In spite of this low probability, many people buy lotteries nowadays.

Nowadays, lotto lottery was introduced and is becoming more and more popular to the public.

In lotto lottery system, Customers select 6 numbers among 1-45, and if selected 6 numbers are same as the drawn 6 numbers, the customer is ranked as the first.

Referring to FIG. 1, sales system of lotto lottery is explained.

FIG. 1 is a general lotto lottery sales system. The general lotto lottery sales system comprises a main server 120, a plurality of lotto lottery sales devices 1301-1303 coupled to the main sever 120 through communication network.

The lotto lottery sales devices are managed by lottery sellers who are

authorized.

Detailed sales process in the above-mentioned lotto lottery sales system is explained in the following.

Firstly, a lottery customer checks 6 numbers with a pen on the game slip (OMR card) where 1-45 numbers are printed and provides the game slip to the seller.

The seller inputs the game slip where 6 numbers are checked to the lotto lottery sales device 1301.

If the game slip is inputted, the lotto lottery sales device 1301 identifies 6 numbers and outputs lottery where 6 numbers are printed in the form of ticket.

Further, the lotto lottery sales device 1301 transmits selected number information to the main server 120, and the main server 120 manages sales history. On the outputted lottery, drawing date and output time is printed and this information is also transmitted to the main server 120.

Furthermore, lotto lottery sales device 1301 has function of automatic selection. Lottery sales process using the automatic selection is described in the following.

If lotto lottery customer checks automatic selection on the game slip, the lotto lottery seller inputs the game slip into the lotto lottery sales device 1301 and the lotto lottery sales device 1301 appoints 6 numbers randomly and outputs lottery in the form of ticket where randomly appointed 6 numbers are printed. The lotto lottery sales device 1301 transmits the selected number information to the main server 120 and the main server 120 manages sales history.

When lotto lottery is outputted through above-mentioned process, the lottery seller provides the outputted lottery to the customer.

However, when lotto lotteries are sold by lotto lottery sales device, following

problems have occurred.

Firstly, as the game slip which is made of high class paper is thrown away, high cost and waste of resource is caused.

Secondly, as lotto lotteries are sold by sellers, cost for selling lotteries is high.

Thirdly, the sellers of lotteries may sell lotteries to juvenile although selling lotto lottery to juvenile is prohibited by law, and therefore, speculative sprit can be stirred up to the juvenile.

In order to solve above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a lotto lottery vending machine by which customer can purchase lotto lottery through self-control and sales cost for lotto lottery can e reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lotto lottery vending machine which can identify age of customer, by which juvenile's lottery purchase can be prohibited.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lotto lottery vending machine which can identify counterfeited money, by which flow of counterfeited money can be prohibited.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a lotto lottery vending machine connected to a main server via a communication network for outputting the lottery, the lotto lottery vending machine comprising: a money insertion part for determining whether money put by a customer is counterfeited and for identifying an amount of the money; an age

determination part for reading an ID card presented by the customer to determine whether the presented ID card is true or false and for identifying an age of the customer ; a input interface part for enabling the customer to input a command for purchasing the lottery; a control part for controlling the output of the lottery according to a command of the purchaser inputted through the input interface part, if a specific amount of money is put through the money insertion part and the age of the purchaser is over a pre-determined standard age; a communication part for transmitting number data inputted through the input interface part or selected automatically by the control part, and for receiving a response information transmitted from the main server; and a lottery output part for outputting the lottery having printed information such as a lottery number, a drawing date and an output time according to control of the control part is provided BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a general lotto lottery sales system configuration.

Fig. 2 is a system configuration of lotto lottery automatic sales system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the lotto lottery vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of money insertion part of FIG. 3

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of age identification part of FIG 3 FIG. 6 is a front view of input interface part of FIG. 3 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 is a system configuration for automatic sales of lotto lottery.

Referring to FIG 2, the system for automatic sales of lotto lottery comprises a main server 200 and lotto lottery vending machines 4001-4003 connected to the main server 200 through communication network 300.

The lotto lottery vending machines 4001-4003 have their own unique codes and connect to the main server 200 using the unique codes. The communication network 300 may include the Internet, a private network and a wireless network such as mobile communication network and wireless Internet.

The main sever 200 registers unique codes of lotto lottery vending machines 4001-4003 and determines which vending machine has transmitted data through the unique code when the main server 200 receives data. For example, when vending machines 4001-4002 communicate with the main server 200 through the Internet, the vending machines 4001-4003 may use IP address as the unique code.

Referring to above mentioned configuration, operation of automatic sales system of lotto lottery is described hereinafter.

A customer pushes connection button in order to connect the main server 200 and the vending machine 4001. Then, the vending machine 4001 transmits its unique code to the main server 200 through the communication network 300.

