System and method for security enhanced rideshare

• US 20080277183A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Fork, David K., Weinerth, Dave, Huang, Qingfeng, Plurkowski, Luke
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method and system for a comprehensive security-enhanced rideshare system is provided. The rideshare program includes localization, mapping and ride matching for participants. Participation incentives and revenue methods provide for the financial viability of the rideshare system. Participant security is monitored in near real-time using location-determining communication devices used by the participants in the system. The rideshare system monitors a number of security-indicating criteria and takes action when an anomalous condition is recognized.

Claims

1. A method for providing participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

having available a rideshare participant device including communications capabilities and location determining capabilities to at least one rideshare participant;

monitoring the rideshare participant device while the rideshare is in progress for abnormalities indicating a security alert; and

taking a security action in response to the security alert.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a trip route;

determining the location of the rideshare participant device; and

generating a security alert when the location of the rideshare participant device deviates from the trip route by more than a predefined threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising assigning the trip route based at least in part upon security considerations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the security considerations include selecting a trip route for which the communication connectivity to the rideshare participant device is expected to be maintained throughout the trip.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the security considerations include selecting the trip route such that the trip route meets a criterion for exposure to the public.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

taking the security action includes communicating a security inquiry message to the rideshare participant device;

requesting a rideshare participant reply from the rideshare participant;

contacting a security response provider if the rideshare participant replies that there is a security problem or if the rideshare participant did not respond within a predefined response time threshold; and

canceling the security alert if the passenger replies that there is no security problems.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

requiring that the rideshare participant reply to the security inquiry message include an identity confirmation token;

confirming the validity of the identity confirmation token;

contacting a security response provider if the validity of the identify confirmation token is not confirmed; and

canceling the security alert if the validity of the identify confirmation token is confirmed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identify confirmation token is a personal identification number entered by the rideshare participant in response to the security inquiry message.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a biometric input device with the rideshare participant device; and

generating the identity confirmation token from biometric information associated with the rideshare participant.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the rideshare participant device is available to a plurality of rideshare participants, including;

a driver rideshare participant device including communications capabilities and location determining capabilities;

a passenger device including communications capabilities location determining capabilities;

determining the location of the driver rideshare participant device and the passenger rideshare participant device; and

generating a security alert when the location of the driver rideshare participant device and the location of the passenger rideshare participant device deviate from each other by more than a predefined threshold.

11. A method for matching participants in a ridesharing system, comprising:

determining a participant rating; and

matching the participants in a rideshare transaction based at least in part on the participant rating.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the participant rating is based at least in part upon a metric associated with the ride transactions participated in as a driver.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the participant rating is based at least in part upon a metric associated with the ride transactions participated in as a passenger.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the participant rating is based at least in part upon a metric associated with a feedback rating of the participant assigned regarding a prior ride share transaction.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the participant rating is based at least in part upon a rating of common interests shared by potential rideshare participants.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing health record data pertaining to the health of a participant; and

heuristically adjusting the participant rating based at least in part on the negative or positive inferences drawn from the health record data.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

collecting participant driving behavior data;

heuristically adjusting the participant rating based at least in part on the negative or positive inferences drawn from the driving behavior data.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the participant rating include a social network distance.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

offering a corresponding rideshare participant the participant rating;

obtaining an approval from the participant before making the match.

20. The method of claim 19, filtering the participant rating by a filter criterion to limit the offer to those participants meeting the filter criterion.

21. A method for financial transactions in a ridesharing system, comprising:

determining an economic demand for a rideshare transaction;

determining an economic supply for a rideshare transaction; and

setting a rideshare transaction price based at least in part upon the economic supply and the economic demand determined for the rideshare transaction.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining a commission for the rideshare system based at least in part upon the rideshare transaction price.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising conducting an auction to set the rideshare transaction price by determining the economic demand and the economic supply of the rideshare transaction.

24. A method for financing a ridesharing system, comprising obtaining a fee by providing insurance pertaining to a rideshare transaction to a rideshare participant.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the rideshare system acts as insurer and sells insurance pertaining to a rideshare transaction to at least one rideshare participant.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the rideshare system acts as an agent of an insurer and sells insurance pertaining to a rideshare transaction to at least one rideshare participant.