Time delimited multiple admission method and system

• US 7,600,680 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Experiential Payment Technologies Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quantum Corporation of New York Incorporated (Chi Ko Investment Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Roth, Anthony G
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US11/824,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235379-381, 235/383, 705/14, 705/39, 705/69
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3678 e-cash details, e.g. blinded, divisible or detecting double spending
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• 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: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a provision of access to services. A time delimited, multiple use ticket/admissions card is provided that controls admission to services offered by participating service providers. The ticket/admissions card is issued to a ticket holder, and the card is valid for a certain amount of uses, where each use should be completed during a certain period of time. The first use of the card, for example, should be completed within a first time period, and if the first use is not completed during this first time period, then the first use expires; the second use of the card should be completed within a second time period, and if the second use is not completed during this second time period, then the second use expires. In this way, the ticket/admissions card provides a time delimited, multiple use scheme to control allowed admittance to authorized services.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of providing a provision of access to services, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

(a) providing a ticket that enables use of services offered by one or more service providers during prespecified use periods by;

defining a first use period enabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the first use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers including authorizing a right to use the ticket in exchange for admission to one of the services at least once during the first use period;

causing the first use period to expire at the end of the first use period, where a ticket provider who issues the ticket receives value for the ticket holder'"'"'s failure to use the ticket within the first use period, while the service providers do not receive value for the ticket holder'"'"'s failure to use the ticket within the first use period; and

defining a second use period enabling the ticket holder to use the ticket during the second use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers, where the second use period is different from the first use period; and

(b) enabling at least one of the service providers to process the ticket using a communications network including;

upon remittance by a ticket holder during a use period, admitting the ticket holder to a user-selected service during the use period; and

redeeming a value set by the service provider for the user-selected service.

2. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the second use period is different from the first use period further includes setting the second use period so that the second use period commences on or after the expiration of the first use period.

3. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a ticket that enables use of services offered by one or more service providers during pre-specified use periods further includes the step of defining a third use period enabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the third use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers, where the first, second and third use periods are different, and the third use period commences on or after the expiration of the second use period.

4. A computer implemented method as in claim 3 wherein the first, second and third periods have respective time intervals that are equivalent in length.

5. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 wherein causing the first use period to expire further includes preventing admission to one of the services using the ticket during a remainder of the first use period.

6. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 further including the step of responding to a selection, by the ticket holder, of services offered by one of the service providers by:

using the communications network, processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid; and

using the communications network, redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid.

7. A computer implemented method as in claim 6 wherein using the communications network, redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid further includes the step of responding to the redeeming of the ticket by allowing the ticket holder access to the selected service.

8. A computer implemented method as in claim 6 wherein using the communications network, processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid further includes the steps of:

determining a desired use period based on a time period in which the ticket holder intends to use the ticket for admission to the selected service;

comparing the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period with the pre-specified use periods; and

if the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period is within one of the pre-specified use periods, determining that the ticket is valid.

9. A computer implemented method as in claim 8 wherein determining a desired use period further includes the step of enabling the ticket holder to make a reservation for use of the selected services for the desired use period.

10. A computer implemented method as in claim 9 wherein enabling the user to make a reservation for use of the selected service during the desired use period further includes accessing, by the ticket holder, an online reservation system to create the reservation.

11. A computer implemented method as in claim 8 wherein if the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period is not within one of the pre-specified use periods, allowing the ticket holder to upgrade the ticket:

enabling optional purchase of additional incremental value above a base ticket value of the ticket; and

presenting the ticket by the ticket holder to the one service provider in exchange for use of the selected services where the price debited by the one service provider being higher than the base ticket value.

12. A computer implemented method as in claim 6 wherein the communications network is one or more of the following:

credit card network, debit card network, or private label network.

13. A computer implemented method as in claim 6 wherein the service providers are authorized merchants that are part of the communications network, each merchant having access to the communications network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the communications network;

and

the step of using the communications network, processing the ticket further including excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incremental credit information.

14. A computer implemented method as in claim 6 wherein redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid further includes the steps of:

redeeming the ticket at a variable rate; and

in response to the redemption of the ticket, allowing the ticket holder access to the selected service.

