Computer-implemented systems and methods for resource allocation

• US 20070136111A1
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Published: 06/14/2007
• 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 7,979,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• 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 ticket prices for an event, the method comprising:

causing a survey related to ticket pricing to be provided over a network to at least a first user, wherein the survey asks the first user to provide an indication as to the value of seats in a plurality of venue areas;

receiving survey results, including survey responses and/or information derived from survey responses;

accessing historical ticket sales data stored in computer readable memory;

accessing historical concessions sales data stored in computer readable memory;

accessing cost data associated with providing the event stored in computer readable memory; and

based at least in part on the survey results, the historical ticket sales data, and the cost data, setting at least a first ticket price and/or a first minimum bid amount.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a monetary value for at least a ticket for a seat in a first venue area and for a ticket for a seat in a second venue area.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide an indication as to the first user'"'"'s opinion on the difference in quality of a first seat in a first venue area and a second seat in a second venue area.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey is provided to the first user prior to tickets for the event being offered for sale.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey is provided to the first user during a sale of event tickets, wherein the sale is restricted to a subset of potential ticket purchasers.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey is provided to the first user during a sale of event tickets, wherein the sale is open to the general public.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey is provided to the first user during a ticket selection or ticket purchase process.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide seat rankings for a plurality of seats and/or seating areas.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified row.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified portion of a row.

11. A method of selecting ticket prices for an event, the method comprising:

causing a survey related to seat ranking and/or valuations to be provided over a network to at least a first user, wherein the survey asks the first user to provide an indication as to the value and/or ranking of seats in a plurality of venue areas;

receiving survey results, including survey responses and/or information derived from survey responses;

accessing historical sales data stored in computer readable memory;

based at least in part on the survey results and historical ticket sales data, setting at least a first ticket price and/or a first minimum bid amount.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a monetary value for a first seat ticket in a first venue area and for a second seat ticket in a second venue area.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide an indication as to the difference in quality of a first seat in a first venue area and a second seat in a second venue area.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey is provided to the first user prior to tickets for the event being offered for sale.

15. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey is provided to the first user prior to tickets for the event being offered for auction.

16. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey is provided to the first user during a sale of event tickets, wherein the sale is restricted to a subset of potential ticket purchasers.

17. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey is provided to the first user during a sale of event tickets, wherein the sale is open to the general public.

18. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey is provided to the first user during a ticket selection or ticket purchase process.

19. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey is provided to the first user at least partly in response to determining that the first user has purchased at least one ticket.

20. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey is provided to the first user at least partly in response to determining that the first user has abandoned a first ticket-related request.

21. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide seat rankings for a plurality of seats and/or seating areas.

22. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified row.

23. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified portion of a row.

24. The method as defined in claim 11, the method further comprising setting a ticket price for at least one event ticket after tickets sales for the event have begun.