The telephone card has a personal identification number (PIN) and an ID Code (i. e., machine readable and/or human readable indicia) both of which can be covered by a removable opaque coating. In a preferred embodiment the ID Code is a numeric or alpha numeric code imprinted on the surface of the telephone card. In another embodiment the ID Code is imprinted as a machine readable data carrying indicia such as a bar code or magnetic strip. The ID Code is used to link the phone card to goods and/or services including lottery tickets for a lottery game such as a state run Pick-4, Pick-6 or similar game. Users purchase the pre-paid phone card for a fixed fee which entitles the user to a set amount of phone service (e. g., long distance calling time) and a promotional lottery ticket. The promotional lottery ticket is printed or generated in a secure fashion via lottery agent terminals that normally operate independently for issuing and validating tickets via communications with a lottery computer system.

2. Prior Art Pre-paid telephone cards are currently available as a means to carry credits to place and concurrently pay for telephone calls from public, business or residential telephones. In general, a pre-paid phone card has a substrate such as paper, paperboard or plastic imprinted with indicia such as a pre-printed personal identification number (PIN) which can be covered by a removable opaque coating. A pre-paid phone card user purchases the phone card either directly or indirectly from a telephone service provider for a fixed amount of money such as $10.00. The telephone service provider maintains a central computer system which correlates the pre-printed PIN and the cash value or a fixed time usage value associated with the phone card and monitors usage of the card. As the phone card is used, the remaining value of the phone card is automatically debited by the central computer and/or by adjusting a representation of value on the card, until the cash value associated with the card is exhausted. In the alternative the phone card can be issued for a fixed number of minutes of long distance service, which are likewise debited as the card is used.

The telephone service provider who issues the card in turn accounts for long distance service charges by making payments to long distance telephone companies such as AT&T, MCI and SPRINT in providing telephone service to the user. The particular long distance telephone carrier used normally is not relevant and is not disclosed to the user.

Usually, the card issuing telephone service provider maintains a toll free number and associated telephone equipment such as a private branch exchange (PBX) which is serviced or answered by an automated telephone answering system in data communication with a central computer. The pre-paid phone card is imprinted with the toll free number and instructions for users to follow in order to place calls in association with the phone card. Users are generally instructed to call the toll free number to initiate a call. The automated telephone answering system answers calls to the toll free number, provides audio instructions to the user prompting the user for telephone keypad input (touch tones) representing the PIN and the telephone number they wish to reach (called party number). The automated telephone answering system and/or central computer verify the PIN and the current cash or time value associated with the phone card, and assuming the card is valid and has a sufficient cash or time value, automatically dials the called party number thereby placing the telephone call for the user.

Telephone cards as described can be issued directly by the telephone service provider, or the provider can contract for its cards to be issued by others. Sales promotions, for example, can involve the printing of phone cards bearing trademarks of a product supplier to be given away to customers. Employers can obtain phone cards for the use of employees, etc.

In some cases, the user must first activate the phone card prior to use. Users are generally instructed to first call the toll free number in order to provide a user selected personal identification number (User PIN) to be uniquely associated with the phone card. The automated telephone answering system answers calls to the toll free number, provides audio instructions to the user and receives telephone key pad input from the user for entry of the User PIN. The automated telephone answering system and/or central computer system utilizes the User PIN and the pre-printed PIN to verify secure usage of the phone card prior to placement of a call.

For lottery systems, various types of gaming forms are used. The structure of the gaming form depends on the type of lottery game associated with the form.

Instant win games having"scratch off"coatings over game indicia are commonly available. The most common scratch off gaming form substrate is a lamination of paper stock and metallic foil or opaque paper so that the substrate is secure against candling or the like that might reveal game indicia. The game indicia is covered with an opaque or pigmented soft latex over a varnish release layer. The coating is removable by scratching with a coin or finger nail. By removing an opaque scratch off coating, concealed game information is revealed, or by removing a pigmented clear layer, selected game information can be marked, in each case to determine whether or not the game form is a winner.

Pre-paid phone cards are known with an associated scratch off instant win type of game printed on the phone card substrate. Such pre-paid phone cards may have a substrate carrying an identification number and may have indicia covered by a removable opaque coating for playing an instant win type of game. For example, the instant win game could be a scratch off game in which the user removes the opaque coating revealing six dollar prize amounts. A match of three identical dollar amounts is a winning ticket valued at the dollar amount. Such games are issued by the phone card issuer where regulations permit, and prizes are paid out by the phone card issuer.

Due to regulations against gambling, a win in such a game may be limited, for example, to payment in kind (i. e., additional phone services) or to payment by delivery of a product. Additional sometimes onerous regulations apply in many jurisdictions.

