Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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FIELD OF THE-INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to systems and methods for
obtaining supplemental information from a database about a person
requesting entry to a venue, such as an entertainment
establishment, specifically a licensed bar, and more particularly
to such a system that also augments the database.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Public venues, such as entertainment establishments
(licensed bars), stadiums, banquet halls, arenas, malls, amusement
parks, and so on, are the places where large numbers of persons
frequently gather on a regular basis or for special occasions.
Tnlhile most persons attending such venues are typically welcome and
act in accordance with the rules and regulations of such venues,
there are many instances where this is not true. Some persons are
known to be the types who are potentially undesirable to have in a
public venue, as they are like to cause or at least take part in
some sort of unacceptable behaviour or possibly some illicit
activities. This can lead to a significant problem for the owners
or operators of the venue. Unfortunately, until now, there has been
no way of regulating the entry of persons into a venue, except for
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checking the identification of persons hoping to enter the venue,
in order to determine whether each person meets an age requirement .
[0003] Perhaps the most prevalent problem in this regard is that
of regulating entry into licensed entertainment establishments that
have a liquor license. It is common in many modern societies to
set, through legislation, the age at which alcohol may be legally
consumed in public. In order to not be in contravention of the
law, it is necessary for owners and/or operators of establishments
that serve alcohol to prevent potential patrons who are younger
than the legal drinking age, from entering their establishment.
Accordingly, anyone requesting entry into such an entertainment
establishment must verify their age by presenting an acceptable
form of identification. Such acceptable forms of identification
typically include a driver's license, health insurance card, an age
of majority card, a student card, a birth certificate, and so on.
In order to allow the person to be recognizable in comparison to
the identification, acceptable forms of identification must include
a pictorial representation of the patron. Other information that
is almost as essential include birthdate of the person, address,
and so on, in order to allow the person to be uniquely identified.
[0004] Many, entertainment establishments that serve alcohol
have an employee located at the entrance to examine the driver's
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license of each person who appears to possibly be younger than the
legal drinking age and who is requesting entry into the
entertainment establishment. The information on the identification
card is the only specific information used to determine whether a
person is admitted into the licensed entertainment establishment.
In other words, entry to the licensed entertainment establishment
is based solely on the birthdate presented on the identification
card. No other actual information about the person is available.
[0005] Unfortunately, there are some persons who have a tendency
to cause trouble when consuming alcohol. It is common fob many
licensed entertainment establishments to have to eject at least a
few patrons on a regular basis. Typically, patrons that have been
ejected from one licensed entertainment establishment attempt to
gain entry into another licensed entertainment establishment. It
is well known that it is reasonably likely that such patrons will
also have a tendency to cause trouble if they are admitted to the
other entertainment establishment.
[0006] It is therefore highly desirable for an entertainment
establishment to be able to make an informed decision regarding the
entry of the person into the entertainment establishment, in terms
of knowing whether the person has a history of being ejected from
entertainment establishments.
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[0007] It is also highly desirable for other types of venues,
even if they do not serve alcohol such as stadiums, banquet halls,
arenas, malls, amusement parks, and so on, to be able to make an
informed decision regarding the entry of the person into the venue .
[0008] Further, it is not uncommon for a person who is younger
than the legal drinking age to obtain entry to an entertainment
establishment that serves alcohol using a fake, or otherwise
incorrect, piece of identification. In the event that the patron
is subsequently questioned about his age, he produces an authentic
piece of identification and claims that the entertainment
establishment permitted him to enter upon presenting this piece of
identification. This situation is highly undesirable for a
licensed entertainment establishment. It would therefore be
desirable for a licensed entertainment establishment to be able to
prove how a patron gained entry to the entertainment establishment .
[0009] A similar type of problem to that described above is that
of groups of people, typically younger people, causing problems in
publically accessible buildings, such as shopping malls. It is
common for young people to ~~hang out" in shopping malls and
potentially cause problems generally through unacceptable
behaviour, including shoplifting. Even if there is no unacceptable
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behaviour, such "hanging out" in shopping malls tends to deter
other persons from going to the shopping mall. In any event, it is
highly undesirable to have groups of young people "hanging out" in
shopping malls, and also it is undesirable to have certain
individuals spend time in shopping malls.
[00010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a
person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed
decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the
venue.
