Computer-based right distribution system with temporal variation

Abstract

An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.

1 . A computer-implemented method for allocating a plurality of priority rights, the method comprising:
 storing, in a memory, data associated with the plurality of priority rights, the data including priority right rank data and priority right time data;   receiving bid records that include bidder identification information, bid amount information and a bidder time preference;   ranking the bid records based on the bid amount information and the bidder time preference, such that the bid records have a bid record rank associated therewith; and   associating a selected bid record with a selected priority right based on the selected bid record rank and the selected priority right rank data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected bid record is associated with the selected priority right data based further on the selected priority right time data and the bidder time preference. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of priority rights correspond to a plurality of event tickets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of priority rights correspond to a plurality of tickets to one or more•events, and the priority right time data corresponds to times at which the one or more events occur. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising distributing the selected priority right to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising notifying the user that the selected bid record has been associated with the selected priority right. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the bid records are received via the Internet. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method for distributing a plurality of priority rights in an auction, the method comprising:
 storing, in a memory, data associated with the plurality of priority rights, the data including event identification data that corresponds to one or more events;   receiving a plurality of bid records, the bid records including bid amount data and a bidder event preference; and   correlating a selected bid record with a subset of priority rights, wherein (a) the subset of priority rights is selected from the plurality of priority rights at least partially based on the selected bid record bid amount data, and (b) the subset of priority rights has associated therewith event identification data corresponding to the bidder event preference.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the event identification data includes event time data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the event identification data includes event venue data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of priority rights correspond to a plurality of event tickets. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more events correspond to a plurality of golf tee times. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising receiving registration information from the user before receiving the selected bid record. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the method further comprising distributing the subset of priority rights to the user. 
     
     
         15 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause one or more data processors to perform actions including:
 storing, in a memory, data associated with the plurality of priority rights, the data including priority right rank data and priority right time data;   receiving bid records that include bidder identification information, bid amount information and a bidder time preference;   ranking the bid records based on the bid amount information and the bidder time preference, such that the bid records have a bid record rank associated therewith; and   associating a selected bid record with a selected priority right based on the selected bid record rank and the selected priority right rank data.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-program product of  claim 22 , wherein the selected bid record is associated with the selected priority right data based further on the selected priority right time data and the bidder time preference. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-program product of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of priority rights corresponds to a plurality of event tickets. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-program product of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of priority rights correspond to a plurality of tickets to one or more•events, and the priority right time data corresponds to times at which the one or more events occur. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-program product of  claim 22 , wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the actions further comprising distributing the selected priority right to the user. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-program product of  claim 22 , wherein the selected bid record is received from a user, the actions further comprising notifying the user that the selected bid record has been associated with the selected priority right.