WO2000049581A1

WO2000049581A1 - Card-operated prize-determining apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2000049581A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/000467
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terry Hastings Southwell
Original assignee: Electronic Marketing Ventures Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-02-19
Filing date: 2000-02-11
Publication date: 2000-08-24
Also published as: AU2453700A; GB9903907D0

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for reading a card and determing when a prize has been won, which apparatus (2) comprises a housing (4), a reader portion (6) which is for reading the card and which is such that the card is passed through the reader portion (6) for reading the card, display means (14) for displaying information relating to use of the apparatus (2) by a user, memory means for recording how the apparatus is being used, and a modem (16) for down loading data stored in the memory means to a remote station and for allowing the apparatus (2) to be controlled from the remote station.

Description

CARD-OPERATED PRIZE-DETERMINING APPARATUS

This invention relates to card-operated prize- determining apparatus and, more especially, this invention relates to apparatus for reading a card and determining when a prize has been won.

In my United Kingdom Patent No. 2271939, there is disclosed card-operated prize-determining apparatus. The apparatus is especially useful in the sales promotion industry.

In accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for reading a card and determining when a prize has been won, which apparatus comprises a housing, a reader portion which is for reading the card and which is such that the card is passed through the reader portion for reading the card, display means for displaying information relating to use of the apparatus by a user, memory means for recording how the apparatus is being used, and a modem for down loading data stored in the memory means to a remote station and for allowing the apparatus to be controlled from the remote station.

The apparatus of the present invention is especially useful in the sales promotion industry. Thus the apparatus of the present invention may be used in establishments such as supermarkets, with users of the apparatus being customers of the establishments. The apparatus may include a keypad for permitting access to the apparatus other than by the card.

The keypad may permit authorised persons to gain access to the apparatus by entering a predetermined code . Usually the code will be a number code but the code may be a letter code, a symbol code, or a code which is a mixture of numbers and/or letters and/or symbols .

The keypad may alternatively or additionally permit a user to operate the apparatus for the purpose of achieving user interaction with the apparatus.

The keypad may permit the user to gamble prizes won for prizes of higher value. Usually, if the gamble is lost then prizes already won will be forfeited. Other arrangements may however be employed if desired.

The apparatus of the invention may include a voucher printer for printing vouchers. Preferably the voucher printer is a thermal voucher printer but other types of voucher printers may be employed.

The voucher printer may print vouchers with details of at least one of prizes, rewards, and promotional game information. If desired, the voucher printer may print vouchers such that they carry an identifying number for the apparatus of the invention in order to identify an issuing outlet such for example as an issuing retail outlet. The voucher printer may also print the vouchers with one or more of the date, time, and a number of the card being used in the apparatus. The card being used will usually be that known as a swipe card. The voucher can also be provided with a product bar code to allow prizes awarded to be redeemed by authorised personnel using scanning apparatus to scan the bar code .

The apparatus of the invention may include cutter means for automatically part-cutting vouchers from a store of vouchers in the housing, the part-cutting allowing easy tear-off removal by a user. When the voucher has been printed and part-cut, then it may be fed to a voucher- dispensing slot in the housing by means of an appropriate motor. The motor will usually be an electric motor.

The apparatus of the invention may include alarm means for warning of an attempted theft of the apparatus .

Preferably, the apparatus is mains powered, in which case the alarm means preferably operates to indicate an alarm state if the apparatus is disconnected from a mains power supply. The apparatus may be provided with alarm- release means such for example as an alarm-release button. The alarm can then be de-activated by operating the alarm- release means in order to allow disconnection of the apparatus by authorised personnel from the mains power supply. If this is effected, then the apparatus of the present invention will usually be arranged to be such that when the mains power supply is re-connected, then the alarm automatically becomes re-activated.

The apparatus of the present invention may include an advanced features unit for enabling messages from the apparatus to be re-constructed into at least one of sound, graphics and animation. The sound, graphics and animation may be displayed on the display means . The display means may be a display panel on the housing or, alternatively, the display means may be remote from the housing, for example in the form of a television set.

The apparatus may be one in which the reader portion reads cards which are magnetically encoded swipe cards, and in which a code on the card determines which program or programs stored in the apparatus are activated.

