Background Art A patent application entitled"Lottery type selling method and apparatus"was filed on March 21,1997 in Korean Intellectual Property Office by the present applicant and was allowed and assigned a patent number 226630 on July 28, 1999.

In these days, electronic commerce through the Internet is being provided in various types. For instance, there are cyber shopping mall method, Intent mall of malls method, auction method, reverse auction method, etc.

Cyber shopping mall is a selling method in which goods in a fixed amount are displayed in an imaginary store and are sold. Internet mall of malls method is a selling method in which a corner mall is displayed in a large-scaled shopping mall and which is nearly the same method as the cyber shopping mall method. Auction method is a selling method in which as a seller'announces the closing time of an auction and the minimum biding price of an auction product onthe Internet, bidders participate in the auction starting from the minimum bidding price and the auction product is knocked down to a person who shows the highest bidding price on the closing time of the auction. Reverse auction method is a selling method in which as a purchaser announces a purchase condition for an article on the Internet, the purchase is knocked down to a seller who shows the lowest purchase condition through competitive bid of sellers.

Although these conventional electronic commerce methods enable to purchase goods without a direct visit to thereby provide convenience for purchasers, the purchaser must bear the expense finally. In other words, if there does not appear a purchaser capable of bearing all the expense, such a deal cannot be carried out.

Accordingly, in order to attract the purchasers, it is the actual circumstance to open a variety of events or a premium ceremony. Also, discount benefit, cyber money, bonus point, etc., is being provided depending on the use performance.

These premium ceremonies or bonus offers are nothing but once attempt and are time-limited. Also, it is the actual circumstance that premiums provided in such the events are very cheap and nasty and do not attract the purchasers. Further, since the cyber money or point needs the accumulation in the use performance due to the repeated use, it may not be useful right now. Furthermore, in the early stage, it was in real discarded or beyond the user's interest because of its low value.

Moreover, these events or premium ceremonies acts as an economic load against the electronic commerce management, so that such a load on the management is transferred to the sellers as an item named a fee on site use. Further, 8the sellers reflect this item on the selling price, which causes the increase in the selling price.

This vicious circle lowers the buying power and thus hinders promotion of a smooth commercial transaction, to thereby make difficult circulation of funds to the seller or manufacturers.

Meanwhile, since electronic commerce allows a commercial transaction on an imaginary space called Internet, payment for a transaction is carried out through banking or credit card rather than use of cash. Accordingly, banks or credit card companies are carrying out a variety of events, premium, point system, etc., for the purpose of attracting the customers.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide lottery type selling method and apparatus using a computer communications network in which a lottery ticket is sold corresponding to goods for sales, the goods are provided to a prize winner through a lottery, the payment of the lottery ticket is provided to a seller of the goods as the payment for the goods, and a bond corresponding to a face value of the lottery ticket is provided to a loser, capable of generating an explosive purchase demand by selling every goods through lottery events.

It is a second obj ect of the present invention to provide lottery type selling method and apparatus using a computer communications network capable of promoting the use of credit card by offering a bonus lottery ticket depending on the actual use results of the credit card.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide lottery type selling method and apparatus using a computer communications network in which members are divided into a general member and a special member and the membership is limited such that only the special member can participate in the lottery.

It is a fourth obj ect of the present invention to provide lottery type selling method and apparatus using a computer communications network in which a seller can select the face value of a lottery ticket for a registered article.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide lottery type selling method and apparatus using a computer communications network in which a purchaser of a lottery ticket can select a lottery ticket number.

To accomplish the aforementioned objects of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling method using a computer communications network. The method comprises the steps of: registering selling goods in a computer, said registering being carried out by a seller: announcing to sell the registered selling goods through a lottery sale at the computer and selling plural lottery tickets; drawing lots the sold lottery tickets at the computer and deciding a winner; and providing the seller with the decided winner information at the computer, meeting the payment on the goods to the seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets and providing a loser with a bond corresponding to a face value of the lottery ticket.

According to further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling method using a computer communications network. The method comprising the steps of: registering selling goods in a computer, said registering being carried out by a seller: announcing to sell the registered selling goods through a lottery sale at the computer and selling plural lottery tickets; drawing lots the sold lottery tickets at the computer and deciding a purchaser having a winning ticket as a winner; providing the seller with the decided winner information at the computer; and meeting the payment on the goods to the seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets.

