Interactive seat beacon with customization

• US 9,870,585 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prosports Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Prosports Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cronin, John E., Cronin, Seth M., Reasner, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Ludwig, Peter L
• Application Number:
  US14/798,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20160012515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Event venues include multiple seats for eventgoers, and each seat may be coupled to a seat beacon. The seat beacon may identify the ticket of an eventgoer sitting in them, either by scanning it, interfacing with a user mobile device, or accepting manual input at an interface provided at the seat. A centralized event venue controller may check the ticket identifier against seat identifiers in a ticket purchase information database. If the eventgoer is in the wrong seat, the seat may identify itself locally by lighting a light or remotely by notifying an administrator device. If the eventgoer is in the correct seat, the seat beacon may be used by the eventgoer to order food, drinks, Wi-Fi access, or seat customizations such as a seat heater or a name tag or a cooling cup holder. Such seat customizations can also be provided at the time of ticket purchase.

Claims

1. A system for event venue seat interaction, the system comprising:

one or more sensors associated with a seat at an event venue, the seat associated with a unique seat identifier, wherein the one or more sensors detect that a user is currently sitting in the seat;

detecting, by the one or more sensors, that the user is currently sitting in the seat;

a seat beacon attached to the seat, wherein the seat beacon comprises a user interface that;

in response to the detecting, and for a predetermined time period following the user being detected via the seat beacon, triggers a mobile device of the user to display a request for ticket information including at least,

a ticket identifier and the unique seat identifier; and

in response to the request, interface with the mobile device of the user and thereby receive the ticket identifier and the unique seat identifier from the mobile device of the user within the predetermined time period;

an event venue controller, including a processor that executes instructions stored in a memory of the event venue controller, that;

receives the ticket identifier and the unique seat identifier in an electronic communication transmitted from the seat beacon attached to the seat,

in response to receiving the ticket information at the event venue controller, queries a ticket database to determine that the received ticket identifier and unique seat identifier match stored ticket purchase information for the unique seat identifier associated with the seat,

transmits a match response to the seat beacon, the match response indicating that the received ticket identifier and unique seat identifier match the stored ticket purchase information associated with the seat, wherein the user is identified by the event venue controller as being authorized to continue sitting in the seat and activates an ordering feature of the seat beacon based on the matched response,

in response to identifying the user as being authorized, receives a transaction order from the seat beacon, the transaction order being placed by the authorized user requesting goods or services from one or more specified providers associated with the event venue, whereby the user places the order by interacting with a user interface of the seat beacon attached to the seat, and

transmits an action command to at least one of the providers associated with the event venue for fulfillment of the received transaction order based on identification of an authorized status of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor of the event venue controller further processes a payment identified within the transaction order.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction order requests at least one of a food item or a drink item.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction order requests access to a wireless Wi-Fi network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction order requests a seat customization of the seat associated with the seat beacon.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the provider is one of a food vendor or a drink vendor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the provider is the seat beacon.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the ticket database is stored locally at a storage device associated with the event venue.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the ticket database is stored remotely and is associated with a ticket vendor service.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the seat customization includes at least one of a seat heater, name tag, and cooling cup.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors include at least one pressure sensor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors include at least one thermal sensor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the event venue controller further notifies the user device regarding a reward upon the user being identified as being authorized to continue sitting in the seat based on the matched response.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the reward includes a discount on food, drinks, or event memorabilia.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the displayed request for ticket information is associated with the predetermined time interval, and wherein failure to provide the ticket information within the predetermined time interval results in a penalty.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the penalty includes denying use of the seat beacon for requesting goods or services.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the penalty includes an adjustment of the seat into position known to be uncomfortable.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the penalty includes activation of a signal indicating that the user is sitting in the wrong seat.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the signal includes a light indicator, sign, displayed message on the user interface, or an alert signal/message.