Patent ID: 7801752

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of determining a booking of an event by pre-selling tickets to the event using a central ticket controller, the method comprising: executing, using one or more computer systems, executable instructions to perform at least the steps of: a) receiving a critical mass criteria and a critical date criteria for an event to set up a pre-selling of tickets for the event such that if the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria are not satisfied, the event will not occur and any pre-purchased tickets for the event will be canceled, the critical mass criteria specifying, at least: a threshold number of tickets to be sold; a threshold total cash value of tickets to be sold independent of the threshold number of tickets to be sold; and that the critical mass criteria comprises exceeding both the threshold number of tickets to be sold and the threshold total cash value of tickets sold; b) receiving a request to pre-purchase a ticket of the event from a user, wherein the request to pre-purchase a ticket includes payment information to be used to purchase the ticket; c) processing the request to pre-purchase a ticket for the event, wherein processing of the pre-purchase request includes storing the payment information included with the request for later processing if the critical mass and critical date criteria are achieved, wherein the user is not charged for the ticket unless the critical mass and critical date criteria are achieved; d) providing information about a future fulfillment of the ticket to the user, the information about the future fulfillment comprising a notification that the event has not yet been booked distinct from a notification of cancellation, the notification that the event has not yet been booked including a presentation of conditions for the future fulfillment including at least the critical mass criteria, the critical date criteria, and a relationship between the critical mass criteria and the critical date criteria; and e) triggering the booking of the event when the critical mass and critical date criteria are achieved, the triggering of the booking of the event further comprising: completing the sale of each pre-purchased ticket for each of a plurality of users that requested to pre-purchase a ticket to the event; and booking a venue for the event.