Matching System for Ride Reservation Platforms

• US 20110054956A1
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RideAmigos Corp.
• Original Assignee: RideAmigos Corp.
• Inventors: Dalton, Ben, Meyer, Evan, Chernick, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,570 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: G06Q 50/14 Travel agencies

Abstract

The invention relates to a system capable of electronically matching transportation reservations with existing, new, or potential reservations, so that the orders can be combined, the reservation shared between requesting parties, utilization and management of transportation provider inventory and costs can be optimized, and savings opportunities for customers may be provided. Costs may also be divided proportionally based on a combination of distance and/or time traveled, or other cost accrual methods per riding party, and split/billed electronically via the reservation system. The system can operate as a standalone reservation repository or in concert with one or many existing reservation providers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a shared ride, the method comprising:

A. receiving a first travel itinerary corresponding to a first traveler over a network from a reservation provider, and storing the first travel itinerary on a ride share platform, wherein the first travel itinerary comprises travel information including a departure time, a staring location, and an ending location;

B. determining whether the first traveler has requested to share a ride;

C. receiving a second travel itinerary corresponding to a second traveler over the network from the reservation provider, and storing the second travel itinerary on the ride share platform, wherein the second travel itinerary comprises travel information including a departure time, a staring location, and an ending location;

D. determining whether the second traveler has requested to share a ride; and

E. determining whether the travel information of the first travel itinerary matches the travel information of the second itinerary and, if so, modifying the first travel itinerary to include the second traveler, if the first traveler and second traveler have each requested to share a ride.