AU7638098A

AU7638098A - System for checking entrance tickets

Info

Publication number: AU7638098A
Application number: AU76380/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christian Ploppa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-17
Filing date: 1998-04-16
Publication date: 1998-11-13
Also published as: NO995017D0; PL336268A1; HUP0002673A2; JP2001521660A; EP0976111A1; DE19880526D2; BR9808909A; NO995017L; WO1998048386A1; HUP0002673A3; DE19716049A1; CA2286755A1

Description

TICKET INSPECTION SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 5 The invention relates to a ticket inspection system for detecting duplicated tickets. Frequently, counterfeit tickets are produced and sold for large public events, in particular for events without assigned seating. For example, 10 counterfeiters frequently buy tickets at advance ticket sales and duplicate those tickets using a color copier or an offset printing process. In addition, the printer who produced the tickets, would also be able to produce tickets with identical printed numbers and to sell those tickets. It would be practically impossible for the ticket takers at large public events to detect counterfeit tickets because of the large 15 number of patrons, It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ticket inspection system for detecting duplicated tickets. 20 The object is solved by the invention in that the ticket are encoded with an distinct coding which can be read by a reading device, and that the reading device is connected to a computer capable of recognizing a duplicated ticket. 1 Because the tickets have a distinct coding which can be read by a reading device, the computer connected to the reading device can recognize a duplicated ticket quickly and reliably even with a large audience. 5 If a ticket with the same distinct coding is repeatedly presented, they ticket takers can make targeted inspections to detect those tickets that have been counterfeited. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ticket has a first 10 random coding generated by a random number generator and associated with the ticket. Using the random number generator ensures the generation of an unpredictable or non-repeatable system of distinct codes. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the codes are 15 printed on the ticket in the form of a bar code which may, for example, have 20 digits. According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the coding is only detectable or visible with the naked eye when viewed under artificial light 20 having a specific wavelength. In this way, the coding will not be copied when counterfeit tickets are produced using a color copier. Such tickets can already be recognized as counterfeit or duplicated tickets when presented for the first time. 2 According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tickets include in addition to the first random coding a second sequential coding. The computer can thereby check if the two codings are correctly associated with each other. If the association is incorrect, then the ticket is already recognized as a 5 counterfeit ticket when presented for the first time. The invention also relates to a method for detecting duplicated tickets. In particular with large public events, it is practically impossible for the ticket 10 takers to recognize duplicated or counterfeit tickets at the gate. It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a method for recognizing duplicated tickets determinedly and quickly. 15 The object is solved according to the invention by providing the tickets with at least one distinct coding and reading the coding with the reading device at the gate and transmitting the coding to a computer which registers the coding and activates an alarm signal when the same coding is presented again. ?0 By a reading the coding with a reading device, the ticket can be checked essentially without delay and duplicated tickets are detected when repeatedly presented. The ticket takers can then determine the authenticity of the ticket based on additional features. 3 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the alarm signal is also activated when a deviation from the predetermined coding is detected. In this way, tickets having a counterfeit coding are recognized quickly and reliably. 5 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tickets are provided with a random first coding which is generated by a random number generator and printed on the tickets. The coding generated by the random number generator is stored in a memory device which can be removed from the computer, wherein the memory device can be temporarily stored under secure 10 conditions and provided to the computer connected to the reader before the gates open. With this arrangement, the printer who produced the tickets will not be able to reprint tickets having the same coding. According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first 15 random coding is printed using a transparent material which can only be detected under artificial light having a specific wavelength. In this way, tickets produced with color copiers do not have a coding, so that those tickets can be recognized easily at the gate as counterfeit tickets. 20 According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tickets include a second sequential coding which is also read by the reading device and transmitted to the computer. The computer checks if the random first coding is associated with the correct ticket and/or the correct second coding. The second 4 coding can be printed on the tickets together with general information about the event at the same time the ticket is printed. Since it would be risky for a counterfeiter to sell a large number of tickets having the same sequential number and/or the same second coding, the counterfeiter will have to change the 5 sequential coding. However, the first random coding which the counterfeiter would have copied from a genuine ticket, would then in most cases be incorrectly associated. Such incorrect association can be recognized already at the gate when the respective tickets are presented for the first time. 10 Additional details of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and the appended drawings which show exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, it is shown in: FIG. 1 a top view of a ticket, 15 FIG. 2 a top view of a different ticket, FIG. 3 a schematic circuit diagram of the connection of a random number generator, a computer and a printer, and 20 FIG. 4 a schematic circuit diagram of the connection between the computer, the reader and the ticket.

