System and method for allocating access at events

• US 9,019,074 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan Amron
• Original Assignee: Ecredentials
• Inventors: Amron, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US13/196,342
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.65, 340/5.64, 340/5.2, 340/12.5, 235/380, 235/375
• US Class Current: 340/5.65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A credential management system which obviates the need to design, produce and distribute one-time printed passes to individuals authorized to be present at an event such, for example, as cast members, stage crew, security details and staff, important guests, performers, players, officials and many others. Electronic credential passes are distributed to invitees of an events such as a sporting event, a concert, a large social gathering, or filming of a movie or TV show. Each reusable pass is operative to display an image containing indicia representative of an event descriptor and an access level descriptor, whereby one can quickly and easily ascertain whether an individual seeking access to a particular area, during an event, is in fact authorized to do so. Optionally, the image displayed by each reusable pass can further include a photo of the bearer, a UPC bar code, and one or more logos corresponding to event sponsors.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

responsive to operation of a credential management system to store an event descriptor and a first access level descriptor applicable to a first group of individuals eligible to attend an event identified by the event descriptor,

receiving, via a communication interface of a first reusable badge having a memory, a processor and an electronic display, information representative of the event descriptor and the first access level descriptor, the first reusable badge being wearable by a first member of the first group of individuals;

in a first displaying step, displaying on the display of the first reusable badge, a visible image containing indicia representative of the event descriptor and the first access level descriptor while the first reusable badge is being one of carried or worn by the first member of the first group of individuals;

in a second displaying step, displaying on the display of the first reusable badge, a first supplemental indicia for the duration of an initial interval of time; and

in a third displaying step, displaying on the display of the first reusable badge, a second supplemental indicia, replacing the first supplemental indicia, for the duration of an interval of time subsequent to the initial interval, wherein each of the first and second supplemental indicia comprises a respective UPC code for which an association exists, in the credential management system, with both an event and the first member for a respectively different time interval coincident with an event identified by the event descriptor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to operation of the credential management system to store a second access level descriptor applicable to a second group of individuals eligible to attend the event identified by the event descriptor,

receiving, via a communication interface of a second reusable badge having a memory, a processor and an illuminated electronic display, information representative of the event descriptor and the second access level descriptor, the second reusable badge being wearable by a first member of the second group of individuals; and

in a fourth displaying step, displaying on the second reusable badge, a visible image containing indicia representative of the event descriptor and the second access level descriptor while the first reusable badge is being one of carried or worn by the first member of the first group of individuals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first group of individuals eligible to attend the event comprises individuals having a potential need to enter locations from which other attendees of the event are restricted.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indicia representative of the first access level descriptor includes one of the words “

Staff” and

“

Crew”

.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second group of individuals eligible to attend the event comprises individuals desiring the ability to enter locations from which other attendees of the event are restricted.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the indicia representative of the first access level descriptor identifies at least one location to which entry by most other attendees of the event is restricted.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein seats are respectively assigned by the credential management system to corresponding individuals attending the event, the method further including a step of displaying, on a reusable badge worn by a corresponding individual attending the event, an image containing indicia representative of the event descriptor and a respective assigned seat.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of operating the display of the first reusable badge so as to toggle between display of the visible image containing indicia representative of the event descriptor and the first access level descriptor and display of the first member'"'"'s position location on a facility map.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the event is one of an athletic event, a musical performance, or a gathering attended by invitees.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of individuals eligible to be attend the event comprises individuals having a potential need to enter locations from which at least some attendees of the event are restricted.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of individuals eligible to be attend the event comprises individuals desiring the ability to enter locations from which at least some attendees of the event are restricted.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the visible indicia representative of the first access level descriptor and displayed during the first displaying step identifies at least one location to which entry by most other attendees of the event is prohibited.

13. The method of claim 1, further including, responsive to assignment of respective seats to corresponding individuals attending the event, a step of displaying, on a reusable badge worn by a corresponding individual attending the event, an image containing indicia representative of the event descriptor and a respective assigned seat.

14. The method claim 1, wherein the initial and subsequent intervals are not equal in duration.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second supplemental indicia further comprises respective corporate logos associated with corresponding event sponsors, and wherein all reusable badges programmed for use at a selected event are configurable by the credential management system to display the same logo synchronously during the event identified by the event descriptor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each reusable badge displays a common sponsor logo for the duration of a selectable interval.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of admitting to at least one area during an event, only individuals wearing a reusable badge displaying the event descriptor, the first access level descriptor, and the sponsor logo corresponding to the applicable time interval, and preventing entry of at least some other event attendees.

18. The method of claim 1, further including receiving, via a communication interface of each reusable badge worn by a member of the first group of individuals eligible to attend the event identified by the event descriptor, information specifying a respective UPC bar code and a corresponding time interval during which each UPC code is to be displayed.

19. The method of claim 18, further including a step of displaying, on each reusable badge worn by a member of the first group of individuals at an event identified by the event descriptor, an image containing each of the event descriptor, the first access level descriptor, and a respective UPC bar code.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on each reusable badge worn by a respective member of the first group of individuals at an event identified by the event descriptor, an image containing each of the event descriptor, the first access level descriptor, an image of said respective member, and a UPC bar code applicable to a current time interval.

21. A system for allocating levels of access privileges among event attendees, comprising:

a plurality of reusable passes, each pass comprising a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and an electronic display; and

a credential management system, said credential management system being configured to store at least one event descriptor and at least one access level descriptor, the credential management system being further configured

to assign a respective plurality of different UPC symbols to each of the plurality of reusable passes,

to associate a first assigned UPC symbol of each plurality with a first pass of the plurality of passes during a first time interval coincident with an event designated by the at least one event descriptor; and

to associate a second assigned UPC symbol with the first pass during a second time interval coincident with the event designated by the at least one event descriptor;

wherein the first pass is responsive to information received from the credential management to display an image containing indicia representative of the event descriptor and the first access level descriptor, and

wherein the first pass is further responsive to information received from the credential management system to display the first assigned UPC symbol for the duration of the first time interval and to display the second assigned UPC symbol, as a replacement for the first assigned UPC symbol, for the duration of the second time interval.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein each reusable pass further includes a respective global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver operative to obtain positional data and a corresponding network transceiver for establishing a telecommunication link with a cellular network to thereby transmit position data for monitoring a location of each reusable pass during an event.