EXHIBIT 1008
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`EXHIBIT 1008
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`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0093387 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`May 15, 2003
`Nakfoor
`
`US 20030093387A1
`
`(54) ELECTRONIC TICKETING SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`(76) Inventor: Brett Nakfoor, Chicago, IL (US)
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`G06F 17/60
`(51) Int. Cl? .
`(52) US. Cl. .............................................................. .. 705/65
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Monique A. Morneault, Esq.
`WALLENSTEIN & WAGNER, LTD.
`53rd Floor
`311 South Wacker Drive
`Chicago, IL 60606-6630 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/320,287
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 16, 2002
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/590,455, ?led on
`Jun. 9, 2000, noW Pat. No. 6,496,809.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present disclosure provides a method of electronically
`exchanging tickets for an event in a secondary market from
`ticket sellers to ticket buyers located at remote terminals.
`The method comprises associating the tickets With the
`authentication data of the ticket seller, receiving from ticket
`sellers electronic asks comprising an ask quantity and an ask
`price, receiving from a ticket buyer an electronic bid com
`prising a bid quantity and a bid price, comparing the bid to
`the asks, completing a transfer of the tickets When the bid
`price equals the ask price and the ask quantity is equal to or
`greater than the bid quantity, and reassociating the tickets
`With authentication data of the ticket buyer. Also disclosed
`is a system for performing the method.
`
`DATA
`CENTER
`
`" INTERNET *
`
`( WIRELESS
`APPLICATION )
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication May 15, 2003 Sheet 1 0f 4
`
`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`4
`
`FIG. 1
`
`2
`
`EVENT
`VENUE
`
`DATA
`CENTER
`
`" INTERNET "
`( WIRELESS
`APPLICATION )
`
`8
`
`E A
`
`US$561
`
`FIG. 2
`
`W210",
`
`DATABASE
`SERVER
`
`L
`
`l
`
`
`
`‘2/ A l \1 2
`
`
`
`L
`
`1 4
`\ ROUTER
`
`F 16
`
`FIREWALL
`
`f/vlwfa
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication May 15, 2003 Sheet 2 0f 4
`
`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`K- 24
`AuTHifgg-lgignohl
`
`1 8
`f
`f 26
`PRINTER
`
`TURNSTILE
`
`29\
`DISPLAY
`
`I 28 r
`NETWORK
`CONNECTION
`
`PROCESSOR ‘
`
`31 J
`
`r
`
`/ 2°
`
`VENUE
`DATABASE
`SERVER
`
`g‘
`
`‘
`
`K- 22
`
`VENUE
`FIREWALL
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication May 15, 2003 Sheet 3 0f 4
`
`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`FIG. 4
`
`I08
`
`K110 112\
`K106 [
`VENUE
`EVENT » PIIIRI'IE'ENSG + BROKERS
`SETUP
`sETuP
`ASSIGNED
`ASSIGNED
`
`I00
`
`T— — _ — _ _ __ _ _ * — _ _ — ~ *T ‘ — _ _I
`
`PATRON
`I
`| @~— ENTERs \122
`I
`EVENT
`I
`YES
`I
`I
`I
`
`M
`N0
`
`120
`
`K118 116
`TICKET
`OWNED <—YES
`
`TICKETS
`114/ FOR
`SALE
`
`I/102
`|
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`a
`
`I
`
`:
`
`‘
`
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`
`NO
`TICI<ET
`@ UNSOLD
`
`I
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`I
`
`L_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ EWIWMAIKET _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _I
`
`r_ ‘ T _ ~ — _ — — — — — * — — — _ — — “ -|
`
`12
`f 6
`I
`TICKET
`I
`I OFFERED
`I
`K128 >
`
`BID
`PLACED
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`N‘O
`
`‘30
`
`K132 ‘34
`TICKET
`YES" OwNEO
`
`[138
`
`N0
`I
`TICKET
`UNSOLD
`
`136\
`
`YES
`I
`PATRON
`>- ENTERS
`EVENT
`
`(
`
`l_ _ __ __ "n
`
`SECONDARY MARKET
`
`|
`I
`
`:
`
`104
`I
`I/
`I
