EXHIBIT 3010
`
`US008l2l872Cl
`
`(12) EX PARTE REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE (993lst)
`United States Patent
`Bowman et al.
`
`US 8,121,872 C1
`(45) Certificate Issued:
`Nov. 8, 2013
`
`(10) Number:
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALLOCATING
`SEATS FOR A TICKETED EVENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Robert A. Bowman, Westport, CT (US);
`Heather L. Benz, Kinnelon, N] (US);
`Mark Plutzer, Great Neck, NY (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: MLB Advanced Media, L.P., New York,
`NY (US)
`
`Reexamination Request:
`No. 90/012,432,Aug. 14,2012
`
`Reexamination Certificate for:
`Patent No.:
`8,121,872
`Issued:
`Feb. 21, 2012
`Appl. No.:
`10/998,834
`Filed:
`Nov. 29, 2004
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06Q 10/00
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ............................................................ .. 705/5
`
`(2012.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`To View the complete listing of prior art documents cited
`during the proceeding for Reexamination Control Number
`90/012,432, please refer to the USPTO’s public Patent
`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system under the
`Display References tab.
`
`Primary Examiner — Cameron Saadat
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method relates to allocating seats to a ticketed
`event. The method can include receiving a request for a num-
`ber of seats at a ticketed event, selecting a first seat wherein
`the first seat is determined to be a best unassigned seat at the
`ticketed event, and determining a best grouping of seats
`wherein the best grouping of seats includes the number of
`seats requested and further wherein the best grouping of seats
`comprises the best unassigned seat at the ticketed event.
`
`22
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`
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`RECEIVE REQUEST FOR
`
`NUMBER OF TICKETS
`
`
`
`AVAILABLE AT TICKETED EVENT
`
`IDENTIFY BEST SEAT
`
`IDENTIFY GROUPING OF
`
`
`
`AVAILABLE SEATS INCLUDING
`
`
`THE REQUESTED NUMBER OF SEATS
`
`
`THE IDENTIFIED BEST SEAT AND
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`26
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`1
`
`EX PARTE
`
`US 8,121,872 C1
`
`2
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`8. The method of claim [5] I , further comprising receiving
`a definition of best seat from a ticket purchaser.
`9.A system that identifies groupings of available seats to be
`allocated for a ticketed event, the system comprising:
`a database containing seating informationfor the ticketed
`event;
`a communication interface that receives a request for a
`number of seats at a ticketed event; and
`a [programmed] processor [that determines] programmed
`to:
`
`5
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`10
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`REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE
`
`ISSUED UNDER 35 U.S.C. 307
`
`THE PATENT IS HEREBY AMENDED AS
`INDICATED BELOW.
`
`Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appeared in the
`patent, but has been deleted and is no longer a part of the
`patent; matter printed in italics indicates additions made
`to the patent.
`
`AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN
`DETERMINED THAT:
`
`15
`
`Claims 2, 5, 11, 16 and 19 are cancelled.
`Claims 1, 3-4, 6-10, 17-18 and 20 are determined to be
`patentable as amended.
`Claims 12-15 and 21-22, dependent on an amended claim,
`are determined to be patentable.
`1. A method for allocating ticketed event seats with a
`device having a processor coupled to an interface and a
`database, the method comprising:
`the device presenting a purchaser with an option ofgroup-
`ing ofseats based on a number oftickets indicated by the
`purchaser and a best grouping selection made by the
`processor;
`receiving, at [a] the device, a request for a number of seats
`at a ticketed event;
`the device selecting a first seat wherein the first seat is
`determined to be a best unassigned seat at the ticketed
`event; [and]
`the device determining a best grouping of seats wherein the
`best grouping of seats includes the number of seats
`requested and further wherein the best grouping of seats
`comprises the best unassigned seat at the ticketed event;
`and
`
`the device presenting said best grouping of seats to the
`purchaserfor selection by the purchaser,
`wherein thefirst seat is determined to be a best unassigned
`seat at the ticketed event according to a definition based
`on the ticketed event, wherein the definition is set by a
`ticket seller.
`
`3. The method of claim [2] 1, wherein [adjoining seats in a
`group are seats sharing] each seat in the best grouping ofseats
`share a boundary with at least one other seat in the group so
`that the grouping ofseats is contiguous.
`4. The method of claim 1, wherein [determining a best
`grouping of seats comprises identifying] unassigned seats [at
`the ticketed events] in the best grouping ofseats include seats
`that [are adjoining each other,] are located in more than one
`row[, and total the number of seats requested].
`6. The method of claim [5] I , further comprising receiving
`a communication to reserve the detemiined best grouping of
`seats.
`
`7. The method of claim [5] I , further comprising receiving
`a communication to identify a next best grouping of seats,
`wherein a next best grouping of seats includes the number of
`seats requested and further wherein the next best grouping of
`seats comprises the next best unassigned seat at the ticketed
`event.
`
`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`present a purchaser with an option of grouping of seats
`based on a number oftickets indicated by the purchaser
`and a best grouping selection made by the processor;
`select a first seat wherein thefirst seat is determined to be
`a best unassigned seat at the ticketed event
`determine a best grouping of seats wherein the best group-
`ing of seats includes the number of seats requested and
`further wherein the best grouping of seats comprises the
`best unassigned seat at the ticketed event; and
`present said best grouping of seats to the purchaser for
`selection by the purchaser,
`wherein thefirst seat is determined to be a best unassigned
`seat at the ticketed event according to a definition based
`on the ticketed event, wherein the definition is set by a
`ticket seller.
`
`10. The system of claim 9, wherein each seat in the best
`grouping of seats [comprises seats in a group where the seats
`in the group] share a boundary with at least one other seat in
`the [group] grouping so that the grouping ofseats is contigu-
`ous.
`
`17. A system that allocates seats for a ticketed event, the
`system comprising:
`meansforpresenting a purchaser with an option ofgroup-
`ing ofseats based on a number oftickets indicated by the
`purchaser and a best grouping selection made by the
`processor;
`means for receiving a request for a number of seats at a
`ticketed event;
`means for determining a best unassigned seat at the tick-
`eted event, said best unassigned seat being determined
`by the device according to a definition based on the
`ticketed event; [and]
`means for determining a best grouping of seats wherein the
`best grouping of seats includes the number of seats
`requested and further wherein the best grouping of seats
`comprises the best unassigned seat at the ticketed event;
`and
`
`means for presenting said best grouping of seats to the
`purchaserfor selection by the purchaser,
`wherein the definition is set by a ticket seller.
`18. The system of claim 17, wherein each seat in the best
`grouping of seats [comprises seats in a group where the seats
`in the group] share a boundary with at least one other seat in
`the [group] grouping, so that the grouping ofseats is contigu-
`ous.
`
`20. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for
`[identifying sub-grouping of seats wherein the sub-grouping
`of seats includes the number of seats requested and further
`wherein the sub-grouping of seats comprises a best unas-
`signed seat at the ticketed event] dividing said best grouping
`ofseats into sub-groups.
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