For example, the branch remote-control service unit 38 can invite a foreign user to register himself or herself as a paying member, and can enable the foreign user to receive a prize-winning amount of money from the game server in such a way that it carries out a variety of transactions and management needed for foreign users . The lotto-based online game service unit 2a of Fig. 1 includes an online game main server 8a, a multipoint voice chatting service unit 10 acting as an optional item, a lotto- ticket service unit 12, an input/output (I/O) unit 14, a homepage 16, a game- service unit 18, a database (DB) 20, a member DB 22, a contents DB 24, a member lotto-ticket management DB 26, a prize-winning news information DB 28, and a settlement server 29. The lotto-based online game service unit 2a gains access to a bank/credit card company server 34 over either the Internet or a dedicated communication network to carry out an online settlement service. The lotto-based online game service unit 2a is affiliated with an offline lotto-ticket provider 36 for managing the issuance of real lotto tickets, and gains access to the offline lotto-ticket provider 36 over a dedicated Internet network or other communication networks . The affiliated lotto-ticket provider may be an authorized lotto-ticket enterprise for entirely or locally managing the issuance of lotto tickets available for a corresponding country, or may also be a prescribed lotto-ticket store. An online lotto go-stop game service system of Fig. 2 is almost identical to the aforementioned lotto-based online game service system block of Fig. 1. The online lotto go-stop game service system of Fig. 2 selects an online go-stop game from among a plurality of online games, and selects a lotto 6/45 scheme from among a plurality of lotto ticket implementation schemes, differently from the lotto-based online game service system block of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 2, the online lotto go-stop service system includes a multipoint voice chatting service unit 10, uses a lotto go-stop service unit 2 instead of using the lotto-based online game service unit 2a of Fig. 1, and uses a lotto go-stop main server 8 instead of using the online game main server 8a of Fig. 1. The online game main server 8a of Fig. 1 serves as a service block for controlling/administrating individual blocks contained in the lotto-based online game service unit 2a. The lotto go-stop main server 8 of Fig. 2 serves as a service block for controlling/administrating individual blocks contained in the lotto go-stop game service unit 2. It should be noted that the present invention selects an online go-stop game from among a variety of online games and selects the lotto 6/45 scheme from among a variety of lotto ticket implementation schemes for the convenience of description and better understanding of the present invention. The online go-stop game combined with the lotto 6/45 scheme will hereinafter be called an online lotto go-stop game for the convenience of description. The multipoint voice chatting service unit 10 contained in the lotto go-stop game service unit 2 shown in Fig. 2 is a multipoint voice chatting data processor, synthesizes voice data of a plurality of users participating in a voice chatting service when performing a lotto go-stop game service from among many online game services, and transmits or receives the synthesized voice data over a single bandwidth to considerably reduce an amount of voice data traffic, resulting in increased voice data processing efficiency. A representative example of a data coding scheme available for the multipoint voice chatting service unit 10 has been disclosed in the Korean Patent Application No. 2003-76567, entitled "DATA CODING METHOD USING FREQUENCY TRANSITION PATTERN CONVERSION", filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 31, 2003, proposed by the same inventor Chang-Sik KIM as the present invention, which is incorporated herein by reference. In more detail, the aforementioned Korean Patent Application No. 2003-76567 relates to a data coding method using a frequency transition pattern conversion, controls K square-shaped input signals to be transitioned to 2K pulse frequencies, and performs a pattern conversion process to convert a parameter of source data into a simple parameter of a pulse frequency, resulting in a simplified configuration of data. Also, the data coding method disclosed in the Korean Patent Application No. 2003- 76567 reduces energy spectrum density and bit rate information of original source data to compress data, considers the compressed data to be one block according to specific information indicative of pattern conversion independence, and interconnects a plurality of blocks serially or in parallel, such that it can indefinitely compress desired data. In the case of decompressing the compressed data, the aforementioned data coding method detects a prescribed frequency assigned to the compression process in association with the original source data having a predetermined pattern associated with the pulse frequency in such a way that it can decompress the original source signal. Furthermore, the aforementioned data coding method considers pattern conversion data to be one independent block in the same manner as in the compression process, and carries out data decompression operations equal to the number of serially- or parallel- connected blocks during the data compression process in such a way that it can decompress the compressed original source data. The above- described Korean Patent Application No. 2003-76567 has been designed to carry out data compression/decompression operations using a frequency transition pattern conversion operation, such that one pattern conversion data has signal characteristics and parameters quite different from those of the original source signal, resulting in a guarantee of signal independence regardless of the original source signal. Therefore, data can be efficiently compressed or decompressed, and can also be compressed or decompressed without deteriorating or damaging the original source signal, resulting in a simplified data compression/decompression algorithm. The multipoint voice chatting service unit 10 using the aforementioned data coding method , receives individual voice data from a plurality of chatting participants, synthesizes the received voice data in the form of single synthesized voice data, and configures the last synthesized data transferred to individual chatting participants in the form of a single channel having a single bandwidth, such that it can considerably reduce an amount of data processing load assessed to a chatting participant's terminal. Also, the multipoint voice chatting service unit 10 can enable all the chatting participants to process their voice data over a single bandwidth, such that there is no need to limit the number of chatting participants. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 randomly generates a lotto number during the online game service time. If a predetermined acquisition item such as the KoJuBOO card shown in Fig. 10 appears during the online game service time, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 synthesizes the randomly-generated lotto number image with the acquisition item, displays the synthesized image on an online game screen, records the synthesized image in a predetermined DB, and manages data stored in the DB. If the number of lotto numbers acquired by a user registered as a member in a game server is equal to a predetermined number of lotto numbers configured in the form of a lotto ticket, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 transmits a lotto-ticket issuance request to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 at intervals of a predetermined time, such that the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 can issue a real lotto ticket where the lotto numbers acquired by the user are recorded. If the user wins the first prize or other prizes in the lottery, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 enters a predetermined prizewinner management mode for managing/administrating prizewinners . Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of each lotto- ticket service unit 12 of Figs . 1~2 in accordance with the present invention. Referring to Fig. 3, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 includes a lotto-number generation controller 40, a random lotto-number generator 42, a lotto-number marking controller 44, and a real lotto-ticket purchase controller 46. Upon receiving average income of a previous week, division rate, event, and day information, the lotto-number generation controller 40 determines a total number of lotto numbers to be generated during one week and the number of lotto numbers to be generated for every day of the week. For example, it is assumed that the previous week's average income of 20% can be paid back to users in the form of a lotto-ticket issuance bonus, and the number of lotto numbers to be generated for every day varies with day and event information. Upon receiving a control signal from the lotto-number generation controller 40, the random lotto-number generator 42 randomly generates only one number from among 45 numbers of 1~45, and transmits the randomly-generated number to a game service unit 18. The lotto-number marking controller 44 enables a lotto number acquired by a member user (i.e., a gamer or player) during the online game to be marked on a lotto-number area contained in a game slip image of the member lotto-ticket management DB 26. The real lotto-ticket purchase controller 46 transmits a lotto-ticket serial number and its corresponding member information to the affiliated lotto- ticket provider 36 via a prescribed interface connected to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider at intervals of a predetermined time (e.g., one day) in such a way that the affiliated lotto-ticket provider^' 36 issues a lotto ticket associated with the received lotto-ticket serial number and its corresponding member information, and remits an amount of the issued lotto ticket to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36. The lotto-ticket prize-winning controller 48 determines a prizewinner upon receiving prize-winning lotto number information from an administrator or manager, such that it displays the determined prizewinner information on a predetermined homepage and transmits an E-mail message indicative of the prize-winning fact to the determined prizewinner. Also, if a prescribed condition for remitting prize money to the prizewinner is provided, the lotto-ticket prize-winning controller 48 pays the prize money by transfer of funds to an account of the prizewinner. