Systems and methods for providing enhanced player's ticket features

• US 7,831,452 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sportware LLC
• Original Assignee: Sharad A. Ghosh
• Inventors: Ghosh, Sharad A
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRINGTON, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US11/338,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5, 705/6, 705/26, 705/27, 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation

Abstract

Ticketing systems and methods are provided specifically relating to a player'"'"'s ticket and a player'"'"'s ticket option. A player'"'"'s ticket references at least one player and allows the player'"'"'s ticket holder to attend all sporting events played in by the at least one player referenced on the player'"'"'s ticket. A player'"'"'s ticket option references at least one player and allows the player'"'"'s ticket option holder to exercise the option to obtain a player'"'"'s ticket that allows attending all sporting events played in by the at least one player referenced on the player'"'"'s ticket option.

Claims

1. A method for providing player'"'"'s ticket options and determining match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options using a player'"'"'s ticketing server, wherein the server consists of a processor and memory, on which a player'"'"'s ticket application is at least partially implemented, the method comprising:

providing, via the player'"'"'s ticketing server, player'"'"'s ticket options that;

(a) reference at least one player, (b) allow player'"'"'s ticket option holders to exercise the player'"'"'s ticket options, and (c) allow the player'"'"'s ticket option holders admission to a match in which the at least one player is playing after exercising the player'"'"'s ticket option;

acquiring, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, information about a tournament, including information selected from the group consisting of players, a tournament draw, and historical data;

determining, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, for at least one match of the tournament probabilities of players winning based on the tournament information;

determining, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on the player'"'"'s ticket options provided and the tournament draw; and

allocating, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of match admissions, on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match, and on the probability of player'"'"'s ticket option holders exercising the player'"'"'s ticket options.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

of the player'"'"'s ticket options, at least one player'"'"'s ticket option is a multiple-players'"'"' ticket option which references at least two players;

of the at least two players referenced on the multiple-players'"'"' ticket option, at least one player is playing in a match; and

the multiple-players'"'"' ticket option provides the at least one player'"'"'s ticket option holder with the option to purchase at least one match admission to the match.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions when the player'"'"'s ticket option is exercised for the at least one match, and player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions for the at least one match when the player'"'"'s ticket option is exercised;

determining, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions based on probabilities of players winning the at least one match;

determining, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, an allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions that will accommodate all player'"'"'s ticket option holders based on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match;

allocating, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions; and

allocating, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions for the at least one match based on the allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions that will accommodate all player'"'"'s ticket option holders.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating match admissions based on the probability of player'"'"'s ticket option holders exercising the player'"'"'s ticket option further comprises reducing the at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on a determination that less than all of the player'"'"'s ticket option holders will exercise the player'"'"'s ticket option for the at least one match.

5. A method for providing ancillary tickets and determining benefits for ancillary tickets, using a player'"'"'s ticketing server, wherein the server consists of a processor and memory, on which a player'"'"'s ticket application is at least partially implemented, the method comprising:

providing, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, ancillary tickets that;

(a) reference at least one player participating in a match, and (b) allow ancillary ticket holders at least one benefit associated with the match in which the at least one player is playing, wherein the at least one benefit is at least one of advertisement airtime and travel arrangements;

acquiring, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, information about a tournament, including information selected from the group consisting of players, a tournament draw, and historical data;

determining, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, for at least one match of the tournament probabilities of players winning based on the tournament information; and

determining, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, at least one possible allocation of the at least one benefit for ancillary tickets for the at least one match based on the ancillary tickets provided and the tournament draw; and

allocating, using the player'"'"'s ticketing server, benefits for ancillary tickets for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of at least one benefit and on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match.

6. A system for providing player'"'"'s ticket options and determining match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options, comprising:

a server at which a ticketing application has been implemented, the server comprising a processor configured to;

provide player'"'"'s ticket options that;

