Method and system for providing a combined metering and dispatching service with advertising

• US 20040117332A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Transportopia Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transportopia Incorporated
• Inventors: Himebaugh, David N.
• Application Number:
  US10/292,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117332A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/417
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/00 Taximeters measuring distance travelled G01C; measuring time G04

Abstract

A system and method for providing a wireless Web-based dispatch, metering and tracking system for taxicabs and other fleets of mobile units for hire. The system accommodates on-line booking; various forms of payment; accurate and efficient metering, dispatch and reporting functions; and is supported by on-screen advertising.

Claims

1. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a customer for a mobile unit with a driver to take the customer from an origination point to a destination point;

(b) storing the request in the form of request data in a web server which is remote from the mobile unit;

(c) providing a computer processing unit located in the mobile unit, the computer processing unit receives and processes;

(i) the request data into request processed information; and

(ii) metering data into metering information;

(d) transmitting the request data from the remote web server to the computer processing unit; and

(e) transmitting the request processed information and the metering information from the computer processing unit to a driver interface module located in the mobile unit.

2. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a customer for a mobile unit with a driver to take the customer from an origination point to a destination point;

(b) storing the request in the form of request data in a remote web server which is remote from the mobile unit;

(c) providing a computer processing unit located in the mobile unit, the computer processing unit receives and processes;

(i) the request data into request processed information;

(ii) metering data into metering information; and

(iii) advertising data into advertising information;

(d) transmitting the request data from the remote web server to the computer processing unit;

(e) transmitting the request processed information and the metering information from the computer processing unit to a driver interface module located in the mobile unit; and

(f) transmitting the advertising information from the computer processing unit to a passenger interface module located in the mobile unit.

3. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising as recited in claim 2 including transmitting the metering information from the computer processing unit to the passenger interface module located in the mobile unit.

4. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising as recited in claim 2 wherein the computer processing unit receives and processes mapping data into mapping information which is transmitted from the computer processing unit to the driver interface module to enable the driver to take the customer from the origination point to the destination point.

5. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising as recited in claim 2 including transmitting the metering information from the computer processing unit to the remote web server for storing and further processing for any desired purpose.

6. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising as recited in claim 2 wherein the passenger interface module has a payment function means to enable the customer to select different payment methods, the payment function means coupled to the computer processing unit which creates data that is transmitted to a payment system for further processing.

7. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising as recited in claim 2 wherein the driver interface module has a payment function means to enable the customer to select different payment methods, the payment function means coupled to the computer processing unit which creates data that is transmitted to a payment system for further processing.

8. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising as recited in claim 2 wherein the computer processing unit includes processing a record of the request processed information, the metering information and a payment, the record accessible at the driver interface module, the record transmitted to a system for storage and further processing.

9. A method to provide combined metering and dispatching service with advertising as recited in claim 2 wherein the computer processing unit includes processing a record of the request processed information, the metering information and a payment, the record accessible at the passenger interface module, the record transmitted to a system for storage and further processing.

10. A system for use in providing a combined metering and dispatching service with advertising comprising:

(a) a mobile unit for a driver and a passenger;

(b) a computer processing unit in the mobile unit;

(c) a first screen display in the mobile unit and coupled to the computer processing unit;

(d) a second screen display in the mobile unit and coupled to the computer processing unit;

(e) means transmitting global positioning navigational data to the computer processing unit; and

(f) a web server remote to the mobile unit and wirelessly coupled to the computer processing unit.