Computer-based right distribution system with reserve pricing
View Patent ↗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.
1. A method of conducting an automated auction over a network for event tickets and providing real-time auction update information, the method comprising:
storing a starting minimum bid value for an event ticket in a first database, wherein the starting minimum bid value is stored in association with seat identification information;
transmitting to a remote terminal associated with a user, via a Web interface, the starting minimum bid value for the event ticket;
receiving, via the Web interface, a first bid from a bidder;
using a computer to determine if the first bid is acceptable;
automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to bidders; and
if the first bid is not acceptable, transmitting over a network a notification to the bidder indicating that the first bid is not acceptable.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the seat identification information includes:
section information;
row information; and
a seat number.
3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the seat identification information includes a unique seat identifier.
4. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising storing standing bid information in association with the seat identification information.
5. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising storing auction participant identification information in association with the seat identification information.
6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the starting minimum bid value is pre-set.
7. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising:
transmitting a standing minimum bid associated with the event ticket to a plurality of remote terminals after receiving the first bid;
receiving a second bid from a second bidder;
determining if the second bid is acceptable; and
if the second bid is acceptable, transmitting a corresponding message to the second bidder.
8. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising storing a maximum allowable bid for the first user.
9. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising storing a spending limit for the first user.
10. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising:
receiving a plurality of event ticket bids;
determining which bids are successful using a computer;
allocating event tickets to successful bidders; and
providing an indication to successful bidders that their seat ticket bids were successful.
11. The method as defined in claim 1 ,the method further comprising delivering event tickets to successful bidders.
12. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in a database.
13. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to a plurality of remote terminals.
14. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.
15. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.
16. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.
17. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the plurality of remote terminals, wherein the user interface displays a performer name associated with an event for which event tickets are being auctioned.
18. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the plurality of remote terminals, wherein the user interface displays a sponsor name associated with an event for which event tickets are being auctioned.
19. A method of conducting an automated auction over a network for event tickets, the method comprising:
storing in a first database a minimum bid value corresponding to an event ticket, wherein the minimum bid value is stored in association with seat identification information;
transmitting to a remote terminal associated with a user the minimum bid value for the event ticket;
receiving bid information for a first bid, including:
bidder identification information;
venue section identification information;
seat quantity information;
bid price information;
determining if the first bid is acceptable based at least in part on the minimum bid value; and
if the first bid is not acceptable, transmitting a notification to the bidder indicating that the first bid is not acceptable.
20. The method as defined in claim 19 , wherein:
the minimum bid value for the event ticket is transmitted via a Web interface; and
the bid information is received via the Web interface.
21. The method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the seat identification information includes:
section information;
row information; and
a seat number.
22. The method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the seat identification information includes a unique seat identifier.
23. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising storing standing bid information in association with the seat identification information.
24. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising storing auction participant identification information in association with the seat identification information.
25. The method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the starting minimum bid value is pre-set.
26. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising:
transmitting a standing minimum bid associated with the event ticket to a plurality of remote terminals after receiving the first bid;
receiving a second bid from a second bidder;
determining if the second bid is too low; and
if the second bid is too low, transmitting a corresponding message to the second bidder.
27. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising storing a maximum allowable bid for the first user.
28. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising storing a spending limit for the first user.
29. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising:
receiving a plurality of event ticket bids;
determining which bids are successful using a computer;
allocating event tickets to successful bidders; and
providing an indication to successful bidders that their event ticket bids were successful.
30. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising delivering event tickets to successful bidders.
31. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in a database.
32. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to a plurality of remote terminals.
33. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to bidders.
34. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.
35. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a plurality of remote terminals associated with event ticket bidders.
36. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.
37. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a performer name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.
38. The method as defined in claim 19 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a sponsor name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.
39. A method of conducting an automated auction over a network for seat tickets, the method comprising:
storing in memory a minimum bid value, wherein the minimum bid value is stored in association with seat identification information;
transmitting to a remote terminal associated with a user the minimum bid value;
receiving a plurality of ticket bids including bid information for a first bid, the bid information including:
bidder identification information;
bid price information;
using the computer to determine which of the plurality of ticket bids are successful; and
automatically transmitting, via a network, a notification to a plurality of successful bidders.
40. The method as defined in claim 39 , wherein the bid information includes seat identification information.
41. The method as defined in claim 39 , wherein the bid information includes:
section information; and
row information.
42. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising associating the updated standing bid information with seat identification information.
43. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising storing auction participant identification information in association with seat identification information.
44. The method as defined in claim 39 , wherein the minimum bid value is pre-set.
45. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising:
transmitting a standing minimum bid associated with the seat ticket to a plurality of remote terminals after receiving the first bid;
receiving a second bid from a second bidder;
determining if the second bid is too low; and
if the second bid is too low, transmitting a corresponding message to the second bidder.
46. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising storing a maximum allowable bid for the user.
47. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising storing a spending limit for the user.
48. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising:
receiving a plurality of seat ticket bids;
determining which bids are successful using a computer;
allocating seat tickets to a plurality of successful bidders; and
providing an indication to the plurality of successful bidders that their seat ticket bids were successful.
49. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising delivering seat tickets to successful bidders.
50. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising storing seating arrangement information in a database.
51. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising providing a graphic display of a venue seating arrangement to a plurality of remote terminals.
52. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising automatically updating standing bid information on a real-time basis and transmitting the updated standing bid information to bidders.
53. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticket sales to a plurality of remote terminals associated with seat ticket bidders.
54. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising providing information regarding future ticketed events to a plurality of remote terminals associated with seat ticket bidders.
55. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.
56. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface in the form of a Web page, the Web page including a field via which a bidder can specify a quantity of seats being bid on.
57. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a performer name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.
58. The method as defined in claim 39 , the method further comprising providing a ticket auction user interface to the remote terminal, wherein the user interface displays a sponsor name associated with an event for which seat tickets are being auctioned.