Methods and Systems for Access Control Using a Networked Turnstile

• US 20080154623A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Inventors: Derker, Dennis, Wall, Jonathan Scott, Hirose, Shigeki
• Granted Patent: US 9,286,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00

Abstract

The present invention is related to systems and methods for providing access control to a venue or other location using a networked system. Described is a computer controlled turnstile system, comprising a turnstile, including a computer interface, and a computer system coupled to the turnstile and to user terminals. Program code is configured to receive a query from a user for a plurality of admissions to an event, wherein the query is received from a user terminal, associate the plurality of admissions with a single first token, provide a user interface via which the user can re-associate a first quantity of the plurality of admissions with a second token, store in memory information related to the re-association, at least partly in response to information obtained from the second token at a venue associated with the event, access the information and enable the turnstile to admit a number of persons that corresponds to the first quantity.

Claims

1. A computer controlled turnstile system, comprising:

a turnstile, including a computer interface; and

a computer system coupled to the turnstile and to user terminals, wherein the computer system includes program code configured to;

receive an order from a user for a plurality of admissions to an event, wherein the order is received from a user terminal;

associate the plurality of admissions with a single first ticket,

provide a user interface via which the user can re-associate a first quantity of the plurality of admissions with a second ticket;

store in memory information related to the re-association;

at least partly in response to information obtained from the second ticket at a venue associated with the event, access the information and enable the turnstile to admit a number of persons that corresponds to the first quantity.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a reading device including a display, wherein the reading device is configured to display how many admissions are associated with a ticket read by the reading device.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide a recipient with a barcode in association with the second ticket and to store an association between the barcode and the first quantity.

4. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein the system is configured to provide the barcode to a mobile phone associated with the recipient.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to associate the second ticket with a preexisting physical device associated with a designated recipient of the second ticket so that the recipient can utilize the preexisting physical device to gain admission to the event.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein the preexisting physical device is a driver license, a credit card, a loyalty card, or a membership card.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a user interface via which an operator can specify restrictions related to how many admissions can be associated with a single ticket.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first ticket is associated with multiple admissions to multiple events.

9. A networked access control system comprising:

a network interface configured to receive user communications over a network and to receive ticket data read from tickets via a ticket reader located at an event venue; and

program code stored in a computer readable medium, configured to;

receive a request for a first plurality of admissions for an event from a user;

cause, at least in part, a user interface to be presented via which the user can associate a second plurality of admissions, which is a first subset of the first plurality of admissions, with a first ticket, and a second subset of the first plurality of admissions with a second ticket;

store a definition of the first subset and the second subset received from the user;

receive data from a ticket reader corresponding to the first ticket;

use the first ticket data read from the first ticket to determine how many admissions are associated with the first ticket; and

at least in part enable a number of people that correspond to the determination as how many admissions are associated with the first ticket to gain admission to the event.

10. The system as defined in claim 9, the system further comprising a turnstile interface via which the system can enable the turnstile to admit the number of people corresponding to the determination as how many admissions are associated with the first ticket.

11. The system as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

the turnstile; and

the ticket reader.

12. The system as defined in claim 9, the system further comprising a display configured to display to a gate keeper the number of admissions associated with at least one ticket read by the ticket reader.

13. The system as defined in claim 9, the system further comprising a display located at the venue configured to display which events are associated with at least one ticket read by the ticket reader.

14. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured to reduce the number of admissions associated with the first ticket when a person associated with the first ticket is being admitted to the event.

15. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the number of admissions associated the first ticket to be displayed on a terminal located at the event venue.

16. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured to determine whether a second user is authorized to re-associate admissions from the first ticket and/or second ticket to another ticket.

17. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured to provide the first ticket to the user via a mobile device.

18. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the first ticket comprises an identifier associated with a preexisting card.

19. The system as defined in claim 9, the system further comprising a user interface via which the user can enter an electronic address associated with a recipient of the second ticket.

20. The system as defined in claim 9, the program code further configured to associate admissions to a plurality of events with the first ticket at least partly in response to a user action.

21. The system as defined in claim 9, the program code further configured to:

cause at least in part the user to be presented with information regarding seats associated with the first ticket at least partly in response to the first ticket being read at the event venue; and

cause at least in part a user interface to be presented to the user via which the user can select which event venue seat is to be utilized by the user from the seats associated with the first ticket.

22. A method of controlling venue access, the method comprising:

receiving over a network a user order for a plurality of admissions to an event, wherein the event is to occur at an event venue;

causing, at least in part, a first user interface to be presented via which the user can associate a second plurality of admissions, which is a first subset of the first plurality of admissions, with a first ticket, and a second subset of the first plurality of admissions with a second ticket;

storing a definition of the first subset and the second subset received from the user; and

enabling the second ticket to be electronically provided to a recipient designated by the user.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first user interface enables the user to associate admissions to a plurality of events with at least one ticket.

24. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first ticket is provided as an electronic ticket.

25. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first ticket is provided as a hardcopy ticket.

26. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first ticket is provided as a barcode and/or via an association of the first subset with a license, a credit card, and/or a loyalty card.

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

receiving data from a ticket reader corresponding to the first ticket;

using the first ticket data read from the first ticket to determine how many admissions are associated with the first ticket; and

enabling a number of people that correspond to the determination as how many admissions are associated with the first ticket to gain admission to the event.

28. The method as defined in claim 27, the method further comprising enabling at least in part a turnstile to admit the number of people corresponding to the determination as how many admissions are associated with the first ticket.

29. The method as defined in claim 27, the method further comprising transmitting over a network to a turnstile an instruction to admit the number of people corresponding to the determination as how many admissions are associated with the first ticket.

30. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising causing at least in part a display to present to a gate keeper how many admissions are associated with at least one ticket read by a ticket reader.

31. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising reducing the number of admissions associated with the first ticket when a person associated with the first ticket is admitted to the event.

32. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising determining whether a second user is authorized to re-associate admissions from the first ticket and/or the second ticket to another ticket.

33. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising transmitting the first ticket to a mobile device.

34. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first ticket comprises an identifier associated with a preexisting card.

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

providing a user interface via which the user can enter an electronic address associated with a recipient of the second ticket; and

transmitting the second ticket in an electronic form to the recipient address.

36. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising associating admissions to a plurality of events with the first ticket.

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

causing at least in part the user to be presented with information regarding seats associated with the first ticket at least partly in response to the first ticket being read at the event venue; and

causing at least in part a user interface to be presented to the user via which the user can select which event venue seat is to be utilized by the user.

38. The method as defined in claim 37, the method further comprising:

if the first ticket is associated with admissions to a plurality of events, only displaying seats associated with the event occurring on the same day the first ticket is read at the event venue.

39. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising causing at least in part the user to be presented with information regarding how many events are associated with the first ticket at least partly in response to the first ticket being read at the event venue, wherein the ticket can be associated with a plurality of events.

40. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the user is requested to provide a form of identification in addition to the first ticket in order to access at least one event associated with the first ticket.

41. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the user is enabled to provide the second ticket to more recipients then there are admissions associated with the second ticket, where recipients presenting the second ticket at the event venue are admitted on a first come-first serve basis until all the admissions associated with the second ticket have been utilized.

42. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising providing a user interface via which the user can change how many admissions are associated with the first ticket.

43. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising providing a user interface via which the user can de-authorize the first ticket and cause a third ticket to be issued with a third plurality of admissions associated therewith, the third plurality of admissions including at least a portion of the first subset of admissions.