Event ticket management process

Abstract

Title: Method for managing event tickets The present invention relates to a method for creating secure digital resources, comprising: (a) receiving encrypted event ticket information from a ticketing system (b) creating a digital precursor for the event ticket characterized in that it comprises the following steps: c) upon receipt of said event ticket, recording an encrypted digital precursor in the user's terminal, d) transmitting the ticket key and controlling the recording in a separate and secure area of ​​the terminal of the beneficiary of the event ticket d1) in the case where said terminal is connected to the network, controlling the execution on said terminal of an application for decrypting said precursor to edit a controllable event ticket d2) in the absence of connectivity, controlling the execution of a decryption application,from the recorded decryption key of said encrypted precursor to edit a controllable event ticket. Abstract figure: figure 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Method for managing event tickets Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of online ticketing, in particular for access to events in physical locations such as sports stadiums or concert halls and live events. Online ticketing is intended to manage the online purchase of tickets for events attracting several tens or even hundreds of thousands of spectators, and to allow each ticket holder to easily and quickly access their seat in the venue where the event is taking place; finally, they allow the organizer to reliably and quickly check the conformity of the tickets.

[0002] For a long time, paper tickets were the norm. Tickets were often printed on expensive paper with elaborate graphics that made counterfeiting expensive and easier to spot. Advances such as holograms have made counterfeiting even more difficult, but not entirely impossible.

[0003] Control of these tickets by stewards proves difficult during very large crowds, when spectators are impatient to get to their seats and the slightest hesitation due to a steward's doubt about the conformity of the ticket makes them irascible to the point of triggering riots.

[0004] In the 2000s, with the emergence of digital technologies and personal computing and the widespread use of smartphones among the general public, the ticketing industry began to adopt printable tickets. Some of these were documents that could be printed at home, allowing for instant delivery via email and eliminating the need for postal mail or any actual physical distribution of tickets. The growth and adoption of mobile devices made digital tickets even more prevalent, allowing not only for these same digital documents to be copied, but also for technologies such as a digital wallet to be used to store these tickets and more specifically the barcode required to gain access to venues.

[0005] While digital delivery and exchange offered a far greater level of convenience than paper tickets, it also created a huge security problem. Digital assets have a long history of piracy, ranging from copies of computer software to digital music files pirated via peer-to-peer services. The spread of the Internet has allowed an increasing number of malicious actors to participate in the piracy of these digital tickets. The main element of the ticket is the barcode or QR code, which can be defined For example, by a string of characters not exceeding ten symbols, the reproduction of tickets can be simpler than that of a software or a digital audio file. Since no effort is made to mask these codes, the possibility of reproducing them is very simple.

[0006] In 2021, a football match organized by UEFA at the Stade de France gave rise to serious incidents due to the combination of several organizational malfunctions, one of which concerned ticket office failures. For 79,000 seats, the computer system recorded 8,000 "incidents" of ticket readings at the gates that evening, including around 2,500 tickets already read - and therefore possibly duplicated - as well as 2,500 unknown tickets. Other official sources put forward figures ten times higher. Investigations into this final established that ticket office management was inadequate. Admittedly, the issuance of paper tickets was not in itself an exceptional situation and this possibility was in accordance with the regulations.But it was known that the use of this type of note results in a significant risk of fraud and circulation of counterfeit notes, which was ten times higher than the averages usually observed.

[0007] Furthermore, by requiring the introduction of a ticket validity check at the security pre-screening points, the organizer inadvertently participated in the blocking of the checkpoints, particularly given the larger than usual number of people with valid tickets.

[0008] It should also be noted that the system for handling disputes concerning ticketing was inadequate, which led to people being turned away having to park in front of the screening points, as well as the poor training of stewards who quickly seemed overwhelmed by the situation. Finally, the methods for checking tickets were also the subject of debate, with the use of pens to mark tickets and the system for checking electronic tickets not being considered sufficiently practical.

