Method and System for Distributing Electronic Tickets with Visual Display

• US 20130262163A1
• Filed: 05/23/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Bytemark Incorporated
• Inventors: Bergdale, Micah, Grasser, Matthew, Guess, Christopher, Ihm, Nicholas, Valyer, Gregory, Krueckeberg, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 9,239,993 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 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history

Abstract

This invention discloses a novel system and method for distributing electronic ticketing such that the ticket is verified at the entrance to venues by means of an animation or other human perceptible verifying visual object that is selected by the venue for the specific event. This removes the need to use a bar-code scanner on an LCD display of a cell phone or other device and speeds up the rate at which human ticket takers can verify ticket holders. The system also can permit ticket purchase verification in the absence of a network connection during verfication.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer system for displaying visual validation of the possession of a previously purchased electronic ticket for utilization of a service monitored by a ticket taker comprising:

transmitting to a remote display device a validation display object associated with the previously purchased ticket, the validation display object being configured to be readily recognizable visually by the ticket taker, in order to cause the remote display device to display the validation display object so that upon visual recognition by the ticket taker, the user is permitted to utilize the service monitored by the ticket taker.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving from the remote display device a request to verify the purchase of the previously purchased electronic ticket;

determining the validity of the received request; and

transmitting a response to the remote display device confirming the verification of the electronic ticket in order to cause the display of the validation display object on the remote display device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

transmitting the validation display object to the remote display device prior to the step of receiving the request for verification.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

securing the validation display object prior to its transmission so that it is secured against being displayable on the remote display device in the absence of the condition that the previously purchased electronic ticket has been verified.

5. The method of claim 4 where the securing step is comprised of:

encrypting the validation display object.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting validation display object to the remote device prior to the device verifying the electronic ticket.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting security data to the remote display device in order to cause the remote device to authenticate the validation display object.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

securing the validation display object prior to its transmission so that it is secured against being displayable on the remote display device in the absence of the condition that the remote display device has verified the previously purchased electronic ticket.

9. The method of claim 8 where the securing step is comprised of:

encrypting the validation display object.

10. A system for validating previously purchased electronic tickets for utilization of a service monitored by a ticket taker, comprising:

a central computer system and at least one remote display device operatively connected to the central computer system over a data communication network, where the central computer system is adapted to transmit to the display device over the data communication network a validating display object associated with the previously purchased electronic ticket, the visual validation display object being configured to be readily recognizable visually by the ticket taker, and

the remote display device being adapted so that the device displays the validating display object so that upon visual recognition by the ticket taker, the user is permitted to utilize the service monitored by the ticket taker.

11. The system of claim 10 where the transmitted validating display object is further configured to be secure from being displayable in the absence of the condition of verification of the purchased electronic ticket.

12. The system of claim 11 where the transmitted validating display object is further configured to be secure from being displayable by means of being encrypted.

13. The system of claim 11 where the remote display device is further adapted to receive and store the validation display object prior to verification of the purchase of the electronic ticket.

14. The system of claim 10 where the remote display device is further adapted to display the validating display object in the absence of a connection with the central system.

15. The system of claim 14 where the transmitted validating display object is further comprised of data parameters that are configured to be used by the remote display device to perform the purchase validation.

16. The system of claim 10 where the validating display object is further adapted to change based on a user of the remote display device actuating the user interface of the device in a predetermined manner.

17. The system of claim 16 where the predetermined manner of actuation is the user touching a predefined area of the a display screen on the remote device.

18. The system of claim 17 where the predefined area of the display screen appears as a button.

19. The system of claim 16 where the predetermined manner of actuation is the input of a code into the remote device by the user.

20. The system of claim 16 where the predetermined manner of actuation is the input of a sound into the remote device.

21. The system of claim 16 where the predetermined manner of actuation is the detection of a predetermined location by means of a GPS detector associated with the remote device.

22. The system of claim 10 where the validating display object is further adapted to display in different versions of appearance where the selection of version is dependent on a pre-determined schedule.

23. The system of claim 13 where the remote display device is further adapted to display the validating display object in the absence of a connection with the central system.

24. The system of claim 10 further adapted to transmit the validating display object to the remote device in dependence on completion of a purchase of the electronic ticket.

25. The system of claim 10 where the validation display object is adapted to be unique to the specific remote device it is intended to be displayed on.

26. The system of claim 16 where the predetermined manner of actuation is input of a predetermined visual image.

27. The system of claim 10 where the data communication network is adapted to have a persistent channel between the central system and the remote device through which the central system can push content.

28. The system of claim 27 where the content is an advertisement that is selected from a plurality of advertisements in dependence on the type of purchased electronic ticket.