Networked Ticketing System for Secure Electronic Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for reselling tickets, such as sporting or entertainment event tickets, face issues with authenticity, validity, and legal assurance, leading to uncertainty and potential illegal transactions, especially when using ticket brokers or online auctions, and there is a lack of efficient mechanisms for same-day or timely delivery of electronic tickets.
Innovation Solution
A networked ticketing system that includes a database with identifier codes for tickets, a server to receive and process ticket posting and transfer instructions, and software modules to invalidate original tickets and issue new ones, ensuring authenticity and compliance with regulations, allowing secure and timely transfer of tickets between users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tickets are resold through conventional methods (individuals at venue, ticket brokers, online auctions), then ticket availability and accessibility are improved, but authenticity and validity cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized ticketing system that acts as an intermediary between ticket sellers and buyers. This system receives ticket information from sellers, validates tickets against a database, and issues new tickets to buyers only after verification. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling easy resale access while guaranteeing authenticity through systematic validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where ticket information is continuously validated against a centralized database. The system provides feedback on ticket validity, seller credentials, and transaction status. This feedback loop ensures that only authentic tickets are transferred, resolving the authenticity concern while maintaining ease of operation through automated verification.
2Ease of operation
If physical ticket transfer methods (U.S. Post Office mail service, overnight courier service) are used, then ticket delivery is achieved, but delivery time increases and same-day transfer is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical ticket transfer methods (mail service, courier delivery) with an electronic ticketing system. Tickets are transferred through digital validation and reissuance rather than physical movement. This substitution eliminates delivery time delays entirely, enabling same-day and even real-time ticket transfers while maintaining secure transfer capability through electronic validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and validates digital copies of ticket information in a centralized database. When a ticket is transferred, the system creates a new valid ticket record for the buyer while invalidating the seller's ticket. This copying mechanism enables instantaneous transfer without physical movement, resolving the time delay issue while ensuring only one valid ticket exists at any time.
3Speed
If electronic tickets are transferred by emailing copies, then transfer speed is improved, but ticket validity and authenticity cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized ticketing system acts as an intermediary that receives emailed ticket information, validates it against the database, and issues new tickets. This intermediary step maintains the fast electronic transfer speed while adding authentication through database verification, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation of ticket information before issuing new tickets. It checks seller credentials, ticket authenticity, and validity status in advance of the transfer. This preliminary action ensures that only valid tickets are transferred at high speed, preventing invalid ticket distribution while maintaining transfer speed.
4Ease of operation
If ticket transfers occur without legal assurance mechanisms, then transaction simplicity is improved, but legal compliance and transaction validity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ticketing system automatically handles legal compliance requirements through built-in validation rules, seller credential verification, and regulatory checks. Users simply initiate transfers without needing to understand or manage complex legal requirements. The system self-services the compliance aspect, resolving the contradiction by maintaining transaction simplicity while ensuring legal adherence through automated controls.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-based ticket system enables users to electronically transfer tickets to other users, and to obtain tickets from other users. A first software module executing in a server is configured to cancel a first ticket for a first seat at first event associated with a first user, and issue a second ticket for the first seat to a second user at least partly in response to an instruction from the first user received from a first user terminal and an instruction from the second user received from a second user terminal.