US20070202945A1 - Accessibility and security in a gaming environment - Google Patents

Abstract

An accessibility and security in a gaming environment method and system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes associating an accessibility feature to a navigation mechanism of a game, processing a response through the navigation mechanism of a special-needs user when the accessibility feature is enabled, and/or generating a trusted ticket using at least one security algorithm when the special-needs user initiates a transaction. The game may be a lottery game, a sweepstakes contest, a poker game, a contest game, a gambling game, a game of chance, and/or a game of skill. The generating the trusted ticket using the security algorithm may include an embedded certification of authenticity provided by a certification authority module. The method may also include generating a context data associated with a grid structure in the navigation mechanism and/or generating an expression of the context data associated with each row position and each column position in the grid structure using the accessibility feature.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
• This disclosure relates generally to the technical fields of software and/or hardware technology and, in one example embodiment, to a method and/or system of accessibility and security in a gaming environment.
BACKGROUND
• A gaming provider (e.g., California State Lottery™, PokerStars™, etc.) may provide a gaming service (e.g., game of chance, game of skill, etc.) to a user (e.g., a player). However, the gaming service may not be accessible to a special-needs user (e.g., a person with physical and/or mental impairments). The special-needs user may wish to access the gaming service but may be unable participate in the gaming service because information presented by the gaming service may not be accessible to the special-needs user (e.g., the special-needs user may not be able to perceive data presented in the gaming service because the special-needs user may not be able to visualize and/or hear a game). In addition, a market size of the gaming service may be limited due to a lack of accessibility by special-needs users.
• A remote nature of the gaming service (e.g., an online gaming service) may attract fraudulent activity (e.g., a hacker may intercept an electronic value-bearing document and/or feign affiliation with the gaming service, etc.). For example, a criminal may propagate a spam email congratulating the user (e.g., game players, lottery players, etc.) that they are winners of the game. The criminal may then attempt to fraudulently secure monetary funds from the user. As such, the online gaming service can be unreliable, untrustworthy, insecure, and limited in its ability to reach target customers.
SUMMARY
• An accessibility and security in a gaming environment method and apparatus is disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes associating an accessibility feature to a navigation mechanism of a game, processing a response through the navigation mechanism of a special-needs user when the accessibility feature is enabled, and/or generating a trusted ticket using at least one security algorithm when the special-needs user initiates a transaction. The game may be a lottery game, a sweepstakes contest, a poker game, a contest game, a gambling game, a game of chance, and/or a game of skill. The generating the trusted ticket using the security algorithm may include an embedded certification of authenticity provided by a certification authority module.
• The embedded certification of authenticity may include a digital watermark, an encryption data, a public key, a private key, and/or a validation data. The method may also include generating a context data associated with a grid structure in the navigation mechanism and/or generating an expression of the context data associated with each row position and each column position in the grid structure using the accessibility feature. The method may further include creating the grid structure in any number of criteria-based dimensions based on a request of the special-needs user. The criteria based dimensions may include a type, a name, a repetition window, a frequency, a cost, and/or a subscription component.
• The method may yet include designing the accessibility feature such that the accessibility feature conforms to a governmental guideline and/or an industry guideline. The accessibility feature may be audibly communicated to the special-needs user. The method may also include associating a descriptive data with a standard data accessible by the special-needs user in the navigation mechanism. The descriptive data may include a simplified expression of the standard data, and/or may be perceptible by the special-needs user through a positioning device action associated with the standard data. The standard data may be a label associated with an input request that is constrained based on a parameter value.
• The method may also include developing a subscription data based on the response which activates reoccurring trusted tickets that are periodically and automatically issued to the special-needs user. The reoccurring trusted tickets may each have a separate unique identifier, which may be automatically generated based on a probability index and/or a user defined criteria. The method may also include determining that the trusted ticket is a winning ticket when the trusted ticket is verified as unaltered using the certification authority module. The method may further include selecting the accessibility feature and the navigation mechanism based on a user profile data provided by the special-needs user.
• In another aspect, a method includes a client device expressing a context data associated with a relative position in a multi-coordinated structure of a gambling activity in an online environment, and/or decrypting a trusted confirmation data generated based on a selection of various attributes in the multi-coordinated structure of the gambling activity. The selection may be automatically performed based on a constrained criteria. The constrained criteria may include values that are automatically generated by a gaming provider module. The context data may be expressed in any number of formats including a visual expression, an auditory expression, a tactile expression, an orally distinguishable expression, a bio-electrical signal expression and/or an olfactory expression.