Preferably, the step of selling the lottery tickets comprises a step of applying to the computer for a purchase of the lottery ticket.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling apparatus comprising: a storing means including a member database, a registered goods database, a lottery ticket selling database, a winning database, and a bonds data base; and a server for registering input member information and goods information in a corresponding database, announcing to sell the registered selling goods through a lottery sale, selling plural lottery tickets, registering a selling result of the lottery tickets in the lottery ticket selling database, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets and registering a winning information in the winning database and a losing information in the bonds database, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets.

According to further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling method using a credit card and a computer communications network, the selling method selling plural lottery tickets corresponding to selling goods, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets, deciding a winner, providing the winner with the selling goods, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a use data of the credit card and a purchase price of a bonus lottery ticket at the computer ; providing respective users contained in the use data of the credit card with at least one bonus lottery ticket in proportional to a use payment of the credit card; and allowing the user to decide the bonus lottery tickets aslotteryticketsforonesellinggoodsinasellingprogress.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling apparatus comprising: a storing means including a member database, a registered goods database, a lottery ticket selling database, a winning database, and a bonds data base; and a server for registering input member information and goods information in a corresponding database, announcing to sell the registered selling goods through a lottery sale, selling plural lottery tickets, registering a selling result of the lottery tickets in the lottery ticket selling database, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets and registering a winning information in the winning database and a losing information in the bonds database, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a. money made by selling the lottery tickets, wherein the storing means further comprises a bonus lottery ticket database, wherein the server further comprises functions for receiving a use data of the credit card and a purchase price of a bonus lottery ticket and registering the received use data of the credit card and the purchase price of the bonus lottery ticket in the bonus lottery ticket database, providing respective users contained in the use data of the credit card with at least one bonus lottery ticket in proportional to a use payment of the credit card and registering the provided at least one bonus lottery ticket in the member database, and allowing the user to decide the bonus lottery tickets as lottery tickets for one selling goods in a selling progress.

According to yet still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling method using a computer communications network, the selling method selling plural lottery tickets corresponding to selling goods, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets, deciding a winner, providing the winner with the selling goods, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets, the method comprising the steps of : selecting a selling kind when registering goods ; and if the selling kind of the registered goods is a special selling, selling the lottery tickets to only a special member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling apparatus comprising: a storing means including a member database, a registered goods database, a lottery ticket selling database, a winning database, and a bonds data base; and a server for registering input member information and goods information in a corresponding database, announcing to sell the registered selling goods through a lottery sale, selling plural lottery tickets, registering a selling result of the lottery tickets in the lottery ticket selling database, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets and registering a winning information in the winning database and a losing information in the bonds database, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets, wherein the server allows a membership in which members are classified into a special member and a general member, wherein when a registered goods is set in a special selling, the registered goods is sold to only the registered special member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling method using a computer communications network, the selling method selling plural lottery tickets corresponding to selling goods, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets, deciding a winner, providing the winner with the selling goods, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets, the method comprising the steps of: when registering the selling goods, allowing the seller to select a face value of the lottery ticket; and selling the lottery ticket at the selected face value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling apparatus comprising: a storing means including a member database, a registered goods database, a lottery ticket selling database, a winning database, and a bonds data base; and a server for registering input member information and goods information in a corresponding database, announcing to sell the registered selling goods through a lottery sale, selling plural lottery tickets, registering a selling result of the lottery tickets in the lottery ticket selling database, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets and registering a winning information in the winning database and a losing information in the bonds database, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets, wherein the server allows the seller to select a face value of the lottery ticket when registering the selling goods, and to sell the lottery ticket at the selected face value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery type selling method using a computer communications network, the selling method selling plural lottery tickets corresponding to selling goods, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets, deciding a winner, providing the winner with the selling goods, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets, the method comprising the steps of : allowing a purchaser to select number of the lottery ticket when the purchase purchases the lottery ticket; checking whether the lottery ticket having the selected number was sold; and if it is checked that the lottery ticket having the selected number was not sold, allowing a purchase of the lottery ticket and selling the lottery ticket.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provide a lottery type selling apparatus comprising : a storing means including a member database, a registered goods database, a lottery ticket selling database, a winning database, and a bonds data base ; and a server for registering input member information and goods information in a corresponding database, announcing to sell the registered selling goods through a lottery sale, selling plural lottery tickets, registering a selling result of the lottery tickets in the lottery ticket selling database, drawing lots the sold lottery tickets and registering a winning information in the winning database and a'losing information in the bonds database, and meeting the payment on the goods to a seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets, wherein the server allows a purchaser to select number of the lottery ticket when the purchaser purchases the lottery ticket, checking whether the lottery ticket having the selected number was sold, and if it is checked that the lottery ticket having the selected number was not sold, allowing a purchase of the lottery ticket and selling the lottery ticket.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Hereinafter, there are more fully described preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a mechanism of a lottery type selling method in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG.

