Patent Publication Number: US-2012046018-A1

Title: Entertainment Venue Search Systems and Methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit, of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/376,059 filed Aug. 23, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The illustrative embodiments relate generally to searching systems, and more particularly, to entertainment venue search systems and methods. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When choosing an entertainment venue, such as a bar, restaurant, sporting event, social event, etc., potential patrons may be faced with an overwhelming number of choices. Indeed, finding entertainment venues that cater to one&#39;s needs, interests, preferences, budget, location, etc. may be an arduous task, especially given the sheer number of entertainment venues that are often available. While computer and Internet technology may be utilized to facilitate the identification of entertainment venues, current systems fail to provide users with a convenient and/or centralized way to find entertainment venues that cater to their particular interests or needs. 
     SUMMARY  
     According to an illustrative embodiment, a method for identifying an entertainment venue includes receiving a location of a user, receiving a user-selected date and time, and receiving a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes. The method also includes comparing the location, the user-selected date and time, and the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with entertainment venue attributes for a plurality of entertainment venues to determine a set of customized entertainment venues. The method also includes presenting the set of customized entertainment venues to the user. 
     According to another illustrative embodiment, a method for identifying an entertainment venue includes receiving a set of entertainment venue attributes from a plurality of entertainment venues to form an entertainment venue profile for each of the plurality of entertainment venues. The method also includes receiving a location of a user, receiving a user-selected date and time, and receiving a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes. The method also includes comparing the location, the user-selected date and time, and the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with the entertainment venue profiles to determine a of customized entertainment venues. The method also includes presenting the set of customized entertainment venues to the user. 
     According to another illustrative embodiment, an entertainment venue manager includes a user interface to receive a location of a user, a user-selected date and time, and a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes. The entertainment venue manager also includes an entertainment venue determination engine to compare the location, the user-selected date and time, and the user selected set of entertainment venue attributes with entertainment venue attributes for a plurality of entertainment venues to determine a set of customized entertainment venues. The entertainment venue manager also includes an entertainment venue presentation module to present the set of customized entertainment venues to the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, pictorial representation. of an entertainment venue identification system according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, block diagram of an entertainment venue identification system according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, pictorial representation of a prompt in which a user may input his or her location according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, pictorial representation of a prompt in which a user may input a date and/or time according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic, pictorial representation of a prompt in which a user may input a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a process for identifying an entertainment venue according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process for comparing the location, the user-selected date and time, and user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with entertainment venue attributes for a plurality of entertainment venues to determine a set of customized entertainment venues according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process for identifying entertainment venues according to another illustrative embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic, block diagram of a data processing system in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments described herein, the description on may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in limiting sense, and the scope of the illustrative embodiments are defined only by the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of an entertainment venue identification system  100  includes an entertainment venue manager  102  that allows a user  104  to search for or identify one or more entertainment venues (e.g., a first entertainment venue  106 , a second entertainment venue  108 , and/or a third entertainment venue  110 ) that have one or more attributes desired, or otherwise selected, by the use  104 . Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, “or” does not require mutual exclusivity. Although  FIG. 1  illustrates the entertainment venue identification system  100  to include three entertainment venues  106 ,  108 , and  110 , any number of entertainment venues may be searchable or identifiable by the entertainment venue manager  102 . The entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  may include any place or event having an entertainment, social, educational, religious, spiritual, or enrichment quality or aspect, including, but not limited to, a bar, club, restaurant, sporting event, lounge, coffee shop, meeting, casino, sporting venue (e.g., a golf course, a bowling alley, etc.), festival, opening, exhibition, campus, church, social club/group, convention, seminar, hotel, motel, hostel, fund raiser, charity event, theatre, private country club, open country club, alumni event, etc. 
     The user  104  may interact with the entertainment venue manager  102  using one or more communication devices  112 , including mobile communication devices. The communication devices  112  may include any device capable of communicating with another device. For example, the communication devices  112  may include a computer (e.g., a laptop, netbook, tablet computer, desktop computer, or minicomputer), a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone), a personal digital assistant, a digital reader, a kiosk, a portable gaming device, a web browser device, media player, etc. In the non-limiting example of  FIG. 1 , the communication devices  112  used by the user  104  to communicate with the entertainment venue manager  102  include a laptop  114  and a cellular phone  116 . In the embodiment in which a mobile communication device is used to interact with the entertainment venue manager  102 , the mobile communication device may be in communication with the entertainment venue manager  102  via a base station or tower. 
     Entertainment venue attributes of the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be stored by the entertainment venue manager  102  while, in one embodiment, the entertainment venue attributes for each of the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be provided by the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  themselves, the entertainment venue attributes may be received or stored from any source, manual, automated, or otherwise. As explained in more detail below, the entertainment venue manager  102  may store entertainment venue profiles for any of the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  that are searchable or identifiable by the entertainment venue manager  102 . Also, it will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, no communication between the entertainment venue manager  102  and the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be necessary for the implementation of the entertainment venue manager  102 , despite the inclusion in  FIG. 1  of a data communication medium  122 . 
