Networked barcode verification system

• US 8,510,138 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marti, Benjamin J., Denker, Dennis A., Levin, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vetter, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/716,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 705 5- 6, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for barcode verification. Optionally, a barcode scanner/imager is coupled to a verification system over a network. The verification system receives over the network barcode data associated with an item, such as a ticket, and associated information. The verification system uses the barcode data and associated information to determine if the barcode is valid and corresponds to an identified event. The verification system transmits a verification result.

Claims

1. A method of verifying a ticket, comprising:

receiving coded data associated with a ticket for a ticket offering posting for a ticket being offered for resale by a first user, that had previously purchased the ticket, for a ticketed event;

determining, using a computing device, if the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, is in accordance with a first specified format;

determining, via the computing device, if the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to coded data stored in a data store;

determining, via the computing device, if event data, including at least an event name, received in association with the coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to stored event data, including at least the stored name of the ticketed event, associated with an issued ticket for the event; and

transmitting, via the computing device, a positive verification indication based at least in part on the determination that;

the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, is in accordance with a first specified format;

the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to coded data stored in the data store; and

the received event data including at least the received event name, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to the event data, including at least the stored name of the ticketed event, associated with the issued ticket for the event.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing an interface configured to receive seating data, including at least a seat identifier, and event data, including at least a name, manually provided by the first user offering the ticket and/or by a second user seeking to acquire the ticket;

determining if the received seating data, including at least the seat identifier, corresponds to coded data stored in the data store; and

wherein the positive verification indication is based, in part, on the determination that the received seating data, including at least the seat identifier, corresponds to coded data stored in the data store.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a locator, associated with the ticket offering posting of the ticket, from the first user and/or the second user; and

accessing a third party web resource hosted by a web server associated with the locator;

accessing from the third party web resource the seating data, including a seat identifier, and the event data, manually provided by the first user and the second user, via the web server;

determine if the received seating data, including the seat identifier, corresponds to seating data stored in the data store; and

wherein the positive verification indication is based, in part on, the determination that the received seating data corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining if the received coded data is associated with a ticket that is not to be transferred via at least a first transaction type; and

transmitting a transfer right indication based at least in part on the determination that received coded data is associated with a ticket that may be transferred via at least a first transaction type.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the coded data is barcode data.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing a user interface via which a user can access ticket data related to tickets acquired by the user, the ticket data including at least;

an event name associated with at least one ticket previously acquired by the user;

an indication as to whether the user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by the first website; and

an indication as to whether the user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by a different website.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising determining if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication that the event date has passed or that there is insufficient time before the event to process a ticket transfer.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising determining if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the event is cancelled.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising determining if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that ticket is being offered by the a user with a second ticket wherein the seat associated with the ticket is not adjacent to a seat associated with the second ticket.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising determining if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the ticket has already been transferred by a user.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising determining if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the ticket is a complimentary ticket.

12. A verification system comprising:

an interface configured to receive coded data associated with a ticket offering posting for a ticket being offered for resale by a first user that had previously purchased the ticket, for a ticketed event;

a data store that stores;

coded data for issued tickets associated for the ticketed event;

event data, including at least a name of the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets;

seating data associated with the issued tickets;

non-transitory memory storing program code, that when executed by a computing system is configured to cause the computing system to;

determine if the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, is in accordance with a first specified format;

determine if the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to coded data stored in the data store;

determine if event data, including at least an event name, received in association with the coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to the stored event data, including at least the stored name of the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets for the event;

transmit a positive verification indication based at least in part on the determination that;

the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, is in accordance with a first specified format;

the received coded data, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to coded data stored in the data store; and

the received event data including at least the received event name, associated with the ticket offering posting for the ticket being offered for resale, corresponds to the event data, including at least the stored name of the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets for the event.

13. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to:

provide an interface configured to receive seating data, including at least a seat identifier, and event data, including at least a name, manually provided by the first user offering the ticket and/or by a second user seeking to acquire the ticket;

determine if the received seating data, including at least the seat identifier, corresponds to seating data stored in the data store; and

wherein the positive verification indication is based, in part on the determination that the received seating data, including at least the seat identifier, corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store.

14. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to:

receive a locator, associated with the ticket offering posting of the ticket, from the first user and/or the second user; and

access a third party web resource hosted by a web server associated with the locator, wherein the third party web resource is operated by an entity different than the verification system;

access from the third party web resource the seating data, including at least a seat identifier, and the event data, manually provided by the first user and/or the second user, via the web server;

determine if the received seating data, including at least the seat identifier, corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store; and

wherein the positive verification indication is based, in part on, the determination that the received seating data corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store.

15. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to:

determine if the received coded data is associated with a ticket that is not to be transferred via at least a first transaction type; and

transmit a transfer right indication based at least in part on the determination that received coded data is associated with a ticket that may be transferred via at least a first transaction type.

16. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the coded data is barcode data.

17. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the verification system is associated with a first website that enables a user to acquire and transfer tickets and provides a ticket management user interface via which a user can access ticket data related to tickets acquired by the user, the ticket data including at least:

an event name associated with at least one ticket previously acquired by the user;

an indication as to whether the user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by the first website; and

an indication as to whether the user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by a different website.

18. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication that the event date has passed or that there is insufficient time before the event to process a ticket transfer.

19. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the event is cancelled.

20. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that ticket is being offered by the a user with a second ticket wherein the seat associated with the ticket is not adjacent to a seat associated with the second ticket.

21. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the ticket has already been transferred by a user.

22. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the ticket is a complimentary ticket.

23. The verification system as defined in claim 12, wherein the ticket offering posting is posted at a third party networked site.

