Method for increasing use of alternative transportation network
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- associating a plurality of readable tags with a plurality of users, each of the readable tags storing a user identifier;
storing the user identifier of each of the readable tags in a database;
providing a plurality of tag readers across a transportation network each identified by a tag reader identifier and having a tag reading field, each of the tag readers being adapted to read the user identifier on readable tags located within the tag reading field associated with each tag reader;
reading the user identifiers of the readable tags in the tag reading fields of the tag readers;
storing the tag reader identifier of the tag reader reading a given readable tag in association with the user identifier associated with said given readable tag;
determining transportation network usage by the plurality of users based on the tag reader identifiers stored in the database in association with each user identifier of each of the users;
establishing a transportation network usage minimum threshold; and
when transportation network usage for a given readable tag exceeds the transportation network usage minimum threshold, providing a reward to the user associated with the given readable tag.
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Abstract
A method involves associating a plurality of readable tags having user identifiers with a plurality of users, storing the user identifier of each of the readable tags in a database, and reading the tags using a plurality of tag readers disposed across a transportation network as the users carrying the tags traverse portions of the network. The identifier of the tag reader reading a tag is stored in association with a user identifier of the tag that was read, and transportation network usage is determined by the plurality of users based on the tag reader identifiers stored in the database. When transportation network usage for a given readable tag exceeds a transportation network usage minimum threshold, a reward is given to the user associated with the given readable tag.
8 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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associating a plurality of readable tags with a plurality of users, each of the readable tags storing a user identifier; storing the user identifier of each of the readable tags in a database; providing a plurality of tag readers across a transportation network each identified by a tag reader identifier and having a tag reading field, each of the tag readers being adapted to read the user identifier on readable tags located within the tag reading field associated with each tag reader; reading the user identifiers of the readable tags in the tag reading fields of the tag readers; storing the tag reader identifier of the tag reader reading a given readable tag in association with the user identifier associated with said given readable tag; determining transportation network usage by the plurality of users based on the tag reader identifiers stored in the database in association with each user identifier of each of the users; establishing a transportation network usage minimum threshold; and when transportation network usage for a given readable tag exceeds the transportation network usage minimum threshold, providing a reward to the user associated with the given readable tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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associating a plurality of readable tags with a plurality of users, each of the readable tags storing a user identifier; storing the user identifier of each of the readable tags in a database; providing a plurality of tag readers across a transportation network, each of the tag readers being identified by a tag reader identifier and having a tag reading field, each of the tag readers being adapted to read the user identifier on readable tags located within the tag reading field associated with the tag reader; reading the user identifier from a first one of the plurality of readable tags in the tag reading field of a first tag reader; storing the tag reader identifier of the tag reader reading the user identifier and a reading time in the database in association with the user identifier; determining transportation network usage by each of the users based on the tag reader identifiers and reading times stored in the database in association with each user identifier; establishing a transportation network usage minimum threshold; and when transportation network usage for a given readable tag exceeds the transportation network usage minimum threshold, providing a reward to the user associated with the given readable tag. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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associating a plurality of readable tags with a plurality of users, each of the readable tags storing a user identifier; storing the user identifier of each of the readable tags in a database; providing a plurality of tag readers across a transportation network, each of the plurality of tag readers being identified by a tag reader identifier and a tag reader network location, each of the plurality of tag readers having a tag reading field and being adapted to read the user identifier on readable tags located within the tag reading field associated with the tag reader; providing a transportation network usage field in association with each of the user identifiers; reading the user identifier from a first one of the plurality of readable tags in the tag reading field of a first tag reader; storing the tag reader identifier of the tag reader reading the user identifier and a first reading time in the database in association with the user identifier; reading the user identifier from the first one of the plurality of readable tags in the tag reading field of a second tag reader; storing the tag reader identifier of the tag reader reading the user identifier and a second reading time in the database in association with the user identifier; incrementing said transportation network usage field based on the first reading time or the second reading time and based on an elapsed time between said first reading time and said second reading time and based on the tag reader network location of the tag reader reading the user identifier at the first reading time and the network location of the tag reader reading the user identifier at the second reading time; establishing a transportation network usage minimum threshold; and when transportation network usage for a given readable tag exceeds the transportation network usage minimum threshold, providing a reward to the user associated with the given readable tag.
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Specification