Method of selective ride-sharing among multiple users along an optimized travel route

• US 10,520,325 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RideShark Corporation
• Original Assignee: RideShark Corporation
• Inventors: Lewinson, Tom, Lewinson, Sharon
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Kevin H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, Emmett K.
• Application Number:
  US11/735,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,642 Days
• Field of Search: 705 6, 705 13, 701202, 701209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A computer-implementable method and system for identifying the preferred commuting route to be used for a given route requirement subject to travel and personal preference criteria. The method and system uses computerized mapping software programs that match stored travel and user preferences to a given route by matching end points and waypoints along the given route and providing user-enabled filtering among multiple users. The method and system also serve well in finding people whose origin and destination are along the drive route.

Claims

1. A system comprising a first server connected to a network comprising a first microprocessor, a first network interface and a first non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, the first server configured to:

store data relating to a plurality of users registered with a transport application within a database established within the first non-transitory machine-readable storage medium;

receive first data via the first network interface from a first electronic device associated with a first user, the first data identifying a physical origin and a physical destination corresponding to a route to be travelled by the first user;

determine that at least one of the physical origin or the physical destination cannot be located by the first server;

in response to determining that the at least one of the physical origin or physical destination cannot be located, receive an indication of the at least one of the physical origin or the physical destination which cannot be located by the first server via a map on a first graphical user interface;

receive second data via the first network interface from the first electronic device, the second data identifying first-user criteria related to first-user personal preferences;

receive third data via the first network interface from a second server, the third data being provided by the second server in response to a request generated by the first server, the third data being stored within a database on the second server, the third data being established in dependence upon data received by the second server from a plurality of second electronic devices identifying a second-user physical origin and a second-user physical destination corresponding to respective routes to be travelled by a plurality of second users, each of the plurality of second electronic devices being associated with a respective second user of the plurality of second users;

receive fourth data via the first network interface from the first electronic device, the fourth data establishing a user request from the first user to identify a transport sharing option;

transmit a map request to a remote programmable mapping web service in execution upon a third server connected to the network, the map request being generated by the transport application in response to the user request, the map request triggering the remote programmable mapping web service to generate and transmit to the first server a first-user travel path for the first user in dependence upon the physical origin of the first user and the physical destination of the first user;

wherein the remote programmable mapping web service geocodes the indication of the at least one of the physical origin or the physical destination which cannot be located by the first server in order to generate the first-user travel path for the first user;

receive via the first network interface from the remote programmable mapping web service the first-user travel path;

generate and store within the first non-transitory machine-readable storage medium a matched list of second users, the matched list established in dependence upon automatically matching the plurality of second users based upon a proximity of the physical origin and the physical destination of each second user of the plurality of second users to the received first-user travel path generated and transmitted by the remote programmable mapping web service and a direction of travel of each second user of the plurality of second users to a direction of travel of the first user, wherein the automatic matching is independent of any travel path between the physical origin and the physical destination of each second user of the plurality of second users other than the automatically generated first-user travel path;

generate a filtered matched list of second users by filtering said matched list of second users based upon a predetermined subset of the first-user criteria; and

transmit, via the first network interface to the first electronic device associated with the first user, fifth data associated with the first user, the fifth data relating to the matched list of second users and the first-user travel path.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first server is further configured to:

transmit via the first network interface a second request to the second server;

retrieve, via the first network interface, sixth data from second server, the sixth data relating to second-user criteria for each of the plurality of second users, the second-user criteria relating personal preferences of each of the plurality of second users; and

filtering with the first microprocessor said matched list of second users based upon said second-user criteria.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the physical origin and the physical destination of a second user within the matched list of second users is a waypoint along said first-user travel path.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is further configured to:

receive fourth inputs from the first user via the first graphical user interface, the fourth inputs relating to one or more modifications to the first-user travel path;

wherein the one or more modifications relate to the addition of one or more waypoints.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first server is further configured to:

automatically apply a travel schedule filter to an initial list of second users when generating the matched list of second users;

wherein the travel schedule filter comprising data relating to at least one journey of a plurality of journeys.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein generating the matched list of second users based upon the proximity of the physical origin and the physical destination of each second user of the plurality of second users to said first-user travel path comprises:

applying a first physical distance limit within which the physical origin of each second user of the plurality of second users must be to the first-user travel path; and

applying a second physical distance limit within which the physical destination of each second user of the plurality of second users must be to the first-user travel path.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the first-user criteria relate to a travel route filter relating to preferences for the first-user travel path; and

matching the plurality of second users further comprises including a travel schedule filter relating to at least a future occurrence of making a journey from the physical origin to the physical destination.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a third server comprising a fourth microprocessor, a fourth network interface, and a third non-transitory machine readable storage medium, the third server configured to:

receive sixth data via the fourth network interface from the first electronic device, the sixth data relating to selection of a selected second user by the first user within the matched list of second users; and

manage electronic communications between the first user and the selected second user;

wherein an initial electronic communication from the first user to the selected second user comprises an offer to share the first user'"'"'s transport using an electronic messaging address associated with the selected second user;

wherein the initial electronic communication comprises an itinerary established in dependence upon the first user, the first-user travel path, and the selected second user; and

wherein identities of both the first user and the selected second user within the managed electronic communications are masked until the selected second user accepts the offer.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first server when automatically matching the plurality of second users is configured to:

rank each second user, the ranking of each second user including associating each second user with one of a plurality of ranked categories according to each second user'"'"'s respective rank; and

