Method of using a network of computers to facilitate and control access or admission to facility, site, business, or venue

• US 6,738,750 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucinda Stone, Michael A. Dean
• Original Assignee: Lucinda Stone, Michael A. Dean
• Inventors: Dean, Michael A., Stone, Lucinda
• Primary Examiner(s): JAKETIC, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US10/165,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/40, 235/384
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus that allows for the verification and substantiation of the purchase of access or admission to those facilities, sites, businesses, venues, sporting events, or reserved services that traditionally have controlled access by means of tickets, passes, admission documents, reservations, reservation confirmations, or other substantiation. The invention provides several methods for the buyer to provide an ID at the time of purchase, which is then transmitted electronically to the facility, site, business, venue, sporting event, or reserved service. That buyer ID is then confirmed by the facility, site, business, or venue by means of readers or scanners of the magnetic, smart, or optical ID cards or by other electronic means. This confirmation may automatically result in the printing of the tickets, passes, admission documents, reservation confirmations, or other documents required for admittance or automatic and immediate physical admittance of the buyer or ID holder.

Claims

1. A method of using a network of computers to facilitate and control access, admission to facility, site, business, or venue comprising:

a) providing means for a buyer to identify an existing drivers license, identification card, membership card, or academic identification card;

b) providing means for a buyer to select the facility, site, business, or venue;

c) providing means for transmitting buyer'"'"'s said drivers license, identification card, membership card, or academic identification card information and said selection to the facility, site, business or venue; and

d) providing means for verifying the buyer'"'"'s drivers license, identification card, membership card, or academic identification card at the facility, site, business, or venue;

whereby the buyer may identify their existing drivers license, identification card, membership card, or academic identification card, select a facility, site, business, or venue and transmit that information to the facility, site, business or venue thereby gaining access or admission to the facility, site, business, or venue by presenting said drivers license, identification card, membership card, or academic identification card.

2. The method of claim 1 further providing an automatic vendor of tickets, passes, admission documents or access information at the facility, site, business, or venue.

3. The method of claim 1 further providing an automatic general access at the facility, site, business, or venue.

4. The method of claim 1 further providing means of transmitting buyer'"'"'s payment information.

5. A method of using a network of computers to facilitate and control access, admission to sporting events comprising:

a) providing means for a buyer to identify an existing identification document;

b) providing means for a buyer to select the sporting event;

c) providing means for transmitting buyer'"'"'s said identification document information and said selection to the sporting event; and

d) providing means for verifying the buyer'"'"'s identification document at the sporting event;

whereby the buyer may identify their existing identification document, select a sporting event and transmit that information to the sporting event thereby gaining access or admission to the sporting event by presenting said existing identification document.

6. The method of claim 5 further providing an automatic vendor of tickets, passes, admission documents or access information at the sporting event.

7. The method of claim 5 further providing an automatic general access at the sporting event.

8. A method of using a network of computers to facilitate and control access, admission to reserved services comprising:

a) providing means for a buyer to identify an existing identification document;

b) providing means for a buyer to select the reserved service;

c) providing means for transmitting buyer'"'"'s said identification document information and said selection to the reserved service; and

d) providing means for verifying the buyer'"'"'s identification document at the reserved service;

whereby the buyer may identify their existing identification document, select a reserved service and transmit that information to the reserved service thereby gaining access or admission to the reserved service by presenting said existing identification document.

9. The method of claim 8 further providing an automatic vendor of tickets, passes, admission documents or access information at the reserved service.

10. The method of claim 8 further providing an automatic general access at the reserved service.

11. The method of claim 8 further providing for the admission to a facility, site or business where the reserved services are provided.