SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVENT TICKETING UTILIZING AN ARTICLE DISPENSING MACHINE
First Claim
1. A method of curating a listing of a plurality of events for ticket ordering at an article dispensing machine, each of the plurality of events in each of a plurality of categories and derived from a plurality of prospective events, wherein each of the plurality of events and the plurality of prospective events has one or more productions, a category, and a priority ranking, wherein each of the one or more productions has a date and time and a venue location, wherein the article dispensing machine has a processor configured to communicate with a central processor via a network, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a location of the article dispensing machine, using the central processor;
(b) determining an event under consideration from the plurality of prospective events stored in a database, based on the priority ranking of the event under consideration, using the central processor;
(c) selecting a next production of the one or more productions associated with the event under consideration, the next production comprising one of the one or more productions based on chronological order, using the central processor;
(d) determining whether the date and time of the next production is within an upcoming timeframe, using the central processor;
(e) if the date and time of the next production is not within the upcoming timeframe;
discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and
returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration;
(f) if the date and time of the next production is within the upcoming timeframe, determining the category of the event under consideration, using the central processor;
(g) determining whether the category of the event under consideration has reached a minimum threshold for the listing of the plurality of events, using the central processor;
(h) if the category of the event under consideration has reached the minimum threshold;
discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and
returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration;
(i) if the category of the event under consideration has not reached the minimum threshold, determining whether the venue location is within a proximity of the location of the article dispensing machine, using the central processor;
(j) if the venue location is not within the proximity of the location of the article dispensing machine;
discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and
returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration;
(k) adding the next production to an approved list of productions for the event under consideration, using the central processor;
(l) repeating steps (c)-(k) for each of the one or more productions associated with the event under consideration;
(m) adding the event under consideration and the approved list of productions to the listing of the plurality of events stored in the database, using the central processor;
(n) repeating steps (b)-(m) for each of the plurality of prospective events; and
(o) transmitting the listing of the plurality of events from the central processor to the processor of the article dispensing machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of event ticketing utilizing an article dispensing machine is disclosed. A ticket order transaction related to an event is managed at an article dispensing machine by presenting a series of simple and easy to understand interface pages on a user interface. A user interacts with the interface pages to make decisions on aspects of the ticket order transaction. A listing of events available for ticket ordering on the article dispensing machine is curated by reviewing prospective events. The listing is curated based on the location of the article dispensing machine, the priority ranking of the event, the date and time of the productions, the category of the events, the location of the venue relative to the article dispensing machine, and/or other factors. A hyper-local listing of events can be presented so that the events that are most likely relevant to users.
74 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of curating a listing of a plurality of events for ticket ordering at an article dispensing machine, each of the plurality of events in each of a plurality of categories and derived from a plurality of prospective events, wherein each of the plurality of events and the plurality of prospective events has one or more productions, a category, and a priority ranking, wherein each of the one or more productions has a date and time and a venue location, wherein the article dispensing machine has a processor configured to communicate with a central processor via a network, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a location of the article dispensing machine, using the central processor; (b) determining an event under consideration from the plurality of prospective events stored in a database, based on the priority ranking of the event under consideration, using the central processor; (c) selecting a next production of the one or more productions associated with the event under consideration, the next production comprising one of the one or more productions based on chronological order, using the central processor; (d) determining whether the date and time of the next production is within an upcoming timeframe, using the central processor; (e) if the date and time of the next production is not within the upcoming timeframe; discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration; (f) if the date and time of the next production is within the upcoming timeframe, determining the category of the event under consideration, using the central processor; (g) determining whether the category of the event under consideration has reached a minimum threshold for the listing of the plurality of events, using the central processor; (h) if the category of the event under consideration has reached the minimum threshold; discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration; (i) if the category of the event under consideration has not reached the minimum threshold, determining whether the venue location is within a proximity of the location of the article dispensing machine, using the central processor; (j) if the venue location is not within the proximity of the location of the article dispensing