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the I/O unit 14 includes an input unit (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, and a scanner, etc.), a display such as an administrator's monitor, and an output unit such as a printer. The homepage 16 acting as an online game homepage is implemented to support a plurality of foreign languages. The game service unit 18 provides a user or customer with a variety of online game programs and game- associated information. The DB server 20 manages the member DB 22, the contents DB 24, the member lotto-ticket management DB 26, and the prize-winning news information DB 28, and can be implemented using an OODBMS (Object-Oriented DataBase Management System) or a real-time DB management system denoted by DNBS . The member DB 22 includes a member field for storing personal details of individual members, for example, ID (Identification) , contact phone number, E-mail address, financial details, and password information of the members. Preferably, the member DB 22 includes a member registration field in consideration of settlement security and various conveniences. The contents DB 24 stores various data associated with an online game, a variety of contents, and various entertainment data, etc. The member lotto-ticket management DB 26 stores a variety of information associated with members having acquired their lotto numbers . For example, the member lotto-ticket management DB 26 stores image information of a member's game slip on which a member name, a member ID, an E-mail address, a resident registration number, an account number, an acquired lotto serial number, and a lotto number area are recorded. The prize-winning news information DB 28 stores general data associated with prize- winning news and other prize-wining data associated with individual members ^•. The settlement server 29 contains a prescribed billing machine to carry out a billing operation indicative of a combination between a calculation function and a recording function. Also, the settlement server 29 is implemented with a variety of methods, for example, a Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) needed for a secure electronic commerce transaction, a layer-level encryption scheme such as a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol, or a Public Key Intra (PKI) scheme, etc., such that it guarantees settlement security and protects information associated with the settlement from hacking. Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the lotto- based online game service method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 4, a user gains access to a prescribed Web-site administered by the lotto-based online game service unit 2a using one of user terminals 6a, 6n, and 32 to enjoy a desired online game, registers himself or herself as a member in a server of the Web-site and logs in as a member of the Web-site at step SI. The member registration fee is determined to be free-of-charge or payment, however, it is preferable for the Web-site to be a pay-for-use site in such a way that a desired lotto online game service is provided to the user. If the user logs in as a member of the Web-site and starts playing his or her desired online game, the lotto-based online game service unit 2a provides the user with the desired online game at step S2, and at the same time controls a predetermined lotto number generation operation at step S3 in such a way that a lotto number is randomly generated at step S4. If a predetermined acquisition item (e.g., the KoJuBOO card of the present invention) appears during the online game service, the lotto-based online game service unit 2a superimposes the acquisition item on the randomly-generated lotto-number image, displays the synthesized item image on the online game image screen, and records or marks a number area contained in a game slip image of a corresponding member in the member lotto-ticket management DB 26 associated with the generated lotto number at step S5. In this way, if the number area contained in the game slip image is marked or recorded six times in the member lotto-ticket management DB 26 to issue a real lotto-ticket, the lotto-based online game service unit 2a provides the user registered as a member with a lotto- ticket serial number, and transmits a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of the lotto-ticket serial number and associated member information to the lotto-ticket provider service system 36 capable of issuing such a real lotto-ticket over a predetermined communication network at intervals of a predetermined time, such that the lotto-ticket provider service system 36 can issue a real lotto-ticket and can pay the settlement amount of money at step S6 over a prescribed interface connected to the lotto-ticket provider service system 36. If a lotto-ticket prize-winning number is generated, an administrator or manager of the lotto-based online game service unit 2a enters prize-winning information indicative of the lotto-ticket prize-winning number in the Web-site, such that the lotto-based online game service unit 2a displays the prize-winning information on a homepage 16 of the Web-site and transmits an E-mail message to a corresponding prizewinner at step S7. If the prizewinner member requests that the lotto- based online game service unit 2a remit the prize money, the lotto-based online game service unit 2a determines if a prescribed remittance-enable condition (e.g., either one of 3rd, 4th, or 5th grades) capable of directly remitting the prize money to the prizewinner member is provided or not. If it is determined that the prescribed remittance-enable condition has been provided, the lotto-based online game service unit 2a remits the prize money to the prizewinner's account. Otherwise, if it is determined that the prescribed remittance-enable condition has not been provided, namely, if it is determined that the prizewinner member is either one of the first or second grades, the lotto-based online game service unit 2a invites the prizewinner member to visit a bank or associated institute to directly receive the prize money from the bank or associated institute at step S8. Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an overall control method for use in the online lotto go-stop game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a sub-routine for controlling a lotto-number area marking operation of the step 110 shown in Fig. 5 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a control method for changing a duplicate-marked lotto number to another number in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a communication 'interface procedure between an online lotto go- stop game service device 2 and its affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is an exemplary screen image of a homepage for use in the online lotto go-stop game service in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 9, a main image screen of the Website homepage includes a variety of items, for example, a log-in window, various game image icons, an official announcement item, an event window, and a lotto-ticket image icon, etc. If the user logs in as a member of the Web-site homepage and clicks on the lotto-ticket image icon (i.e., LOTTO 6/45 icon image) , the lotto-based online game service unit 2a displays a prescribed image composed of a variety of items on the screen, for example, a lotto-ticket drawing result of a previous week, prizewinner and congratulation messages, lotto news, and a current lotto-ticket accumulated prize money, etc. Operations of the online lotto go-stop game service method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the annexed drawings. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an online lotto go-stop game and a multipoint voice chatting service can be carried out in real-time, such that a new online go-stop game capable of the online lotto go-stop game and the real-time chatting service at the same time can be provided, resulting in increased interest in the go-stop game. In addition, a random lotto number is assigned to a specific card (i.e., the KoJuBOO card) while the user enjoys the online go-stop game, such that the user can seize the opportunity to acquire a lotto number from the Web-site. In this way, a gamer or user having acquired six lotto numbers can receive a real lotto-ticket from the Web-site, resulting in an increased interest of the gamer or user in the go-stop game. Typically, the KoJuBOO card for use in the go-stop game is assigned to a unique game function (also called "Ssang-Pee" in Korea) acting as a bonus card. The KoJuBOO card issued when an arbitrary lotto number is randomly generated according to the present invention is called a "lotto KoJuBOO card" capable of carrying out the Ssang-Pee function and the lotto-number function at the same time. In more detail, the KoJuBOO card is an exemplary acquisition item assigned to an online lotto go-stop game from among a variety of online game services. If the user gains access to the online lotto go-stop game site using one of user terminals 2k (where K=a,...,n), the lotto go-stop main server 8 displays a main image window of the homepage as shown in Fig. 9. If the user clicks on a member registration icon on the main image window, agrees to prescribed stipulations of the game site, registers himself or herself as a member of the game site, and logs in as a member of the game site at step 100 of Fig. 5, the lotto go- stop main server 8 controls the DB server 20 to record user's member information in the member DB 22 in such a way that the registered user can be qualified as a receiver of a desired lotto go-stop game service at step 102 of Fig. 5. The user registered as a member downloads a prescribed lotto go-stop program from the online lotto go-stop game site upon receiving a control signal from the lotto go-stop main server 8, installs the downloaded lotto go-stop program in the user terminal 2k, and