     In one embodiment, the user  104  may use one of the communication devices  112  to input criteria to the entertainment venue manager  102  so that the entertainment venue manager  102  may search for and identify one or more entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  based on the criteria inputted by the user  104 . The criteria selectable by the user  104 , and usable by the entertainment venue manager  102  to search for and identify one or more entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110 , may include the location of the user  104 , a date and/or time (e.g., a date or time that the user  104  desires to patronize an entertainment venue), and/or a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes. 
     used herein, including in the claims, the term “set” encompasses a quantity of one or more. The user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes may include attributes or offers (including special offers) of entertainment venues that the user  104  desires. For example, the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes may include venue themes, food options, drinks options, special interests, or sports options, or a combination thereof. Additional details regarding the types of user-selectable entertainment venue attributes are provided below. 
     With respect to the use of the location of the user  104  so search for and identify one or more entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110 , the entertainment venue manager  102  may prompt the user  104 , using of the communication devices  112 , to input data (e.g., zip code, postal code, address, landmark, neighborhood, etc.) indicative of the user&#39;s location so that the entertainment venue manager  102  may locate the user  104  using this data. In vet another embodiment, instead of or in conjunction with receiving location data from the user  104 , the entertainment venue manager  102  may locate the user  104  using other techniques or processes. For example, the entertainment venue manager  102  may locate the user  104  using an internet protocol, or IP, address of one of the communication devices  112  being used by the user  104 . In an example In which the user  104  is communicating with the entertainment venue manager  102  using a mobile communication device, such as the cellular phone  116 , the entertainment venue manager  102  may locate the user  104  by locating the mobile communication device  116  using a global positioning system (GPS), triangulation, or any other technique or process for locating a mobile communication device. Indeed, any global, regional, or local locating systems may be used by the entertainment venue manager  102  to locate the user  104 , or any communication devices  112  associated therewith. 
     The entertainment venue manager  102  may compare the criteria associated with the user  204  (e.g., a location. of the user  104 , a date and/or time selected. by the user  104 , a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes, etc., or any combination thereof) with entertainment venue attributes for a plurality of entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  to determine a set of customized entertainment venues. The set of customized entertainment venues may include one or more entertainment venues identified by the entertainment venue manager  102  to meet the needs or desires of the user  104  based on any combination of criteria (e.g., user location, user-selected date and time, user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes, etc.) associated with the user  104 . The customized. entertainment venues may then be presented to the user  104  on one of the communication devices  112 . 
     The techniques or processes by which the entertainment venue manager  102  may determine the set of customized entertainment venues for the user  104  are numerous, and will be explained in further detail below. By way of non-limiting example, the entertainment venue manager  102  may detect the location of the cellular phone  116  using GPS to determine the location of the user  104 . In this example, the user  104  may also enter a date and time at which he or she wishes to patronize an entertainment venue, such as a bar. The user  104  may use the cellular phone  116  to input that he or she desires a salsa bar that has margarita specials during the date and time selected by the user  104 . Based on these criteria, the entertainment venue manager  102  may search a database of entertainment venue attributes of the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  and determine a set of customized. entertainment venues matching or partially matching user&#39;s criteria; these customized entertainment venues may then be presented to the user. The set of customized entertainment venues may be presented to the user  104  on the graphical user interface of the mobile communication device  116 , and may be sorted in any manner, such as by relevance, a number of matched keywords, the distance to the user  104 , alphabetical order, the importance of any particular criteria selected by the user  104 , etc. Also, details about each of the customized entertainment venues may be presented to the user  104 , including an address, mapped location, hours of operation, contact information, website, etc. In addition, any matching attributes of the customized entertainment venues may be displayed to the user  104 . 
     To provide another illustrative example, the user  104  may send his or her ZIP code to the entertainment venue manager  102  using a website interface on the laptop  114 , and the entertainment venue manager  102  may determine the location of the user  104  based on the inputted ZIP code. The user  104  may also select a date and time at which he or she wishes to patronize an entertainment venue, and select that he or she is interested in a Mexican restaurant that will be playing a particular football game that is of interest to the user  104 . Again, the entertainment venue manager  102  may compare these criteria to the attributes of the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  to find any entertainment venues that match these criteria, and thereby determine the set of customized entertainment venues for the user  104 . 
     In one embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  102  may be implemented on one or more servers  118 . In this embodiment, the user  104  may access the entertainment venue manager  102  over the Internet, including by accessing a website of the communication devices  112  that interfaces the use  104  with the entertainment venue manager  102  in another embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  102 , or a portion thereof, may be deployed and loaded on one of the communication devices  112  as an application. In one example, the application may be designed for a mobile communication device, such as an iPhone application, a Blackberry application, an Android® application, or any application executable a mobile communication device operating system associated therewith. In the example in which the entertainment venue manager  102  is deployable as an application on one of the communication devices  112 , the functionality of entertainment venue manager  102 , as described in the illustrative embodiments, they be distributed across two or more devices, such as one of the communication devices  112  and the server  118 . 
     The techniques, technologies, or media by which the components of the entertainment venue identification system  100  intercommunicate are numerous. For example, the entertainment venue identification system  100 , or any portion thereof, may be part of a personal area network (PAN), a local area. network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAP), or any other network type. Also, communication between any two of the elements in the entertainment venue identification system  100  may be direct or indirect. Data communication medium  120  between the communication devices  112  and the server  118  and data communication medium  122  between the server  118  and the entertainment venues  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be any medium through which data can communicated for example, the data communication media  120 ,  122  may be wired or wireless data connections, and may utilize a virtual private network (VPN), multi-protocol label switching (MPLS), the Internet, or any other data communication media. 
