Methods and systems for determining user location

• US 8,668,568 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Denker, Dennis, Sussman, Adam, Nachman, MyDung Tran
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/413,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,875 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/29, 463/42, 709/217
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Methods and systems of determining the approximate location of a terminal are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer system receives from a first mobile computer terminal and/or from a communication system in communication with the first mobile computer terminal, global positioning satellite and/or cellular network location data, wherein the location data corresponds to the approximate location of the first mobile computer terminal. Based at least in part on the location data, the system determines if the first mobile computer terminal is within a first area, wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to be authorized to access a first service. The system, at least partly in response to failing to determine that the first mobile terminal is in the first area, transmits to the first mobile computer terminal location information regarding at least a first location in the first area.

Claims

1. A method of processing location data for a computer terminal, the method comprising:

receiving at a computer system from a first mobile computer terminal and/or from a communication system in communication with the first mobile computer terminal, global positioning satellite and/or cellular network location data, wherein the location data corresponds to the approximate location of the first mobile computer terminal;

based at least in part on the location data, determining if the first mobile computer terminal is within a first area, wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to be authorized to access a first service, wherein the first service relates to acquisition of a first ticket for a sporting event or a concert event at a venue; and

at least partly in response to failing to determine that the first mobile computer terminal is in the first area, transmitting a map to the first mobile computer terminal, the map including at least the first area, and inhibiting the acquisition of the first ticket for the event at the venue from the first mobile computer terminal;

determining if a changed location of the first mobile computer terminal is within the first area;

at least partly in response to determining that the changed location of the first mobile computer terminal is within the first area, enabling an acquisition of the first ticket for the event and inhibiting the acquisition of more than a predetermined quantity of tickets for the event by a user of the first mobile computer terminal.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the communication system includes a cellular network tower.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first mobile computer terminal is a personal computer.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first mobile computer terminal is a telephonic device.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining if the first mobile computer terminal is within the first area further comprises determining if the first mobile computer terminal is in a first state.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first mobile computer terminal is an interactive television.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining if the first mobile computer terminal is within the first area further comprises determining if the first mobile computer terminal is in a selected set of states, wherein the selected set of states includes more than one state.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first area is emphasized in the map.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first area is emphasized in the map, and an indication is provided that at least one terminal is currently located at the first area.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting to the first mobile computer terminal directions to the first area.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising denying access to the first service via the first mobile computer terminal at least until the first mobile computer terminal is in the first area.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, determining whether the received location data for the first mobile computer terminal is ambiguous as to whether the first mobile computer terminal is within the first area or outside of the first area, and at least partly in response, inhibiting the acquisition of the first ticket for the event.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer system cannot determine whether the first mobile computer terminal is in or is outside the first area.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein boundaries of the first area are defined by a governmental entity.

15. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first service relates to purchase of the first ticket.

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

assessing a characteristic of the user to determine whether the user is eligible to acquire the first event ticket,

wherein acquisition of the first ticket for the event is inhibited upon determining that the user is not eligible to acquire the first ticket.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the assessment includes determining whether an age of the user satisfies age restrictions for the event.

18. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the characteristic of the user is received from a third party.

23. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 17, wherein the first area is emphasized in the map, and an indication is provided that at least one terminal is located at the first location which is configured to access the first service.

19. A non-transitory computer readable media that stores a program, said program capable of being executed by a computer to cause the computer to:

receive at a computer system global positioning satellite and/or cellular network location data, wherein the location data corresponds to the approximate location of a first mobile computer terminal;

based at least in part on the location data, determine if the first mobile computer terminal is within a first area, wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to be authorized to access a first service, wherein the first service relates to acquisition of a first ticket for a sporting event or a concert event at a venue; and

at least partly in response to failing to determine that the first mobile computer terminal is in the first area, transmit a map to the first mobile computer terminal, the map including at least the first area, and inhibiting the acquisition of the first ticket for the event at the venue from the first mobile computer terminal;

determining if a changed location of the first mobile computer terminal is within the first area;

at least partly in response to determining that the changed location of the first mobile computer terminal is within the first area, enabling an acquisition of the first ticket for the event and inhibiting the acquisition of more than a predetermined quantity of tickets for the event by a user of the first mobile computer terminal.

20. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 19, wherein said program is capable of being executed by a computer to cause the computer to determine if the first mobile computer terminal is in a first state.

21. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 19, wherein said program is capable of being executed by a computer to cause the computer to determine if the first mobile computer terminal is in a selected set of states, wherein the selected set of states includes more than one state.

22. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 19, wherein the first area is emphasized in the map.

24. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 19, wherein said program is capable of being executed by a computer to cause directions to the first area to be transmitted to the first mobile computer terminal.

25. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 19, wherein said program is capable of being executed by a computer to cause the computer to deny the first mobile computer terminal access to the first service at least until the first mobile computer terminal is in the first area.

26. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 19, wherein the program is further capable of being executed by a computer to cause the computer to:

assess a characteristic of the user to determine whether the user is eligible to acquire the first event ticket,

wherein acquisition of the first ticket for the event is inhibited upon determining that the user is not eligible to acquire the first ticket.

27. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 26, wherein the assessment includes determining whether an age of the user satisfies age restrictions for the event.

28. The non-transitory computer readable media as defined in claim 26, wherein the characteristic of the user is received from a third party.

29. A method of processing location data for a computer terminal, the method comprising:

receiving at a computer system location data corresponding to the approximate physical location of a first terminal;

based at least in part on the location data, determining if the first terminal is within a first area, wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to be entitled to access a first service related to the acquisition of a first ticket for a sporting event or a concert event; and

at least partly in response to failing to determine that the first terminal is in the first area, transmitting to the first terminal location information indicating that the first ticket may be acquired in the first area, transmitting a map to the first mobile computer terminal, the map including at least the first location, and inhibiting the acquisition of the first event ticket from the first terminal;

determining if a changed location of the first terminal is within the first area;

at least partly in response to determining that the changed location of the first terminal is within the first area, enabling an acquisition of the first event ticket and inhibiting the acquisition of more than a predetermined quantity of tickets for the event by a user of the first terminal.

30. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the location data is related to global positioning satellite data.

31. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the location data is related to cellular tower location data.

32. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the location data is related to an Internet protocol address.

33. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the location data received while the first terminal is at a first location includes at least two of:

global positioning satellite data, cellular phone network related data, Internet protocol address data.

34. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first location is selected at least partly based on a zip code of the first location.

35. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first location is selected at least partly based on an estimated distance from the first terminal.

36. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first location is selected at least partly based on a zip code of the first location and on a zip code corresponding to an estimated location of the first terminal.

37. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first location is selected at least partly based on at least a portion of an address stored in an account record of the user.

38. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first location is selected at least partly based on a zip code stored in an account record of the user, wherein the user is associated with the first terminal.

39. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first terminal is a personal computer.

40. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first terminal is a telephonic device.

41. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first terminal is an interactive television.

42. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein determining if the first terminal is within the first area further comprises determining if the first terminal is in a first state.

43. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein determining if the first terminal is within the first area further comprises determining if the first terminal is in a selected set of states, wherein the selected set of states includes more than one state.

44. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first location is emphasized in the map.

45. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the first location is emphasized in the map, and an indication is provided that at least one terminal is located at the first location.

46. The method as defined in claim 29, further comprising transmitting to the first terminal directions to the first location.

47. The method as defined in claim 29, further comprising denying access to the first service via the first terminal until the first terminal is in the first area.

48. The method as defined in claim 29, further comprising determining whether the received location data for the first terminal ambiguous as to whether the first terminal is within the first area or outside of the first area, and at least partly in response, inhibiting the acquisition of the first ticket for the event.

49. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the computer system cannot determine whether the first terminal is in or is outside the first area.

50. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein boundaries of the first area are defined by a governmental entity.

51. The method as defined in claim 29, further comprising:

assessing a characteristic of the user to determine whether the user is eligible to acquire the first event ticket,

wherein acquisition of the first ticket for the event is inhibited upon determining that the user is not eligible to acquire the first ticket.

52. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the assessment includes determining whether an age of the user satisfies age restrictions for the event.

53. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the characteristic of the user is received from a third party.