Apparatus, system and method for electronic ticket management and electronic ticket distribution authentication

• US 20040093309A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Masakazu, Tamai, Hironobu, Murakami, Seiki, Hori, Miyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00

Abstract

An electronic ticket management system includes an event organizer for planning an event, an electronic ticket seller for distributing electronic ticket information which authenticates the right to attend the event, an information storage chip for storing the electronic ticket information, and an electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of the electronic ticket information. The electronic ticket platform center forms an electronic ticket information master based on event information registered by the event organizer, and relates ticket issuing information registered by the electronic ticket seller to the electronic ticket information master. The electronic ticket platform center also issues the tickets by writing the electronic ticket information into the corresponding information storage chip based on ticket issuing information. A determination as to whether the user is permitted to enter the event venue is made according to the integrity of the event information stored in the information storage chip.

Claims

1. An electronic ticket management system comprising:

an event organizer apparatus for planning an event;

an electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus for distributing electronic ticket information that authenticates a right to attend the event;

an information storage chip for storing the electronic ticket information; and

an electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of the electronic ticket information,

wherein the event organizer apparatus creates event information unique to each event, and registers the event information in the electronic ticket platform center;

wherein the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus receives a request to distribute the electronic ticket information concerning the event from a user of the information storage chip, performs distribution authentication processing for determining whether the electronic ticket information is to be distributed to the user, and registers an authentication result in the electronic ticket platform center as ticket issuing information; and

wherein the electronic ticket platform center creates an electronic ticket information master based on the event information registered by the event organizer apparatus, relates the ticket issuing information registered by the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus to the electronic ticket information master, and performs ticket issuing processing for writing the electronic ticket information into the information storage chip based on the ticket issuing information.

2. An event organizer apparatus for planning an event, comprising:

an event organizer apparatus that forms event information unique to an event, registers the event information in an electronic ticket platform center, and selects an electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus for distributing electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend the event.

3. An event organizer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the event information includes at least an event venue master in which event venue information concerning an event location and time and date information concerning the time and date of the event are stored.

4. An event organizer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the event information further includes a seat master concerning seat information.

5. An event organizer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the event organizer apparatus manages a ratio of the electronic ticket information allocated to a plurality of the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatuses.

6. An event organizer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic ticket information includes user information concerning a user of an information storage chip.

7. An electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend an event, wherein the electronic ticket platform center forms an electronic ticket information master based on event information formed for each event by an event organizer apparatus, relates ticket issuing information formed by an electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus to the electronic ticket information master where the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus distributes the electronic ticket information, and where the electronic ticket platform center performs ticket issuing processing for writing the electronic ticket information into a predetermined information storage chip based on the ticket issuing information.

8. An electronic ticket platform center according to claim 7, wherein the event information includes at least an event venue master in which event venue information concerning an event location and time and date information concerning the time and date of the event are stored.

9. An electronic ticket platform center according to claim 8, wherein the event information further includes a seat master concerning seat information.

10. An electronic ticket platform center according to claim 7, wherein the ticket issuing processing is performed via a network.

11. An electronic ticket platform center according to claim 7, wherein an electronic ticket distribution store terminal is provided, and the ticket issuing processing is performed via the electronic ticket distribution store terminal.

12. An electronic ticket platform center according to claim 7, wherein the electronic ticket information includes user information concerning a user of the information storage chip.

13. An electronic ticket platform center according to claim 7, wherein the electronic ticket platform center has an authentication right to determine whether the electronic ticket information is written into the predetermined information storage chip.

14. An electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus for distributing electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend an event, wherein the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus receives a request to distribute the electronic ticket information concerning the event from a user of an information storage chip, performs distribution authentication processing for determining whether the electronic ticket information is to be distributed to the user, registers an authentication result in an electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of the electronic ticket information as ticket issuing information, and instructs the electronic ticket platform center to perform ticket issuing processing for writing the electronic ticket information into the information storage chip of the user based on the ticket issuing information.

15. An electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an event organizer apparatus for planning an event manages an allocation ratio of the electronic ticket information.

16. An electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the request to distribute the electronic ticket information from the user is sent via a network.

17. An electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an electronic ticket information distribution store terminal is provided, and the request to distribute the electronic ticket information from the user is sent via the electronic ticket information distribution store terminal.

18. An electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the electronic ticket information includes user information concerning the user of the information storage chip.

19. An electronic ticket information distribution store terminal for distributing electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend an event, wherein the electronic ticket information distribution store terminal receives a request to distribute the electronic ticket information concerning the event from a user of an information storage chip, transfers the request to an electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus so as to instruct the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus to perform distribution authentication processing for determining whether the electronic ticket information is to be distributed to the user, receives a ticket issuing request from an electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of the electronic ticket information, and writes the electronic ticket information into the information storage chip.

20. An electronic ticket information distribution store terminal according to claim 19, wherein output means is provided for outputting the electronic ticket information as a paper ticket.

21. An information storage chip for storing electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend an event, wherein a user of said information storage chip sends a request to distribute the electronic ticket information concerning the event to an electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus so as to instruct the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus to perform distribution authentication processing for determining the electronic ticket information to be distributed to the user, and then, the electronic ticket information is written into the information storage chip in response to a ticket issuing request sent from an electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of the electronic ticket information.

22. An information storage chip according to claim 21, wherein the electronic ticket information includes at least event venue information concerning an event location and time and date information concerning the time and date of the event.

23. An information storage chip according to claim 22, wherein the electronic ticket information further includes seat information.

24. An information storage chip according to claim 21, wherein the electronic ticket information includes user information concerning the user of the information storage chip.

25. An information storage chip according to claim 21, wherein the electronic ticket platform center is requested to perform authentication processing when the electronic ticket information is written into the information storage chip.

26. An information storage chip according to claim 21, wherein the electronic ticket information is written into the information storage chip via a network.

27. An information storage chip according to claim 21, wherein the electronic ticket information is written into the information storage chip via an electronic ticket information distribution store terminal.

28. An information storage chip according to claim 21, wherein the information storage chip is integrated into a membership card to be distributed according to a membership registration via said electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus.

29. An electronic ticket management method employing an event organizer apparatus for planning an event, an electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus for distributing electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend the event, an information storage chip for storing the electronic ticket information, and an electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of the electronic ticket information, the electronic ticket management method comprising the steps of:

forming event information unique to each of the events and registering the event information in the electronic ticket platform center by the event organizer apparatus;

receiving a request to distribute the electronic ticket information concerning the event from a user of the information storage chip, performing distribution authentication processing for determining whether the electronic ticket information is to be distributed to the user, and registering an authentication result in the electronic ticket platform center as ticket issuing information by the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus; and

forming an electronic ticket information master based on the event information registered by the event organizer apparatus, relating the ticket issuing information registered by the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus to the electronic ticket information master, and performing ticket issuing processing for writing the electronic ticket information into the information storage chip based on the ticket issuing information by the electronic ticket platform center.

30. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 29, wherein the event organizer apparatus selects the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus for handling the electronic ticket information concerning the event.

31. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 29, wherein the information storage chip is distributed as a membership card according to a membership registration via the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus.

32. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 29, wherein a predetermined time period is provided between the distribution authentication processing performed by the electronic ticket distribution authentication apparatus and the ticket issuing processing performed by the electronic ticket platform center.

33. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 29, wherein the request to distribute the electronic ticket information from the user is sent and the ticket issuing processing is performed by the electronic ticket platform center via a network.

34. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 29, wherein an electronic ticket information distribution store terminal is provided, and the request to distribute the electronic ticket information from the user is sent and the ticket issuing processing is performed by the electronic ticket platform center via the electronic ticket information distribution store terminal.

35. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 29, wherein authentication processing by the electronic ticket platform center is required when the electronic ticket information is written into the information storage chip.

36. An electronic ticket assignment apparatus for controlling a reading/writing operation of electronic ticket information from and into an information storage chip in which a plurality of items of the electronic ticket information are stored, the electronic ticket information being used for authenticating a right to attend an event in correspondence with event information unique to each event, wherein the information storage chip of an assignor sends an assignment request to the electronic ticket assignment apparatus by specifying ID information of the information storage chip of an assignee and the electronic ticket information to be assigned, and the electronic ticket assignment apparatus performs an assignment operation by writing the electronic ticket information to be assigned into the information storage chip of the assignee in response to the assignment request and by deleting the assigned electronic ticket information from the information storage chip of the assignor.

37. An electronic ticket assignment apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the electronic ticket assignment apparatus includes an electronic ticket platform center which authenticates a writing/deleting operation of the electronic ticket information, and a reader/writer for reading and writing the electronic ticket information from and into the information storage chip;

and

wherein the assignment request and the assignment operation are performed via a network.

38. An electronic ticket assignment apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the electronic ticket assignment apparatus comprises an information storage chip reader/writer having a right to authenticate a writing/deleting operation of the electronic ticket information.

39. An electronic ticket assignment apparatus according to claim 36, wherein a predetermined time period is provided between the assignment request and the assignment operation.

40. An electronic ticket assignment apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the electronic ticket assignment apparatus is a computer program.