[00011] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a
person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed
decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the
venue, wherein the venue records whether the person was requested
to leave the venue, for future reference and the reference of
other venues.
[00012] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a
person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed
decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the
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venue, which system and method record when a person enters the
venue.
[00013] It is another obj ect of the present invention to provide
a system and method for obtaining supplemental information about a
person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed
decision to be made regarding such entry of the person into the
venue, which system and method provides means for a venue to be
able to prove how a patron gained entry to the venue.
SU1~ARY OF THE- MENTION
[00014] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention
there is disclosed a novel system for obtaining supplemental
information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to
permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the
person into the venue. The system comprises a microprocessor based
computer apparatus including means for obtaining identifying
information from a person, and is connected in data transfer
relation to a remote database. Software is executable on the
microprocessor based computer apparatus for causing the identifying
information to be obtained from the person. Software is executable
on the microprocessor based computer apparatus for transmitting at
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least some of the identifying information obtained from the person
to the remote database. Software is executable on the
microprocessor based computer apparatus for receiving supplemental
information from the remote database, which supplemental
._, information is related to the identifying information transmitted
to the remote database. There is a display means for displaying a
result related to the supplemental information received from the
remote database. The displayed result is used by the venue to make
an informed decision regarding entry of the person into the venue.
[00015] In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention there is disclosed a novel method for obtaining
supplemental information about a person requesting entry into a
venue, so as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding
such entry of the person into the venue. The method comprising the
steps of obtaining identifying information from a person;
connecting in data transfer relation to a remote database;
transmitting at least some of the identifying information obtained
from the person to the remote database; receiving supplemental
information from the remote database, which supplemental
information is related to the identifying information transmitted
to the remote database; and displaying a result related to the
supplemental information received from the remote database. The
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displayed result is used by the venue to make an informed decision
regarding entry of the person into the venue.
[00016] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the
present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of
the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts
and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
latter of which is briefly described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00017] The novel features which are believed to be
characteristic of the system and method for obtaining supplemental
information about a person requesting entry into a venue, so as to
permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry of the
person into the venue, according to the present invention, as to
its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together
with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better
understood from the following drawings in which a presently
preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by
way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the
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drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only,
and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the
invention. In the accompanying drawings:
[00018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a venue having
installed therein the preferred embodiment of the system and method
for obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting
entry into a venue, according to the present invention;
[00019] Figure 2 is a simplified diagrammatic representation of
the preferred embodiment of the system and method of Figure l;
[00020] Figure 3A is a front elevational view of a typical
conventional driver's license;
[00021] Figure 3B is a rear elevational view of a typical
conventional driver's license;
[00022] Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of a
microprocessor based card reader connected to a portable
microprocessor based computer apparatus, each being part of the
preferred embodiment of the system and method of Figure 1, and
which microprocessor based card reader is reading information from
a driver's license;
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[00023] Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the
microprocessor based computer apparatus of the preferred embodiment
of the system and method of Figure 1, specifically a micro-
computer, wherein information about a person requesting entry to a
venue is displayed;
[00024] Figure 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of a
microprocessor based card reader connected to a portable
microprocessor based computer apparatus, specifically a PDA, each
being part of the preferred embodiment of the system and method of
Figure 1, with the PDA is displaying supplemental information
received from a remote database via a micro-computer;
[00025] Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of the
microprocessor based computer apparatus of the preferred embodiment
of the system and method of Figure l, specifically a micro-
computer, wherein information about a person who has been aksed to
leave a venue is being transmitted to a remote database;
[00026] Figure 8A is a front elevational view of a unique
identification card, that is part of the preferred embodiment
system and method of Figure 1; and,
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[00027] Figure 8B is a rear elevational view the unique
identification card of Figure 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[00028] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 8B, which
show a preferred embodiment of the system, as indicated by the
general reference numeral 20, and method for obtaining supplemental
information about a person 25 requesting entry into a venue 22, so
as to permit an informed decision to be made regarding such entry
of the person into the venue 22. The venue 22 might be an
entertainment establishment, such as a restaurant or bar licensed
to serve liquor, stadiums, banquet halls, arenas, malls, amusement
parks, and so on. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the
venue 22 comprises an entertainment establishment, specifically a
bar having a liquor license, and thereby being licensed to serve
liquor. As can be seen in Figure l, the bar 22 comprises a
building having an entrance, with an employee 24 of the bar 22,
often referred to as a "bouncer", standing at the entrance door 26
checking the identification of persons, such as the person 25,
requesting entry into the bar 22.