creates a game directory or enters a pre-opened game community in such a way that the user can enjoy the lotto go-stop game as a gamer at step 102 of Fig. 5. In this case, the lotto go-stop game service is carried out upon receiving a control signal from the game service unit 18. The lotto go-stop program is stored in the contents DB 24, and is transmitted to the user terminal 2k upon receiving a control signal from the DB server 20. A maximum number of users who can enjoy the online lotto go-stop game is determined to be 3~5. In more detail, the number of users participating in each online lotto go- stop game is determined to be 3. The remaining users sell 3 users a prescribed card (e.g., Gwang card or SsangPee card) from among all their cards according to prescribed regulations of the online lotto go-stop game, and are each qualified as a game observer instead of a gamer. If one game is terminated and then a new game begins its operation, the remaining users can participate in the new game as a game participant (i.e., a gamer) or game observer. The random lotto-number generator 42 contained in the lotto-ticket service unit 12 randomly generates a lotto number upon receiving a control signal from the lotto-number generation controller 40 at step 108 of Fig. 5. In more detail, upon receiving average income of a previous week, division rate, event, and day information, the lotto-number generation controller 40 determines a total number of lotto numbers to be generated during one week and the number of lotto numbers to be generated for every day of the week. For example, it is assumed that the previous week's average income of 20% can be paid back to member users in the form of a lotto-ticket issuance bonus, and the number of lotto numbers to be generated for every day varies with day and event information. Also, grade information of gamers can be determined to be prescribed weighted values . Upon receiving a control signal from the lotto-number generation controller 40, the random lotto-number generator 42 randomly generates only one number from among 45 numbers of 1~45, and transmits the randomly-generated number to the game service unit 18. The lotto-number random generator 42 randomly generates only one lotto number, such that it should be noted that all the KoJuBOO cards issued during one online lotto go-stop game are not always assigned to lotto numbers. Therefore, the KoJuBOO card always appears when each gamer carries out one online lotto go-stop game, and a lotto KoJuBOO card containing a lotto number may also appear on the screen if a gamer has a fortune during the game. If the KoJuBOO card appears during the lotto go-stop game at step 106 of Fig. 5 on the condition that the predetermined lotto number has been randomly generated at step 104 of Fig. 5, the lotto go-stop main server 8 goes to step 108 of Fig. 5. The lotto go-stop main server 8 synthesizes the KoJuBOO card with the randomly-generated lotto number image to create a lotto KoJuBOO card, and displays the created lotto KoJuBOO card on the game image screen at step 108 of Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is an exemplary screen image of a specific game play status where the lotto KoJuBOO card is displayed on the screen during the online lotto go-stop game in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 10 is an exemplary screen image of the lotto KoJuBOO card displayed on the game image screen in accordance with the present invention. Referring to Figs. 10 and 12, a lotto KoJuBOO card is configured by combining the randomly-generated lotto number "37" with the KoJuBOO card in such a way that the lotto KoJuBOO card is displayed on the game image screen. In this case, provided that an avatar of a corresponding member user acquires a prescribed lotto number "37" from the lotto go-stop main server 8, it is preferable for a prescribed joyful message such as "Wow, Lotto !!" shown in Fig. 12 to be displayed on the game image screen, resulting in an increased user's pleasure. The lotto go-stop main server 8 controls the lotto- ticket service unit 12 to search for a number area corresponding to the acquired lotto number from among the game slip image area of the member user acquiring the lotto number, such that the lotto-ticket service unit 12 records or marks the searched number area in the member lotto-ticket management DB 26. Fig. 11 is an exemplary screen image area of a lotto- number marking game slip stored in the member lotto-ticket management DB 26. The game slip image of Fig. 11 is almost identical to an offline lotto-number record paper (also called an offline lotto-number marking paper or a game slip) . Referring to Fig. 11, the game slip image area is composed of five game areas A, B, C, D and E. Each game area includes 45 number areas, and also includes an automatic selection button and an automatic selection cancellation button to enable the user to freely select his or her desired lotto numbers from among 45 numbers using a manual selection or automatic selection scheme. Because of the automatic selection button and the automatic selection cancellation button, the user can also freely change a duplicate-marked lotto number to another number. The lotto-number area marking control operation at step 110 of Fig. 5 is carried out by the lotto-number marking controller 44, and its detailed sub-routine control operations will hereinafter be described with reference to Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 6, upon acquiring a lotto number from the lotto go-stop main server 8, the lotto-number marking controller 44 determines if a current marking game area (e.g., "A" game area) contained in the game slip image area shown in Fig. 11 contains prescribed number areas marked with the acquired lotto number at step 200 of Fig. 6. If it is determined that the prescribed number areas have not been previously marked with the acquired lotto number at step 202, the lotto-number marking controller 44 selects number areas corresponding to the acquired lotto number from among current marking game areas and marks the selected number areas with the acquired lotto number at step 212 of Fig. 6, such that the number areas indicative of the lotto number "37" are marked as shown in Fig. 11. Otherwise, if it is determined that the prescribed number areas have previously been marked with the acquired lotto number at step 202, the lotto-number marking controller 44 determines if the next game area (i.e., B game area) of the above marking game area contained in the game slip image area contains prescribed number areas marked with the acquired lotto number at step 204 of Fig. 6. If it is determined that the prescribed number areas have not been previously marked with the acquired lotto number at step 206, the lotto-number marking controller 44 selects number areas corresponding to the acquired lotto number from among a plurality of non-marking game areas, and marks the selected number areas in the form of black-colored lines at step 208 of Fig. 6. In the meantime, if it is determined that the prescribed number areas have previously been marked with the acquired lotto number at step 206, the lotto-number marking controller 44 determines if the next game area of the B game area contains number areas marked with the acquired lotto number at step 210 of Fig. 6, and returns to step 206. In this way, if the aforementioned number area marking control operation is carried out, the double-acquired lotto numbers when one game area is not filled with 6 lotto numbers yet can be marked on the game slip without using additional operations. Therefore, the user or gamer can previously prevent an abnormal status such as a game halt state needed for a lotto-number marking change process caused by the double-acquired lotto numbers from being generated during the online game. The duplicate-marked lotto number change process can be carried out when the user does not participate in the online game, and its associated control routine will hereinafter be described with reference to Fig. 7. Referring to Fig. 7, if the user clicks on a prescribed lotto-number check button denoted by "My Lotto- number Check" disposed at a plurality of locations of a main image screen or link window contained in the Web-site homepage, the lotto-number making controller 44 contained in the lotto-ticket service unit 12 determines if the user has clicked on the prescribed lotto-number check button denoted by "My Lotto-number Check" upon receiving a control signal from the lotto go-stop main server 8 at step 300 of Fig. 7, and goes to step 302 of Fig. 7. The lotto-number marking controller 44 displays a corresponding member's game slip image window configured in the form of the image of Fig. 11 at step 302 of Fig. 7. Thereafter, if the user commands the lotto go-stop main server 8 to change a duplicate lotto number to another number at step 304, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 determines if a current time is in a prescribed time zone during which the duplicate lotto number can be changed to another number at step 306. The duplicate lotto number change request at step 304 can be recognized by the lotto- ticket service unit 12 when the user clicks on either the automatic selection button or the automatic selection cancellation button contained in the game area of the game slip image area of Fig. 11. The prescribed time zone capable of changing the duplicate number to another number at step 306 can be determined to be a time zone ranging from 01:00 to 23:00. In more detail, a specific time zone ranging from 23:00 today to 01:00 tomorrow is determined to be a prescribe time zone acting as a time consumed for preparing/requesting the issuance of daily-counted lotto tickets, such that the member user cannot freely change the duplicate lotto number to another number. If it is determined that the current time is not in the prescribed time zone during which the duplicate lotto number can be changed to another number at step 306 of Fig. 7, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 prevents the duplicate lotto number from being changed to another number. Otherwise, if it is determined that the current time is in the prescribed time zone during which the duplicate lotto number can be changed to another number at step 306, the lotto-ticket service unit 12 determines if the user