• In yet another aspect, a system includes a client device to automatically express a meta-data associated with a dimensional attribute of a gaming profile, a feature module to embed an authentication data in a gaming ticket and/or to determine an expression format of the meta-data, and/or a gaming provider module to electronically provide the gaming ticket directly to a user of the client device through an online environment. The expression format may be a verbal expression of the meta-data on the client device and/or an alternative text that is automatically displayed on the client device based on a point-over of an assisted technology device.
• The methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects, and may be executed in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
• FIG. 1 is a system view of a feature module that communicates with a client device, a certification module, a gaming provider module, and/or an other environments module through a network, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the feature module ofFIG. 1 having a task module, an accessibility module, and/or a security module, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the client device ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 4 is a user interface view of the client device ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a table view of content referenced by the client database ofFIG. 2, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a data processing system within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 7 is an interaction diagram of a process flow between the client device, the feature module, the certification authority module and the gaming provider module ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 8 is a process flow to associate an accessibility feature to a navigation mechanism of a game, process a response through the navigation mechanism of a special-needs user when the accessibility feature is enabled, and/or generate a trusted ticket using at least one security algorithm when the special-needs user initiates a transaction, according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 9 is a process flow to express a context data associated with a relative position in a multi-coordinated structure of a gambling activity in an online environment, according to one embodiment.
• Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the description that follows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• An accessibility and security in a gaming environment method and system is disclosed. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however to one skilled in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
• An example embodiment provides methods and systems to associate an accessibility feature to a navigation mechanism (e.g., a user interface, a multi-coordinated online gaming structure, etc.) of a game (e.g., a lottery game, a sweepstakes contest, a poker game, a contest game, a gambling game, a game of chance, and/or a game of skill, etc.), process a response (e.g., a response by the user using the accessibility feature associated with the navigation mechanism) through the navigation mechanism (e.g., a user interface, a multi-coordinated online gaming structure, etc.) of a special-needs user when the accessibility feature is enabled, and/or generate a trusted ticket using at least one security algorithm when the special-needs user initiates a transaction.
• Another example embodiment provides methods and systems to express a context data associated with a relative position in a multi-coordinated structure of a gambling activity in an online environment and/or to decrypt a trusted confirmation data generated based on a selection of various attributes in the multi-coordinated structure of the gambling activity (e.g., a lottery game, a sweepstakes contest, a poker game, a contest game, a gambling game, a game of chance, and/or a game of skill, etc.).
• A further example embodiment provides methods and systems to automatically express a meta-data (e.g., a meta data automatically displayed on theclient device102 based on a point-over of an assisted technology device) associated with a dimensional attribute of a gaming profile, embed an authentication data (e.g., a certification of authenticity provided by the certification authority module104) in a gaming ticket (e.g., a gaming ticket generated by thefeature module100 in response to a transaction initiated by the user of the client device102) and/or determine an expression format (e.g., a verbal expression and/or an alternative-text) of the meta-data (e.g., a meta data automatically displayed on theclient device102 based on a point-over of an assisted technology device), and/or electronically provide the gaming ticket (e.g., a gaming ticket generated by thefeature module100 in response to a transaction initiated by the user of the client device102) directly to a user of the client device (e.g., a special-needs user) through an online environment.
• It will be appreciated that the various embodiments discussed herein may/may not be the same embodiment, and may be grouped into various other embodiments not explicitly disclosed herein.
• FIG. 1 is a system view of afeature module100 that communicates with aclient device102, acertification authority module104, agaming provider module108, and/or an other environments module110 through a WAN106 (e.g., Wide-Area Network, Internet, etc.), according to one embodiment. Thefeature module100 may interact with theclient device102, thecertification authority module104, thegaming provider module108 and/or the other environments module110 to process a communication (e.g., process a meta data, and/or process accessibility and/or security features associated with a communication to, from and/or through a client device102) associated with a game such as an online gaming activity (e.g., a lottery game, a sweepstakes contest, a poker game, a contest game, a gambling game, a game of chance, and/or a game of skill, etc.), according to one embodiment.
