Dynamic interactive user interface

• US 7,548,868 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CEATS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CEATS Incorporated
• Inventors: Halavais, Richard Arthur, Chung, Tony Cheng-Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saliard; Shannon S
• Application Number:
  US12/329,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interactive user interface and method that presents a coherent view of an inventory of seats in a venue. The user interface is dynamically updated based on selections by the users. Embodiments include a method for displaying to users a physical layout of seats and related status that are based on information returned from a database query. The information may include seat availability and updates to the status of each of the seats based on selections made by other users. The method may further include determining a clickable area for each seat that indicates the status of the seat based on a response to the query, and displaying to the user an updated view that indicates the status of each seat including selections made by other users.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting a coherent view of an inventory of seats in a venue, wherein the view is presented to a plurality of users and dynamically maintained based on selections by the users, the method comprising:

displaying, to a first user, at least one view of the venue that indicates a physical layout of seats in the venue and a status of each of the seats;

querying a database for information relating to availability of seats for the venue in response to a mouse over of at least one of the seats in the view of the venue by the user, the information indicating updates to the status of each of the seats based on selections made by other users that have viewed the at least one view of the venue and wherein the mouse over initiates display of current available seat information that indicates seats that have not been previously taken;

determining a clickable area for selection with a mouse by the user for each seat that indicates the status of each seat based on a response to the query; and

displaying, to the first user, an updated at least one view that indicates the status of each seat including selections made by other users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for a seat that has been reserved by another user, generating a graphical indication denoting the reserved status of the entry; and

overlaying the graphical indication on the view.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a visual response is displayed to the first user when a mouse is placed over the clickable area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the visual response comprises displaying additional information relating to the seat associated with the clickable area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a visual response is provided when a mouse is placed over the clickable area and subsequently moved away from the clickable area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the clickable area is shaped to indicate a type of seating offered in the venue.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the view is assigned a new name when it is generated, whereby the new name causes a browser displaying the dynamic seating chart to display the most recent version.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying is executed when the first user submits a selection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one view shows seats grouped by sections.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the venue is theater.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the venue is a stadium.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the venue is an airplane.

13. A system for presenting to a plurality of users a coherent view of an inventory of seats in a venue dynamically maintained based on selections by the users, the system comprising:

a database storing a plurality of entries denoting a status of each of the seats in the venue, wherein the entries are updated based on user selections; and

a server, configured to;

cause a general purpose computer to display, to a first user, at least one view of the venue that indicates a physical layout of seats in the venue and the status of each of the seats;

query the database for information relating to availability of seats for the venue in response to a mouse over of at least one of the seats in the view of the venue by the user, the information indicating updates to the status of each of the seats based on selections made by other users that have viewed the at least one view of the venue and wherein the mouse over initiates display of current available seat information that indicates seats that have not been previously taken;

determine a clickable area for selection with a mouse by the user for each seat that indicates the status of each seat based on the database information; and

cause the general purpose computer to display, to the first user, an updated at least one view that indicates the status of each seat including selections made by other users.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a visual response is displayed to the first user when a mouse is placed over the clickable area.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the clickable area is shaped to indicate a type of seating offered in the venue.