Methods and systems for reducing burst usage of a networked computer system

• US 8,176,177 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sussman, Adam, Ross, Brendan, Bennett, Bob, Denker, Dennis, Karonis, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): DONAGHUE, LARRY D
• Application Number:
  US11/703,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
• 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 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

Methods and systems for reducing burst usage of a networked computer system are described herein. In an embodiment, resource requesters can request, within a time window, resources over a computer network before the resources are available. The resources can then be allocated in batch mode when the resources are available. Thus, resource requests do not have to be processed in real-time, and resource requests can be received before the resources are available.

Claims

1. A method of reducing burst usage in a networked computer system, the method comprising:

transmitting over a network to a plurality of computers information regarding a future first time period when resource requests for a first set of resources will be accepted, wherein resources in the first set of resources are not allocated during the first time period;

receiving a plurality of resource requests from a plurality of requesters for at least a portion of the resources in the first set of resources, wherein the resources in the first set of resources have respective fixed prices, during the first period of time, wherein the plurality of resource requests are received over the network,

wherein the plurality of resource requests include a request from a first of the resource requesters for a preferred resource and

an indication as to whether an alternate resource different than the preferred resource would be acceptable;

during a second time period beginning after the first time period ends,

processing the plurality of resource requests in batch mode using a processing system, the processing further comprising;

ranking the plurality of resource requests based on one or more of the following criteria;

corresponding locations for some or all of the resource requesters;

history of resource requests for some or all of the resource requesters;

allocating resources to at least a portion of the plurality requesters based at least in part on corresponding resource request rankings and availability of requested resources;

transmitting a communication over the network to one or more requesters receiving an allocation, the communication providing information regarding the corresponding allocation;

allocating the alternate resource to the first requester if the first requester indicated a willingness to accept the alternate resource, was not allocated the preferred resource, and if the alternate resource is available to be allocated to the first requester; and

transmitting a communication over the network regarding the alternate resource allocation to the first requester.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising selecting the second period based at least in part on an anticipated utilization level of the processing system.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting over the network to one or more computers information regarding a maximum permissible resource request indicating a maximum number of resources that may be requested by a given user.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, the method further comprising rejecting at least one resource request that requests more than the maximum permissible resources.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a start time of the first time period is selected based at least in part on a resource-type.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second time period is longer than the first time period.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the ranking of the plurality of resource requests is based at least in part on historical resource request frequency information for at least a portion of the resource requesters.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the ranking of the plurality of resource requests is based at least in part on at least one requested resource'"'"'s quality.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting to at least one computer a specific price for a first resource requested via the computer.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting to at least one computer an indication that a sale price a first requested resource is not yet known.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting to at least one computer an indication that a sale price a first requested resource is not yet known and providing a price range within which the sale price will fall.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, where the resources are related to event seating for one or more events, and only a portion of the event seating for the one or more events is available to be allocated to resource requests received during the first time period.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the preferred resource is related to seating for a first event, and the alternate resource is related to seating for a second event, wherein the second event is on a different date than the first event.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the first event and the second event have a common event performer.

15. The method as defined in claim 1, where only users in a first set of users are eligible to submit resource requests during the first time period, and users in a second set of users are eligible to submit resource requests at a later time, wherein the second set of users is larger than the first set of users.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, where the second set of users includes at least a portion of the first set of users.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of the resource requests are related to the right to utilize a first physical location for a first event.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the first physical location corresponds to an area in a venue.

19. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the first physical location includes at least one seat.

20. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the alternate requested resource is associated with a performer that is also associated with at least one requested resource.

21. A method of allocating resources in batch mode via a computer system, the method comprising:

transmitting over a network to a plurality of terminals information regarding a future first time period when resource requests for a first set of resources will be accepted but will not be allocated;

receiving a plurality of resource requests over the network from a plurality of requesters during the first period of time for at least a portion of the resources in the first set of resources, wherein the resources in the first set of resources have respective fixed prices;

ranking the plurality of resource requests based at least in part on one or more of the following criteria;

location of one or more resource requesters;

historical transaction frequency of one or more resource requesters;

quantity of previous resource allocations to one or more resource requesters;

historical transaction value of resource allocations to one or more resource requesters;

information related to reallocation of resources by one or more resource requesters to others;

a quantity of resources currently being requested by one or more resource requesters;

whether a number of resources currently being requested by one or more resource requesters is an odd or even number of resources;

preferred membership status of one or more resource requesters;

during a second period of time, allocating resources using a processing system to at least a portion of the plurality requesters based at least in part on corresponding resource request rankings; and

transmitting a communication over the network to at least one requester allocated a requested resource, the communication including a notification regarding the requested resource allocation.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the second period of time is selected based on part on an anticipated utilization level of the processing system.

23. The method as defined in claim 21, the method further comprising transmitting over the network to one or more terminals information regarding a maximum permissible resource request indicating a maximum number of resources that may be requested by a given user.

24. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising rejecting at least one resource request that requests more than the maximum permissible resources.

25. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the first time period is selected based at least in part on a resource-type.

26. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the second time period is longer than the first time period.

27. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the ranking of the plurality of resource requests is based at least in part on at least one requested resource'"'"'s quality.

28. The method as defined in claim 21, the method further comprising transmitting to at least one terminal a specific cost for a first resource requested via the at least one terminal.

29. The method as defined in claim 21, the method further comprising transmitting to at least one terminal an indication that a sale price of a first requested resource is not yet known.

30. The method as defined in claim 21, the method further comprising transmitting to at least one terminal an indication that a sale price of a first requested resource is not yet known and providing a sale price range within which the sale price will fall.

31. The method as defined in claim 21, where the requested resources are related to event seating, and only a portion of the event seating is available to be allocated to resource requests received during the first time period.

32. The method as defined in claim 21, where only users in a first set of users are eligible to submit resource requests during the first time period, and users in a second set of users are eligible to submit resource requests at a later time, wherein the second set of users is larger than the first set of users.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, where the second set of users includes at least a portion of the first set of users.

34. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the resource requests are related to the right to utilize a first physical location for a first event.

35. The method as defined in claim 34, wherein the first location corresponds to an area in a venue.

36. The method as defined in claim 34, wherein the first location includes at least one seat.

37. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the criteria used to rank the plurality of resource requests includes a price asked by one or more resource requesters for at least one resource previously offered by the one or more resource requesters.

38. The method as defined in claim 21, the method further comprising storing in computer readable memory:

an event date of an event associated with requested resources, wherein the event is a sports event or a musical event;

a performer or team identity associated with the event;

a venue identifier where the event is to take place; and

information related to the amount of resources available for allocation during the first time period.

39. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the resource requests are related to the right to utilize a first physical location for a first event, the method further comprising:

receiving during a third time period a resource request related to the right to utilize at least one physical location for the first event; and

determining in substantially real-time if there is an available resource corresponding to the resource request received during the third time period.

40. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the communication is provided via a Web page.

41. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the communication is provided via an email and/or an SMS message.

42. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the communication is provided via an instant messaging service.

43. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the communication confirming the resource allocation includes seating information for an event, and is sent before the event takes place.

44. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the plurality of terminals includes a computer.

45. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the plurality of terminals includes an interactive television.

46. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the plurality of terminals includes a phone.

47. A system, comprising:

a computing device;

non-transitory media with instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising;

transmitting to a plurality of computers information regarding a future first time period when resource requests for a first set of resources will be accepted, wherein resources in the first set of resources are not allocated during the first time period;

receiving a plurality of resource requests from a plurality of requesters during the first period of time for at least a portion of the resources in the first set of resources, wherein the resources in the first set of resources have respective fixed prices;

wherein the plurality of resource requests include a request from a first of the resource requesters for a preferred resource and an indication as to whether an alternate resource different than the preferred resource would be acceptable;

during a second time period beginning after the first time period ends, processing the plurality of resource requests in batch mode, the processing comprising;

ranking the plurality of resource requests based on one or more of the following criteria;

corresponding locations for some or all of the resource requesters;

history of resource requests for some or all of the resource requesters;

allocating resources to at least a portion of the plurality requesters based at least in part on corresponding resource request rankings and availability of requested resources;

transmitting a communication to one or more requesters receiving an allocation, the communication providing information regarding the corresponding allocation;

allocating the alternate resource to the first requester if the first requester indicated a willingness to accept the alternate resource, was not allocated the preferred resource, and if the alternate resource is available to be allocated to the first requester; and

transmitting a communication regarding the alternate resource allocation to the first requester.

48. The system as defined in claim 47, the operations further comprising selecting the second period based at least in part on an anticipated utilization level of the system.

49. The system as defined in claim 47, the operations further comprising transmitting to one or more computers information regarding a maximum permissible resource request indicating a maximum number of resources that may be requested by a given user.

50. The system as defined in claim 49, the operations further comprising rejecting at least one resource request that requests more than the maximum permissible resources.

51. The system as defined in claim 47, wherein a start time of the first time period is selected based at least in part on a resource-type.

52. The system as defined in claim 47, wherein the second time period is longer than the first time period.

53. The system as defined in claim 47, wherein the ranking of the plurality of resource requests is based at least in part on historical resource request frequency information for at least a portion of the resource requesters.

54. The system as defined in claim 47, wherein the ranking of the plurality of resource requests is based at least in part on at least one requested resource'"'"'s quality.

55. The system as defined in claim 47, the operations further comprising transmitting to at least one computer a specific price for a first resource requested via the computer.

56. The system as defined in claim 47, the operations further comprising transmitting to at least one computer an indication that the actual price a first requested resource is not yet known.

