Computer-implemented systems and methods for resource allocation

• US 7,979,291 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Denker, Dennis, Sussman, Adam, Bennett, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr; Fadey S
• Application Number:
  US11/702,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10, 705/1.1, 705/7.32, 705/14.19, 705/37, 705/400
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced.

Claims

1. A method of setting a sale price for a ticket for an event, the method comprising:

causing a survey related to ticket pricing to be provided over a network to at least a first user,

wherein the survey asks the first user to provide an indication as to respective monetary values of seats in a plurality of venue areas for a particular ticketed-event that has not taken place yet and before tickets for the event are available for purchase;

receiving survey results, including survey responses and/or information derived from survey responses from a plurality of users, including the first user, indicating respective monetary values of seats in a plurality of venue areas;

storing the survey results in computer readable memory;

accessing the survey results stored in computer readable memory;

accessing historical ticket sales data stored in computer readable memory;

accessing historical concessions sales data stored in computer readable memory;

accessing cost data associated with providing the event stored in computer readable memory, the cost data including at least cost data for one or more of;

employee costs,

contractor costs,

governmental fees,

facility rental fees,

equipment rental fees,

guaranteed revenues to an event performer; and

based at least in part on;

the survey results accessed from computer readable memory,

the historical ticket sales data, and

the cost data,

setting, at least in part using a computing device, at least a first ticket price and/or a first minimum bid amount prior to releasing a corresponding ticket for sale, wherein the corresponding ticket is offered for sale to a plurality of potential purchasers at the first ticket price and/or the first minimum bid amount, and the first ticket price and/or the first minimum bid amount includes a plurality of costs and fees.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a monetary value for at least a ticket for a seat in a first venue area and for a ticket for a seat in a second venue area, and

wherein the first ticket price is a face price of the corresponding ticket.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide an indication as to the first user'"'"'s opinion on the difference in quality of a first seat in a first venue area and a second seat in a second venue area.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified row in relation to another row or venue area.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified portion of a row in relation to another row or venue area.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the cost data includes at least one of the cost of facility management and operations, the cost of paying a performer and incremental costs associated with an additional event attendee.

7. A method of selecting a sale price for a ticket for an event, the method comprising:

causing a survey related to seat ranking and/or valuations to be provided over a network to at least a first user,

wherein the survey asks the first user to provide an indication as to respective monetary values and/or rankings of seats in a plurality of venue areas for a particular ticketed-event that has not taken place yet and before tickets for the event are available for purchase;

receiving survey results, including survey responses and/or information derived from survey responses from a plurality of users, including the first user;

storing the survey results in computer readable memory;

accessing the survey results stored in computer readable memory;

accessing historical sales data stored in computer readable memory;

based at least in part on;

the survey results accessed from computer readable memory, and

historical ticket sales data,

setting, at least in part using a computing device including one or more processors, at least a first ticket price and/or a first minimum bid amount prior to releasing a corresponding ticket for sale, wherein the corresponding ticket is offered for sale to a plurality of potential purchasers at the first ticket price and/or with the first minimum bid amount, and the first ticket price and/or the first minimum bid amount includes a plurality of costs and fees.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a monetary value for a first seat ticket in a first venue area and for a second seat ticket in a second venue area, and

wherein the first ticket price is a face price of the corresponding ticket.

9. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide an indication as to the difference in quality of a first seat in a first venue area and a second seat in a second venue area.

10. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the survey is provided to the first user at least partly in response to determining that the first user has abandoned a first ticket-related request.

11. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide seat rankings for a plurality of seats and/or seating areas.

12. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified row in relation to another row or venue area.

13. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the survey requests that the first user provide a ranking and/or a valuation for a specified portion of a row in relation to another row or venue area.

14. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the first ticket price and/or a first minimum bid is set based in part on cost data,

the cost data including at least cost data for one or more of:

employee costs,

contractor costs,

governmental fees,

facility rental fees,

equipment rental fees,

guaranteed revenues to an event performer.