`I
`I
`:
`
`l
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication May 15, 2003 Sheet 4 0f 4
`
`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`/‘ 206
`D'SPLAY
`SHOWS
`MESSAGE
`
`( START)
`
`200
`f
`CUSTOMER
`SLIDES
`CARD
`
`END
`
`202
`
`208
`
`f 204
`DISPLAY
`SIGNALLED ‘
`f
`NO
`
`READER
`ACCEPTS
`CARD
`
`YES
`READER
`RETRIEVES
`RECORD
`
`212
`\
`SERVER
`RETURNS
`ERROR
`i
`NO
`“Cm
`VALID ,
`
`210
`
`226
`K“
`CUSTOMER
`GETS
`RECEIPT
`
`220
`f
`PRINTER
`PRINTS
`RECEIPT
`
`YES
`214
`218
`\ \ I
`READER
`SERVER
`SIGNALS
`RETURNS
`PRINTER
`RECORD
`
`TICKET
`OWNER
`PASSES
`TuRNSTILE
`
`\ 224
`
`222
`
`READER
`RELEASES
`TURNSTILE
`
`f 225
`DISPLAY
`SHOWS
`MESSAGE
`
`K- 223
`READER
`SIGNALS
`DISPLAY
`
`SERVER
`MARKS
`TICKET
`uSED
`
`\ 216
`
`

`
`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`May 15, 2003
`
`ELECTRONIC TICKETING SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] The present application is a continuation applica
`tion and claims the bene?t of US. patent application:
`“Electronic Ticketing System And Method,” Ser. No.
`09/590,455, ?led Jun. 9, 2000, and is herein incorporated by
`reference.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to a system and
`method for real-time sales and distribution of tickets.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] The present disclosure provides a method of elec
`tronically exchanging tickets for an event in a secondary
`market from ticket sellers to ticket buyers located at remote
`terminals. The method comprises associating the tickets
`With authentication data of the ticket seller, receiving from
`ticket sellers electronic asks comprising an ask quantity and
`an ask price, receiving from a ticket buyer an electronic bid
`comprising a bid quantity and a bid price, comparing the bid
`to the asks, completing a transfer of the tickets When the bid
`price equals the ask price and the ask quantity is equal to or
`greater than the bid quantity, and reassociating the tickets
`With authentication data of the ticket buyer. Also disclosed
`is a system for performing the method.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0003] Paper tickets are Widely used to grant access to
`patrons to sporting and general entertainment events. The
`ticket is a contract Which grants the holder the right to attend
`the event and, normally, to sit in a particular seat. By
`transferring possession of the physical ticket, a ticket holder
`has transferred the right to attend the event.
`
`[0004] HoWever, many problems are associated With the
`transfer of paper tickets. In order to issue the ticket, the event
`promoter must organiZe the delivery of thousands of tickets.
`Additionally, if a purchaser Wishes to transfer the ticket to a
`subsequent purchaser, the buyer and seller must be geo
`graphically proXimate to physically transfer the ticket. With
`the advent of the Internet, buyers and seller have been able
`to locate each other in order to transfer tickets. HoWever, the
`paper ticket still stands as an impediment to the efficient
`transfer of the right to attend an event because the seller
`must ship the ticket to the seller. By shipping the ticket the
`buyer and seller incur additional costs and require a greater
`lead time to alloW the transfer to occur before the event.
`Each party must also have enough trust that the other party
`Will deliver as agreed. Frequently, because of the impedi
`ments of sale, tickets are not Widely transferred by geo
`graphically remote buyers and sellers.
`
`[0005] Another type of impediment stands in the Way of
`the efficient transfer of tickets. Most states have laWs Which
`prevent the sale of tickets for more than the face value of the
`ticket unless the seller has the consent of the event sponsor.