• For example, thefeature module100 may associate an accessibility feature to a navigation mechanism (e.g., a user interface, a multi-coordinated online gaming structure, etc.) of the game (e.g., a navigation mechanism and/or an accessibility feature selected based on a user profile data communicated by a user such as a special-needs user associated with the client device102). In one embodiment, thefeature module100 may process a response (e.g., a response by the user using the accessibility feature associated with the navigation mechanism) communicated by theclient device102.
• In another example embodiment, thefeature module100 may embed an authentication data (e.g., a certification of authenticity provided by the certification authority module104) in a gaming ticket (e.g., a gaming ticket generated by thefeature module100 in response to a transaction initiated by the user of the client device102) and/or determine an expression format (e.g., a verbal expression and/or an alternative-text) of a meta-data (e.g., a meta data automatically displayed on theclient device102 based on a point-over of an assisted technology device) associated with a dimensional attribute of a gaming profile (e.g. a gaming profile associated with the user of the client device102). Thefeature module100 is best understood with reference toFIG. 2.
• Theclient device102 may process information (e.g., a meta data, and/or accessibility and/or security features associated with the online gaming activity) communicated by thefeature module100, thecertification authority module104, thegaming provider module108 and/or the other environments module110, and/or provided by the user associated with the client device102 (e.g., a special-needs user). In one embodiment, theclient device102 may process an automatic expression (e.g., a visual expression, an auditory expression, a tactile expression, an orally distinguishable expression, a bio-electrical signal expression and/or an olfactory expression, etc.) of the meta-data (e.g., data associated with information about other data, an alternative text, a descriptive data and/or a audio data, etc.) associated with the dimensional attribute of the gaming profile. Theclient device102 is best understood with reference toFIG. 3.
• The certification authority module104 (e.g., associated with a third-party data verification, validation and/or authorization entity) may process (e.g., validate, verify and/or authorize) information associated with a communication with thefeature module100 and/or theclient device102. For example, thecertification authority module104 may process a trusted ticket (e.g., a trusted ticket generated by thefeature module100 in response to a transaction initiated by the user) and verify an integrity of the trusted ticket (e.g., determine whether a security data associated with the trusted ticket is altered or unaltered). In another embodiment, an embedded certification of authority (e.g., a digital watermark, an encryption data, a public key, a private key, and/or a validation data) provided by thecertification authority module104 may be included in the trusted ticket generated by the feature module100 (e.g., generated using a security algorithm).
• Thegaming provider module108 may interact with thefeature module100, theclient device102, thecertification authority module104 and/or the other environments module110 to communicate information (e.g., a trusted ticket, a promotional offering, a meta data, etc.) associated with the online gaming activity of the user, according to one embodiment. For example, thegaming provider module108 may electronically provide a gaming ticket (e.g., using thefeature module100 to embed an authentication data in a gaming ticket) directly to the user through an online environment (e.g., the WAN106). In another embodiment, thegaming provider module108 may communicate an offering (e.g., a promotion, a free ticket, an advertisement, a coupon, a trial offer, etc.) to the feature module100 (e.g., thefeature module100 may communicate with theclient device102 to determine an accessibility feature associated with the offering, and/or to provide an expression of the offering perceptible to the user (e.g., the special-needs user) associated with the client device102).
• In yet another embodiment, thegaming provider module108 may communicate with theclient device102 and/or generate (e.g., automatically generate) constrained criteria (e.g., values and/or parameters, etc.) associated with various attributes in a multi-coordinated structure of a gaming (e.g., gambling) activity. The other environments module110 may interact withfeature module100, theclient device102, thecertification authority module104 and/or thegaming provider module108 to process (e.g., capture, store, generate, track and/or deliver) information associated with resources (e.g., products, goods, services and/or data) relevant to information (e.g. a profile data (e.g., a geographical data, a cultural data, an epoch data, a social data, etc.), a gaming history and/or interests) associated with the user (e.g., offerings by third-party entities having a relationship with thefeature module100, vendors, relationship networks, user groups, social and/or political organizations, meta data and/or statistical resources, etc.).
• FIG. 2 is an exploded view of thefeature module100 ofFIG. 1 having atask module200, anaccessibility module220, and/or asecurity module240, according to one embodiment. Thetask module200 may include apromotion module202, achance module204, aticketing module206, asubscription module208, and/or askill module210. Thepromotion module202 may communicate with thegaming provider module108 to process (e.g., capture, store, generate and/or track, etc.) an offering (e.g., a promotional offer, a free ticket, an advertisement, a coupon, a trial offer, etc) of thegaming provider module108. Thepromotion module202 may interact with theclient device102 ofFIG. 1 to determine an accessibility feature associated with an expression (e.g., a sensory expression perceptible to a special-needs user associated with the user of client device102) of the offering communicated by thegaming provider module108, according to one embodiment.
