IP Library Granted Patent US 8,639,541
Granted Patent B2
US 8,639,541 · App. 13/585,714 · Granted Jan 28, 2014

Sports and concert event ticket pricing and visualization system

Inventors: Steven A. Sunshine (Pasadena, CA); Rod Goodman (Long Beach, CA); Michael Arya (Pasadena, CA); Larry Chu (Van Nuys, CA); Michael Ripberger (Santa Monica, CA)
Assignee: TixTrack, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,639,541
App. No.
13/585,714
Granted
Jan 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for displaying seat inventory at a venue and facilitating planning of ticket prices for events at the venue is presented. Methods to predict total revenue for an event are described. Also presented are systems and methods for determining at what price and when to release so-called ‘flex’ price tickets during an on-sale using the sales velocity and sales/inquiry ratios. Determining demand of seats from secondary markets is also described with methods to use the demand for either repricing the seats in the primary market or presenting ‘best value’ seats to a prospective purchaser.

Claims (33)

1. A method for outputting graphical visual information for ticket inventory within a time frame selected by a user, the method comprising:

outputting a graphical display of a venue map, under control by a processor, of either an arena, a stadium, or a theater on an electronic display of a computing device, the venue map comprising a plurality of individual seats configured in a venue, the venue map being stored in memory of a computing device;

selecting a particular seat information to be displayed in a graphical display, under control by a processor, the seat information being selected from at least one of a sales status, a type of hold, a type of discount, a type of package, a type of group, or a type of plan;

selecting a grouping method by the user for grouping the selected seat information in a legend, the grouping method being selected from at least one of a sales status, a price of ticket, a type of hold, a type of discount, a type of package, a type of group, or a type of plan; and

simultaneously outputting a legend region including current information associated with the grouping method selected by the user, the legend region being associated with the graphical display of the venue map, the legend being within a vicinity of the graphical display of the venue map such that the legend region including the current information is outputted upon selecting the grouping method;

whereupon each of the individual seats displayed on the electronic display is observable by the user; and

wherein upon the selecting of the grouping method the legend region comprising the current information is associated with the summation of all seats of the selected grouping.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the venue is selected from a plurality of venues.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting at least one of the individual seats using a input device; and simultaneously displaying status information associated with the selected individual seat.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the legend region comprises a status information being selected from one of an unsold seat, a seat on hold, a sold seat, or a seat not for sale.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the venue map being stored in memory; and wherein the computing device being coupled to a network of computers.

6. A method for outputting graphical visual information for ticket inventory within a time frame selected by a user, the method comprising:

selecting a particular seat information to be displayed in a graphical display, the seat information being selected from a sales status, a type of hold, a type of discount, a type of package, a type of group, or a type of plan, the particular seat information being stored in a memory;

selecting a grouping method, under control by a processor, by the user for grouping the selected seat information in a legend, the grouping method being selected from a sales status, a price of ticket, a type of hold, a type of discount, a type of package, a type of group, or a type of plan;

outputting a graphical display, under control by the processor, of a venue map of either an arena, a stadium, or a theater on an electronic display of a computing device, the venue map comprising a plurality of individual seats configured in a venue such that a shape, a size, or a color of a particular seat in the venue displayed is modified based on the particular seat information; and

simultaneously outputting a legend region associated with the graphical display of the venue map, the legend being within a vicinity of the graphical display of the venue map,

wherein upon the selecting of the grouping method the legend region comprising a current information is associated with the summation of all seats of the selected grouping provided by the user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the hold type includes one of flex, artist, label, management, marketing, arena, or promoter.

8. A method for outputting graphical visual information for ticket inventory within a time frame, the method comprising:

outputting a graphical display, under control by a processor, of a venue map on an electronic display of a computing device, the venue map comprising a plurality of individual seats configured in a venue, the venue map being retrieved from a memory device coupled to the electronic display;

selecting at least one of the individual seats having a status using a input device coupled to the computing device, while the venue map on the electronic display is being displayed, the status being open;

displaying a price information and a location information associated with the selected individual seat, the location information is being simultaneously displayed with the graphical display of the selected individual seat upon selecting at least one of the individual seats having the status using the input device;

whereupon the location information comprising a section, row, and seat number;

selecting a particular seat information to be displayed, the seat information being selected from a sales status, a type of hold, a type of discount, a type of package, a type of group, or a type of plan;

selecting a grouping method by a user for grouping the selected seat information in a legend, the grouping method being selected from a sales status, a price of ticket, a type of hold, a type of discount, a type of package, a type of group, or a type of plan; and

simultaneously outputting a legend region associated with the graphical display of the venue map, under control by a processor, the legend being within a vicinity of the graphical display of the venue map,

wherein upon the selecting of the grouping method the legend region comprising a current information is associated with the summation of all seats of the selected grouping provided by the user.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising simultaneously outputting a legend region associated with the graphical display of the venue map, the legend being within a vicinity of the graphical display of the venue map; and

whereupon each of the individual seats displayed on the electronic display and the legend region comprising the current information are observable by the user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the legend region comprises a current status information being selected form one of an unsold seat, a seat on hold, or a seat not for sale.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the price information comprises a lowest price, a medium price, and a highest price.

12. The method of claim 8 displaying a fee information simultaneously with the price information and the location information associated with the selected individual seat, the location information is being simultaneously displayed with the graphical display of the selected individual seat.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising purchasing a ticket associated with the selected seat by clicking on the seat associated with the selected seat; and completing a transaction of purchasing the ticket associated with the selected seat.

Assignments (2)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: FLAGSTAR BANK
To: JN/TT MERGER SUB, INC.; TIXTRACK, INC.
Reel/Frame 071836/0531 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2022
From: JN/TT MERGER SUB, INC.; TIXTRACK, INC.
To: SIGNATURE BANK
Reel/Frame 060532/0527 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 13355453 · Jan 20, 2012
Division 12422171 · Apr 10, 2009
Continuation PCTUS2009035024 · Feb 24, 2009
Provisional Application 61114463 · Nov 14, 2008
Provisional Application 61098765 · Sep 20, 2008
Provisional Application 61055142 · May 22, 2008
Provisional Application 61031020 · Feb 25, 2008
Related Publication 20120323613A1 · Dec 20, 2012