Computer-implemented systems and methods for resource allocation

• US 20070124259A1
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Denker, Dennis, Sussman, Adam, Bennett, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced.

Claims

1. A method of setting a ticket price, the method comprising:

storing in computer readable memory an estimate of a first population size of potential attendees of a first event at a venue, the first population including at least a first group and a second group, wherein members of the first group have a first motivation for attending the first event, and members of the second group have a second motivation for attending the first event;

storing in computer readable memory an estimate of the size of the first group;

storing in computer readable memory an estimate of a first price threshold that it is estimated would result in at least a first percentage of members of the first group purchasing an event ticket;

storing in computer readable memory an estimate of the size of the second group;

storing in computer readable memory an estimate of a second price threshold that it is estimated would result in at least a second percentage of members of the second group purchasing an event ticket;

storing in computer readable memory information identifying a plurality of venue seating areas;

accessing from computer readable memory a first limit on how many tickets a user can purchase in at least one of the venue seating areas; and

based at least in part on the size of the first group, the size of the second group, the first price threshold, the second price threshold, and the first limit, setting a least a first event ticket price.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first motivation is to impress others.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the members of the first group will tend to only purchase relatively expensive event tickets.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the members of the first group will tend to only purchase relatively inexpensive event tickets.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the members of the first group have relatively high incomes.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the members of the first group have relatively low incomes.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the members of the first group include ticket brokers.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising accessing a first parameter associated with patience with respect to ticket acquisition associated with the first group.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second motivation is related to an interest in the event.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second motivation is related to socializing.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising accessing a first minimum ticket price, wherein the first minimum price is set based at least in part on a first revenue guarantee to a first entity.

12. A method of setting a ticket price, the method comprising:

storing in computer readable memory a first size estimate corresponding to a first set of potential event attendees, wherein members of the first set are characterized by a first level of income;

storing in computer readable memory a second size estimate corresponding to a second set of potential event attendees, wherein members of the second set are characterized by a second level of income;

storing in computer readable memory a first indication as to what event ticket price at least a portion of members of the first set would be willing to pay;

storing in computer readable memory a second indication as to what event ticket price at least a portion of members of the second set would be willing to pay; and

based at least in part on the first size estimate, the second size estimate, the first indication, and the second indication, setting a least a first event ticket price.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein members of the first set are associated with a first motivation for attending the event.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein members of the first set are likely to purchase relatively expensive event seats to impress others.

15. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein members of the first set are likely to attend the event with the intention of socializing with others.

16. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the members of the first set are likely to only purchase relatively inexpensive event tickets.

17. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the members of the first set have relatively high incomes and/or a relatively large amount of disposable income.

18. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the members of the first set have relatively low incomes.

19. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein members of the first set include ticket brokers that resell tickets.

20. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

accessing a first parameter associated with patience with respect to ticket acquisition associated with members of the first set,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the first parameter.

21. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

reading a first limit on how many event tickets a user can purchase,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the first limit.

22. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

reading a first minimum permissible event ticket price,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the first minimum permissible ticket price.

23. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

accessing historical ticket sales data,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the historical ticket sales data.

24. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

accessing event cost data,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the event cost data.

25. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

accessing historical ticket sales data related to resold tickets,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the historical ticket sales data related to resold tickets.

26. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

accessing a median ticket price that it is estimated that at least a first portion of the first set would be willing to pay,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the median ticket price.

27. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

accessing historical sales data related to concessions sold at at least one event,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the historical sales data related to concessions.

28. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

accessing historical sales data related to event income,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the historical income data.

29. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising setting the first event ticket price is set partly based on the historical sales data related to concessions.

30. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising setting ticket prices for a plurality of venue areas at least partly based on historical sales data related to concessions and tickets.

31. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising accessing cost data related to putting on the event

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the cost data.

32. A method of setting a ticket price, the method comprising:

storing in computer readable memory a first size estimate corresponding to a first set of potential event attendees, wherein members of the first set are characterized by a first level of income, and/or a first parameter associated with patience with respect to ticket acquisition;

storing in computer readable memory a second size estimate corresponding to a second set of potential event attendees, wherein members of the second set are characterized by a second level of income and/or a second parameter associated with patience with respect to ticket acquisition;

storing in computer readable memory a first indication as to what event ticket price at least a portion of members of the first set would be willing to pay;

storing in computer readable memory a second indication as to what event ticket price at least a portion of members of the second set would be willing to pay; and

based at least in part on the first size estimate, the second size estimate, the first indication, and the second indication, setting a least a first event ticket price.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, the method further comprising:

accessing event cost data,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the event cost data.

34. The method as defined in claim 32, the method further comprising:

accessing historical ticket sales data related to resold tickets,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the historical ticket sales data related to resold tickets.

35. The method as defined in claim 32, the method further comprising:

accessing a median ticket price that it is estimated that at least a first portion of the first set would be willing to pay,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the median ticket price.

36. The method as defined in claim 32, the method further comprising:

accessing historical event-related income data,

wherein the first event ticket price is set partly based on the historical event-related income data.

37. A method of setting an event ticket price, the method comprising:

reading a first limit on how many event tickets a user can purchase,

wherein the event ticket price is set partly based on the first limit.