     The data communication medium between the server  118  and any base stations may be of the same or similar type as any of the non-limiting examples provided for the data communication media  120 ,  122 . Wireless communication between the mobile communication device  116  and a base station may utilize any wireless standard for communicating data, such as CDMA (e.g., cdmaOne or CDMA2000), GSM, 3G, 4G, Edge, an over-the-air network, Bluetooth, etc. 
     In one example, the entertainment venue identification system  100  may utilize the Internet, with any combination of the data communication media  120 ,  122  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, governmental, educational, and other computer systems that route data and messages.  FIG. 1  is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the different illustrative embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , an illustrative embodiment of the entertainment venue identification system  200  is shown, including the entertainment venue manager  202  having elements used to implement the search and identification of entertainment venues  224  for the user  204 . Elements of  FIGS. 2 through 5  that are analogous to elements in  FIG. 1  have been shown indexing the reference numerals by  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may include a database  226 , which may be internal or external to the entertainment venue manager  202 , which includes the entertainment venue attributes  228  of the entertainment venues The database  226  may include entertainment venue attributes  228  for any number of entertainment venues  224  over any geographic region (e.g., citywide, countywide, statewide, nationwide, worldwide, etc.). 
     The entertainment venue attributes  228  may include any data about each of the entertainment venues  224 , such as the entertainment venue name, location, hours of operation, popularity (e.g., popularity according to social networks or other Internet-gathered data), a description of the goods or services offered by the entertainment venue, the venue theme, food offered by the entertainment venue, drinks offered by lee entertainment venue, any special interests catered to by the venue, sports or sporting events offered by the entertainment venue, food or drink specials or discounts, etc. The entertainment venue attributes  228  may be searchable by the entertainment venue manager  202  so that suitable entertainment venues may be identified for the user  204 , as described in the illustrative embodiments. 
     While the entertainment venue attributes  228  may be gathered from any source, in one embodiment the database  226  stores an entertainment venue profile for each of the entertainment venues  224 . In example of this embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may include an entertainment venue interface  232  that, among other things, may receive the entertainment venue attributes  228  inputted by the entertainment venues  224  to form the respective entertainment venue profiles  230  for each of the entertainment venues  224 . By way of example to show how one of the entertainment venue profiles  230  may be generated and stored, one of the entertainment venues  224  may input (including manually) one or more entertainment venue attributes  228  of their entertainment venue. The entertainment venue interface  232  may receive the one or more entertainment venue attributes  228  from the entertainment venue. After receiving these entertainment venue attributes  228 , the entertainment venue manager  202  may generate an entertainment venue profile  230  containing the entertainment venue attributes received from the entertainment venue. The entertainment venue profile  230  may be stored in the database  226 . Other parameters that may be inputted by any of the entertainment venues  224  and stored in their respective entertainment venue profile  230  include keywords, hours of operation, venue name, links, venue contact information, venue staff, location, good and/or services, products, events, venue attributes, promotions, etc. Any number of entertainment venue profiles  230  may be generated and stored by the entertainment venue manager  202  for any number of entertainment venues  224 . In one non-limiting example, the entertainment venues  224  may be required to pay or subscribe to the entertainment venue manager  202  to have an account or entertainment venue profile  230 ; however, in other embodiments, this may not be required. 
     In creating the entertainment venue profiles  230  for each of the entertainment venues  224 , the entertainment venue manager  202  may allow or require each of the entertainment venues  224  to have an account with the entertainment venue manager  202 . In this embodiment, the entertainment venues  224  may be allowed to log on and change (e.g., create, add, modify, delete, etc.) their entertainment venue profile  230  at any time and at their discretion, thus giving them an administrative privilege. Thus, the entertainment venues  224  may be allowed to dynamically change their entertainment venue profile  230  data at any time, such as updating any menu specials, daily specials, drink specials, extra hours, early closings, repair notices, etc. In addition, the entertainment venues  224  may be allowed to post and remove specials (e.g., drink specials) for finite periods of time (e.g., one hour, two hours, one day, etc.) by posting the special and then logging on a certain time later to remove the special in other embodiments, the inclusion of the entertainment venue attributes  228  for any particular entertainment venue  224  may not be dependent on an account being opened by the entertainment venue  224 . 
     In one embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may include a user interface  234  that interfaces with the user  204  by, inter alia, receiving criteria by which to identify entertainment venues  224  suitable for the user  204 . For example, the user interface  234  may receive input from the user  204 , via the communication device  212 , indicating the location of the user  204 , a date and/or time, and/or a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes. 
     The location of the user  204  may be determined by the entertainment venue manager  202  in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the location of the user  204  may be inputted by the user  204  using the communication device  212 , and this location may be received by the user interface  234  of the entertainment venue manager  202 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user interface  234  may initiate a prompt  236  on the graphical user interface  240  of the communication device  212 . The user  204  may enter data indicative of his or her location in the prompt.  236 , and then submit this data to the user interface  234  by, e.g., clicking on an enter button  237 . Non-limiting examples of the type of location-associated data that may be entered into the prompt  236  include a ZIP code, postal code, address, neighborhood, landmark, or any other data associated with a desired or current. location of the user  204 . The entertainment venue manager  202  may then determine the location of the user  204  based on the data entered in the prompt  236 . In another embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may directly use the data entered in the prompt  236  to match the user  204  with entertainment venues  224 , such as by extracting keywords from the data entered in the prompt  236  and identifying matches between these keywords and the entertainment venue attributes  228  stored within the database  224 . 
