System and method for obtaining a status of an authorization device over a network for administration of theatrical performances

• US 7,460,859 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robelight LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Creighton H
• Application Number:
  US11/344,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20060140374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• 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 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/105 Financial transactions and auctions, e.g. bidding auctioneering devices in packet switching networks H04L12/1804
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 : Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A system and method for determining the status of an authorization device over a network. Output signals indicative of the status of the authorization device are stored in a ticket file. An authorization datastore accesses the ticket file over the first network and obtains the status of the authorization device. A determination is made from the user identifier if the user is authorized to access a ticketed venue. Permission is granted to the user to access the ticketed venue if the user is determined to meet access requirements.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a first network comprising:

an access control device adapted for controlling access to a ticketed venue,

equipment adapted for providing output signals indicative of the status of the smart ticket authorization device, wherein the status comprises a smart ticket identifier of the smart ticket presented to the smart ticket authorization device by a patron;

a status file connected to the equipment adapted for receiving the output signals from the equipment and adapted to be connected to the first network;

a poller connectable to the first network, the poller adapted for;

accessing the status file over the network;

obtaining the smart ticket identifier from the status file; and

accessing a datastore, wherein the datastore comprises qualification data associated with the smart ticket identifier;

determining from the smart ticket identifier and the qualification data whether the patron is authorized to access the ticketed venue; and

granting permission to the access controlled device to provide to the patron access to the venue if the patron is determined to be authorized to enter the ticketed venue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the access controlled device is selected from the group consisting of a door entry system and a computing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ticketed venue is selected from the group consisting of a movie theater, an amusement park, a casino, a trade show, an examination center, a court house, a museum, an art gallery, a winery, a lecture hall, and an educational institution.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of a movie, an amusement park ride, a trade show exhibition, an examination, a trial, a museum exhibit, an art exhibit, a wine tasting, a lecture, and a course lecture.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a smart ticket issuing server and a second network and wherein the smart ticket issuing server is adapted for;

acquiring access requirements data relating to an event held within a ticketed venue;

acquiring the qualifications data from the patron seeking access to the event;

storing the qualifications data in a data store via the second network in association with an RFID tag identifier if the patron meets the access requirements for access to the event, wherein the RFID tag identifier comprises the smart ticket identifier; and

issuing the smart ticket, wherein the smart ticket comprises an RFID tag and wherein the RFID tag is associated with the RFID tag identifier with the qualifications data of the patron; and

wherein the equipment comprises an RFID monitor adapted for;

detecting a presence of the RFID tag presented to the smart ticket authorization device;

acquiring the RFID tag identifier from the RFID tag; and

inputting the RFID tag identifier into the status file.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the ticketed venue is a movie theatre complex;

the event is a movie; and

the access requirements are selected from the group consisting of a patron age, a movie rating coupled with a patron age, a requirement for a patron to be accompanied by an adult, and a ticket price paid.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein:

the smart ticket issuing server is further adapted for associating a current value with the smart ticket;

the qualifications data further comprises the current value;

the access requirements comprise an entrance fee; and

the poller is further adapted for;

granting permission to the access controlled device to provide access to the patron if the current value is greater than or equal to the entrance fee; and

setting a new current value to equal to the difference between current value and the amount of the entrance fee, wherein the current value is set to the new current value.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the smart ticket issuing server is further adapted for:

receiving additional value from the patron;

adding the additional value to the current value; and

setting a new current value to equal to the sum of the current value and the additional value, wherein the current value is set to the new current value.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the smart ticket issuing server is further adapted for:

acquiring a pre-paid food order from the patron; and

storing the pre-paid food order in the data store.

12. The system of claim of claim 6, wherein the RFID tag is adapted for one-time use.

13. The system of claim of claim 6, wherein RFID tag is adapted for re-use.

14. A method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network comprising:

inputting the status of the smart ticket authorization device into a status file, wherein the status comprises a smart ticket identifier of the smart ticket presented to the smart ticket authorization device by a patron;

accessing the status file over the first network;

obtaining the smart ticket identifier from the status file;

accessing a datastore, wherein the datastore comprises qualification data associated with the smart ticket identifier;

determining from the smart ticket identifier and the qualification data if the patron is authorized to access the ticketed venue; and

granting permission to the access controlled device to provide access to the patron if the patron is determined to be authorized to enter the ticketed venue.

15. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 14, wherein the access controlled device is selected from the group consisting of a door entry system and a computing device.

16. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 14, wherein the ticketed venue is selected from the group consisting of a movie theater, an amusement park, a casino, a trade show, an examination center, a court house, a museum, an art gallery, a winery, a lecture hall, and an educational institution.

17. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 14, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of a movie, an amusement park ride, a trade show exhibition, an examination, a trial, a museum exhibit, an art exhibit, a wine tasting, a lecture, and a course lecture.

18. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 14, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

19. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 14 further comprising:

acquiring access requirements data relating to an event held within a ticketed venue;

acquiring the qualifications data from the patron seeking access to the event;

storing the qualifications data in a data store via a second network in association with an RFID tag identifier if the patron meets the access requirements for access to the event; and

issuing the smart ticket, wherein the smart ticket comprises an RFID tag and wherein the RFID tag is associated with the RFID tag identifier with the qualifications data of the patron; and

wherein, inputting the status of the smart ticket authorization device into the status file comprises;

detecting a presence of the RFID tag presented to the smart ticket authorization device;

acquiring the RFID tag identifier from the RFID tag; and

inputting the RFID tag identifier into the status file.

20. A method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 19, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

21. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 14, wherein:

acquiring the qualifications data from the patron seeking access to the event comprises establishing a current value associated with the smart ticket identifier;

acquiring access requirements data relating to an event held within a ticketed venue comprises acquiring an entrance fee value; and

granting permission to the access controlled device to provide access to the patron if the patron is determined to be authorized to enter the ticketed venue comprises;

acquiring the current value;

granting permission to the access controlled device to provide access to the patron if the current value is greater than or equal to the entrance fee; and

setting a new current value to equal to the difference between current value and the amount of the entrance fee, wherein the current value is set to the new current value.

22. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving additional value from the patron;

adding the additional value to the current value; and

setting a new current value to equal to the sum of the current value and the additional value, wherein the current value is set to the new current value.

23. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim of claim 19, wherein the RFID tag is adapted for one-time use.

24. The method for obtaining a status of a smart ticket authorization device over a network of claim of claim 19, wherein RFID tag is adapted for re-use.