AUTOMATED EVENT CONCESSIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Features are disclosed relating to a collaborative ticketing system that manages various aspects of ticketing for events (e.g., movies, concerts, sporting events, and the like) using knowledge about the contacts, friends, and other social connections of system users. The collaborative ticketing system may generate dynamic ticket offers that are based on the number of friends, invited by users, ultimately obtaining tickets. The collaborative ticketing system can also streamline the procurement of concessions and other event-related items by allowing users to pre-purchase such items (e.g., in connection with ticket offers), and then pick up the items at the event venue with little or no wait. In addition, users can preview event-related content (e.g., movie trailers) for event providers (e.g., movie studios), and answer questions or otherwise provide feedback about the event-related content in return for special offers, rewards, and other considerations.
1 - 21 : (canceled)
22 . A system, comprising:
a mobile application that runs on mobile devices of users, the mobile application providing a user interface that includes functionality for a user to, at least, browse events at local venues, select an event at a venue, select one or more concession items, and generate a combined order for one or more tickets to the event and the one or more concession items, wherein the mobile application is configured to display an encoded representation of the order on a display screen, the encoded representation adapted to be scanned by a scanner, wherein the mobile application additionally includes functionality for the user to initiate a group outing to the event at the venue, and to select contacts to invite to the group outing;
a server system that communicates with the mobile devices of the users, the server system programmed to process the combined order, to send invitations to the selected contacts to attend the group outing, and to track statuses of the invitations, the server system comprising one or more computing devices; and
a venue kiosk located at the venue, the venue kiosk including functionality, including an optical scanner, for members of the group outing to check-in at the venue using their respective mobile devices, the venue kiosk configured to communicate with the server system over a network, wherein the venue kiosk is responsive to the user scanning the encoded representation by at least (1) notifying the user of check-in statuses of other members of the group outing, and (2) initiating preparation of the one or more concession items.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the server system is programmed to transmit, to a mobile device of an invited member of the group outing, an electronic ticket to the event, the electronic ticket capable of being scanned by the optical scanner, the electronic ticket enabling the invited member to check-in at the venue.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the server system is programmed to transmit the electronic ticket via a text message.
25 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the server system initiates preparation of the one or more concession items by transmitting a message to concessions personnel.
26 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the mobile application includes a touch-based user interface including a rotatable navigation wheel having multiple sections, each section corresponding to a respective category of events, the navigation wheel rotatable by the user via a swipe gesture to sequence through events in a geographic vicinity of the user.
27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the navigation wheel is configured to personalize the sections of the navigation wheel for users.
28 . A computerized method, comprising:
providing a mobile application that includes functionality, including a user interface, for purchasing tickets for an event and for pre-ordering concessions for the event, wherein the mobile application includes functionality for the user to select contacts from a contact list, and to invite the selected contacts to the event;
receiving, by a server system, an order generated by a user via the mobile application running on a mobile device, the order including one or more tickets for the event and one or more concession items;
generating an encoded representation of the order, the encoded representation adapted to be displayed on the mobile device and scanned at a venue of the event;
by the server system, receiving, from the mobile application running on the mobile device, a request to invite the selected contacts to attend a group outing to the event, and transmitting invitation messages to each of the selected contacts; and
by a venue kiosk located at the venue of the of the event, scanning and validating the encoded representation of the order as displayed on the mobile device of the user, and in response, (1) notifying the user of check-in statuses of one or more other members of the group outing, and (2) initiating preparation of the one or more concession items.
29 . The computerized method of claim 28 , further comprising, by the server system, transmitting, to a first contact of the selected contacts, an electronic ticket for the event, wherein the venue kiosk is responsive to scanning of the electronic ticket by updating a check-in status of the first contact.
30 . The computerized method of claim 29 , wherein the server system transmits the electronic ticket via a text message.
31 . The computerized method of claim 28 , wherein the mobile application includes a navigation wheel interface element that is rotatable via a swipe gesture, and wherein the method further comprises responding to rotation of the navigation wheel interface element by the user by sequencing through a plurality of events, and by displaying, for a selected event, an indication of which contacts of the user have indicated an interest in attending the event.
32 . The computerized method of claim 28 , further comprising transmitting to the mobile device of the user a notification that the one or more concession items are ready for pick-up.