Computer-based right distribution system with reserve pricing

• US 20070027794A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ITA Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Brett, Kenton
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• 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: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1809 for auctioneering devices

Abstract

An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an automated auction over a network for event tickets and providing real-time auction update information, the method comprising:

storing a starting minimum bid value for an event ticket in a first database, wherein the starting minimum bid value is stored in association with seat identification information;

transmitting to a remote terminal associated with a user, via a Web interface, the starting minimum bid value for the event ticket;

receiving, via the Web interface, a first bid from a bidder;

using a computer to determine if the first bid is acceptable;

automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to bidders; and

if the first bid is not acceptable, transmitting over a network a notification to the bidder indicating that the first bid is not acceptable.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the seat identification information includes:

section information;

row information; and

a seat number.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the seat identification information includes a unique seat identifier.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing standing bid information in association with the seat identification information.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing auction participant identification information in association with the seat identification information.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the starting minimum bid value is pre-set.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

transmitting a standing minimum bid associated with the event ticket to a plurality of remote terminals after receiving the first bid;

receiving a second bid from a second bidder;

determining if the second bid is acceptable; and

if the second bid is acceptable, transmitting a corresponding message to the second bidder.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing a maximum allowable bid for the first user.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing a spending limit for the first user.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a plurality of event ticket bids;

determining which bids are successful using a computer;

allocating event tickets to successful bidders; and

providing an indication to successful bidders that their seat ticket bids were successful.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising delivering event tickets to successful bidders.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in a database.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to a plurality of remote terminals.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.

15. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the plurality of remote terminals, wherein the user interface displays a performer name associated with an event for which event tickets are being auctioned.

18. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the plurality of remote terminals, wherein the user interface displays a sponsor name associated with an event for which event tickets are being auctioned.

19. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the Web interface includes HTML code.

20. A method of conducting an automated auction over a network for event tickets, the method comprising:

storing in a first database a minimum bid value corresponding to an event ticket, wherein the minimum bid value is stored in association with seat identification information;

transmitting to a remote terminal associated with a user the minimum bid value for the event ticket;

receiving bid information for a first bid, including;

bidder identification information;

venue section identification information;

seat quantity information;

bid price information;

determining if the first bid is acceptable based at least in part on the minimum bid value; and

if the first bid is not acceptable, transmitting a notification to the bidder indicating that the first bid is not acceptable.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein:

the minimum bid value for the event ticket is transmitted via a Web interface; and

the bid information is received via the Web interface.

22. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the seat identification information includes:

section information;

row information; and

a seat number.

23. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the seat identification information includes a unique seat identifier.

24. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising storing standing bid information in association with the seat identification information.

25. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising storing auction participant identification information in association with the seat identification information.

26. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the starting minimum bid value is pre-set.

27. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising:

transmitting a standing minimum bid associated with the event ticket to a plurality of remote terminals after receiving the first bid;

receiving a second bid from a second bidder;

determining if the second bid is too low; and

if the second bid is too low, transmitting a corresponding message to the second bidder.

28. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising storing a maximum allowable bid for the first user.

29. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising storing a spending limit for the first user.

30. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising:

receiving a plurality of event ticket bids;

determining which bids are successful using a computer;

allocating event tickets to successful bidders; and

providing an indication to successful bidders that their event ticket bids were successful.

31. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising delivering event tickets to successful bidders.

32. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in a database.

33. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to a plurality of remote terminals.

34. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to bidders.

35. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.

36. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.

37. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.

38. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a performer name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.

39. The method as defined in claim 20, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a sponsor name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.

40. A method of conducting an automated auction over a network for seat tickets, the method comprising:

storing in memory a minimum bid value, wherein the minimum bid value is stored in association with seat identification information;

transmitting to a remote terminal associated with a user the minimum bid value;

receiving a plurality of ticket bids including bid information for a first bid, the bid information including;

bidder identification information;

bid price information;

using the computer to determine which of the plurality of ticket bids are successful; and

automatically transmitting, via a network, a notification to a plurality of successful bidders.

41. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the bid information includes seat identification information.

42. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the bid information includes:

section information; and

row information.

43. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising associating the updated standing bid information with seat identification information.

44. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising storing auction participant identification information in association with seat identification information.

45. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the minimum bid value is pre-set.

46. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising:

transmitting a standing minimum bid associated with the seat ticket to a plurality of remote terminals after receiving the first bid;

receiving a second bid from a second bidder;

determining if the second bid is too low; and

if the second bid is too low, transmitting a corresponding message to the second bidder.

47. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising storing a maximum allowable bid for the user.

48. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising storing a spending limit for the user.

49. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising:

receiving a plurality of seat ticket bids;

determining which bids are successful using a computer;

allocating seat tickets to a plurality of successful bidders; and

providing an indication to the plurality of successful bidders that their seat ticket bids were successful.

50. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising delivering seat tickets to successful bidders.

51. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in a database.

52. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to a plurality of remote terminals.

53. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to bidders.

54. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a plurality of remote terminals associated with seat ticket bidders.

55. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a plurality of remote terminals associated with seat ticket bidders.

56. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.

57. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface in the form of a Web page, the Web page including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.

58. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a performer name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.

59. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a sponsor name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.