1, in the selling method, if a seller 20 registers selling goods in a lottery type selling server 30, the lottery type selling server 30 sells lottery tickets for registered goods and applies a lottery for purchasers who have bought the lottery tickets to a broadcasting station 40 or a computer lottery system 42. According to lottery results in the broadcasting station 40, a prize winner information is provided to the seller 20. Then, the seller 20 delivers the goods to a prize winner 12. If the winner 12 inputs a receipt confirmation fact of the goods in the lottery type selling server 30, the server 30 meets the payment on the goods to the seller. In addition, the server 30 provides a loser 14 with a bond corresponding to a face value of the lottery ticket as purchased.

Thus, since the winner can purchase goods of great price at a purchase value of the lottery ticket and the loser can receive the bonds corresponding to the face value of the lottery ticket, competitive purchase of the lottery ticket occurs without a substantial large loss due to the losing.

Also, since a fund made by selling the lottery tickets is paid to the seller or manufacturers as the payment on the goods, the seller or manufacturer can secure the fund with ease.

In other words, the selling method of the present invention is to sell the lottery tickets as one item of the lottery event for the selling goods and at the same time it is to sell bonds to the losers other than the winner.

A general bond, i. e., company-bond is meant by borrowing a fund corresponding to a face value of the issued bond from bonds purchasers in order for a company to raise a fund and issuing the bonds as an bond of debt.

Also, the selling method of the present invention provides a user with a bonus lottery ticket depending on use results of the credit card. In FIG. 1, the dotted line indicates a flow to provide the bonus lottery ticket according to the use of the credit card.

FIG. 2 shows a constitution of the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the lottery type selling apparatus includes a server 100 in which a processor for executing a lottery type selling program is established, and a storing unit 110 in which various databases are stored. The server 100 refers to or updates the various databases and at the same time it executes the lottery type selling program.

As databases used in the server 100, there are a member database (MDB), a registered goods database (RGDB), a lottery ticket selling database (LTSDB), a bonus lottery ticket database (BLTDB), a lottery application database (LADB), a lottery result database (LRDB), a winning database (WDB)', and a bonds database (BDB), etc.

The lottery type selling apparatus includes terminals 130 and 140, which are connected to the server 100 through the computer communications network such as the Internet.

As examples of the terminal, there are personal computer, a notebook computer, a hand computer, an Internet hand-held phone, an Internet television, a lottery ticket vending machine, etc. In the present embodiment, the personal computer is used as the terminal.

At the terminals 130 and 140 are installed a lottery ticket selling program and a goods registration program.

The lottery ticket selling program and the goods registration program are installed at hard disks of the terminals 130 and 140 by downloading the programs through the Internet from the server 100 and executing them or executing the programs contained in a record medium such as a distributed compact disc (CD).

Referring to FIG. 3, the member database (MDB) contains various fields such as member ID, password, username, resident registration number, postal code number, address, phone number, E-mail address, specialized field, career content, main dealing bank, lottery ticket list in progress, lottery ticket winning results list, lottery ticket bonds results list, purchase point, progress results list of registered goods, lottery results list of registered goods, registration point, the rest, etc.

The address can include a his/her home address and an addressee address. The phone number includes a his/her home telephone number, a his/her hand-held phone number, a pager number, etc.

The member is sorted into a general member and a special member. The special member is a wholesale and special dealer and is a member for limiting a membership condition to a specialized person who deals with a large amount of goods and specialized goods, such as a wholesale dealer, a trafficker, an export and import dealer, etc. Accordingly, the special member should necessarily input items data indicated by a symbol"*".

