Systems and methods for providing resource allocation in a networked environment

• US 8,346,857 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Denker, Dennis, Levin, Kip, Scarborough, David
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US12/946,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20110060834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

Methods and systems for allocating resources, such as computer controlled resources, in a networked system are described. An example system includes a network interface, an item database, a load balancer, a web proxy processor configured to selectively block or route an inbound user browser request, a cache cluster system configured to cache data and states for access by other system components, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to store a session identifier on a user terminal associated with a user browser, process an item acquisition request from the user browser while the browser is accessing a first website, transmit to the browser an indication that the acquisition request is accepted if the acquisition request meets a predefined criterion, if the acquisition request is accepted then automatically transmit to the browser an offer to transfer the item to another, use the session identifier for identification, and determine if a transfer instruction has been received from the browser.

Claims

1. A resource allocation system, comprising:

a first network interface;

a database storing information regarding a plurality of items, the information for at least a first of the plurality of items including;

a date for an event at which the first item may be used;

an identifier of a current holder of the first item,

an indicator as to whether the first item has been transferred between two or more users; and

program code stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory, which, when executed by a computing system, causes the computer system to perform operations comprising;

storing a session identifier on a user terminal associated with a first user;

processing an acquisition request for an item from the user terminal received at a first network site accessed by the user terminal;

transmitting to the user terminal an indication that the acquisition request is accepted if the acquisition request meets at least a first predefined criterion;

if the acquisition request is accepted,

automatically transmitting to the user terminal an offer to transfer the item to another user prior to the user navigating away from the first network site;

receiving the session identifier from the user terminal;

using the session identifier for identification;

providing for display via the user terminal, in association with the offer to transfer, an interface via which the user can specify a transfer price for the item;

enabling a plurality of different entities to specify a first rule, wherein the first rule indicates that item may not be resold for more than a first amount;

determining if the transfer price complies with the first rule, wherein the first rule indicates that item may not be resold for more than the first amount;

transmitting for display via the user terminal a notification if the price does not comply with the first rule;

determining if a transfer instruction has been received from the user terminal; and

if the price complies with the first rule,

at least partly in response to the receipt of the transfer instruction, offering the item to at least one other user; and

transferring the item to a second user if a first criterion is met,

wherein the first user is inhibited from using the item after the item is transferred to the second user;

wherein the database stores;

 

an identifier associated with the first user in association with the item;

 

an identifier associated with the second user in association with the item,

wherein the item is an event ticket,

wherein the offer to transfer includes an offer to post the item for sale.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide the offer to transfer at substantially the same time the indication that the acquisition request is accepted is transmitted to the user terminal or substantially immediately thereafter.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code, when executed, is further configured to further cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

accessing an indication as to whether the first user is prohibited from transferring a second item acquired by the first user via the system, wherein the indication indicates that the second item is not to be sold by a purchaser of the second item to another person,

wherein the second item is an event ticket, and

inhibiting the ability of the first user to transfer the second item at least partly in response to the indication indicating that the first user is prohibited from transferring the second item.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code, when executed, is further configured to further cause the computer system to perform operations comprising providing the event ticket for transmission to a telephonic device associated with the second user.

5. Program code stored in non-transitory computer readable memory, which, when executed by a computing system, is configured to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

storing a session identifier on a user terminal associated with a first user;

processing an acquisition request for an item from the user terminal received at a first network site accessed by the user terminal;

transmitting to the user terminal an indication that the acquisition request is accepted if the acquisition request meets at least a first predefined criterion;

if the acquisition request is accepted,

automatically transmitting to the user terminal an offer to transfer the item to another user prior to the user navigating away from the first network site;

receiving the session identifier from the user terminal;

using the session identifier for identification;

providing for display via the user terminal, in association with the offer to transfer, an interface via which the user can specify a transfer price for the item;

enabling a plurality of different entities to specify a first rule, wherein the first rule indicates that item may not be resold for more than a first amount;

determining if the transfer price complies with the first rule, wherein the first rule indicates that item may not be resold for more than the first amount;

transmitting for display via the user terminal a notification if the price does not comply with the first rule;

determining if a transfer instruction has been received from the user terminal; and

if the price complies with the first rule,

at least partly in response to the receipt of the transfer instruction, offering the item to at least one other user; and

transferring the item to a second user if a first criterion is met,

wherein the first user is inhibited from using the item after the item is transferred to the second user;

wherein the database stores;

an identifier associated with the first user in association with the item;

an identifier associated with the second user in association with the item,

wherein the item is an event ticket,

wherein the offer to transfer includes an offer to post the item for sale.

6. The program code as defined in claim 5, the operations further comprising:

providing the offer to transfer at substantially the same time the indication that the acquisition request is accepted is transmitted to the user terminal or substantially immediately thereafter.

7. The program code as defined in claim 5, the operations further comprising:

accessing an indication as to whether the first user is prohibited from transferring a second item acquired by the first user, wherein the indication indicates that the second item is not to be sold by a purchaser of the second item to another person,

wherein the second item is an event ticket, and

inhibiting the ability of the first user to transfer the second item at least partly in response to the indication indicating that the first user is prohibited from transferring the second item.

8. The program code as defined in claim 5, the operations further comprising:

providing the event ticket in electronic form for transmission to a telephonic device associated with the second user.

9. A method comprising:

causing a session identifier to be stored on a user terminal associated with a first user;

processing an acquisition request for an item from the user terminal received at a first network site accessed by the user terminal;

transmitting to the user terminal an indication that the acquisition request is accepted if the acquisition request meets at least a first predefined criterion;

if the acquisition request is accepted,

automatically transmitting to the user terminal an offer to transfer the item to another user prior to the user navigating away from the first network site;

receiving the session identifier from the user terminal;

using the session identifier for identification;

providing for display via the user terminal, in association with the offer to transfer, an interface via which the user can specify a transfer price for the item;

enabling a plurality of different entities to specify a first rule, wherein the first rule indicates that item may not be resold for more than a first amount;

determining if the transfer price complies with the first rule, wherein the first rule indicates that item may not be resold for more than the first amount;

transmitting for display via the user terminal a notification if the price does not comply with the first rule;

determining if a transfer instruction has been received from the user terminal; and

if the price complies with the first rule,

at least partly in response to the receipt of the transfer instruction, offering the item to at least one other user; and

transferring the item to a second user if a first criterion is met,

wherein the first user is inhibited from using the item after the item is transferred to the second user;

wherein the database stores;

an identifier associated with the first user in association with the item;

an identifier associated with the second user in association with the item,

wherein the item is an event ticket

wherein the offer to transfer includes an offer to post the item for sale.

10. The method claim 9, the method further comprising:

providing the offer to transfer at substantially the same time the indication that the acquisition request is accepted is transmitted to the user terminal or substantially immediately thereafter.

11. The method claim 9, the method further comprising:

accessing an indication as to whether the first user is prohibited from transferring a second item acquired by the first user, wherein the indication indicates that the second item is not to be sold by a purchaser of the second item to another person,

wherein the second item is an event ticket, and

inhibiting the ability of the first user to transfer the second item at least partly in response to the indication indicating that the first user is prohibited from transferring the second item.

12. The method claim 9, the method further comprising:

providing the event ticket in electronic form for transmission to a telephonic device associated with the second user.