Subscriber registration and access control system and related methods

• US 6,363,351 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1997
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Best Union Company S.p.A., VGS Systems Engineering USA
• Original Assignee: VGS Systems Engineering USA
• Inventors: Moro, Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M.
• Application Number:
  US08/972,909
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5, 705/13, 705/26-28, 705/32, 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/384, 340/5.2, 340/5.8, 700/213, 700/233, 700/235, 700/237, 700/241, 707/104.1, 707/10
• US Class Current: 705/5
• 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: 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: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A system grants authorized subscribers access to selected ones of entertainment events at various entertainment venues. The system preferably comprises a central processing station and plurality of access point controllers. The central processing station preferably permits registering of subscribers that can be authorized to attend selected entertainment events. The central processing station also generates and stores a record relating to authorization of a subscriber to attend a selected entertainment event. Each of the access point controllers preferably reads a subscriber identifier presented by the subscriber attending the respective entertainment event, and confirms that the subscriber attending the respective entertainment event has been authorized based upon the subscriber identifier. This system permits subscribers to prearrange for attendance at a selected event and/or venue, and does not suffer from the drawbacks of conventional paper tickets.

Claims

1. A system for granting authorized subscribers access to selected ones of a plurality of entertainment events at a plurality of separate and geographically spaced entertainment venues wherein said entertainment venues are operated or owned by the same or different organizations, said system comprising:

a central processing station comprising;

registration means for permitting the registering of subscribers that can later purchase admission rights and be authorized to be admitted into and attend selected entertainment events wherein said entertainment event can be located at one of either the same or geographically spaced entertainment venues; and

event authorization means for generating and storing a record relating to authorization of a subscriber to attend a selected entertainment event after the subscriber purchased the rights to attend the entertainment event wherein said entertainment event can be located at one of either the same or geographically spaced entertainment venues;

a plurality of access point controllers located at respective entertainment venues; and

a publicly accessible communications network interconnecting the central processing station and said plurality of access point controllers;

each of said access point controllers comprising;

subscriber identifier reading means for reading a subscriber identifier presented by the subscriber attending the respective entertainment event;

authorization confirming means communicating over the communications network and cooperating with said event authorization means for confirming that the subscriber has been authorized to attend the entertainment event based upon the subscriber identifier; and

access granting means positioned at the entrance to the preauthorized entertainment event located at an entertainment venue, cooperating with said authorization confirming means, for granting access at the entertainment event to the authorized subscriber to attend the entertainment event;

attendance storing means, cooperating with said plurality of reading means, for generating and storing a record relating to actual attendance of the subscriber at the selected entertainment venue;

actual attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said attendance storing means, for analyzing actual attendance at a past entertainment event; and

expected attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said event authorization means, for analyzing expected attendance at a future entertainment event.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said central processing station further comprises an operator console for permitting an operator to receive a communication from a subscriber.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said central processing station further comprises operator interface means for permitting the operator to perform at least one of registration of a subscriber or generation and storing of the record relating to authorization of the subscriber to attend the selected entertainment event.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said registration means comprises account means for establishing a payment account for the subscriber.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said event authorization means comprises account updating means for updating an account of the subscriber.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said event authorization means comprises a database for storing records relating to authorization of subscribers to attend selected entertainment events.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said event authorization means comprises booking means for coordinating availability at the selected entertainment event.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said event authorization means further comprises time scheduling means for authorizing attendance of an authorized subscriber at the entertainment event at a predetermined time.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein said central processing station further comprises expected attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said event authorization means, for analyzing expected attendance at a future entertainment event.