The special member is assigned a capability enabling to participate in the lottery of special goods. For instance, although general members win a large amount of goods such as a few thousand ton of cereals, they are difficult to deal with them. Accordingly, regarding to the specialized goods, the membership is preferably limited to the special member.

Also, such the classification in the membership renders indiscreet and unlimited purchase of the lottery ticket limited to some degree.

Each member can view his/her purchase results through a purchase results list, a winning results list, a bonds results list and a bonus lottery ticket results list. The purchase point is given to the purchaser depending on the purchase performance.

Also, each member can view his/her registered goods circumstance through a progress and winning results list.

Through the winning results list, the seller is given the winner's address and phone number information and can deliver the registered goods to the winner. The registration point is given depending oh the registration performance of each member.

Referring to FIG. 4, the registered goods database (RGDB) contains various fields such as registration number, registered date, goods name, detail description of goods, picture of goods, selling price, selling period, kind of sales, face value of lottery ticket, target sales quantity of lottery ticket, total sales quantity of lottery ticket, sales rate (%) of lottery ticket, lottery date, lottery ticket numbers list, lottery ticket purchaser ID list, winning lottery ticket number, winner ID, the rest, etc.

The registration number is automatically endowed when the seller registers goods. The kind of sales is classified into a general sales and a specialized sales. In other words, this is to decide whether to sell the goods to the general member or the special member.

The face value of the lottery ticket includes a first way for issuing the lottery ticket at the constant face value with respect to all goods and a second way for applying a difference in the face values to the lottery tickets according to the selling prices of the goods, i. e., a way to allow the seller to decide the selling price.

The lottery date is decided depending on the selling period or sales quantity of the lottery ticket. In other words, when the selling period is ended and the total sales quantity of the lottery ticket exceeds the target sakes quantityofthelotteryticket, thelotterydatemaybedecided on a proper date after the selling period. Meanwhile, when the total sales quantity of the lottery ticket exceeds the target sales quantity of the lottery ticket, further sales of the lottery ticket is ended and then the lottery date may be decided.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lottery ticket selling database (LTSDB) includes fields such as sales date, lottery ticket number, face value of lottery ticket, purchaser ID, registration number, goods name, etc.

Once the lottery ticket is sold, the database shown in FIG. 5 is made for the sold lottery tickets on the basis of the sales date.

Referring to FIG. 6, the bonus lottery ticket database (BLTDB) contains fields such as provider, ground data of bonus, total purchase number, total purchase price, etc.

The bonus lottery ticket is a lottery ticket that a bank or a credit card company purchases the lottery ticket depending on the use performance in relation to a deal with the bank or a use of the credit card and provides corresponding members with the lottery ticket without pay as a bonus. The bonus lottery ticket is offered to the respective members in a blank lottery ticket in which registration goods are not yet decided. Accordingly, the respective members decide the registration goods using the blank lottery ticket and thereby the lottery ticket is in a usable state.

The ground data of the bonus, for example, includes user performance list of the credit card users, which is provided by the credit card company. The credit card company bears the expense for the purchase of the bonus lottery ticket.

Referring to FIG. 7, the lottery application database (LADB) includes fields such as lottery date, registration number, goods name, selling price, sales amount of lottery ticket, lottery ticket numbers list, etc. The LADB is a database that is being offered to a lottery system for the lottery of the registration goods in which the selling of the lottery ticket is ended.

Referring to FIG. 8, the lottery results database (LRDB) includes fields such as lottery date, registration number, goods name, selling price, winning ticket number, etc. The LRDB is a database related with the lottery results that is given from the lottery system.

Referring to FIG. 9, the winning database (WDB) includes fields such as lottery date, registration number, goods name, selling price, sales quantity of lottery ticket, winning ticket number, winner ID, winner address, winner phone number, goods receipt confirmation, seller ID, seller phone number, etc.

