Remote Lottery Ticket Fulfillment via Point-of-Sale Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face inefficiencies in redeeming game-winning value from games of chance and skill, resulting in significant unredeemed winnings.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for completing lottery ticket transactions via payment at a merchant's physical point of sale, utilizing pre-printed and virtual lottery tickets that are activated and processed through a central gaming system, allowing for secure and consumer-friendly redemption of winnings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If lottery tickets are sold online and activated remotely, then consumer convenience is improved, but the complexity of the transaction processing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumer convenienceVSAvoidtransaction processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fulfillment computer device as an intermediary component that receives online purchase orders, validates them against approved sales locations, and authorizes activation. This mediator simplifies the remote transaction process by centralizing the validation logic, allowing consumers to purchase tickets online while maintaining system control through the fulfillment device that bridges the remote order and physical activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the lottery ticket transaction into distinct phases: online purchase order placement, validation at approved sales locations, and physical activation. By dividing the transaction process into separate manageable steps handled by different components (online ordering system, fulfillment computer device, point of sale system), the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining consumer convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If lottery tickets are activated at physical points of sale, then security and control are improved, but the time required for transaction completion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidtransaction completion time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation actions by pre-approving sales locations and pre-validating purchase orders before the actual ticket activation. The fulfillment computer device checks whether a lottery ticket may be provided to the purchaser and sends authorization in advance, so that when the consumer arrives at the physical location, the activation process is already prepared and can proceed quickly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the fulfillment computer device receives purchase order information, validates it against approved locations, and sends back authorization confirmations. This feedback loop ensures that only validated transactions proceed to physical activation, maintaining security while enabling rapid processing by confirming eligibility before the consumer reaches the point of sale.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12561661B2Systems and methods for completing a remote lottery ticket sales transaction via receiving payment at a point of sale

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 BLACKHAWK NETWORK INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for completing a transaction request via receiving payment at a point of sale comprising: a lottery ticket provider, wherein the lottery ticket provider is remote from an originating location of the transaction request and wherein the lottery ticket provider comprises: a processing device; a user device; a fulfilment computer device; a lottery ticket; and a lottery ticket approved sales location database.