System and method for managing seat reservations

• US 8,775,223 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CEATS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CEATS Incorporated
• Inventors: Halavais, Richard A., Chung, Tony Cheng-Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, SHANNON S
• Application Number:
  US13/616,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

This invention relates to an electronic means by which people can select the exact seat or seats they want for any type of event or reserve an appointment for any activity. More specifically, a customer or a ticket re-seller or a venue operator can go, for example, to the internet and select the event or activity for which he wants a ticket or tickets or reserve a time and reserve and order the exact seat or seats or the time of his choosing directly online. The seat or seats or reserved time he selects is then removed from the inventory for that activity or event and made not available for any other buyer and such is so indicated by a graphical representation or other such indicator on the online map or picture representing availability of seating or time for that event.

Claims

1. A system for interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions;

a server configured via instructions executable by the one or more processors to;

receive, over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receive, over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

query a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmit, as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmit, as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats;

receive, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device payment information data;

request acceptance of the received payment information data;

remove, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, from inventory and assign, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmit to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection has been assigned as associated with the first user; and

transmit, in response to assignment of the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection as associated with the first user, to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not available to the second user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second notification is transmitted before acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second notification is transmitted after acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats is selected by touch screen input.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to transmit, to the first personal computing device, a printable ticket for a seat assigned as associated with the first user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.

10. A system for interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions;

a server configured via instructions executable by the one or more processors to;

receive, over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receive, over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

query a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmit, as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmit, as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats;

receive, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device payment information data;

request acceptance of the received payment information data;

remove, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, from inventory and assign, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmit to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection have been assigned as associated with the first user;

transmit, to the first personal computing device, a printable ticket for a seat assigned as associated with the first user; and

transmit, in response to assignment of the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection as associated with the first user, to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not available to the second user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second notification is transmitted before acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second notification is transmitted after acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats is selected by touch screen input.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.

18. A system for interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions;

a server configured via instructions executable by the one or more processors to;

receive, over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receive, over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

query a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmit, as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmit, as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats, the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats selected by touch screen input;

receive, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device payment information data;

request acceptance of the received payment information data;

remove, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, from inventory and assign, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmit to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection have been assigned as associated with the first user; and

transmit to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not available to the second user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second notification is transmitted before acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second notification is transmitted after acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further configured to transmit, to the first personal computing device, a printable ticket for a seat assigned as associated with the first user.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.

26. A method of interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the method comprising:

receiving, by a server over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receiving, by the server over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

querying, by the server, a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmitting, by the server as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmitting, by the server as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receiving, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats;

receiving, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receiving, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device, payment information data;

requesting acceptance of the received payment information data;

removing, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, from inventory and assigning, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmitting to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection have been assigned as associated with the first user; and

transmitting, in response to assignment of the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection as associated with the first user, to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not available to the second user;

wherein the server comprises one or more processors configured to execute instructions.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein transmitting a second notification comprises transmitting the second notification before requesting acceptance of the received payment information data.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein transmitting a second notification comprises transmitting the second notification after requesting acceptance of the received payment information data.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats is selected by touch screen input.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting, to the first personal computing device, a printable ticket for a seat assigned as associated with the first user.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.

35. A system for interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions;

a server configured via instructions executable by the one or more processors to;

receive, over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receive, over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

query a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmit, as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmit, as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats;

receive, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device, payment information data;

request acceptance of the received payment information data;

transmit, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, a request to remove from inventory and assign, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmit to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection have been assigned as associated with the first user; and

transmit, in response to assignment of the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection as associated with the first user, to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not assigned to the second user.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the second notification is transmitted before acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the second notification is transmitted after acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats is selected by touch screen input.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the server is further configured to transmit, to the first personal computing device, data that can be used to print a ticket.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.

