METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPUTER AIDED EVENT AND VENUE SETUP AND MODELING AND INTERACTIVE MAPS

• US 20130144665A1
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Denker, Dennis A., Lew, Raymond Yung-Chien, Hsu, Debbie
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,180 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Described are systems and methods for designing certain aspects of an event venue and for communicating information regarding the event and the event venue to others. Certain embodiments provide a dynamic seat map via which an operator can assign certain characteristics to specific seats and/or seating sections. Certain embodiments generate interactive maps for users, via which information from a plurality of sources may be integrated and visually displayed. The user may specify certain criteria, and the interactive map may identify to the user seats and/or sections that match such criteria. Certain embodiments provide an interactive seat map via which users can select seats and share information.

Claims

1. A system configured to provide a seat map, comprising:

computing hardware;

a non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by the computing hardware, cause the computing hardware to perform operations comprising;

accessing a seat map for a venue, the seat map including a definition of a plurality of seats;

accessing purchase process information, wherein the purchase process information indicates;

a first ticket for a first seat is to be offered for sale via a first purchase process type, and

a second ticket for a second seat is to be offered for sale via a second purchase process type different than the first purchase process type;

accessing status information regarding a plurality of venue seats, the status information indicating seat availability;

transmitting the seat map for display on a user terminal,

wherein the seat map indicates seat availability, and

wherein the seat map visually indicates that;

the first ticket for the first seat is available for purchase via the first purchase process type, and

the second ticket for the second seat is available for purchase via the second purchase process type;

providing a user interface enabling a user;

to select the first seat via the seat map and to initiate a purchase transaction for the first ticket using the first purchase process type, and/or

to select the second seat via the seat map and to initiate a purchase transaction for the second ticket using the second purchase process type.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price and the second purchase process type includes an auction for the second ticket.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price and the second purchase process type includes the user specifying a price at which the user is offering to purchase the second ticket.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price, and

the second purchase process type includes the user specifying a price at which the user is offering to purchase the second ticket,

wherein the system is configured to transmit the user-specified price to a holder of the second ticket and receive a counter offer to the user-specified price from the holder of the second ticket and to transmit the counter offer to the user, wherein the counter offer specifies a price different than the user-specified price.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the seat map visually indicates that the user can submit an offer at a price specified by the user via the system for a third ticket for a third seat to a previous acquirer of the third ticket for the third seat, and

wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price, and

the second purchase process type includes an auction for the second ticket.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the seat map indicates via a first color code and/or a first icon that the first ticket for the first seat is available for purchase via the first purchase process type, and

wherein the seat map indicates via a second color code and/or a second icon that the second ticket for the second seat is available for purchase via the second purchase process type.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an application programming interface configured to access relationship information of the user from a social network system,

wherein the seat map is configured to display a first indication as to where at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, will be sitting at the event venue, and

wherein the seat map is configured to display a second indication as to which seat at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, has made an offer to purchase a ticket for.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an application programming interface configured to access relationship information of the user from a social network system, wherein the seat map is configured to display an indication as to where at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, will be sitting at the event venue.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an application programming interface configured to access relationship information of the user from a social network system, wherein the seat map is configured to display an indication as to which seat at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, has made an offer to purchase a ticket for.

10. A method, comprising:

accessing, by a computing system, a seat map for a venue, the seat map including a definition of a plurality of seats;

accessing, by the computing system, purchase process information, wherein the purchase process information indicates;

a first ticket for a first seat is to be offered for sale via a first purchase process type, and

a second ticket for a second seat is to be offered for sale via a second purchase process type different than the first purchase process type;

accessing, by the computing system, status information regarding a plurality of venue seats, the status information indicating seat availability;

transmitting, by the computing system, the seat map for display on a user terminal,

wherein the seat map indicates seat availability, and

wherein the seat map visually indicates that;

the first ticket for the first seat is available for purchase via the first purchase process type, and

the second ticket for the second seat is available for purchase via the second purchase process type;

providing, by the computing system, a user interface enabling a user;

to select the first seat via the seat map and to initiate a purchase transaction for the first ticket using the first purchase process type, and/or

to select the second seat via the seat map and to initiate a purchase transaction for the second ticket using the second purchase process type.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising, generating, by the computing system, the seat map.

12. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price and the second purchase process type includes an auction for the second ticket.

13. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price and the second purchase process type includes the user specifying a price at which the user is offering to purchase the second ticket.

14. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the seat map indicates via a first color code and/or a first icon that the first ticket for the first seat is available for purchase via the first purchase process type, and wherein the seat map indicates via a second color code and/or a second icon that the second ticket for the second seat is available for purchase via the second purchase process type.

15. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising:

accessing relationship information of the user from a social network system,

wherein the seat map is configured to display a first indication as to where at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, will be sitting at the event venue, and

wherein the seat map is configured to display a second indication as to which seat at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, has made an offer to purchase a ticket for.

16. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising:

accessing relationship information of the user from a social network system, wherein the seat map is configured to display an indication as to where at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, will be sitting at the event venue.

17. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising:

accessing relationship information of the user from a social network system, wherein the seat map is configured to display an indication as to which seat at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, has made an offer to purchase a ticket for.

18. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price, and

the second purchase process type includes the user specifying a price at which the user is offering to purchase the second ticket,

the method further comprising;

receiving a price specified by the user for the second ticket;

transmitting the user-specified price to a holder of the second ticket;

receiving a counter offer to the user-specified price from the holder of the second ticket; and

transmitting the counter offer to the user, wherein the counter offer specifies a price different than the user-specified price.

19. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

the seat map visually indicates that the user can submit an offer at a price specified by the user via the system for a third ticket for a third seat to a previous acquirer of the third ticket for the third seat, and

wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price, and

the second purchase process type includes an auction for the second ticket.

20. A non-transitory medium storing instructions that when executed by computing hardware, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

accessing a seat map for a venue, the seat map including a definition of a plurality of seats;

accessing purchase process information, wherein the purchase process information indicates;

a first ticket for a first seat is to be offered for sale via a first purchase process type, and

a second ticket for a second seat is to be offered for sale via a second purchase process type different than the first purchase process type;

accessing status information regarding a plurality of venue seats, the status information indicating seat availability;

transmitting the seat map for display on a user terminal,

wherein the seat map indicates seat availability, and

wherein the seat map visually indicates that;

the first ticket for the first seat is available for purchase via the first purchase process type, and

the second ticket for the second seat is available for purchase via the second purchase process type;

providing a user interface enabling a user;

to select the first seat via the seat map and to initiate a purchase transaction for the first ticket using the first purchase process type, and/or

to select the second seat via the seat map and to initiate a purchase transaction for the second ticket using the second purchase process type.

21. The medium as defined in claim 20, the operations further comprising, generating, by the computing system, the seat map.

22. The medium as defined in claim 20, wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price and the second purchase process type includes an auction for the second ticket.

23. The medium as defined in claim 20, wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price and the second purchase process type includes the user specifying a price at which the user is offering to purchase the second ticket.

24. The medium as defined in claim 20, wherein the seat map indicates via a first color code and/or a first icon that the first ticket for the first seat is available for purchase via the first purchase process type, and

wherein the seat map indicates via a second color code and/or a second icon that the second ticket for the second seat is available for purchase via the second purchase process type.

25. The medium as defined in claim 20, the operations further comprising:

accessing relationship information of the user from a social network system,

wherein the seat map is configured to display a first indication as to where at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, will be sitting at the event venue,

wherein the seat map is configured to display a second indication as to which seat at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, has made an offer to purchase a ticket for.

26. The medium as defined in claim 20, the operations further comprising:

accessing relationship information of the user from a social network system, wherein the seat map is configured to display an indication as to where at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, will be sitting at the event venue.

27. The medium as defined in claim 20, the operations further comprising:

accessing relationship information of the user from a social network system, wherein the seat map is configured to display an indication as to which seat at least one person, with whom the user has a relationship as determined via the relationship information, has made an offer to purchase a ticket for.

28. The medium as defined in claim 20, wherein:

the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price, and

the second purchase process type includes the user specifying a price at which the user is offering to purchase the second ticket,

the operations further comprising;

receiving a price specified by the user for the second ticket;

transmitting the user-specified price to a holder of the second ticket;

receiving a counter offer to the user-specified price from the holder of the second ticket; and

transmitting the counter offer to the user, wherein the counter offer specifies a price different than the user-specified price.

29. The medium as defined in claim 20, wherein:

the seat map visually indicates that the user can submit an offer at a price specified by the user via the system for a third ticket for a third seat to a previous acquirer of the third ticket for the third seat, and

wherein the first purchase process type includes purchase of the first ticket at a preset price, and

the second purchase process type includes an auction for the second ticket.