     In one embodiment, the user interface  234  includes a user locator  238  that may locate geographical position of the user  204  by detecting the location of the communication device  212 . For example, the user locator  238  may locate the communication device  212 , and by association, the user  204 , using an Internet protocol address, or IP address, of the communication device  212 . In another example, such as when the communication device  212  is a mobile communication device (e.g., cellular phone, portable computer, etc.), the user locator  238  may use a global positioning system (GPS), triangulation, or any other process or technique for determining the location of a mobile communication device. 
     The user interface  234  may also receive a user-selected date and time, which may be a date and time at which the user  204  desires to patronize an entertainment venue  224 . The user-selected date and time may also be a date or time range. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the user interface  234  may initiate a prompt  241  on the graphical user interface  240  of the communication device  212  that allows the user  204  to enter the user-selected date and time. The prompt  241  may allow the user  204  to select a date button  242  that allows the user  204  to manually enter a date, or to initiate a calendar (e.g., pop-up calendar) that allows the user  204  to select a date. A time may be inputted by the user  204  in a similar manner, but by using a time button  240 . Indeed, the prompt  241  may allow the user  204  to input a user-selected date and time in any manner. In another embodiment, the prompt  241  may include a button, such as a “right now” button, that allows the user  204  to conveniently select, the present date and time as the user-selected date and time at which the user  204  desires to patronize an entertainment venue. In another embodiment, the user-selected date and time may default to the present date and time, as detected by the entertainment venue manager  202  or a device or program associated with the entertainment venue manager  202 ; this detected user-selected date and time may then be used in subsequent searches. Once the user  204  has selected the user-selected date and time, the user  204  may send this data so the entertainment venue manager  202  by, e.g., clicking an enter button  245 . 
     The user interface  234  may also receive a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes, which may be entertainment venue attributes that the user  204  desires, or otherwise selects, in an entertainment venue. The user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes may include a variety of different types of entertainment venue attributes, such as a venue theme, a food option, a drink option, a special interest, a sports option, etc. A venue theme may be a theme or “type” that describes the entertainment venue, such as ballroom dancing, cantina, country-western, dance club, DJ music, gay, exotic dancing, hip-hop, jazz, karaoke, latin, lounge, live country music, live dance music, live hip-hop music, live jazz music, live rock music, live swing music, night club, English pub, Irish pub, restaurant, salsa, sports, festival, visual art, gambling, coffee shop, etc. A food option may be a type of food, food special, or other food-related attribute desired by the user  204 . The food option may include, for example, a type of food for which the user  204  desires a special offer or a food special offering or recognition. Non-limiting examples of a food option include American, Asian, Asian fusion, barbecue, bar menu, brunch, buffet, Chinese, desserts, eclectic, English, French, German, gourmet, Greek, hamburger, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Moroccan, pizza, queso and chips, seafood, sushi, tapas, vegetarian, vegan, wings, Tex-Mex, free buffet, 2 for 1 specials, half-priced burgers, 10¢ wings, free appetizer, happy hour buffet, special food promotions, 2 for 1 steak night, buy one get one free day, buy one get one free night, etc. A drink option may be a type of drink, drink special, or other drink-related attribute desired by the user  204 . The drink option may include, for example, a type of drink for which the user  204  desires a special offer (e.g. happy hour special) or a drink special offering or recognition. Non-limiting examples of a drink option include domestic bottled beer, imported bottled beer, premium bottled beer, domestic draft beer, imported draft beer, premium draft beer, Bloody Mary, Bellini, bottled cider, draft cider, Cognac, happy hour special, happy hour pricing, Jägermeister, ladies&#39; night, Lemon Drop, Long Island Iced Tea, Margarita, Martini, mixed drink, Sake, Scotch, shot special, tequila, wine, whiskey, well drink, half-priced wine nights, $2 you-call-its, $3 Crown and Coke, $6 buckets of domestic beer, $5 pitchers of beer, “Best margarita in Dallas voted by Dallas Observer magazine”, “Biggest beer in Texas”, “Tastiest martini in Boulder”, special drink promotions, shot specials, beer specials, shot and beer specials, etc. 
     A special interest may include a particular interest or activity that the user  204  desires in an entertainment venue, including, but not limited to, adult, belly dancers, live bowling, video bowling, bikini contest, cigar Lounge, dancing, dance contests, darts, eating contest, foosball, karaoke contest, topless, open microphone night, live poker, video poker, poolside area, pool/billiards, stripping, swing dancing, live trivia, video trivia, live sports, video sports, volleyball, wet T-shirt contests, mechanical bull riding, smoking, fireplace, valet, etc. A sports option may include a particular sport, sporting event, sport team, sport league, alumni group, or alumni event of interest to the user  204 , including, but not limited to, National Football League, National Basketball League, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NCAA, UFC, boxing, international soccer, college football, a particular college (e.g., University of Texas, University of North Texas, etc.), a particular professional sports team (e.g., Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Hornets, etc.), a college or other sporting event (e.g., Texas/OU game, BCS Bowl, Super Bowl, etc.), tennis, golf, alumni group (e.g., LSU, UCLA, etc.), alumni event (e.g., Tulane tailgate party, UC-Berkeley Crawfish Boil, etc.) etc. Other types of user-selected entertainment venue attributes may also be available to the user  204 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the user interface  234  may initiate an entertainment venue attributes prompt  248  on the graphical user interface  240  of the communication device  212 . In the non-limiting example of  FIG. 5 , the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248  simultaneously presents a. venue theme selection prompt  250 , a food option selection prompt  251 , a drink option selection prompt  252 , a special interest selection prompt  253 , and a sports option selection prompt  254 . However, in other embodiments, the venue theme selection prompt  250 , the food option selection prompt  251 , the drink option selection prompt  252 , the special interest selection prompt  253 , and/or the sports option selection prompt  254 , or any combination thereof, may be presented on separate screens on the graphical user interface  240 . 
