WO2001003039A1

WO2001003039A1 - Method and system for pooled sweepstakes

Info

Publication number: WO2001003039A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/018312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joshua M. Linkner
Original assignee: Linkner Joshua M
Priority date: 1999-07-01
Filing date: 2000-06-30
Publication date: 2001-01-11

Abstract

A sweepstakes is operated remotely through a communications media. The sweepstakes utilizes a main server to coordinate the clients and select a winner. The sweepstakes also utilizes a collection server at each of its clients to collect data from the users of the clients' servers. The collection servers mimic the client servers to which they are connected to give the perception that the user has not left the client's server. Each sweepstakes drawing includes two parts. The first part is a selection of the client (64). For the second part, a user that inputs data into the system by accessing the collection server through the selected client is selected (66). In this manner, each client has an equal opportunity to have one of its users win a sweepstakes drawing, regardless of the number of users per client site. Once the winner is selected, all participants are invited to return for the next sweepstakes drawing (72).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POOLED SWEEPSTAKES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the operation of sweepstakes. More specifically,

the invention relates to a method for pooling a sweepstakes using multiple sources of

entrants.

2. Description of the Related Art

Commerce on the Internet has grown substantially. Many business are

attempting to increase the traffic to their respective websites. For some businesses, the

traffic will result in increased sales. For others, increased traffic translates into increased

revenues generated from advertisements that are placed on the websites in the form of

banners and the like.

As the Internet matures, so do the requirements for information on both

sides of any transaction. On the business side of the equation, operators and advertisers

alike are looking for information that indicates the quality of the contacts made by those

visiting websites. In particular, people want to know what type of person visits the

website and what type of information or product they would find interesting or want to

buy. It is also a desire to motivate visitors or users of a website to return to the website.

This is a difficult task considering the rising awareness of privacy as it relates to the

Internet. Users of the Internet want to visit websites without providing information about

themselves which renders the task of targeting prospective audiences for products, services and/or advertising difficult

Attempts have been made to entice visitors of websites to part with

personal information while visiting Typically, the attempts revolve around giveaways,

lotteπes and sweepstakes By way of example, some manufacturers of household

products give coupons or certificates toward part or all of a purchase pπce for a product

In return, the visitor of the website must register by identifying themselves and provide

some information the manufacturer would like Lotteries and sweepstakes garner more

attention because the subsequent pπze is larger Many individuals are willing to part with

more information with the hope of winning a substantial award

The substantial awards given to the participants of a lottery or a

sweepstakes may be onerous to the entity hosting the activity While a business may be

able to support the distribution of one or two substantial awards a year, individuals using

the Internet want results more often than that And businesses want individuals to come

back to their respective websites to check the status of the award giving the businesses

another opportunity to sell their goods or services Therefore, there is a need to

successfully pool the entrants of a sweepstakes to minimize the outlay by a business

while still allowing the business to participate m a sweepstakes that would provide

regular repeat traffic to the website hosting the sweepstakes

One attempt to pool an award is descπbed in United States Patent

5,855,515, issued to Pease et al on January 5, 1999 This patent discloses a system for

progressive gaming According to this reference, a number of establishments, l e ,

casinos, are coupled to a central computer system Each casino has an opportunity to win

the single award Once the casmo is selected, a player or players at the casmo ιs(are) awarded the winnings ior that particular game. This system does not, however,

contemplate the collection of detailed information about the players. While the system

may operate on a name or some other identifier to recognize the player, the reference

does not discuss the ability to collect information about the player in an attempt to more

precisely target the goods and services that the player may want to obtain. Further, the

system does not contemplate any device that may collect and store the information in a

manner that does not inhibit spontaneous play of the player.

Another attempt to establish a hierarchical lottery network is disclosed in

United States Patent 4,842,278, issued to Markowicz on June 27, 1989. This reference

discloses a national lottery computer. This computer is connected to a plurality of state

lottery systems. The national lottery computer receives entries from all participants,

regardless of the state of origination. The participants of the lottery determine which

group they belong to depending on the level of risk they are willing to bear. When the

lottery closes, the participants in the winning group share the award on a pari-mutuel

basis. This lottery system is designed to differentiate between groups by allowing the

participants to determine their respective levels of comfort with the level of risk and

award associated therewith. This reference does not disclose a system designed to use

the lottery in close conjunction with a commercial entity with the intent on increasing

traffic to a website owned by or associated with the commercial entity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method is disclosed for operating a sweepstakes remotely through a

communication media. The method is operated by a sweepstakes service provider. The method includes the steps of identifying a set of clients of the sweepstakes service

provider. From the set of clients, the method identifies a set of user groups. Each of the

set of user groups defines users entering the sweepstakes respectively through each of the

set of clients. One client in the set of clients is selected to determine a selected user

group that will win the sweepstakes. A winner of the sweepstakes is chosen by selecting

one user within the selected user group.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same

becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when

considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic of a network employing one embodiment of the

invention;

Figure 2 is a logic chart of one portion of a method incorporated in one

embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a logic chart of a second portion of a method incorporated in

one embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a data chart of the progression of data utilized by one

embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to Figure 1, a network for operating a pooled sweepstakes is

generally indicated at 10. The network 10 includes a main server 12. The main server 12 is the hub of the network 10 and coordinates the sweepstakes games with all of the

participants. The network 10 distinguishes between two classes of participants. The first

set of participants is the client, generally indicated at 14. The client 14 is an entity that

employs the services of the network 10 to operate the sweepstakes on its behalf. Several

clients 14 are represented graphically in Figure 1 by server computers 14. While there

are five such clients 14 shown in Figure 1 , it should be appreciated by those skilled in the

art that any number of clients 14 utilize the services of the main server 12. The

relationship between the main server 12 and the clients 14 is similar to the server/client

relationships defined by most networks. The activity of the network 10 is controlled

through the main server 12 and the clients 14 operate using the resources provided by the

main server 12.

Each of the clients 14 are the entities that are operating websites and are

interested in making their websites successful. To do this, the clients 14 need to identify

who the website users are, what the users would like out of the website, what would get

more users to access the website and how can they get the users to utilize the websites

frequently. All of this information would allow the clients 14 to better identify what

people are looking for when accessing the websites and what is needed to make the

websites more commercially successful.

The second class of participants introduced above is the class of users 16.

Figure 1 graphically represents that any number of users 16 may be connected at any one

time to a client 14. In addition, these users 16 may be replaced by other users 16 because

users 16 may connect to and disconnect from the clients 14 at any time. In network

parlance, the client 14 and the user 16 are typically described as the server and client, respectively, when speaking in terms of their relationship between each other. Because

an additional layer, i.e., the main server 12, is added to the network 10, the relationship

between the main server 12 and the clients 14 carry the standard terminology of server -

client with those that participate in the sweepstakes being referred to as users 16. It

should be appreciated that terms used to describe the different types of groups are used

to facilitate the understanding of the relationship between the parties and is in no way

intended to be limiting.

The invention 10 allows clients 14 to identify the users 16 of their

respective websites by offering an award through a sweepstakes. The sweepstakes

method also encourages the users 16 to discuss personal matters that they may not want

to take the time to input. This is done by making the award substantial. In order to make

the award substantial, the sweepstakes is modified. More specifically, a sweepstakes is

typically a contest where those that are participating, i.e., the users 16, enter by paying

into a collection. The winner(s) of the contest would then take the collection or a portion

thereof. The invention is a modified sweepstakes in that the users 16, i.e., the players of

the sweepstakes, are inputting information into the sweepstakes and not money. It is the

clients 14 of the network 10 and not the users 16 of the network 10 that contribute the

money. In essence, the operator of the main server 12 is providing a service for the

clients 14. The service is the collection of data of those visiting the websites of its clients

14. A part of the cost in providing this service is the payout of the sweepstakes award.

The inventive method provides a means for providing a substantial sweepstakes award

by giving the one award to one of its several clients 14. The method will be discussed

in greater detail subsequently. As a method for making the sweepstakes appear to be offered by the

clients 14, each client 14 will have the opportunity to tailor the eventual award to

something that may be appropriately given by that particular client 14. By way of

example, an automobile insurer may want to give away an automobile, whereas a jeweler

may want to give away jewelry. Both are able to do so as long as the prize, whichever

is selected to be given away, costs approximately the same as a single cash equivalent.

The cash equivalent is an amount determined by the sweepstakes service provider 12.

This amount will be determined to maximize the participation amongst clients 14 and

users 16 alike.

Again referring to Figure 1 , the network 10 also includes a set of

collection servers 18. Each of the collection servers 18 are connected to each of the

clients 14. In addition, the collection servers 18 are also connected to the main server 12.

This facilitates the transfer of user information to the main server 12 for compilation

purposes and for the purpose of selecting a winner.

