Systems for dynamically allocating finite or unique resources

• US 7,584,123 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karonis, Andrew, Mclane, Craig, Ross, Brendan, Kush, Happy, Hirose, Shigeki, Denker, Dennis, Sussman, Adam, Moriarty, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen; Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US11/100,336
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention is related to electronically allocating finite or limited resources. In an embodiment, a computer system is configured to receive bids over a network from a first plurality of users for a limited number of units, the bids including associated bid amounts. A data store is operable to store the bid amounts. Program code is stored in computer readable memory and is configured to determine which bids are winning bids, determine a unit price for units associated with the winning bids, wherein the unit price associated with the winning bids is based on the lowest winning bid amount, and units can be tickets.

Claims

1. An electronic ticket auction system, comprising:

a computer system configured to receive over a network user ticket bids in a ticket auction, including a bid from a first user and a bid from a second user, wherein the first user bid includes a first bid amount, and the second user bid includes a second bid amount that is less than the first bid amount;

a data store configured to store the bid amounts; and

program code stored in computer readable memory, the program code configured to;

determine which bids are winning bids, wherein the winning bids include at least the first bid and the second bid;

determine a ticket price for the users associated with the winning bids based on the second bid amount, wherein the first user is assigned a ticket at a price based on the second amount and that is less than the first bid amount;

cause an auction user interface to be displayed to at least one user, the auction user interface identifying;

an event for which tickets are being auctioned;

a plurality of ticket groups for the event for which tickets are being auctioned;

a maximum number of tickets that a given user can bid on with respect to tickets in a first ticket group of the plurality of ticket groups, wherein the maximum number is less than the number of tickets in the first ticket group that are up for bid;

corresponding current low winning bids for the ticket groups;

a minimum acceptable bid; and

a minimum bid increment;

selectively perform fair slotting packing and/or full shuffling packing in response to a packing instruction accessed from computer readable memory.

2. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit an email, SMS message, or instant message to the first user that indicates that the first user bid is a winning bid, the notification further listing:

the first bid value; and

the ticket price, wherein the ticket price is different than the first bid value.

3. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to cause an auction user interface to be displayed on a user terminal, the auction user interface indicating that:

event tickets for at least a first ticket group are no longer available via the auction; and

event tickets are available for purchase at set prices.

4. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to:

transmit for display on a user terminal a list of ticket groups prior to accepting bids, wherein the ticket groups are not displayed in association with corresponding initial minimum bids during a period prior to accepting bids for the auction; and

transmit for display on the user terminal the list of ticket groups after receiving at least a first amount of bids, wherein one or more of the ticket groups are displayed in association with corresponding minimum bids.

5. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to change a bid status of at least one bid from losing to winning at least partly in response to another bid being invalidated.

6. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to assign a won-pending status to at least one bid at least partly in response to an occurrence of a first condition and to assign a won-paid status to the at least one bid at least partly in response to the occurrence of a second condition.

7. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to adjust downward the ticket price for at least one user in response to a discount condition.

8. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine a handling charge for at least one ticket associated with a winning bid.

9. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit a notification to at least one user that bids are not being accepted due to system maintenance.

10. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit:

a first notice to be provided to a bidder whose bid status has changed from winning to losing;

a second notice to be provided to a bidder if the bidder'"'"'s bid status changed from losing to winning, wherein the status change is not a result of a bid increase by the bidder;

a third notice to be provided to a bidder with a winning bid after the auction close and prior to completion of the payment process; and

a fourth notice to be provided to a bidder with a winning bid after the auction close and after completion of the payment process.

11. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit a user auction history that includes an identification of auctions to which the user has submitted bids, the user'"'"'s current bid amounts for at least a portion of the identified auctions, and the bid status.

12. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising rules stored in computer readable memory for:

a first auction type wherein winning bidders for tickets in a first ticket group are charged a per ticket price corresponding to the lowest winning bid for the first ticket group; and

a second auction type wherein winning bidders for tickets in a first ticket group are charged a per ticket price corresponding to the amount of their corresponding winning bids.

13. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a discount amount stored in computer readable memory, wherein the discount amount is to be applied against a ticket purchase from at least one bidder.

14. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a rule stored in computer readable memory that specifies that ticket bids must be for an even number of tickets or a specified multiple number of tickets.

15. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electronic auction form that receives auction criteria used to define the auction, the form including:

an auction start field, configured to receive an auction start date;

an auction end field, configured to receive an auction end date; and

a packing field, configured to receive an indication as to whether a packing process is to be performed.

16. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an auction form used to receive auction criteria, the form including a charity identification field configured to receive an identification of a charity that is to receive a portion of auction proceeds.

17. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a data store that includes venue section rankings, wherein seats in at least one ranked section are unranked with respect to other seats in the section, wherein the venue section rankings indicate the relative quality of the venues.

18. An electronic ticket auction system, comprising:

a computer system configured to receive ticket bids over a network in an auction that includes a plurality of ticket groups for an event, including ticket bids from a first plurality of bidders for tickets in at least a first ticket group offered in the auction, the ticket bids including associated bid amounts;

computer readable memory operable to store the bid amounts; and

program code stored in computer readable memory, the program code configured to;

cause an auction user interface to be displayed to at least one user, the auction user interface identifying;

the event for which tickets are being auctioned;

the plurality of ticket groups for the event for which tickets are being auctioned;

a maximum number of tickets that a given user can bid on with respect to tickets in the first ticket group, wherein the maximum number is less than the number of tickets in the first ticket group that are up for bid;

determine which bids are winning bids with respect to bids for tickets in the first ticket group;

determine a ticket price for first group tickets associated with the winning bids, wherein the ticket price for tickets associated with the winning bids is based on the lowest winning bid amount for a first group ticket;

selectively perform fair slotting packing and/or full shuffling packing in response to a packing instruction accessed from computer readable memory.

19. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit an email, SMS message, or instant message to a bidder having a winning bid a notification informing the bidder that the bidder'"'"'s bid is a winning bid, the notification further providing:

the bidder'"'"'s highest bid amount; and

the ticket price, wherein the bidder'"'"'s highest bid amount is different than the ticket price.

20. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to cause an auction user interface to be displayed on a bidder terminal, the auction user interface identifying:

a minimum acceptable auction bid for each of the plurality of ticket groups; and

a minimum bid increment corresponding to each of the plurality of ticket groups.

21. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to cause an auction user interface to be displayed on a bidder terminal, the auction user interface indicating that:

event tickets are no longer available via the auction; and

event tickets are available for purchase at set prices.

22. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to cause an auction user interface to be displayed on a bidder terminal, the auction user interface indicating that event tickets are no longer available via the auction and providing a link to another user interface via which event tickets are available for purchase at set prices.

23. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising an electronic auction form via which an auction definer can define the auction, the form including:

an auction start field, configured to receive an auction start date;

an auction end field, configured to receive an auction end date; and

a packing field, configured to receive an indication as to whether a packing process is to be performed.

24. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising an auction form used to receive auction criteria, the form including a charity identification field configured to receive an identification of a charity that is to receive a portion of auction proceeds.

25. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising an electronic auction form via which an auction definer can define the auction, the form including:

fields via which ticket groups can be defined; and

fields via which descriptions of the ticket groups can be entered.

26. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to:

transmit for display on a bidder terminal a list of ticket groups prior to accepting bids, wherein the ticket groups are not displayed in association with corresponding low winning bids during a period prior to accepting bids in the auction; and

transmit for display on the bidder terminal the list of ticket groups after receiving at least a first amount of bids, wherein the ticket groups are displayed in association with corresponding low winning bids.

27. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to change the bid status of at least one bid from losing to winning at least partly in response to another bid being invalidated.

28. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to assign a won-pending status to at least one bid at least partly in response to an occurrence of a first condition and to assign a won-paid status to the at least one bid at least partly in response to the occurrence of a second condition.

29. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to adjust downward the amount of the price paid for a ticket obtained via the auction at least partly in response to a discount condition.

30. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to inform a bidder of a handling charge for at least one ticket associated with a winning bid.

31. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit a notification to at least one bidder that bids are not being accepted due to system maintenance.

32. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit an indication to at least one bidder that bids are not being accepted and providing an indication as to when bids will be accepted.

33. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit:

a first notice to be provided to a bidder whose bid status has changed from winning to losing;

a second notice to be provided to a bidder if the bidder'"'"'s bid status changed from losing to winning, wherein the status change is not a result of a bid increase by the bidder;

a third notice to be provided to a bidder with a winning bid after the auction close and prior to completion of the payment process; and

a fourth notice to be provided to a bidder with a winning bid after the auction close and after completion of the payment process.

34. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit a bidder auction history that includes an identification of auctions to which the bidder has submitted bids, the bidder'"'"'s current bid amounts for at least a portion of the identified auctions, and bid status.

35. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising rules stored in computer readable memory for:

a first auction wherein winning bidders for tickets in a first ticket group are charged a per ticket price corresponding to the lowest winning bid for the first ticket group; and

and a second auction wherein winning bidders for tickets in a first ticket group are charged a per ticket price corresponding to the amount of their corresponding winning bids.

36. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising a discount amount stored in computer readable memory, wherein the discount amount is to be applied against a ticket purchase from at least one bidder.

37. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising a rule stored in computer readable memory that specifies that ticket bids for a first auction must be for an even numbers of tickets.

38. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, further comprising program instructions stored in computer readable memory and configured to provide an auction bidder with a plurality of ticket delivery choices, including at least delivery by:

email;

physical mail;

or

box office.

39. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 18, wherein the winning bid determination is done in batch mode.

40. An electronic ticket auction system, comprising:

a system configured to receive over a network user ticket bids in a ticket auction, including a bid from a first user and a bid from a second user, wherein the first user bid includes a first bid amount, and the second user bid includes a second bid amount that is less than the first bid amount;

a data store configured to store;

the first and second bid amounts;

a rule that specifies that ticket bids must be for an even number of tickets or a specified multiple number of tickets;

rankings for venue seats; and

program code stored in computer readable memory, the program code configured to;

determine a ticket price for the users associated with winning bids using the second bid amount, wherein the first user is assigned a ticket at a price using the second amount and that is less than the first bid amount;

change a bid status of at least one bid from losing to winning at least partly in response to another bid being invalidated;

notify at least one user if the at least one user'"'"'s bib status changed from losing to winning, wherein the status change is not a result of a bid increase by the at least one user;

determine whether no tickets remain available for the event via auction, and at least partly in response to determining there are no remaining tickets available for the event via auction, notify the at least one user that a ticket for the event is available for purchase at a fixed price;

at least partly cause an auction user interface to be displayed to at least one user, the auction user interface identifying;

an event for which tickets are being auctioned;

a plurality of ticket groups for the event for which tickets are being auctioned;

a maximum number of tickets that a given user can bid on with respect to tickets in a first ticket group, wherein the maximum number is less than the number of tickets in the first ticket group that are up for bid;

corresponding current low winning bids for the ticket groups;

a minimum acceptable bid for each of the plurality of ticket groups; and

a minimum bid increment corresponding to each of the plurality of ticket groups;

selectively perform fair slotting packing and/or full shuffling packing in response to a packing instruction accessed from computer readable memory.

41. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to:

transmit for display on a user terminal a list of ticket groups prior to accepting bids, wherein the ticket groups are not displayed in association with corresponding initial minimum bids during a period prior to accepting bids for the auction; and

transmit for display on the user terminal the list of ticket groups after receiving at least a first amount of bids, wherein one or more of the ticket groups are displayed in association with corresponding minimum bids.

42. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to adjust downward the ticket price for at least one user in response to discount information provided by the at least one user.

43. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit a user auction history that includes an identification of auctions to which the user has submitted bids, the user'"'"'s current bid amounts for at least a portion of the identified auctions, and the bid status.

44. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising rules stored in computer readable memory for:

a first auction type wherein winning bidders for tickets in a first ticket group are charged a per ticket price corresponding to the lowest winning bid for the first ticket group; and

a second auction type wherein winning bidders for tickets in a first ticket group are charged a per ticket price corresponding to the amount of their corresponding winning bids.

45. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising a fixed discount stored in computer readable memory, wherein the discount is to be applied against a ticket purchase from at least one bidder.

46. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising an electronic auction form that receives auction criteria used to define the auction, the form including:

an auction start field, configured to receive an auction start date;

an auction end field, configured to receive an auction end date; and

a packing field, configured to receive an indication as to whether a packing process is to be performed.

47. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising an auction form used to receive auction criteria, the form including a charity identification field configured to receive an identification of a charity that is to receive a portion of auction proceeds.

48. The electronic auction system as defined in claim 40, further comprising:

a data store that includes venue section rankings,

wherein seats in a first ranked section are unranked with respect to other seats in the first ranked section, and

wherein seats in a second ranked section are ranked with respect to other seats in the second ranked section.