[0009] A first recommendation was to make the use of tamper-proof, i.e. electronic, tickets mandatory, combined with reliable control devices for events with the highest stakes. Another recommendation was to require organizers to inform ticket holders in real time, by email, SMS, messaging, of the conditions of access to the event site, of unforeseen events and of changes decided by the authorities when difficulties arise. State of the art

[0010] Known in the state of the art is European patent EP3504835B1 proposing a computer-implemented method for creating cryptographically secure digital resources, comprising the steps of:

[0011] (a) receiving, on a ticket distribution or management network, information ticket relating to an event ticket, including a ticket identifier and an event identifier, from a ticket issuing system;

[0012] (b) creating a digital ticket for the event ticket based on the information of a ticket, wherein the digital ticket maintains a state that indicates an ownership and / or transfer status of the event ticket, and wherein the digital ticket encodes a set of policies governing one or more ticket transactions of the event ticket, wherein the set of policies enforces spatial and temporal requirements with respect to the event ticket, and wherein enforcing the spatial requirements includes obtaining and confirming global positioning system coordinates of the location of the one or more ticket transactions;

[0013] (c) deploying, on the ticket distribution or management network, the digital ticket to a blockchain system that implements cryptographic contract protocols, such that the one or more ticket transactions are supported by the implementation; and

[0014] (d) storing, in a database, a reference to the digital ticket deployed on the blockchain system.

[0015] This solution involving the injection of data into a blockchain has multiple drawbacks: slow execution, cost of transactions, cost of hosting nodes, problems of compliance with the GDPR and mobilizes very significant and costly computing resources due to the large number of transactions per event.

[0016] Patent application EP3704610 describes another example method for providing and validating a digital ticket. In one embodiment, a ticket validation device contains one or more processors configured to obtain a digital ticket, a ticket server signature, and a device signature from a ticket holder device. The digital ticket is obtained from a ticket server by the ticket holder device, the ticket server signature is generated based on the digital ticket using a private key associated with the ticket server, and the device signature is generated based on the digital ticket using a private key associated with the ticket holder device. The one or more processors are also configured to validate the digital ticket.Validation of the digital ticket involves verifying the ticket server signature using a public key corresponding to the private key associated with the ticket server, and verifying the device signature using a public key corresponding to the private key associated with the ticket holder device. In addition, the processor(s) are also . configured to cause an output to be produced based on a result of the digital ticket validation.

[0017] Patent US9038896 relates to a storage device comprising one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform: receiving a ticket identifier value from the camera or the RFID module; forming and sending a request via the wireless network communication module for a server computer to validate the ticket identifier value; receiving a ticket validation response from the server computer via the wireless network communication module; based on the ticket validation response, driving the means for providing ticket validation feedback to generate either valid response feedback or invalid response feedback.

[0018] This solution is not entirely satisfactory because the exchange of information with the server is significant at the time of control, and the crowds can lead to network saturation. Above all, in the event of a failure of the xG network, ticket control is compromised, which can cause disturbances and potentially serious riots in the event of very high crowds.

[0019] Also known is patent US11593501B2 which relates to a computer-implemented method for detecting and using device identification codes to improve the security of access rights transfers. The computer-implemented method may include receiving a first communication from a first electronic device associated with a first user. The first communication may correspond to a first request to retrieve access data associated with the first user. For example, the access data may correspond to one or more access rights. The method may also include receiving a second communication from the first electronic device. Solution provided by the invention

[0020] In order to overcome these drawbacks, the present invention relates to a method for creating secure digital resources, comprising the steps of:

[0021] (a) receiving, on a ticket distribution or management network, information encrypted event ticket information about an event, from a ticketing system

[0022] (b) creating a digital precursor for the event ticket based on the ticket information, and a set of policies governing one or more ticket transactions of the event ticket, wherein the set of policies enforces spatial and temporal requirements with respect to the event ticket, and wherein enforcing the spatial requirements includes obtaining and confirmation of global positioning system coordinates of the location of one or more ticket transactions;

[0023] Characterized in that it further comprises the following steps:

[0024] c) upon receipt of said event ticket, recording an encrypted digital precursor in the memory of a user terminal,

