TRANSPORTATION SHARING BASED ON MAP LOCATIONS

• US 20140047354A1
• 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:
  US13/584,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047354A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• 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: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

In embodiments, a map-based shared transportation location identification module (“MTSS”) may facilitate display of locations on a map for which shared transportation has been indicated as being offered or willing to be accepted. In embodiments, the MTSS may identify locations for which shared transportation has been indicated and display those on top of a map; the map may be displayed by the same logical entity as the MTSS or by a different entity. The MTSS may allow a user to select one or more of the locations, view information view information related to the location and elect to accept the offer (or to provide their own offer). The MTSS may then facilitate a matching of the user with the other relevant user for the purpose of sharing transportation. Other embodiments may be described.

Claims

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

receiving, by one or more logic modules operated by a computing device, a selection of a location on a displayed map; and

facilitating, by the computing device, association of the location on the map with an indication to offer or accept user-provided transportation to that location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, by the computing device, the displayed map.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the one or more logic modules, an interface for receiving identification of the location from a user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the interface for identification of the location on the map comprises:

presenting a listing of locations associated with the map; and

providing a facility for the user to select a location from the listing.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the interface for identification of the location on the map comprises providing a facility for a user to select an event occurring at the location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the one or more logic modules, an interface for a user to indicate the offer or acceptance of user-provided transportation to the location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the interface is configured to receive an indication that the user wishes to select transportation sharing as a choice for a route to the location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a first computing device and wherein the method further comprises matching, by a second computing device, a first user who intends to provide transport to the location with a second user who desires to receive transport to the location.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the map comprises displaying one or more previously-received indications of offers or acceptances of user-provided transport on the map.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the one or more previously-received indications of offers or acceptances of user-provided transport comprises:

modifying the map to include the one or more previously-received indications; and

displaying the modified map.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating, by the one or more logic modules, display of one or more users associated with one or more offers or acceptances of transportation sharing.

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

one or more computer processors; and

one or more logic modules configured to be operated by the one or more computer processors to;

provide an interface for receiving identification of a location on a displayed map from a user;

receive an identification of the location from the user; and

facilitate association of the location on the map with an indication to offer or accept user-provided transportation to that location.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more logic modules are further configured to be operated by the one-or-more processors to display the map.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more logic modules are further configured to be operated by the one-or-more processors to facilitate a match between a first user who intends to provide transport to the location and a second user who desires to receive transport to the location.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more logic modules are further configured to display one or more previously-received indications of offers or acceptances of user-provided transport on the map through:

modification of the map to include the one or more previously-received indications; and

display of the modified map.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more logic modules are further configured to facilitate display of one or more users associated with one or more offers or acceptances of transportation sharing

17. 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:

provide an interface for receiving identification of a location on a displayed map from a user;

receive an identification of the location from the user; and

facilitate association of the location on the map with an indication to offer or accept user-provided transportation to that location.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein instructions are further configured to cause the computing device, in response to execution, to display the map.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein instructions are further configured to cause the computing device, in response to execution, to facilitate a match between a first user who intends to provide transport to the location and a second user who desires to receive transport to the location.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein instructions are further configured to cause the computing device, in response to execution, to display one or more previously-received indications of offers or acceptances of user-provided transport on the map through:

modification of the map to include the one or more previously-received indications; and

display of the modified map.