Instant win games are limited in scope and prize value, and represent a fraction of total lottery ticket sales as compared to higher security games in which chances are issued via communications with a central lottery computer and the issue of a validated ticket that can be documented later if the ticket is presented as a winner. It would be advantageous to improve the methods and apparatus that allow a pre-paid telephone card to include a promotional game such that a more substantial gaming aspect can be included. According to the present invention, a phone card is used as a linking means permitting the card holder to enter a government-regulated state run lottery contest.

It would normally not be practical to issue telephone cards with associated lottery tickets applicable to a lottery game operated independently of the phone service provider, such as the Pick 4 or Pick 6 game of a state sponsored lottery. A primary difficulty involves the manner in which the user or player selects lottery play entry numbers. Lottery service providers are hesitant to participate in selection of player entry numbers or winning lottery numbers, for security reasons, although assistance in play selections using randomized computer algorithms may be available on many lottery computer systems that dispense entries via agent terminal systems. Pre-printed phone cards having associated lottery tickets or player entry numbers would require the selection of lottery numbers in advance, and could expose the operation to potential breaches of security. This fact favors limiting promotions to small prizes (as with scratch off games) and reduces the potential extent of promotions.

It would be advantageous to provide a method for cooperatively promoting the sale of telephone usage services by a telephone service provider and goods and/or services such as lottery tickets for a lottery game by a lottery service provider, that is secure and does not require assignment of player entry numbers in advance. It would also be desirable to utilize the existing infrastructure of state sponsored lotteries such as their agent terminals and central lottery computer systems for activation and tracking of functions, verification of lottery ticket issuance and redemption of lottery winnings subject to the security and regulation that makes large lotteries possible.

Such a system would promote player interest and the provision of both phone and lottery system usage.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone card which is linked to goods and/or services offer as part of a promotion.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone card which is linked to a lottery game, and especially to provide convenient and secure means for entry into an independently operated state sponsored lottery game.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone usage card system with cards having an identification code which can be associated with the provision of goods and/or services as part of a promotion.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone usage card system with cards having human readable or machine readable indicia such as a bar code or magnetic strip which can be associated with a separate lottery game ticket generated from an agent terminal of a lottery network independent of the issuer of the telephone cards.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone card having human readable or machine readable indicia such as a bar code or magnetic strip which can be activated via a separate or pre-existing lottery agent terminal provided by a lottery service provider.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone card having human readable or machine readable indicia such as a bar code or magnetic strip which can be read by a separate or pre-existing lottery agent terminal for generation, printing, activation and/or verification of a lottery ticket.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone card system for use in conjunction with a separate or pre-existing lottery game system wherein the pre-paid telephone card has human readable or machine readable indicia such as a bar code or magnetic strip which is generated in conjunction with an identification code that is provided or assigned by the lottery service provider.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone card system for use in conjunction with a separate or pre-existing lottery game system wherein the separate or pre-existing lottery game system reads the machine readable indicia; and generates a lottery ticket entry in an lottery game that is independent of the telephone card issuer, only if the human readable or machine readable indicia matches the identification code known to the lottery service provider.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pre-paid telephone card system for use in conjunction with a separate or pre-existing lottery game system wherein a separate or pre-existing lottery system agent terminal is operable to generate a lottery ticket having the lottery number if the human readable or machine readable indicia matches the identification code wherein the lottery number is provided by the user.

It is generally an object of the invention to provide a method for cooperatively promoting the sale of telephone usage services by a telephone service provider and goods and/or services such as lottery tickets associated with a lottery game by a lottery services provider.

These and other objects are accomplished by a pre-paid telephone card and pre-paid telephone card system for use in conjunction with telephone usage service and a lottery game system for providing lottery services such as ticket generation, tracking functions, verification and redemption of winnings. A pre-paid telephone card in accordance with the invention has a substrate such as paper, paperboard or plastic, an identification number or PIN which optionally is covered by a removable opaque coating and machine readable indicia such as a bar code, magnetic strip or other data carrying medium, used to link the phone card to an independent lottery game such as a state sponsored Pick 6 or the like. Users purchase the pre-paid phone card for a fixed fee which entitles the user to a set amount of long distance phone service and at least one promotional lottery ticket.

The human readable or machine readable indicia is used to encode an identification code which identifies the phone card as one which is entitled to a promotional lottery ticket and/or allows the lottery system to recognize when the user's right to a lottery ticket has been exhausted. The identification code provides a means for securely linking a separate or pre-existing lottery game to a pre-paid telephone card without the need for actually preselecting or otherwise communicating a lottery number for pre-printing on the phone card. The promotional lottery ticket is issued at a separate or pre-existing lottery agent terminal under secure and regulated conditions. The user's lottery number is selected via currently available methods such as user selection or a machine generated quick pick.