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[00029] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information
about a person requesting entry into a venue comprises a
microprocessor based computer apparatus 30. As can be seen in the
figures, the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 comprises
a handheld PDA 40 (personal digital assistant) that is in the hand
of the employee 24 standing at the door. The handheld PDA 40 is in
wireless two-way communication with a micro-computer 50 located
within the building, so as to transmit information to the micro-
computer 50, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "A" in
Figure 2, and receive information from the micro-computer 50, as
indicated by curved radio transmission lines "B" in Figure 2. Such
information could include both text and images. The PDA 40 is
connected wirelessly in two-way data communication with the micro-
computer 50 via any suitable wireless communication protocol, such
as WiFi (WLAN 802.11b, or 802.11g), Bluetooth~, or IrDA FIR (fast
infrared).
[00030] The microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 including
means for obtaining identifying information from a person. In the
preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the means for obtaining
identifying information from a person comprises means for obtaining
identifying information from a piece of identification belonging to
the person. More specifically, the means for obtaining identifying
information from a piece of identification belonging to the person
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comprises a microprocessor based card reader 60. Microprocessor
based card readers that interface with PDA's through a data port,
such as a USB port, or one that is compatible with a solid state
storage device, such as a Memory StickTM, SmartMediaTM, Secure
Digital ( SD) TM, Multimedia (MM) TM, Compact FlashTM, or a magnetic
storage device such as a MicrodriveTM. Such microprocessor based
card readers that interface through such data ports with a PDA 40
or the like are known in the art, and are not specifically the
subject of this application.
[00031] Correspondingly, the piece of identification as shown in
the Figures and as discussed herein, comprises an identification
card, specifically a driver's license 70, as is best seen in
Figures 3A and 3B. The driver's license 70 has a driver's license
number 72 on the front face 74. A magnetic stripe 76 on the rear
face 78 contains all of the information recorded on the driver's
license 70, and is readable by the microprocessor based card reader
60.
[00032] The present invention is not limited to the reading of a
driver's license 70 for obtaining identifying information from a
person; however, using a person's driver's license 70 is typically
the most common way of obtaining information about a person. Other
forms of identification might be used, including, but not limited
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to, a health insurance card, an age of majority card, a student
card, a birth certificate and so on. Further, a unique
identification card 80, as is shown in Figures 8A and 8B, might be
developed specifically for use with the system 20 according to the
present invention. The unique identification card 80 includes a
special identification number 82 that uniquely identifies a person
without having to use other unique identifiers, such as a driver's
license 70 number or social security number, that a person might
want to keep private. The special identification number 82 on the
front face 84 of the unique identification card 80 and also other
information are recorded on the magnetic stripe 86 on the rear face
88, to as to be readable by the microprocessor based card reader
60.
[00033] As can be readily seen in the Figures, one of the pieces
of the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30, namely the
micro-computer 50, is connected in data transfer relation to a
remote database 90. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated,
the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 is connected in data
transfer relation to the remote database 90 via the Internet 29 so
as to ensure a reliable connection and to achieve fast rates of
data transfer.
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[00034] Alternatively, the PDA 40 could be connected directly in
data transfer relation to the remote database 90 via the Internet
29, via a wireless connection.
[00035] There is also software executable on the microprocessor
based computer apparatus 30 for receiving supplemental information
from the remote database 90, as indicated by arrows "D" in Figures
1 and 2. This which supplemental information is related to the
identifying information transmitted to the remote database 90, and
includes the fields as discussed above. The supplemental
information received from the remote database 90 preferably
includes whether the person was previously requested to leave one
or more venues, the time and date of each infraction, why the
person was asked to leave, whether the person acted in an abusive
manner, whether the person became violent, and also preferably, but
not necessarily, a pictorial representation of the person.