The main server determines if the transmitted unique code matches with the

pre-registered unique codes and if the transmitted unique code does not match with the pre-registered unique codes, the main server 200 rejects connection request.

If the transmitted unique code matches with the pre-registered unique codes, the main server allows connection request and the vending machine 4001 is connected to the main server 200.

If the vending machine 4001 is connected to the main server 200 the vending machine 4001 sells the lotto lottery automatically through following methods.

If the user inserts money and ID card to the vending machine, the vending machine allows automatic sales to only those who are over predetermined age (For example, 19).

After allowing automatic sales, if the user selects 6 numbers by pushing the number buttons attached to the vending machine, the vending machine transmits selected number information to the main server. If the vending machine 4001 receives response from the main server 200, the vending machine outputs lottery in the form of ticket where selected 6 numbers are printed. Lottery drawing day and output time is also printed in the outputted lottery together with the selected number.

Detailed configuration and operation of the lotto lottery vending machine is described referring FIG 3 hereinafter.

FIG 3 is a block diagram of the lotto lottery vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG 3, the lotto lottery vending machine comprises a coin inserting part 410 for identifying counterfeited money and amount of inserted money, an age identification part 420 for identifying if the ID card is forged and identifying age from the ID card, an input interface part 430 for inputting user request regarding lottery purchase, a control part 440 for controlling lottery sales according to input

request of lottery customer when predetermined money is inserted and the customer is over predetermined age, a communication part 450 for transmitting data for selected number to the main server 200 and receiving response information from the main server 200, a lottery paper keeping part 460 and a lottery printing part 470 for printing selected number and information for lottery drawing in the lottery paper.

Further, the lotto lottery vending machine 400 of the present invention comprises a lottery sales information storing part 480 for strong information on sold lotteries, a display part 490 for displaying text information on lottery sales transmitted from the control part 440, a speaker 510 for outputting voice information regarding lottery sales, a money keeping part 520 for keeping money inserted through the money inserting part 410 and a lottery/money output part 530 for outputting lottery and change money.

In FIG 3, a configuration where coin is inserted and age is identified through ID card. However, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the user can pay for the lottery through a credit card.

At this case, the credit card insertion part is comprised instead of the money insertion part. The credit card insertion part processes payment using the inserted credit card. As technology for identifying credit card and processing payment is a well-known technology, description for this technology is omitted. The credit card insertion part and money insertion can also be comprised together in the vending machine.

As the credit card is provided to only the adult, the age identification part may not be comprised when credit card is used as payment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the money insertion part 410 comprises a money insertion hole 411, counterfeiting identification part 412 for identifying if inserted

money is counterfeited and transmitting the identification result to the control part and an amount identification part for identifying amount of inserted money and transmitting the identification result to the control part.

The money insertion hole is exposed to the outer space so that the customer can insert money. The money insertion part may be implemented as a coin insertion hole or paper money insertion hole. As lotto lottery costs 2000 won for one game, it is more preferred that money insertion hole is implemented as paper money insertion hole.

The technology for identifying counterfeited money may be various.

Preferably, the technology used in general banks for identifying counterfeited money may be used.

The amount identification part 413 identifies amount of inserted money by scanning the money. However, method for identifying amount of money is not limited to scanning. For example, the amount identification part 413 identifies amount of money by identifying size of inserted money through money insertion part because size of coin or paper money is different.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of age identification part according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the age identification part comprises a ID card identification part 421 for identifying ID card, a forge identification part 422 for identifying if the ID card is forged or not, and an age determination part 423 for determining age of the lottery customer using the identified ID card.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ID card identification part 421 scans inserted ID card and image information of scanned ID card is transmitted to the forge identification part 422 and age determination part 423.

However, recently, various methods for identifying image have been developed and method for identifying ID card is not limited to scanning. For example, photographing method like digital camera can be used.

The input interface part 430 comprises a plurality of buttons so that user can input requests as shown in FIG 6.

Referring to FIG 6, the input interface part 430 comprises a number pad 431 with plurality of number buttons, an automatic selection button 432 for requesting automatic selection of numbers, a confirm button 433 for requesting purchase of lottery for selected 6 numbers, a cancel button 434 for canceling selected numbers and a continue button 435 for continuing purchase of lottery after purchasing a lottery.

However, implementation of input interface part 320 is not limited to above mentioned configuration, and the functions of can be diversified according to the granted function to the vending machine.

Preferably, the numbers or text formed on the plurality of buttons may be raised type so that the blinds can purchase lotto lottery using vending machine.

The communication part 450 transmits data to the main server 200 through the communication network 300. If the lotto lottery vending machine 400 of the present invention communicates with server through the Internet, the communication part 450 transforms protocol of data to be transmitted from the control part 440 and transforms received data from the Internet into suitable format to the control part 440.

Further, the communication part 450 transmits information stored in the lottery sales information storing part 480 when the customer or the main server requests. Lottery sales information can be transmitted through various communication networks.

