CHANGING PRIORITY LEVELS WITHIN A CONTROLLABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM

• US 20110218835A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Dawson, Christopher J., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Morris, Benjamin G.
• Application Number:
  US12/715,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20110218835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the changing/updating of priority levels within a controllable transit system. Specifically, vehicles and/or users thereof will be assigned a particular service level using any number of factors. Based on this service level, as well as any transit criteria specified, a route to a desired destination will be computed. Typically, the higher the service level assigned, the higher the priority that will be given to the particular vehicle/user. Under the present invention, the priority level of a vehicle/user can be changed (e.g., increased) upon request to result in an improved transit time and/or route to the desired destination. Examples of types of requests that may result in an increased priority level (but are not limited to) are: (1) payment of a fee for increased priority level; (2) trading priority levels with other vehicle/users; and (3) bidding in an auction-like environment for an improved priority level; etc.

Claims

1. A method for changing priority levels within a controllable transit system, comprising:

computing an initial route for a vehicle within the controllable transit system, the route being based on a priority level of the vehicle, the priority level being based on a service class of the vehicle;

receiving a request to change the priority level; and

changing the priority level in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing a time in which the vehicle will take to reach a destination based on the changing.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the initial route based on the changing.

4. The method of claim 1, the request comprising a financial offer for upgrading the priority level to a high priority level.

5. The method of claim 1, the request comprising a bid for upgrading the priority level to a higher level, the method further comprising receiving responses to either accept or reject the bid.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a set of routing options based on the request; and

returning the set of routing options to a sender of the request.

7. The method of claim 6, the set of routing options affecting at least one of the following:

the initial route, or a travel time of the vehicle.

8. A system for changing priority levels within a controllable transit system, comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

compute an initial route for a vehicle within the controllable transit system, the route being based on a priority level of the vehicle, the priority level being based on a service class of the vehicle;

receive a request to change the priority level; and

change the priority level in response to the request.

9. The system of claim 8, the memory medium further comprising instructions that when executed by the processor further causes the system to reduce a time in which the vehicle will take to reach a destination based on the changing.

10. The system of claim 8, the memory medium further comprising instructions that when executed by the processor further causes the system to change the initial route based on the changing.

11. The system of claim 8, the request comprising a financial offer for upgrading the priority level to a high priority level.

12. The system of claim 8, the request comprising a bid for upgrading the priority level to a higher level, the memory medium further comprising instructions that when executed by the processor further causes the system to receive responses to either accept or reject the bid.

13. The system of claim 8, the memory medium further comprising instructions that when executed by the processor further causes the system to determine a set of routing options based on the request;

and

return the set of routing options to a sender of the request.

14. The system of claim 13, the set of routing options affecting at least one of the following:

the initial route, or a travel time of the vehicle.

21. The computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 13, the set of routing options affecting at least one of the following:

the initial route, or a travel time of the vehicle.

15. A computer readable medium containing a program product for changing priority levels within a controllable transit system, the computer readable medium comprising program code for causing a computer to:

compute an initial route for a vehicle within the controllable transit system, the route being based on a priority level of the vehicle, the priority level being based on a service class of the vehicle;

receive a request to change the priority level; and

change the priority level in response to the request.

16. The computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to reduce a time in which the vehicle will take to reach a destination based on the changing.

17. The computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to change the initial route based on the changing.

18. The computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the request comprising a financial offer for upgrading the priority level to a high priority level.

19. The computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the request comprising a bid for upgrading the priority level to a higher level, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to receive responses to either accept or reject the bid.

20. The computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 19, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to:

determine a set of routing options based on the request; and

return the set of routing options to a sender of the request.

22. A method for deploying a system for changing priority levels within a controllable transit system, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

compute an initial route for a vehicle within the controllable transit system, the route being based on a priority level of the vehicle, the priority level being based on a service class of the vehicle;

receive a request to change the priority level; and

change the priority level in response to the request.

23. The method of claim 22, the computer infrastructure being further operable to:

determine a set of routing options based on the request; and

return the set of routing options to a sender of the request.