Brief Description of the Drawings There are shown in the drawings certain exemplary embodiments of the invention as presently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed as examples, and is capable of variation within the scope of the appended claims. In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a pre-paid phone card and associated bar code indica with a PIN number covered by a removable opaque coating in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of a pre-paid phone in accordance with FIGURE 1 showing the PIN number after removal of the removable opaque coating in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of the front of a pre-paid phone card with a PIN number covered by a removable opaque coating in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of the back of the pre-paid phone in accordance with FIGURE 3 showing a magnetic strip in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of the front of a pre-paid phone card with a PIN number and an ID CODE covered by a removable opaque coating in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a pre-paid phone in accordance with FIGURE 5 showing the PIN number and ID CODE after removal of the removable opaque coating in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a block diagram showing a lottery game system and pre-paid telephone card system in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments A pre-paid telephone card (phone card) 10 in accordance with the invention is shown in Figure 1. The phone card has a substrate 12 formed from paper stock, paperboard, plastic or the like. The phone card is preferably the size of a typical credit card (approximately 5.4cm x 8.6cm) for convenient storage in a purse or wallet. The phone card has at least a portion of the substrate which is suitable for graphics 14 or the like, shown as a rectangular area in Figures 1-3. The phone card can be larger, or smaller than a conventional credit card. For example, a larger phone card can provide an increased area for graphics or the like; smaller phone cards can be sized for storage on a key chain or the like. The phone card is imprinted with a personal identification number (PIN) 16 which is shown in covered by a removable opaque coating 18 and machine readable indicia 20.

Figure 2 shows a phone card with the opaque coating 18 removed revealing the PIN number 16 which is preferably uniquely associated with a single phone card. For security purposes it is desirable to select a PIN number having at least 10 digits, providing several billion possible code combinations. For cases in which large numbers of phone cards are produced, the PIN number is advantageously produced in a serialized fashion starting with a base number and incrementing the PIN number to be imprinted on subsequent phone cards.

The machine readable indicia 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is standard bar code symbology. There are several different bar code symbologies in common usage today such as UPC, UPC/EAN-Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5 and Codabar. UPC bar code is typically used to identify products for point of sale retail applications such as grocery and retail stores. UPC bar code consists of 4 parts; the 1st number is the system identifier; next 5 digits are the manufacturers assigned number; next 5 digits are the manufacturer's own assigned product number and the last digit is the check digit. The manufacturer's assigned number generally issued from the Uniform Code Council in the USA or in Canada, the Product Code Council of Canada. UPC/EAN- Code 128 symbology is generally used in a standard format for identifying products on shipping containers. Code 39 or Code 3 of 9 is the most common symbology for bar codes used in general purpose bar code systems. Code 39 as well as Code 128 are both alpha/numeric and are very flexible. Interleaved 2 of 5 bar code symbology supports numbers only and has five bars, two of which are wide. In this code both the bars and spaces carry information. See AIM X5-1 USS I 2/5 for specifications.

Codabar is typically used by libraries however some libraries have converted to Code 39 symbology.

In the present embodiment, the machine readable indicia is preferably a bar code 22 in Code 39 format and has an associated check number 24 used to verify the validity of the bar code. The bar code is machine readable and correlates to an alpha/numeric character (i. e., alphabetic letter, number or both) preferably uniquely associated with a single phone card (machine readable indicia code). For cases in which large numbers of phone cards are produced, the bar code is also advantageously produced in a serialized fashion starting with a base alpha/numeric character and incrementing the bar code to be imprinted on subsequent phone cards. Other embodiments which require identification codes with numbers only preferably use Interleaved 2 of 5 bar codes.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the phone card 30 has machine readable indicia 20 in the form of a magnetic strip 32 encoded on the rear surface of the card 34 (Figure 4). Magnetic strips are in common usage today and are most frequently associated with the banking industry for use on credit cards, debit cards and the like. At least two data encoding standards exist regarding magnetic strip technology as approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO), namely ANSI/ISO BCD Data Format and ANSI/ISO BCD ALPHA Data Format. The BCD Data format generally uses five bits per character, 4 bits are used for a 16 character set Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) having a value of 0 to 15 (0-F Hexadecimal) the last bit is used as a parity bit. The BCD ALPHA format generally uses seven bits per character, 6 bits are used for a 64 character set including full alpha numerics and several special characters (such as !,", #, $, %, & and the like). Data on a typical magnetic strip is encoded from left to right and is divided into three separate longitudinal tracks extending the length of the magnetic strip. Each individual track is located in a relatively precise position within the magnetic strip. Each of the tracks also has a specific data format which is generally used to encode information such as account numbers, expiration dates, encrypted PIN numbers and the like. Magnetic strips for use with the invention need only encode a unique"serial"number for each individual phone card. Thus, both magnetic strips encoded in ANSI/ISO BCD Data Format and ANSI/ISO BCD ALPHA Data Format are compatible with the invention. As above, for cases in which large numbers of phone cards are produced, the magnetic strip is advantageously produced in a serialized fashion starting with a base alpha/numeric character and incrementing the alpha/numeric character to be encoded on subsequent phone cards.

Other machine readable indicia are possible, such as other forms of optical encoding such as bullseye"bar"codes, two dimensional bar codes, magnetic encoding techniques other than magnetic strips, radio frequency encoding and on-board nonvolatile data memory.

Figures 5 and 6 show a phone card 40 which is similar to the phone card <BR> <BR> <BR> shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively however, human readable indicia 42 is used in place of machine readable indicia. The PIN number 44 and human readable indicia 42 as shown in Figure 5 is covered by an opaque coatings 46 and 48 respectively.

Figure 6 shows the phone card with opaque coatings 46 and 48 removed revealing the PIN number 44 and human readable indicia 42 which are preferably uniquely associated with a single phone card.

Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a lottery game system and pre-paid telephone card system in accordance with the invention. Users purchase a pre-paid phone card 50 in accordance with the invention for a fixed fee which entitles the user to a set amount of long distance phone service and a promotional lottery ticket.

The lottery game system, provided by the lottery service provider 52, generally includes a lottery central computer 54 in data communication with a plurality of agent terminals 56 for general administration of a separate or pre-existing lottery game (i. e., not associated with the telephone service provider). The agent terminals are used to issue and manage lottery tickets. In so doing, the agent terminal accepts operator input, communicates with a central computer for entering a player entry and receiving verification from the central computer that the entry is accepted, prints lottery tickets that typically bear the player selections, and can communicate with the central computer to validate previously issued tickets as winners or to determine their status. In the case of a state run lottery game such as the Pick 4 game, for example, users purchase tickets having a lottery number consisting of 4 digits. For security purposes, the winning numbers are selected by an independent entity having no relation to the lottery service provider, such as the state lottery agency contracting for lottery computer services. A winning ticket matches all four digits in the exact order as the winning number. In some cases, lower prizes are available from matching three digits in the correct order. Users compare their lottery number with the winning number and then validate and redeem tickets with the winning combination at an agent terminal. Other games such as a Pick 6 are played similarly, and other forms of games are also applicable such as keno games, bingo games and other variations.

The pre-paid telephone card system 58 generally includes a telephone card central computer 60 and associated telephone equipment. The telephone card central computer is generally operable to track a cash value and to verify a PIN number, both associated with a pre-paid telephone card. The associated telephone equipment generally includes telephone hardware such as a private branch exchange (PBX) 62 coupled to multiple central office phone lines (not shown) which are serviced or answered by an automated telephone answering system typically called a voice response system 64, the PBX and the automated telephone answering system being in data communication with the telephone card central computer.

A pre-paid phone card user purchases the phone card 50 either directly or indirectly from a telephone service provider for a fixed amount of money such as $10.00. The user is then entitled to $10.00 worth of long distance telephone service and a promotional lottery ticket for a separate or pre-existing lottery game. The telephone card central computer system correlates the PIN and the cash value associated with the phone card and tracks telephone usage of the card. As the charges associated with usage of the phone card accrues, the cash value of the phone card is automatically debited by the central computer until all of the cash value associated with the card is exhausted. The telephone service provider also attends to payment of any long distance service provided by a long distance telephone service provider such as AT&T, MCI and SPRINT for any long distance telephone usage associated with the phone card.

In a preferred embodiment, the telephone service provider maintains a toll free number which is serviced by the automated telephone answering system. The pre- paid phone card is also imprinted with the toll free number and user instructions on how to place calls in association with the phone card. Users are generally instructed to call the toll free number in order to initiate a call. The automated telephone answering system answers calls to the toll free number, provides audio instructions to the user which prompts the user for telephone keypad input (touch tones) representing the PIN and the telephone number they wish to reach (called party number). The automated telephone answering system and/or central computer verifies the PIN and the current cash value associated with the phone card, and assuming the card is valid and has a sufficient cash value, automatically dials the called party number thereby placing the telephone call for the user.