15. A computer implemented method as in claim 14 wherein redeeming the ticket at a variable rate further includes the steps of:

debiting a price set by the one service provider for the selected service, wherein the price debited for the service by a portion of the service providers is different from price debited by other service providers for the same service, such that the ticket is redeemed at a variable rate among the service providers for the same service; and

effecting payment at the price debited for the selected service.

16. A computer implemented method as in claim 15 wherein any differences in prices debited by the service providers for substantially the same services are absorbed.

17. A computer implemented method as in claim 14 wherein redeeming the ticket at a variable rate further includes accepting the ticket for a single use of the selected service.

18. A computer implemented method as in claim 14 wherein redeeming the ticket at a variable rate further includes accepting the ticket for multiple uses of the selected service.

19. A computer implemented method as in claim 6 wherein the ticket is redeemable for the selected service from the one service provider, as opposed to a cash value.

20. A computer implemented method as in claim 6 wherein the ticket is redeemable for the selected service from the one service provider, as opposed to a cash value.

21. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the service providers provide similar services.

22. A computer implemented method as in claim 21 wherein the similar services are one of the following:

golf services, spa services, or movie theatre services.

23. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the ticket is implemented using a card, using an electronic ticket, or using an access code.

24. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the ticket has a unique identifier, and upon purchase of the ticket, activating the ticket by a seller thereof, the step of activating including validation of the unique identifier of the ticket.

25. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 further including the steps of absorbing any differences in prices debited by the service providers for the same service, and optionally adjusting price of the ticket redeemable for the service.

26. A computer implemented method as in claim 1 wherein based on the defined use period, the ticket is valid for redemption for a limited period of time after activation and further comprising the additional step of the service provider verifying an expiration date of the defined use period of the ticket.

27. A computer implemented system for providing a provision of access to services comprising:

a ticket having two or more use periods defining time intervals in which the ticket is useable as a provision of access to services offered by a set of service providers, the ticket including;

a first use period enabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the first use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers, the first use period enabling a right to use the ticket in exchange for admission to one of the services at least once during the first use period;

the first use period expiring at the end of the first use period, where a ticket provider who issues the ticket receives value for the ticket holder'"'"'s failure to use the ticket within the first use period, while the service providers do not receive value for the ticket holder'"'"'s failure to use the ticket within the first use period; and

a second use period enabling the ticket holder to use the ticket during the second use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers, where the second use period is different from the first use period; and

a computer processor, in communication with a communications network, enabling at least one of the service providers to process the ticket upon remittance by a ticket holder during one of the use periods by redeeming the ticket in exchange for a value set by the service provider for the selected service.

28. A computer implemented system as in claim 27 wherein the service providers are authorized merchants having access to the communications network, the communications network including includes a credit card processing network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the credit card processing network;

and

the credit card processing network processing the ticket excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incremental credit information.

29. A computer implemented method of providing a provision of access to services, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

(a) providing a ticket that enables use of services offered by one or more service providers during prespecified use periods by;

defining a first use period enabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the first use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers;

defining a second use period enabling the ticket holder to use the ticket during the second use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers, where the second use period is different from the first use period; and

(b) enabling at least one of the service providers to process the ticket upon remittance by a ticket holder during a use period by admitting the ticket holder to a user-selected service during said use period and by redeeming a value set by the service provider for the user-selected service including;

responding to a selection, by the ticket holder, of services offered by one of the service providers by;

using a computer processor, in communication with a communications network, processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid including;

determining a desired use period based on a time period in which the ticket holder intends to use the ticket for admission to the selected service;

comparing the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period with the pre-specified use periods; and

if the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period is within one of the pre-specified use periods, determining that the ticket is valid;

using the computer processor, in communication with the communications network, redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid; and

if the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period is not within one of the pre-specified use periods, allowing the ticket holder to upgrade the ticket by;

enabling optional purchase of additional incremental value above a base ticket value of the ticket; and

presenting the ticket by the ticket holder to the one service provider in exchange for use of the selected services where a price debited by the one service provider being higher than a base ticket value.

30. A computer implemented method as in claim 29 wherein the service providers are authorized merchants having access to the communications network, the communications network including a credit card processing network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the credit card processing network;

and

the step of using the credit card processing network to process the ticket further includes excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incremental credit information.