• Thechance module204 may process accessibility and/or security features and/or meta data associated with a communication (e.g., a communication associated with a game of chance) with theclient device102 ofFIG. 1. Theticketing module206 may include a client database201 (e.g., theclient database201 may store and/or track data and/or meta data (e.g., profile data, meta-data associated with accessibility and/or security features, subscription data, etc.) associated with any number of users. Theticketing module206 may generate (e.g., generate automatically) a trusted ticket (e.g., using a security algorithm) based on a communication with the client device102 (e.g., a transaction initiated by the user associated with the client device102).
• In one embodiment, the trusted ticket may include a unique identifier. For example, the unique identifier may be generated based on a communication between theticketing module206, theaccessibility module220, and/or thesecurity module240, and/or may be generated based on a probability index and/or a criteria defined by the user (e.g., based on a communication with the client device102). Thesubscription module208 may process (e.g., capture, track, store and/or generate, etc.) a subscription data (e.g., based on a response by the user and/or communicated using theclient device102 ofFIG. 1). For example, the subscription data may activate reoccurring trusted tickets (e.g., trusted tickets associated with a particular user) that may be issued (e.g., periodically and/or automatically) to the user (e.g., the special-needs user). In one embodiment, each reoccurring trusted ticket may have a separate (e.g., unique) identifier. Theskill module210 may process accessibility and/or security features and/or meta data associated with a communication (e.g., a communication associated with a game of skill) with theclient device102 ofFIG. 1.
• Theaccessibility module220 may include atable module222, acontextual module224, a meta-data generator226, asimplification module228, and/or aconformance module230. Thetable module222 may communicate with theclient device102 ofFIG. 1, thecontextual module224, the meta-data generator226 and/or thetask module200 to process (e.g., capture, interpret, generate, render, track and/or deliver, etc.) information (e.g., a context data, a descriptive data, a meta data and/or the expression perceptible to the user, etc.) associated with the navigation mechanism and/or the multi-coordinated structure of the online gaming (e.g., gambling) activity. In one embodiment, thetable module222 may generate a grid structure (e.g., a table, an array, a map, a matrix, a user interface, a multi-coordinated structure and/or a coordinate reference index, etc.) in any number of criteria-based dimensions (e.g., dimensional attributes of the multi-coordinated structure such as) based on a request (e.g., an input request processed by the client device102) of the user (e.g., the special-needs user). For example, criteria-based dimensions may include a type, a name, a repetition window, a frequency, a cost, and/or a subscription component.
• Thecontextual module224 may communicate with theclient device102 ofFIG. 1, thetask module200 and/or thesecurity module240 to process (e.g., capture, track, store and/or generate, etc.) information associated with data (e.g., a relative position associated with the gaming activity of the user) related to the navigation mechanism and/or the multi-coordinated structure of the gaming (e.g., gambling) activity of the user (e.g., the special-needs user). In one embodiment, thecontextual module224 may generate a context data associated with a grid structure (e.g., a context data may be associated with each row position and/or each column position in the grid structure) in the navigation mechanism of the game (e.g., the navigation mechanism associated with the accessibility feature selected based on the user profile data communicated by the user associated with the client device102).
• In another embodiment, thecontextual module224 may generate a standard data (e.g., a label associated with an input request (e.g., an input request communicated by theclient device102 ofFIG. 1) that is constrained based on at least one parameter value) associated with the navigation mechanism and/or the accessibility feature. Thecontextual module224 may generate and/or associate a descriptive data (e.g., the meta-data, the expression perceptible to the user, the context data and/or a simplified expression of the standard data, etc.) with a standard data (e.g., a descriptive data accessible by the user such as a special-needs user in the navigation mechanism and/or the multi-coordinated structure of the gaming (e.g., gambling) activity). For example, the descriptive data may be perceptible by the special-needs user (e.g., based on a positioning device (e.g., an audio positioning device, a tactile positioning device, a simplified textual positioning device, etc.) associated with the standard data.
• Thesecurity module240 may include ahash module242, anencryption module244, adecryption module246, and/or averification module248. Thehash module242 may communicate with theencryption module244 to create a unique identifier (e.g., a digital watermark, a digital fingerprint, a digital signature, etc.) for an electronically transmitted document (e.g., a ticket). In one embodiment, thehash module242 may process (e.g., create, generate and/or compute) a unique value (e.g. a hash value) of the electronically transmitted document (e.g., the ticket) based on an algorithm (e.g., a security algorithm). In another embodiment, theencryption module244 may process (e.g., convert, create, etc.) the unique identifier of the electronically transmitted document with a key (e.g., a private key) to create the separate unique identifier (e.g., the digital watermark, the digital fingerprint and/or the digital signature, etc.).
