TRANSPORTATION SHARING BASED ON USER ACTIVITIES AND STATEMENTS

• US 20140047024A1
• Filed: 08/13/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tollshare Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tollshare Incorporated
• Inventors: Karamchedu, Murali
• Application Number:
  US13/584,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

In embodiments, a shared-transportation social interaction system (“STSI”) may facilitate a first user in sharing transportation to one or more locations based on the activities and/or statements of a second user. The STSI may follow one or more blogs of the second user, as well as location information, such as made available by the second user'"'"'s GPS or social-networking check-ins. The STSI may also allow the first user to follow the second user and to be notified when the second user is at a location of interest. Upon determining the second user to be at a location of interest, the STSI may determine if the first user is available and may then send a notification to the first user. The STSI may then facilitate the first user in sharing transportation to the location. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating sharing of user-provided transportation, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a computing device, social networking and/or broadcast statements and/or activities of a user; and

associating, by the computing device, the user with an indication to offer or accept user-provided transportation to a location, based at least in part on said social networking statements or activities of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is a first user and wherein the method further comprises notifying, by the computing device, a second user of the association between the first user and the location or event.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, by the computing device, whether the first user has permitted users to be notified about the location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining whether the first user has permitted the second user to be notified comprises:

determining whether the second user is associated with a category; and

determining whether the first user has permitted users associated with the category to be notified.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises, based on a request from the second user, associating, by the computing device, the second user as a follower of the first user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein associating the second user as a follower of the first user comprises determining whether the first user has permitted the requesting user to be a follower.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying a second user comprises determining one or more available times for which followers of the user may receive notifications of locations or events.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying a second user comprises determining whether the second user is available.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the second user is available comprises determining proximity and/or schedule of the second user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the user with a location comprises determining a current or potentially future location of the user.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the current location of the user comprises determining the current location of the user based on GPS data.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein determining the current location of the user comprises determining the current location of the user based on one or more check-ins performed by the user at one or more venues.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the current location of the user based on one or statements comprises determining the current location of the user based on metadata associated with the one or more statements.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the current or potential future location of the user comprises determining the current location of the user based on one or statements made by the user on a social network or broadcast platform.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein associating the user with an event comprises determining a potential future event to be attended by the first user.

16. An apparatus for facilitating the sharing of user-provided transport, the apparatus comprising:

one or more computer processors;

a location determination module configured to be operated by the one or more computer processors to;

monitor social networking and/or broadcast statements and/or activities of a user; and

associate the user with an indication to offer or accept user-provided transportation to a location, based at least in part on said social networking statements or activities of the user; and

a follower interaction module configured to be operated by the one or more computer processors to facilitate share of user-based transport for a second user to the location or event.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the follower interaction module is further configured to be operated by the one or more computer processors to notify the second user of the location or event.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the location determination module is further configured to be operated by the one or more computer processors to acquire data regarding a current location and/or a potential future location of the first user.

19. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that are configured to cause a computing device, in response to execution of the instructions, to:

monitor social networking and/or broadcast statements and/or activities of a user;

associate the user with an indication to offer or accept user-provided transportation to a location, based at least in part on said social networking statements or activities of the user; and

facilitate share of user-based transport for a second user to the location or event.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein instructions are further configured to cause the computing device, in response to execution, to notify the second user of the location or event.

21. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein instructions are further configured to cause the computing device, in response to execution, to acquire data regarding a current location and/or a potential future location of the first user.