clicks on the automatic selection button or the automatic selection cancellation button at step 308. If it is determined that the user clicks on the automatic selection button at step 308, the lotto-number marking controller 44 recognizes that a current mode is an automatic selection mode, and goes to step 310 of Fig. 7, such that it randomly generates the remaining lotto numbers other than the duplicate lotto number at step 310. The lotto-number marking controller 44 deletes mark contents contained in the duplicate-marked number area where the same lotto number is marked two times, and marks a number area contained in a current marking game area corresponding to the new randomly-generated lotto number at step 312. However, if it is determined that the user clicks on the cancellation button needed to cancel the duplicate- marked game area at step 308, the lotto-number marking controller 44 activates a current marking game area at step 314, and goes to step 316. The lotto-number marking controller 44 determines if the user marks the activated current marking game area with his or her desired lotto number at step 316. If the activated current marking game area has been marked with the desired lotto number at step 316, the lotto-number marking controller 44 goes to step 318 of Fig. 7. The lotto-number marking controller 44 deletes mark contents from the above number area where the same lotto number is marked two times at step 318 of Fig. 7, selects a number area corresponding to the member-selected lotto number from among the activated current marking game area, and marks the selected number area. As stated above, the user can freely change the duplicate-marked lotto number to another number according to an automatic or manual selection scheme. Referring back to Fig. 5, if the lotto-number area marking control operation has been carried out at step 110, the lotto go-stop main server 8 goes to step 112. The lotto go-stop main server 8 determines if the lotto-number marking operation associated with the game slip image area of the member lotto-ticket management DB 26 is repeated 6 times indicative of the maximum number of issuable lotto-tickets at step 112. If it is. determined that the lotto-number marking operation is repeated 6 times indicative of the maximum number of issuable lotto-tickets at step 112, the lotto go-stop main server 8 provides a main image screen or other linked windows with a prescribed message composed of a lotto-ticket serial number and a congratulation message so as .to enable the user to visually view the message, and stores a lotto-ticket serial number and the number of accumulated lotto tickets of a corresponding member user in the member lotto-ticket management DB 26. The lotto-ticket serial number is updated to the member lotto-ticket management DB 26 until reaching a prescribed lotto-ticket issuance request time. In this case, the prescribed lotto-ticket issuance request time is determined by an administrator or manager of the Web-site. Preferably, the prescribed lotto-ticket issuance request time may be determined to be 0:00. The lotto-ticket request interval is determined to be 24 hours, such that 0:00 for each day is determined to be a lotto-ticket issuance request time . If a current time reaches the lotto-ticket issuance request time at step 116 of Fig. 5, the lotto go-stop main server 8 goes to step 118. A lotto-ticket issuance request list which contains a lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information stored in the member lotto- ticket management DB 26 is printed by a server-dedicated printer contained in the I/O unit 14 of Fig. 2 at step 118. Also, a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of the lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information is transmitted to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 over a prescribed communication network (e.g., a dedicated Internet network) at step 118. The affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 issues a real lotto-ticket using a communication interface at step 120. If the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 issues the real lotto-ticket, then the lotto go-stop main server 8 controls the settlement server 29 to transmit the settlement amount of money to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36. A detailed communication interface procedure between the lotto go-stop game service unit 2 and the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 at step 120 of Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 8. Upon receiving a control signal from the lotto go- stop main server 8, the real lotto-ticket purchase control method of Fig. 8 is carried out by the real lotto-ticket purchase controller 46 of the lotto-ticket service unit 12 of Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 8, if a current time reaches a prescribed lotto-ticket issuance request time at step 400, the online lotto go-stop game service unit 2 transmits a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of a lotto- ticket serial number and its associated member information (i.e., a member ID, etc.) to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 at step 402. Thereafter, the affiliated lotto- ticket provider 36 marks the received lotto-ticket serial number and associated member information configured in the form of a lotto number on a lotto-number selection paper for use in a prescribed lotto-ticket issuance device, and prints the member information on the lotto-number selection paper at step 404. If it is determined that the lotto number is marked on the lotto-number selection paper and the member information is printed on the same at step 404, a completion message is transmitted to the online lotto go-stop game service unit 2 at step 406. When a lotto-ticket seller attends a shop or store of the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36, the lotto-ticket seller manually enters the lotto-number selection paper where the lotto number has been marked in a prescribed lotto-ticket issuance device in such a way that the lotto ticket having the marked lotto number is electronically processed and issued, resulting in the issuance of a real lotto-ticket at step 408. If the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36 has issued the real lotto-ticket, a lotto-ticket completion message is transmitted to the online lotto go-stop game service unit 2 at step 410. In this case, the lotto-ticket completion message includes prescribed list information composed of the issued lotto ticket's serial number and its associated member information such as a member ID. Upon receiving a lotto-ticket issuance completion message from the affiliated lotto-ticket provider 36, the online lotto go-stop game service unit 2 determines if the received message is equal to a lotto-ticket serial number requested by the lotto-ticket issuance request message. If it is determined that the received message is equal to the lotto-ticket serial number, the online lotto go-stop game service unit 2 controls the settlement server 29 to transmit the settlement amount of money to the affiliated lotto- ticket provider 36 at step 412 of Fig. 8. The lotto go-stop main server 9 goes to step 122 of Fig. 8 after performing the step 120 of Fig. 5 as a detailed operation of Fig. 8. Upon receipt of a lotto-ticket prize-winning result, the administrator or manager of the lotto go-stop main server 8 enters the lotto-ticket prize-winning information at step 122 of Fig. 8. If the lotto-ticket prize-winning information has been entered, the lotto go-stop main server 8 controls the lotto-number prize-winning controller 48 contained in the lotto-ticket service unit 12. Thereafter, upon receipt of lotto-ticket prize-winning information, the lotto-number prize-winning controller 48 determines a prizewinner from among a plurality of members using member lotto-ticket associated information stored in the member lotto-ticket management DB 26, displays a message indicative of the prizewinner on the homepage, and transmits an E-mail message to the prizewinner at step 122 of Fig. 5. The prizewinner having the prize-winning lotto-ticket serial number and the prize-winning news information are stored in the prize-winning news information DB 28 of Fig. 2. In this case, provided that the prizewinner is drawn as a first or second grade, the lotto go-stop main server 8 inserts a specific information message in such an E-mail message such that the prizewinner visits a lotto-ticket provider's main office or a prescribed bank to directly receive the prize money from the main office or bank. In the case of the remaining prizewinners drawn as 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, the lotto go-stop main server 8 inserts a prescribed button indicative of a prize-money reception request of a corresponding member in such an E-mail message. Therefore, if the prizewinner clicks_, on the prescribed button contained in the E-mail message to transmit a prize- money remittance request to the lotto go-stop main server 8, the lotto go-stop main server 8 reads account information of the corresponding member from the member lotto-ticket management DB 26, and immediately transmits the prize money to the member's account at step 124 of Fig. 5. Step 124 of Fig. 5 is adapted as an example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be noted that various modifications, additions and substitutions are made available for the present invention. For example, the lotto go-stop main server 8 may allow the prizewinner to replace the prize-winning lotto-ticket with a new lotto-ticket issued for the next drawing time, instead of transmitting the prize money to the prizewinner. Otherwise, the lotto go- stop main server 8 may be implemented to select either one of the prize-money remittance service and the exchange service for replacing the drawn lotto-ticket with a lotto ticket of the next time (i.e., the next drawing) . For the convenience of description and better understanding of the present invention, the aforementioned preferred embodiment has been disclosed as a detailed example such as a lotto go-stop game, however, it should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a variety of online games on the Internet. Representative online games applicable to the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail.