     Using the venue theme selection prompt  250 , the user  204  may select one or more venue themes. Using the food option. selection prompt  251 , the user  204  may select one or more food options. Using the drink option selection prompt  252 , the user  204  may select one or more drink options. Using the special interest selection prompt  253 , the user  204  may select, one or more special interests. Using the sports option selection prompt  254 , the user  204  may select one or more sports options. 
     Multiple selections in each of the selection prompts  250 ,  251 ,  252 ,  253 ,  254  may be made by the user  204  by, for example, holding down the Ctrl button on the user&#39;s keyboard and selecting the multiple options. The user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes used by entertainment venue manager  202  to find a set of customized entertainment venues for the user  204  may be selected using the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248  such that the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes includes at least one of a venue theme, a food option, a drink option, a special interest, and/or a sports option. Once the user  204  has selected the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes, the user  204  may select a search button  256  that causes entertainment venue manager  202  to find and identify a customized set of entertainment venues, as described herein. In another embodiment, the user  204  may be prompted to enter other types of data after submitting the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes (e.g., location, date, time, which options the user deems more important, etc.). 
     In another embodiment, the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248  may include an additional field that allows the user  204  to manually input, a venue theme, a food option, a drink option, a special interest, a sports option, or any other attribute; such manual entry may allow the user  204  to input or add an entertainment venue attribute that does not appear in the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248 , or that does not fit into one of the categories in the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248 . In another embodiment, the sports option selection prompt  254  may presented separately from the other selection prompts  250 ,  251 ,  252 ,  253  to facilitate user selection of a wider array of sports options; in this embodiment, the sports options may categorized in various ways, such as by sports league, college, event, alumni, or any other criteria. 
     In one embodiment, the prompt  236  in which a location is inputted, the prompt  241  in which a date or time is inputted, and the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248  may be presented to the user  204  in a particular sequence. For example, the user interface  234  may first present the prompt  236  for a location of the user  204 , followed, by the prompt  241  for the user-selected time and date, and followed by presenting the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248 . However, in other embodiments, the prompts  236 ,  241 , and  248  may be presented in any order, or simultaneously in any combination, to the user  204 . In other embodiments, only a portion of the prompts  236 ,  241 , and  248  may be presented to the user  204 . Other prompts may also be presented to the user  204  to implement the functionality or the entertainment venue manager  202 . 
     In one embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may generate and/or store a user profile  258  for the user  204 . The user profile  258  may be stored on the database  226 . Indeed, any number of user profiles  258  may be generated and stored by entertainment venue manager  202  for any number of users. The user profiles  258  may store any type of data or attributes of the user  204 , including, but not limited to, the name of the user  204 , financial information, of the user  204 , favorite or preferred locations of the user  204 , the user&#39;s address or contact information, previously inputted locations, previously inputted times or dates, previously inputted user-selected entertainment venue attributes, etc. 
     In one embodiment, the user  204  may be allowed to set or an account with the entertainment venue manager  202 , and may log in to change his or her user profile  258  or perform a search using the entertainment venue manager  202 . In another embodiment, no account may be required by the entertainment venue manager  202 , and the user  204  may use the entertainment venue manager  202  as a member of the general public without the need to log on to the entertainment venue manager  202 . 
     In one embodiment, previously inputted or used criteria or data, such as preferred or favorite locations of the user  204  may be accessed from the user profile  258  for use in future entertainment venue searches by the entertainment venue manager  202 , thereby helping to prevent the user  204  from having to input the same or similar data multiple types for multiple searches. For example, the data in the user profile  258  may be useful for repeat searches by the user  204  that have frequently-occurring criteria (e.g., location). 
     In one embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may include an entertainment venue determination engine  260  to compare the location of the user  204 , the user-selected time and/or date, and/or the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with entertainment venue attributes  228  for the entertainment venues  220  to determine a set of customized entertainment venues for the user  204 . In another embodiment, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may compare the location of the user  204 , the user-selected date and/or time, and/or the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with the entertainment venue profiles  230  to determine the set of customized entertainment venues for the user  204 . 
     In one embodiment, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine the set of customized entertainment venues to be presented to the user  204  by determining whether one or more keywords in at least one of the location of the user  204 , the user-selected date and/or time, and/or the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes match one or more keywords in the entertainment venue attributes  228  for the entertainment venues  224 . By way of non-limiting example, if the location of the user  204  is Dallas, Tex., the user  204  desires to patronize an entertainment venue on Aug. 16, 2011 at 5 pm, and the user  204  is interested in sports bars that have happy hour specials, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may search the entertainment venue attributes  228  for the keywords “Dallas Texas”, “Aug. 16, 2011”, “sports”, “bar”, “happy hour” to determine which of the entertainment venues  224  matches the user&#39;s criteria. Those entertainment venues that match, or partially match, the user&#39;s criteria may be added to the set of customized entertainment venues to be presented to the user  204 . 