10. A system according to claim 1 further comprising expected attendance analyzing means at the entertainment venue, and cooperating with said event authorization means, for analyzing expected attendance at a future entertainment event.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said actual attendance analyzing means is located at the entertainment venue.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communications network comprises the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said central processing station further comprises universal token issuing means for issuing a universal token to the subscriber to serve as the subscriber identifier for the plurality of entertainment venues.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said subscriber identifier reader comprises a universal token reader.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein said universal token reader comprises at least one of a magnetic and optical reader.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein said central processing station further comprises a first transceiver for communicating over the communications network;

and wherein said authorization confirming means comprises a second transceiver for communicating over the communications network and with the first transceiver in real time.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said authorization confirming means further comprises a processor cooperating with said transceiver for controlling said access granting means.

18. A system for granting authorized subscribers access to selected ones of a plurality of entertainment events at a plurality of separate and geographically spaced entertainment venues wherein said entertainment venues are operated or owned by the same or different organizations, said system comprising:

a central processing station comprising;

registration means for permitting registering of subscribers that can later purchase admission rights and be authorized to be admitted into and attend selected entertainment events;

event authorization means for generating and storing a record relating to authorization of a subscriber to attend a selected entertainment event after the subscriber purchased the rights to attend the entertainment event wherein said entertainment event can be located at one of either the same or geographically spaced entertainment venues; and

a plurality of access point controllers located in at least at one entertainment venue;

a publicly accessible communications network interconnecting the central processing station and plurality of access point controllers;

each of said access point controllers comprising;

subscriber identifier reading means for reading a subscriber identifier presented by the subscriber attending the respective entertainment event;

authorization confirming means, cooperating with said event authorization means for confirming in real time that the subscriber attending the respective entertainment event has been authorized and based upon the subscriber identifier;

access granting means positioned at the entrance to the preauthorized entertainment event located at an entertainment venue, cooperating with said authorization confirming means, for granting access at the entertainment event to the authorized subscriber; and

expected attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said event authorization means, for analyzing expected attendance at a future entertainment event.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein said expected attendance analyzing means is at the central processing station.

20. A system according to claim 18 wherein said expected attendance analyzing means is at the at least one entertainment venue.

21. A system according to claim 18 wherein said central processing station further comprises an operator console for permitting an operator to receive a communication from a subscriber.

22. A system according to claim 18 wherein said central processing station further comprises operator interface means for permitting the operator to perform at least one of registration of a subscriber or generation and storing of the record relating to authorization of the subscriber to attend the selected entertainment event.

23. A system according to claim 18 wherein said registration means comprises account means for establishing a payment account for the subscriber.

24. A system according to claim 18 wherein said event authorization means comprises account updating means for updating an account of the subscriber.

25. A system according to claim 18 wherein said event authorization means comprises a database for storing records relating to authorization of subscribers to attend selected entertainment events.

26. A system according to claim 18 wherein said event authorization means comprises booking means for coordinating availability at the selected entertainment event.

27. A system according to claim 18 wherein said event authorization means further comprises time scheduling means for authorizing attendance of an authorized subscriber at the entertainment even at a predetermined time.

28. A system according to claim 18 wherein said central processing station further comprises:

attendance storing means, cooperating with said plurality of reading means, for generating and storing a record relating to actual attendance of the subscriber at the selected entertainment venue; and

actual attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said attendance storing means, for analyzing actual attendance at a past entertainment event.

29. A system according to claim 18 further comprising:

attendance storing means, cooperating with said plurality of reading means, for generating and storing a record relating to actual attendance of the subscriber at the selected entertainment venue; and

actual attendance analyzing means at the entertainment venue, and cooperating with said attendance storing means, for analyzing actual attendance at a past entertainment event.

30. A system according to claim 18 including a communications network interconnecting said control processing station and said plurality of access point controllers.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein said communications network comprises the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

32. A system according to claim 18 wherein said central processing station further comprises universal token issuing means for issuing a universal token to the subscriber to serve as the subscriber identifier for the plurality of entertainment venues.

33. A system according to claim 32 wherein said subscriber identifier reader comprises a universal token reader.

34. A system according to claim 33 wherein said universal token reader comprises at least one of a magnetic and optical reader.