1) Lotto Poker game A conventional online poker game starts its operation when each user receives four cards and opens only two cards from among four cards in such a way that the Lotto Poker game starts its operation. In this case, one card for each term is additionally open to the user. The Lotto Poker game inserts a lotto number in the card, resulting in the acquisition of lotto numbers of a plurality of players. Fig. 13 is an exemplary image screen of a specific game play status where lotto poker cards are displayed on the screen during the online lotto poker game in accordance with the present invention. If a lotto number caused by the lotto poker card is acquired and six lotto numbers are combined with each other, one lotto ticket is generated. A card game similar to the poker game is carried out in the form of a lotto poker game.

2) Lineage 2 (Mug-game) Referring to the mug-game, the mug-game adapts a large number of users as objects. Secondly, the mug-game basically intends to grow or increase its other self (i.e., its character) in cyber space. However, the mug-game also intends to form a variety of relationships between people, for example, unity between our forces needed to war with enemy countries, an endeavor needed to develop their guilds, an action for selectively killing only a weak person from among people, self-sacrificing people who assist weak people (i.e., game beginners), etc. The aforementioned special conditions called cyberspace. anonymity intend to sufficiently reflect individuality of a master moving one character. If one gamer meets good people in cyber space during the game time, the cyberspace relationship between the gamer and the people may also be extended to an offline mode if needed. This relationship game is called a mug- game. A representative example of the mug-game is a Lineage- 2 game which is the most popular online game in Korea. All the mug-games have similar game schemes and formats, such that they are designed to grow and increase their characters, buy necessary items, and carry out given quests. The gamer must catch a monster to increase a character level. If the gamer catches the monster, items randomly drop. In this case, a prescribed lotto number can be applied to the aforementioned case. In more detail, if the gamer acquires a typical item and at the same time catches the monster, he or she can acquire a prescribed lotto number from a prescribed game server. In this way, if the gamer acquires the lotto number during the Lineage game and combines the acquired 6 lotto numbers with each other, a single lotto ticket is configured.