The collection servers 18 actively retrieve the data input by the user 16 of

the sweepstakes. More specifically, the user 16 is momentarily transferred to the

collection server 18 so that the collection server 18 may collect the data being input by

the user 16. Therefore, the client 14 does not have to modify its website to facilitate the

collection of data and the user 16 does not perceive a transfer from the client 14. This is

because elements of the website of the client 14 are copied onto the pages generated by

the collection servers 18 for the sole use of collecting data generated by users 16 of each

respective client 14. The elements are not otherwise used. The elements that may be

copied to the collection servers 18 include, but are not limited to, borders, colors, logos, icons, font usage, photographs, text and the like.

The collection servers 18 also include the official rules for the sweepstakes

drawings. The users 16 may review the rules at any time while entering the personal data

of the user 16.

The data is made a part of a database specific for that particular client 14.

The database will be forwarded to the client 14 through a periodic transfer that is defined

by the client 14. The data may be transferred to the client 14 either directly from the

collection server 18 or from the main server 12, depending on the system requirements

and the manipulation of the data required in order to make the data presentable to the

client 14. The collection servers 18 are physically located near the server incorporated

by the client 14. This will reduce the time it takes to transfer the user 16 between the

client 14 and the collection server 18 associated therewith.

Referring to Figure 2, a method for data entry by a user 16 is graphically

represented by a logic chart generally indicated at 20. The method 20 begins by the user

16 accessing a website of the client 14 owning the website at 22. Upon accessing the

website, the user 16 may view an invitation to enter the sweepstakes at 24. The invitation

may be in the form of an advertising banner on the website.

If desired, the user 16 will access the sweepstakes banner at 26. This is

typically done by moving the mouse cursor onto the banner and clicking or double

clicking the enter button on the mouse. It is at this point, step 28 in the method of Figure

2, that the user 16 is transferred from the client 14 to the collection server 18 associated

with that particular client 14. The operation of the collection server 18 is done in a

manner that does not lead the user 16 to believe that they have been transferred from the client 14 to the collection server 18. More specifically, the collection server 18 is

designed using the design parameters of the website of the client 14 by incorporating

elements of the hosting website into every website and/or screen that may be accessed

by the user 16 when entering data into the collection server 18. The collection server 18

may be located in close proximity to the client server computer 14 to minimize any

difference in connection time and response times that the user 16 may have perceived

when operating within the client server computer 14. By removing the user 16 from the

client 14 during the data input process, the resources of the client 14 are not overly taxed

or compromised allowing its other non-participating users the ability to move freely

through the website of the client 14.

Once the user 16 is transferred to the collection server 18, the user 16

enters the pertinent data at 30. The data entered by the user 16 is then stored in the

database 32 (Figure 4) resident in the collection server 18 at 34. The entry is then tagged

with a client specific code at 36. At periodic times, the database 32 is transferred to the

main server 12 for compilation purposes. The database 32 is maintained as a separate

database 32 segregated from the other databases 32 that are created for each of the other

clients 14 by the tagging information. The database 32 will hold valuable information

that the client 14 may chose to keep secret or sell, depending on the business decisions

made by the client 14.

Referring to Figure 4, a more detailed view of data entry is shown. The

sequence, generally indicated at 38, begins at 40. A contest registration form is shown

at 42. Because this system operates through the Internet, HTML language is used to

generate the contest registration form. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any language may be used that would make the network 10 operate in any

environment using any protocol as the invention is not environment specific.

Once the contest registration form is filled out, a method form response

is posted at 44 to be viewed by the user 16 inputting the data. The data is tested at 46 to

determine whether all of the mandatory information, determined by the client 14, has

been input. If not, the method displays a field missing warning at 48. A try again request

is displayed at 50 and the user 16 is returned to the contest registration form step 42 to

complete the form by providing all the data required by the client 14.

It should be appreciated that, in keeping with the motivation of

maximizing traffic to the websites of the clients 14, each user 16 may enter as many times

as each user 16 deems appropriate. In addition, the users 16 may be given extra entries

for performing a desired task. For example, a user 16 may be given a new entry for every

email address given by the user 16 to which a particular website is sent.

If the data is complete when tested at test diamond 46, the data record is

inserted into a contrast table at 52. The updated contrast table 52 is stored in the database

32. A registration confirmation is forwarded back to the user 16 at 54 and the sequence

is terminated at 56. At any time during the entry of data, the user 16 may chose to reset

the registration form and begin again. This will allow the user 16 the opportunity to

change data at any time before submitting the entry.

