Computer-implemented systems and methods for resource allocation

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced.

1 . A method of dynamically setting event ticket prices: 
 setting an initial seat ticket price for a first event based at least in part on historical ticket sales data and on historical event income data;    monitoring ticket sales data for the first event and storing ticket sales data in computer readable; and    setting a second seat ticket price after a ticket sale for the event has begun based at least in part on ticket sales data for the first event, on historical ticket sales data for at least one previous event, and on a specified price adjustment limit that indicates how much the second seat ticket price can vary from the initial seat ticket price.    
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , the method further comprising timing a sales offer of seat tickets at the second seat ticket price in accordance with a predetermined schedule stored in computer readable memory.  
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , the method further comprising setting the initial seat ticket price partly based on event cost data.  
     
     
         4 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the historical event income data includes historical parking revenues.  
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , the method further comprising accessing from computer readable memory an indication as to the maximum number of seat ticket price adjustments that can be performed for the first event.  
     
     
         6 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the setting of the second seat ticket price is based at least in part on unsold seat inventory.  
     
     
         7 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , the method further comprising timing a sales offer of seat tickets at the second seat ticket price is based at least in the time period remaining prior to the event.  
     
     
         8 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , the method further comprising transmitting an email, an SMS message, and/or an instant message directed to at least one person providing information to the person related to the setting of the second ticket price.  
     
     
         9 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , the method further comprising releasing additional seats for which tickets may be procured at a time after the beginning of the event ticket sale and before the event occurring.  
     
     
         10 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , the method further comprising: 
 releasing additional seats for which tickets may be procured at a time after the beginning of the event ticket sale and before the event occurring;    determining that at least one user requested that a notification be when additional seats are released; and    causing a notification regarding the release of additional seats to be transmitted to the at least one user.    
     
     
         11 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the initial seat ticket price is partly selected so as to be high enough so as to reduce the number of seat tickets purchased by a given ticket purchaser so as to reduce the number of orphaned event seats.  
     
     
         12 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the initial seat ticket price and/or the second seat price is partly selected so as to reduce the number of orphaned event seats.  
     
     
         13 . A method of dynamically setting event ticket prices: 
 setting an initial seat ticket price for a first event based at least in part on historical ticket sales data;    storing in computer readable memory a schedule of at least one seat ticket price reduction; and    transmitting over a network to a terminal associated with a potential ticket purchaser the schedule of the at least one seat ticket price reduction.    
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , the method further comprising transmitting the amount of the price reduction to the terminal.  
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , the method further comprising transmitting to the terminal in association with the seat price reduction schedule: 
 an event name;    an event date;    an identification of at least one available seat and the current corresponding seat price; and    a limit on the quantity of tickets the potential ticket purchaser can purchase for the event.    
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the transmitted schedule includes a date for the at least one seat ticket price reduction.  
     
     
         17 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the transmitted schedule includes a time for the at least one seat ticket price reduction.  
     
     
         18 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the amount of the at least one seat ticket price reduction is selected based at least in part on historical ticket sales data.  
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the initial seat ticket price is set based at least in part on historical concession sales data.  
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the initial seat ticket price is set based at least in part on historical event income data.  
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , the method further comprising transmitting an email, an SMS message, and/or an instant message to at least one person notifying the person of the ticket price reduction.  
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , the method further comprising releasing additional seats for which tickets may be procured at a time after the beginning of the event ticket sale and before the event occurring.  
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , the method further comprising: 
 releasing additional seats for which tickets may be procured at a time after the beginning of the event ticket sale and before the event occurring;    determining that at least one user requested that a notification be provided to the at least one user when additional seats are released; and    causing a notification regarding the release of additional seats to be transmitted to the at least one user.    
     
     
         24 . A method of dynamically setting event ticket prices: 
 storing information related to a desired pattern of ticket sales over time for a first event;    monitoring actual ticket sales over time for the event; and    setting at least a first seat ticket price based at least in part on the desired pattern and the actual ticket sales over time for the event, wherein the first seat ticket price is set after the beginning of a ticket sale for the event.    
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the desired pattern is based at least in part on actual ticket sales over time for at least one historical event.  
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , the method further comprising transmitting to a terminal associated with a potential purchaser: 
 an event name;    an event date;    an identification of at least one available seat;    the first seat ticket price; and    a limit on the quantity of tickets the potential ticket purchaser can purchase for the event.    
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , wherein an initial seat ticket price is set prior to the setting of the first seat ticket price based at least in part on historical event income data, including concession sales data.  
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , the method further comprising transmitting an email, an SMS message, and/or an instant message to at least one person notifying the person of the availability of seat tickets at the first ticket price.  
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , the method further comprising releasing seats for which tickets may be procured at the first ticket price.