[00036] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information
about a person requesting entry into a venue, according to the
present invention, also comprises software executable on the
microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for causing the
identifying information to be obtained from the person. More
specifically, the software executable on the microprocessor based
computer apparatus 30 for causing the identifying information to be
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obtained from the person comprises software executable on the
microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for causing the
identifying information to be obtained from the piece of
identification, such as a driver's license 70 in the form of a
plastic card having a magnetic stripe thereon. The software
executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30
permits the identification card to be read, as the magnetic stripe
76 on the identification card (driver's license 70) is physically
scanned by a card reader 60, as can be seen in Figure 1. The
software would also cause the card reader 60 to pass the
information read from the card to the PDA 40. There is also
software for transmitting the obtained information, as indicated by
curved radio transmission lines ~~A" in Figure 2, to the micro-
computer 50 via any suitable wireless communication protocol, as
discussed above. There is also software for transmitting
information, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "B" in
Figure 2, from the micro-computer 50 to the PDA 40 via any suitable
wireless communication protocol, as discussed above, as will be
discussed in greater detail subequently.
[00037] There is also software executable on the microprocessor
based computer apparatus 30, specifically the PDA 40 and the micro-
computer 50, for transmitting at least some of the identifying
information obtained from the person to the remote database 90.
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The information that is transmitted to the remote database 90 will
depend on the identifying key or keys used by the remote database
90. It is possible to use only one unique identifier such as the
person's driver's license number or social security number, to
uniquely identify that person. In this case only that unique
identifier needs to be transmitted to the remote database 90. It
is also possible to use more than one identifier such as the
person's driver's license number or social security number, and
also the person's name, address, and so on, to uniquely identify
that person. In this case, two or more fields of information,
which together uniquely identify the person, are transmitted to the
remote database 90.
[00038] It may not be possible to obtain information that
uniquely identifies a person requesting entry into a venue. For
instance, some age of majority cards have a person's name and
address. In this case, the identification card, such as the age of
majority card, could be scanned, or the information could be
entered manually via the micro-computer 50, and transmitted to the
remote database 90. If one or more matches are made to the
information, these matches would all be transmitted to the micro-
computer 50 and the PDA 40, via the Internet 29. It is then up to
the personnel at the venue 22 to determine whether the person 25
requesting entry into the venue 22 is actually one of the persons
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identified in the supplemental information that has been by the
micro-computer 50. Further searching of the remote database 90 in
a more specific manner is possible.
[00039] The remote database 90 would be run using suitable
database software on a suitable computer 92, such as a micro-
computer 50 of sufficient capacity, or on a mainframe or mini-
computer, as desired. The remote database 90 comprises several
fields of information corresponding to the possible types of
information that will be received from the micro-computer 50, or
from any such micro-computer 50 connected in data transfer relation
to a remote database 90. As can be best seen in Figure 2, these
fields might include driver's license number or social security
number, age of majority card number, student identification number,
the person's name, address, and so it. It may also include a
special identification number 82 that is specific to the database
and uniquely identifies a person without having to use other unique
identifiers, such as a driver's license number or social security
number, that a person might want to keep private, as discussed
above with reference to the unique identification card 80. The
database can also include a field that is a pictorial
representation of each person. This pictorial representation can
be used to verify whether the person who is presenting the
identification card, or the like, is actually the person in the
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database, as will be discussed more fully below. Accordingly, this
can also be used to help determine whether an identification card
is fraudulent or authentic.
[00040] Preferably, the remote database 90 also includes one or
more fields that indicate the time of entry of the person into a
venue. This specific information may also be kept locally at the
venue 22 only, if desired. The time of entry of the person into a
venue may be important, especially to a licensed bar, in order to
help subsequently identify whether a person used fraudulent
identification when entering a licensed bar. A person who has
earlier entered the bar 22 can be asked for identification. The
identification must match the earlier used identification.
Further, the time that the person entered the bar 22 can be
recalled from the micro-computer 50 or from the remote database 90.
This time of entry can be used to with reference to any video tape
that has recorded persons entering the bar 22, with visual time
stamps on the video tape . The person in question should be the
person who is seen on the video tape at the recorded time of entry.
[00041] The remote database 90 also includes one or more fields
that indicate whether a person has been asked to leave a venue.
Preferably there are several fields for this, and the fields
include the specific venue or venues that the person was asked to
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leave, the time and date of each infraction, why the person was
asked to leave, whether the person acted in an abusive manner,
whether the person became violent, whether the person was arrested,
and so on. This information is transmitted to the remote database
90 and stored therein, for use by other venues having a
microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 connected in data
transfer relation to the remote database 90.