[0025] d) at least one instant, proceed to transmit the ticket key and order the recording automatically in a separate and secure storage area of ​​the connected terminal of the beneficiary of the event ticket

[0026] dl) in the case where said terminal is connected to the network, controlling the execution on said terminal of an application for decrypting said encrypted precursor to edit a controllable event ticket and controlling the display of said controllable event ticket

[0027] d2) in the absence of connectivity, locally control execution on said terminal of a decryption application, from the decryption key recorded in said separate and secure storage area, of said encrypted precursor to edit a controllable event ticket and control the display of said controllable event ticket

[0028] e) commanding, when a control equipment reads a controllable event ticket, the transmission to a server by said control equipment of a digital message deactivating the corresponding event ticket.

[0029] Advantageously, said command for the execution of said decryption application in the absence of connectivity is conditioned by the conformity of at least one parameter of said terminal.

[0030] According to a variant, said command for the execution of said decryption application in the absence of connectivity is conditioned by the conformity of a plurality of parameters of said terminal.

[0031] Advantageously, said parameters include geolocation information, the time stamp of the terminal, the state of a biometric control means, the state of a KYC (Know Your Customer) verification means, the connectivity state, or the terminal identifier.

[0032] Detailed description of a non-limiting example of embodiment

[0033] The present invention will be better understood on reading the following description, concerning non-limiting examples of embodiment illustrated by the appended drawings where:

[0034] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents the diagram of the hardware architecture of the invention

[0035] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents the diagram of the functional architecture of the invention

[0036] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents the functional diagram of an optional local processing of the invention General principles of the invention

[0037] The invention provides a solution for providing digital tickets to participants in an event in a space whose access is secured by an access control requiring the presentation of a valid ticket, generally in the form of a graphic display, for example of the QR Code / Aztec / PDF417 type, on the screen of an individual terminal, generally a smartphone.

[0038] The invention relates to a system for distributing event tickets to enable access control to a site, and which acts as a complement to a ticket management system.

[0039] “Event ticket” means a right to participate in an event associated with the ticket, this right being able to be materialized by a digital sequence and / or by a graphic representation, for example a QR Code, a barcode, or a document containing text and / or images.

[0040] An event ticket will initially be materialized by a “digital precursor” which is a digital sequence whose processing by a “local application” will produce a “controllable event ticket”.

[0041] The local application is provided to each beneficiary of an event ticket by the server of the ticket distribution system and installed on a connected terminal of the user. It consists of a digital code executable by the computer of the connected terminal of the user.

[0042] This processing may take into account a “ticket key” which may be generic or specific to each event ticket. This “ticket key” is a numerical sequence stored in a separate and secure storage area of ​​the user’s terminal, accessible only by the application

[0043] This controllable event ticket may be edited in a digital or graphic form to interact with control equipment in order to order authorization, in the event of conformity and validity, to the event for which the event ticket was generated by a ticketing system.

[0044] The event ticket distribution system:

[0045] a) Receives from the ticketing system event tickets in the form of digital precursors consisting of digital files containing information relating to each ticket and its beneficiary, in an encrypted form,

[0046] b) Transmits to a connected terminal, for example a smartphone, one or more digital precursors as well as a link to download a local application on the connected terminal, if the latter does not already have this local application. This local application controls the recording in memory of the digital precursor(s).

[0047] c) Subsequently transmits to the connected terminals of the event ticket recipients, at a time close to the opening of the event, "ticket keys" consisting of digital information required for the activation of the graphical edition of the event ticket on the connected terminal. The local application orders ticket keys in a separate and secure storage area of ​​the connected terminal

[0048] During access control, when the user controls the graphic display or digital transmission of the event ticket, the local application controls processing for editing and displaying the controllable ticket based on data delivered by one or more sensors of said connected terminal. This information is, for example, geolocation information, time stamp information or information captured locally by the camera of the smart terminal or by an NFC sensor. This information is transmitted to the server of the ticket distribution service which transmits in return a digital means controlling the execution by the local application of a routine for graphic display or digital transmission of the event ticket(s).

[0049] In the absence of connectivity, the local application conditionally controls the decryption of the ticket stored in the memory of the connected terminal, from the decryption information stored in the separate and secure storage area. The conformity of the activation condition is calculated by the execution of the local application, based on geolocation data, timestamp or information captured locally by the camera of the smart terminal or by an NFC sensor. If the information or a combination of information complies with a validity criterion associated with the event ticket, the local application executes a routine for graphical display or digital transmission of the event ticket(s) by processing taking into account the digital precursor(s) stored in the memory of the terminal as well as the ticket key(s) stored in the separate and secure storage area of ​​the terminal.

[0050] Detailed description of a non-limiting example of embodiment

[0051] [Fig.l] represents a schematic view of the hardware architecture of the invention.

[0052] The event ticket distribution and management system according to the invention is coupled to a ticketing system (100) comprising a server (1) associated with a secure data center (2), and connected to ticket kiosks (3), ticket vending machines (4), distribution agencies (5) and online purchasing services via smartphones (6). The invention complements existing ticketing systems, so as not to modify the uses of the solutions in place.

[0053] It is interfaced with the server (1) of the ticketing system (100) via a server (7) communicating with the server (1) of the system ticketing (100) via a communication protocol with end-to-end encryption.

[0054] The server (1) transmits to the server (7) digital messages comprising an identifier of an event ticket, as well as an identifier of the beneficiary of the ticket. This information can be supplemented in the same message or by pointers to pre-recorded information by information relating to the event ticket payment policy (time, date and location of the payment zone, etc.) and placement (imposed or zone-based placement, etc.).

[0055] The server (7) records this event ticket data and transmits to the beneficiary a digital message comprising a link to an application server as well as a code constituting a digital precursor. This digital precursor is associated with an event ticket in a bijective manner. This digital precursor will make it possible to generate a ticket controllable by a specific processing executed by an application executed by the computer of a smartphone (8) of the beneficiary, after receiving other information distinct and complementary to the digital precursor.

[0056] The message received by the beneficiary's smartphone (8) activates a notification commanding the display of a page proposing the registration of the digital precursor in a digital wallet managed by the management application. If this application is not already installed on the beneficiary's smartphone (8), the user activates a link appearing on the page viewed, which commands the downloading from the application server of the executable code and the loading of the digital precursor after activation of the application.

[0057] In a time-shifted manner, the server (7) commands the sending of a generic or personalized message for each beneficiary of an event ticket, containing a ticket key which is automatically saved in a separate and secure storage area which can only be addressed by the management application. The data contained in the secure area cannot be transferred to other devices via unapproved sharing methods such as USB or Wi-Fi Direct.

[0058] During the check, the user of the smartphone (8) can order the display of a controllable ticket in the form of a QR Code, a barcode or even the editing of an NFC message, from the management application. This application applies an online processing of the ticket precursor to generate the controllable ticket, when the smartphone (8) is connected.

[0059] If it is not connected or if the network is too evanescent, the application commands a local processing of production of the ticket controllable by a processing of the ticket precursor and the ticket key recorded in the separate and secure zone.

[0060] Operation of a non-limiting example of embodiment

[0061] [Fig.2] represents a schematic view of the functional architecture of the invention.

[0062] Step (10): First, the user purchases a ticket via the usual ticketing system (100) of the event organizer

[0063] Step (11): the ticketing server (100) transmits, after validation of the purchase of the event ticket, the information to the server (7) which orders the sending of a digital message to the address of the beneficiary. This message triggers a notification on the beneficiary's telephone (8), inviting the beneficiary to download the event ticket and, if he does not have the service-specific application on the smartphone (8), to download it.

[0064] Step (12) the application checks whether the user has a user account.

[0065] If so, the server (7) commands the association of the event ticket with the user account (step (13).

[0066] Otherwise, the server (7) orders an account opening procedure (step (14)) before moving on to the previous step (13) of associating the event ticket with the user account.

[0067] As the date of the event approaches, the server (7) commands the issue of the ticket keys (step (15). Upon receipt of this message, the management application executes on the user's smartphone (8) a command to record this ticket key in a secure detached area of ​​the smartphone (8).

