Transmitting graphical representations

• US 20050216286A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMR LLC
• Original Assignee: FMR LLC
• Inventors: Kalinichenko, Boris, Ferra, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging

Abstract

There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for service improvement techniques for a transportation service provider using mobile devices. In one aspect there is received user-entered data for at least one field present in a provided electronic form. The form includes a link that, when activated, establishes a voice channel between the passenger and a customer representative and provides a unique identifier associated with the user-entered data that enables a customer representative to retrieve the user-entered data. In another aspect, there is a graphical representation that is transmitted to a customer or a driver to facilitate execution of a reservation of a transportation service to be provided to the customer by the driver. In another aspect, there is a location range received from a wireless handheld device associated with a driver and data received from the driver indicative of a more accurate location within the location range.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting to a customer or a driver a graphical representation to facilitate execution of a reservation of a transportation service to be provided to the customer by the driver.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

selecting a reservation associated with the customer; and

associating the driver with the reservation.

3. The method of claim 1 in which transmitting the graphical representation comprises transmitting the graphical representation in response to a time associated with the reservation.

4. The method of claim 1 in which transmitting the graphical representation comprises transmitting the graphical representation to a wireless handheld device.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical representation comprises a photograph of the driver associated with the reservation.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical representation comprises a photograph of the customer associated with the reservation.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical representation comprises a photograph of a vehicle, including the license plate, associated with the reservation.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical representation comprises a map associated with the reservation.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the map comprises a pick-up location associated with the reservation.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the pick-up location comprises a location in an airport.

11. The method of claim 8 in which the map comprises directions from a location associated with the customer to a location associated with the driver.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical representation comprises a text message from the customer.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical representation comprises a text message from the driver.

14. A system comprising:

a computing device adapted to;

select a reservation with an associated customer and an associated driver; and

transmit a graphical representation to the associated customer or the associated driver.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a data communication channel through the computing device, the data communication channel linking a first wireless handheld device associated with the customer and a second wireless handheld device associated with the driver.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a data communication channel through the computing device, the data communication channel linking a first wireless handheld device associated with the customer and a second wireless handheld device associated with the driver.

17. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause data processing apparatus to transmit to a customer or a driver a graphical representation to facilitate execution of a reservation of a transportation service to be provided to the customer by the driver

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the data processing apparatus to select a reservation associated with the customer and to associate the driver with the reservation.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the data processing apparatus to confirm that the driver and the customer do not require any additional information to facilitate execution of the reservation.

20. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause a customer service representative to contact the passenger and assist the passenger with execution of a reservation.