URL-based electronic ticket transfer

A mobile computing device for creating and distributing a digital version of a paper ticket, the mobile computing device comprising:

• a digital camera to take a digital photo of the paper ticket, wherein the paper ticket is generated by an issuer and has already been purchased and owned by a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the issuer of the paper ticket is different from the mobile computing device;
• a network interface to communicate with a computer system to (i) generate an electronic ticket that is a digital version of the paper ticket, the electronic ticket being generated based on optical analysis of the digital photo by one or more of the mobile computing device and the computer system and (ii) obtain a unique URL that is associated with an internet-accessible resource for electronically transferring ownership of the paper ticket over an internet connection using the electronic ticket, the unique URL being specific to the electronic ticket, wherein the computer system is different from issuer of the paper ticket;
• a display to provide a user interface that outputs selectable options related to the electronic ticket, wherein the selectable options include, at least, (i) an option to electronically transfer ownership of the paper ticket via the computer system and (ii) selectable features to distribute the unique URL, directly or indirectly, to a remote mobile computing device and other computing devices, the unique URL identifying a site independent of and separate from the issuer of the paper ticket, wherein ownership of the paper ticket is electronically transferred to another user at the site via the computer system;
• and an input subsystem to receive, as part of the user interface, user input comprising (i) selection of the option to electronically transfer ownership of the paper ticket via the computer system to another user at the remote mobile computing device and (ii) selection of one or more of the selectable features that correspond to one or more particular distribution channels, wherein the one or more particular distribution channels are different from the computer system and the issuer of the paper ticket;
• wherein the network interface is further programmed to transmit at least the unique URL along the one or more particular distribution channels, the one or more particular distribution channels electronically distributing the unique URL to the remote mobile computing device and the other computing devices and, upon selection at the remote mobile computing device, prompting redirection of one or more applications on the remote mobile computing device to the site to electronically transfer ownership of the paper ticket, by the computer system, using the electronic ticket.

A computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed, cause a first mobile computing device to perform operations for creating and distributing a digital version of a paper ticket comprising:

• capturing, using one or more embedded digital cameras that are included as part of the first mobile computing device, a digital photo of the paper ticket, wherein the paper ticket is generated by an issuer and has already been purchased and owned by a user of the first mobile computing device, wherein the issuer of the paper ticket is different from the first mobile computing device;
• generating, through communication over one or more networks between the first mobile computing device and a computer system, an electronic ticket that is a digital version of the paper ticket, the electronic ticket being generated based on optical analysis of the digital photo by one or more of the first mobile computing device and the computer system, wherein the computer system is different from the issuer of the paper ticket;
• receiving, at the first mobile computing device and from the computer system, selectable options related to the electronic ticket, wherein the selectable options include, at least, an option to electronically transfer ownership of the paper ticket via the computer system;
• outputting, in a user interface on the first mobile computing device, the selectable options related to the electronic ticket;
• receiving, through the user interface, user input comprising selection of the option to electronically transfer ownership of the paper ticket via the computer system to another user at a second mobile computing device;
• transmitting, by the first mobile computing device, a request to the computer system to host the electronic ticket for ownership transfer;
• receiving, at the first mobile computing device and from the computer system, a unique URL that is associated with an internet-accessible resource for electronically transferring ownership of the paper ticket over an internet connection using the electronic ticket, the unique URL being specific to the electronic ticket;
• outputting, in the user interface on the first mobile computing device, selectable features to distribute the unique URL, directly or indirectly, to the second mobile computing device and other computing devices, the unique URL identifying a site independent of and separate from the issuer of the paper ticket, wherein ownership of the paper ticket is electronically transferred to another user at the site via the computer system;
• receiving, through the user interface, selection of one or more of the selectable features that correspond to one or more particular distribution channels, wherein the one or more particular distribution channels are different from the computer system and the issuer of the paper ticket;
• and transmitting, by the first mobile computing device, at least the unique URL along the one or more particular distribution channels, the one or more particular distribution channels electronically distributing the unique URL to the second mobile computing device and the other computing devices and, upon selection at the second mobile computing device, prompting redirection of one or more applications on the second mobile computing device to the site to electronically transfer ownership of the paper ticket, by the computer system, using the electronic ticket.