     All or a portion of the keywords in the location, the user-selected date and/or time, and/or the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes may be used by the entertainment venue determination engine  260 , and, as described below, each of these criteria may be given a particular weight by the user  204 . Also, all or a portion of the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes may be subject to a keyword match by the entertainment venue determination engine  260  with the entertainment venue attributes  228 . In another embodiment, the criteria entered by or associated with the user  204  may be parsed, or undergo other text processing, in order to determine keywords for use by the entertainment venue determination engine  260  in subsequent keyword-comparison processing. 
     In another embodiment, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine the set of customized entertainment venues by determining the set of entertainment venues  224  at or within a predetermined distance from the location of the user  204  in another embodiment, in addition to determining which of entertainment venues  224  are at or within a predetermined distance from the location of the user  204 , the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine which of the entertainment venues  224  offer at least one of the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes at least partially during the user-selected date and/or time. In an example in which the user  204  is located at ZIP code 75219, desires to patronize an entertainment venue on Aug. 16, 2012 at 7 o&#39;clock PM, and desires to watch an NFL football game, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine which of the entertainment venues  224  are at or within a predetermined distance (e.g., 1 mile, 5 miles, 50 miles, etc.) from ZIP code 75219, and also determine which of the entertainment venues  224  are playing NFL football games at 7 o&#39;clock PM on Aug. 16, 2012. It will be appreciated that that predetermined. distance may be determined in any manner, including by the user  204  or the entertainment venue manager  202 . 
     The entertainment venue determination engine  260  may also assist the user  204  in finding special offers on the food options or drink options selected. by the user  204 . Special offers include sales, happy hours, discounts, bonuses, or any other type of special offer. In embodiment, in determining the of customized entertainment venues, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine which of the entertainment venues  224  have a special offer for the drink option or food option selected by the user  204 , such as the drink option or food option selected user  204  in the entertainment venue attributes prompt  248 . The entertainment venue determination engine  260  may also determine which of the entertainment venues  224  has a special offer for the drink or food option selected by the user  204  at least partially during the user-selected time and/or date, and/or which located at or within a predetermined distance from the location of the user  204 . By way of illustration, it the user  204  selects domestic draft beer as a drink option, the user locator  238  determines that the user  204  is located in Boulder, Colo., and the user  204  selects a date of Dec. 16, 2011 and a time of 8 o&#39;clock PM, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine a set of customized entertainment venues for the user  204  by determining which of the entertainment venues  224  have drink specials for domestic draft beers within a 15-mile radius of Boulder, Colo. at 8 o&#39;clock PM on Dec. 16, 2011. By way of further illustration, if the user selects “half-price pints” as the drink option, the user locator  238  determines that the user  204  is located in ZIP code 75219, and the user-selected. time and date default to a current time and date of Dec. 16, 2011 at 8 o&#39;clock PM, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine a set of customized entertainment venues for the user  204  by determining which of the entertainment venues  224  have half-price pints within a 1-mile radius of ZIP code 75219 at 8 o&#39;clock PM on Dec. 16, 2011. 
     In another embodiment, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine which of entertainment venues  224  offer at least one of the venue theme, food option, drink option, special interest, or sports options selected by the user  204 . In another embodiment, the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may determine the set of customized entertainment venues to be presented to the user  204  by determining that one or more of the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes (e.g., a venue theme, food option, drink option, special interest, sports option, etc.) matches one or more of the entertainment venue attributes  228  in one or more entertainment venue profiles  230 . The entertainment venue determination engine  260  may also determine whether one or more words or keywords in the user&#39;s criteria (e.g., the location of the user  204 , the user-selected date and/or time, and/or the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes) matches one or more words or keywords in one or more of the entertainment venue profiles  230 , and present these matching entertainment venues to the user  204  as the set of customized entertainment venues. 
     In another embodiment, the user  204  may input, or the entertainment venue manager  202  may assign, an attribute weight that determines the importance of one or more of the entertainment venue search criteria (e.g., the location of the user  204 , the user-selected date and/or time, any one or more of the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes, etc.). For example, the user  204  may specify that his or her location is the most important criteria when determining the set of customized entertainment venues; in this case, the entertainment venue determination. engine  260  may assign a heavier weight to the location of the entertainment venues  224  than for other criteria (e.g., date and/or time, the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes, etc.) when determining the set of customized entertainment venues to be presented to the user  204 . 
     In one embodiment, in assigning an attribute weight, the user  204  or the entertainment venue manager  202  may assign each criterion. a mandatory or optional status. If one of the criteria is assigned a mandatory status, the set of customized entertainment venues determined by the entertainment venue determination engine  260  may be required to contain or offer that criteria. For example, if the user  204  specifies that a venue theme of “sports bar” is a mandatory attribute, then the customized entertainment venues presented to the user  204  may all be sports bars. If, on the other hand, a particular criterion is assigned an optional, or preferred, status, it may not be mandatory that the customized entertainment venues identified by the entertainment venue determination engine  260  have that particular criterion. It will he appreciated that attribute weights may, or may not, be used by the entertainment venue determination engine  260 , depending upon the embodiment. 