machine; discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration; (k) adding the next production to an approved list of productions for the event under consideration, using the central processor; (l) repeating steps (c)-(k) for each of the one or more productions associated with the event under consideration; (m) adding the event under consideration and the approved list of productions to the listing of the plurality of events stored in the database, using the central processor; (n) repeating steps (b)-(m) for each of the plurality of prospective events; and (o) transmitting the listing of the plurality of events from the central processor to the processor of the article dispensing machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of managing a ticket order transaction at an article dispensing machine, the ticket order transaction related to an event having a plurality of productions, the article dispensing machine having a user interface connected to a processor and configured to communicate with a central processor via a network, the method comprising:
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transmitting a production listing page from the processor to the user interface, the production listing page comprising event details and selectable listings of at least one of the plurality of productions, wherein the selectable listings of the at least one of the plurality of productions comprises a date and time of the at least one of the plurality of productions and a ticket price of the at least one of the plurality of productions; receiving at the processor from the user interface a selection of one of the selectable listings on the production listing page, the selection denoting a desired production of the at least one of the plurality of productions; transmitting a quantity selection page from the processor to the user interface, in response to receiving the selection of one of the selectable listings, the quantity selection page comprising a ticket quantity input element for denoting a desired quantity of tickets related to the desired production; receiving at the processor from the user interface the desired quantity of tickets entered at the ticket quantity input element; querying by the processor to the central processor for a ticket availability based on the desired quantity of tickets and the desired production; transmitting a seat selection page from the processor to the user interface, the seat selection page comprising the ticket availability, the ticket availability comprising one or more of a best seat option or a best value option, wherein; the best seat option corresponds to a highest ranking available ticket; and the best value option corresponds to a lowest price available ticket; receiving at the processor from the user interface a selection of the best seat option or the best value option on the seat selection page; transmitting a delivery selection page from the processor to the user interface, the delivery selection page comprising one or more selectable delivery options related to the ticket order transaction; receiving at the processor from the user interface a selection of one of the one or more selectable delivery options on the delivery selection page; transmitting a purchase summary page from the processor to the user interface, the purchase summary page comprising the desired production, a total price derived from the selection of the best seat option or the best value option, and a selectable order completion button; receiving at the processor from the user interface a selection of the selectable order completion button on the purchase summary page, the selection of the selectable order completion button denoting completion of the ticket order transaction; and transmitting from the processor to the central processor the ticket order transaction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of curating a listing of a plurality of events for ticket ordering at an article dispensing machine, each of the plurality of events in each of a plurality of categories and derived from a plurality of prospective events, wherein each of the plurality of events and the plurality of prospective events has one or more productions, a category, and a priority ranking, wherein each of the one or more productions has a date and time and a venue location, wherein the article dispensing machine has a processor configured to communicate with a central processor via a network, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a location of the article dispensing machine, using the central processor; (b) determining an event under consideration from the plurality of prospective events stored in a database, based on the priority ranking of the event under consideration, using the central processor; (c) selecting a next production of the one or more productions associated with the event under consideration, the next production comprising one of the one or more productions based on chronological order, using the central processor; (d) determining whether the date and time of the next production is within an upcoming timeframe, using the central processor; (e) if the date and time of the next production is not within the upcoming timeframe; discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration; (f) if the date and time of the next production is within the upcoming timeframe, determining whether the venue location is within a proximity of the location of the article dispensing machine, using the central processor; (g) if the venue location is not within the proximity of the location of the article dispensing machine; discarding the event under consideration from further review, using the central processor; and returning to step (b) to determine the event under consideration; (h) adding the next production to an approved list of productions for the event under consideration, using the central processor; (i) repeating steps (c)-(h) for each of the one or more productions associated with the event under consideration; (j) adding the event under consideration and the approved list of productions to the listing of the plurality of events stored in the database, using the central processor; (k) repeating steps (b)-(j) for each of the plurality of prospective events; and (l) transmitting the listing of the plurality of events from the central processor to the processor of the article dispensing machine. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification