System and method for issuing electronic tickets

#The subject invention relates to a method for issuing tickets at remote locations and, more particularly, to issuing tickets at remote locations that are difficult to be reproduced fraudulently.

#Tickets such as concert, theater, movie, museum, trade show, airline and sports tickets, etc, are documents having a substantial, intrinsic value which typically may be presented by any bearer to gain admittance or exercise an entitlement. Since such tickets may have substantial cash value, there exists a continuing problem of preventing the issuance of fraudulent tickets.

#The issuance of many types of tickets, such as theater tickets, is currently controlled by means of controlled supplies (e.g. serialized ticket stock, specially printed ticket stock, etc.) and by allowing tickets to be issued only by controlled, authorized issuers (e.g. ticket agents). Controlled supplies are expensive, difficult to control, and prone to theft or counterfeiting. Typically, one stood in line to purchase a ticket at the place the event was being held or purchased the ticket over the phone from an authorized ticket agent who mailed the ticket to the purchaser.

#FIG. 1 is a drawing of an electronic ticket having a graphic field or tell;

#FIG. 2 is a drawing of graphic field 21 or tell 21 of FIG. 1 and an enlarged version of graphic field 21 that becomes graphic field 21a;

#FIG. 3 is a drawing showing graphic field 21a and segments 34, 35 and 36 that make up an enlarged version of graphic field 21a;

#Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character 11 represents an electronic ticket that may be used for admission to any place, service, or event that current ticket allows admission. Electronic ticket 11 may have been produced by a printer coupled to a computer or by a printer of an electronic postage meter or automatic teller machine (ATM) printer. Ticket 11 includes: a serial number 12, the time 13 of the event the ticket holder is entitled to admission, the date of the event 14, the number of people designated to admit, or the names of the people allowed admission 15, the ticket holder(s) seat number 16, the name of the place of the event 17, the address of the event 18, a unique number 19 that represents a computer record, a bar code 20, which may be a two dimensional encrypted bar code i.e., the PDF417 standard developed by Symbol Technologies Inc. of Bohemia, N.Y., and graphic field or tell 21. Bar code 20 contains, in coded form, the name of the place of the event 17, the address of the event 18, and a unique number 19.

#FIG. 2 is a drawing of graphic field 21 or tell 21 of FIG. 1 and an enlarged version of graphic field 21 that becomes graphic field 21a. Graphic field 21 or tell 21 is a variable half tone screen print that is designed to appear black at its edge 23, near white at its edge 24, and shades of gray in region 25. Section 22 of graphic field 21 is an enlarged version of region 25. Section 22 shows the effect of varying the black printed spots 26 and white background 27. White background 27 decreases in size from edge 28 to edge 29. Within region 30, white background 27 becomes completely surrounded by black spots 26. Within region 32 white background 27 appears to increase in size as one approaches edge 28.

#Half toning is the process used to produce graphic field 21. Half toning is a technique that is used by printers to represent a gray scale image on a bi-level (black and white) page. Half toning breaks up an image into spots of varying sizes to simulate the original image. The eye perceives a shade of gray depending on the percentage of ink coverage. Black and white laser and ink jet computer printers use ink or toner of only one blackness. Therefore, to produce various shades of gray to reproduce a continuous gray scale image, the image is broken into a series of spots. Varying the spot sizes approximates the shades of gray.