• Thedecryption module246 may communicate with theverification module248, theclient device102 ofFIG. 1 and/or thetask module200 of thefeature module100 to process (e.g., capture, track, store, decrypt and/or generate, etc.) information associated with the electronically transmitted document (e.g., a winning ticket). In one embodiment, thedecryption module246 may process (e.g., decrypt, convert, compute and/or create, etc.) the unique identifier using the key (e.g., the private key) to the unique value (e.g., the hash value). In another embodiment, the decryption module may communicate (e.g., transmit) the unique value to theverification module248 and/or thecertification authority module104 ofFIG. 1 through the network (e.g., the WAN106) ofFIG. 1 (e.g., to verify that the electronically transmitted document is trusted and unaltered in any form).
• FIG. 3 is an exploded view of theclient device102 ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. Theclient device102 may include a U/I module302 (e.g., a User Interface Module302), asensory module304, adecryption module306, and/or averification module308. The U/I module302 may communicate with thesensory module304, thedecryption module306, and/or theverification module308 to process (e.g., capture, interpret, generate, render, track and/or deliver, etc.) information (e.g., a standard data, a context data, a descriptive data, a meta data and/or the expression perceptible to the user, etc.) associated with the navigation mechanism and/or the multi-coordinated structure of the online gaming (e.g., gambling) activity. In one embodiment, the standard data identified by a positioning device action (e.g., a rollover, a tactile pressure and/or a verbal command, etc.) on the U/I module302 may be perceptible to the user (e.g., the special-needs user, using the sensory module304).
• In another embodiment, the U/I module302 may to process (e.g., capture, interpret, generate, render, track and/or deliver, etc.) the standard data (e.g., a label that may be associated with an input request) that may be constrained based on one or more parameter value (e.g., a maximum and/or a minimum value). In yet another embodiment, the U/I module302 may generate a separate unique identifier automatically based on a probability index and/or a user defined criteria. In another embodiment, a data (e.g., a user profile data) provided by the user (e.g., the special-needs user) through the U/I module302 may be used to determine (e.g., select) a feature (e.g., the accessibility feature and/or the navigation mechanism).
• Thesensory module304 may communicate with the U/I module302 to process (e.g., express, capture, track, store and/or generate, etc.) information associated with data (e.g., a relative position associated with the gaming activity of the user) related to the navigation mechanism and/or the multi-coordinated structure of the gaming (e.g., gambling) activity of the user (e.g., the special-needs user). In one embodiment, thesensory module304 may generate an automatic expression (e.g., a visual expression, an auditory expression, a tactile expression, an orally distinguishable expression, a bio-electrical signal expression and/or an olfactory expression, etc.) for information (e.g., a standard data, a context data, a descriptive data, a meta data and/or the expression perceptible to the user, etc.) associated with the navigation mechanism and/or the multi-coordinated structure of the online gaming (e.g., gambling) activity.
• Thedecryption module306 may communicate with theverification module308 to process (e.g., capture, track, store, decrypt and/or generate, etc.) information associated the electronically transmitted document (e.g., the ticket). In one embodiment, thedecryption module306 may process (e.g., decrypt, convert, compute, and/or create, etc.) the unique identifier using the key (e.g., the private key) to the unique value (e.g., the hash value). For example, the decryption module may communicate (e.g., transmit) the unique value (e.g., the hash value) to theverification module308 and/or thecertification authority module104 ofFIG. 1 through the network (e.g., the WAN106) ofFIG. 1 (e.g., to verify that the electronically transmitted document such as the ticket is trusted and/or unaltered in any form).
• FIG. 4 is auser interface view400 of the U/I module302 of the client device ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. The user interface view may include a welcome page, a cursor view402, a meta data text view404, a sensory module view406, atable view408, a subscription options view410, apromotional information view412, a current games view414, an account information view416, a checkout now view418, and/or aprofile view420. The cursor view402 may show where a navigation device is located. The meta data text view404 may indicate an expression of meta data associated with the navigation mechanism and/or the multi-coordinated structure of the online gaming (e.g., gambling) activity. The sensory module view406 may display the form of an automatic expression (e.g., a visual expression, an auditory expression, a tactile expression, an orally distinguishable expression, a bio-electrical signal expression and/or an olfactory expression, etc.) for information (e.g., a standard data, a context data, a descriptive data, a meta data and/or the expression perceptible to the user, etc.).
• Thetable view408 may display a game that a user is currently playing. The subscription options view410 may display subscription options (e.g., number of weeks, frequency and/or type, etc.) associated with the game. Thepromotional information view412 may display any offerings (e.g., promotions and/or deals) that may be in effect. The current games view414 may include a list of games associated with the user (e.g., quickpick, bingo, sports betting, poker and/or new car sweepstakes, etc.). The account information view416 may display subscription information about the user. The checkout now view418 may display the user's current outstanding balance. Theprofile view420 may include data about the user (e.g., address, source IP, email address and/or special-needs, etc.).