For example, the lotto lottery vending machine 400 of the present invention may comprise a communication part which can transmit/receive RF signal such as mobile communication terminal. The communication part 340 transforms the lottery sales information to the RS signal and transmits it to the wireless communication device and transforms received signal to the base band signal. Most of all, as the RF signal transforming technology is used in wireless communication system, the lotto lottery vending machine can be implemented easily to have RF signal transmitting/receiving function.

The lottery paper keeping part 460 keeps standard form paper of lottery.

The lottery printing part 470 prints selected numbers, lottery drawing data and printing time, etc. on the lottery paper and printed lottery is outputted through the lottery/money output part 530.

The lottery sales information storing part 480 can be implemented as memory such as RAM where information on lottery sales can be written or read.

The display part 490 displays text and image information regarding lottery sales. For example, if lottery cannot be sold, the display part 490 displays text which indicates that lottery sale is impossible. The display part 490 may be implemented as LCD, or various display elements such as LED.

The speaker 510 outputs voice information regarding lottery sales process such as"lottery sales disapproved"according to the control of control part 440.

As the vending machine 400 outputs text and voice information regarding lottery sales process, the deaf and the blind people can purchase lottery easily.

The money keeping part 520 classifies money according to the type of money by control of control part 440 and keeps it separately.

The lottery and lottery/money output part 530 outputs lotteries and change

money to the outer space according to control of control part 440.

Hereinafter, a process for outputting a lottery by means of a vending machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

Firstly, a process for preventing the output of the lottery due to inputting of counterfeited money will be described.

If a customer inputs the counterfeited money into a money insertion hole 411, a counterfeited money determination part 412 reads the inputted counterfeited money and transfers information of inputting of the counterfeited money to a control part 440.

The control part 440 outputs the text and/or speech information that the lottery cannot be outputted due to inputting of the counterfeited money through a display 490 and a speaker 510.

Secondly, if a customer is determined to be under standard allowed to purchase the lottery ticket, a process for preventing the output of the lottery ticket will be described.

If a customer presents his ID card, the ID card identification part 421 reads the presented ID card and transmits information about the ID card to the forge identification part 422 and the age determination part 423.

At this time, the forge identification part 422 determines whether the read ID card is forged and transfers the determined result to the control part 440. If the ID card is determined to be forged, the control part 440 outputs the text and/or voice information that the lottery ticket cannot be output through the display 490 and the speaker 510 because the purchaser is unidentified.

If the ID card is determined not to be forged, the control part 440 determines

whether the age determined by the age determination part 423 is under pre- determined age (for example, nineteen). If the age is under the predetermined age, the controlling part 440 outputs the text and/or voice information that the lottery cannot be output due to the age limit through a display 490 and a speaker 510.

Thirdly, a process for outputting the lottery ticket will be described.

In case that a specific amount money is inputted through a money insertion part 410, the customer age is determined above the standard age, if the purchaser pushes six figure buttons disposed on a figure pad 431 and then confirmation button 433, the control part 440 transmits the selected six numbers to the main server 200, receives a response information from the main server 200, and then controls a lottery ticket printing part 470 such that a lottery prints the selected figures, a lottery date and an output time, etc.

After the lottery is output through such process, the purchaser may purchase continuously a lottery through the process described above by pushing a continue button 43 5.

Yet, if the customer pushes a cancel button 434 after pushing the six figure buttons, the control part 440 stops the output of the lottery ticket corresponding to the selected six figures. Accordingly, the above process the customer may re-select a lottery number by pushing the number buttons after the pushing of the cancel button is performed If the customer pushes an automatic selection button 432 instead of the number buttons, the control part 432 selects six numbers randomly, transmits the selected numbers to the main server 200, and controls the lottery output part 470 such that a lottery prints the selected numbers, a lottery date and an output time, etc.

After the lottery is output, the purchaser may purchase continuously a lottery ticket

through the process described above by pushing the continue button 435.

The lottery printing part 470 prints the lottery information such as the lottery number, the lottery data and the issuing time, etc, in a lottery paper accommodated in a lottery paper keeping part 460 and outputs the lottery through lottery/change money output part 530.

Meanwhile, if the control part 440 determines that there is a change after outputting the lottery, it outputs the change among money accommodated in a money keeping part 520 through the lottery/change money output part 530.

After outputting the lottery, the control part 440 stores the information of the lottery in a lottery sales information storing part 480. The stored information as described above is transmitted to an external apparatus appointed previously by the purchaser according to a control of the controlling part 440. At this time, the stored information may be transmitted through internet, wire-less communication or pager.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalent.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention enables to reduce the cost for sale of a lottery and prevent a juvenile from purchasing the lottery, thereby a purchaser may purchase directly the lottery by operating the vending machine according to the present invention