24. A barcode verification system comprising:

a barcode interface configured to receive barcode data associated with a barcode of a ticket associated with a ticketed event, wherein the barcode data was obtained via a barcode imaging device at a first location or was manually entered;

an interface configured to receive seating data and event data, respectively including at least a seat identifier and an event name in text form, manually provided by a first user, for a ticket offering posting to be provided for display to potential ticket purchasers, offering the ticket and/or provided by a second user seeking to acquire the ticket via the ticket offering posting after the ticket offering posting is provided for display to at least second user;

a data store that stores;

barcode data for issued tickets associated for the ticketed event;

event data, including at least an event name corresponding to the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets;

seating data associated with the issued tickets;

transfer permission data associated with the issued tickets;

non-transitory memory that stores code, that when executed by a computing system is configured to cause the computing system to;

determine if the received barcode data is in accordance with a first specified format;

determine if the received barcode data corresponds to barcode data stored in the data store;

when the received barcode data corresponds to barcode data stored in the data store, determine if the received event data, including at least the first user and/or second user supplied event name, corresponding to that of the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the event data, including at least the stored event name corresponding to the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets for the event;

determine if the received seating data, including at least the first user and/or second user supplied seat identifier, corresponding to that of the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store;

determine if the received barcode data is associated with a ticket that is not to be transferred via at least a first transaction type;

transmit a positive verification and transfer right indication based at least in part on the determination that;

the received barcode data is in accordance with a first specified format;

the received barcode data corresponds to barcode data stored in the data store;

the received event data, including at least the first user and/or second user supplied event name, corresponding to the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the event data, including at least the stored event name corresponding to the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets for the event; and

the received seating data, including at least the first user and/or second user supplied seat identifier, corresponding to that of the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store.

25. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, further comprising a barcode reader system.

26. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the barcode verification system is associated with a first website that enables a user to acquire and transfer tickets and provides a ticket management user interface via which a user can access ticket data related to tickets acquired by the first user, the ticket data including at least:

an event name associated with at least one ticket previously acquired by the first user;

an indication as to whether the first user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by the first website; and

an indication as to whether the first user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by a different website.

27. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the code is configured to cause the computing system to:

receive a locator, associated with the ticket offering posting of the ticket, from the first user and/or the second user; and

access a third party web resource hosted by a web server associated with the locator, wherein the third party web resource is operated by an entity different than the barcode verification system;

access from the third party web resource the seating data and the event data, manually provided by the first user and/or the second user, via the web server.

28. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication that the event date has passed or that there is insufficient time before the event to process a ticket transfer.

29. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the event is cancelled.

30. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory readable memory that ticket is being offered by the first user with a second ticket wherein the seat associated with the ticket is not adjacent to a seat associated with the second ticket.

31. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the ticket has already been transferred by the first user.

32. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in non-transitory memory that the ticket is a complimentary ticket.

33. The barcode verification system as defined in claim 24, wherein the ticket offering posting is posted at a third party networked site.

34. A non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory storing program code that when executed by a computing system is configured to cause the computing system to perform verification operations comprising:

receive barcode data associated with a barcode of a ticket associated with a ticketed event;

receive seating data and event data manually provided by a first user offering the ticket, for a ticket offering posting to be provided for display to potential ticket purchasers, and/or by a second user seeking to acquire the ticket via the ticket offering posting, the seating data and event data, provided by the first and/or second user, respectively including at least a seat identifier and an event name;

store in a data store;

barcode data for issued tickets associated for the ticketed event;

event data, including at least an event name corresponding to the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets;

seating data associated with the issued tickets;

transfer permission data associated with the issued tickets;

determine if the received barcode data is in accordance with a first specified format;

determine if the received barcode data corresponds to barcode data stored in the data store;

when the received barcode data corresponds to barcode data stored in the data store, determine if the received event data, including at least the first user and/or the second user supplied event name, corresponding to that of the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the event data, including at least the stored event name corresponding to the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets for the event;

determine if the received seating, including at least the first user and/or second user supplied seat identifier, corresponding to that of the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store;

determine if the received barcode data is associated with a ticket that is not to be transferred via at least a first transaction type;

transmit a positive verification and transfer right indication based at least in part on the determination that;

the received barcode data is in accordance with a first specified format;

the received barcode data corresponds to barcode data stored in the data store;

the received event data, including at least the first user and/or second user supplied event name, corresponding to the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the event data, including at least the stored event name corresponding to the ticketed event, associated with the issued tickets for the event; and

the received seating data, including at least the first user and/or second user supplied seat identifier, corresponding to that of the ticket offering posting, corresponds to the seating data stored in the data store.

35. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to receive the barcode data via a barcode reader system and/or via manual entry.

36. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to access and provide to the first user with:

an event name associated with at least one ticket previously acquired by the first user;

an indication as to whether the first user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by the first website; and

an indication as to whether the first user had transferred at least one ticket via a service offered by a different website that a website that hosts the program code.

37. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to:

receive a locator associated with the ticket offering posting of the ticket, from the first user and/or the second user; and

access a third party web resource hosted by a web server associated with the locator;

access from the third party web resource the seating data and the event data manually provided by the first user and/or the second user, via the web server.

38. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in computer readable memory that the event date has passed or that there is insufficient time before the event to process a ticket transfer.

39. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in computer readable memory that the event is cancelled.

40. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in computer readable memory that ticket is being offered by the first user with a second ticket wherein the seat associated with the ticket is not adjacent to a seat associated with the second ticket.

41. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in computer readable memory that the ticket has already been transferred by the first user.

42. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory as defined in claim 34, wherein the program code is configured to cause the computing system to determine if the ticket is transferable based at least in part on an indication stored in computer readable memory that the ticket is a complimentary ticket.