PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090276364A1
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Inventors: Moriarty, Sean, Iaia, Vito
• Application Number:
  US12/435,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A computer system configured to provide process control is described herein. The computer system optionally includes a web proxy system, including a load balancer, and a cache cluster. An interface is configured to receive a user search query. A search engine is configured to receive the user query and to identify one or more corresponding events. An interface is configured to display identified events to the user and to receive a user selection of a first event. A data store is configured to store item requests received from a plurality of users for the first event, including corresponding request timing data. An optional servo system is configured to suggest an assignment of items with respect to the first event based at least in part on the number of prior item requests and corresponding request timing data.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a web proxy system, including a load balancer and web proxy processors, wherein the web proxy system is configured to selectively block or route inbound requests from remote terminals to a selected destination;

a queue configured to receive requests from the web proxy system;

a transaction system including a load balancer and transaction processors configured to generate transactional pages, populate data caches, provide logic and/or rules for the transaction flows, transmit queue related messaging;

a cache cluster system including a load balancer and cluster system processors, wherein the cache cluster system is configured to cache data and states for access by other computer system components;

an interface configured to receive a user search query;

a search engine configured to receive the user query and to identify one or more events corresponding to the user search query;

program code that when executed causes the computer system to;

access one or more Websites hosted by one or more different computer systems;

examine information posted on the one or more Websites;

identify data included in the information that indicates exchange rates associated with tickets for the first event;

provide a user interface configured to present at least a portion of the identified events to the user and to receive a user selection of a first of the identified events;

provide user interface configured to present fields for requesting a ticket for the first event, wherein a user can specify an acceptable exchange rate regarding the ticket;

a data store configured to store ticket requests received from a plurality of users for the first event, including corresponding acceptable exchange rates, and request timing;

a servo system configured to suggest allocations of tickets for the first event with respect to at least two different distribution channels based at least in part on the number of ticket requests, exchange rate data, request timing data and the identified data;

a data store configured to store an indication as to how event tickets are to be allocated to the at least two different distribution channels; and

program code that when executed issues at least a portion of tickets acquired via the two different distribution channels electronically.

2. The computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the allocation suggestion is based at least in part on anticipated system load.

3. A computer system, comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a user search query;

a search engine configured to receive the user query and to identify one or more events corresponding to the user search query;

program code that when executed provides;

a user interface configured to present at least a portion of the identified events to the user and to receive a user selection of a first of the identified events;

a user interface configured to present fields for requesting a ticket for the first event, wherein a user can specify an acceptable exchange rate regarding the ticket;

a data store configured to store ticket requests received from a plurality of users for the first event, including corresponding acceptable exchange rates, and request timing;

a servo system configured to suggest allocations of tickets for the first event with respect to at least two different distribution channels based at least in part on the number of ticket requests, exchange rate data, and request timing data;

a data store configured to store an indication as to how event tickets are to be allocated to the at least two different distribution channels; and

program code that when executed issues at least a portion of tickets acquired via the two different distribution channels electronically.

4. The computer system as defined in claim 3, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory that when executed causes to the computer system to:

access one or more Websites hosted by one or more different computer systems;

examine information posted on the one or more Websites; and

identify data included in the information that indicates asking and/or sales prices associated with tickets for the first event.

5. The computer system as defined in claim 4, wherein the program code is configured to suggest ticket allocations at least partly based on the identified data.

6. The computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the servo system is configured to suggest prices for at least a portion of the allocated tickets.

7. The computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the allocation suggestion is based at least in part on anticipated system load.

8. The computer system as defined in claim 3, further comprising program code stored in computer readable memory that when executed causes to the computer system to:

determine a ticket request rate based at least in part on the request timing data,

wherein the allocation suggestion is in part on the ticket request rate.

9. The computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the program code is configured to initiate offerings of allocated first event tickets via a second channel after offerings of allocated first event tickets via a first channel has ended.

10. The computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the two distribution channels include a dynamic pricing channel and a non-dynamic pricing channel.

11. The computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the two distribution channels include an auction channel and a fixed price channel.

12. The computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the two channels include an auction channel and a channel via which a plurality of sellers can sell tickets to the first event.

13. The computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the two channels include a fixed price channel, wherein once tickets are offered at a specified price, the price will not be increased, and a channel wherein tickets are offered at a specified price, but the seller has the option to increase the price prior to sale.

14. A computer system including a search engine, comprising:

program code stored in computer readable memory, that when executed is configured to provide an interface configured to receive a user search query;

a search engine configured to receive the user query and to identify one or more events corresponding to the user search query;

program code stored in computer readable memory, that when executed is configured to;

provide an interface configured to present at least a portion of the identified events to the user and to receive a user selection of a first of the identified events;

provide an interface configured to display fields for requesting a ticket for the first event, wherein a user can specify an acceptable exchange rate regarding the ticket;

a data store configured to store ticket requests received via a first distribution channel from a plurality of users for the first event, including corresponding acceptable exchange rates, and request timing;

an interface configured to provide information related to the plurality of ticket requests for the first event received via the first distribution channel, including information related to the ticket requests and acceptable exchange rates, wherein the information is configured to be used to determine, at least in part, allocations of tickets for the first event to at least two different distribution channels for the first event associated with different pricing techniques and to determine exchange rates for at least a portion of the allocated tickets; and

a data store configured to store an indication as to how event tickets for the first event are to be allocated to the at least two different distribution channels.

15. The computer system as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

a web proxy system, including a load balancer and web proxy processors, wherein the web proxy system is configured to selectively block or route inbound requests from remote terminals to a selected destination;

a queue configured to receive requests from the web proxy system;

a transaction system including a load balancer and transaction processors configured to generate transactional pages, populate data caches, provide logic and/or rules for the transaction flows, transmit queue related messaging; and

a cache cluster system including a load balancer and cluster system processors, wherein the cache cluster system is configured to cache data and states for access by other computer system components.

16. The computer system as defined in claim 14, further comprising a servo system configured to provide a suggestion regarding ticket allocations for the first event based at least in part on how many ticket requests have been received via the first channel.

17. The computer system as defined in claim 14, further comprising a data store that stores a sale rate for sales made via the first channel, wherein the sale rate is used at least in part to determine exchange rates for at least a portion of the allocated tickets

18. The computer system as defined in claim 14, wherein the two different distribution channels include an auction channel and a fixed price channel.

19. The computer system as defined in claim 14, wherein the two different distribution channels include an auction channel and a channel via which a plurality of sellers can sell tickets to the first event.

20. The computer system as defined in claim 14, wherein the two different distribution channels include:

a fixed price channel, wherein once tickets are offered at a specified price, the price will not be increased for those tickets; and

a channel wherein tickets are offered at a specified price, but the seller has the option to increase the price prior to sale.

21. A method of distributing resources, the method comprising:

storing in computer readable memory an allocation indication regarding an allocation of a first subset of resources to a first auction distribution channel using a computer system, wherein resources not included in the first subset of resources are not to be offered to users until offerings via the first auction distribution channel have concluded;

causing, at least in part, information regarding the first auction distribution channel to be transmitted over a data network to user terminals;

storing information related to how many winning bids were received for resources in the first set of resources in computer readable memory;

storing information related to exchange rates associated with the winning bids for resources in the first set of resources in computer readable memory;

based at least in part on the winning bid related information, allocating a second subset of resources to a first fixed exchange rate distribution channel;

based at least in part on information related to exchange rates associated with the winning bids for resources in the first set of resources, setting and storing in computer readable memory one or more fixed exchange rates to be used in association with the first fixed exchange rate distribution channel;

allocating a third subset of resources to a second auction distribution channel;

causing, at least in part, information regarding the second auction distribution channel to be transmitted over the data network to user terminals;

storing in computer readable memory information related to how many winning bids were received for resources in the third set of resources in computer readable memory;

storing in computer information related to exchange rates associated with the winning bids with respect to the third set of resources in computer readable memory; and

based at least in part on the winning bid related information for the third set of resources, allocating a fourth subset of resources to at least one distribution channel;

based at least in part on information related to exchange rates associated with the winning bids for the third set of resources, setting and storing in computer readable memory one or more fixed exchange rates, to be used in association with at least one fixed exchange rate distribution channel.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the exchange rate for at least one distribution channel is set based at least in part on information accessed from computer readable memory indicating how many remaining resources of a first type are available for allocation.

23. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein timing associated with at least one distribution channel is based at least in part on a minimum pre-specified interval between initiation of different distribution channels for the first event.

24. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein an exchange rate for a first plurality of resources that is to be distributed via at least one of the distribution channels is set based at least in part on information accessed from computer readable memory including:

a specified maximum exchange rate; and

a specified minimum exchange rate, wherein the specified maximum exchange rate and the specified minimum exchange rate are different.

25. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein an exchange rate for a first plurality of resources that is to be distributed via at least one of the distribution channels is set based at least in part on information accessed from computer readable memory including:

a specified maximum permissible exchange rate adjustment increment; and

a specified minimum permissible exchange rate adjustment increment.

26. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the number of resources allocated to the first auction distribution channel is limited to a pre-specified maximum permissible number of resources that are to be allocated using the first auction distribution channel, wherein the pre-specified maximum is less than all available resources and wherein less than the pre-specified maximum can be allocated to the first auction distribution channel.

27. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the first subset of resources includes tickets associated with seats, and wherein at least a portion of the seats are in different rows, wherein only a portion of a seats for a first row are associated with tickets in the first subset of resources and where seating not included in the first subset of resources are not sold via the first channel.

28. A method of distributing resources, the method comprising:

using a computer system to measure the progression and/or results of a first dynamically-priced ticket sale of a first set of tickets for an event, the first dynamically-priced ticket sale performed at least in part prior to the offer for sale of a second set of tickets via a fixed price sale;

based at least in part on information related to the progression and/or results of the first dynamically-priced ticket sale of the first set of tickets;

assigning, via the computer system, a number of tickets to be included in the second set of tickets, the second set of tickets including a first subset of tickets at a first fixed ticket price, and a second subset of tickets at a second fixed ticket price;

storing in computer readable memory an indication as to which tickets are in the first subset and the corresponding first fixed ticket price;

storing in computer readable memory an indication as to which tickets are in the second subset and the corresponding second fixed ticket price;

storing in computer readable memory sales information related to the second set of tickets;

using the computer system to measure the progression and/or results of a second dynamically-priced ticket sale of a third set of tickets for the event, the second dynamically-priced ticket sale performed at least in part after the offer for sale of the second set of tickets via a fixed price sale; and

based at least in part on information related to the progression and/or results of the second dynamically-priced ticket sale of the second set of tickets,

assigning a number of tickets for the event to be offered for sale at a third fixed price.

29. The method as defined in claim 28, further comprising using a servo system to provide a suggestion regarding ticket allocations for the event based at least in part on progression and/or results of the first dynamically-priced ticket sale.

30. The method as defined in claim 28, the method further comprising:

selling over a network a first ticket of similar quality to that of a ticket in the first subset at a price different than the first fixed ticket price via a non-auction sales channel,

wherein the non-auction sales channel is configured to sell tickets from multiple sellers at prices correspondingly set at least in part by the multiple sellers.

31. The method as defined in claim 28, wherein the act of assigning the number of tickets to be included in the second set of tickets is based at least in part on the information related to:

the progression of the first dynamically-priced ticket sale; and

on the results of the first dynamically-priced ticket sale.

32. The method as defined in claim 28, wherein the act of assigning the number of tickets to be included in the second set of tickets is based at least in part on the information related to the progression of the first dynamically-priced ticket sale, including the rate of sales for at least a first time period.

33. The method as defined in claim 28, wherein the act of assigning the number of tickets to be included in the second set of tickets is based at least in part on the information related to the progression of the first dynamically-priced ticket sale, including the distribution of sales during the first dynamically-priced ticket sale.

34. The method as defined in claim 28, further comprising assigning the first fixed ticket price based at least in part on bid amounts in the first dynamically-priced ticket sale.

35. The method as defined in claim 28, further comprising assigning the first fixed ticket price based at least in part on information related to how many bids were received in the first dynamically-priced ticket sale.

36. The method as defined in claim 28, further comprising assigning the first fixed ticket price based at least the average or mean of winning bids received in the first dynamically-priced ticket sale.

37. The method as defined in claim 28, the method further comprising defining a first bid group and a second bid group for the second dynamically-priced ticket sale based at least in part on sales information for the second set of tickets, wherein the first bid group is associated with a different minimum bid than the second bid group.

38. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the quality of seats associated with the first bid group is higher then the quality of seats associated with the second bid group.

39. The method as defined in claim 28, the method further comprising selecting a start time for the second dynamically-priced ticket sale based at least in part on sales information of the second set of tickets.