3) Lotto Baduk game A general online baduk game has been designed to put a plurality of babuk stones composed of white and black stones on a baduk board displayed on the screen. The lotto baduk game is designed to randomly insert a lotto-number image in such baduk stones, such that the lotto number randomly appears on the user's baduk stones during the baduk game. Provided that a gamer is determined to be a user of white baduk stones and a lotto number appears on the white baduk stones, the lotto number is automatically marked on a prescribed user information field. Fig. 14 is an exemplary image screen of a specific game play status where lotto baduk stones are displayed on the screen during an online lotto baduk game in accordance with the present invention. If 6 lotto numbers acquired during the lotto buduk game are combined with each other, one lotto ticket is formed. A lotto Oh-mok game during which one gamer uses only five white baduk stones and the other gamer uses only five black baduk stones can be carried out in a way similar to the aforementioned lotto buduk game.

4) Lotto Janggi game If a gamer acquires a janggi piece of a counterpart gamer, the lotto janggi game reverses the acquired janggi piece, and inserts a prescribed lotto-number image in the reversed janggi piece in such a way that a lotto number is acquired. Fig. 15 is an exemplary image screen of a specific game play status where lotto janggi pieces are displayed on the screen during an online lotto janggi game in accordance with the present invention. Referring to Fig. 15, a lotto number is randomly assigned to lotto janggi stones. If the acquired 6 lotto numbers are combined with each other, a single lotto ticket is formed.