The display means is preferably a light emitting diode display means . The display means may display a moving display or, if desired, a static display.

Text in the display may be controlled by a program within the apparatus. The display may provide instructions on the use of the apparatus, for example how to present the card to the reader portion. Display may register the successful completion of the reader of the reading of a card by the reader portion. The display may inform the card holder of the accumulative number of card presentations, for example as swipes, on the apparatus in a predetermined time period. The display may be a tumble display. The display may advise the user of any prizes.

The prizes may be any suitable and appropriate type of prizes including cash, tokens, vouchers, goods and holidays . The memory means may record the number of times that the card is presented to the reader portion. The memory means may record any suitable and appropriate desired type of information.

The housing may have a hinged portion for providing access to the inside of the housing.

The apparatus of the invention may include control means for ensuring that the memory means records the presentation of the card only a predetermined number of times in any predetermined period. Thus, for example, the control means may be such that it ensures that the memory means records the presentation of the card only once per day.

The apparatus of the invention may include comparator means for comparing a number or symbol on the card with a list of winning numbers or symbols stored in the apparatus.

The apparatus of the present invention may also include reward-indicating means for indicating a reward when a predetermined number of presentations of the card to the reader portion is registered. The reward-indicating means may include a flashing light or lights.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of card-operated prize-determining apparatus; Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 illustrates ancillary parts which can be employed with the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 for reading a card and determining when a prize has been won. The apparatus 2 comprises a housing 4 which is rectangular as shown. The housing 4 has a reader portion 6 which comprises a pair of upstanding flanges 8, 10 which define a slot 12 through which a card (not shown) is swiped for being read.

The apparatus 2 further comprises display means 14 for displaying information relating to use of the apparatus 2 by a user such for example as a customer in a supermarket . The apparatus 2 further comprises memory means (not shown) for recording how the apparatus 2 is being used.

The apparatus includes a modem which is indicated schematically as modem 16. The modem 16 is for down loading data stored in the memory means to a remote station. The modem 16 is also for allowing the apparatus 2 to be controlled from the remote station.

The apparatus 2 includes a keypad 18 for permitting access to the apparatus 2 other than by the card. The keypad 18 permits authorised persons to gain access to the apparatus 2 by entering a predetermined code . The code will usually be a number code but other types of code may be employed if desired. Alternatively or in addition the keypad 18 permits a user to operate the apparatus 2 for the purpose of achieving user interaction with the apparatus 2. For example, a user could operate the keypad 18 to gamble prizes already won for prizes of higher value.

The apparatus 2 includes a voucher printer which is shown schematically as a thermal voucher printer 20. The voucher printer 20 prints vouchers with details of prizes, rewards and promotional game information. The voucher printer 20 is also able to print a number identifying the particular piece of apparatus 2 in order to enable authorised personnel to identify where the apparatus 2 is located. The voucher printer 20 may also print a voucher with the date, time and a number on the card which has been presented to the reader portion 6. The voucher printer 20 may further provide the voucher with a product bar code to allow any prize awarded to be redeemed by authorised personnel scanning the bar code.

The apparatus 2 includes cutter means shown schematically as cutter means 22. The cutter means 22 is for automatically part-cutting vouchers from a store of vouchers in the housing 4. The part-cutting allows easy tear-off removal of the vouchers by a user. When a voucher has been appropriately part-cut and printed, it can be fed by a motor (not shown) to a voucher-dispensing slot 24.

The apparatus 2 includes alarm means shown schematically as alarm means 26. The alarm means 26 is able to warn of an attempted theft of the apparatus 2. The o

apparatus 2 is mains powered and connected to the mains via a cable 28. The alarm means 26 operates to indicate an alarm state if the apparatus 2 is disconnected from the mains power supply. An alarm release button 30 is provided. If the alarm release button 30 is depressed, this allows the apparatus 2 to be disconnected from the power supply by authorised personnel . When the apparatus 2 is reconnected to the power supply, then the alarm means 26 automatically becomes re-activated.

The apparatus 2 includes a control board shown schematically as control board 32. The control board 32 controls the general operation of the apparatus 2.

