CA2511377A1

CA2511377A1 - System and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry to a venue

Info

Publication number: CA2511377A1
Application number: CA002511377A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Aiden Ferguson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-29
Filing date: 2005-06-29
Publication date: 2006-12-29

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue comprises a microprocessor based computer apparatus including means for obtaining information from a person. Software is executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus for causing the information to be obtained, for transmitting at least some of the information obtained to a remote database, and for receiving supplemental information from the remote database, which supplemental information is related to the information transmitted to the remote database. There is a display screen for displaying a result related to the supplemental information received from the remote database. The displayed result is used by the venue to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person into the venue.

Description

FIELD OF THE-INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to systems and methods for obtaining supplemental information from a database about a person requesting entry to a venue, such as an entertainment establishment, specifically a licensed bar, and more particularly to such a system that also augments the database.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Public venues, such as entertainment establishments (licensed bars), stadiums, banquet halls, arenas, malls, amusement parks, and so on, are the places where large numbers of persons frequently gather on a regular basis or for special occasions.
Tnlhile most persons attending such venues are typically welcome and act in accordance with the rules and regulations of such venues, there are many instances where this is not true. Some persons are known to be the types who are potentially undesirable to have in a public venue, as they are like to cause or at least take part in some sort of unacceptable behaviour or possibly some illicit activities. This can lead to a significant problem for the owners or operators of the venue. Unfortunately, until now, there has been no way of regulating the entry of persons into a venue, except for checking the identification of persons hoping to enter the venue, in order to determine whether each person meets an age requirement .

[0003] Perhaps the most prevalent problem in this regard is that of regulating entry into licensed entertainment establishments that have a liquor license. It is common in many modern societies to set, through legislation, the age at which alcohol may be legally consumed in public. In order to not be in contravention of the law, it is necessary for owners and/or operators of establishments that serve alcohol to prevent potential patrons who are younger than the legal drinking age, from entering their establishment.
Accordingly, anyone requesting entry into such an entertainment establishment must verify their age by presenting an acceptable form of identification. Such acceptable forms of identification typically include a driver's license, health insurance card, an age of majority card, a student card, a birth certificate, and so on.
In order to allow the person to be recognizable in comparison to the identification, acceptable forms of identification must include a pictorial representation of the patron. Other information that is almost as essential include birthdate of the person, address, and so on, in order to allow the person to be uniquely identified.

[0004] Many, entertainment establishments that serve alcohol have an employee located at the entrance to examine the driver's license of each person who appears to possibly be younger than the legal drinking age and who is requesting entry into the entertainment establishment. The information on the identification card is the only specific information used to determine whether a person is admitted into the licensed entertainment establishment.
In other words, entry to the licensed entertainment establishment is based solely on the birthdate presented on the identification card. No other actual information about the person is available.

[0005] Unfortunately, there are some persons who have a tendency to cause trouble when consuming alcohol. It is common fob many licensed entertainment establishments to have to eject at least a few patrons on a regular basis. Typically, patrons that have been ejected from one licensed entertainment establishment attempt to gain entry into another licensed entertainment establishment. It is well known that it is reasonably likely that such patrons will also have a tendency to cause trouble if they are admitted to the other entertainment establishment.

[0006] It is therefore highly desirable for an entertainment establishment to be able to make an informed decision regarding the entry of the person into the entertainment establishment, in terms of knowing whether the person has a history of being ejected from entertainment establishments.

[0007] It is also highly desirable for other types of venues, even if they do not serve alcohol such as stadiums, banquet halls, arenas, malls, amusement parks, and so on, to be able to make an informed decision regarding the entry of the person into the venue .

[0008] Further, it is not uncommon for a person who is younger than the legal drinking age to obtain entry to an entertainment establishment that serves alcohol using a fake, or otherwise incorrect, piece of identification. In the event that the patron is subsequently questioned about his age, he produces an authentic piece of identification and claims that the entertainment establishment permitted him to enter upon presenting this piece of identification. This situation is highly undesirable for a licensed entertainment establishment. It would therefore be desirable for a licensed entertainment establishment to be able to prove how a patron gained entry to the entertainment establishment .