Referring to FIG. 10, the bonds database (BDB) includes fields such as bonds number, item, date of issue, expiration date, face value, money rates, the principal on maturity, losing ticket number, purchaser ID, etc.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flow charts for describing an operation of the server in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, when a specific time, for instance, 24 ol clockis checkedeveryday (1002), the server 100 inspects whether there exist registered goods on which the selling period is expired todaywith reference to the RGDB 113. (1004) If there exist registered goods on which the selling period is expired, it is checked whether the lottery ticket has been sold over a target sales quantity. (1006) At the step of 1006, if the lottery ticket has been sold over the target sales quantity, corresponding goods are registered in the LADB and related contents to the RGDB, RDB, etc., are updated. (1008) A lottery is applied to a lottery system, for instance, broadcasting station with adjusting the written LADB to the lottery date. (1010) At the step of 1006, if the lottery ticket has not been sold over the target sales quantity, the lottery is processed as a failed bid. (1012) On the failed bid of the lottery, contents of the failed bid are announced and payment for sold lottery tickets is refunded.

On the failed bid, if registration is again requested by the seller, after the announcement of the failed bid for three days, the selling price is lowered, for example, by 10% and the goods are automatically again registered. A lottery ticket that is not yet refunded till the goods are again registered is processed as the sold lottery ticket of corresponding goods.

In relation to the failed bid process of the step of 1012, contents of the RGDB and MDB are updated. (1014) At the step of 1002, if the current time is not the specific time, it is checked whether a membership is requested from the terminals 130 and 140. (1016) At the step of 1016, if there is a membership application, member information is input, (1018) and the input member data is registered in the MDB. (1020) As a person is registered in the MDB as the member, lottery ticket purchase results list and registered goods results list are provided to the respective members. Accordingly, each of the members can check the current circumstances of the lottery ticket that he/she bought, winning results, bonds results of losing lottery tickets, results of bonus lottery ticket, etc. Also, if goods were registered, the seller of the registered goods can check the current circumstances of the registered goods, the winning results, etc.

At the step of 1016, if there is not a membership application, it is checked whether data input of the lottery results is or not. At the step of 1022, if there is the data input of the lottery results, the data is input (1024) and is registered in the LRDB. (1026) In response to the received lottery results data, contents of the MDB, RGDB, WDB, BDB, etc., are updated. That is, winning contents are registered in the WDB and losing contents are registered in the BDB for the exchange with the bonds.

At the step of 1022, it is determined whether to input the lottery results data. If the lottery results data is not input, it is checked whether to input the bonus data.

(1028) At the step of 1028, if it is determined that there exists bonus data input, the bonus data is input (1030) and the input bonus data is registered in the BLTDB. (1032).

And, contents of the MDB for related members are updated based on the BLTDB.

Referring to FIG. 12, at the step of 1028, if it is determined that there no exists bonus data input, it is checked whether there exists goods registration request. (1034) At the step of 1034, if there exists goods registration request, goods information is input (1036) and the input goods information is registered in the RGDB. (1038) In response to the registered goods information, contents of the MDB for related member are updated.

At the step of 1034, if there no exists goods registration request, it is checked whether there exists lottery ticket purchase request. (1040) At the step of 1040, if there exists the lottery ticket purchase request, purchase information is input (1042) and the input purchase information is registered in the LTSDB. (1044) And, contents of related MDB and RGDB are updated.

At the step of 1040, if there no exists the purchase request, it is checked whether there exists data output request. (1046) At the step of 1046, if there exists the data output request, related data, for instance, lottery ticket list in progress, winning results list, bonds results list, bonus lottery ticket results list, etc., are output.

(1048) At the step of 1046, if there no exists the data output request, it is checked whether there exists receipt confirmation input. (1050) At the step of 1050, if there exists the receipt confirmation input, the input contents are registered in the RGDB, and contract deposit and price for the goods are paid into the seller's account. (1052) FIG. 13 is a flow chart for describing an operation of the terminal in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and FIGS. 14 through 34 are schematic views of pictures for the operation of the terminal in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, as a lottery type selling icon on a window start picture in the terminals 130 and 140 is clicked, the lottery type selling program is executed.

A web browser is executed and then the terminals 130 and 140 are connected to a lottery type selling site having a site name, for instance, www. lotterysell. com through the Internet connection using a phone connection. (1200) At the step of 1200, once connection to the lottery type selling site is achieved, the server 100 and the terminals 130 and 140 are in a connection state through the Internet 120.