`To sell the ticket above face value, it is impractical for an
`individual seller to attempt to obtain permission from an
`event sponsor prior to selling a ticket. Because an event
`sponsor makes no money on the transaction, it has very little
`incentive to grant consent.
`
`[0006] In a feW other states laWs alloW a ticket broker to
`sell tickets at a price above the face value of the ticket, but
`not buy tickets above face value. Therefore, ticket brokers
`must obtain a ticket at the face value from the event sponsor
`and resell the ticket at a higher price. The ticket broker is
`violating the laW if he purchases the ticket at a higher value
`from someone Who is not a ticket broker. Finally, the ticker
`broker must still physically transfer the ticket to the buyer.
`
`[0007] The present invention is a system and method
`Which provides a legal, efficient way to transfer the right to
`attend an event at the market value of that right and to
`determine the market value. The present invention elimi
`nates the disadvantages of the prior art.
`
`[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the system according to an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a data center according to
`an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a venue according to an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0012] FIG. 4 is a How chart describing the steps of an
`embodiment of the present invention; and
`
`[0013] FIG. 5 is a How chart describing the steps of an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`[0014] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment
`in many different forms, there is shoWn in the draWings and
`Will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of
`the invention With the understanding that the present dis
`closure is to be considered as an eXempli?cation of the
`principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the
`broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
`[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, the system architecture of the
`preferred embodiment of the present invention is imple
`mented in three types of locations: a data center 2, a plurality
`of venues 4, and a plurality of terminals 6. The data center
`2 is in communication With each venue 4 and each terminal
`6 through the Internet or any Wireless Application 8. The
`terminals 6 can be any device through Which a user can
`access a Website, for eXample: a personal computer, a
`personal digital assistant, an Internet-through-television
`device, or any type of many available Wireless devices
`available in the market.
`[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the data center 2 preferably
`comprises database servers 10, Web servers 12, a load
`balancing router 14 and a ?reWall 16 connected to the
`Internet 8. The ?reWall 15 receives messages from the
`Internet 8 and forWards the messages to the load balancing
`router 14 and likeWise receives messages from the load
`balancing router 14 and forWards them to the Internet 8. The
`?reWall 16 preferably performs a number of ?ltering func
`tions and netWork address translation in order to safeguard
`the data center 2 from unauthoriZed access. The ?reWall 16
`also preferably encrypts the messages using knoWn public
`key/private key encryption methods. The load balancing
`router 14 forWards messages received from the ?reWall 16
`and forWards the messages to one of the plurality of Web
`
`

`
`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`May 15, 2003
`
`servers 12. The load balancing router 14 also forwards
`messages received from the Web servers 12 to the ?rewall
`16. In this manner, the load balancing router 14 distributes
`tasks to be performed to one of the plurality of Web servers
`12 in order to distribute processing demands. The Web
`servers 12 access the database servers 10 to retrieve and
`store information in response to received messages from the
`terminals 6 and transmits reply messages to the terminals 6.
`The database servers 10 store data tables Which contain
`information about various venues, events, ticket resources,
`user roles, ticket status, ticket holders and ticket bidders, as
`Will be explained in greater detail beloW.
`
`[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, Within each venue 4 are a
`plurality of turnstiles 18, a venue database server 20 and
`venue ?reWall 22 connected to the Internet 8 for communi
`cating to the data center 2. The turnstile 18 of the venue 4
`comprises an authentication reader 24, a printer 26, a
`netWork connection 28, a display 29 and a processor 31. The
`authentication reader 24 is preferably a magnetic card
`reader. HoWever, other types of cards may be used, such as
`cards incorporating single- or multi-dimensional bar codes
`or Wireless methods of communication, Without departing
`from the scope of the present invention. The netWork
`connection 28 alloWs the turnstile 18 to communicate With
`the venue database server 20 in order to provide information
`about the card being scanned and to receive information
`about Whether to grant or deny entry to the venue 4. The
`turnstile 18 preferably is a compact unit Which runs from
`embedded softWare Within the turnstile or from a server
`locates on site or remotely 18. While the turnstile 18 is
`described as being connected With the venue database server
`20 With a Wire, one of ordinary skill in the art can easily
`recogniZe that communication betWeen the turnstile and
`database server can be implemented by radio frequency,
`optical communication or any other method of Wireless
`communication Without departing from the scope of the
`present invention. The venue database server 20 maintains a
`record of the tickets have been sold, the ticketholders have
`passed through the turnstile 18 and Which ticketholders have
`not yet arrived. The database server is preferably a computer
`running UNIX, WindoWs NT, Java or Sparc and having an
`Oracle, Informix, Sysbase or SQL Server database.