44. A system for interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions;

a server configured via instructions executable by the one or more processors to;

receive, over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receive, over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

query a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmit, as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmit, as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats;

receive, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device, payment information data;

request acceptance of the received payment information data;

transmit, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, a request, to remove from inventory and assign, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmit to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection have been assigned as associated with the first user;

transmit, to the first personal computing device, data that can be used to print a ticket; and

transmit, in response to assignment of the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection as associated with the first user, to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not assigned to the second user.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the second notification is transmitted before acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the second notification is transmitted after acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats is selected by touch screen input.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

51. The system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.

52. A system for interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions;

a server configured via instructions executable by the one or more processors to;

receive, over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receive, over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

query a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmit, as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmit, as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats, the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats selected by touch screen input;

receive, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receive, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device, payment information data;

request acceptance of the received payment information data;

transmit, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, a request, to remove from inventory and assign, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmit to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection have been assigned as associated with the first user; and

transmit to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not assigned to the second user.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the second notification is transmitted before acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the second notification is transmitted after acceptance of the received payment information data is requested.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the server is further configured to transmit, to the first personal computing device, data that can be used to print a ticket.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

58. The system of claim 52, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

59. The system of claim 52, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.

60. A method of interactively receiving a selection for one or more seats and removing the one or more seats from inventory, the method comprising:

receiving, by a server over a computer network as a part of a first reservation browser session, a first data query for a first seat map for a flight from a first personal computing device operated by a first user, wherein the first seat map comprises data descriptive of a first set of one or more available seats on the flight and a first set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the first seat map being configured to enable a browser of the first personal computing device to generate a first interactive seating display within the browser of the first personal computing device representing the first set of one or more available seats on the flight;

receiving, by the server over the computer network as a part of a second reservation browser session, a second data query for a second seat map for the flight from a second personal computing device operated by a second user, wherein the second seat map comprises data descriptive of a second set of one or more available seats on the flight and a second set of one or more unavailable seats on the flight, the second seat map being configured to enable a browser of the second personal computing device to generate a second interactive seating display within the browser of the second personal computing device representing the second set of one or more available seats on the flight;

querying, by the server, a data storage system for information descriptive of available seats for the flight;

transmitting, by the server as a part of the first reservation browser session, the first seat map over the computer network to the first personal computing device;

transmitting, by the server as a part of the second reservation browser session, the second seat map over the computer network to the second personal computing device, wherein the first reservation browser session and the second reservation browser session at least partially overlap in time;

receiving, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device over the computer network, a first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats;

receiving, as a part of the second reservation browser session, from the second personal computing device over the computer network, a second selection of at least one seat from among the second set of one or more available seats, wherein the second selection comprises at least one overlapping seat within the first selection;

receiving, as a part of the first reservation browser session, from the first personal computing device, payment information data;

requesting acceptance of the received payment information data;

transmitting, by the server, in response to acceptance of the received payment information data, a request, to remove from inventory and assign, as associated with the first user, the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection;

transmitting to the first personal computing device, as part of the first reservation browser session, a first notification that the at least one seat corresponding to the first selection have been assigned as associated with the first user; and

transmitting to the second personal computing device, as part of the second reservation browser session, a second notification that the at least one overlapping seat is not assigned to the second user,

wherein the server comprises one or more processors configured to execute instructions.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein transmitting a second notification comprises transmitting the second notification before requesting acceptance of the received payment information data.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein transmitting a second notification comprises transmitting the second notification after requesting acceptance of the received payment information data.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the first selection of at least one seat from among the first set of one or more available seats is selected by touch screen input.

64. The method of claim 60, further comprising transmitting, to the first personal computing device, data that can be used to print a ticket.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the first seat map is further configured to enable the browser of the first personal computing device to generate an additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing a location indicator over a portion of the first interactive seating display.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the first seat map comprises javascript that enables the browser of the first personal computing device to generate the additional display of information about the first set of one or more available seats on the flight in response to the first user placing the location indicator over the portion of the first interactive seating display.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein the flight comprises a single flight occurring at a first time.

68. The method of claim 60, wherein at least one of the first personal computing device or the second personal computing device comprises a wireless communication connection.