[0009] A similar type of problem to that described above is that of groups of people, typically younger people, causing problems in publically accessible buildings, such as shopping malls. It is common for young people to ~~hang out" in shopping malls and potentially cause problems generally through unacceptable behaviour, including shoplifting. Even if there is no unacceptable behaviour, such "hanging out" in shopping malls tends to deter other persons from going to the shopping mall. In any event, it is highly undesirable to have groups of young people "hanging out" in shopping malls, and also it is undesirable to have certain individuals spend time in shopping malls.

[00010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue.

[00011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue, wherein the venue records whether the person was requested to leave the venue, for future reference and the reference of other venues.

[00012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue, which system and method record when a person enters the venue.

[00013] It is another obj ect of the present invention to provide a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue, which system and method provides means for a venue to be able to prove how a patron gained entry to the venue.
SU1~ARY OF THE- MENTION

[00014] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel system for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue. The system comprises a microprocessor based computer apparatus including means for obtaining identifying information from a person, and is connected in data transfer relation to a remote database. Software is executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus for causing the identifying information to be obtained from the person. Software is executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus for transmitting at least some of the identifying information obtained from the person to the remote database. Software is executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus for receiving supplemental information from the remote database, which supplemental ._, information is related to the identifying information transmitted to the remote database. There is a display means for displaying a result related to the supplemental information received from the remote database. The displayed result is used by the venue to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person into the venue.

[00015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue. The method comprising the steps of obtaining identifying information from a person;
connecting in data transfer relation to a remote database;
transmitting at least some of the identifying information obtained from the person to the remote database; receiving supplemental information from the remote database, which supplemental information is related to the identifying information transmitted to the remote database; and displaying a result related to the supplemental information received from the remote database. The displayed result is used by the venue to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person into the venue.

[00016] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00017] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue, according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the _ g _ drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[00018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a venue having installed therein the preferred embodiment of the system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, according to the present invention;

[00019] Figure 2 is a simplified diagrammatic representation of the preferred embodiment of the system and method of Figure l;

[00020] Figure 3A is a front elevational view of a typical conventional driver's license;

[00021] Figure 3B is a rear elevational view of a typical conventional driver's license;

[00022] Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of a microprocessor based card reader connected to a portable microprocessor based computer apparatus, each being part of the preferred embodiment of the system and method of Figure 1, and which microprocessor based card reader is reading information from a driver's license;
_ g _

[00023] Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the microprocessor based computer apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the system and method of Figure 1, specifically a micro-computer, wherein information about a person requesting entry to a venue is displayed;

[00024] Figure 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of a microprocessor based card reader connected to a portable microprocessor based computer apparatus, specifically a PDA, each being part of the preferred embodiment of the system and method of Figure 1, with the PDA is displaying supplemental information received from a remote database via a micro-computer;

[00025] Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of the microprocessor based computer apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the system and method of Figure l, specifically a micro-computer, wherein information about a person who has been aksed to leave a venue is being transmitted to a remote database;

[00026] Figure 8A is a front elevational view of a unique identification card, that is part of the preferred embodiment system and method of Figure 1; and,

[00027] Figure 8B is a rear elevational view the unique identification card of Figure 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[00028] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 8B, which show a preferred embodiment of the system, as indicated by the general reference numeral 20, and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person 25 requesting entry into a venue 22, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue 22. The venue 22 might be an entertainment establishment, such as a restaurant or bar licensed to serve liquor, stadiums, banquet halls, arenas, malls, amusement parks, and so on. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the venue 22 comprises an entertainment establishment, specifically a bar having a liquor license, and thereby being licensed to serve liquor. As can be seen in Figure l, the bar 22 comprises a building having an entrance, with an employee 24 of the bar 22, often referred to as a "bouncer", standing at the entrance door 26 checking the identification of persons, such as the person 25, requesting entry into the bar 22.

[00029] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue comprises a microprocessor based computer apparatus 30. As can be seen in the figures, the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 comprises a handheld PDA 40 (personal digital assistant) that is in the hand of the employee 24 standing at the door. The handheld PDA 40 is in wireless two-way communication with a micro-computer 50 located within the building, so as to transmit information to the micro-computer 50, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "A" in Figure 2, and receive information from the micro-computer 50, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "B" in Figure 2. Such information could include both text and images. The PDA 40 is connected wirelessly in two-way data communication with the micro-computer 50 via any suitable wireless communication protocol, such as WiFi (WLAN 802.11b, or 802.11g), Bluetooth~, or IrDA FIR (fast infrared).

