Programmable ticketing system

• US 8,346,618 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leisure Pass Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Smart Destinations Incorporated (Big Bus Tours Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Brooks, Tyler, McLaughlin, Kevin, Dahl, Helga Cecilia, Kim, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALAVECINO, KATHLEEN GAGE
• Application Number:
  US12/825,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20100320268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A smart-card based system and methods to control access to a plurality of attractions within a geographical area. The system may include one or more reward terminals that are located at attractions and are configured to read smart cards presented to them and, assuming the card is valid for that location, allow the card holder to access the attraction. Each smart card may be programmed with a product code that defines the attractions at which the card may be used. Product codes may be stored in a central database along with a list of the attractions associated with the each product code. The list of attractions may be updated as desired, thereby updating and changing the attractions at which any given card may be used.

Claims

1. A method for accessing an attraction, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a terminal associated with an attraction of one or more attractions, a code that is associated with the one or more attractions;

(b) reading, by the terminal, a card presented by each visitor of a plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card enabled with the code, the terminal validating each card to grant access to the attraction; and

(c) receiving, by the attraction, after each visitor of the plurality of visitors have accessed the attraction, compensation based on a number of uses of the card at the attraction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving, by the terminal, the code defining the one or more attractions for which the card is valid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving, by the terminal, the code from a system manager.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprising identifying, by the terminal, a list of promotions accessible via the terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises validating, by the terminal, the code stored on the card.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises providing, by the attraction responsive to the terminal validating the card, access to each visitor without the visitor paying at a time of the visit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises activating, by the terminal, the card on first use of the card.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises storing on the card a location of the attraction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises storing on the card a location of the attraction as which the card is first used.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises storing on the card a time of use of the card at the attraction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises storing on the card a time of first use of the card.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises validating, by the terminal, the card, based on one or more property fields stored on the card.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the card comprises a smart card.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the card has a type comprising one of the following:

adult, child and senior.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the card is programmed with a period identifying a number of consecutive days the card is valid.

16. A method for accessing an attraction, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a terminal associated with an attraction of one or more attractions, a code that is associated with the one or more attractions;

(b) reading, by the terminal, a card presented by each visitor of a plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card enabled with the code, the terminal validating each card to grant access to the attraction; and

(c) receiving, by the attraction, after each visitor of the plurality of visitors have accessed the attraction, compensation based on time of use of the card at the attraction.

17. A method for accessing an attraction, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a terminal associated with an attraction of one or more attractions, a code that is associated with the one or more attractions;

(b) reading, by the terminal, a card presented by each visitor of a plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card enabled with the code, the terminal validating each card to grant access to the attraction; and

(c) receiving, by the attraction, after each visitor of the plurality of visitors have accessed the attraction, compensation based on a level of use of the card at the attraction.

18. A system for accessing an attraction, the system comprising:

a terminal located at an attraction of one or more attractions, the terminal configured with a code that is associated with the one or more attractions;

a card reader configured to read a card presented by each visitor of a plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card enabled with the code, the terminal validating each card to grant access to the attraction; and

wherein the attraction receives from a system manager after each visitor of the plurality of visitors have accessed the attraction, compensation based on a number of uses of the card at the attraction.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal receives from the system manager the code defining the one or more attractions for which the card is valid.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal identifies via a list of promotions accessible via the terminal.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal validates the code stored on the card.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the attraction, responsive to the terminal validating the card, provides access to each visitor without the visitor paying at a time of the visit.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal activates the card on first use of the card.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal via the card reader stores on the card a location of the attraction.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal via the card reader stores on the card a location of the attraction as which the card is first used.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal via the card reader stores on the card a time of use of the card at the attraction.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal via the card reader stores on the card a time of first use of the card.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal validates the card based on one or more property fields stored on the card.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the card comprises a smart card.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the card has a type comprising one of the following:

adult, child and senior.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the card is programmed with a period identifying a number of consecutive days the card is valid.

32. A system for accessing an attraction, the system comprising:

a terminal located at an attraction of one or more attractions, the terminal configured with a code that is associated with the one or more attractions;

a card reader configured to read a card presented by each visitor of a plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card enabled with the code, the terminal validating each card to grant access to the attraction; and

wherein the attraction receives from a system manager after each visitor of the plurality of visitors have accessed the attraction compensation based on time of use of the card at the attraction.

33. A system for accessing an attraction, the system comprising:

a terminal located at an attraction of one or more attractions, the terminal configured with a code that is associated with the one or more attractions;

a card reader configured to read a card presented by each visitor of a plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card enabled with the code, the terminal validating each card to grant access to the attraction; and

wherein the attraction receives from a system manager after each visitor of the plurality of visitors have accessed the attraction compensation based on a level of use of the card at the attraction.

34. A method for compensating an attraction based on use of a card to access the attraction, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a server after a plurality of visitors have accessed an attraction, data corresponding to use of a card by the plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card presented by each visitor of the plurality of visitors of the attraction to access the attraction; and

(b) determining, by the server, compensation to the attraction based on a number of uses of the card at the attraction identified via the data.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving data via a network from a device of the attraction.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving, by the server, data corresponding to use of the card validated by a terminal of the attraction.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising communicating by the server to a terminal device of the attraction configuration data associated with the card.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising communicating by the server to a terminal device of the attraction a code associated with the card, the card enabled with the code.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the card has a type comprising one of the following:

adult, child and senior.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the card is programmed with a period identifying a number of consecutive days the card is valid.

41. A method for compensating an attraction based on use of a card to access the attraction, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a server after a plurality of visitors have accessed an attraction, data corresponding to use of a card by the plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card presented by each visitor of the plurality of visitors of the attraction to access the attraction; and

(b) determining, by the server, compensation to the attraction based on time of use of the card at the attraction.

42. A method for compensating an attraction based on use of a card to access the attraction, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a server after a plurality of visitors have accessed an attraction, data corresponding to use of a card by the plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card presented by each visitor of the plurality of visitors of the attraction to access the attraction; and

(b) determining, by the server, compensation to the attraction based on a level of use of the card at the attraction.

43. A system for compensating an attraction based on use of a card to access the attraction, the system comprising:

a server receiving, after a plurality of visitors have accessed an attraction, data corresponding to use of a card by the plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card presented by each visitor of the plurality of visitors of the attraction to access the attraction; and

a controller determining compensation to the attraction based on a number of use of the card at the attraction identified via the data.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the server receives data via a network from a device of the attraction.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the server receives data corresponding to use of the card validated by a terminal of the attraction.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the server communicates to a terminal device of the attraction configuration data associated with the card.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein the server communicates to a terminal device of the attraction a code associated with the card, the card enabled with the code.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the card has a type comprising one of the following:

adult, child and senior.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein the card is programmed with a period identifying a number of consecutive days the card is valid.

50. A system for compensating an attraction based on use of a card to access the attraction, the system comprising:

a server receiving, after a plurality of visitors have accessed an attraction, data corresponding to use of a card by the plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card presented by each visitor of the plurality of visitors of the attraction to access the attraction; and

a controller determining compensation to the attraction based on times of use of the card at the attraction identified via the data.

51. A system for compensating an attraction based on use of a card to access the attraction, the system comprising:

a server receiving, after a plurality of visitors have accessed an attraction, data corresponding to use of a card by the plurality of visitors to access the attraction, the card presented by each visitor of the plurality of visitors of the attraction to access the attraction; and

a controller determining compensation to the attraction based on a level of use of the card at the attraction identified via the data.