By the request from the terminals 130 and 140, the server 100 provides a lottery type home page shown in FIG. 14, whereby a picture of the home page is displayed on the terminals 130 and 140. (1202) On the picture of the home page shown in FIG. 14, there are main menus such as"HOME","MEMBERSHIP","My Lottery", "TODAY'S LOTTERY","LOTTERY RESULTS LIST","GOODS SEARCH", etc. On left portion of the picture, there is a search tool.

The search tool makes it possible to perform a search using the classification of goods and a Boolean search using a combination of character and digit like goods name, registration number, selling price, face value of lottery ticket, etc.

The lottery results list is displayed in the order of the recent lottery dates. The lottery results list contains items of lottery date, registration number, goods name, selling price, winning ticket number, and winner ID all of which are displayed on the picture.

It is checked whether there is a goods search command at the home page. (1202) As the item of the goods search on the main menu is clicked, the goods search command allows a display of a large-scaled classification on a screen.

Large-scaled classification, for instance, contains electric and electronic home appliances, home supplies, office supplies, clothes-miscellaneous goods-cosmetic, toys supplies, marriage supplies, leisure-sports supplies, art-curio, car, book-music-video, travel products, real estate-stocks, machine accessory, agriculture- stockbreeding products, ferrous and nonferrous metal materials, nonmetallic materials, construction materials, etc. In FIG. 15, if the real estate are selected, the picture of FIG. 16 showing a middle-scaled classification is displayed. Also, if"residential goods" are selected from the middle-scaled classification on the picture of FIG. 16, the picture of FIG. 17 showing a small-scaled classification is displayed. If"Gwanak"is selected from the small-scaled classification picture of FIG. 17, registered goods list of FIG. 18 is displayed. (1206) On the registered goods list, there are displayed registration number, goods name, selling price, description of goods, selling period, face value of lottery ticket, ticket sales rate %, lottery date, etc. At the step of 1206, if a line corresponding to a desired item is selected from the list displayed on FIG. 18, a detailed description picture is displayed as shown in FIG. 19. The detailed description picture of FIG. 19 includes registration number, goods name, selling price, face value, picture of goods, sales graph, detailed description, etc.

Meanwhile, if an item of"lottery ticket purchase"is selectedoutofsub-itemsof"MyLottery"(1208), itischecked whether the terminal is in the state of"Login". (1208) At the step of 1208, if the terminal is in the state of"Login", lottery ticket purchase application picture is displayed as shown in FIG. 20. (1212) In other words, general guests who do not obtain the membership can view the registered goods list but they cannot purchase the lottery ticket and cannot register goods. Therefore, it is possible to register goods and purchase lottery ticket only in Login state after the membership is obtained.

The lottery ticket purchase application picture of FIG.

20 contains items of registration number, goods name, selling price, kinds of sales, face value, purchaser ID, purchase quantity of lottery ticket, total purchase price of ticket, credit card number, effective date of credit card, signature on credit card, purchasable number of bonus lottery ticket, used number, etc. As a purchaser inputs a desired purchase number into the purchase quantity of the lottery ticket, the total purchase price is computed and displayed. In order for the purchaser to settle the payment on the purchase goods using the credit card, credit card number, effective date of credit card, user name on credit card, etc., are input.

(1214) Also, in order for the purchaser to utilize his/her bonus lottery ticket, the purchaser inputs a number of the bonus lottery tickets into an item of a used number within a purchasable number of usable bonus lottery ticket. For instance, a total of five sheets are purchased on the picture, where one sheet is purchased using the bonus lottery ticket and the remaining four sheets are purchased using the credit card. The number of the purchasable tickets is automatically displayed to correspond to the face value of the lottery ticket of selected goods with reference to the MDB when the purchaser logs in. In other words, the number of 3.5 sheets indicates that 3.5 sheets of lottery ticket with the face value of 50,000 won can be purchased.

As the purchaser inputs purchase information and clicks the confirmation button shown in the lower portion of FIG.

20, a lottery ticket number selection picture is displayed as shown in FIG. 21. (1216) If the purchaser selects any one among three modes of random, serial number and selection by oneself, an arbitrary number can be selected automatically.