[00030] The microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 including means for obtaining identifying information from a person. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the means for obtaining identifying information from a person comprises means for obtaining identifying information from a piece of identification belonging to the person. More specifically, the means for obtaining identifying information from a piece of identification belonging to the person comprises a microprocessor based card reader 60. Microprocessor based card readers that interface with PDA's through a data port, such as a USB port, or one that is compatible with a solid state storage device, such as a Memory StickTM, SmartMediaTM, Secure Digital ( SD) TM, Multimedia (MM) TM, Compact FlashTM, or a magnetic storage device such as a MicrodriveTM. Such microprocessor based card readers that interface through such data ports with a PDA 40 or the like are known in the art, and are not specifically the subject of this application.

[00031] Correspondingly, the piece of identification as shown in the Figures and as discussed herein, comprises an identification card, specifically a driver's license 70, as is best seen in Figures 3A and 3B. The driver's license 70 has a driver's license number 72 on the front face 74. A magnetic stripe 76 on the rear face 78 contains all of the information recorded on the driver's license 70, and is readable by the microprocessor based card reader 60.

[00032] The present invention is not limited to the reading of a driver's license 70 for obtaining identifying information from a person; however, using a person's driver's license 70 is typically the most common way of obtaining information about a person. Other forms of identification might be used, including, but not limited to, a health insurance card, an age of majority card, a student card, a birth certificate and so on. Further, a unique identification card 80, as is shown in Figures 8A and 8B, might be developed specifically for use with the system 20 according to the present invention. The unique identification card 80 includes a special identification number 82 that uniquely identifies a person without having to use other unique identifiers, such as a driver's license 70 number or social security number, that a person might want to keep private. The special identification number 82 on the front face 84 of the unique identification card 80 and also other information are recorded on the magnetic stripe 86 on the rear face 88, to as to be readable by the microprocessor based card reader 60.

[00033] As can be readily seen in the Figures, one of the pieces of the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30, namely the micro-computer 50, is connected in data transfer relation to a remote database 90. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 is connected in data transfer relation to the remote database 90 via the Internet 29 so as to ensure a reliable connection and to achieve fast rates of data transfer.

[00034] Alternatively, the PDA 40 could be connected directly in data transfer relation to the remote database 90 via the Internet 29, via a wireless connection.

[00035] There is also software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for receiving supplemental information from the remote database 90, as indicated by arrows "D" in Figures 1 and 2. This which supplemental information is related to the identifying information transmitted to the remote database 90, and includes the fields as discussed above. The supplemental information received from the remote database 90 preferably includes whether the person was previously requested to leave one or more venues, the time and date of each infraction, why the person was asked to leave, whether the person acted in an abusive manner, whether the person became violent, and also preferably, but not necessarily, a pictorial representation of the person.

[00036] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, according to the present invention, also comprises software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for causing the identifying information to be obtained from the person. More specifically, the software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for causing the identifying information to be obtained from the person comprises software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for causing the identifying information to be obtained from the piece of identification, such as a driver's license 70 in the form of a plastic card having a magnetic stripe thereon. The software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 permits the identification card to be read, as the magnetic stripe 76 on the identification card (driver's license 70) is physically scanned by a card reader 60, as can be seen in Figure 1. The software would also cause the card reader 60 to pass the information read from the card to the PDA 40. There is also software for transmitting the obtained information, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines ~~A" in Figure 2, to the micro-computer 50 via any suitable wireless communication protocol, as discussed above. There is also software for transmitting information, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "B" in Figure 2, from the micro-computer 50 to the PDA 40 via any suitable wireless communication protocol, as discussed above, as will be discussed in greater detail subequently.

[00037] There is also software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30, specifically the PDA 40 and the micro-computer 50, for transmitting at least some of the identifying information obtained from the person to the remote database 90.

The information that is transmitted to the remote database 90 will depend on the identifying key or keys used by the remote database 90. It is possible to use only one unique identifier such as the person's driver's license number or social security number, to uniquely identify that person. In this case only that unique identifier needs to be transmitted to the remote database 90. It is also possible to use more than one identifier such as the person's driver's license number or social security number, and also the person's name, address, and so on, to uniquely identify that person. In this case, two or more fields of information, which together uniquely identify the person, are transmitted to the remote database 90.