41. An electronic ticket assignment method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of items of electronic ticket information in an information storage chip, the electronic ticket information being used for authenticating a right to attend an event in correspondence with event information unique to each event;

sending an assignment request from an assignor'"'"'s information storage chip to an electronic ticket assignment apparatus by specifying ID information of an assignee'"'"'s information storage chip and the electronic ticket information to be assigned, where the electronic ticket assignment apparatus controls a reading/writing operation of the electronic ticket information from and into the information storage chip; and

performing an assignment operation by the electronic ticket assignment apparatus by writing the electronic ticket information to be assigned into the information storage chip of the assignee in response to the assignment request and by deleting the assigned electronic ticket information from the information storage chip of the assignor.

42. An electronic ticket assignment method according to claim 41, wherein the electronic ticket assignment apparatus comprises an electronic ticket platform center which authenticates a writing/deleting operation of the electronic ticket information, and a reader/writer for reading and writing the electronic ticket information from and into the information storage chip;

and

wherein the assignment request and the assignment operation are performed via a network.

43. An electronic ticket assignment method according to claim 41, wherein the electronic ticket assignment apparatus comprises an information storage chip reader/writer having a right to authenticate a writing/deleting operation of the electronic ticket information.

44. An electronic ticket assignment method according to claim 41, wherein a predetermined time period is provided between the assignment request and the assignment operation.

45. A ticket allocation system comprising:

a seat information forming unit for forming seat positions of an event venue into seat information as cell data;

a display unit for displaying the seat information on a screen;

a selector unit for selecting the seat information in units of cells on the screen; and

a ticket allocation unit for performing ticket allocation processing according to a selection result obtained by the selector unit.

46. A ticket allocation system according to claim 45, wherein the seat information is classified according to the type of seat, and the selector unit selects the seat information according to the type of seat.

47. A ticket allocation system according to claim 46, wherein the seat information is displayed on the screen so that it is visually distinguishable according to the type of seat.

48. A ticket allocation system according to claim 45, wherein the selection result obtained by the selector unit is displayed so that it is visually distinguishable on the screen.

49. A ticket allocation system according to claim 45, wherein the selector unit selects the seat information as a group of cells.

50. A ticket allocation system according to claim 45, wherein the number of cells selected by the selector unit or the number of cells selectable by the selector unit is displayed on the screen.

51. A ticket allocation system according to claims 45 wherein the ticket allocation system is a computer program.

52. An electronic ticket management system using an information storage chip for storing electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend a specific event, the electronic ticket management system comprising:

an electronic ticket information forming unit for forming event information unique to each event, and for forming electronic ticket information in correspondence with event information;

an electronic ticket information writer for writing the electronic ticket information into the information storage chip; and

an electronic ticket information reader installed at an event venue corresponding to the event information, for reading the electronic ticket information stored in the information storage chip and for permitting a user of the information storage chip to enter the event venue only when the integrity of the event information stored in the read electronic ticket information is verified.

53. An electronic ticket information reader for reading electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend a specific event stored in an information storage chip, wherein the electronic ticket information reader is installed at an event venue, and reads the electronic ticket information stored in the information storage chip and permits a user of the information storage chip to enter the event venue only when the integrity of event information stored in the read electronic ticket information is verified.

54. An electronic ticket platform center for managing the distribution of electronic ticket information by using an information storage chip for storing the electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend a specific event venue, the electronic ticket platform center comprising:

an electronic ticket information reader installed at an event venue for reading the electronic ticket information stored in the information storage chip and for permitting a user of the information storage chip to enter the event venue only when the integrity of the event information stored in the read electronic ticket information is verified, thereby managing the distribution of the electronic ticket information.

55. An electronic ticket platform center according to claim 54, further comprising:

an event-venue management unit installed at the event venue for managing the electronic ticket information read by the electronic ticket information reader.

56. An electronic ticket management method using an information storage chip for storing electronic ticket information which authenticates a right to attend a specific event, the electronic ticket management method comprising the steps of:

forming event information unique to each event by an electronic ticket information forming unit;

forming electronic ticket information in correspondence with the event information by the electronic ticket information forming unit;

writing the electronic ticket information into the information storage chip by an electronic ticket information writer; and

reading the electronic ticket information stored in the information storage chip by an electronic ticket information reader installed at an event venue corresponding to the event information, and permitting a user of the information storage chip to enter the event venue only when the integrity of the event information stored in the read electronic ticket information is verified.

57. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 56, wherein the electronic ticket information forming unit, the electronic ticket information writer, and the electronic ticket information reader are connected to each other via a network, and the distribution of the electronic ticket information is managed by an electronic ticket platform center via an electronic ticket information master.

58. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 56, wherein an event-venue management unit is installed at the event venue, and the electronic ticket information read by the electronic ticket information reader is managed at the event venue by the event-venue management unit.

59. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 56, wherein guidance information identifiable by the user is output based on the read electronic ticket information.

60. An electronic ticket management method according to claim 56, wherein electronic ticket information post-processing for computing the electronic ticket information read by the electronic ticket information reader is performed.