Referring to Figure 3, the method, generally indicated at 58, is shown for

selecting the winner of a sweepstakes. The method 58 begins at 60. As mentioned

above, the method 60 is a modified sweepstakes. The sweepstakes is modified in that

two selections or drawings are made for every winner chosen. More specifically, the first step 62 in the modified sweepstakes drawing is the identification of a set of clients 14 by

the sweepstakes service provider, graphically represented by the main server 12. In the

example shown in the Figures, the sweepstakes service provider 12 will use all five

clients 14 as the set of clients 14. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that

the set of clients 14 could be subdivided into additional sets of clients 14.

Once the set of clients is selected, a client 14 is selected from that group

at 64. This step effectively identifies a pool of users 16 from which an eventual winner

will be selected. A potential client, i.e., a website owner, may not feel the sweepstakes

service provider 12 is providing an adequate opportunity for one of its users to win if the

traffic at its website is orders of magnitude smaller than an existing client 14. By

selecting a client 14 from which a winner will be chosen eliminates one client 14 from

maximizing its benefit of the sweepstakes to the detriment of the other clients 14 by its

sheer magnitude in the number of users 16 that use the website of the client 14. In other

words, by selecting a client 14 before selecting a winner, each client 14 has an equal

opportunity to have one of its users 16 be a winner at each drawing. Therefore, it will not

matter if one client 14 has 10,000 users 16 participating and another client 14 has

1,000,000 users 16. Each client 14 has an equal opportunity to have one of its respective

users 16 win the sweepstakes.

Once the client 14 is selected, one of the users 16 that entered the

sweepstakes by accessing the network 10 through the selected client 14 will win the

sweepstakes drawing. One user 16 is randomly selected at 66.

Once selected, the winner is notified at 68. This step may be performed

in any method of communication desired. In the preferred embodiment, the method of notification is by sending an email announcement via the Internet. The clients 14 and the

remaining users 16 are also notified that a winner had been selected. All entries are

recorded at 70 and all of the users 16 are invited to participate again at 72.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be

understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of

words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light

of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention

may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

I CLAIM

1. A method for operating a sweepstakes remotely through a

communication media by a sweepstakes service provider, the method comprising the

steps of:

identifying a set of clients of the sweepstakes service provider;

selecting one in the set of clients to determine a selected client;

identifying users of the sweepstakes from the selected client;

choosing one of the users from the selected client to determine a winner

of the sweepstakes; and

notifying the winner of the sweepstakes by electronically communicating

with the winner via the Internet.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of inviting all

subscribers of the set of clients to enter the sweepstakes.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of inviting

includes the step of providing a link to a sweepstakes entry form on a universal resource

locator of each of the clients.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 including the step of generating

a different sweepstakes entry form for each of the clients.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the step of generating a

different sweepstakes entry includes the step of modifying each of the different

sweepstakes entry forms of the sweepstakes service provider to resemble an environment

generated by each of the universal resource locators of the clients.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of providing

a set of server computers, each of the set of server computers located in proximity to each

of the servers providing each of the universal resource locators for each of the clients.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 including the step of each of the

set of server computers creating a database of the users entering the sweepstakes from the

client associated therewith.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of periodically

transmitting each of the databases created to the sweepstakes service provider.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of summarizing

the contents of each of the databases.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of providing

the contents and summaries of each of the databases to the respective clients.

11. A method for operating a sweepstakes remotely through a

steps of:

identifying a set of clients of the sweepstakes service provider;

identifying a set of user groups, each of the set of user groups defining

users entering the sweepstakes respectively through each of the set of clients;

selecting one in the set of clients to determine a selected user group; and

determine a winner of the sweepstakes by selecting one user within the

selected user group.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 1 including the step of defining a

set of databases, each of the databases being associated with each of the set of clients.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 including the step of gathering

information on each of the users in each of the set of user groups.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of storing the

information for each user group within each of the databases.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of periodically

forwarding the information stored in each of the databases to the respective client.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of associating

a server computer with each of the set of clients.

17. A method as set forth in claim 1 1 including the step of inviting all users to enter the sweepstakes another time.

18. A method for operating a sweepstakes remotely through a

steps of:

identifying a set of clients of the sweepstakes service provider;

identifying a set of user groups, each of the set of user groups defining

users entering the sweepstakes respectively through each of the set of clients;

selecting one in the set of clients to determine a selected user group;

determine a winner of the sweepstakes by selecting one user within the

selected user group; and

awarding the winner a prize selected by the client to which the winner is

associated.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of inviting all

subscribers of the set of clients to enter the sweepstakes.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of inviting

locator of each of the clients.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of generating

a different sweepstakes entry form for each of the clients.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the step of generating

a different sweepstakes entry includes the step of modifying each of the different

generated by each of the universal resource locators of the clients.