Computer-based right distribution system

• US 20070033131A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• 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 7,698,210 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

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A method for distributing a plurality of priority rights, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of bid records from a plurality of users, the bid records including bid amount data and bid quantity data;

correlating a selected bid record received from a selected user with a subset of priority rights, wherein (a) the subset of priority rights is selected from the plurality of priority rights at least partially based on the selected bid record bid amount data, and (b) the subset of priority rights includes a quantity of priority rights that corresponds to the selected bid record bid quantity data; and

distributing the subset of priority rights to the selected user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the subset of priority rights consists of one priority right.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving registration information from the selected user before receiving the selected bid record from the selected user.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of bid records are received via the Internet.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of priority rights corresponds to a plurality of event tickets.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein n equals the quantity of priority rights, the method further comprising:

ranking n of the received bid records based on the bid record bid amount data, such that the selected bid record has a corresponding selected bid record rank; and

ranking the plurality of priority rights according to a predetermined preference, such that the subset of priority rights has a corresponding subset rank, wherein the selected bid record is correlated with the subset of priority rights such that the subset rank corresponds to the selected bid record rank.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing the selected bid record bid amount data with a minimum bid threshold and with a maximum authorization threshold.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending a bid status notification to the selected user.

18-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A method of allocating tickets via an auction, comprising

transmitting from a computer over a network an auction start date to one or more user terminals before the start date;

transmitting from the computer to at least one user terminal a graphical representation of seating for a first venue at which an event is to take place for which tickets are being auctioned, wherein the first venue includes a plurality of seating sections;

transmitting to at least one user terminal minimum bid information for the auction;

receiving at the computer bid information from at least one user terminal, the bid information including bid price information;

determining if the bid price is unacceptable or acceptable based at least in part on the minimum bid; and

delivering a ticket to a successful bidder.

43. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein at least one venue seating section includes a plurality of seats.

44. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein only one seat is available at a first bid level.

45. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting over the network a bid web page form to at least one user terminal.

46. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting over the network an html bid web page form to at least one user terminal.

47. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising initiating an auction site in advance of open bidding.

48. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising receiving over a network user registration information.

49. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the bid information includes section identification information.

50. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the bid information includes seat quantity information.

51. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising receiving credit card information over the network from at least one auction participant prior to accepting a first bid from the at least one auction participant.

52. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting a message over the network to a first user indicating that the first user needs to register in order to bid.

53. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting a message over the network to a first user indicating that a bid from the first user is too low to be a winning bid.

54. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting a message over the network to a first user indicating that a bid from the first user is accepted.

55. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting information regarding a current standing bid for at least one seat over the network to a first user.

56. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting updated information regarding a standing bid for at least one seat over the network to a first user.

57. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting a performer name, a performance date, and a performance time to at least one user terminal.

58. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting an auction start time to at least one user terminal prior to the start of the auction.

59. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising transmitting an indication to at least one user terminal that bids must be in whole dollars.

60. The method as defined in claim 42, the method further comprising storing in a computer database name, address information, and credit card information for a plurality of ticket auction participants.

61. A method of auctioning tickets, the method comprising:

transmitting over a network a ticket auction start date to one or more user terminals;

transmitting over the network minimum bid information to one or more user terminals;

receiving over the network a plurality of ticket bids from a plurality of user terminals;

identifying at least a first successful ticket auction bidder; and

transmitting a notification over the network to a terminal associated with the first successful auction bidder.

62. The method as defined in claim 61, transmitting to at least one user terminal a graphical representation of seating for a venue, wherein tickets are being auctioned for an event at the venue.

63. The method as defined in claim 61, wherein only one seat is available at a first bid level.

64. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting over the network a bid web page form to at least one user terminal.

65. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting over the network an html bid web page form to at least one user terminal.

66. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising initiating an auction site for the auction in advance of open bidding for the auction.

67. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising receiving over a network user registration information.

68. The method as defined in claim 61, wherein at least one bid includes section identification information.

69. The method as defined in claim 61, wherein at least one bid includes seat quantity information.

70. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising receiving credit card information over the network from at least one auction participant prior to accepting a first bid from the at least one auction participant.

71. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting a message over the network to a first user indicating that the first user needs to register in order to bid.

72. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting a message over the network to a first user indicating that a bid from the first user is too low to be a winning bid.

73. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting a message over the network to a first user indicating that a bid from the first user is accepted.

74. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting information regarding a current standing bid for at least one seat over the network to a first user.

75. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting updated information regarding a standing bid for at least one seat over the network to a first user.

76. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting a performer name, a performance date, and a performance time to at least one user terminal.

77. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising transmitting an indication to at least one user terminal that bids must be in whole dollars.

78. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising storing seat section data.

79. The method as defined in claim 61, the method further comprising storing in a computer database name, address information, and credit card information for a plurality of ticket auction participants.

80-89. -89. (canceled)