The tickets inspection system includes essentially a ticket (1), a computer (2) and a reading device (3) connected to the computer (2). The ticket (1) is printed in a conventional manner and provided with the 5 customary information about the event (date and place of the event, organizer, performance, sequential number of the ticket, etc.). In addition, the ticket (1) includes a first random coding (4) generated by a random number generator (5). The first random coding (4) can be stored on a magnetic stripe (6) arranged on the ticket (1) or may be printed on the ticket (1) as a first bar code (7). The first bar 10 code (7) can be printed with a visible ink or with transparent ink which is visible to the naked eye only under artificial light of a specific wavelength or which alternatively can be read with the reading device (3) implemented, for example, as a bar code scanner (8). 15 The ticket (1, V) includes a second sequential coding (9) corresponding to the sequential ticket number (10). The second sequential coding (9) can also be stored on the magnetic stripe (6). The second sequential coding (9) is advantageously arranged next to the first random coding (4), so that the second sequential coding (9) can be read together with the first random coding (4) by the 20 reading device (3) in a single operation. If the first random coding (4) is arranged on the ticket (1) as a first bar code (7), then the second sequential coding (9) is arranged as a second bar 6 code (11) following the first bar code (7). In this way, the first coding (4) and the second coding (9) can be read by the reading device (3) in a single operation. The second bar code (11) can already be applied to the ticket (1) together 5 with the sequential ticket number (10) when the customary information is printed on the ticket (1). Alternatively, the second bar code (11) can be applied on the ticket (1) together with the first bar code (7). The first bar code (7) is printed on the ticket (1) by presenting the ticket to a printer (12) which is implemented as a bar code printer and connected to a computer (2'). 10 A random number generator (13) which is also connected to the computer (2'), generates for each ticket (1, 1') the first random coding (4) associated with the ticket (1, 1'), wherein the first random coding (4) printed on the ticket (1, 1') is controlled by the computer (2') and a simultaneously stored in a 15 memory device (14) which can be removed from the computer (2'), The memory device (14) can be implemented, for example, as a removable disk or as a recordable CD-ROM. The printer (12) controlled by the computer (2') prints the first bar code (7) 20 next to the second bar code (11). The memory device (14) is then removed from the computer (2') and temporarily stored at a secure location until the day of the event. Before the audience is given access to the event, the memory device (14) is presented to the computer (2) connected to the reading device (3). One reading 7 device (3) or several reading devices (3), for example in the form of bar code scanners (8), can be connected to the computer (2). The reading devices (3) and the bar code scanner (8), respectively, can be connected to the computer (2) via a point-to-point connection (15) or a wireless connection (16). 5 The wireless connection (16) can be implemented, for example, via infrared signals or via radio signals. The ticket takers are provided with the reading devices (3) and the bar code scanners (8), respectively. Each patron entering the event hands the ticket taker his/her ticket (1, 1'), who then reads the coding (4, 9) 10 using the reading device (3). The computer registers the presentation of the ticket (1, 1') and checks if the ticket (1, 1') is presented for the first time or may possibly have been duplicated or counterfeited, If the computer (2) detects that a ticket (1, 1') has been presented more than once, or if the computer (2) detects a missing first coding (4) or an incorrect association between the first coding (4) and 15 the second sequential coding (9), then the computer (2) activates an alarm signal. If, on the other hand, the computer (2) recognizes the ticket (1, 1') as being genuine, then the computer (2) transmits an authorization signal. The authorization signal is presented in the form of an authorization display (20) and may be displayed in the form of an illuminated green LED arranged on the reading 20 device (3) or in the form of a brief acoustic signal from a buzzer (18) disposed on the reading device (3). If the computer (2) recognizes an inconsistency on the ticket (1, 1'), then the computer (2) activates an alarm signal. The alarm signal may be implemented in the form of an alarm display (21) and may have the form 8 of an illuminated red LED (19) arranged on the reading device (3). The alarm signal, however, may also be provided as a continuous acoustic tone of the buzzer (18). 5 Alternatively, the visitor may also place the ticket in an opening (not shown) provided in the reading device (3), where the ticket (1, 1') is checked. If the ticket (1, 1') is legitimate, then the computer (2) can release a gate secured by, for example, a turnstile to allow only one person to pass through. If access is denied, then the patron will have to report to the ticket taker, who may then check the 10 ticket (1, ') once more and manually enable access, 9

