INITIALIZING/ACTIVATING ACCOUNTS UTILIZABLE FOR PURCHASING/PROVISIONING ITEMS/SERVICES OVER DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS.

摘要

A technique for initializing an account for use in purchasing and provisioning admittance to entertainment events to an event customer utilizes a data communication network (1908). These entertainment events include any one or more of sporting events, movies, theatre events, open-seating events, reserved-seating events, and/or any combination thereof (1940). The technique includes receiving a communication from the customer at a server via the data communication network (1908) requesting activation of the account. In response to the communication, the account is activated to allow storage of information regarding purchases made by the customer. In addition, an identifier is associated with the customer. Then, an identification device is distributed to the customer (1972). This identification device has the identifier stored therein and is utilizable for accessing the account at a point of sale for provisioning of the purchases (Figures 19a and 19b).