35. A system according to claim 18 wherein said central processing station further comprises a first transceiver for communicating over the communications network;

and wherein said authorization confirming means comprises a second transceiver for communicating over the communications network and with the first transceiver in real time.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein said authorization confirming means further comprises a processor cooperating with said transceiver for controlling said access granting means.

37. A system for granting authorized subscribers access to selected ones of a plurality of entertainment events at a plurality of separate and geographically spaced entertainment venues wherein said entertainment venues are operated or owned by the same or different organizations, said system comprising:

a central processing station comprising;

registration means for permitting registering of subscribers that can later purchase admission rights and be authorized to be admitted into and attend selected entertainment events;

event authorization means for generating and storing a record relating to authorization of a subscriber to attend a selected entertainment event after the subscriber purchased the rights to attend the entertainment event wherein said entertainment event can be located at one of either the same or geographically spaced entertainment venues; and

a universal token issuing means for issuing a universal token to the subscriber to serve as a subscriber identified for the plurality of entertainment venues; and

a plurality of access point controllers located at respective entertainment venues;

a publicly accessible communications network interconnecting the central processing station and plurality of access point controllers;

each of said access point controllers comprising;

a universal token reader for reading the subscriber identified from the universal token presented by the subscriber attending the respective entertainment event;

authorization confirming means, cooperating with said event authorization means for confirming in real time that the subscriber has been authorized to attend the entertainment event based upon the subscriber identifier; and

access granting means positioned at the entrance to the entertainment event of the entertainment venue, cooperating with said authorization confirming means, for granting access at the preauthorized entertainment event to the authorized subscriber to attend the entertainment event located at an entertainment venue;

attendance storing means, cooperating with said plurality of reading means, for generating and storing a record relating to actual attendance of the subscriber at the selected entertainment venue;

actual attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said attendance storing means, for analyzing actual attendance at a past entertainment event; and

expected attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said event authorization means, for analyzing expected attendance at a future entertainment event.

38. A system according to claim 37 wherein said universal token reader comprises at least one of a magnetic and optical reader.

39. A system according to claim 37 wherein said central processing station further comprises an operator console for permitting an operator to receive a communication from a subscriber.

40. A system according to claim 37 wherein said central processing station further comprises operator interface means for permitting the operator to perform at least one of registration of a subscriber or generation and storing of the record relating to authorization of the subscriber to attend the selected entertainment event.

41. A system according to claim 37 wherein said registration means comprises account means for establishing a payment account for the subscriber.

42. A system according to claim 37 wherein said event authorization means comprises account updating means for updating an account of the subscriber.

43. A system according to claim 37 wherein said event authorization means comprises a database for storing records relating to authorization of subscribers to attend selected entertainment events.

44. A system according to claim 37 wherein said event authorization means comprises booking means for coordinating availability at the selected entertainment event.

45. A system according to claim 37 wherein said event authorization means further comprises time scheduling means for authorizing attendance of an authorized subscriber at the entertainment event even at a predetermined time.

46. A system according to claim 37 wherein said central processing station further comprises expected attendance analyzing means, cooperating with said event authorization means, for analyzing expected attendance at a future entertainment event.

47. A system according to claim 37 further comprising expected attendance analyzing means at the entertainment venue, and cooperating with said event authorization means, for analyzing expected attendance at a future entertainment event.

48. A system according to claim 37 wherein said actual attendance analyzing means is located at the entertainment event.

49. A system according to claim 37 including a communications network interconnecting the control processing station and said plurality of access point controllers.

50. A system according to claim 49 wherein said communications network comprises the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

51. A system according to claim 37 wherein said central processing station further comprises a first transceiver for communicating over the communications network;

and wherein said authorization confirming means comprises a second transceiver for communicating over the communications network and with the first transceiver in real time.

52. A system according to claim 51 wherein said authorization confirming means further comprises a processor cooperating with said transceiver for controlling said access granting means.