Computer-based right distribution system with password protection

• US 7,720,746 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brett, Kenton F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Havan; Thu Thao
• Application Number:
  US11/474,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 705 37- 38
• 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 of conducting an automated ticket auction for seat tickets offered by a seller, the method comprising:

providing to a plurality of remote terminals an auction user interface, the auction user interface including;

a password field;

a bid field;

seating information related to available seats at an event venue;

an event time;

receiving over a network purchase bids for one or more seats within the event venue from the plurality of remote terminals;

determining which bids are successful using a computer;

allocating event venue seat tickets offered by the seller to a plurality of successful bidders; and

providing an indication to the plurality of successful bidders that their bids were successful.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising delivering seat tickets to successful bidders.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a first seat at the event venue has a higher ranking than a second seat at the event venue.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising assigning contiguous seats to a first successful bidder.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in a database.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to at least one of the plurality of remote terminals.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to bidders.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising determining if at least one bid for an event venue seat exceeds a first limit.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing a user specified spending limit.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user interface is provided via a Web page.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the auction user interface further comprises a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the auction user interface further comprises a performer name.

15. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the auction user interface further comprises a sponsor name.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the auction user interface further comprises information regarding a plurality of bid price locations.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

transmitting a first message to a first bidder; and

removing a bid from the first bidder if the first bidder does not reply within a first period of time.

18. A method of conducting an automated ticket auction for seat tickets, the method comprising:

storing in a first database a password associated with a user, wherein the password is established during a user registration;

storing in a second database seat information;

receiving at a computer, via a network, a bid for a seat ticket from the user entered by the user into a form;

receiving over the network the password from the user and an instruction from the user that a bid-related parameter is to be raised;

automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to a bidder;

using the computer to determine which bids are successful;

using the computer to assign seat tickets to successful bidders using seat information from the second database; and

automatically transmitting a notification to successful bidders.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, further comprising transmitting over the network a bid acceptance message to the user.

20. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein bid-related parameter is a bid limit.

21. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising delivering tickets to successful bidders.

22. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein a first seat at the event venue has a higher ranking than a second seat at the event venue.

23. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising assigning contiguous seats to a first successful bidder.

24. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in the second database.

25. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to a remote terminal associated with a bidder.

26. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising determining if at least one bid for an event venue seat exceeds a first limit.

27. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising storing a user specified spending limit.

28. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the form is a Web page.

29. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a remote terminal.

30. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a remote terminal.

31. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising providing information regarding a plurality of bid price locations to a remote terminal.

32. The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising:

transmitting a first message to a first bidder; and

removing a first bidder bid from the auction if the first bidder does not reply within a first period of time.

33. A method of conducting an automated ticket auction, the method comprising:

storing in a first database a password associated with a user, wherein the password is established during a user registration;

storing in a second database seat information for a venue;

receiving, during an auction of seat tickets for an event at the venue, the password from the user and a bid for a seat ticket;

validating the bid;

automatically updating standing bid information and transmitting the updated standing bid information to the user;

using a computer to determine which seat ticket bids are successful; and

using the computer to assign seat tickets to a plurality of successful bidders using seat information from the second database.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, further comprising transmitting over the network a bid acceptance indication to the user.

35. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising delivering tickets to successful bidders.

36. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising assigning contiguous seats to a first successful bidder.

37. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in the second database.

38. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to at least one of the plurality of remote terminals.

39. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising determining if at least one bid for an event venue seat exceeds a first limit.

40. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising storing a user specified spending limit.

41. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising transmitting to a remote terminal Web page form including a password field and a bid field.

42. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising transmitting to a remote terminal Web page form including a password field, a bid field, and a seat quantity field.

43. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a remote terminal.

44. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a remote terminal.

45. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising providing information regarding a plurality of bid price locations to a remote terminal.

46. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising:

transmitting a first message to a first bidder; and

removing a first bidder bid from the auction if the first bidder does not reply within a first period of time.