`
`[0018] In order to implement the present invention, an end
`user can access the data center 2 by using a standard Web
`broWser on the terminal 6. HoWever, non-standard, custom
`softWare can also be implemented or Web broWser softWare
`on a Wireless device, such as a personal digital assistant.
`Terminals 6 can log into the data center 2 to vieW events
`Which Will take place in the future, purchase tickets in the
`primary market from the event sponsor, offer tickets for sale
`in the secondary market, purchase tickets in the secondary
`market and purchase merchandise or services related to the
`event. When the user has entered the appropriate address of
`a desired data center 2, e.g., an on-line ticketing Web page,
`the user can vieW a calender of events to search for a desired
`event or choose a venue to see What events Will be appearing
`at the venue in the future. After selecting an event Which the
`user desires to attend, the user may purchase tickets for the
`event from the event sponsor. Additional products and
`services can also be offered at the time of ticket sales. After
`the ticket is sold and before the time of the event, the ticket
`can be transferred by the ticket oWner to subsequent ticket
`buyer.
`[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, the ticket has a determined life
`cycle Which is tracked by the system of the present inven
`tion. The steps of the life cycle are: ticket setup 100, primary
`
`market 102 and secondary market 104. In the ticket setup
`step the ticket is assigned a venue 106, an event 108 and
`ticket pricing rules 110 are associated With the ticket.
`Additionally, brokers may be assigned to the ticket 112 in
`order to transfer the ticket in a multi-broker environment. In
`the primary market step 114 the ticket is offered for sale. If
`the ticket is sold 116, the ticket becomes an “oWned
`ticket”118. If the ticket is used 120 by the person it is sold
`to, the patron is alloWed to enter the event 122 and the tickets
`life cycle ends in the primary market. If the ticket is not sold
`before the time of the event 124, the ticket’s life cycle ends
`having been unsold in the primary market.
`
`[0020] If the ticket is not used in the primary market, it
`may be traded in the secondary market 126. There is no limit
`hoW many times the ticket may be traded in the secondary
`market before the time of event. Many options are available
`for sales of tickets in the primary and secondary market.
`Sales of tickets can be made using traditional methods, such
`as by offering a ticket for a ?xed price or a scaled price (i.e.
`student and senior citiZen discounts). Tickets can also be
`offered using a non-traditional format such as in an auction
`type format, a reverse auction-type format or in an
`exchange-type format. In an auction-type format, event
`sponsors can place groups of tickets on sale and sell them to
`highest bidder after a ?xed period of time. Many different
`options are available for the auction-type format, such as
`alloWing users to place bids for groups of tickets. If the
`user’s bid cannot be satis?ed at the present price for all seats,
`the bid fails. Alternatively users can place a bid for Which,
`if the bid cannot be ful?lled for the quantity of seats of the
`bid, the number of seats in the bid is reduced. {Any other
`variations Which can be considered}. Using the auction type
`format, the event sponsor realiZes the maximum pro?t for
`the event because tickets are sold for their true market value.
`A reverse auction type format is similar to an auction-type
`format With the caveat that the event sponsor “bids” to sell
`the ticket rather than users bidding for the right to buy the
`ticket.
`
`[0021] In an exchange type format, tickets are sold in the
`primary market by event sponsors Who advertise an ask
`price for a particular ticket. At the same time, users advertise
`a bid price in order to purchase a particular ticket in a
`particular section of the venue. Both the ask price and the bid
`price remain valid for a particular period of time. If the ask
`price advertised by event sponsors is higher than the bid
`price advertised by any particular user, no ticket is sold.