select second users from a first-rank category of the plurality of ranked categories;

wherein the first-rank category relates to second users who match the physical origin and the physical destination of the first user within predetermined limits;

wherein a second-rank category relates to second users who match the physical origin of the first user and their respective physical destinations are along the first-user travel path;

wherein a third-rank category relates to second users who match the physical destination of the first user and their respective physical origins are along the first-user travel path; and

wherein a fourth-rank category relates to second users whose respective physical origins and respective physical destinations are along the first-user travel path.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, via a graphical user interface from an electronic device associated with a first user, the first user'"'"'s physical origin and physical destination in an input format, wherein the first user'"'"'s physical origin or physical destination cannot be automatically located according to the input format;

presenting a map by the graphical user interface;

receiving an indication of the first user'"'"'s physical origin or physical destination on the map;

converting-each of the first user'"'"'s physical origin and physical destination into a standardized format, wherein converting comprises converting, using a computerized mapping service, the first user'"'"'s indicated physical origin or physical destination into a standardized format;

storing information about the standardized first user'"'"'s physical origin, the standardized first user'"'"'s physical destination, and the first user'"'"'s filter criteria relating to the first user'"'"'s personal preferences in a network-based non-transitory storage device having respective standardized physical origins and respective standardized physical destinations for a plurality of other users;

receiving, from the computerized mapping service, a computer-generated travel path for the first user based on the standardized first user'"'"'s physical origin and the standardized first user'"'"'s physical destination;

automatically determining, by a microprocessor, whether at least one other user qualifies as a selected user,

wherein the determining of whether at least one other user qualifies as a selected user is independent of travel paths that extend from the other user'"'"'s respective physical origins to the other user'"'"'s respective physical destinations and that differ from the first user'"'"'s travel path;

wherein the determining of whether at least one other user qualifies as a selected user is based at least in part on;

proximity of the other user'"'"'s physical origin to the first user'"'"'s travel path,

proximity of the other user'"'"'s physical destination to the first user'"'"'s travel path, and

similarity of a direction of the other user'"'"'s travel to the first user'"'"'s direction of travel; and

if at least one other user qualifies as a selected user;

automatically generating, by the microprocessor, a match list that includes only one or more selected users, and

automatically filtering, by the microprocessor, the match list to remove any selected user that does not satisfy the first user'"'"'s filter criteria.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

if at least one other user qualifies as a selected user;

the graphical user interface displays information about at least one of the one or more selected users.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

if no other user qualifies as a selected user;

the graphical user interface includes a message indicating that no matching users were found.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

if at least one other user qualifies as a selected user;

the graphical user interface displays a map showing at least one of the selected user'"'"'s physical origin and physical destination.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the standardized format comprises longitude and latitude coordinates.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first user'"'"'s physical origin or physical destination comprises a new construction location or a mailbox drop area location that cannot be automatically located according to the input format.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface is provided on a desktop computer.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, via a graphical user interface from an electronic device associated with a first user, the first user'"'"'s physical origin and physical destination in an input format, wherein the first user'"'"'s physical origin or physical destination cannot be automatically located according to the input format;

presenting a map by the graphical user interface;

receiving an indication of the first user'"'"'s physical origin or physical destination on the map;

converting each of the first user'"'"'s physical origin and physical destination into a standardized format, wherein converting comprises converting, using a computerized mapping service, the first user'"'"'s indicated physical origin or physical destination into a standardized format;

storing the standardized first user'"'"'s physical origin and the standardized first user'"'"'s physical destination in a network-based non-transitory storage device having respective standardized physical origins and respective standardized physical destinations for a plurality of other users;

receiving the first user'"'"'s filter criteria relating to the first user'"'"'s personal preferences;

generating, using the computerized mapping service, a computer-generated travel path for the first user, the first user'"'"'s travel path having been automatically generated by the computerized mapping service based on the standardized first user'"'"'s physical origin and the standardized first user'"'"'s physical destination;

automatically determining, by a microprocessor, whether at least one other user qualifies as a selected user,

wherein the determining of whether at least one other user qualifies as a selected user is independent of travel paths that extend from the other user'"'"'s respective standardized physical origins to the other user'"'"'s respective standardized physical destinations and that differ from the first user'"'"'s travel path, and

wherein the determining of whether at least one other user qualifies as a selected user is based at least in part on;

proximity of the other user'"'"'s standardized physical origin to the first user'"'"'s travel path,

proximity of the other user'"'"'s standardized physical destination to the first user'"'"'s travel path, and

similarity of a direction of the other user'"'"'s travel to the first user'"'"'s direction of travel;

if at least one other user qualifies as a selected user;

automatically generating, by the microprocessor, a match list that includes only one or more selected users;

automatically filtering, by the microprocessor, the match list to remove any selected user that does not satisfy the first user'"'"'s filter criteria; and

transmitting to the electronic device associated with a first user, the filtered match list; and

if no other user qualifies as a selected user;

transmitting to the electronic device associated with a first user, an indication that no matches were found.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting of the filtered match list includes transmitting display data for displaying information about at least one of the one or more selected users.

19. The method of claim 18, the transmitting of the filtered match list includes transmitting display data for displaying a map showing at least one of the selected user'"'"'s physical origin and physical destination.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the standardized format comprises longitude and latitude coordinates.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first user'"'"'s physical origin or physical destination comprises a new construction location or a mailbox drop area location that cannot be automatically located according to the input format.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the graphical user interface is provided on a desktop computer.