METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPUTER AIDED EVENT AND VENUE SETUP AND MODELING AND INTERACTIVE MAPS

• US 20120323488A1
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Callaghan, James Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/289,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20120323488A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/454
• 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 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Described are systems and methods for designing certain aspects of an event venue and for communicating information regarding the event and the event venue to others. Certain embodiments provide a dynamic seat map via which an operator can assign certain characteristics to specific seats and/or seating sections. Certain embodiments generate interactive maps for users, via which information from a plurality of sources may be integrated and visually displayed. The user may specify certain criteria, and the interactive map may identify to the user seats and/or sections that match such criteria. Certain embodiments provide an interactive seat map via which users can select seats and share information.

Claims

1. A system for providing a seat map, comprising:

a computer system including computing hardware;

a non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising;

detecting that a user is at a first venue for a first event;

providing an interactive venue map of the first venue for display on a mobile user terminal;

identifying one or more friends of the user attending the first event at the first venue;

identifying seat locations of the one or more friends of the user at the first venue for the first event;

including an indication on the interactive venue map as to the seating locations of the one or more friends within the first venue for the first event;

receiving current location information from the mobile user terminal while the mobile user terminal is at the first venue;

receiving a user selection of a first destination type;

estimating line duration times for a first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

determining a distance of the mobile user terminal from respective destinations in the first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

based at least in part on the estimated line duration times and the determined distances, estimating which of the destinations that user will be able to most quickly access; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal indicating which of the destinations it is estimated that user will be able to most quickly access.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising:

identifying a seat at the first venue for which the user has a seat ticket;

while the user is at the first venue, determining if there is at least one available seat of higher quality than the identified seat for which the user has the seat ticket;

causing the interactive venue map to include an indication that the user may upgrade the user'"'"'s seat location to the at least one available seat; and

receiving from the user mobile terminal a seat upgrade instruction.

3. A method for providing an interactive venue map, comprising:

detecting, by a computing system, that a user is at a first venue for a first event;

providing, by the computing system, an interactive venue map of the first venue for display on a mobile user terminal;

identifying, by the computing system, one or more friends of the user attending the first event at the first venue;

identifying, by the computing system, seat locations of the one or more friends of the user at the first venue for the first event; and

providing, by the computing system, an indication on the interactive venue map as to the seating locations of the one or more friends within the first venue for the first event.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, the method further comprising:

receiving current location information from the mobile user terminal while the mobile user terminal is at the first venue;

receiving a user selection of a first destination type;

estimating line duration times for a plurality of destinations of the first destination type; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal information relating to an estimated line duration time for at least one of the plurality of destinations of the first destination type.

5. The method as defined in claim 3, the method further comprising:

receiving current location information from the mobile user terminal while the mobile user terminal is at the first venue;

receiving a user selection of a first destination type;

estimating line duration times for a first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

determining a distance of the mobile user terminal from respective destinations in the first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

based at least in part on the estimated line duration times and the determined distances, estimating which of the destinations that user will be able to most quickly access; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal indicating which of the destinations it is estimated that user will be able to most quickly access.

6. The method as defined in claim 3, the method further comprising:

identifying a seat at the first venue for which the user has a seat ticket;

while the user is at the first venue, determining if there is at least one available seat of higher quality than the identified seat for which the user has the seat ticket;

causing the interactive venue map to include an indication that the user may upgrade the user'"'"'s seat location to the at least one available seat; and

receiving from the user mobile terminal a seat upgrade instruction.

7. The method as defined in claim 3, the method further comprising:

identifying a seat at the first venue for which the user has a seat ticket;

while the user is at the first venue, determining if there is at least one available seat of higher quality than the identified seat for which the user has the seat ticket;

causing the interactive venue map to include an indication that the user may upgrade the user'"'"'s seat location to the at least one available seat in association with an upgrade price; and

receiving from the user mobile terminal a seat upgrade purchase instruction.

8. The method as defined in claim 3, the method further comprising:

identifying a location of at least one concession provider via the interactive venue map.

9. A system for providing a seat map, comprising:

a computer system including computing hardware;

a non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising;

detecting that a user is at a first venue for a first event;

providing an interactive venue map of the first venue for display on a mobile user terminal;

identifying one or more friends of the user attending the first event at the first venue;

identifying seat locations of the one or more friends of the user at the first venue for the first event; and

including an indication on the interactive venue map as to the seating locations of the one or more friends within the first venue for the first event.