(a) reference at least one player, (b) allow player'"'"'s ticket option holders to exercise the player'"'"'s ticket options, and (c) allow the player'"'"'s ticket option holders admission to a match in which the at least one player is playing after exercising the player'"'"'s ticket option;

acquire information about a tournament, including information selected from the group consisting of players, a tournament draw, and historical data;

determine for at least one match of the tournament probabilities of players winning based on the tournament information;

determine at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on the player'"'"'s ticket options provided and the tournament draw; and

allocate match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of match admissions, on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match, and on the probability of player'"'"'s ticket option holders exercising the player'"'"'s ticket options.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

of the player'"'"'s ticket options, at least one player'"'"'s ticket option is a multiple-players'"'"' ticket option which references at least two players;

of the at least two players referenced on the multiple-players'"'"' ticket option, at least one player is playing in a match; and

the multiple-players'"'"' ticket option provides the at least one player'"'"'s ticket option holder with the option to purchase at least one match admission to the match.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions when the player'"'"'s ticket option is exercised for the at least one match and player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions for the at least one match when the player'"'"'s ticket option is exercised;

determine at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions based on probabilities of players winning the at least one match;

determine an allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions that will accommodate all player'"'"'s ticket option holders based on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match;

allocate match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions; and

allocate match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions for the at least one match based on the allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions that will accommodate all player'"'"'s ticket option holders.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to reduce the at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on a determination that less than all of the player'"'"'s ticket option holders will exercise the player'"'"'s ticket option for the at least one match.

10. A system for providing player'"'"'s ticket options and determining match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options, comprising:

a server at which a ticketing application has been implemented, the server comprising a processor configured to;

provide ancillary tickets that;

(a) reference at least one player participating in a match, and (b) allow ancillary ticket holders at least one benefit associated with the match in which the at least one player is playing, wherein the at least one benefit is at least one of advertisement airtime and travel arrangements;

acquire information about a tournament, including information selected from the group consisting of players, a tournament draw, and historical data;

determine for at least one match of the tournament probabilities of players winning based on the tournament information; and

determine at least one possible allocation of the at least one benefit for ancillary tickets for the at least one match based on the ancillary tickets provided and the tournament draw; and

allocate benefits for ancillary tickets for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of at least one benefit and on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match.

11. A machine-readable storage medium encoded with a set of machine executable instructions for using a server to perform a method for providing player'"'"'s ticket options and determining match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options:

providing player'"'"'s ticket options that;

(a) reference at least one player, (b) allow player'"'"'s ticket option holders to exercise the player'"'"'s ticket options, and (c) allow the player'"'"'s ticket option holders admission to a match in which the at least one player is playing after exercising the player'"'"'s ticket option;

acquiring information about a tournament, including information selected from the group consisting of players, a tournament draw, and historical data;

determining for at least one match of the tournament probabilities of players winning based on the tournament information;

determining at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on the player'"'"'s ticket options provided and the tournament draw; and

allocating match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of match admissions, on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match, and on the probability of player'"'"'s ticket option holders exercising the player'"'"'s ticket options.

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein:

of the player'"'"'s ticket options, at least one player'"'"'s ticket option is a multiple-players'"'"' ticket option which references at least two players;

of the at least two players referenced on the multiple-players'"'"' ticket option, at least one player is playing in a match; and

the multiple-players'"'"' ticket option provides the at least one player'"'"'s ticket option holder with the option to purchase at least one match admission to the match.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

providing player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions when the player'"'"'s ticket option is exercised for the at least one match and player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions for the at least one match when the player'"'"'s ticket option is exercised;

determining at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions based on probabilities of players winning the at least one match;

determining an allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions that will accommodate all player'"'"'s ticket option holders based on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match;

allocating event admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that do not guarantee match admissions; and

allocating match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions for the at least one match based on the allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options that guarantee match admissions that will accommodate all player'"'"'s ticket option holders.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein allocating match admissions based on the probability of player'"'"'s ticket option holders exercising the player'"'"'s ticket option further comprises reducing the at least one possible allocation of match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options for the at least one match based on a determination that less than all of the player'"'"'s ticket option holders will exercise the player'"'"'s ticket option for the at least one match.

15. A machine-readable storage medium encoded with a set of machine executable instructions for using a server to perform a method for providing player'"'"'s ticket options and determining match admissions for player'"'"'s ticket options:

providing ancillary tickets that;

(a) reference at least one player participating in an match, and (b) allow ancillary ticket holders at least one benefit associated with the match in which the at least one player is playing, wherein the at least one benefit is at least one of advertisement airtime and travel arrangements;

acquiring information about a tournament, including information selected from the group consisting of players, a tournament draw, and historical data;

determining for at least one match of the tournament probabilities of players winning based on the tournament information; and

determining at least one possible allocation of the at least one benefit for ancillary tickets for the at least one match based on the ancillary tickets provided and the tournament draw; and

allocating benefits for ancillary tickets for the at least one match based on the at least one possible allocation of at least one benefit and on the probabilities of players winning the at least one match.