Electronic ticketing system and method

• US 20030066883A1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Yu, Allen K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,044,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 9/21 having a variable access code

Abstract

A method and system for electronic ticket recognition and acceptance. The method includes the step of facilitating a purchase of an electronic ticket from a networked ticketing computer. Another step is downloading the electronic ticket to a portable computing device having a data output. An additional step is enabling activation of the electronic ticket to communicate the electronic ticket via the data output. This allows the displayed electronic ticket is optically communicated to a ticket receiving unit.

Claims

1. A method for electronic ticket recognition and acceptance, comprising the steps of:

facilitating a purchase of an electronic ticket from a networked ticketing computer;

downloading the electronic ticket to a portable computing device having a data output;

enabling activation of the electronic ticket to communicate the electronic ticket via the data output, wherein the electronic ticket is optically communicated to a ticket receiving unit.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of using a video display output as a data output.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying the electronic ticket on the video display output in the visual form of a bar code that is optically scannable by a ticket receiving unit.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of downloading the electronic ticket to the portable computing device using a wireless communication link.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of downloading the electronic ticket to the portable computing device using a wireless modem.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of purchasing the electronic ticket from the networked ticket computer via the Internet.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of optically communicating the electronic ticket to the ticket receiving unit using an infrared communication link.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of applying security features to the electronic ticket in order to avoid ticket counterfeiting.

9. A method for electronic ticket recognition and acceptance for a ticketed event, comprising the steps of:

facilitating a purchase of an electronic ticket from a networked ticketing computer;

enabling downloading of the electronic ticket to a portable computing device having a visual display output;

accepting the electronic ticket by optical communication with a ticket receiving unit; and

providing entry to the ticketed event after the electronic ticket has been accepted.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the accepting step further comprises the step of activating the electronic ticket by displaying the electronic ticket on the visual display output.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the activating step further comprises the step of activating the electronic ticket via a visual symbol.

12. A method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of displaying the electronic ticket on the display output with a bar code that is optically scannable by a ticket receiving unit.

13. A method for electronic ticket recognition and acceptance at a ticketed event, comprising the steps of:

facilitating purchasing of an electronic ticket from a networked ticketing computer;

downloading the electronic ticket to a portable computing device having a display output;

accepting the electronic ticket by optical communication with a ticket receiving unit;

providing amenities to a ticket user based on the accepted ticket.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of providing amenities further comprises the step of providing a discount for concession items available at the ticketed event via a ticket receiving unit.

15. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of providing amenities further comprises the step of providing an event map via remote communication wherein the electronic ticket allows the event map to be downloaded and activated.

16. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of providing amenities further comprises the step of providing directions to a person'"'"'s seat at the ticketed event using the electronic ticket.

17. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of providing amenities further comprises the step of providing directions to a person'"'"'s seat at the ticketed event based on a location of a ticket receiving unit where the person entered the ticketed event.

18. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of providing amenities further comprises the step of providing an electronic event program via remote communication, wherein the electronic ticket allows the electronic event program to be downloaded and viewed.

19. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of providing amenities further comprises the step of providing a map that is customizable based on the electronic ticket.