10. The system as defined in claim 9, the operations further comprising:

receiving current location information from the mobile user terminal while the mobile user terminal is at the first venue;

receiving a user selection of a first destination type;

estimating line duration times for a plurality of destinations of the first destination type; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal information relating to an estimated line duration time for at least one of the plurality of destinations of the first destination type.

11. The system as defined in claim 9, the operations further comprising:

receiving current location information from the mobile user terminal while the mobile user terminal is at the first venue;

receiving a user selection of a first destination type;

estimating line duration times for a first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

determining a distance of the mobile user terminal from respective destinations in the first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

based at least in part on the estimated line duration times and the determined distances, estimating which of the destinations that user will be able to most quickly access; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal indicating which of the destinations it is estimated that user will be able to most quickly access.

12. The system as defined in claim 9, the operations further comprising:

identifying a seat at the first venue for which the user has a seat ticket;

while the user is at the first venue, determining if there is at least one available seat of higher quality than the identified seat for which the user has the seat ticket;

causing the interactive venue map to include an indication that the user may upgrade the user'"'"'s seat location to the at least one available seat; and

receiving from the user mobile terminal a seat upgrade instruction.

13. The system as defined in claim 9, the operations further comprising:

identifying a seat at the first venue for which the user has a seat ticket;

while the user is at the first venue, determining if there is at least one available seat of higher quality than the identified seat for which the user has the seat ticket;

causing the interactive venue map to include an indication that the user may upgrade the user'"'"'s seat location to the at least one available seat in association with an upgrade price; and

receiving from the user mobile terminal a seat upgrade purchase instruction.

14. The system as defined in claim 9, the operations further comprising:

identifying a location of at least one concession provider via the interactive venue map.

15. A method for providing an interactive venue map, comprising:

detecting, by a computing system, that a user is at a first venue for a first event;

providing an interactive venue map of the first venue for display on a mobile user terminal;

receiving, by at computing system, current location information from the mobile user terminal while the mobile user terminal is at the first venue;

estimating, by the computing system, line duration times for a plurality of destinations of a first destination type; and

transmitting, by the computing system, to the mobile user terminal information relating to an estimated line duration time for at least one of the plurality of destinations of the first destination type.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a destination type;

estimating, by the computing system, line duration times for a plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type; and

transmitting, by the computing system, to the mobile user terminal information relating to an estimated line duration time for at least one of the plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type.

17. The method as defined in claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a destination type;

estimating, by the computing system, line duration times for a first plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type;

determining, by the computing system, a distance of the mobile user terminal from respective destinations in the first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

based at least in part on the estimated line duration times and the determined distances, estimating, by the computing system, which of the destinations that user will be able to most quickly access; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal indicating which of the destinations it is estimated that user will be able to most quickly access.

18. The method as defined in claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a destination type, wherein the destination type is a bathroom or a food concession;

estimating, by the computing system, line duration times for a first plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal information regarding the estimated line duration times for at least a portion of the first plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type.

19. A system for providing a seat map, comprising:

a computer system including computing hardware;

a non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising;

detecting that a user is at a first venue for a first event;

providing an interactive venue map of the first venue for display on a mobile user terminal;

receiving current location information from the mobile user terminal while the mobile user terminal is at the first venue;

estimating line duration times for a plurality of destinations of a first destination type; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal information relating to an estimated line duration time for at least one of the plurality of destinations of the first destination type.

20. The system as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a destination type;

estimating line duration times for a plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal information relating to an estimated line duration time for at least one of the plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type.

21. The system as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a destination type;

estimating line duration times for a first plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type;

determining a distance of the mobile user terminal from respective destinations in the first plurality of destinations of the first destination type;

based at least in part on the estimated line duration times and the determined distances, estimating which of the destinations that user will be able to most quickly access; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal indicating which of the destinations it is estimated that user will be able to most quickly access.

22. The system as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a destination type, wherein the destination type is a bathroom or a food concession;

estimating line duration times for a first plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type; and

transmitting to the mobile user terminal information regarding the estimated line duration times for at least a portion of the first plurality of destinations of the user selected destination type.