5) Lotto Tetris game If a gamer fills a prescribed area with a variety of blocks continuously dropping from upper to lower side without generating empty space among the blocks, a general tetris game is designed to delete one line from the block-filled area contained in the prescribed area. A variety of items can be assigned to such blocks as shown in typical tetris games provided from a variety of game sites. The acquisition items assigned to the blocks will be described in detail: For example, if the gamer removes one line composed of corresponding items from the game image screen, the number of blocks of a counterpart gamer is increased. Also, the gamer can freely change a shape of the counterpart gamer's block to another shape if needed, and can also exchange his or her block for the counterpart gamer's block if needed. Besides the aforementioned acquisition items, other acquisition items can be available for the lotto tetris game. A lotto number is assigned to a predetermined acquisition item from among various acquisition items to remove a specific block having a lotto number from overall blocks, resulting in the acquisition of one lotto number. This lotto number is randomly assigned, and one lotto ticket is formed by combining the acquired 6 lotto numbers with each other.

6) Crazy Arcade game The crazy arcade game is designed to kill characters of a counterpart gamer using a water bomb. An item box appears during the game time. A lotto number is randomly assigned to the ^'item box. If the item box is destroyed by the water bomb and a lotto number appears on the screen, the gamer can acquire the lotto number. In this way, the acquired 6 lotto numbers are combined with each other, resulting in the creation of one lotto-ticket.

7) Lotto Fortress game A general fortress game enables a variety of mini-tanks to shoot their missiles at their counterpart mini-tanks in order to exhaust energy gauge bars of the counterpart mini- tanks. The lotto fortress game controls a helicopter to appear from the sky during the game time, and controls the helicopter to drop a prescribed item to the ground. In this case, a prescribed lotto number can be assigned to the item. Therefore, users have a great interest in the lotto fortress game to acquire the lotto number dropping from the helicopter. A user who has acquired the lotto number from the helicopter can insert the acquired lotto number in his or her personal information field. In this way, 6 lotto numbers are acquired from the helicopter and are combined with each other, resulting in the creation of one lotto-ticket. In conclusion, the present invention provides a user or gamer who enjoys an online game with the opportunity to participate in a lotto game, and also provides the user or gamer with a multipoint real-time voice chatting service. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have disclosed a variety of online games for the convenience of description, it should be noted that they are applicable to a variety of online services carried out over the Internet. In this case, game money is considered to be cyber money.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the present invention is applicable to a variety of online games, for example, educational games such as typing games, arcade games such as tetris, board games such as baduk, janggi, and bingo- bingo games, Go-Stop games such as a common go-stop game and a modified go-stop game (also called a Mak-go game in Korea) adapted for only two players, poker games such as a Seven Poker, action/strategy games such as a Grand Chase, and RPGs (Roll Playing Games) such as Lineage and Laghaim games, etc. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .

Claims

Claims :

1. A lotto-based online game service method for use in an online game service method over an Internet, comprising the steps of: a) randomly generating a lotto number upon receipt of a predetermined lotto number generation control signal; b) displaying the acquisition item synthesized with the randomly-generated lotto number image on an online game image screen, upon receipt of a predetermined acquisition item having appeared during an online game service, ; c) storing a lotto number in a member lotto-ticket management database (DB) associated with the generated lotto number, and managing the stored lotto number using the member lotto-ticket management DB; d) providing a member with a lotto-ticket serial number when the number of lotto numbers managed by the member lotto- ticket management DB is equal to a predetermined number of issuable lotto-tickets, and transmitting a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of the lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information to an affiliated lotto-ticket provider capable of issuing a real lotto-ticket over a predetermined communication network at intervals of a predetermined time; e) issuing a lotto-ticket over an interface connected to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider, and remitting an amount of the issued lotto-ticket to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider; and f) upon receipt of lotto-ticket prize-winning information, displaying the received lotto-ticket prize- winning information on a homepage, and transmitting an information message indicative of a prize-winning fact to a corresponding prizewinner.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of: g) remitting the prize money to the prizewinner when a prescribed prize-money remittance-enable condition capable of directly remitting the prize money to the prizewinner is provided on the condition that the prizewinner having received the information message requests that an online game server remit prize money to the prizewinner, and inviting the prizewinner to visit a bank or associated institute to directly receive the prize money from the bank or associated institute .

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is determined to be 24 hours (i.e., one day) .

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step (a) includes the steps of: al) determining a total number of lotto numbers to be generated during one week and the number of lotto numbers to be generated for every day of the week, upon receiving at least one of average income of a previous week, division rate, event, and day information; and a2) generating randomly only one number from among 45 numbers of 1-45 upon receipt of the determined total number of lotto numbers to be generated during one week and the determined number of lotto numbers to be generated for every day of the week.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of: cl) determining if a prescribed number area corresponding to a current marking game area contained in a game slip image area is marked or not, upon receipt of the lotto number; c2) marking a number area corresponding to an acquisition lotto number contained in a current marking game area, if it is determined that the prescribed number area is not marked; and c3) marking a non-marking number area corresponding to the acquisition lotto number from among next game areas of the current marking game area contained in the game slip image area, if it is determined that the prescribed number area has previously been marked.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step (c) further includes the steps of: c4) upon receipt of a duplicate-marked lotto-number change request for changing the duplicate-marked lotto-number being duplicate-marked in the game slip image area to another number, displaying a game slip image window of a corresponding member, and determining if a current time is in a prescribed time zone during which a duplicate lotto number can be changed to another number; c5) determining if an automatic selection request is selected if the current time is in the prescribed time zone; c6) generating randomly the remaining lotto numbers other than the duplicate lotto number if it is determined that the automatic selection request is selected, deleting a mark from the duplicate-marked number area, and marking a number area contained in a current marking game area corresponding to the new randomly-generated lotto number; and c7) activating a current marking game area if the automatic selection request is not selected, deleting a mark from the duplicate-marked number area when a member-desired lotto number is marked in the activated current marking game area, and marking a number area corresponding to a member- selected lotto number from among the activated current marking game area.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lotto- ticket issuance request message of the step (d) is transmitted to the lotto-ticket provider capable of issuing lotto tickets, and a lotto-ticket issuance request list composed of the lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information is transmitted to a dedicated server printer such that the lotto-ticket issuance request list is printed out.