To cooperatively promote the sale of telephone usage services by the telephone service provider and the sale of lottery tickets associated with a lottery game by the lottery services provider the invention provides a secure way in which the telephone service provider and lottery services provider are at least partially linked in a secure manner. Unlike an ordinary phone card, the phone card in accordance with the invention is imprinted with specialized human readable or machine readable indicia.

In the case of bar code machine readable indicia, the identification code is preferably a base alpha/numeric character to be imprinted on the first phone card. In the case of machine readable indicia, the identification code is also preferably a base alpha/numeric character to be encoded on the first phone card. Preferably each subsequent phone cards are imprinted and/or encoded with an incremented value alpha/numeric character in serialized fashion. The machine readable or human readable indicia is used as a secure link between the lottery service provide and the telephone service provider and identifies the phone card as one entitled to a promotional lottery ticket.

As shown in Figure 7, the lottery service provider communicates an identification code 66 to the telephone service provider. Phone cards are subsequently printed or produced by the telephone service provider and/or an independent third party with machine readable or human readable indicia 68 corresponding to the identification code 66. The identification code is not a lottery number, nor can a lottery number be derived from the identification code. The identification code is used to identify a phone card which is entitled to a promotional lottery ticket in order to promote the sale of telephone usage service and lottery tickets. Thus, the identification code provides a means for securely linking a pre-paid telephone card to promotional goods and/or services. In the present embodiment the pre-paid telephone card is linked to a separate or pre-existing lottery game to a pre-paid telephone card without the need for actually communicating a lottery number.

In some case the lottery service provider receives payment from the telephone service provider for the promotional lottery tickets associated with the pre-paid telephone cards. In this sense the lottery ticket is not free rather it is a promotional ticket provided at no charge from the user's perspective. In one embodiment, the lottery service provider receives a lump sum payment in return for an identification code and authorization for a fixed number of serialized phone cards. In another embodiment, the lottery service provider receives a payment for each lottery ticket actually generated or printed at an agent terminal. In this case, the lottery service provider must communicate to the telephone service provider that a lottery ticket has been printed. The telephone service provider then arranges for payment for the lottery tickets printed over a fixed period.

In a preferred embodiment, the phone card is automatically activated upon presentation to the lottery agent terminal 56. The lottery agent terminal is operable to read the human or machine readable indicia and compare the indicia to the identification code. The lottery service provider then generates an activation signal 70 for signifying that the pre-paid phone card is activated if the human or machine readable indicia corresponds to the identification code 66. The activation signal is preferably an electronic signal communicated from the lottery service provider to the telephone service provider using a standard modem and telephone line link (not shown). The activation signal identifies the machine readable indicia code which is uniquely associated with a single phone card. Upon receipt of the activation signal, the telephone card central computer correlates the machine readable indicia code in order to log that the phone card is activated. The telephone service provider can also log the number of cards activated over a fixed period and subsequently arrange for payment of the lottery tickets printed to the lottery service provider.

In the alternative users are required to provide a user selected personal identification number (User PIN) to be uniquely associated with the phone card upon initially calling the toll free number. In this case, the user places an initial call to the toll free number. The automated telephone answering system answers the call, provides audio instructions to the user and receives telephone key pad input from the user for entry of the User PIN. The automated telephone answering system and/or central computer system then utilizes the User PIN and the pre-printed PIN to verify secure usage of the phone card prior to placement of a call.

The invention as disclosed is advantageous in that the ordinary selection of lottery numbers in pre-existing lottery games is unaffected. Users are able to select lottery numbers for separate or pre-existing lottery games in conformance with established practices. In some cases, users select their own lottery numbers at the lottery agent terminal, in other cases the lottery agent terminal generates a random lottery number for the user called a quick pick. Regardless of how the lottery number is selected, the invention eliminates the need to pre-select and/or communicate lottery numbers outside of established channels currently in use in the lottery industry.

The invention as disclosed above is ideally suited to linking a pre-paid telephone card with a pre-existing lottery game. However, the invention is also useful for linking a pre-paid telephone card with the provision of goods and/or services as part of a promotion. The PIN number is generally used for verification and tracking of telephone service usage. The machine readable or human readable indicia is generally used for verification and tracking of associated goods and/or services provided a part of a promotion. In a preferred embodiment the telephone services and promotional goods and/or services are provided by separate business entities.

However, the invention is suitable for linking telephone services and associated promotional goods and/or services provided by a single business entity.

The invention having been disclosed in connection with the foregoing variations and examples, additional variations will now be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is not intended to be limited to the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of preferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.