[00038] It may not be possible to obtain information that uniquely identifies a person requesting entry into a venue. For instance, some age of majority cards have a person's name and address. In this case, the identification card, such as the age of majority card, could be scanned, or the information could be entered manually via the micro-computer 50, and transmitted to the remote database 90. If one or more matches are made to the information, these matches would all be transmitted to the micro-computer 50 and the PDA 40, via the Internet 29. It is then up to the personnel at the venue 22 to determine whether the person 25 requesting entry into the venue 22 is actually one of the persons identified in the supplemental information that has been by the micro-computer 50. Further searching of the remote database 90 in a more specific manner is possible.

[00039] The remote database 90 would be run using suitable database software on a suitable computer 92, such as a micro-computer 50 of sufficient capacity, or on a mainframe or mini-computer, as desired. The remote database 90 comprises several fields of information corresponding to the possible types of information that will be received from the micro-computer 50, or from any such micro-computer 50 connected in data transfer relation to a remote database 90. As can be best seen in Figure 2, these fields might include driver's license number or social security number, age of majority card number, student identification number, the person's name, address, and so it. It may also include a special identification number 82 that is specific to the database and uniquely identifies a person without having to use other unique identifiers, such as a driver's license number or social security number, that a person might want to keep private, as discussed above with reference to the unique identification card 80. The database can also include a field that is a pictorial representation of each person. This pictorial representation can be used to verify whether the person who is presenting the identification card, or the like, is actually the person in the database, as will be discussed more fully below. Accordingly, this can also be used to help determine whether an identification card is fraudulent or authentic.

[00040] Preferably, the remote database 90 also includes one or more fields that indicate the time of entry of the person into a venue. This specific information may also be kept locally at the venue 22 only, if desired. The time of entry of the person into a venue may be important, especially to a licensed bar, in order to help subsequently identify whether a person used fraudulent identification when entering a licensed bar. A person who has earlier entered the bar 22 can be asked for identification. The identification must match the earlier used identification.
Further, the time that the person entered the bar 22 can be recalled from the micro-computer 50 or from the remote database 90.
This time of entry can be used to with reference to any video tape that has recorded persons entering the bar 22, with visual time stamps on the video tape . The person in question should be the person who is seen on the video tape at the recorded time of entry.

[00041] The remote database 90 also includes one or more fields that indicate whether a person has been asked to leave a venue.
Preferably there are several fields for this, and the fields include the specific venue or venues that the person was asked to leave, the time and date of each infraction, why the person was asked to leave, whether the person acted in an abusive manner, whether the person became violent, whether the person was arrested, and so on. This information is transmitted to the remote database 90 and stored therein, for use by other venues having a microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 connected in data transfer relation to the remote database 90.

[00042] The system 20 also further comprises software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for recording on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 at least some of the identifying information obtained from the identification card, so as to permit the person to be subsequently identified. For instance, just the person's driver's license number can be recorded, or additional information such as name, address, and so on can be recorded. Further, it is also possible to scan and record the picture on a person's driver's license 70, or even all of the information on a person's driver's license 70. In this manner, the person can later be found in the venue 22 according to the picture on the driver's license 70 that was presented upon entry. This is extremely useful in proving, for instance, that an underage person gained entry to the venue 22 by using a fraudulent identification card.

[00043] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue further comprises software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for recording the time of entry of the person into the venue.
This time of entry can be stored in either the micro-computer 50 for use by the venue 22, or can also be transmitted to the remote database 90 for storage therein.

[00044] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue further comprises software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for recording whether the person was requested to leave the venue 22, and also software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for transmitting to the remote database 90 whether the person was requested to leave the venue 22. The recording of this information, and the recording of this information in the remote database 90 for use by all other venues having a microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 connected in data transfer relation to a remote database 90, comprises one of the fundamental aspects of the system 20.

[00045] There is also display means, preferably on the PDA 40 and also on the micro-computer 50, for displaying a result related to the supplemental information received from the remote database 90.

The display means typically comprises the conventional display that is part of the PDA 40, as can be best seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5, or is part of the micro-computer 50, as can be best seen in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7. A supplemental display may also be used, perhaps in order to strongly emphasize that the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has bee asked to leave another bar, or other venue, especially if that has occurred within the last hour or two, or especially if that person has a history of being asked to leave venues, if that person has acted in a violent or abusive manner when asked the leave the venue 22, and perhaps most especially if the person was arrested. Further, an audible warning may also be generated to alert the employee 24 of the bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26 of the bar 22 that the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has bee asked to leave another bar, or other venue.