     In one embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may include an entertainment venue presentation module  262  to present the set of customized entertainment venues to the user  204 . The customized entertainment venues, as determined by the entertainment venue determination engine  260 , may he presented to the user  204  on the graphical user interface  240  of the communication device  212 . The entertainment venue presentation module  262  may sort the customized entertainment venues in any order, including a user-defined order. Non-limiting examples of sorting methodology that may be used by the entertainment venue presentation module  262  includes sorting in order of: entertainment venue relevance to the criteria of the user  204 , the number of keywords matched between the user&#39;s criteria and entertainment venue attributes  228 , the distance to the location of the user  204 , alphabetical order, according to an attribute weight, etc. In addition, the relevance of the customized entertainment venues may be displayed by the entertainment venue presentation module  262  by displaying the number of matched words or keywords between the user&#39;s criteria and the entertainment venue&#39;s profile  230  or attributes. For example, if the user  204  chooses three user-selected entertainment venue attributes from the entertainment venue attribute prompt  248 , then the displayed customized entertainment venues may each be displayed next to the number of entertainment venue attributes found for that entertainment venue (e.g., 3 out of 3, 2 out of 3, 1 out of 3, 0 out of 3, etc.); this data may also be displayed as a percentage (e.g., 100%, 66%, 33%, 0%, etc.). 
     Also, when presenting the set of customized entertainment venues, one or more of the set of customized entertainment venues may include an associated URL, website information, mapping information (Google®, Yahoo®, GPS, etc.); in another embodiment, any of this data may be displayed upon user selection of a particular entertainment venue from the displayed list of matching entertainment venues. 
     In one embodiment, the user&#39;s selection from the set of customized entertainment venues may be communicated or posted to users in a variety of ways, such as via a social network notification (e.g., FourSguare®, Facebook®, Twitter®, LinkedIn®, etc.), text or SMS message, e-mail, voicemail, etc. For example, if the user  204  selects, or otherwise chooses, a particular sport bar (including by clinking on a link for the particular sports bar displayed by the entertainment venue presentation module  262 ), then the entertainment venue manager  202  may notify other user&#39;s using social networking notifications. Such notification methods may be defined by the user  204 , the entertainment venue manager  202 , or other entity or user. 
     In another embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  202  may allow the user  204  to set up alerts that notify the user  204  when one or more of the entertainment venues  220  match criteria selected by, or associated with, the user  204  including, but not limited to, the location of the user  204 , the user-selected date and/or time, and/or any of the user-selected, set of entertainment venue attributes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an illustrative embodiment of a process for identifying an entertainment venue, which may be implemented by the entertainment venue manager  102  or  202  in  FIG. 1  or  2 , includes receiving a location of a user (step  301 ). The process may receive a user-selected date and time (step  303 ). The process may receive a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes (step  305 ). The process may compare the location, the user-selected date and time, and the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with entertainment venue attributes for a plurality of entertainment venues to determine a customized entertainment venues (step  307 ). The process may present the set of customized entertainment venues to the user (step  309 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an illustrative embodiment of step  307  in  FIG. 6  may include determining that the set of customized entertainment venues is at or within a predetermined distance from the location of the user (step  401 ). Step  307  of  FIG. 6  may also include determining that the set of customized entertainment venues is offering at least one of the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes at least. partially during the user-selected date and time (step  403 ). As described in the illustrative embodiments described herein, the process described in step  307  of  FIG. 6  may be implemented in a variety of ways. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , an illustrative embodiment of a process for identifying an entertainment venue, which may be implemented by the entertainment venue manager  102  or  202  in  FIG. 1  or  2 , includes receiving a set of entertainment venue attributes from a plurality of entertainment venues to form an entertainment venue profile for each of the plurality of entertainment venues (step  501 ). The process may receive the location of a user (step  503 ). The process may receive a user-selected date and time (step  505 ). The process may receive a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes (step  507 ). The process may compare the location, the user-selected date and time, and the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with the entertainment venue profiles to determine a set of customized entertainment venues (step  509 ). The process may present the set of customized entertainment venues to the user (step  511 ) 
     The flowcharts and block diagrams in the different depicted embodiments illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of some possible implementations of apparatus, methods and computer program products. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions tor implementing the specified function or functions. In some alternative implementations, the function or functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in Figures. For example, in some cases, two blocks shown in succession may be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a block diagram of a computing device  602  is shown in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. The computing device  602  may one of the communication devices  112  or  212  described in  FIG. 1  or  2 , or the server  118  in  FIG. 1 . In another embodiment, the entertainment venue manager  102  or  202  in  FIG. 1  or  2  may be implemented on computing device  602 . Computer-usable program node or instructions implementing the processes used in the illustrative embodiments may be located on the computing device  602 . The computing device  602  includes a communications fabric  603 , which provides communications between a processor unit  605 , a memory  607 , a persistent storage  609 , a communications unit  611 , an input/output (I/O) unit  613 , and a display  615 . 
     The processor unit  605  serves to execute instructions for software that may be loaded into the memory  607 . The processor unit  605  may be a set of one or more processors or may be a multi-processor core, depending on the particular implementation. Further, the processor unit  605  may be implemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor is present with secondary processors on a single chip. As another illustrative example, the processor unit  605  may be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type. 
