Viable alternative to private vehicles in urban areas

• US 20040024621A1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lewis C. Read
• Original Assignee: Lewis C. Read
• Inventors: Read, Lewis C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,931,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method of use for a viable alternative to private vehicles in urban areas is described. The system may include a number of vehicles, a number of checkout locations employing different technology according to specific geographic features of the location and a central computer system operatively coupled to the checkout locations and the vehicles at these locations which actively monitors the use of the vehicles in real-time. The system also includes demand predicting software operatively coupled to the central computer and the checkout locations to determine vehicle accessibility and availability. The goal is to build a system capable of matching the private vehicle'"'"'s high availability ratio of apparently ninety-nine percent or greater.

Claims

1. A shared-vehicle system, comprising:

an automated checkout unit, which is operatively coupled to at least one vehicle;

a central control center that is adapted to perform control and monitoring function on each of said at least one vehicle, wherein said automated checkout unit is responsive to a member request, and is adapted to enable one of said at least one vehicles for use by a member.

2. A shared-vehicle system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a demand prediction apparatus that is capable of adapting to a dynamic nature of urban vehicle travel, and which predicts vehicle demand to approximately 99% certainty or greater.

3. A shared-vehicle system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a cell communications module operatively coupled to said automated check-out unit, wherein said cell communications module provides communications between said central computer and said at least one vehicle.

4. A shared vehicle system as recited in claim 2, wherein said demand prediction apparatus further comprises at least one demand prediction module.

5. A shared vehicle system as recited in claim 4, wherein said demand projection apparatus further comprises a user interface module, which is adapted to show ingress and egress of said at least one vehicle, and to compare a number of available vehicles with a projected demand.

6. A shared-vehicle system as recited in claim 2, wherein said demand projection apparatus further comprises at least one relational database;

and at least one trip history table database; and

at least one demand estimating table, each of which is coupled to said central computer.

7. A shared-vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system is disposed in an urban setting.