8. ^' The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step (e) includes the steps of: el) marking a lotto number on a lotto-number selection paper for use in a prescribed issuance device if the lotto- ticket issuance request message is transmitted to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider, printing member information, and transmitting a completion message to an online game service unit; e2) transmitting a lotto-ticket issuance completion message to the online game service unit if a lotto-ticket seller working for stores managed by the affiliated lotto- ticket provider issues a real lotto-ticket; and e3) upon receiving the lotto-ticket issuance completion message from the affiliated lotto-ticket provider, enabling the online service unit to determine if a lotto-ticket serial number contained in the received message is equal to a lotto- ticket serial number requested by a lotto-ticket issuance request message, and remitting a settlement amount of money to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider.

9. A lotto-based online game service apparatus for use in an online game service system over an Internet, comprising: a plurality of user terminals gaining access to the Internet; a lotto-based online game service unit for randomly generating a lotto number upon receiving a prescribed control signal when gamers enjoy desired online game services using the user terminals, combining a prescribed acquisition item with the randomly-generated lotto-number image when the prescribed acquisition item appears during the online game, displaying the synthesized image on an online game image screen, marking the synthesized image in a prescribed database, managing the synthesized image stored in the database, transmitting a real lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of a lotto-ticket serial number issuable as a ticket from among member-acquired lotto numbers and associated member information over a prescribed communication network at intervals of a predetermined time, paying a settlement amount of money needed for the issued lotto ticket, and managing a lotto-ticket prizewinner; and an affiliated lotto-ticket provider for issuing a lotto ticket upon receiving the real lotto-ticket issuance request over the prescribed communication network, and receiving the amount of settlement money needed for the issued lotto ticket.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the lotto-based online game service unit includes: a lotto-ticket service unit for generating a lotto number during an online game service time, transmitting a lotto-ticket issuance request, and managing a prizewinner; and a member lotto-ticket management database (DB) , wherein the lotto-ticket service unit includes : a lotto-number generation controller for determining a total number of lotto numbers to be generated during one week and the number of lotto numbers to be generated for every day of the week upon receiving average income, division rate, event, and day information associated with a previous week, and a random lotto-number generator for randomly generating one lotto number on the basis of the determined number information of lotto numbers; a lotto-number marking controller for controlling a member-acquired lotto number during the online game to be marked on a lotto-number area contained in a game slip image area of the member lotto-ticket management database; a real lotto-ticket purchase controller for transmitting a lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider over an interface connected to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider at intervals of a predetermined time, such that the affiliated lotto-ticket provider issues a lotto ticket and a settlement amount of the lotto ticket is transmitted to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider; and a lotto-number prize-winning controller for determining a prizewinner upon receiving a prize-winning lotto number from an administrator or manager, displaying information indicative of the determined prizewinner on a homepage, transmitting an E-mail message indicative of the prizewinning fact to the determined prizewinner, and remitting prize money to an account of the prizewinner when a prescribed prize-money remittance-enable condition capable of directly remitting the prize money to the prizewinner is provided.

11. A lotto-based online game service method for use in an online lotto go-stop game service method over an Internet, . comprising the steps of: a) generating randomly a lotto number upon receipt of a predetermined lotto number generation control signal; b) displaying the acquisition item card (i.e., KoJuBOO card) synthesized with the randomly-generated lotto number image on an online lotto go-stop game image screen if a predetermined acquisition item card (i.e., KoJuBOO card) appears during an online lotto go-stop game service; c) searching for a number area of a game slip image of a corresponding member from a member lotto-ticket management database (DB) associated with the generated lotto number, and marking the searched number area; d) providing a member with a lotto-ticket serial number if the number of lotto areas of the game slip image stored in the member lotto-ticket management DB is equal to a predetermined number of issuable lotto-tickets, and transmitting -a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of the lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information to an affiliated lotto-ticket provider capable of issuing a real lotto-ticket over a dedicated Internet network at intervals of a predetermined time; e) issuing a lotto-ticket over an interface connected to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider, and remitting an amount of the issued lotto-ticket to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider; and f) upon receipt of lotto-ticket prize-winning information, displaying the received lotto-ticket prize- winning information on a homepage, and transmitting an information message indicative of a prize-winning fact to a corresponding prizewinner.

12. A lotto-based online game service method for use in an online game service method over an Internet, comprising the steps of: a) generating randomly a lotto number upon receipt of a predetermined lotto number generation control signal; b) displaying the acquisition item synthesized with the randomly-generated lotto number image on an online service image screen, if a predetermined acquisition item appears during an online service over the Internet; c) storing a lotto number in a member lotto-ticket management database (DB) associated with the generated lotto number, and managing the stored lotto number using the member lotto-ticket management DB; d) providing a member with a lotto-ticket serial number if the number of lotto numbers managed by the member lotto- ticket management DB is equal to a predetermined number of issuable lotto-tickets, and transmitting a lotto-ticket issuance request message composed of the lotto-ticket serial number and its associated member information to an affiliated lotto-ticket provider capable of issuing a real lotto-ticket over a predetermined communication network at intervals of a predetermined time; e) issuing a lotto-ticket over an interface connected to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider, and remitting an amount of the issued lotto-ticket to the affiliated lotto-ticket provider; and f) upon receipt of lotto-ticket prize-winning information, displaying the received lotto-ticket prize- winning information on a homepage, and transmitting an information message indicative of a prize-winning fact to a corresponding prizewinner.