RIDE-SHARE SERVICE

• US 20130096827A1
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: McCall, Clark E., Lazar, Walter M. II
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem

Abstract

Implementing a ride share service includes determining a route for an operator of the vehicle and accessing user preferences of the operator, the user preferences including characteristics of a ride share event and prospective ride share individuals. The ride share service also includes comparing the user preferences with information provided by individuals seeking transportation, each of the individuals providing a request for the transportation. The ride share service further includes identifying qualified candidates for the ride share event from the comparing by determining a threshold level of characteristics matching information provided by the individuals. In response to receiving a selection of a qualified candidate from the qualified candidates, the ride share service includes transmitting a communication to the selected qualified candidate accepting the request.

Claims

1. A system for implementing ride share services, comprising:

a computer processor disposed in a vehicle; and

logic executable by the computer processor, the logic configured to implement a method, the method comprising;

determining a route for an operator of the vehicle;

accessing user preferences of the operator, the user preferences including characteristics of a ride share event and prospective ride share individuals;

comparing the user preferences with information provided by individuals seeking transportation, each of the individuals providing a request for the transportation;

identifying qualified candidates for the ride share event from the comparing by determining a threshold level of characteristics matching information provided by the individuals; and

in response to receiving, from the operator, a selection of a qualified candidate from the qualified candidates, transmitting a communication to the selected qualified candidate accepting the request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to implement:

monitoring driving activities performed by the operator; and

storing the driving activities in a storage device, the driving activities including destinations travelled, routes taken, and time and dates of the routes;

wherein determining the route comprises accessing the driving activities stored in the storage device, comparing the time and dates of the routes to a current time and date, and estimating a planned destination for the operator responsive to the comparing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to implement:

monitoring driving activities performed by the operator; and

storing routes taken by the operator in a storage device in response to the monitoring;

wherein determining the route comprises comparing a current direction traveled by the operator with the routes stored in the storage device, and estimating a planned destination for the operator responsive to the comparing.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of a ride share event and prospective ride share individuals include at least one of:

an employer;

a destination location;

a participant rating of each of the prospective ride share individuals;

a pick up location of each of the ride share individuals;

a social group associated with each of the prospective ride share individuals; and

a bid value associated with each of the prospective ride share individuals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information provided by individuals seeking transportation includes at least one of:

a destination location;

a pick up location;

a bid value offered for the ride share event;

contact information for each of the individuals; and

data identifying each of the individuals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information provided by individuals seeking transportation includes an indicator specifying one of:

a desire to receive a ride from the operator of the vehicle; and

a desire to act as a driver with regard to the ride share event.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to implement:

presenting a list of the qualified candidates to the operator via an onboard navigation system display in the vehicle;

wherein receiving the selection is implemented by an option on the onboard navigation system display in the vehicle.

8. A method for implementing ride share services, comprising:

determining a route for an operator of a vehicle;

accessing user preferences of the operator, the user preferences including characteristics of a ride share event and prospective ride share individuals;

comparing the user preferences with information provided by individuals seeking transportation, each of the individuals providing a request for the transportation;

identifying qualified candidates for the ride share event from the comparing by determining a threshold level of characteristics matching information provided by the individuals; and

in response to receiving, from the operator, a selection of a qualified candidate from the qualified candidates, transmitting a communication to the selected qualified candidate accepting the request.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring driving activities performed by the operator; and

storing the driving activities in a storage device, the driving activities including destinations travelled, routes taken, and time and dates of the routes;

wherein determining the route comprises accessing the driving activities stored in the storage device, comparing the time and dates of the routes to a current time and date, and estimating a planned destination for the operator responsive to the comparing.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring driving activities performed by the operator; and

storing routes taken by the operator in a storage device in response to the monitoring;

wherein determining the route comprises comparing a current direction traveled by the operator with the routes stored in the storage device, and estimating a planned destination for the operator responsive to the comparing.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the characteristics of a ride share event and prospective ride share individuals include at least one of:

an employer;

a destination location;

a participant rating of each of the prospective ride share individuals;

a pick up location of each of the ride share individuals;

a social group associated with each of the prospective ride share individuals; and

a bid value associated with each of the prospective ride share individuals.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the information provided by individuals seeking transportation includes at least one of:

a destination location;

a pick up location;

a bid value offered for the ride share event;

contact information for each of the individuals; and

data identifying each of the individuals.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the information provided by individuals seeking transportation includes an indicator specifying one of:

a desire to receive a ride from the operator of the vehicle; and

a desire to act as a driver with regard to the ride share event.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

presenting a list of the qualified candidates to the operator via an onboard navigation system display in the vehicle;

wherein receiving the selection is implemented by an option on the onboard navigation system display in the vehicle.

15. A computer program product for implementing ride share services, the computer program product comprising a storage medium embodied with computer-readable program instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement a method, the method comprising:

determining a route for an operator of a vehicle;

accessing user preferences of the operator, the user preferences including characteristics of a ride share event and prospective ride share individuals;

comparing the user preferences with information provided by individuals seeking transportation, each of the individuals providing a request for the transportation;

identifying qualified candidates for the ride share event from the comparing by determining a threshold level of characteristics matching information provided by the individuals; and

in response to receiving, from the operator, a selection of a qualified candidate from the qualified candidates, transmitting a communication to the selected qualified candidate accepting the request.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program instructions further implement:

monitoring driving activities performed by the operator; and

storing the driving activities in a storage device, the driving activities including destinations travelled, routes taken, and time and dates of the routes;

wherein determining the route comprises accessing the driving activities stored in the storage device, comparing the time and dates of the routes to a current time and date, and estimating a planned destination for the operator responsive to the comparing.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program instructions further implement:

monitoring driving activities performed by the operator; and

storing routes taken by the operator in a storage device in response to the monitoring;

wherein determining the route comprises comparing a current direction traveled by the operator with the routes stored in the storage device, and estimating a planned destination for the operator responsive to the comparing.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the characteristics of a ride share event and prospective ride share individuals include at least one of:

an employer;

a destination location;

a participant rating of each of the prospective ride share individuals;

a pick up location of each of the ride share individuals;

a social group associated with each of the prospective ride share individuals; and

a bid value associated with each of the prospective ride share individuals.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the information provided by individuals seeking transportation includes at least one of:

a destination location;

a pick up location;

a bid value offered for the ride share event;

contact information for each of the individuals; and

data identifying each of the individuals.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the information provided by individuals seeking transportation includes an indicator specifying one of:

a desire to receive a ride from the operator of the vehicle; and

a desire to act as a driver with regard to the ride share event.