Methods and systems for computer aided event and venue setup and modeling and interactive maps

• US 8,676,615 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Callaghan, James Paul, Denker, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, SHANNON S
• Application Number:
  US13/289,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20120323612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/5, 348/222
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Described are systems and methods for designing certain aspects of an event venue and for communicating information regarding the event and the event venue to others. Certain embodiments provide a dynamic seat map via which an operator can assign certain characteristics to specific seats and/or seating sections. Certain embodiments generate interactive maps for users, via which information from a plurality of sources may be integrated and visually displayed. The user may specify certain criteria, and the interactive map may identify to the user seats and/or sections that match such criteria. Certain embodiments provide an interactive seat map via which users can select seats and share information.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an image display on a remote mobile device, comprising:

a computing system, including computing hardware;

a non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising;

detecting the presence of the remote mobile device at an event venue, the event venue including a plurality of seats and the remote mobile device including a display and an imaging device;

identifying a first user associated with the remote mobile device;

determining what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user based at least in part on a detected position and orientation of the remote mobile device and a configuration of the event venue,

wherein what is being displayed by the remote mobile device display includes a real-time image captured by the imaging device;

accessing relationship information from a social network repository for the first user, the relationship information identifying at least a second user with whom the first user has a relationship;

identifying a seating location in the event venue that is associated with the second user while the first user is at the event venue;

determining whether the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing computer generated data to be displayed in association with the seating location associated with the second user included in the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display, the computer generated data including;

an identifier of the second user, and/or

an indication that the first user has a relationship with second user.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to determine what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user using orientation information from a gyroscope included in the remote mobile device.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to:

determine which friends of the user have arrived at the event, and

provide one or more corresponding arrival indications for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the user previously identified one or more people as friends and such identification was stored in memory for later access.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user:

a photograph transmitted from a remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the second user is located at the event venue;

a text message transmitted from the remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the first user is located in the venue.

6. A system for controlling an image display on a remote mobile device, comprising:

a computing system, including computing hardware;

a non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising;

detecting the presence of the remote mobile device at an event venue, the event venue including a plurality of seats and the remote mobile device including a display and an imaging device;

identifying a first user associated with the remote mobile device;

determining what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, wherein what is being displayed by the remote mobile device display includes a real-time image captured by the imaging device;

accessing relationship information for the first user, the relationship information identifying at least a second user with whom the first user has a relationship;

identifying a seating location in the event venue that is associated with the second user while the first user is at the event venue;

determining whether the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing computer generated data to be displayed in association with the seating location associated with the second user included in the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, the computer generated data including;

an identifier of the second user, and/or

an indication that the first user has a relationship with the second user.

7. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to access the relationship information from a social network database.

8. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to determine what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user based at least in part by determining the position and orientation of the remote mobile device.

9. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to determine what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user using orientation information from a gyroscope included in the remote mobile device.

10. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to:

access the relationship information from a social network database,

determine which friends of the user have arrived at the event, and

provide one or more corresponding arrival indications for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user.

11. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to provide for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user:

a photograph transmitted from a remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the second user is located at the event venue;

a text message transmitted from the remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the first user is located in the venue.

12. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to determine if a venue exit and/or a venue amenity is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user;

and

at least partly in response to determining that the exit and/or the amenity is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing, at least in part, second computer generated data to be displayed in association with the display of the exit and/or the amenity.

13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the second computer generated data is configured to identify the service being provided by the amenity.

14. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to determine if an available seat is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user;

and

at least partly in response to determining that the available seat is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing an indication to be displayed via the remote mobile device indicating that the user may acquire a right to occupy the available seat.

15. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to:

determine if a performer is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the performer is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user;

causing information, including textual information, regarding the performer to be displayed via the remote mobile device associated with the first user.

16. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a computing system, the presence of a remote mobile device at an event venue, the event venue including a plurality of seats and the remote mobile device including a display and an imaging device;

identifying, by the computing system, a first user associated with the remote mobile device;

determining, by the computing system, what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user based at least in part on a configuration of the event venue, wherein what is being displayed by the remote mobile device includes a real-time image captured by the imaging device;

accessing, by the computing system, relationship information for the first user, the relationship information identifying at least a second user with whom the first user has a relationship;

identifying, by the computing system, a seating location in the event venue that is associated with the second user while the first user is at the event venue;

determining whether the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user;

causing, by the computing system, at least in part, computer generated data to be displayed in association with the seating location associated with the second user included in the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, the computer generated data including an identifier of the second user and/or an indication that the first user has a relationship with the second user.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, the method further comprising accessing, by the computing system, the relationship information from a social network database.

18. The method as defined in claim 16, the method further comprising determining, by the computing system, what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user based at least in part by determining the position and orientation of the remote mobile device.

19. The method as defined in claim 16, the method further comprising determining, by the computing system, what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user using orientation information from a gyroscope included in the remote mobile device.

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

accessing, by the computing system, the relationship information from a social network database,

determining, by the computing system, which friends of the user have arrived at the event, and

providing, by the computing system, one or more corresponding arrival indications for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user.

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

providing for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user;

a photograph transmitted from a remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the second user is located at the event venue;

a text message transmitted from the remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the first user is located in the venue.

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

determining, by the computing system, if a venue exit and/or a venue amenity is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the exit and/or the amenity is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing, by the computing system, at least in part, second computer generated data to be displayed in association with the display of the exit and/or the amenity.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the second computer generated data is configured to identify the service being provided by the amenity.

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

determining, by the computing system, if an available seat is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the available seat is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing, by the computing system, an indication to be displayed via the remote mobile device indicating that the user may acquire a right to occupy the available seat.

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

determining, by the computing system, if a performer is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the performer is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing, by the computing system, information, including textual information, regarding the performer to be displayed via the remote mobile device associated with the first user.

26. A non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

detecting the presence of a remote mobile device at an event venue, the event venue including a plurality of seats and the remote mobile device including a display and an imaging device;

identifying a first user associated with the remote mobile device;

determining what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, wherein what is being displayed by the remote mobile device display includes a real-time image captured by the imaging device;

accessing relationship information for the first user, the relationship information identifying at least a second user with whom the first user has a relationship;

identifying a seating location in the event venue that is associated with the second user while the first user is at the event venue;

determining whether the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the seating location associated with the second user is included in the part of the venue of the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing computer generated data to be displayed in association with the seating location associated with the second user included in the real-time image being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, the computer generated data including;

an identifier of the second user, and/or

an indication that the first user has a relationship with the second user.

27. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising accessing, by the computing system, the relationship information from a social network database.

28. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising determining what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user based at least in part by determining the position and orientation of the remote mobile device.

29. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising determining what part of the event venue is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user using orientation information from a gyroscope included in the remote mobile device.

30. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising:

accessing the relationship information from a social network database,

determining which friends of the user have arrived at the event, and

providing one or more corresponding arrival indications for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user.

31. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising:

providing for display on the remote mobile device associated with the first user;

a photograph transmitted from a remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the second user is located at the event venue;

a text message transmitted from the remote mobile device associated with the second user while the remote mobile device associated with the first user is located in the venue.

32. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising:

determining if a venue exit and/or a venue amenity is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the exit and/or the amenity is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing, at least in part, second computer generated data to be displayed in association with the display of the exit and/or the amenity.

33. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising:

determining if an available seat is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the available seat is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing an indication to be displayed via the remote mobile device indicating that the user may acquire a right to occupy the available seat.

34. The medium as defined in claim 26, the operations further comprising:

determining if a performer is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user; and

at least partly in response to determining that the performer is being displayed by the remote mobile device display associated with the first user, causing information, including textual information, regarding the performer to be displayed via the remote mobile device associated with the first user.