The apparatus 2 has hinged access via a hinge 34 so that the housing 4 can be opened to provide access to the inside of the housing 4.

The rear of the housing 4 is provided with a socket 36 for connection to display means in the form of a light emitting diode display panel 38 and a screen 40 of a television 42. The display panel 38 may give a moving display and, as shown in Figure 3, the word WELCOME is being displayed. Power for the display panel 38 may be provided by a cable 44.

The apparatus 2 may include an advanced features unit 46. The unit 46 may be housed in the housing 4 or it may be housed remote from the housing 4. The unit 46 is for providing messages for the screen 40 in the form of at least one of sound, graphics and animation. The messages are provided along cable 48.

The apparatus 2 includes memory means for recording how the apparatus is being used. The memory means may form part of the control board 32. Any suitable and appropriate type of memory means may be employed so that , the memory means may record the number of times the card is presented to the reader portion 6.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the control board 32 may be effective to ensure that the memory means records the presentation of the card only a predetermined number of times in any predetermined period, for example only once per day. The apparatus 2 may also include comparator means (not shown) for comparing a number or symbol on the card with a list of winning numbers or symbols stored in the memory means. Still further, the apparatus 2 may include reward-indicating means (not shown) for indicating a reward when a predetermined number of presentations of the card to the reader portion is registered. The apparatus 2 may be connected to a large display device giving a display visible to all customers in a supermarket or other retail outlet. Thus, all customers may know how a particular customer is playing on the apparatus of the invention. The television 42 may be a simplified personal computer or any other suitable and appropriate electronic display device.

The modem 16 enables the apparatus 2 to be connected via a modem connection point 50 and telephone line to an operator's head office. Information from lots of the pieces of apparatus 2 can be fed into a computer in the head office. The connection may also enable the head office to down load all card swipe activity, to program the apparatus 2 with prize winning programs, to determine messages printed on the vouchers via the voucher printer, to determine the messages on the display means such as the display panel 38 and the screen 40, and to link effectively all different pieces of the apparatus 2 in various different outlets to the head office.

The apparatus of the invention may be sold under the trade mark CARD-TALK.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reading a card and determining when a prize has been won, which apparatus comprises a housing, a reader portion which is for reading the card and which is such that the card is passed through the reader portion for reading the card, display means for displaying information relating to use of the apparatus by a user, memory means for recording how the apparatus is being used, and a modem for down loading data stored in the memory means to a remote station and for allowing the apparatus to be controlled from the remote station.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and including a keypad for permitting access to the apparatus other than by the card.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the keypad permits authorised persons to gain access to the apparatus by entering a predetermined code .

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the keypad permits the user to operate the apparatus for the purpose of achieving user interaction with the apparatus.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the keypad permits the user to gamble prizes won for prizes of higher value .

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a voucher printer for printing vouchers.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the voucher printer is a thermal voucher printer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the voucher printer prints vouchers with details of at least one of prizes, rewards and promotional game information.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 - 8 and including cutter means for automatically part-cutting vouchers from a store of vouchers in the housing, the part- cutting allowing easy tear-off removal by a user.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including alarm means for warning of an attempted theft of the apparatus .

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the apparatus is mains powered, and in which the alarm means operates to indicate an alarm state if the apparatus is disconnected from a mains power supply.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including an advanced features unit for enabling messages from the apparatus to be re-constructed into at least one of sound, graphics and animation.

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the reader portion reads cards which are magnetically encoded swipe cards, and in which a code on the card determines which program or programs stored in the apparatus are activated.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the display means is a light emitting diode display means .

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the display means displays a moving display.

16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the memory means records the number of times the card is presented to the reader portion.

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the housing has a hinged portion for providing access to the inside of the housing.

18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including control means for ensuring that the memory means records the presentation of the card only a predetermined number of times in any predetermined period.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the control means is such that it ensures that the memory means records the presentation of the card only once per day.

20. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including comparator means for comparing a number or symbol on the card with a list of winning numbers or symbols stored in the apparatus.

21. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including reward-indicating means for indicating a reward when a predetermined number of presentations of the card to the reader portion is registered.

22. Apparatus for reading a card and determining when a prize has been won, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .