Systems and methods for searching for entertainment tickets via internet

• US 20070088616A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Kacmar, Miroslav, Lambert, Susan, Kasprow, Michael, Balfour, William, Pertschuk, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for collecting and listing entertainment ticket information from multiple data sources, and facilitating the sales of entertainment tickets over a network. In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for offering to sell entertainment tickets over a network. The method includes the steps of providing exhibition data importation rules for importing exhibition data, electronically receiving the exhibition data from multiple exhibition data feeds in accordance with the exhibition data importation rules, and electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data. The method further includes the step of providing, over the network, to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected or selected criteria, in which the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider. In the method, the exhibition data may include an entertainment identification information, an entertainment exhibition location, and an entertainment exhibition time.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for offering to sell entertainment tickets over a network, the method comprising:

providing exhibition data importation rules for importing exhibition data, the exhibition data including an entertainment identification information, an entertainment exhibition location, and an entertainment exhibition time;

electronically receiving the exhibition data from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with the exhibition data importation rules;

electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data; and

providing, over the network, to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the listing of entertainment exhibitions further comprises:

randomizing the listing in relation to at least one of the entertainment ticket provider and the exhibition data feeds.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein electronically eliminating further comprises:

electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data in accordance with a comparison matrix.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring entertainment data, the entertainment data including entertainment-specific data corresponding to the entertainment identification information.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user-selected criteria includes criteria selected from the group consisting of:

a location information, an exhibition time, an entertainment name, an entertainment type, an entertainment rating, an entertainment release date, and an entertainment price.

6. A computer-implemented method for providing an electronic template for entertainment tickets over a network, the method comprising:

providing the electronic template for displaying entertainment data, the entertainment data including entertainment-specific data corresponding to a specified entertainment, for use in a computer-implemented method for offering to sell entertainment tickets, the method for offering to sell comprising;

receiving exhibition data, the exhibition data including an entertainment identification information, an entertainment exhibition location, and an entertainment exhibition time, wherein the exhibition data is obtained from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with exhibition data importation rules and wherein the exhibition data is filtered for any duplicates, and

providing, over the network, to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein providing the listing of entertainment exhibitions further comprises:

randomizing the listing in relation to at least one of the entertainment ticket provider and the exhibition data feeds.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein providing the electronic template includes determining the entertainment data to be displayed.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the entertainment data corresponds to a movie.

10. A computer-implemented method for providing exhibition data over a network, the method comprising:

electronically sending the exhibition data for use in a computer-implemented method for offering to sell entertainment tickets, the method for offering to sell comprising;

electronically receiving the exhibition data from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with exhibition data importation rules,

electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data, and

providing to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

collecting the exhibition data, wherein the exhibition data includes the entertainment identification information, the entertainment exhibition location, and the entertainment exhibition time.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

acquiring entertainment data, the entertainment data including entertainment-specific data corresponding to the entertainment identification information.

13. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for offering to sell entertainment tickets over a network, the method comprising:

providing exhibition data importation rules for importing exhibition data, the exhibition data including an entertainment identification information, an entertainment exhibition location, and an entertainment exhibition time;

electronically receiving the exhibition data from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with the exhibition data importation rules;

electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data; and

providing, over the network, to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

14. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for providing an electronic template for entertainment tickets over a network, the method comprising:

providing the electronic template for displaying entertainment data, the entertainment data including entertainment-specific data corresponding to a specified entertainment, for use in a computer-implemented method for offering to sell entertainment tickets, the method for offering to sell comprising;

receiving exhibition data, the exhibition data including an entertainment identification information, an entertainment exhibition location, and an entertainment exhibition time,

electronically receiving the exhibition data in accordance with the electronic template, wherein the exhibition data is obtained from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with exhibition data importation rules and wherein the exhibition data is filtered for any duplicates, and

providing, over the network, to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

15. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for providing exhibition data over a network, the method comprising:

electronically sending the exhibition data for use in a computer-implemented method for offering to sell entertainment tickets, the method for offering to sell comprising;

electronically receiving the exhibition data from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with exhibition data importation rules,

electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data, and

providing to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

16. A system for offering to sell entertainment tickets over a network, comprising:

a data importation rule module for providing exhibition data importation rules for importing exhibition data, the exhibition data including an entertainment identification information, an entertainment exhibition location, and an entertainment exhibition time;

an exhibition data receiving module for electronically receiving the exhibition data from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with the exhibition data importation rules;

a duplicate elimination module for electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data; and

a listing module for providing, over the network, to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the listing module randomizes the listing in relation to at least one of the entertainment ticket provider and the exhibition data feeds.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the duplicate elimination module eliminates any duplicates from the exhibition data in accordance with a comparison matrix.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an entertainment data acquisition module for acquiring entertainment data, the entertainment data including entertainment-specific data corresponding to the entertainment identification information.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-selected criteria includes criteria selected from the group consisting of:

a location information, an exhibition time, an entertainment name, an entertainment type, an entertainment rating, an entertainment release date, and an entertainment price.

21. A system for providing an electronic template for entertainment tickets over a network, comprising:

a template module for providing the electronic template for displaying entertainment data, the entertainment data including entertainment-specific data corresponding to a specified entertainment, for use in a system for offering to sell entertainment tickets, the system for offering to sell comprising;

an exhibition data receiving module for receiving exhibition data, the exhibition data including an entertainment identification information, an entertainment exhibition location, and an entertainment exhibition time, in accordance with the electronic template, wherein the exhibition data is obtained from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with exhibition data importation rules and wherein the exhibition data is filtered for any duplicates, and

a listing module for providing, over the network, to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.

22. A system for providing exhibition data over a network, comprising:

an exhibition data sending module for electronically sending the exhibition data for use in a system for offering to sell entertainment tickets, the system for offering to sell comprising;

an exhibition data receiving module for electronically receiving the exhibition data from a plurality of exhibition data feeds in accordance with exhibition data importation rules,

a duplicate elimination module for electronically eliminating any duplicates from the exhibition data, and

a listing module for providing to a user a listing of entertainment exhibitions in accordance with user-selected criteria, wherein the listing provides an option to purchase an exhibition ticket from an entertainment ticket provider.