Claims

1. Ticket inspection system for detecting duplicated tickets, characterized in that the tickets (1, 1') comprise at least one distinct coding (4,9) which can be read by a reading device (3), and that the reading device is connected to a 5 computer (2) capable of recognizing a duplicated tickets (1, 1').

2. Ticket inspection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the ticket (1, 1') comprises a first random coding (4). 10

3. Ticket inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ticket (1, 1') comprises a second sequential coding (9).

4. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first coding (4) can be detected with the naked eye. 15

5. Ticket inspection system according to the one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first coding can only be detected with the naked eye under artificial light of a specific wavelength. 20

6. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one coding (4, 9) is printed. 10

7. Ticket inspection system according to claim 6, characterized in that the coding (4, 9) is formed as a bar code.

8. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized 5 in that the reading device (3) is implemented as an optical scanner.

9. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the codings (4, 9) is stored on a magnetic stripe (6) disposed on the ticket (1'). 10

10. Ticket inspection system according to claim 9, characterized in that the reading device (3) is implemented as a magnetic scanner.

11. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 1 to 10, 15 characterized in that the coding (4,9) of the tickets (1, 1') is stored on a memory device (14) which can be removed from the computer (2).

12. Ticket inspection system according to claim 11, characterized in that the memory device is implemented as a removable disk. 20

13. Ticket inspection system according to claim 11, characterized in that the memory device is implemented as a CD-ROM. 11

14. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the first random coding (4) is generated with the aid of a random number generator (5). 5

15. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the reading device (3) comprises an enable indicator (20).

16. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims I to 15, 10 characterized in that the reading device comprises an alarm indicator (21).

17. Ticket inspection system according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the Indicator (20,21) is designed in the form of an optical display. 15

18. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the indicator (20, 21) is designed in the form of an acoustic indicator,

19. Ticket inspection system according to one of the claims 1 to 18, 20 characterized in that the reading device (3) is connected to the computer (2) via a wireless link. 12

20. Method for detecting duplicated tickets, characterized in that the tickets (1, 1') are provided with at least one distinct coding (4,9) and that upon entry the coding (4,9) is read with a reading device (3) and transmitted to a computer (2) which registers the coding (4,9) and activates an alarm signal 5 when the same coding (4,9) is presented another time.

21. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that the alarm signal is activated if the coding is different from the predetermined coding (4, 9). 10

22. Method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the tickets (1, 1') are provided with a random first coding (4).

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the random first coding (4) is generated by a random number generator (5) which is 15 connected to a computer (2'), with the random first coding (4) subsequently applied to the tickets (1, 1').

24. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that the coding (4) generated by the random number generator (5) is the stored in a memory device (14) 20 which can be removed from the computer (2'), and that the memory device (14) can be securely temporarily stored and supplied to the computer (2) connected with the reading device (3) before entry. 13

25. Method according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that for applying the first random coding (4) on the ticket (1), a printer (12) is connected to the computer (2') which is connected to the random number generator (5), wherein the printer (12) prints on the tickets (1) the coding (14) generated by 5 the random number generator (5) and stored in memory device (14).

26. Method according to one of the claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the ticket (1, 1') comprises a sequential second coding (9) which is also read by a the reading device (3) and transmitted to the computer (2), which checks the 10 association between the first coding (4) and the second coding (9) and activates an alarm signal if a discrepancy is detected.

27. Method according to one of the claims 20 to 26, characterized in that an enable signal is activated when error-free tickets (1, 1') are read. 14