`HoWever, the moment a bid price equals an ask price, a sale
`of a ticket is made. Additionally, bids can specify quantities
`of contiguous seats as Well as a bid price. In a like manner,
`event sponsors can specify quantities of contiguous seats
`along With the ask price. An event sponsor may Wish to
`specify a minimum number of contiguous tickets to prevent
`large blocks of seats from being broken up or to force the
`sale of an exact number of number of seats in order to
`prevent a single seat in a block from block from being
`unsold (i.e. to prevent selling tWo seats of a block of three
`unsold seats). An event sponsor may Wish to specify a
`maximum number of seats in order to prevent. When a user’s
`bid price equals and quantity of seats for an event equals a
`sponsor’s ask price and is Within the sponsor’s minimum
`and maximum quantity of seats, a sale is made. Therefore,
`the main difference betWeen an auction type format or a
`reverse auction-type format is that sales are made instanta
`neously When a bid price equals an ask price for a ticket.
`
`[0022] Alternatively, for different classes of seating at the
`venue, a combination of sales formats can be implemented.
`
`

`
`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`May 15, 2003
`
`For example, for a sporting event, seats Which have the best
`vieW, such as box seats and luxury boxes, an event sponsor
`can implement a non-traditional format Which seeks to
`secure the highest market price and implement a traditional
`format of ticket sales for the remaining seats. Also, tickets
`may be sold in the primary market by a particular method
`and sold in the secondary market by another method. Tickets
`may also be sold in the primary market by one method and
`sold in the secondary market by one of multiple available
`methods.
`[0023] During the step of offering the ticket 126, a price is
`associated With the ticket. Depending on the format the price
`has a different signi?cance. For example, the price may be
`a ?rst bid price or, in an exchange type format, the price may
`be an ask price. Next bids are placed on the ticket 128 until
`the ticket is sold 130. If the ticket is sold the ticket is noW
`oWned by the neW buyer 132 Who may use the ticket and
`enter the event 136 or offer the ticket for resale 126. If the
`ticket remains unsold 138, the ticket may be used in the
`primary market 120. Additionally, unsolicited bids can be
`placed for a ticket. Anyone seeking to buy a ticket can
`specify the price at Which he or she is Willing to buy and Wait
`to see if a ticket oWner is Willing to sell at that price.
`
`[0024] Each time a ticket is transferred neW oWnership
`information is associated With the ticket. OWnership infor
`mation could be credit card numbers used to purchase the
`ticket, a cell phone number, a digital encryption on a
`personal digital assistant, or a single- or multi-dimensional
`bar code. The tWo dimensional bar code can be printed by
`the user in order to provide a physical indication of ticket
`oWnership. In order to provide an incentive for event spon
`sors to grant permission to sell the tickets in the secondary
`market, the present system provides that for sales in the
`secondary market the event sponsor Will receive a royalty.
`Royalties can be a ?at fee or a fee based on the sales price
`of the ticket in the secondary market.
`
`[0025] Referring to FIG. 5, upon arriving at the venue to
`attend an event, the ticket oWner authenticates himself to the
`event sponsor in order to gain entry to the venue. Authen
`tication can occur in a variety of Ways including infra-red
`Wireless scanning. In one example, the ticket oWner slides
`the credit card 200 associated With the ticket through the
`authentication reader 24 on a turnstile 18. Alternative meth
`ods for authentication could be implemented such as bar
`coded authentication tickets, as described above. If the
`authentication reader 24 unsuccessfully scans the authenti
`cation 202, the reader signals the display 204 to indicate that
`the authentication Was not successfully scanned 206. If the
`authentication is successfully scanned the reader queries the
`venue database server 20 the determine Whether the ticket is
`valid 210. If the ticket is not valid, the venue database server
`20 returns an error 212 and the display is signaled 204 and
`message displayed 206. If the ticket is valid, the venue
`database server 20 returns a message indicating the ticket is
`valid 214.
