JP2002329028A - Ticket issuance/refund system and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to efficiently cancel a purchased ticket using a personal computer at home and a device with the image read function and the printer function. SOLUTION: When an already-issued ticket is set on a ticket canceling device, the device starts reading the image of the ticket (S301, S302). When a ticket cancel request is made ('ticket cancel request') (S303), a 'ticket ID request message' is sent to the user system to prompt the user to send the ticket ID. The ticket ID read by the ticket canceling device is sent to the ticket issuance center ('ticket ID notification message') (S305). If the ID of the issued ticket is present, the 'ticket invalidation processing request' is received (S306) and ticket invalidation processing is executed to invalidate the ticket (S307).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ticket issuing / refunding system and method, and more particularly, to a ticket issuing center, a user terminal used by a user, a user including a printer and an image reading device. The present invention relates to a ticket issuance / refund system in which a ticket issuing center and a user system are connected via a network, and a method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a ticket for an event such as a concert is purchased, a refund cannot usually be made, and at present, there is no refund system. If a ticket owner at a conventional concert or the like cannot go to the event due to some kind of urgent business, etc. The only option was to find an acquaintance interested in the event and contact them to buy one, or to give away the ticket free of charge to avoid wasting tickets.

[0003]

However, depending on the type of event, such as a concert, there is a case where it is difficult to find a partner to whom the ticket can be easily transferred, and there is a disadvantage that the ticket purchased must be wasted. Was. In such a case, if a system that can cancel purchased tickets is established, it is possible to provide services to buyers who seek tickets on the day without wasting tickets. become.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a purpose thereof is to efficiently purchase and purchase tickets at home using a personal computer and an apparatus having an image reading function and a printer function. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ticket issuance / refund system and a method thereof that enable ticket cancellation.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is used by a ticket issuing center for issuing an entrance ticket, such as an event hall, and a user. A ticket invalidating device including a user use terminal, an image reading unit connected to the user terminal, a printing unit for printing image data from the image reading unit, and a function of invalidating issued tickets for which cancellation is desired. The ticket issuing center and the user system are connected via a network. In the ticket issuing / refunding system, the ticket issuing center manages issued tickets by ID. ID management means, and a request to cancel the ticket is received from the user terminal , ID of the ticket to the user terminal
An ID requesting means for requesting the ticket ID from the ticket issuing center in the user terminal.
D notification means, and invalidation request means for performing, when the ticket issuance center receives a notification of the ticket ID from the user terminal, confirmation processing of the ticket ID, and requesting invalidation processing of the ticket. And, in the user terminal, when the ticket issuing center is requested by the ticket issuing center to perform ticket invalidation processing, performs the ticket invalidation processing,
An invalidation notifying unit for notifying that the invalidation of the ticket has been completed after the completion of the invalidation process, and a refund unit for refunding the ticket price after confirming the invalidation of the ticket at the ticket issuing center. , Wherein the ticket can be canceled.

[0006] The invention described in claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1.
In the invention described in (1), the ticket revoking device sends the I / O of the issued ticket for which cancellation is desired from the image reading unit.
It is characterized by comprising ID reading means for reading D and invalidating means for invalidating the ticket by performing a process indicating invalidation of the ticket.

[0007] The invention according to claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 1.
In the invention described in the above item, when a ticket invalidation completion message is received from the user terminal, it is checked whether there is a user who wants to wait for the cancellation of the ticket, and if there is a user who is waiting for the cancellation, the waiting for the cancellation is performed. If the user has a willingness to purchase a ticket, the ticket issuance process is performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ticket issuing center for issuing an entrance ticket such as an event hall, a user terminal used by a user, an image reading unit connected to the user terminal, and the image reading unit. And a print unit for printing image data from the unit, and a ticket invalidating device having a function of invalidating the issued ticket for which cancellation is desired. In the ticket issuing / refunding method in a ticket issuing / refunding system in which the user system is connected via a network, the ticket issuing center includes an ID managing step of managing issued tickets by ID, and a ticket cancel request. When receiving from the user terminal, the user I to a request for a ticket of ID at the end of
A D requesting step; an ID notifying step of notifying the ticket ID when the ticket ID is requested from the ticket issuing center at the user terminal; and a notifying of the ticket ID at the ticket issuing center. Is received from the user terminal,
When the ticket issuing center performs a confirmation process of the ticket ID and requests the ticket invalidation process, and in the user terminal, the ticket issuing center requests the ticket invalidation process by the invalidation request step. In addition, while performing the ticket invalidation processing,
An invalidation notification step for notifying that the invalidation of the ticket has been completed after the invalidation processing is completed, and a refund step for refunding the ticket price after confirming the invalidation of the ticket at the ticket issuing center. , Wherein the ticket can be canceled.

The invention described in claim 5 is the same as the claim 4.
In the invention described in the item (1), the ticket invalidating method in the ticket invalidating device includes an ID reading step of reading the ID of an issued ticket that the user wishes to cancel from the image reading unit, and performing a process indicating that the ticket is invalid. An invalidating step of invalidating the ticket is provided.

[0010] The invention described in claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4.
In the invention described in the above item, when a ticket invalidation completion message is received from the user terminal, it is checked whether there is a user who wants to wait for the cancellation of the ticket, and if there is a user who is waiting for the cancellation, the waiting for the cancellation is performed. If the user has a willingness to purchase a ticket, the ticket issuance process is performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ticket issuing center for issuing an entrance ticket such as an event venue, a user terminal used by a user, an image reading unit connected to the user terminal, and the image reading unit. And a print unit for printing image data from the unit, and a ticket invalidating device having a function of invalidating the issued ticket for which cancellation is desired. A program for executing a ticket issuing / refunding method in a ticket issuing / refunding system in which the user system is connected via a network, wherein the ticket issuing center manages issued tickets by ID. Request from the user terminal When receiving the ID request step of the request for the ticket ID to the user terminal, at the user terminal, when the ticket ID is requested from the ticket issuing center, the ticket I
An ID notifying step of notifying D, and, when the notification of the ID of the ticket is received from the user terminal, the ticket issuing center performs a process of confirming the ID of the ticket, and requests a process of invalidating the ticket. Performing an invalidation requesting step, and in the user terminal, when a ticket invalidation processing by the invalidation requesting step is requested from the ticket issuing center, performing the ticket invalidation processing, and after completing the invalidation processing, Providing a revocation step for notifying that the revocation of the ticket has been completed, and a refund step for refunding the ticket price after confirming the revocation of the ticket at the ticket issuing center, and canceling the ticket. Is a program for executing.

[0012] In addition, events such as movies, art exhibitions, sports such as baseball and soccer, and amusement parks are considered in addition to music such as concerts, and tickets associated therewith are objects of the present invention.

[0013] That is, the ticket issuing center manages the issued ticket by the ID, and receives the “ticket cancel request message” from the user terminal.
A means for transmitting a "ticket ID request message" to the user terminal, a means for performing ticket ID confirmation processing when a "ticket ID notification message" is received from the user terminal, and transmitting a "ticket invalidation processing request message" If a "ticket invalidation completion message" is received from the user terminal, a means for performing a refund of the ticket price is provided, and it is checked whether there is a user who wants to wait for ticket cancellation, and if there is a user waiting for cancellation A means for starting a cancel program for issuing a ticket is provided. The user terminal is provided with a ticket invalidating device having an image reading function and a function for invalidating the issued ticket for which cancellation is desired. Request message "received from the ticketing center A means for transmitting a “ticket ID notification message” is provided. When a “ticket invalidation request message” is received from the ticket issuing center at the user terminal, the ticket is invalidated. Is provided, and the purchased ticket is invalidated.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a ticket issuing / refunding system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes the Internet, 102 denotes a ticket issuing center, and 104 denotes a ticket. A cancellation processing program 103, a ticket issuance number management database 105 for associating the ticket ID with the number of handled sheets, 105
Reference numeral denotes an input / output device for inputting each parameter when the ticket cancel program 104 is activated. Reference numeral 106 denotes a user system, 107 denotes a personal computer, and 108 denotes a ticket canceling device having a ticket image reading unit and a printer unit.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram between the ticket issuing center and the user system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart when a ticket canceling process is executed in the user system. FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart when a ticket cancellation request is received from the system, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart when a ticket cancellation program is started in the ticket issuing center. Hereinafter, the operation of the ticket issuance / refund system of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

When canceling a ticket using the present system, first, the user operates the ticket canceling device 1.
08 is set to the issued ticket. The ticket canceling device 108 starts reading the image of the set ticket, and reads the ticket ID written on the ticket or recorded like a barcode (S301, S302). Then, an application for a ticket cancellation request is made to the ticket issuing center 102 (“ticket cancellation request 201”) (S303).

Next, as a cancellation request method, a method using a telephone or the Internet is considered. Upon receiving the ticket cancellation request 201 (S401), the operator of the ticket issuing center 102 transmits a "ticket ID request message 202" to the user system, and urges notification of the ticket ID.

The user system 106 (S304), which has been requested for the ticket ID, uses the ticket canceling device 10
Notify the ticket ID read at 8 to the ticket issuing center (“Ticket ID notification message 203”)
(S305). The ticket issuance center 102 stores the received ticket ID in the ticket issuance number management database 1
It is confirmed whether or not the ticket with the specified ID has been issued based on the number of issued tickets corresponding to the received ticket ID on 03 (S402). If there is an issued ticket ID corresponding to the received ticket ID, the ticket issuing center transmits a “ticket invalidation processing request 204” to the user system to prompt the discard of the ticket (S403, 4), If the ID does not exist, a “ticket cancellation request impossible request message” is transmitted, and the information since the cancellation is rejected (S405).

The user system 106 (S 306) that has received the “ticket invalidation processing request 204” punches a hole as shown in FIG. 6 so that the ticket cannot be used by the ticket canceling device 108, or The ticket is invalidated by printing "invalid" or the like, and the ticket is invalidated (S307). At the same time as the completion of the operation, a “ticket invalidation completion message 205” is transmitted to the ticket issuing center (S30).
8). The ticket issuing center 102 (S406) that has received the “ticket invalidation completion message 205” performs a process of “subtracting 1” from the number of issued tickets of the corresponding ID in the ticket issue number management database 107.

In the refund processing of the payment amount (S408), various methods are conceivable. For example, a method in which a user opens a bank account exclusively for the present system and registers it in the system is conceivable. The user exchanges the ticket price generated at the time of ticket purchase or cancellation at the account. Payment and withdrawal can be confirmed by e-mail or by issuing a monthly statement to notify the user.

Alternatively, a method of delivering a refund at a convenience store can be considered. The user is notified of the exchange number or the like by e-mail or the like, and after receiving the e-mail, the user receives the ticket price at the designated convenience store. This completes the ticket cancellation processing.

Next, the ticket issuing center 102
The “ticket cancellation program 104” is started (S409). In this program, whether or not there is a ticket cancellation wait of this canceled event exists in the ticket issuance number management database 103.
More confirmation is made (S501). If there is no cancellation wait, this series of processing in the ticket center ends.

If there are a plurality of cancellation waits, the first priority person in the cancellation waits is notified by telephone or the Internet that the ticket can be acquired (S5).
02). If a response to this notification is not obtained, or if the first priority person in the cancellation wait is declined due to the shortage of the desired number (S503, 4), the second priority person in the cancellation wait is sent to the second priority person in the cancellation wait. The right to acquire the ticket is transferred (S505). This process is repeated until a person who intends to acquire a ticket is found, or until there is no cancellation wait.

When the ticket issuance request is received by the ticket issuance center in the state of waiting for cancellation from those expressing the intention to acquire the ticket (S503, 4), the ticket issuance center ticket issuance processing procedure is started (S506).

As described above, by executing the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. In other words, a user can efficiently cancel a purchased ticket with a personal computer at home and a device equipped with an image reading function and a printer function. In the ticket issuing system, a sold-out ticket is registered in a waiting list and canceled by a user who wishes to purchase the ticket. It is possible to efficiently provide the issued ticket.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the cancellation ticket is confirmed only by the ticket ID number. However, the following method may be further incorporated. First, the entire ticket image is read by the ticket canceling device 108, and the image data is transmitted to the ticket issuing system. In the ticket issuing center 102, the operator checks the received image data with the input / output device 105, and performs a ticket canceling procedure.

Also in the “ticket invalidation completion notification 205” in the first embodiment, the ticket image data after the invalidation processing is read by the ticket canceling device 108 and transmitted to the ticket issuing center 102. In the ticket issuing center 102, the operator confirms that the received image data has been securely invalidated by the input / output device 105 by the operator. By incorporating this means, it is possible to further prevent unauthorized refunds.

[Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, when the ticket issuing center 102 receives the ticket cancel request message 201 from the user system 106, it cancels the ticket issuing number management database 103 at that time. A means is provided for accepting a cancel request only when a wait exists, and rejecting a ticket cancel request when no cancel wait exists.
By doing so, it is possible to drastically reduce the possibility of unsold tickets.

Fourth Embodiment In the first, second, and third embodiments, the details have been described on the assumption that the operation is performed based on the PC at home. For example, the ticket canceling device 108 may be replaced with a convenience store. It is also conceivable to install them at individual locations. When such installation is possible, the user can perform the same processing as in the above-described embodiment not only at home but also on the go by connecting a portable terminal such as a mobile phone owned by the user to the ticket canceling device 108. Becomes Further, it is also possible to receive the payment amount immediately at the convenience store that processed the refund of the ticket using the ticket canceling device 108.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ticket issuing center provides the ID managing means for managing the issued tickets by ID, and the user issuing terminal when the ticket cancel request is received from the user terminal. Ticket I
ID request means for requesting D, and a user terminal,
ID notifying means for notifying the ticket ID when the ticket ID is requested from the ticket issuing center, and the ticket ID when the notification of the ticket ID is received from the user terminal at the ticket issuing center.
Request processing for requesting ticket invalidation processing, and, when the ticket issuing center requests the ticket invalidation processing by the invalidation request means at the user terminal, the ticket invalidation processing. In addition to this, there is provided an invalidation notifying means for notifying that the ticket invalidation has been completed after the completion of the invalidation processing, and a refund means for refunding the ticket price after confirming the invalidation of the ticket at the ticket issuing center. Therefore, by preparing a personal computer connected to the Internet and a device having an image reading function and a ticket invalidating function as a user system, a ticket canceling procedure can be easily performed. In addition, even if the ticket is placed on the ticket issuing side, the canceled ticket can be easily distributed to another company.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a ticket issuing / refunding system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram between a ticket issuing center and a user system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when a ticket cancellation process is executed in the user system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when a ticket cancellation request is received from the user system at the ticket issuing center.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart when a ticket cancellation program is started in the ticket issuing center.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a ticket invalidation method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Internet 102 Ticket Issuing Center 103 Ticket Issuance Number Management Database 104 Ticket Cancellation Program 105 Input / Output Device 106 User System 107 Personal Computer 107 Ticket Cancellation Device 109 Image Reading Function 110 Printer Function