31. A computer implemented system for providing a provision of access to services comprising:

a ticket having two or more use periods defining time intervals in which the ticket is useable as a provision of access to services offered by a set of service providers; and

a computer processor, in communication with a communications network, the computer processor processing a ticket at a variable rate if the ticket is valid, the computer processor processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid by;

determining a desired use period based on a time period in which the ticket holder intends to use the ticket for admission to a selected service;

comparing the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period with the pre-specified use periods; and

if the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period is within one of the pre-specified use periods, determining that the ticket is valid;

the credit card network redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid; and

the computer processor, in communication with a communications network, allowing the ticket holder to upgrade the ticket if the ticket holder'"'"'s desired use period is not within one of the pre-specified use periods by enabling optional purchase of additional incremental value above a base ticket value of the ticket, where a price debited is higher than a base value for use of the ticket.

32. A computer implemented system as in claim 31 wherein the service providers are authorized merchants having access to the communications network, the communications network including a credit card processing network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the credit card processing network;

and

the credit card processing network processing the ticket excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incremental credit information.

33. A computer implemented method of providing a provision of access to services, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

(a) providing a ticket that enables use of services offered by one or more service providers during prespecified use periods by;

defining a first use period enabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the first use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers;

defining a second use period enabling the ticket holder to use the ticket during the second use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers, where the second use period is different from the first use period; and

(b) enabling at least one of the service providers to process the ticket upon remittance by a ticket holder during a use period by admitting the ticket holder to a user-selected service at that time and by redeeming a value set by the service provider for the selected service including;

responding to a selection, by the ticket holder, of services offered by one of the service providers by;

using a communications network, processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid;

using the communications network, redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid;

where the service providers are authorized merchants that are part of the communications network, each merchant having access to the communications network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the communications network; and

the step of using the communications network, processing the ticket further including excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting incremental credit information.

34. A computer implemented system for providing a provision of access to services comprising:

a ticket having two or more use periods defining time intervals in which the ticket is useable as a provision of access to services offered by a set of service providers; and

a computer processor, in communication with a communications network, the computer processor processing the ticket at a variable rate if the ticket is valid, the computer processor processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid by;

using the communications network, redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid;

where the service providers are authorized merchants that are part of the credit card network, each merchant having access to the credit card network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the credit card network; and

the computer processor processing the ticket excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incremental credit information.

35. A computer implemented method of providing a provision of access to services, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

(a) providing a ticket that enables use of services offered by one or more service providers during prespecified use periods by;

defining a first use period enabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the first use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers;

defining a second use period enabling the ticket holder to use the ticket during the second use period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of the service providers, where the second use period is different from the first use period; and

(b) enabling at least one of the service providers to process the ticket upon remittance by a ticket holder during a use period by admitting the ticket holder to a user-selected service at that time and by redeeming a value set by the service provider for the selected service including;

responding to a selection, by the ticket holder, of services offered by one of the service providers by;

using a communications network, processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid;

using the communications network, redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid by;

redeeming the ticket at a variable rate by debiting a price set by the one service provider for the selected service, wherein the price debited for the service by a portion of the service providers is different from a price debited by other service providers for the same service, such that the ticket is redeemed at a variable rate among the service providers for the same service; and

effecting payment at the price debited for the selected service; and

in response to the redemption of the ticket, allowing the ticket holder access to the selected service.

36. A computer implemented method as in claim 35 wherein the service providers are authorized merchants having access to the communications network, the communications network including a credit card processing network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the credit card processing network;

and

the step of using the credit card processing network to process the ticket further includes excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incremental credit information.

37. A computer implemented system for providing a provision of access to services comprising:

a ticket having two or more use periods defining time intervals in which the ticket is useable as a provision of access to services offered by a set of service providers;

a computer processor, in communication with a communications network, the computer processor processing a ticket at a variable rate if the ticket is valid, the computer process, in communication with a communication network, determining that the ticket is valid by;

redeeming the ticket at a variable rate by debiting a price set by the one service provider for the selected service, wherein the price debited for the service by a portion of the service providers is different from price debited by other service providers for the same service, such that the ticket is redeemed at a variable rate among the service providers for the same service; and

effecting payment at the price debited for the selected service; and

the redemption of the ticket enabling a ticket holder to have access to one of the services.

38. A computer implemented system as in claim 37 wherein the service providers are authorized merchants having access to the communications network, the communications network including a credit card processing network to process the ticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the credit card processing network;

and

the credit card processing network processing the ticket excluding any reporting of monetary value associated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incremental credit information.