`
`[0026] Next, the venue database server 20 marks the ticket
`as used 216 Within the database and signals the printer 26 to
`print a receipt 216 and the printer responds by printing a
`receipt 218. The authentication reader 24 also releases the
`turnstile 18 (step 222) and signals the display 223 Which
`displays a message 225. Next, the ticket oWner passes
`through the turnstile 224 to alloW the ticket oWner to enter
`the venue 4.
`
`management, event marketing, ticket oWner, ticket buyer
`and administration. The roles may interact With the system
`in order to ful?ll necessary tasks by either using terminals 6
`connected via the Internet 8 or directly to the data center 2
`or venue 4. A user ful?lling a venue management role can
`enter information regarding the venue such as seating charts,
`directions to the venue and entrance gate information. Auser
`ful?lling an event management role can enter information
`about an event to take place at the venue, such as the name,
`time, date, seating con?guration of the venue, ticket pricing
`for the event and merchandise to be offered to ticket pur
`chasers. A user ful?lling an event marketing role can enter
`information pertaining to products and services that are
`offered to users upon offer or completion of a ticket sale. A
`user ful?lling the role of a ticket oWner can enter informa
`tion regarding the price (?rst auction bid or ask price, as
`appropriate) and identity of the ticket or tickets. A user
`ful?lling the role of ticket buyer can enter information
`regarding the quantity and price (an “auction bid” price or an
`“exchange bid,” as appropriate). Auser ful?lling the role of
`administrator preferably has the rights of all roles and any
`additional task necessary for maintenance of the system.
`[0028] While the speci?c embodiments have been illus
`trated and described, numerous modi?cations come to mind
`Without signi?cantly departing from the spirit of the inven
`tion and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope
`of the accompanying claims.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A system for electronically exchanging paperless tick
`ets for an event in a secondary market from ticket sellers to
`ticket buyers, the system comprising:
`means for associating the paperless tickets With authen
`tication data of the ticket seller;
`
`means for receiving from ticket sellers electronic asks
`comprising an ask quantity and an ask price;
`
`means for receiving from a ticket buyer an electronic bid
`comprising a bid quantity and a bid price;
`
`means for comparing the bid to the asks;
`
`means for completing a transfer of the paperless tickets
`When the bid price equals the ask price and the ask
`quantity is equal to or greater than the bid quantity;
`
`means for reassociating the paperless tickets With authen
`tication data of the ticket buyer, and Wherein the
`authentication data does not constitute a paper material;
`and,
`means for granting access to the event upon presentation
`of the buyer authentication data of the paperless ticket.
`2. The system of claim 1 Wherein the paper material is
`personal identi?cation of the buyer.
`3. The system of claim 1 Wherein the authentication data
`of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`4. The system of claim 2 Wherein the authentication data
`of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`5. Amethod of electronically exchanging paperless tickets
`for an event in a secondary market from ticket sellers to
`ticket buyers, the method comprising the steps of:
`associating the paperless tickets With authentication data
`of a ticket seller;
`
`[0027] In order to implement the present system, user
`roles are implemented, such as: venue management, event
`
`receiving from ticket sellers electronic asks comprising an
`ask quantity and an ask price;
`
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`US 2003/0093387 A1
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`May 15, 2003
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`receiving from a ticket buyer an electronic bid comprising
`a bid quantity and a bid price;
`
`comparing the bid to the asks;
`
`completing a transfer of the paperless tickets When the bid
`price equals the ask price and the ask quantity is equal
`to or greater than the bid quantity;
`
`reassociating the paperless tickets With authentication
`data of the ticket buyer, Wherein the authentication data
`does not constitute a paper material; and
`
`presenting authentication data of the ticket buyer at an
`access device operably connected to the system.
`6. The method of claim 5 Wherein the paper material is
`personal identi?cation of the buyer.