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A ticket issuing center for issuing an entrance ticket, such as an event venue, a user terminal used by a user, an image reading unit connected to the user terminal, and a print for printing image data from the image reading unit. And a ticket invalidating device having a function of invalidating issued tickets for which cancellation is desired. The ticket issuing center and the user system are connected via a network. In the ticket issuing / refund system described above, the ticket issuing center assigns the issued ticket an ID.
ID management means for managing the ticket ID when the ticket cancellation request is received from the user terminal; and ID request means for requesting the user terminal for a ticket ID when the ticket cancellation request is received from the user terminal. ID notifying means for notifying the ID of the ticket when requested by the issuing center;
When the notification of D is received from the user terminal, a confirmation process of the ID of the ticket is performed, and invalidation request means for requesting invalidation processing of the ticket; When invalidation processing is requested by the ticket issuing center, the invalidation notifying means for performing the invalidation processing of the ticket and notifying that the invalidation of the ticket has been completed after the completion of the invalidation processing; and A ticket issuance / refund system, wherein the issuing center is provided with refund means for refunding the ticket price after confirming the invalidation of the ticket, thereby enabling cancellation processing of the ticket. 2. The ticket invalidating device according to claim 1, further comprising: an ID reading unit configured to read an ID of the issued ticket desired to be canceled from the image reading unit; and performing a process indicating that the ticket is invalid. 2. The ticket issuance / refund system according to claim 1, further comprising invalidation means. 3. When a ticket invalidation completion message is received from the user terminal, it is checked whether or not there is a user who wants to wait for the cancellation of the ticket. 2. The ticket issuance / refund system according to claim 1, wherein when the user has a willingness to purchase the ticket, the ticket issuance processing is performed. 4. A ticket issuing center for issuing an entrance ticket, such as an event venue, a user terminal used by a user, an image reading unit connected to the user terminal, and a print for printing image data from the image reading unit. And a ticket invalidating device having a function of invalidating issued tickets for which cancellation is desired. The ticket issuing center and the user system are connected via a network. In the ticket issuing / refunding method in the ticket issuing / refunding system described above, the ticket issuing center assigns the issued ticket an ID
An ID management step of managing the ticket ID; and an ID requesting step of requesting the user terminal for a ticket ID when the ticket cancellation request is received from the user terminal. An ID notifying step of notifying the ID of the ticket when requested by the issuing center;
When the notification of D is received from the user terminal, a confirmation process of the ID of the ticket is performed, and an invalidation requesting step for requesting invalidation processing of the ticket; When the invalidation processing is requested by the ticket issuing center, the invalidation processing of the ticket is performed, and the invalidation notification step of notifying that the invalidation of the ticket is completed after the completion of the invalidation processing; A refund step for refunding the ticket price after confirming the invalidation of the ticket at the issuing center, wherein the ticket issuance / refund in the ticket issuance / refund system which enables the cancellation processing of the ticket. Method. 5. A ticket revoking method in the ticket revoking device, comprising: an ID reading step of reading an ID of an issued ticket which is desired to be canceled from the image reading unit;
5. The ticket issuing / refunding method in the ticket issuing / refunding system according to claim 4, further comprising an invalidating step of invalidating the ticket by performing a process indicating that the ticket is invalidated. 6. When a ticket invalidation completion message is received from the user terminal, it is checked whether or not there is a user who wants to wait for the ticket to be canceled. 5. The ticket issuing / refunding method in the ticket issuing / refunding system according to claim 4, wherein when the user has a willingness to purchase the ticket, the ticket issuing process is performed. 7. A ticket issuing center for issuing an entrance ticket, such as an event venue, a user terminal used by a user, an image reading unit connected to the user terminal, and a print for printing image data from the image reading unit. And a ticket invalidating device having a function of invalidating issued tickets for which cancellation is desired. The ticket issuing center and the user system are connected via a network. A program for executing a ticket issuing / refunding method in the ticket issuing / refunding system described above, wherein the ticket issuing center assigns the issued ticket an ID
An ID management step of managing the ticket ID; and an ID requesting step of requesting the user terminal for a ticket ID when the ticket cancellation request is received from the user terminal. An ID notifying step of notifying the ID of the ticket when requested by the issuing center;
When the notification of D is received from the user terminal, a confirmation process of the ID of the ticket is performed, and an invalidation requesting step for requesting invalidation processing of the ticket; When the invalidation processing is requested by the ticket issuing center, the ticket invalidation processing is performed, and the invalidation notification step of notifying that the invalidation of the ticket is completed after the completion of the invalidation processing; A program for providing a refund step for refunding the ticket price after confirming the invalidation of the ticket in the issuing center, and executing the ticket cancellation processing.