[00042] The system 20 also further comprises software executable
on the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 for recording on
the microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 at least some of the
identifying information obtained from the identification card, so
as to permit the person to be subsequently identified. For
instance, just the person's driver's license number can be
recorded, or additional information such as name, address, and so
on can be recorded. Further, it is also possible to scan and
record the picture on a person's driver's license 70, or even all
of the information on a person's driver's license 70. In this
manner, the person can later be found in the venue 22 according to
the picture on the driver's license 70 that was presented upon
entry. This is extremely useful in proving, for instance, that an
underage person gained entry to the venue 22 by using a fraudulent
identification card.
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[00043] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information
about a person requesting entry into a venue further comprises
software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus
30 for recording the time of entry of the person into the venue.
This time of entry can be stored in either the micro-computer 50
for use by the venue 22, or can also be transmitted to the remote
database 90 for storage therein.
[00044] The system 20 for obtaining supplemental information
about a person requesting entry into a venue further comprises
software executable on the microprocessor based computer apparatus
30 for recording whether the person was requested to leave the
venue 22, and also software executable on the microprocessor based
computer apparatus 30 for transmitting to the remote database 90
whether the person was requested to leave the venue 22. The
recording of this information, and the recording of this
information in the remote database 90 for use by all other venues
having a microprocessor based computer apparatus 30 connected in
data transfer relation to a remote database 90, comprises one of
the fundamental aspects of the system 20.
[00045] There is also display means, preferably on the PDA 40 and
also on the micro-computer 50, for displaying a result related to
the supplemental information received from the remote database 90.
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The display means typically comprises the conventional display that
is part of the PDA 40, as can be best seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5,
or is part of the micro-computer 50, as can be best seen in Figures
1, 2, 6 and 7. A supplemental display may also be used, perhaps in
order to strongly emphasize that the person requesting entry into
the bar 22 has bee asked to leave another bar, or other venue,
especially if that has occurred within the last hour or two, or
especially if that person has a history of being asked to leave
venues, if that person has acted in a violent or abusive manner
when asked the leave the venue 22, and perhaps most especially if
the person was arrested. Further, an audible warning may also be
generated to alert the employee 24 of the bar 22 standing at the
entrance door 26 of the bar 22 that the person requesting entry
into the bar 22 has bee asked to leave another bar, or other venue.
[00046] The displayed result is used by the venue 22 to make an
informed decision regarding entry of the person into that venue 22.
For instance, if the supplemental information received from the
remote database 90 provides no indication that the person
requesting entry into the bar 22 has not been asked to leave
another bar, or other venue, then the employee 24 of the bar 22
standing at the entrance door 26, can feel comfortable, or at least
somewhat more comfortable, admitting that person into the bar 22.
If, however, the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has been
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asked to leave another bar, or other venue, if that person has
acted in a violent or abusive manner when asked the leave, and
perhaps most especially if that person was arrested, then the
employee 24 of the bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26 would
probably refuse such entry.
[00047] It can also be seen that the present invention also
comprises a method for obtaining supplemental information about a
person requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed
decision to be made regarding such entry of the person info the
venue 22. Fundamentally, the method comprises the steps of first
obtaining identifying information from a person, preferably from a
piece of identification belonging to the person, specifically from
an identification card, such as a driver's license 70, social
security card, age of majority card, student identification card,
and so on. As illustrated, the identification card may be scanned
by the microprocessor based card reader 60.
[00048] The step of connecting in data transfer relation to a
remote database 90 may be done each time information is obtained
from a person requesting entry to a venue, such as bar 22, or may
be done on an overall basis each time the venue 22 is opened or
otherwise used, and is preferably done via the Internet 29.
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[00049] After obtaining identifying information from a person
requesting entry into a venue, there is a step of transmitting at
least some of the identifying information obtained from the person
to the remote database 90. The method preferably further comprises
the steps of recording the time of entry of the person into the
venue 22; recording at least some of the identifying information
obtained from the identification card, so as to uniquely identify
the person; subsequently recalling the recorded information that
uniquely identifies the person; recording the time of entry of the
person into the venue 22; recording the time of exit of the person
from the venue 22; recording whether the person was requested to
leave the venue 22; and transmitting to the remote database 90
whether the person was requested to leave the venue 22.
