Apparatus and method for selling a ticket to an event and/or to a portion of an event or venue

• US 20110125538A1
• Filed: 01/22/2011
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alvao Digital, LLC (Raymond Anthony Joao)
• Original Assignee: Raymond Anthony Joao
• Inventors: Joao, Raymond Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,185,918 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 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, including receiving and storing, with a first computer, information regarding an available ticket for a portion of an event prior to a start, completion, or conclusion, of the event or when an individual is leaving a venue of the event or leaving during the event, wherein the individual or another individual initiates or establishes a communication link with the first computer or a second computer using a first communication device, processing information regarding a ticket request or a ticket option request using the information regarding an available ticket, generating a ticket availability message or ticket option availability message, and transmitting the ticket availability message or ticket option availability message to a second communication device associated with a second individual before a completion or a conclusion of the event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing, with a first computer, information regarding a ticket request or a ticket option request for at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event, wherein the ticket for a portion of the event or the ticket option for a portion of the event is derived from a ticket for an entire event, wherein the event is at least one of a game, an athletic event, a competition, a performance, a concert, and a tournament, and further wherein the event is an event which takes place at or in at least one of a stadium, an arena, a theatre, a movie theatre, a concert hall, a museum, and a performance hall, and further wherein the ticket for the entire event corresponds to a seat or seats at the at least one of a stadium, an arena, a theatre, a movie theatre, a concert hall, a museum, and a performance hall, for the event, wherein the ticket for the entire event is purchased from a ticket issuer by a first individual having a ticket account, and further wherein the ticket for a portion of the event or the ticket option for a portion of the event is purchased by or used by a second individual during the event and before the completion or the conclusion of the event with a payment for a purchase or a use of the ticket for a portion of the event, or a payment for a purchase or a use of the ticket option for a portion of the event, being made to the ticket account of the first individual or a ticket account of a third individual;

receiving and storing, with the first computer or with a second computer, information regarding an available ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event either prior to a start or a completion or a conclusion of the event or when the first individual or the third individual is leaving a venue of the event or leaving the event during the event and prior to a completion or a conclusion of the event, wherein the first individual or the third individual initiates or establishes a communication link with the first computer or with the second computer using a first communication device, and further wherein the information regarding an available ticket for a portion of an event is transmitted from the first communication device and is received by the first computer or with the second computer after the communication link is initiated or established;

processing, with the first computer or with the second computer, the information regarding a ticket request or a ticket option request for at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event, wherein the first computer or the second computer processes the information regarding a ticket request or a ticket option request using the information regarding an available ticket;

generating, with the first computer or with the second computer, at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message, wherein the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message contains information regarding at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event, wherein the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message is generated before a completion or a conclusion of the event; and

transmitting, from a transmitter, from the first computer, or from the second computer, the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message to a second communication device associated with or used by the second individual or a fourth individual, wherein the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message is transmitted to the second communication device before a completion or a conclusion of the event.

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

receiving a response to the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message, wherein the response is transmitted from the second communication device; and

processing a transaction regarding a purchase of the at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting information regarding the at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event to the second communication device; and

at least one of printing via a printer the at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and displaying via a display device information regarding the at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one of effectuating a payment to the ticket account and effectuating a withdrawal from an account associated with the second individual or the fourth individual.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event is a ticket.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event is a ticket option.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message is transmitted via, on, or over, at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device or the second communication device is a wireless device, a wireless telephone, or a personal digital assistant.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device or the second communication device is a kiosk or an automated teller machine.

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

generating a notification message containing information regarding a purchase of at least one of a ticket for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event and a ticket option for a portion of an event which remains after a start of the event and before a completion or a conclusion of the event; and

transmitting the notification message to the first communication device or to a third communication device associated with a seller of the ticket or the ticket option.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second individual or the fourth individual is located at the event or at a venue of the event.

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

storing information regarding an available buyer for the ticket or the ticket option;

processing the information regarding an available buyer for the ticket or the ticket option;

generating a buyer availability message containing information that an available buyer exists for a ticket or a ticket option; and

transmitting the buyer availability message to the first communication device or to a third communication device associated with a ticket holder or a ticket seller or used by a ticket holder or a ticket seller.

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

processing information regarding an auction of, or a bidding for, a ticket or a ticket option which is identified in the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device or the second communication device is an interactive television.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message contains information regarding a status of the event or contains a video clip or an image showing a view from a seat corresponding to the at least one of the ticket and the ticket option.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

effectuating a payment or a commission payment to a third party.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a ticket availability message and a ticket option availability message is transmitted as an e-mail message or as an instant messaging message.

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

storing information regarding a ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for a second event;

receiving a second ticket request or a second ticket option request, wherein the second ticket request or the second ticket option request is a request for a ticket or tickets for the second event or a request for a ticket option for a ticket or tickets for the second event;

processing information regarding the second ticket request or the second ticket option request;

generating a second ticket availability message or a second ticket option availability message in response to the second ticket request or the second ticket option request, wherein the second ticket availability message contains information regarding a ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event or the second ticket option availability message contains information regarding an option for a ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event; and

transmitting the second ticket availability message or the second ticket option availability message to the first communication device, to the second communication device, to a third communication device, or to a fourth communication device, wherein the third communication device or the fourth communication device is associated with or is used by the first individual, the second individual, the third individual, the fourth individual, or a fifth individual.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving an offer to purchase the ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event or receiving an offer to purchase the option for the ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event; and

processing a transaction regarding a purchase of the ticket or tickets for the second event or processing a transaction regarding a purchase of the option for the ticket or tickets for the second event.

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

storing information regarding a second ticket request or a second ticket option request, wherein the second ticket request or the second ticket option request is a request for a ticket or tickets for a second event or a request for a ticket option for a ticket or tickets for a second event;

receiving information regarding an availability of a ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event;

processing information regarding the second ticket request or the second ticket option request;

generating a second ticket availability message or a second ticket option availability message in response to the second ticket request or the second ticket option request, wherein the second ticket availability message contains information regarding a ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event or the second ticket option availability message contains information regarding an option for a ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event;

transmitting the second ticket availability message or the second ticket option availability message to the first communication device, to the second communication device, to a third communication device, or to a fourth communication device, wherein the third communication device or the fourth communication device is associated with or is used by the first individual, the second individual, the third individual, the fourth individual, or a fifth individual;

receiving an offer to purchase the ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event or receiving an offer to purchase the option for the ticket or tickets for sale or for resale for the second event; and

processing a transaction regarding a purchase of the ticket or tickets for the second event or processing a transaction regarding a purchase of the option for the ticket or tickets for the second event.