[0068] During access control, a notification is sent to the smartphone (8) step (17). If the smartphone (8) is connected to the network, (control (8)), the controllable ticket associated with the event ticket is transmitted by the server (7) to the phone (8), which allows the user to display or edit the controllable ticket and present it at the control station (step 19). The event ticket is then immediately deactivated in the ticketing system (100) and on the server (7) to prevent fraudulent reuse (step 22).

[0069] If the smartphone (8) cannot connect to the network, the application commands a local processing (step (21)) consisting of locally calculating the controllable ticket from the ticket precursor and the ticket key, to then move on to step (20). Conditional treatment

[0070] The local processing (21) optionally provides conditional activation.

[0071] It is only executed if a compliance criterion, or a combination of compliance criteria is verified locally, from the information available on the smartphone (8), even in non-connected mode.

[0072] These conditions may provide for:

[0073] Geolocation information (31) provided by the smartphone (8). This information can be used alone, to control the activation of the calculation processing of the controllable ticket when the location is less than a predefined distance from the location of the event organization. This geolocation information (31) can also be weighted by a factor P31 to be taken into account with other information.

[0074] The timestamp information (32) constitutes another criterion which can be used alone, to control the activation of the calculation processing of the controllable ticket when the moment is close to the time and date of organization of the event. This timestamp information (32) can also be weighted by a factor P32 to be taken into account with other information.

[0075] The biometric information (33) provided by the biometric sensor of the cell phone (8) constitutes another criterion which can be used alone, to control the activation of the calculation processing of the controllable ticket when the user is recognized by the digital or facial recognition sensor. This biometric information (33) can also be weighted by a factor P33 to be taken into account with other information.

[0076] Other information (3n) may be taken into account. • KYC (Know Your Customer) information is a procedure implemented to verify a person's identity • Smartphone ID verification information (8), e.g. IMSI number •

[0077] Activation of the production of the controllable ticket may be controlled based on compliance with one or more of these criteria, or by a combination of the relative degree of compliance with several of these criteria.

Claims

1. Claims - Method for creating secure digital resources, comprising the steps of: (a) receive, over a ticket distribution or management network, encrypted event ticket information regarding an event from a ticketing system (b) creating a digital precursor for the event ticket based on the ticket information, and a set of policies governing one or more ticket transactions of the event ticket, wherein the set of policies enforces spatial and temporal requirements with respect to the event ticket, and wherein enforcing the spatial requirements includes obtaining and confirming global positioning system coordinates of the location of the one or more ticket transactions; Characterized by further comprising the steps of: c) upon receipt of said event ticket, proceeding to record an encrypted digital precursor in the memory of a terminal of the user, (d) at least once, proceed with the transmission of the ticket key and order the recording automatically in a separate and secure storage area of ​​the connected terminal of the beneficiary of the event ticket dl) in the case where said terminal is connected to the network, controlling the execution on said terminal of an application for decrypting said encrypted precursor to edit a controllable event ticket and controlling the display of said controllable event ticket d2) in the absence of connectivity, locally controlling the execution on said terminal of an application for decrypting, from the decryption key recorded in said separate and secure storage area, said encrypted precursor to edit a controllable event ticket and controlling the display of said controllable event ticket e) ordering, when a control equipment reads a controllable event ticket, the transmission to a server by said control equipment of a digital message deactivating the corresponding event ticket.

2. - Method for creating secure digital resources, according to claim 1 characterized in that said command of the execution of said decryption application in the absence of connectivity is conditioned by the conformity of at least one parameter of said terminal.

3. - Method for creating secure digital resources, according to claim 2 characterized in that said command of the execution of said decryption application in the absence of connectivity is conditioned by the conformity of a plurality of parameters of said terminal.

4. - Method for creating secure digital resources, according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that said parameters include geolocation information, the timestamp of the terminal, the state of a biometric control means, the state of a KYC verification means of Customer Knowledge, the connectivity state, or the terminal identifier.

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