System and method for dynamic seat allocation

• US 20040181438A1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sesek, Robert, Shelton, Michael J., Hoene, Keith
• Application Number:
  US10/389,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A system and method for dynamic seat allocation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention is a system for dynamically allocating seat assignments, comprising a matrix having a plurality of available seats, a first seating arrangement using fewer than the entire plurality of available seats, the first seating arrangement based on a first seating request, a subsequent seating request, and logic for revising the first seating arrangement to develop a proposed seating arrangement to accommodate the first seating request and the second seating request.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically allocating seat assignments, comprising:

a matrix having a plurality of available seats;

a first seating arrangement using fewer than the entire plurality of available seats, the first seating arrangement based on a first seating request;

a subsequent seating request; and

logic for revising the first seating arrangement to develop a proposed seating arrangement to accommodate the first seating request and the second seating request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic minimizes a number of single seats in the matrix.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further comprises a software module that:

deassigns seats in the first seating arrangement;

reassigns seats in the first seating arrangement;

assigns seats in the subsequent seating request; and

generates the proposed seating arrangement to satisfy the first seating request and the second seating request.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second seating requests further comprise seating parameters, the seating parameters configured to define whether seats in the first seating arrangement can be reorganized.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a printer for printing an electronic receipt for the proposed seating arrangement.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a reader located at an event facility and configured to receive the receipt; and

logic configured to assign a seat at the event facility.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the logic offers a seat upgrade.

8. A method for dynamically allocating seat assignments, comprising:

providing a plurality of available seats in a matrix;

establishing a first seating arrangement using fewer than the entire plurality of available seats based on a first seating request;

receiving a subsequent seating request; and

revising the first seating arrangement to develop a proposed seating arrangement to accommodate the first seating request and the second seating request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the revising further comprises minimizing a number of single unreserved seats in the matrix.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the revising further comprises:

executing a software module that deassigns seats in the first seating arrangement;

reassigning seats in the first seating arrangement;

assigning seats in the subsequent seating request; and

generating the proposed seating arrangement to satisfy the first seating request and the second seating request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the generating is performed based on parameters associated with the first seating request and the second seating request.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising printing an electronic receipt for the proposed seating arrangement.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the receipt at a reader located at an event facility; and

assigning a seat at the event facility.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising offering a seat upgrade.

15. A computer readable medium having a program for dynamically allocating seat assignments, the program comprising logic for:

providing a plurality of available seats in a matrix;

establishing a first seating arrangement using fewer than the entire plurality of available seats based on a first seating request;

receiving a subsequent seating request; and

revising the first seating arrangement to develop a proposed seating arrangement to accommodate the first seating request and the second seating request.

16. The program of claim 15, wherein the logic for revising further comprises logic for minimizing a number of single unreserved seats in the matrix.

17. The program of claim 15, wherein the logic for revising further comprises logic for:

executing a software module that deassigns seats in the first seating arrangement;

reassigning seats in the first seating arrangement;

assigning seats in the subsequent seating request; and

generating the proposed seating arrangement to satisfy the first seating request and the second seating request.

18. A system for dynamically allocating seat assignments, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of available seats in a matrix;

means for establishing a first seating arrangement using fewer than the entire plurality of available seats based on a first seating request;

means for receiving a subsequent seating request; and

means for revising the first seating arrangement to develop a proposed seating arrangement to accommodate the first seating request and the second seating request.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the revising means comprises means for minimizing a number of single unreserved seats in the matrix.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the revising means further comprises:

means for executing a software module that deassigns seats in the first seating arrangement;

means for reassigning seats in the first seating arrangement;

means for assigning seats in the subsequent seating request; and

means for generating the proposed seating arrangement to satisfy the first seating request and the second seating request.