[00046] The displayed result is used by the venue 22 to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person into that venue 22.
For instance, if the supplemental information received from the remote database 90 provides no indication that the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has not been asked to leave another bar, or other venue, then the employee 24 of the bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26, can feel comfortable, or at least somewhat more comfortable, admitting that person into the bar 22.
If, however, the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has been asked to leave another bar, or other venue, if that person has acted in a violent or abusive manner when asked the leave, and perhaps most especially if that person was arrested, then the employee 24 of the bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26 would probably refuse such entry.

[00047] It can also be seen that the present invention also comprises a method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person info the venue 22. Fundamentally, the method comprises the steps of first obtaining identifying information from a person, preferably from a piece of identification belonging to the person, specifically from an identification card, such as a driver's license 70, social security card, age of majority card, student identification card, and so on. As illustrated, the identification card may be scanned by the microprocessor based card reader 60.

[00048] The step of connecting in data transfer relation to a remote database 90 may be done each time information is obtained from a person requesting entry to a venue, such as bar 22, or may be done on an overall basis each time the venue 22 is opened or otherwise used, and is preferably done via the Internet 29.

[00049] After obtaining identifying information from a person requesting entry into a venue, there is a step of transmitting at least some of the identifying information obtained from the person to the remote database 90. The method preferably further comprises the steps of recording the time of entry of the person into the venue 22; recording at least some of the identifying information obtained from the identification card, so as to uniquely identify the person; subsequently recalling the recorded information that uniquely identifies the person; recording the time of entry of the person into the venue 22; recording the time of exit of the person from the venue 22; recording whether the person was requested to leave the venue 22; and transmitting to the remote database 90 whether the person was requested to leave the venue 22.

(00050] Subsequently to such transmission of information, there are the steps of receiving supplemental information from the remote database 90, which supplemental information is related to the identifying information transmitted to the remote database 90, and displaying a result related to the supplemental information received from the remote database 90. The displayed result is used by the venue 22 to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person into the venue 22. More specifically, if the supplemental information received from the remote database 90 provides no indication that the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has not been asked to leave another bar, or other venue, then the employee 24 of the bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26, can feel comfortable, or at least somewhat more comfortable, admitting that person into the bar 22. If, however, the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has been asked to leave another bar, or other venue, and especially if that person has acted in a violent or abusive manner when asked the leave, then the employee 24 of the bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26 would probably refuse such entry.

[00051] The preferred embodiment of the present invention also includes the steps of transmitting, as indicated by arrow "G" in Figure 1, at least some of the identifying information to a police database 100, as is shown in Figure 1, and receiving, as indicated by arrow "H", police-record information from the police database 100, with the police-record information being related to the identifying information transmitted to the police database 100.
Information such as a person having a criminal record might be received from the police database 100, which would most likely preclude a person from gaining entry to an establishment.

[00052] Use of the preferred embodiment system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue will now be described with reference to Figures 1 through 7. As can be seen in Figure l, a person 25, who is a potential patron of the bar 22, approaches the front door 26 of the bar. The employee 24 of the bar 22 obtains a piece of identification, in this case a driver's license 70, and swipes the driver's license 70 through the microprocessor based card reader 60, as can bee seen in Figures 1 and 4, and as indicated by arrow "E" in Figure 4. The information on the magnetic stripe 76 of the driver's license 70 is read, and therefore obtained by the microprocessor based card reader 60. This information is passed to the PDA 40, where it is displayed, as can be best seen in Figure 4.
The PDA 40 then transmits this information to the micro-computer 50, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "A" in Figure 2. The micro-computer 50 transmits this information through the Internet 29, as indicated by arrows "C" in Figures 1 and 2, to the computer 92 running the remote database 90. The computer 92 running the remote database 90 uses a unique identifier, such as the person's driver's license number, as the key to search the database. If any supplemental information is found that relates to the information received, the supplemental information is transmitted through the Internet 29 back to the micro-computer 50 at the bar 22, as indicated by arrows "D" in Figures 1 and 2. The micro-computer 50 transmits this supplemental information to the PDA 40, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "B" in Figure 2. As can be seen on the screen 52 of the micro-computer 50 in Figure 5, and on the screen 42 of the PDA 40 in Figure 6, the person 25 in question has not been asked to leave a venue, or in other words has not been ejected from a venue. By using the PDA
40, the employee 24 of the bar 22 is then able to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person 25 into the venue 22, and would therefore probably be inclined to permit the person to gain entry to the bar 22.

