Patent · US Expired

Conditional purchase offer management system for event tickets

US6240396A · kind A · utility

381Cited by
96References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 4, 1997
Grant dateMay 29, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 4, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F9/026
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system for managing conditional purchase offers is disclosed where an individual searching for a ticket to a particular event may provide a guaranteed purchase offer to a plurality of potential sellers. Various methods and systems for completing such a transaction are also disclosed. An exemplary method includes: making available a guaranteed purchase offer to a plurality of potential sellers; potential sellers examining offers corresponding to a ticket they possess; and a potential seller providing an acceptance to the guaranteed purchase offer. The disclosure describes a method of payment whereby both the buyer and seller must provide credit card pre-authorization to ensure payment and delivery of the ticket. Also, one embodiment discloses a delivery of the ticket that includes the participation of the venue hosting the event. In this embodiment, the traditional practice of exchanging tickets for cash is replaced with an electronic serial number system. According to this system, the venue may be notified to cancel the serial number originally assigned to the ticket held by the seller, and re-assign a new serial number directly to the buyer. The buyer may then exchange this numb…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.