Method, apparatus, and program for pre-selling tickets to effect a booking of an event

• US 8,463,629 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMDb.com, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IMDb.com, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neulight, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Vetter, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/878,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 705/6
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and program for pre-selling tickets to determine whether to book an event or activity, and for facilitating the sale of those tickets. Consumers who pre-purchase a ticket are plainly notified if an event has not yet been booked. They are also shown the progress toward the likely booking of the event. A successful pre-sale of tickets triggers the booking of the event. An unsuccessful pre-sale results in the event not being booked. Consumers who help effect an event booking may be given privileges over those who purchase traditional tickets for the same event after it has already been booked.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of determining a booking of an event by pre-selling tickets to the event, the method comprising:

executing, using one or more computer systems, executable instructions to perform steps comprising;

receiving a critical mass criteria and a critical date criteria for an event to set up a pre-selling of tickets for the event such that when the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are not satisfied, the event will not occur and any pre-purchased tickets for the event will be canceled, and wherein the critical date criteria comprises a critical date;

transmitting a blinded version of the critical date criteria to a user, the blinded version of the critical date criteria withholding the critical date but comprising a range of dates encompassing the critical date and an indication that the pre-selling of tickets can be canceled at any time within the range of dates;

receiving a request to pre-purchase a ticket of the event from the user, the request to pre-purchase the ticket including payment information to be used to purchase the ticket;

processing the request to pre-purchase the ticket for the event by at least storing the payment information included with the request for later processing when the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are achieved;

providing information about a future fulfillment of the ticket to the user; and

triggering the booking of the event when the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are achieved.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the future fulfillment of the ticket comprises a graphical gauge indicating progress towards satisfying the critical mass criteria.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the future fulfillment of the ticket comprises the blinded version of the critical date criteria.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the future fulfillment of the ticket to the user comprises an explicit statement that the future fulfillment is conditional upon both the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria being satisfied.

5. A computerized system for booking an event, comprising a central ticket controller configured to, at least:

receive a critical mass criteria and a critical date criteria for an event, the critical date criteria comprising a critical date;

transmit a blinded version of the critical date criteria to a user, the blinded version comprising a range of dates encompassing the critical date and an indication that the pre-selling of tickets can be canceled at any time within the range of dates;

receive a request to pre-purchase a ticket of the event from the user, the request to pre-purchase the ticket including payment information to be used to purchase the ticket;

process the request to pre-purchase the ticket for the event by at least storing the payment information included with the request for later processing when the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are satisfied; and

triggering the booking of the event when the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are satisfied.

6. The computerized system according to claim 5, wherein the user is a member of at least one of a plurality of constituencies competing for the event.

7. The computerized system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of constituencies corresponding to at least one highest number of pre-sold tickets for the event wins the event.

8. The computerized system according to claim 7, wherein multiple constituencies of the plurality of constituencies are awarded the event.

9. The computerized system according to claim 6, wherein none of the plurality of constituencies wins the event because none of the plurality of constituencies satisfies the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria for the event.

10. The computerized system according to claim 5, wherein pre-purchase of the ticket before the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are satisfied is associated with a reduced ticket price.

11. The computerized system according to claim 5, wherein pre-purchase of the ticket before the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are satisfied is associated with a discount.

12. The computerized system according to claim 5, wherein pre-purchase of the ticket before the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are satisfied is associated with an award of affinity program points.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having collectively thereon computer-executable instructions that when executed on one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to collectively, at least:

receive a critical mass criteria and a critical date criteria for determining, at least in part, whether an event will be booked;

transmit information incorporating a critical blind to a user, the information corresponding to at least the critical date criteria and comprising an indication that a pre-selling of tickets can be canceled at any time based on the critical blind, the critical blind withholding at least the critical date criteria from the user;

receive a request to pre-purchase a ticket of the event from the user, the request to pre-purchase the ticket including payment information;

storing the payment information included with the request; and

when the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are satisfied, booking the event and processing a payment corresponding to the payment information.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media according to claim 13, wherein satisfying the critical date criteria comprises satisfying the critical mass criteria by a specified critical date and time of day.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media according to claim 14, wherein the critical blind withholds the exact date and time of day corresponding to the specified critical date and time of day.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media according to claim 13, the computer-executable instructions further configuring the one or more computers to collectively, at least, provide a notification that the event has not yet been booked distinct from a notice of cancellation, the notification that the event has not yet been booked including the critical blind.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media according to claim 13, wherein the information incorporating the critical blind further corresponds at least to the critical mass criteria.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein satisfying the critical mass criteria corresponds to exceeding both a threshold number of pre-sold tickets and a threshold total cash value of pre-sold tickets.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein the critical mass criteria specifies a threshold number of pre-sold tickets, a threshold total cash value of pre-sold tickets, and a priority with respect to the threshold number of pre-sold tickets and the threshold total cash value of pre-sold tickets.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media according to claim 13, wherein the event comprises a ticket regulated activity.