[00053] Reference will now be made to Figure 7, which shows the screen 52 of the micro-computer 50 in the bar 22. Information has been entered into the micro-computer 50 that indicates the patron 25 has been asked to leave the bar 22, when this occurred, and the fact that he was abusive when asked to leave. This information is transmitted, as indicated by arrows "F", via the Internet 29 to the remote database 90 for subsequent use by other venues.

[00054] As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue, wherein the venue records whether the person was requested to, leave the venue, for future reference and the reference of other venues, wherein which system and method record when a person enters the venue, and which system and method provides means for a venue to be able to prove how a patron gained entry to the venue, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.

[00055] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. For instance, it is contemplated that biometrics could be used to obtain a person's fingerprint, iris pattern, and so on, to uniquely identify a person. Collecting such information would mean that this information would have been previously collected from the person and stored on the remote database. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, according to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A system for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue, said system comprising:

a microprocessor based computer apparatus including means for obtaining identifying information from a person, and connected in data transfer relation to a remote database;

software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for causing said identifying information to be obtained from said person;

software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for transmitting at least some of said identifying information obtained from said person to said remote database;

software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for receiving supplemental information from said remote database, which supplemental information is related to said identifying information transmitted to said remote database;

display means for displaying a result related to said supplemental information received from said remote database;
wherein the displayed result is used by said venue to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person into the venue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor based computer apparatus is connected in data transfer relation to said remote database via the Internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for obtaining identifying information from a person comprises means for obtaining identifying information from a piece of identification belonging to said person, and wherein said software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for causing said identifying information to be obtained from said person comprises software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for causing said identifying information to be obtained from said piece of identification.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said piece of identification comprises an identification card, and wherein said software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for causing said identifying information to be obtained from said piece of identification comprises software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for permitting said identification card to be read.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for obtaining identifying information from a piece of identification belonging to said person comprises a microprocessor based card reader.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for recording the time of entry of said person into said venue.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for recording on said microprocessor based computer apparatus at least some of the identifying information obtained from said identification card, so as to permit said person to be subsequently identified.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for recording whether said person was requested to leave said venue.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising software executable on said microprocessor based computer apparatus for transmitting to said remote database whether said person was requested to leave said venue.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein said identification card comprises a driver's license.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said supplemental information received from said remote database include a pictorial representation of said person.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said supplemental information received from said remote database include whether said person was previously requested to leave one or more venues.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said venue comprises an entertainment establishment.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said entertainment establishment comprises an entertainment establishment having a liquor license.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said database contains a field for a special identification number that is specific to the database and uniquely identifies a person.

16. A method for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue, said method comprising the steps of:
obtaining identifying information from a person;
connecting in data transfer relation to a remote database;
transmitting at least some of said identifying information obtained from said person to said remote database;
receiving supplemental information from said remote database, which supplemental information is related to said identifying information transmitted to said remote database;
displaying a result related to said supplemental information received from said remote database;

wherein the displayed result is used by said venue to make an informed decision regarding entry of the person into the venue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of connecting in data transfer relation to a remote database comprises connecting in data transfer relation to a remote database via the Internet.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of obtaining identifying information from a person comprises obtaining identifying information from a piece of identification belonging to said person.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said piece of identification comprises an identification card.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said identification card is scanned by a microprocessor based card reader.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:
recording the time of entry of said person into said venue.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:
recording at least some of the identifying information obtained from said identification card, so as to uniquely identify said person.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:
subsequently recalling the recorded information that uniquely identifies said person.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:
recording the time of exit of said person into said venue.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:
recording the time of exit of said person from said venue.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

recording whether said person was requested to leave said venue.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:
transmitting to said remote database whether said person was requested to leave said venue.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein said identification card comprises a driver's license.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein said supplemental information received from said remote database include a pictorial representation of said person.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein said supplemental information received from said remote database include whether said person was previously requested to leave one or more venues.

31. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:
transmitting at least some of said identifying information to a police database; and, receiving police-record information from said police database, which police-record information is related to said identifying information transmitted to said police database.

32. The system of claim 16, wherein said venue comprises an entertainment establishment.

33. The system of claim 16, wherein said entertainment establishment comprises an entertainment establishment having a liquor license.