ELECTRONIC TICKETING SYSTEM AND METHODS UTILIZING MULTI-SERVICE VISTIOR CARDS

• US 20010018660A1
• Filed: 04/26/1998
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard P. Sehr
• Original Assignee: Richard P. Sehr
• Inventors: SEHR, RICHARD P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3555 Personalisation of two or more cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 : involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 : Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861

Abstract

A ticketing system and methods that encompass a plurality of entities, such as an event organizer, admission center, service providers and a visitor population, so as to automatically compile, issue, utilize and process ticketing cards for the admission to leisure & entertainment events and for other card-based entitlements. The portable, ticketing cards are realized by smart credit and/or debit card technology and have the ability to store in the card a computerized ticket template or electronic credit points, or to deduct from the card a monetary value or award points previously loaded into the card. Biometrics identification of cardholders, as well as cryptographic certification of card data and database information, can optionally be encoded into the cards, and can be verified and validated at various point-of-service locations upon presentation of the card for admission and for other services.

Claims

1. A ticketing system, comprising:

a plurality of remote databases including a portable database included in a handheld ticketing card, an issuer database maintained by an entity that stores data including an electronic ticket into the card, and an acceptor database maintained by an entity that accepts the card-based ticket for admission or other services;

database storage means for storing said electronic ticket in a distributed manner between and among said plurality of remote databases;

each of the remote databases containing at least a data subset of the ticket and said handheld ticketing card containing the common data set of the ticket;

said electronic ticket comprising automated access privileges to a sporting event or to other entertainment events;

a data communication link for communicating data including ticket related information between and among said plurality of remote databases;

a data input/output device for inputting or for retrieving the data/information into or from the remote databases;

a data display device for displaying the data/information stored in, inputted into, or received from the remote databases;

decisioning means for deciding if said electronic ticket stored in the card is authentic, including vouched for by said issuer entity, upon presentation of the card for utilization to said acceptor entity; and

means for automatically communicating changes or updates made to said electronic ticket between and among said plurality of databases whenever the data changes or updates are performed in any of said plurality of remote databases, so that each of the remote databases including the card contents is updated in real-time and automatically in response to said data changes or updates performed to contain the same and most current set of data for said electronic ticket;

said decisioning means comprising means for retrieving and for verifying a security key that was previously used by said issuer entity to electronically earmark the ticket stored in the card; and

if the verification process is successful, then conveying a message that the earmarked ticket is genuine and can be accepted in exchange for admission, including for usage as specified by the card-based ticket; and

if the verification process is not successful, then conveying a message that the ticket is not confirmed to be genuine and not vouched for by said issuer entity.

2. The system in

claim 1

, wherein said decisioning means further including means for determining if a cardholder is authorized to use a particular ticket stored in the card;

said determining means comprising;

means for verifying an identification number that was previously used to electronically earmark said particular ticket for usage by said cardholder; and

if the verification process is successful, then means for conveying a message that said cardholder is the legitimate user of the ticket; and

otherwise, means for conveying a warning that said cardholder can'"'"'t use the ticket;

said identification number comprising a biometrics characteristics information of said cardholder or other cardholder personal data.

3. The system in

claim 2

, wherein said decisioning means further including means for comparing or for correlating said security key or said identification number with information provided by an entity upon presentation of the card for use;

and

if there is a match or predefined correlation, then means for conveying a message that the authenticity or beneficiary of said particular ticket is positively established and the card-based ticket is unlocked including available for utilization; and

otherwise, means for conveying a message that the ticket is not authentic and the ticket is prohibited to be used by said entity.