• For example, a hypothetical participant ‘William’ is illustrated inFIG. 4. The user interface view includes a welcome message ‘Welcome William’ identifying ‘William’ as a user. The cursor view402 indicates where the navigation device is pointed. The meta data text view404 has ‘You are playing quick pick and bingo’ and ‘You are in quick pick one ball two, enter a number between one and sixty’ indicating the text that is being expressed from the sensory module (e.g., thesensory module304 ofFIG. 3). The sensory module view406 shows two loudspeaker icons indicating that the meta data text is being expressed in audio form. The subscription options view410 shows ‘52’ weeks, ‘weekly’ frequency, and ‘IND’ type indicating that the subscription is for a duration of fifty two weeks, on a weekly basis, and individual type. The current games view414 shows that ‘William’ is currently playing ‘quick pick’ and ‘bingo’. ‘William’ may also view thepromotional information412, view and/or edit his account information416,profile420, and/or view his current balance and/or choose to checkout now418.
• FIG. 5 is a table view of content referenced by theclient database201 ofFIG. 2, according to one embodiment. The table500 inFIG. 5 may include aclient field502, anoptions field504, a private/publickey pair field506, a subscribedfield508, asubscription type field510, and/or another field512.
• Theclient field502 may be a name and/or an identification tag associated with a user. Theoptions field504 may be a unique identification and/or a reference index associated with needs of the user. The private/publickey pair field506 may be a reference index (e.g., a private key/public key pair) associated with the user and a service provider. The subscribedfield508 may indicate whether the user has subscribed to a service. Thesubscription type field510 may indicate the duration of the subscription, if applicable (e.g., 4 weeks, 10 weeks, or no subscription, etc.). Theother field512 may indicate miscellaneous and/or additional information associated with and/or relevant to the user.
• For example, two users are illustrated inFIG. 5 (e.g., ‘Joe’ and ‘Alice’). The user ‘Joe’ has an options field value ‘NONE’ indicating a unique identification and/or reference index associated with the needs of ‘Joe,’ a private/public key pair ‘1x0512ACD’ indicating that the private/public key pair associated with ‘Joe’ is 1x0512ACD, his subscribed field is ‘Y’ indicating he has subscribed, the subscription field indicating ‘4’ indicating that ‘Joe’ has a four week subscription. In addition, user ‘Joe’ includes ‘CA, xx, yy’ in hisother field512, indicating any supplemental information that may be relevant to ‘Joe’.
• The user ‘Alice’ has an options field value ‘NONE’ indicating the unique identification and/or reference index associated with the needs of ‘Alice,’ a private/public key pair ‘146xNMOP’ indicating that the private/public key pair associated with ‘Alice’ is 146xNMOP, his subscribed field is ‘N’ indicating she has subscribed, the subscription field indicating ‘10’ indicating that ‘Alice’ has a ten week subscription. In addition, user ‘Alice’ includes ‘NY, aa, bb’ in herother field512, indicating any supplemental information that may be relevant to ‘Alice’.
• FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the example form of acomputer system600 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In various embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device and/or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server and/or a client machine in server-client network environment, and/or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch and/or bridge, an embedded system and/or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential and/or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually and/or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one and/or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
• Theexample computer system600 includes a processor602 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) and/or both), amain memory604 and astatic memory606, which communicate with each other via abus608. Thecomputer system600 may further include a video display unit610 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). Thecomputer system600 also includes an alphanumeric input device612 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device614 (e.g., a mouse), adisk drive unit616, a signal generation device618 (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device620 and/or an accessibility device128 (e.g., a headgear, a footgear, a mouthpiece, a visual aid, a tactile device and/or a bio-feedback device etc.).
• Thedisk drive unit616 includes a machine-readable medium622 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software624) embodying any one or more of the methodologies and/or functions described herein. Thesoftware624 may also reside, completely and/or at least partially, within themain memory604 and/or within theprocessor602 during execution thereof by thecomputer system600, themain memory604 and theprocessor602 also constituting machine-readable media.
• Thesoftware624 may further be transmitted and/or received over anetwork626 via the network interface device620. While the machine-readable medium622 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium and/or multiple media (e.g., a centralized and/or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding and/or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the various embodiments. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals.
• FIG. 7 is an interaction diagram of a process flow between theclient device102, thefeature module100, thecertification authority module104 and thegaming provider module108 ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. In operation700, a profile data from theclient device102 is processed by thefeature module100 to determine feature privileges. Inoperation702, a ticket request is processed by theclient device102. In operation704, a ticket is authorized by thegaming provider module108 based on the ticket request. Inoperation706, a certification of authenticity is provided by thecertification authority module104. In operation708, the ticket is hashed and/or encrypted by thefeature module100 based on a security algorithm. In operation710, accessibility features are attached by thefeature module100 based on the profile data.
