Facilitating direct rider-driver pairing

• US 10,706,659 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2019
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Brinig, Kevin, Cirit, Fahrettin Olcay, Seger, Margaret-Ann Julia
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiaszek, Amber A
• Application Number:
  US16/360,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20190221069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 705 711- 742
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0057 for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs car rental G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A computing system can receive a pick-up request for a transport service from a requesting user within a given region. Based at least in part on the requesting user being within the given region, the computing system can transmit match code data corresponding to a match code to the computing device of the requesting user. The computing system may then receive input data indicating the match code from a computing device of an available driver, signifying that the available driver is to provide the transport service for the requesting user, and update a status for the requesting user to indicate that the transport service is being provided by the available driver for the requesting user.

Claims

1. A computing system implementing a transport service for a given region, the computing system comprising:

a network communication interface to communicate, over one or more networks, with computing devices of users and drivers of the transport service;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, over the one or more networks, request data corresponding to a pick-up request for the transport service from a computing device of a requesting user within the given region;

based at least in part on the requesting user being within the given region, transmit, over the one or more networks, match code data corresponding to a match code to the computing device of the requesting user, the match code comprising a numerical identifier to be displayed on the computing device of the requesting user;

receive, over the one or more networks, input data indicating the match code from a computing device of an available driver, the input data corresponding to the available driver inputting the match code on a user interface displayed on the computing device of the available driver and signifying that the available driver is to provide the transport service for the requesting user; and

update a status for the requesting user to indicate that the transport service is being provided by the available driver for the requesting user.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the network communication interface communicates with the computing device of the requesting user via a rider application, and wherein the network communication interface communicates with the computing device of the available driver via a driver application.

3. The computing system of claim 2, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

generate a geo-fence area within the given region, wherein the driver application executing on the computing device of the available driver operates in a normal service state when the available driver is external to the geo-fence area.

4. The computing system of claim 3, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, over the one or more networks, location data from a location-based resource of the computing device of the available driver, the location data indicating a dynamic current location of the available driver traveling throughout the given region;

based on the dynamic current location of the available driver, detect the available driver entering the geo-fence area; and

in response to the available driver entering the geo-fence area, transmit, over the one or more networks, trigger data to the driver application executing on the computing device of the available driver, the trigger data causing the driver application to switch from the normal service state to a late-binding state, the late-binding state enabling reception of the match code on the computing device of the available driver to pair the available driver with the requesting user.

5. The computing system of claim 2, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

transmit, over the one or more networks, a notification to the rider application executing on the computing device of the requesting user, the notification indicating a pick-up area to pair with available drivers within the given region.

6. The computing system of claim 5, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

generate, via the rider application, map data causing map content to be displayed on a display screen of the computing device of the requesting user, the map content providing navigation directions to the pick-up area.

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

communicate, over one or more networks, with computing devices of users and drivers of a transport service;

receive, over the one or more networks, request data corresponding to a pick-up request for a transport service from a computing device of a requesting user within a given region;

based at least in part on the requesting user being within the given region, transmit, over the one or more networks, match code data corresponding to a match code to the computing device of the requesting user, the match code comprising a numerical identifier to be displayed on the computing device of the requesting user;

receive, over the one or more networks, input data indicating the match code from a computing device of an available driver, the input data corresponding to the available driver inputting the match code on a user interface displayed on the computing device of the available driver and signifying that the available driver is to provide the transport service for the requesting user; and

update a status for the requesting user to indicate that the transport service is being provided by the available driver for the requesting user.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the executed instructions cause the one or more processors to communicate with the computing device of the requesting user via a rider application, and wherein the network communication interface communicates with the computing device of the available driver via a driver application.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

generate a geo-fence area within the given region, wherein the driver application executing on the computing device of the available driver operates in a normal service state when the available driver is external to the geo-fence area.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, over the one or more networks, location data from a location-based resource of the computing device of the available driver, the location data indicating a dynamic current location of the available driver traveling throughout the given region;

based on the dynamic current location of the available driver, detect the available driver entering the geo-fence area; and

in response to the available driver entering the geo-fence area, transmit, over the one or more networks, trigger data to the driver application executing on the computing device of the available driver, the trigger data causing the driver application to switch from the normal service state to a late-binding state, the late-binding state enabling reception of the match code on the computing device of the available driver to pair the available driver with the requesting user.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

transmit, over the one or more networks, a notification to the rider application executing on the computing device of the requesting user, the notification indicating a pick-up area to pair with available drivers within the given region.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

generate, via the rider application, map data causing map content to be displayed on a display screen of the computing device of the requesting user, the map content providing navigation directions to the pick-up area.

13. A computer-implemented method of facilitating transport, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:

communicating, over one or more networks, with computing devices of users and drivers of a transport service;

receiving, over the one or more networks, request data corresponding to a pick-up request for a transport service from a computing device of a requesting user within a given region;

based at least in part on the requesting user being within the given region, transmitting, over the one or more networks, match code data corresponding to a match code to the computing device of the requesting user, the match code comprising a numerical identifier to be displayed on the computing device of the requesting user;

receiving, over the one or more networks, input data indicating the match code from a computing device of an available driver, the input data corresponding to the available driver inputting the match code on a user interface displayed on the computing device of the available driver and signifying that the available driver is to provide the transport service for the requesting user; and

updating a status for the requesting user to indicate that the transport service is being provided by the available driver for the requesting user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors communicate with the computing device of the requesting user via a rider application, and wherein the network communication interface communicates with the computing device of the available driver via a driver application.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating a geo-fence area within the given region, wherein the driver application executing on the computing device of the available driver operates in a normal service state when the available driver is external to the geo-fence area.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, over the one or more networks, location data from a location-based resource of the computing device of the available driver, the location data indicating a dynamic current location of the available driver traveling throughout the given region;

based on the dynamic current location of the available driver, detecting the available driver entering the geo-fence area; and

in response to the available driver entering the geo-fence area, transmitting, over the one or more networks, trigger data to the driver application executing on the computing device of the available driver, the trigger data causing the driver application to switch from the normal service state to a late-binding state, the late-binding state enabling reception of the match code on the computing device of the available driver to pair the available driver with the requesting user.