4. The system in

claim 1

further including means for coupling the card to said issuer database to select, retrieve, and store a particular ticketing data into the card, comprising:

means for displaying a seating map illustrating database seating information including the status of seat assignments relating to a particular event;

means for selecting a particular seat assignment from among the plurality of illustrated seats based on event-related parameters including date, time, location, and ticket price of the event; and

means for providing payment in exchange for said selected particular seat assignment and means for storing the selected seat into the card;

said seat selection means comprising;

means for communicating to said seating map a desired seat assignment comprising a preferred seat location, or a budgetary ticket price comprising a predetermined ticket purchase price;

means for automatically determining is such seat is available; and

if available, then means for storing said desired seat assignment in the card; and

otherwise, means for automatically compiling and for conveying including displaying alternative seating data including related pricing information; and

means for downloading from said seating map the alternative seat into the card upon selection of said alternative seating data.

5. The system in

claim 1

further including:

means for electronically earmarking a card-based ticket with an admission stamp upon gaining initial access to a particular event;

means for verifying said admission stamp upon presentation of the card for a predetermined leave from said particular event; and

if the verification is successful, then means for storing an exit stamp into the card; and

otherwise, means for denying the loading of said exit stamp into the card; and

means for verifying said exit stamp upon presentation of the card for re-entry to said particular event; and

if the verification is successful, then means for admitting the cardholder to said particular event; and

otherwise, means for denying access thereto;

said admission stamp cancelling said card-based ticket to prevent multiple access to said particular event via the same ticket; and

said exit stamp reinstating the ticket'"'"'s access right.

6. The system in

claim 1

further including:

means for storing in the card a service code qualifying a cardholder for a particular service;

said service code comprising credit points to be used for parking, telephoning, or other services provided prior to, during, or after the event takes place,

means for coupling the card to a service provider database to receive said particular service; and

means for verifying the authenticity of said service code, and

if authentic, then means for rendering the service as specified by said service code;

said rendering means including means for debiting said credit points by said service provider database, and

otherwise, denying service via said service code;

said verification means comprising means for verifying a security key previously used to electronically earmark said service code; and

if the verification is successful, then means for confirming the code as being authentic and the service as being renderable; and

otherwise, means for considering the code as being not authentic and the service as not renderable.

7. A method of utilizing cardholder award points stored in a portable card;

said method comprising the steps of;

presenting the card for purchase of a particular good or service;

crediting the card with a number of award points based on predetermined parameters comprising the amount or type of said particular good or service purchased; and

debiting the card-based points upon presenting the card later on for the purchase of selected goods or services;

said debiting step comprising the steps of;

coupling the card to a an award point acceptor'"'"'s database including a point-of-sale terminal; and

deducting award points from the points previously credited into the card and uploading the deducted points into the database;

said deducting step being based on the amount or type of said selected goods or services.

8. The method in

claim 7

, wherein said step of presenting the card for purchase comprising the steps of:

verifying if a cardholder is enrolled into a particular loyalty program; and

if enrolled, then proceeding with the steps of crediting and/or debiting award points; and

if not enrolled, then filling out an on-line application form and automatically enrolling said cardholder into said particular loyalty program upon providing the application-based information.

9. The method in

claim 7

, wherein said step of crediting award points further comprising the step of electronically earmarking the award points with a validation code to assure the authenticity of the points, including to ensure that the points have a predetermined exchange value;

said validation code comprising a digital signature of an issuer of award points.

10. The method in

claim 9

, wherein said step of debiting award points further comprising the step of verifying the authenticity of said validation code;

and

if the code is authentic, then debiting and accepting the deducted points in exchange for a free, reduced, or upgraded good or service; and

otherwise, denying acceptance of the points;

said step of verifying said validation code comprising the steps of;

comparing or correlating said validation code against valid codes pertaining to said issuer of award points or against information provided by a card user entity; and

if there is a match or predefined correlation, then considering said validation code as being authentic, including the award points associated therewith as being exchangeable; and

otherwise, considering the code as being not authentic, including the points earmarked therewith as being not exchangeable.

11. The method in

claim 7

further including the steps of:

electronically earmarking the award points with a security key to assure that only a legitimate cardholder can use the points;

said security key comprising the cardholder'"'"'s biometrics data or other unique information;

subsequently presenting the card for use;

requesting and providing security information including the cardholder'"'"'s life biometrics data; and

verifying the provided information including comparing the life biometrics against the biometrics stored in the card; and

if there is a match;

then unlocking the award points for usage by said legitimate cardholder; and

otherwise, denying use of the award point by the cardholder.

12. The method in

claim 7

further including the step of conveying the status of the card-based award points, including of displaying the prior balance, points earned or deducted with a particular transaction, or the new balance.

13. A portable ticketing card, comprising:

a memory for storing ticketing data;

said ticketing data being electronically earmarked with a security key to assure that the data is authentic including useable to access a sporting event or other entertainment events;

input/output means for entering or retrieving the card data;

communication means for communicating card data with an event database upon presentation of the card for usage; and

means for verifying said security key; and

if the verification is successful, then means for accepting said ticketing data for usage including for access to the event; and

otherwise, means for denying service including access to the event via the card-based ticket;

said verification means comprising;

means for comparing or correlating said security key against information provided later on by a card user entity; and

means for unlocking including retrieving the card-based ticket if the information does match or correlate with the key; and

means for denying access to said ticketing data if there is a discrepancy or the information does not correlate with the key.

14. The card in

claim 13

, wherein said ticketing data further including an identification number relating to a rightful ticket-holder;

said identification number comprising biometrics information or other personal data of the holder to assure that only said rightful ticket-holder can use the card-based ticket.

15. The card in

claim 13

, wherein said communication means further including:

means for coupling the card to a ticket issuer'"'"'s database including a seating map;

means for selecting a particular seat assignment from among a plurality of seats made available via the database; and

means for downloading said particular seat assignment into the card;

said particular seat assignment including the date, time, location or prize of the ticket relating to a particular event.

16. The card in

claim 13

further including:

storage means for storing in the card an electronic payment form including a monetary value for the purchase of goods or services;

means for coupling the card to a vendor database including a point-of-sale (POS) device; and

means for debiting said monetary value in exchange for a particular good or service;

said debiting means comprising;

means for displaying the limit of said monetary value available in the card;

means for comparing the purchase amount compiled by said POS device against the monetary value limit stored in the card; and

if the purchase amount is equal or less than the limit, then means for subtracting the purchase amount from the monetary limit; and

otherwise, means for denying purchase via said monetary value, or means for debiting the monetary value limit up to the purchase amount and means for requesting additional payment via a different means.

17. The card in

claim 16

, wherein said monetary value comprising electronic currency or an advance drawn against a cardholder credit account or against payment points underwritten by an event sponsor.

18. The card in

claim 13

further including:

storage means for storing a cardholder'"'"'s date-of-birth (DOB) information in the card;

said DOB information being certified to be used to determine said cardholder'"'"'s age; and

means for presenting by said cardholder the card later on for a purchase of a predefined good or service requiring proof of a predetermined age;

said presenting means comprising;

means for coupling the card to a vendor database including a point-of-service terminal of an entity facilitating said purchase;

means for computing the age of said cardholder by subtracting the DOB from the date provided by the terminal; and

means for conveying the computed age of said cardholder to said vendor database; and

if the computed age is equal to or greater than said predetermined age, then means for conveying a message that said cardholder is qualified for the good or service; and

otherwise, means for conveying a message that said cardholder is not qualified for said good or service.

19. The card in

claim 13

further including:

means for coupling the card to a database comprising a floor plan of a particular event;

said floor plan comprising the blueprint of the seat assignments pertaining to the event;

means for communicating card data with said database;

the communicated data comprising a seat assignment and a cardholder location from where the data communications is initiated at; and

means for comparing said card data against the database information to determine and display onto the floor plan the card-based seat and the location of the cardholder, and directions about how to proceed to said seat assignment starting from said cardholder location.