`7. The method of claim 5 Wherein the authentication data
`of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`8. The method of claim 6 Wherein the authentication data
`of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`9. A system for electronically exchanging paperless tick
`ets for an event in a secondary market from ticket sellers to
`ticket buyers, the system comprising:
`
`a data center Which associates the paperless tickets With
`authentication data of a ticket seller, the data center
`further being adapted to receive from ticket sellers
`electronic asks comprising an ask quantity and an ask
`price, and to receive from a ticket buyer an electronic
`bid comprising a bid quantity and a bid price; compares
`the bid to the asks; completes a transfer of the paperless
`tickets When the bid price equals the ask price and the
`ask quantity is equal to or greater than the bid quantity;
`reassociates the paperless tickets With authentication
`data of the ticket buyer, Wherein the authentication data
`does not constitute a paper material, and alloWs access
`to the venue upon presentation of the buyer authenti
`cation data to an access device operably connected to
`the data center.
`10. The system of claim 9 Wherein the paper material is
`personal identi?cation of the buyer.
`11. The system of claim 9 Wherein the authentication data
`of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`12. The system of claim 10 Wherein the authentication
`data of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`13. A system for electronically exchanging paperless
`tickets for an event from a ticket seller to a ticket buyer, the
`system comprising:
`
`a primary market for the event having a paperless ticket,
`and each paperless ticket is associated through authen
`tication data to a primary market oWner;
`
`the paperless ticket having a primary market price respon
`sive to a secondary market;
`
`the secondary market having a secondary market oWner of
`the paperless ticket;
`
`means for associating the paperless ticket With the authen
`tication data of the secondary market oWner of the
`paperless ticket;
`
`means for receiving from the secondary market event
`ticket oWner electronic asks comprising an ask quantity
`and an ask price;
`
`means for receiving from a secondary market event ticket
`buyer an electronic bid comprising a bid quantity and
`a bid price;
`
`means for comparing the bid to the asks;
`
`means for completing a transfer of the paperless ticket at
`a secondary market price Wherein the bid price equals
`the ask price and the ask quantity is equal to or greater
`than the bid quantity;
`
`means for reassociating the secondary market paperless
`ticket through authentication data to the secondary
`market paperless ticket buyer, Wherein the authentica
`tion data does not constitute a paper material;
`
`means for granting access to the event upon presentation
`of the authentication data associated With the secondary
`market paperless ticket; and
`
`means for adjusting the primary market price in response
`to the secondary market price.
`14. The system of claim 13 Wherein the paper material is
`personal identi?cation of the buyer.
`15. The system of claim 13 Wherein the authentication
`data of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`16. The system of claim 14 Wherein the authentication
`data of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`17. A method of electronically exchanging paperless
`tickets for an event from a paperless ticket seller to a ticket
`buyer, the method comprising the steps of:
`
`selling a paperless ticket in a primary market to a primary
`market buyer at a primary market price, and the pri
`mary market price being responsive to a secondary
`market price of the paperless ticket;
`
`associating the paperless ticket With an authentication
`data of a secondary market seller of the paperless
`ticket;
`receiving from the secondary market paperless ticket
`seller electronic asks comprising an ask quantity and an
`ask price;
`
`receiving from a secondary market paperless ticket buyer
`an electronic bid comprising a bid quantity and a bid
`price;
`
`comparing the bid price to the ask price;
`
`completing a transfer of the paperless ticket at a second
`ary market price Wherein the bid price equals the ask
`price and the ask quantity is equal to or greater than the
`bid quantity;
`
`reassociating the paperless ticket through authentication
`data to the secondary market event paperless ticket
`buyer, and Wherein the authentication data does not
`constitute a paper material;
`
`granting access to the event upon presentation of the
`authentication data at an access device operably con
`nected to the system; and
`
`adjusting the primary market in response to the secondary
`market price of the paperless ticket.
`
`

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`US 2003/0093387 A1
`
`May 15, 2003
`
`18. The method of claim 17 wherein the paper material is
`personal identi?cation of the buyer.
`19. The method of claim 17 Wherein the authentication
`data of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`
`20. The method of claim 18 Wherein the authentication
`data of the ticket buyer being provided by the ticket buyer.
`
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