"Random"is a mode in which the computer decides a proper number at random and the randomly decided lottery ticket number is displayed."Serial numbers a mode in which the purchaser decides the first number and a serial number followed by the decided first number is decided as the next number. In the serial number mode, if there is a number that has been already sold, the number is skipped."Selection by oneself"is a mode in which the person himself inputs a desired number into a blank of the lottery ticket number and if the input number is not the number that has been already sold, it is decided as the lottery ticket number. (1218) Thus, as the confirmation button is clicked after the desired lottery ticket number is selected by the purchaser himself/herself, lottery ticket purchase confirmation picture is displayed as shown in FIG. 22. (1220) The purchase is completed after the purchaser confirms the purchased lottery ticket once more through the purchase confirmation picture and firmly decides the purchase. Here, as"print" button is clicked, the purchased lottery ticket can be printed with a prescribed format. Also, the lottery ticket of the present invention is in the form of digital ticket or imaginary ticket on the network.

At the step of 1208, if the item of"lottery ticket purchase"is not selected but an item of"goods registration" is selected, it is checked whether the terminal is in the state of"Login". (1224) At the step of 1224, if the terminal is in the state of"Login", goods registration picture is displayed as shown in FIG. 23. (1226) The goods registration picture of FIG. 23 contains items of classification, goods name, selling price, selling period, kinds of sales, face <BR> <BR> value of lottery ticket, seller ID, contract deposits, credit card number, effective date of credit card, signature on credit card, detailed description of goods, file attaching of goods picture, etc. Classification is a small-scaled classification that is selected during a selection procedure of goods and is automatically input. Once the seller inputs goods name, selling price, selling period, kinds of sales, <BR> <BR> facevalueoflotteryticket, sellerID, detaileddescription of goods, file attaching of goods picture, etc., the contract deposits for sales are automatically computed and displayed.

Then, as the seller inputs credit card number, effective date of credit card, signature on credit card, etc., and <BR> <BR> clicks a button of"registration of lottery type sales goods", registration information is input. (1228) After that, a goods registration confirmation picture is displayed as shown in FIG. 24. (1230) On the picture of FIG. 24, there are displayed items of registration number, goods name, selling price, face value of lottery ticket, contract deposits for sales, etc., together with a message of registration completion. After the seller confirms the contents displayed on the picture of FIG. 24 once more, the seller clicks a button of"confirmation", whereby goods registration is completed.

At the step of 1202, if the menu of"membership"is clicked (1232), membership picture is displayed as shown in FIG. 25. (1234) The membership picture of FIG. 25 contains general member items such as ID, password, username, resident registration number, postal code number, address, phone number, E-mail, etc., and special member items such as professional field, career, main dealing bank, etc.

Accordingly, the special member should fill all blanks marked in a symbol of"*"so as to obtain the special membership.

Thus, the special member should input the item corresponding to his/her professional field, for example, factorage, trafficker, import and export agent, and career in the professional field. However, the input contents provided as an example can be altered in different contents depending on the dealing fields.

As the member information is input on the picture of FIG. 25 and the button of"membership"is clicked, the member information is input. (1236) At the step of 1202, if the menu of"My Lottery"is clicked (1238), Login picture is displayed as shown in FIG.

26. (1240) As member ID and password are input (1242) on the picture of FIG. 26 and the button of"confirmation"is clicked, the member ID and the password are checked. (1244) At the step of 1244, when the membership is confirmed, picture of"MY LOTTERY"is displayed as shown in FIG. 27.

The picture shown in FIG. 27 contains items classification of lottery ticket purchase and goods registration in order to manage current circumstances of all members.

The lottery ticket purchase result includes lottery ticket results list in progress, winning results list, bonds results list, bonus lottery results list, etc. And, the goods registration result includes selling goods list in progress, winning results list, etc.

The lottery ticket results list in progress shown in FIG. 28 contains purchase date, lottery ticket number, registration number, goods name, selling price, ticket sales rate, lottery date, etc., all of which are arranged in the order of the purchase dates. Accordingly, the purchaser can review results of all purchase tickets, which the purchaser has purchased but for which the lottery is not yet completed.

The winning results list shown in FIG. 29 includes contents of lottery date, winning ticket number, registration number, goods name, selling price, seller ID, receipt confirmation, etc all of which are arranged in the order of the lottery dates. Accordingly, the purchaser can get winning results for all his/her purchase tickets among the goods for which the lottery is completed. Also, the purchaser can get seller's phone number and the like for winning goods. At this time, the winner should check the receipt confirmation of the winning goods on the winning results list.

