Automatic ticket dispensing system
First Claim
1. A self-service terminal for selecting and dispensing tickets, to a user, for any one of a plurality of events on the basis of a plurality of parameters, each parameter having a plurality of elements, each event being held in any one of a plurality of locations, a plurality of location processors equal to the plurality of locations, each location processor being associated with a respective one of said locations;
- said self-service terminal comprising;
a central processor and an associated video display device having a display screen;
said central processor including memory means for storing data concerning said plurality of events and said plurality of locations;
said central processor being programmed to permit a user to select one or more tickets for any one of said events, to be held at a predetermined time, at any one of said locations;
said self-service terminal further including;
means for receiving payment for said selected tickets;
means for dispensing said selected tickets; and
means for effecting communication between said central processor and said means for receiving and said means for dispensing;
whereby, said means for receiving and said means for dispensing are under the control of said central processor;
and further including means for effecting communication between said central processor and said locations processors;
said means for effecting communication comprising;
a network server connected to all of said location processors; and
a network modem connecting said central processor to said network server.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The system includes a plurality of self-service terminals each of which includes a central processor and which services a plurality of locations at which sporting, dramatic, musical, etc. events are to be held. The central processor of each terminal is in communication with a central processor in each location, and the central processor of each location includes information concerning all available seats for all events at that location at all times. Accordingly, each terminal has access to the best available seats at any time that the terminal is being used.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A self-service terminal for selecting and dispensing tickets, to a user, for any one of a plurality of events on the basis of a plurality of parameters, each parameter having a plurality of elements, each event being held in any one of a plurality of locations, a plurality of location processors equal to the plurality of locations, each location processor being associated with a respective one of said locations;
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said self-service terminal comprising; a central processor and an associated video display device having a display screen; said central processor including memory means for storing data concerning said plurality of events and said plurality of locations; said central processor being programmed to permit a user to select one or more tickets for any one of said events, to be held at a predetermined time, at any one of said locations; said self-service terminal further including; means for receiving payment for said selected tickets; means for dispensing said selected tickets; and means for effecting communication between said central processor and said means for receiving and said means for dispensing; whereby, said means for receiving and said means for dispensing are under the control of said central processor; and further including means for effecting communication between said central processor and said locations processors; said means for effecting communication comprising; a network server connected to all of said location processors; and a network modem connecting said central processor to said network server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of selecting and dispensing tickets to a user, at any one of a plurality of stations, for any one of a plurality of events on the basis of a plurality of parameters, each parameter having a plurality of elements, each event being held in any one of a plurality of locations, each station including a self-service terminal having a central processor and an associated video display device having a display screen, each central processor including memory means for storing data concerning said plurality of events and said plurality of locations, a plurality of location processors equal to the plurality of locations, each location processor being associated with a respective one of said locations, each location processor having memory means for storing an inventory of seat dispositions including available seats and booked seats for events to be held at its respective location, each of said central processors being in communication with all of said location processors;
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said method comprising; A) said user activating said central processor at one of said stations, whereby said central processor provides data to said associated video display device so that said display screen presents an initial screen listing said parameters, whereby said user can select one of said parameters; B) said central processor providing parameter element data to said associated video display device whereby said display screen presents a parameter screen listing said elements of said one selected parameter, whereby said user can select one of said elements of said selected parameter; C) said central processor providing further parameter element data to said associated video display device whereby said display screen presents a further parameter screen listing said elements of said further parameter, whereby said user can select one of said elements of said further parameter; D) repeating step C) until each element of each one of the plurality of parameters has been separately listed, and one element of each parameter has been selected; whereby, all parameters for the ticket selection have been selected, one of said selected parameters comprising a selected one of said plurality of locations and another one of said selected parameters comprising a selected event at said selected location a third one of said parameters being a selected date for said selected event; E) said central processor providing data to said associated video display device concerning the seating areas at said location whereby said display screen presents a listing of said seating areas of said selected location, whereby said user can select one of said seating areas; F) said central processor communicating with said location processor at said selected location to obtain data concerning seat disposition for said selected event at said selected time in said selected area at said selected location; G) said central processor selecting available seats in said selected area and providing data to said associated video display device whereby said display screen presents a seating lay-out of said seating area, and including means for separately indicating said available seats; H) said user indicating acceptance or rejection of said available seats; I) said central processor dispensing tickets for said available seats if said user indicates acceptance of said available seats;
orJ) if said user refuses said available seats, repeating steps A) to I) until said user accepts available seats or terminates the procedure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification