Computer-based right distribution system with temporal variation

• US 20070027798A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ITA Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Brett, Kenton
• Granted Patent: US 8,732,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1809 for auctioneering devices

Abstract

An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.

Claims

1. A method for allocating a plurality of priority rights, the method comprising:

storing, in a memory, data associated with the plurality of priority rights, the data including priority right rank data and priority right time data;

receiving bid records that include bidder identification information, bid amount information and a bidder time preference;

ranking the bid records based on the bid amount information and the bidder time preference, such that the bid records have a bid record rank associated therewith; and

associating a selected bid record with a selected priority right based on the selected bid record rank and the selected priority right rank data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected bid record is associated with the selected priority right data based further on the selected priority right time data and the bidder time preference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of priority rights correspond to a plurality of event tickets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of priority rights correspond to a plurality of tickets to one or more events, and the priority right time data corresponds to times at which the one or more events occur.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising distributing the selected priority right to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising notifying the user that the selected bid record has been associated with the selected priority right.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bid records are received via the Internet.

8. A method for distributing a plurality of priority rights in an auction, the method comprising:

storing, in a memory, data associated with the plurality of priority rights, the data including event identification data that corresponds to one or more events;

receiving a plurality of bid records, the bid records including bid amount data and a bidder event preference; and

correlating a selected bid record with a subset of priority rights, wherein (a) the subset of priority rights is selected from the plurality of priority rights at least partially based on the selected bid record bid amount data, and (b) the subset of priority rights has associated therewith event identification data corresponding to the bidder event preference.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the event identification data includes event time data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the event identification data includes event venue data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of priority rights correspond to a plurality of event tickets.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more events correspond to a plurality of golf tee times.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising receiving registration information from the user before receiving the selected bid record.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising distributing the subset of priority rights to the user.

15. A method of auctioning a plurality of event tickets, the method comprising:

transmitting, over a network to a user terminal, a ticket auction start date prior to the ticket auction start date;

transmitting, over the network to the user terminal, minimum bid information associated with one or more events;

receiving, over the network from the user terminal, a plurality of ticket bids that are associated with the one or more events;

correlating at least a portion of the received ticket bids with event tickets, wherein the event tickets grant a right to attend the one or more events; and

transmitting a notification over the network to a selected terminal associated with a successful auction bidder.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network is the Internet.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more events are golf tee times.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the event tickets correspond to rights to attend a particular event at a particular time.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the notification is an electronic mail message.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving, over the network from the user terminal, registration information related to an auction bidder.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising distributing event tickets to the successful auction bidder.