     The memory  607 , in these examples, may be, for example, a random access memory or any other suitable volatile or non-volatile storage device. The persistent storage  609  may take various forms depending on the particular implementation. For example, the persistent storage  609  may contain one or more components or devices. For example, the persistent storage  609  may be a hard drive, a flash memory, a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, or some combination of the above. The media used by the persistent storage  609  also may be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for the persistent storage  609 . 
     The communications unit  611 , in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or communication devices. In these examples, communications unit  611  may be a network interface card. The-communications unit  611  may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communication links. 
     The input/output unit  613  allows for the input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to the computing device  602 . For example, the input/output unit  613  may provide a connection for user input through a keyboard and mouse. Further, the input/output unit  613  may send output to a processing device. In the case in which the computing device  602  is a cellular phone, the input/output unit  613  may also allow devices to be connected to the cellular phone, such as microphones, headsets, and controllers. The display  615  provides a mechanism to display information to a user, such as a graphical user interface. 
     Instructions for the operating system and applications or programs are located on the persistent storage  609 . These instructions may be loaded into the memory  607  for execution by the processor unit  605 . The processes of the different embodiments may be performed by the processor unit  605  using computer-implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory, such as the memory  607 . These instructions are referred to as program code, computer-usable program code, or computer-readable program code that may be read and executed by a processor in the processor unit  605 . The program code in the different embodiments may be embodied on different physical or tangible computer-readable media, such as the memory  607  or the persistent storage  609 . 
     Program code  617  is located in a functional form on a computer-readable storage media  619  and may be loaded onto or transferred to the computing device  602  for execution by the processor unit  605 . The program code  617  and the computer-readable media  619  form computer program product  621  in these examples in one embodiment, the computer program product  621  is the entertainment venue manager  102  or  202  in  FIG. 1  or  2 , respectively. In this embodiment, the program code  617  may include computer-usable program code capable of receiving a location of a user, receiving a user-selected date and time, and receiving a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes. The program code  617  may also include computer-usable program code capable of comparing the location, the user-selected date and time, and the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with entertainment venue attributes for a plurality of entertainment venues to determine a set of customized entertainment venues. The program code  617  may also include computer-usable program code capable of presenting the set of customized entertainment venues to the user. 
     In another embodiment, the program code  617  may include computer-usable program code capable of receiving a set of entertainment venue attributes from a plurality of entertainment venues to form an entertainment venue profile for each of the plurality of entertainment venues. The program code  617  may also include computer-usable program code capable of receiving a location of a user, receiving a user-selected date and time, and receiving a user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes. The program code  617  may also include computer-usable program code capable of comparing the location, the user-selected date and time, and the user-selected set of entertainment venue attributes with the entertainment venue profiles to determine a set of customized entertainment venues. The program code  617  may also include computer-usable program code capable or presenting the set of customized entertainment venues to the user. Any combination of the above-mentioned computer-usable program code may be implemented in the program code  617 , and any functions of the illustrative embodiments may be implemented in the program code  617 . 
     In one example, the computer-readable media  619  may be in a tangible form, such as, for example, an optical or magnetic disc that is inserted or placed into a drive or other device that is part of the persistent storage  609  for transfer onto a storage device, such as a hard drive that is part of the persistent storage  609 . In a tangible form, the computer-readable media  619  also may take the form of persistent storage, such as a hard drive or a flash memory that is connected to computing device  602 . The tangible form of the computer-readable media  619  is also referred to as computer recordable storage media. 
     Alternatively, the program code  617  may be transferred to the computing device  602  from the computer-readable media  619  through a communication link to the communications unit  611  or through a connection to the input/output unit  613 . The communication link or the connection may be physical or wireless in the illustrative examples. The computer-readable media  619  also may take the form of non-tangible media, such as communication links or wireless transmissions containing the program code  617 . In one embodiment, the program code  617  is delivered to the computing device  602  over the Internet. 
     The different components illustrated for the computing device  602  are not meant to provide architectural limitations to the manner in which different embodiments may be implemented. The different illustrative embodiments may be implemented in a data processing system including components in addition to or in place of those illustrated for computing device  602 . Other components shown in  FIG. 9  can be varied from the illustrative examples shown. 
     As one example, a storage device in the computing device  602  is any hardware apparatus that may store data. The memory  607 , the persistent storage  609 , and the computer-readable media  619  are examples of storage devices in a tangible form. 
     In another example, a bus system may be used to implement the communications fabric  603  and may be comprised of one or more buses, such as a system bus or an input/output bus. Of course, the bus system may be implemented using any suitable type of architecture that provides for a transfer of data between different components or devices attached to the bus system. Additionally, the communications unit  611  may include one or more devices used to transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. Further, a memory may be, for example, the memory  607  or a cache such as found in an interface and memory controller hub that may be present in the communications fabric  603 . 
     As used herein, including in the claims, the terms first, second, third, etc . . . used In relation to an element (e.g., first entertainment venue, second entertainment venue, etc.) are for reference or identification purposes only, and these terms, unless otherwise indicated, are not intended. to describe or suggest a number, order, source, purpose, or substantive quality for any element for which such a term is used. 
     Although the illustrative embodiments described herein have been disclosed in context of certain illustrative, non-limiting embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, permutations, and alterations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It sill be appreciated that any feature that is described in a connection to any one embodiment may also be applicable to any other embodiment.