The bonds results list shown in FIG. 30 includes contents such as lottery ticket number, bonds number, face value, due date of bonds, interest rate, etc., all of which are arranged in the order of the recent lottery dates. Accordingly, the purchaser can get the bonds exchange results for losing lottery tickets.

The bonus lottery results list shown in FIG. 31 includes contents such as bonus provider, number of bonus lottery ticket, usable period, etc. Accordingly, the purchaser can check results of the bonus lottery tickets, which are provided to the purchaser depending on the use performance of the credit card, banking, etc.

The selling goods list in progress shown in FIG. 32 is a list of goods that was registered by the seller himself and were sold, and includes contents such as registration date, registration number, goods name, selling price, selling period, ticket sales rate, lottery date, etc.

Accordingly, the seller can check results in progress for the goods that was registered by the seller.

The winning results list shown in FIG. 33 contains contents such as lottery date, registration number, goods name, selling price, winning ticket number, winner ID, delivery information, etc. Accordingly, the winner can get the delivery information for the winning goods and also manage items such as billing of charges for goods that were sold in the lottery type.

Thus, as a variety of items are selected through the picture of"My Lottery"at the step of 1246, result lists pictures are displayed shown in FIG. 28 to FIG. 33. (1250) At the step of 1202, if the menu of"TODAY'S LOTTERY" is clicked (1252), today's lottery results list is displayed as shown in FIG. 34. (1254) The today's lottery results list contains contents such as registration number, goods name, selling price, face value, total number of sold tickets, winningticketnumber, winnerID, progress, etc. Accordingly, lottery results and progress results for goods of which lottery was completed and is in a progress are displayed.

At the step of 1202, as the menu of"LOTTERY RESULTS LIST"is clicked, the lottery results list is displayed as shown in FIG. 14.

While the aforementioned embodiment describes only the payment way using the credit card as an example, it is possible that the present invention embraces payment ways such as a deposit not using the bankbook, an electronic money, etc.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the lottery type selling method and apparatus of the present invention sell plural lottery tickets corresponding to selling goods if a seller registers the goods, draw lots the sold lottery tickets, decide a winner, provide the winner with the selling goods, issue bonds corresponding to a face value of the purchased lottery ticket to a loser, and meet the payment on the goods to the seller using a money made by selling the lottery tickets. Accordingly, the seller or manufacturer can retrieve and reinvest a fund, which was invested in the production of the goods as soon as possible, thereby activating business operation.

Also, the purchaser can buy goods using purchase price of a lottery ticket when the purchaser wins. Although the purchaser loses, the purchase price of the lottery ticket is exchanged with bonds and thereby the purchaser can obtain a bonds purchase effect.

Further, the present invention classifies all members into a general member and a special member to limit unnecessary purchase of the lottery ticket, thereby inducing robust sales and investment environment.

Furthermore, the purchaser can select the number of lottery ticket by himself and the seller can also select the face value of the lottery ticket, thereby meeting use's convenience.

Moreover, the present invention builds up cooperation with the credit card company by offering a bonus lottery ticket to user in response to the use performance of the credit card, thereby capable of inducing positive use of the credit card and activating the business operation of the credit card company.

This invention has been described above with reference to the aforementioned embodiments. It is evident, however, that many alternative modifications and variations will be apparent to those having skills in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the present invention embraces all such alternative modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparently by describing in detail the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : FIG. 1 is a schematic view for describing a mechanism of a lottery type selling method using a computer communications network in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the mechanism of the lottery type selling method using the computer communications network in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a member database (MDB) in a lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a registered goods database (RGDB) in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a lottery ticket selling database (LTSDB) in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a bonus lottery ticket database (BLTDB) in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a lottery application database (LADB) in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a lottery results database (LRDB) in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a winning database (WDB) in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a bonds database (BDB) in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIGS. 11 and 12 are flow charts for describing an operation of a server in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 13 is a flow chart for describing an operation of a terminal in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and FIGS. 14 through 34 are schematic views of pictures for the operation of the terminal in the lottery type selling apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS IN MAIN PORTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 100: Server 110: Storing part (Database) 120: Internet 130,140: Terminal 150: Broadcasting station