Method and apparatus for ticket turn-back capability

• US 6,308,159 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Strohl, Glenn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOUNG, JOHN L
• Application Number:
  US09/209,461
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5, 705/37, 380/24, 380/23, 345/467
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method for recycling tickets on a network, entails receiving from a ticket holder a request to recycle a ticket, receiving from the ticket holder, in response to a prompt, information about the ticket, marking in a database the ticket as available for recycling, and recycling the

Claims

1. A method for recycling tickets on a network, comprising:

(a) receiving from a ticket holder a request to recycle a ticket;

(b) receiving from the ticket holder information about the ticket and a preference as to how the ticket is to be recycled wherein the preference includes an instruction to donate the ticket to charity;

(c) marking in a ticket database that the ticket is available for recycling; and

(d) recycling the ticket.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) reimbursing the ticket holder some amount of money for the ticket.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) supplying the ticket holder with a receipt for the recycled ticket, wherein the receipt includes information about the cost of the ticket.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes a ticket identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes a seat identifier.

6. An apparatus for recycling tickets on a network, comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) a port;

(c) a memory storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to

1. receive from a ticket holder a request to recycle a ticket;

2. receive from the ticket holder information about the ticket, the information including a preference as to how the ticket is to be recycled wherein the preference includes an instruction to donate the ticket to charity;

3. mark in a database the ticket as available for recycling; and

4. recycle the ticket.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said memory storing further instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

(a) reimburse the ticket holder some amount of money for the ticket.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, said memory storing further instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

(a) supply the ticket holder with a receipt for the recycled ticket, wherein the receipt includes information about the cost of the ticket.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the received information includes a ticket identifier.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the received information includes a seat identifier.

11. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

(a) receive from a ticket holder a request to recycle a ticket;

(b) receive from the ticket holder information about the ticket, the information including a preference as to how the ticket is to be recycled wherein the preference includes an instruction to donate the ticket to charity;

(c) mark in a database the ticket as available for recycling; and

(d) recycle the ticket.

12. The medium of claim 11, said medium storing further instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

(a) reimburse the ticket holder some amount of money for the ticket.

13. The medium of claim 11, said memory storing further instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

(e) supply the ticket holder with a receipt for the recycled ticket, wherein the receipt includes information about the cost of the ticket.

14. The medium of claim 11, wherein the received information includes a ticket identifier.

15. The medium of claim 11, wherein the received information includes a seat identifier.