• In operation712, the ticket is decrypted and/or authenticity is verified by theclient device102. Inoperation714, the certification of authenticity from theclient device102 is processed by thecertification authority module104. In operation716, it is determined by theclient device102 that the ticket is a winning ticket. Inoperation718, it is verified by thefeature module100 that the winning ticket has not been altered. Inoperation720, authenticity is confirmed by thecertification authority module104. Inoperation722, it is verified by thegaming provider module108 that the winning ticket contains a winning combination. In operation724, a consideration is provided to theclient device102 by thegaming provider module108 based on the winning ticket.
• FIG. 8 is a process flow to associate an accessibility feature to a navigation mechanism (e.g., a user interface, a multi-coordinated online gaming structure, etc.) Of a game (e.g., a lottery game, a sweepstakes contest, a poker game, a contest game, a gambling game, a game of chance, and/or a game of skill, etc.), process a response (e.g., a response by the user using the accessibility feature associated with the navigation mechanism) through the navigation mechanism of a special-needs user when the accessibility feature is enabled, and/or generate a trusted ticket (e.g., a trusted ticket generated by thefeature module100 in response to a transaction initiated by the user) using at least one security algorithm when the special-needs user initiates a transaction, according to one embodiment.
• Inoperation802, the accessibility feature is associated to the navigation mechanism of the game. Inoperation804, the response is processed through the navigation mechanism of the special-needs user when the accessibility feature is enabled. Inoperation806, the trusted ticket is generated using the security algorithm when the special-needs user initiates the transaction. Inoperation808, a context data is generated associated with a grid structure (e.g., a table, an array, a map, a matrix, a user interface, a multi-coordinated structure and/or a coordinate reference index, etc.) in the navigation mechanism. Inoperation810, an expression is generated of the context data associated with each row position and each column position in the grid structure using the accessibility feature.
• Inoperation812, the grid structure is created in a plurality of criteria-based dimensions based on a request (e.g., an input request processed by the client device102) of the special-needs user. In operation814, the accessibility feature is designed such that the accessibility feature conforms to a governmental guideline and/or an industry guideline. Inoperation816, a descriptive data (e.g., a meta-data, an expression perceptible to the user, a context data and/or a simplified expression of the standard data, etc.) is associated with a standard data accessible by the special-needs user in the navigation mechanism. Inoperation818, a subscription data is developed based on the response which activates reoccurring trusted tickets that are periodically and/or automatically issued to the special-needs user. Inoperation820, the accessibility feature and/or the navigation mechanism is selected based on a user profile data provided by the special-needs user.
• FIG. 9 is a process flow to express a context data associated with a relative position in a multi-coordinated structure of a gambling activity (e.g., a context data may be associated with each row position and/or each column position in a grid structure) in an online environment, according to one embodiment. Inoperation902, a context data associated with a relative position in a multi-coordinated structure of a gambling activity in an online environment is expressed. Inoperation904, a trusted confirmation data generated based on a selection of various attributes in the multi-coordinated structure of the gambling activity is decrypted (e.g., using thedecryption module306 ofFIG. 3).
• Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. For example, the various devices, modules, analyzers, generators, etc. described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry (e.g., CMOS based logic circuitry), firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software (e.g., embodied in a machine readable medium).
• For example, the feature module100, the client device102, the certification authority module104, the gaming provider module108, the other environments module110, the task module200, the promotion module202, the chance module204, the ticketing module206, the subscription module208, the skill module210, the accessibility module220, the table module222, the contextual module224, the meta-data generator226, the simplification module228, the conformance module230, the security module240, the hash module242, the encryption module244, the decryption module246, the verification module248, the U/I module302, the sensory module304, the decryption module306, and/or the verification module308 may be enabled using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits (e.g., application specific integrated ASIC circuitry) using a feature circuit, a client circuit, a certification authority circuit, a gaming provider circuit, an other environments circuit, a task circuit, a promotion circuit, a chance circuit, a ticketing circuit, a subscription circuit, a skill circuit, an accessibility circuit, a table circuit, a contextual circuit, a meta-data circuit, a simplification circuit, a conformance circuit, a security circuit, a hash circuit, an encryption circuit, a description circuit, a verification circuit, a U/I circuit, a sensory circuit, a decryption circuit, and/or a verification circuit.
• In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations, processes, and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in a machine-readable medium and/or a machine accessible medium compatible with a data processing system (e.g., a computer system), and may be performed in any other. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrated rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (20)

1. A method of a feature module, comprising:

associating an accessibility feature to a navigation mechanism of a game;

processing a response through the navigation mechanism of a special-needs user when the accessibility feature is enabled; and

generating a trusted ticket using at least one security algorithm when the special-needs user initiates a transaction.

2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising:

generating a context data associated with a grid structure in the navigation mechanism; and

generating an expression of the context data associated with each row position and each column position in the grid structure using the accessibility feature.

3. The method ofclaim 2 further comprising creating the grid structure in a plurality of criteria-based dimensions based on a request of the special-needs user, wherein the plurality of criteria based dimensions include a type, a name, a repetition window, a frequency, a cost, and a subscription component.

4. The method ofclaim 2 further comprising designing the accessibility feature such that the accessibility feature conforms to at least one of a governmental guideline and an industry guideline, wherein the accessibility feature is audibly communicated to the special-needs user.

5. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising associating a descriptive data with a standard data accessible by the special-needs user in the navigation mechanism.

6. The method ofclaim 5 wherein the descriptive data includes a simplified expression of the standard data.

7. The method ofclaim 6 wherein the descriptive data is perceptible by the special-needs user through a positioning device action associated with the standard data.

8. The method ofclaim 6 wherein the standard data is a label associated with an input request that is constrained based on at least one parameter value.

9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising developing a subscription data based on the response which activates reoccurring ones of the trusted ticket that are periodically and automatically issued to the special-needs user, wherein the reoccurring ones of the trusted ticket each have a separate unique identifier.

10. The method ofclaim 10 wherein the separate unique identifier is automatically generated based on at least one of a probability index and a user defined criteria.

11. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the game is at least one of a lottery game, a sweepstakes contest, a poker game, a contest game, a gambling game, a game of chance, and a game of skill.

12. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the generating the trusted ticket using the at least one security algorithm includes an embedded certification of authenticity provided by a certification authority module, and wherein the embedded certification of authenticity to include at least one of a digital watermark, an encryption data, a public key, a private key, and a validation data.

13. The method ofclaim 12 further comprising determining that the trusted ticket is a winning ticket when the trusted ticket is verified as unaltered using the certification authority module.

14. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising selecting the accessibility feature and the navigation mechanism based on a user profile data provided by the special-needs user.

15. The method ofclaim 1 in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the method ofclaim 1.

16. A method of a client device, comprising:

expressing a context data associated with a relative position in a multi-coordinated structure of a gambling activity in an online environment; and

decrypting a trusted confirmation data generated based on a selection of various attributes in the multi-coordinated structure of the gambling activity.

17. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the selection is automatically performed based on a constrained criteria, wherein the constrained criteria includes values that are automatically generated by a gaming provider module.

18. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the context data is expressed in a plurality of formats including a visual expression, an auditory expression, a tactile expression, an orally distinguishable expression, a bio-electrical signal expression and an olfactory expression.

19. A system, comprising:

a client device to automatically express a meta-data associated with a dimensional attribute of a gaming profile;

a feature module to embed an authentication data in a gaming ticket and to determine an expression format of the meta-data; and

a gaming provider module to electronically provide the gaming ticket directly to a user of the client device through an online environment.

20. The system ofclaim 19 wherein the expression format is at least one of a verbal expression of the meta-data on the client device and an alternative text that is automatically displayed on the client device based on a point-over of an assisted technology device.

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