Network computer system to address service providers to contacts

• US 10,242,574 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Andrew, Holden, Jeffrey, Ives, Sonya
• Primary Examiner(s): Osifade, Idowu O
• Application Number:
  US15/382,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20170272901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 828 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 Management of a network of parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

According to some examples, a network computer system is provided to perform a first process to authorize a service request using a contact identifier, and to perform a second process to obtain a service parameter for addressing a service provider to a contact. Upon completion of the first process, the network computer system provides a service graphical interface for display on a mobile device of the user. The service graphical interface may display dynamic information that is based on the service parameter.

Claims

1. A network computer system to address service providers to contacts, the network computer system comprising:

a memory to store instructions;

one or more processors to execute the instructions to;

receive a set of data corresponding to a service request from a mobile device of a user;

determine a contact using the set of data, the contact corresponding to a person who is linked to the user;

initiate (i) a first process to request authorization from the contact to configure a destination location of the service request to correspond with a current location of the contact, by utilizing an identifier of the contact, and (ii) a second process to obtain a service parameter for the service request, the second process including receiving, from a mobile device of the contact, location information indicating the current location of the contact, the current location of the contact being different than the current location of the user; and

in response to receiving authorization from the contact to configure the destination location of the service request to correspond to the current location of the contact, transmit data to the mobile device of the user to cause the mobile device of the user to display a service graphical interface that presents dynamic information based on the current location of the contact.

2. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service parameter is variable over a duration in which the first process is performed, and wherein the service parameter is obtained upon completion of the first process.

3. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service parameter is variable over a duration in which the first process is performed, and wherein the service parameter is obtained before completion of the first process.

4. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service parameter is time-dependent and includes an estimated duration for a service provider to arrive at the current location of the contact.

5. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service parameter is time-dependent and is based at least in part on a number of service providers within a threshold range of the user of the service request.

6. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service graphical interface includes an order panel for the user of the service request.

7. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service graphical interface includes at least one of a confirmation panel or trip panel.

8. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors perform the first process without a priori information of a duration for completing the first process.

9. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors perform the first process by transmitting a notification to the mobile device of the contact.

10. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to further:

determine whether the contact is associated with an account.

11. The network computer system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors select the first process, from multiple available processes, based on a determination of whether the contact is associated with the account.

12. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to further:

determine an account associated with the contact from the set of data corresponding to the service request; and

determine whether the contact is associated with an access list of an online account of the user of the service request.

13. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to further:

determine an account associated with the contact from the set of data corresponding to the service request; and

determine whether the account of the contact includes a permission setting indicating whether the contact authorizes the service request to be addressed to the current location of the contact.

14. The network computer system of claim 13, wherein the permission setting indicates at least one of a time of day, an identity of the user of the service request, or a class of the user of the service request.

15. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service parameter is time-dependent and is based at least in part on a number of service providers within a threshold range of the user of the service request.

16. The network computer system of claim 1, wherein the service graphical interface includes an order panel for the user of the service request.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium that storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a set of data corresponding to a service request from a mobile device of a user;

determine a contact from the set of data, the contact corresponding to a person who is linked to the user;

initiate (i) a first process to request authorization from the contact to configure a destination location of the service request to correspond with a current location of the contact, by utilizing an identifier of the contact, and (ii) a second process to obtain a service parameter for addressing the service request, the second process including receiving, from a mobile device of the contact, location information indicating the current location of the contact, the current location of the contact being different than a current location of the user; and

in response to receiving authorization from the contact to configure the destination location of the service request to correspond to the current location of the contact, transmit data to the mobile device of the user to cause the mobile device of the user to display a service graphical interface that presents dynamic information based on the location information indicating the current location of the contact.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the service parameter is variable over a duration in which the first process is performed, and wherein the service parameter is obtained upon completion of the first process.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the service parameter is variable over a duration in which the first process is performed, and wherein the service parameter is obtained before completion of the first process.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the service parameter is time-dependent and includes an estimated duration for a service provider to arrive at the current location of the contact.