System and method for managing seat reservations

• US 7,881,954 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CEATS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CEATS Incorporated
• Inventors: Halavais, Richard Arthur, Chung, Tony Cheng-Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, SHANNON S
• Application Number:
  US12/572,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5, 345/418
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

This invention relates to an electronic means by which people can select the exact seat or seats they want for any type of event or reserve an appointment for any activity. More specifically, a customer or a ticket re-seller or a venue operator can go, for example, to the internet and select the event or activity for which he wants a ticket or tickets or reserve a time and reserve and order the exact seat or seats or the time of his choosing directly online. The seat or seats or reserved time he selects is then removed from the inventory for that activity or event and made not available for any other buyer and such is so indicated by a graphical representation or other such indicator on the online map or picture representing availability of seating or time for that event.

Claims

1. A system for enabling users to interactively select seats and to purchase tickets for events, the system comprising:

a database that stores seat availability information for a plurality of events; and

a server programmed, via executable program instructions, to provide web-based access to the seating availability information via web pages of a web site, and to enable users to select seats and purchase associated tickets for said events via browser-based interaction with the web site, said server additionally programmed to;

query the database to obtain seat availability information for an event selected by a user; and

generate a web page for presentation to the user, said web page including an interactive seating chart for said event, said interactive seating chart graphically depicting a physical arrangement of seats, and graphically indicating, for each seat, whether the seat is available, as determined from said seat availability information, said web page including coding that enables the user to hover a mouse pointer over a graphical representation of a seat on said interactive seating chart to obtain additional information regarding said seat, said web page additionally including coding that enables the user to interactively select individual seats by clicking on the corresponding graphical representations of the seats in the interactive seating chart, said web page capable of being displayed by a web browser running on a computing device of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional information regarding the seat comprises a seat number associated with said seat.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the web page is encoded to cause said additional information regarding the seat to be displayed on said web page in an area that is separate from the interactive seating chart.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the web page is encoded such that said additional information regarding the seat is displayable only for seats that are available.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the web page is encoded to display a running tally of all seats currently selected by the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is additionally programmed to receive and process payment information received from the user for a set of one or more selected seats, and to update said database to indicate non-availability of said one or more seats.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is responsive to concurrent selection of the same seat by two different users by giving priority to the user whose payment information is verified first.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is programmed to generate said web page such that each available seat is represented by a first icon, and such at each unavailable seat is represented by a second icon that is different in appearance from the first icon.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include airline flights.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include sporting events.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include concerts.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further programmed to:

receive, from the computing device of the user, information that identifies the event selected by the user, to which the end user has a reservation for at least one seat;

receive from the computing device of the user, a selection of at least one seat to the event; and

transmit, to the computing device of the user, data in a format that can be printed as an admission voucher by the end user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the events include airline flights.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein concurrent selection of the same seat by two different users is processed by giving priority to the user whose payment information is verified first.

14. A method for enabling users to interactively select seats and to purchase tickets for events, the method comprising:

querying a database to obtain seat availability information for an event selected by a user; and

generating a web page for presentation to the user, said web page including an interactive seating chart for said event, said interactive seating chart graphically depicting a physical arrangement of seats, and graphically indicating, for each seat, whether the seat is available, as determined from said seat availability information, said web page including coding that enables the user to hover a mouse pointer over a graphical representation of said interactive seating chart to obtain additional information regarding said seats, said web page additionally including coding that enables the user to interactively select individual seats by clicking on the corresponding graphical representations of the seats in the interactive seating chart, said web page capable of being displayed by a web browser running on a computing device of the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the additional information regarding the seat comprises a seat number associated with said seat.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the web page is encoded to cause said additional information regarding the seat to be displayed on said web page in an area that is separate from the interactive seating chart.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the web page is encoded such that said additional information regarding the seat is displayable only for seats that are available.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the web page is encoded to display a running tally of all seats currently selected by the user.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving and processing payment information received from the user for a set of one or more selected seats, and updating said database to indicate non-availability of said one or more seats.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising generating said web page such that each available seat is represented by a first icon, and such at each unavailable seat is represented by a second icon that is different in appearance from the first icon.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the events include airline flights.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the events include sporting events.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the events include concerts.

25. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving, from the computing device of the user, information that identifies the event selected by the user, to which the end user has a reservation for at least one seat;

receiving from the computing device of the user, a selection of at least one seat to the event; and

transmitting, to the computing device of the user, data in a format that can be printed as an admission voucher by the end user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the events include airline flights.

27. A computer-implemented method for interactively providing air travel seating information to an end user over a network, the method comprising:

transmitting data to an application running on a home or office personal computing device, the data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, the data configured to enable the application to generate a graphical user interface on the personal computing device that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the data enabling the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a location indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

transmitting second data to the application, the second data including information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein transmitting the data to the application running on the personal computing device comprises transmitting web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein transmitting the web page data for generating the interactive seating display comprises transmitting embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the data is capable of enabling the application to display additional information about a location of the one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a position indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the end user placing a mouse indicator over a portion of the interactive seating display.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the user placing a mouse over a portion of the interactive seating display corresponding to an individual seat.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein placing a location indicator comprises placing a mouse indicator over a portion of the interactive seating display.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein placing a location indicator comprises clicking on a portion of the interactive seating display via one or more mouse clicks to select one or more seats, and wherein the additional display of information comprises a list of the one or more selected seats.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein placing a location indicator comprises touching a portion of the interactive seating display via a touch screen interface.

37. A computer-implemented method for interactively selecting one or more seats on a flight by an end user over a network, the method comprising:

transmitting first data to an application running on a general purpose computer, the first data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more a flights, the first data encoded to enable the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats on the one or more flights, the first data encoded to enable the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a location indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display; and

receiving from the general purpose computer second data representing one or more seats selected by one or more mouse clicks.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

transmitting third data to the application running on the general purpose computer, the third data including information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein transmitting the first data to the application running on the general purpose computer comprises transmitting web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein transmitting the web page data for generating the interactive seating display comprises transmitting embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the first data is capable of enabling the application to display additional information about a location of the one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a location indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the first data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the end user placing a mouse indicator over a portion of the interactive seating display.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the first data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the user placing a mouse over a portion of the interactive seating display corresponding to an individual seat.

44. A computer-implemented method performed by a general purpose computer for interactively selecting one or more seats on an airplane by an end user over a network, the method comprising:

receiving, via an application running on the general purpose computer from a server coupled to the general purpose computer over the network, data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to a location indicator being positioned on a portion of the interactive seating display; and

receiving from the end user a selection of one or more seats by one or more mouse clicks.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

receiving from the server information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein receiving, via an application running on the general purpose computer from a server coupled to the general purpose computer via network, comprises receiving web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein receiving, via an application running on the general purpose computer from a server coupled to the general purpose computer via network, comprises receiving embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the additional display of information comprises information about a location of the seat in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the additional display of information comprises a seat number in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

50. A computer-implemented method performed by a home or office personal computing device for providing information regarding air travel seating to an end user over a network, the method comprising:

receiving, via an application running on the personal computing device from a server coupled to the personal computing device over the network, data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the personal computing device that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to a location indicator being positioned on a portion of the interactive seating display.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising:

receiving from said server information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein receiving, via an application running on the personal computing device from a server coupled to the personal computing device via network, comprises receiving web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein receiving, via an application running on the personal computing device from a server coupled to the personal computing device via network, comprises receiving embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the additional display of information comprises information about a location of the seat in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein the additional display of information comprises a seat number in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein the additional display of information is generated in response a mouse indicator being placed over the portion of the interactive seating display.

57. The method of claim 50, wherein the additional display of information is generated in response to clicking on the portion of the interactive seating display via one or more mouse clicks to select one or more seats, and wherein the additional display of information comprises a list of the one or more selected seats.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein the additional display of information is generated in response touching a portion of the interactive seating display via a touch screen interface.

59. A computer-implemented method for interactively providing seating information to an end user over a network, the method comprising:

transmitting data to an application running on a home or office personal computing device, the data including information descriptive of available individual seats at a venue, the data capable of enabling the application to generate a graphical user interface on the personal computing device that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats at the venue, the data capable of enabling the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a location indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display.

60. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

transmitting second data to the application, the second data including information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein transmitting the data to the application running on the personal computing device comprises transmitting web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein transmitting the web page data for generating the interactive seating display comprises transmitting embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the data is capable of enabling the application to display additional information about a location of the one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a position indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the end user placing a mouse indicator over a portion of the interactive seating display.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein the data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the user placing a mouse over a portion of the interactive seating display corresponding to an individual seat.

66. The method of claim 59, wherein placing a location indicator comprises placing a mouse indicator over a portion of the interactive seating display.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein placing a location indicator comprises clicking on a portion of the interactive seating display via one or more mouse clicks to select one or more seats, and wherein the additional display of information comprises a list of the one or more selected seats.

68. The method of claim 59, wherein placing a location indicator comprises touching a portion of the interactive seating display via a touch screen interface.

69. A computer-implemented method for interactively selecting one or more seats at a venue by an end user over a network, the method comprising:

transmitting first data to an application running on a general purpose computer, the first data including information descriptive of available individual seats at a venue, the first data encoded to enable the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats at the venue, the first data encoded to enable the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a location indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display; and

receiving from the general purpose computer second data representing one or more seats selected by one or more mouse clicks.

70. The method of claim 69 further comprising:

transmitting third data to the application running on the general purpose computer, the third data including information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein transmitting the first data to the application running on the general purpose computer comprises transmitting web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein transmitting the web page data for generating the interactive seating display comprises transmitting embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

73. The method of claim 69, wherein the first data is capable of enabling the application to display additional information about a location of the one or more of the individual seats in response to the end user placing a location indicator on a portion of the interactive seating display.

74. The method of claim 69, wherein the first data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the end user placing a mouse indicator over a portion of the interactive seating display.

75. The method of claim 69, wherein the first data is capable of enabling the application to display a seat number in response to the user placing a mouse over a portion of the interactive seating display corresponding to an individual seat.

76. A computer-implemented method performed by a general purpose computer for interactively selecting one or more seats at a venue by an end user over a network, the method comprising:

receiving, via an application running on the general purpose computer from a server coupled to the general purpose computer over the network, data including information descriptive of available individual seats at a venue, the data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats at the venue, the data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to a location indicator being positioned on a portion of the interactive seating display; and

receiving from the end user a selection of one or more seats by one or more mouse clicks.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

receiving from the server information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein receiving, via an application running on the general purpose computer from a server coupled to the general purpose computer via network, comprises receiving web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein receiving, via an application running on the general purpose computer from a server coupled to the general purpose computer via network, comprises receiving embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein the additional display of information comprises information about a location of the seat in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

81. The method of claim 76, wherein the additional display of information comprises a seat number in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

82. A computer-implemented method performed by a home or office personal computing device for providing information regarding seating to an end user over a network, the method comprising:

receiving, via an application running on the personal computing device from a server coupled to the personal computing device over the network, data including information descriptive of available individual seats at a venue, the data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the personal computing device that comprises an interactive seating display representing individual seats at the venue, the data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to a location indicator being positioned on a portion of the interactive seating display.

83. The method of claim 82, further comprising:

receiving from said server information that can be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein receiving, via an application running on the personal computing device from a server coupled to the personal computing device via network, comprises receiving web page data for generating the interactive seating display.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein receiving, via an application running on the personal computing device from a server coupled to the personal computing device via network, comprises receiving embedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seating display.

86. The method of claim 82, wherein the additional display of information comprises information about a location of the seat in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

87. The method of claim 82, wherein the additional display of information comprises a seat number in response to the location indicator being positioned on the portion of the interactive seating display.

88. The method of claim 82, wherein the additional display of information is generated in response a mouse indicator being placed over the portion of the interactive seating display.

89. The method of claim 82, wherein the additional display of information is generated in response to clicking on the portion of the interactive seating display via one or more mouse clicks to select one or more seats, and wherein the additional display of information comprises a list of the one or more selected seats.

90. The method of claim 82, wherein the additional display of information is generated in response touching a portion of the interactive seating display via a touch screen interface.