Stick-on ticket system and method

• US 10,373,395 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Harned, Jessica, Kelly, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Sonji N
• Application Number:
  US16/025,669
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10524 Hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 1/00 Machines for printing and issuing tickets printing mechanisms per se B41; output mechanisms of digital computers G06C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 5/04 for recording or registering tickets issued
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks

Abstract

A ticketing system includes a stick-on ticket, one or more stick-on ticket printers, and a stick-on ticket control system. The stick-on ticket includes a stick-on ticket carrier having a barcode disposed thereon and includes a sticker that has an identification tag and is configured to be removable from the stick-on ticket carrier and adhered to another surface. Each stick-on ticket printer is configured to read barcode information from the barcode to associate the barcode information with a user account and configured to read identification tag information from the identification tag, write identification tag information to the identification tag, or a combination thereof, to associate the identification tag with the user account such that the barcode and the identification tag are associated with the same user account. The stick-on ticket control system is configured to authenticate access to an amusement park based at least in part on the barcode information or the identification information read by the stick-on ticket reader.

Claims

1. A ticketing system, comprising:

a stick-on ticket comprising;

a stick-on ticket carrier;

a sticker comprising an identification tag and an adhesive layer, wherein the sticker is configured to be removable from the stick-on ticket carrier and adhered to another surface; and

a barcode comprising barcode information disposed on the stick-on ticket carrier on a carrier region of the stick-on ticket carrier not covered by the sticker when the sticker is disposed on the stick-on ticket carrier;

one or more stick-on ticket printers, each stick-on ticket printer configured to associate the barcode information with a user account and print the barcode on the carrier region on demand in response to a stick-on ticket request, wherein each stick-on ticket printer comprises;

an identification tag reader configured to read identification tag information from the identification tag, write identification tag information to the identification tag, or a combination thereof, to associate the identification tag with the user account such that the barcode and the identification tag are associated with the same user account; and

communication circuitry configured to communicate the barcode information and the identification tag information; and

a stick-on ticket control system coupled to the one or more stick-on ticket printers wherein the stick-on ticket control system stores instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause the stick-on ticket control system to;

receive the barcode information and the identification tag information from the one or more stick-on ticket printers;

store the barcode information and the identification tag information in association with the user account;

receive the barcode information or the identification tag information from a stick-on ticket reader associated with an amusement park; and

authenticate access to the amusement park based at least in part on the barcode information or the identification tag information read by the stick-on ticket reader.

2. The ticketing system of claim 1, comprising a barcode reader integrated within the one or more stick-on ticket printers to read the barcode information from the barcode.

3. The ticketing system of claim 1, comprising a barcode reader configured to read the barcode information from the barcode, wherein the barcode reader comprises a mobile or hand-held device.

4. The ticketing system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the stick-on ticket control system to authenticate access based on only one of the barcode information or the identification tag information.

5. The ticketing system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the stick-on ticket control system to authenticate access to one or more post-park services outside the amusement park.

6. The ticketing system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the stick-on ticket control system to authenticate ownership of the stick-on ticket, and in response to authenticating the ownership of the stick-on ticket, generate a replacement stick-on ticket.

7. The ticketing system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the stick-on ticket control system to deactivate the stick-on ticket at a pre-determined time.

8. The ticketing system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag stores information related to a stick-on ticket design.

9. A method of ticketing, comprising:

receiving a stick-on ticket request for a stick-on ticket, wherein the stick-on ticket comprises a sticker and a carrier region not covered by the sticker;

printing a barcode onto the carrier region on demand in response to the stick-on ticket request;

associating the barcode and an identification tag of the sticker of the stick-on ticket with a user to generate an associated stick-on ticket;

providing the associated stick-on ticket to the user;

reading information from the associated stick-on ticket at an attraction, wherein the information is associated with the user; and

authenticating access to the attraction based at least in part on the information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein associating the user with the barcode comprises scanning the barcode using a barcode reader communicatively coupled to a stick-on ticket printer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein associating the stick-on ticket with the barcode comprises scanning the barcode using a mobile device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein reading the information from the associated stick-on ticket comprises reading information from the barcode.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein reading the information from the associated stick-on ticket comprises reading information from the identification tag of the sticker.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising reading second information from a different portion of the associated stick-on ticket after the authenticating and not validating access to the attraction.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second information is from the barcode.

16. A stick-on ticket printer configured to print stick-on tickets, the stick-on ticket printer comprising:

a printer configured to print a barcode comprising barcode information on a stick-on ticket carrier comprising a sticker and a carrier region outside of a perimeter of the sticker or on an opposing surface of the stick-on ticket carrier, wherein the printer is configured to print the barcode on the carrier region on demand in response to a stick-on ticket request;

an identification tag reader configured to read an identification tag of the sticker associated with the stick-on ticket carrier to acquire identification tag information;

a processor configured to receive user information and associate the user information with the barcode information and the identification tag information to generate stick-on ticket information; and

communication circuitry configured to send the stick-on ticket information to a stick-on ticket control system.

17. The stick-on ticket printer of claim 16, wherein the identification tag reader comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader.

18. The stick-on ticket printer of claim 16, wherein the identification tag reader comprises near field communication (NFC) tag reader.

19. The stick-on ticket printer of claim 16, comprising a barcode reader configured to read the barcode to acquire the barcode information, wherein the barcode reader comprises an optical reader.

20. The stick-on ticket printer of claim 16, comprising a user interface configured to permit entry of the user information.