57. The system as defined in claim 47, the operations further comprising transmitting to at least one computer an indication that the actual price a first requested resource is not yet known and providing a price range within which the actual price will fall.

58. The system as defined in claim 47, where the resources are related to event seating for one or more events, and only a portion of the event seating for the one or more events is available to be allocated to resource requests received during the first time period.

59. The system as defined in claim 58, wherein the preferred resource is related to seating for a first event, and the alternate resource is related to seating for a second event.

60. The system as defined in claim 59, wherein the first event and the second event have a common event performer.

61. The system as defined in claim 47, where only users in a first set of users are eligible to submit resource requests during the first time period, and users in a second set of users are eligible to submit resource requests at a later time, wherein the second set of users is larger than the first set of users.

62. The system as defined in claim 61, where the second set of users includes at least a portion of the first set of users.

63. The system as defined in claim 47, wherein at least some of the resource requests are related to the right to utilize a first physical location for a first event.

64. The system as defined in claim 63, wherein the first physical location corresponds to an area in a venue.

65. The system as defined in claim 63, wherein the first physical location includes at least one seat.

66. The system as defined in claim 47, wherein the alternate requested resource is associated with a performer that is also associated with at least one requested resource.

67. A system, comprising:

a computing device;

non-transitory media with instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising;

transmitting to a plurality of terminals information regarding a future first time period when resource requests for a first set of resources will be accepted but will not be allocated;

receiving a plurality of resource requests from a plurality of requesters during the first period of time for at least a portion of the resources in the first set of resources, wherein the resources in the first set of resources have respective fixed prices;

ranking the plurality of resource requests based on one or more of the following criteria;

location of one or more resource requesters;

historical transaction frequency of one or more resource requesters;

quantity of previous resource allocations to one or more resource requesters;

historical transaction value of resource allocations to one or more resource requesters;

information related to reallocation of resources by one or more resource requesters to others;

a quantity of resources currently being requested by one or more resource requesters;

whether a number of resources currently being requested by one or more resource requesters is an odd or even number of resources;

preferred membership status of one or more resource requesters;

during a second period of time, allocating resources to at least a portion of the plurality requesters based at least in part on corresponding resource request rankings; and

transmitting a communication to at least one requester allocated a requested resource, the communication including a notification regarding the requested resource allocation.

68. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the second period of time is selected based on part on an anticipated utilization level of the system.

69. The system as defined in claim 67, the operations further comprising transmitting to one or more terminals information regarding a maximum permissible resource request indicating a maximum number of resources that may be requested by a given user.

70. The system as defined in claim 67, the operations further comprising rejecting at least one resource request that requests more than the maximum permissible resources.

71. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the first time period is selected based at least in part on a resource-type.

72. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the second time period is longer than the first time period.

73. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the ranking of the plurality of resource requests is based at least in part on at least one requested resource'"'"'s quality.

74. The system as defined in claim 67, the operations further comprising transmitting to at least one terminal a specific cost for a first resource requested via the at least one terminal.

75. The system as defined in claim 67, the operations further comprising transmitting to at least one terminal an indication that a sale price of a first requested resource is not yet known.

76. The system as defined in claim 67, the operations further comprising transmitting to at least one terminal an indication that a sale price of a first requested resource is not yet known and providing a range within which the sale price will fall.

77. The system as defined in claim 67, where the requested resources are related to event seating, and only a portion of the event seating is available to be allocated to resource requests received during the first time period.

78. The system as defined in claim 67, where only users in a first set of users are eligible to submit resource requests during the first time period, and users in a second set of users are eligible to submit resource requests at a later time, wherein the second set of users is larger than the first set of users.

79. The system as defined in claim 78, where the second set of users includes at least a portion of the first set of users.

80. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein at least a portion of the resource requests are related to the right to utilize a first physical location for a first event.

81. The system as defined in claim 80, wherein the first location corresponds to an area in a venue.

82. The system as defined in claim 80, wherein the first location includes at least one seat.

83. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the plurality of resource requests are ranked using a price asked by one or more resource requesters for at least one resource previously offered by the one or more resource requesters.

84. The system as defined in claim 67, the operations further comprising storing in computer readable memory:

an event date of an event associated with requested resources, wherein the event is a sports event or a musical event;

a performer or team identity associated with the event;

a venue identifier where the event is to take place; and

information related to the amount of resources available for allocation during the first time period.

85. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein at least a portion of the resource requests are related to the right to utilize a first physical location for a first event, the operations further comprising:

receiving during a third time period a resource request related to the right to utilize at least one physical location for the first event; and

determining in substantially real-time if there is an available resource corresponding to the resource request received during the third time period.

86. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the communication is provided via a Web page.

87. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the communication is provided via an email and/or an SMS message.

88. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the communication is provided via an instant messaging service.

89. The system as defined in claim 67, wherein the communication confirming the resource allocation includes seating information for an event, and is sent before the event takes place.