(00050] Subsequently to such transmission of information, there
are the steps of receiving supplemental information from the remote
database 90, which supplemental information is related to the
identifying information transmitted to the remote database 90, and
displaying a result related to the supplemental information
received from the remote database 90. The displayed result is used
by the venue 22 to make an informed decision regarding entry of the
person into the venue 22. More specifically, if the supplemental
information received from the remote database 90 provides no
indication that the person requesting entry into the bar 22 has not
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been asked to leave another bar, or other venue, then the employee
24 of the bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26, can feel
comfortable, or at least somewhat more comfortable, admitting that
person into the bar 22. If, however, the person requesting entry
into the bar 22 has been asked to leave another bar, or other
venue, and especially if that person has acted in a violent or
abusive manner when asked the leave, then the employee 24 of the
bar 22 standing at the entrance door 26 would probably refuse such
entry.
[00051] The preferred embodiment of the present invention also
includes the steps of transmitting, as indicated by arrow "G" in
Figure 1, at least some of the identifying information to a police
database 100, as is shown in Figure 1, and receiving, as indicated
by arrow "H", police-record information from the police database
100, with the police-record information being related to the
identifying information transmitted to the police database 100.
Information such as a person having a criminal record might be
received from the police database 100, which would most likely
preclude a person from gaining entry to an establishment.
[00052] Use of the preferred embodiment system and method for
obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry
into a venue will now be described with reference to Figures 1
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through 7. As can be seen in Figure l, a person 25, who is a
potential patron of the bar 22, approaches the front door 26 of the
bar. The employee 24 of the bar 22 obtains a piece of
identification, in this case a driver's license 70, and swipes the
driver's license 70 through the microprocessor based card reader
60, as can bee seen in Figures 1 and 4, and as indicated by arrow
"E" in Figure 4. The information on the magnetic stripe 76 of the
driver's license 70 is read, and therefore obtained by the
microprocessor based card reader 60. This information is passed to
the PDA 40, where it is displayed, as can be best seen in Figure 4.
The PDA 40 then transmits this information to the micro-computer
50, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "A" in Figure
2. The micro-computer 50 transmits this information through the
Internet 29, as indicated by arrows "C" in Figures 1 and 2, to the
computer 92 running the remote database 90. The computer 92
running the remote database 90 uses a unique identifier, such as
the person's driver's license number, as the key to search the
database. If any supplemental information is found that relates to
the information received, the supplemental information is
transmitted through the Internet 29 back to the micro-computer 50
at the bar 22, as indicated by arrows "D" in Figures 1 and 2. The
micro-computer 50 transmits this supplemental information to the
PDA 40, as indicated by curved radio transmission lines "B" in
Figure 2. As can be seen on the screen 52 of the micro-computer 50
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CA 02511377 2005-06-29
in Figure 5, and on the screen 42 of the PDA 40 in Figure 6, the
person 25 in question has not been asked to leave a venue, or in
other words has not been ejected from a venue. By using the PDA
40, the employee 24 of the bar 22 is then able to make an informed
decision regarding entry of the person 25 into the venue 22, and
would therefore probably be inclined to permit the person to gain
entry to the bar 22.
[00053] Reference will now be made to Figure 7, which shows the
screen 52 of the micro-computer 50 in the bar 22. Information has
been entered into the micro-computer 50 that indicates the patron
25 has been asked to leave the bar 22, when this occurred, and the
fact that he was abusive when asked to leave. This information is
transmitted, as indicated by arrows "F", via the Internet 29 to the
remote database 90 for subsequent use by other venues.
[00054] As can be understood from the above description and from
the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a system
and method for obtaining supplemental information about a person
requesting entry into a venue, so as to permit an informed decision
to be made regarding such entry of the person into the venue,
wherein the venue records whether the person was requested to, leave
the venue, for future reference and the reference of other venues,
wherein which system and method record when a person enters the
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CA 02511377 2005-06-29
venue, and which system and method provides means for a venue to be
able to prove how a patron gained entry to the venue, all of which
features are unknown in the prior art.
[00055] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent
to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and
such variations are considered to be within the scope of the
present invention. For instance, it is contemplated that
biometrics could be used to obtain a person's fingerprint, iris
pattern, and so on, to uniquely identify a person. Collecting such
information would mean that this information would have been
previously collected from the person and stored on the remote
database. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used
in the design and manufacture of the system and method for
obtaining supplemental information about a person requesting entry
into a venue, according to the present invention without departing
from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
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