TRANSPORTATION CONTROL AND REGULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOR-HIRE VEHICLES

• US 20140067491A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IVSC IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Frias Transportation Infrastructure, LLC
• Inventors: James, Mark Alan, Wisniewski, James Alan, Samson, Leocadio Dominquez
• Application Number:
  US13/627,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring and regulating for-hire vehicles (FHV) are provided. A server receives information relating to authorized vehicles (often based on medallions assigned by the local government transportation agency), algorithms and parameters for FHV fare calculation, as well as information about authorized drivers and authorized dispatchers, from one or in some cases several regulatory entities. The server receives time and/or distance data associated with an FHV trip from a device (usually a mobile device like a smart phone for example) traveling with the FHV and uses such information to calculate a fare for the trip. The server is configured to receive requests for transportation services from mobile devices, and to dispatch FHVs, either directly (by automatically sending a dispatch signal to the selected FHV) or through a third-party (such as a traditional dispatch service). The collected real-time information may be used to optimize the utilization of FHV resources.

Claims

1. A for-hire vehicle (FHV) vehicle dispatch, fare calculation and medallion monitoring system comprising:

a server including a computer memory and a processor for calculating FHV trip fares, wherein the computer memory is configured to store at least the following information provided by a regulatory entity;

one or more fare calculation algorithms;

fare calculation parameters;

valid medallions granted by the regulatory entity;

geographical boundaries associated with a set of fare calculation algorithms and parameters; and

at least one dispatcher approved to operate within a jurisdiction of the regulatory entity;

a FHV mobile device communicatively coupled to an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system of an FHV, the FHV having a valid medallion, and identification of the medallion stored in the computer memory, the FHV mobile device being configured to transmit location, time and/or distance information from the OBD system to the server; and

a customer mobile device configured to transmit a request for transportation service to the server, wherein the server forwards a corresponding dispatch request to a approved dispatcher;

wherein the server is configured to calculate an FHV trip fare based at least in part on the location, time and/or distance information and the information provided by the regulatory entity; and

wherein the server is configured to provide access to information stored in the computer memory associated with the regulatory entity'"'"'s jurisdiction to the regulatory entity.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dedicated taximeter disposed within the FHV, wherein the taximeter is configured to operate independently of the server based on information from the FHV'"'"'s OBD system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the approved dispatcher is part of the server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the approved dispatcher is separate from the server.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the approved dispatcher automatically dispatches an FHV to a designated pick-up location in response to receiving the request from the server.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fleet operator entity, wherein the server provides information relating to a fleet of FHVs controlled by the fleet operator.

7. A method of managing for-hire vehicle (FHV) vehicle dispatch, fare calculation and medallion operations, the method comprising:

receiving the following information from a regulatory entity;

one or more fare calculation algorithms;

fare calculation parameters;

valid medallions granted by the regulatory entity;

one or more geographical boundaries defining a jurisdiction of the regulatory entity and/or associated zones; and

at least one dispatcher permitted to operate within a jurisdiction of the regulatory entity;

storing the information from the regulatory entity in computer storage;

receiving location, time and/or distance information from a mobile device communicatively coupled to an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system of an FHV, the FHV being associated with a valid medallion stored in the computer storage;

receiving a request for transportation service from a customer mobile device;

providing a corresponding dispatch request to a permitted dispatcher; and

calculating an FHV trip fare based at least in part on the location, time and/or distance information and the information from the regulatory entity.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising operating a dedicated taximeter disposed within the FHV.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the permitted dispatcher is remotely located.

10. The method of claim 7, automatically dispatching, by the permitted dispatcher, an FHV, based on the request for transportation.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing information to a fleet operator entity relating to a fleet of FHVs controlled by the fleet operator.

12. A method of managing multi-jurisdictional for-hire vehicle (FHV) activity, the method comprising:

receiving registration information from a user;

determining that the user is located within a first jurisdiction;

servicing a first FHV transaction of the user using first trip-related information when the user is located within the first jurisdiction;

determine that the user is located within a second jurisdiction; and

servicing a second FHV transaction of the user using second trip-related information when the user is located within the second jurisdiction.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving first regulation data from a first regulatory entity and receiving second regulation data from a second regulatory entity, wherein the first trip-related information includes the first regulation data and the second trip-related information includes the second regulation data.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving regulation data from a regulatory entity, wherein the first trip-related information and the second trip-related information include the regulation data.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a software application to the user, wherein the user initiates the first FHV transaction using the software application.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second trip-related information includes fare calculation parameter and algorithm information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second trip-related information includes geographical zone and/or jurisdiction boundary information.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first trip-related information includes taxi company information associated with the first FHV transaction.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the second trip-related information includes taxi company information associated with the second FHV transaction.

20. A multi-jurisdictional for-hire vehicle (FHV) management system comprising:

a computer memory; and

computer hardware including a processor in communication with the memory and configured to;

receive registration information from a user;

store the registration information in the computer memory;

determine that the user is located in a first jurisdiction;

service a first FHV transaction of the user using first trip-related information when the user is located within the first jurisdiction;

determine that the user is located in a second jurisdiction; and

service a second FHV transaction of the user using second trip-related information when the user is located within the second jurisdiction.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to receive first regulation data from a first regulatory entity and receive second regulation data from a second regulatory entity, wherein the first trip-related information includes the first regulation data and the second trip-related information includes the second regulation data.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to receive regulation data from a regulatory entity, wherein the first trip-related information and the second trip-related information include the regulation data.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a software application to the user, wherein the first FHV transaction is initiated by the user using the software application.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the first and second trip-related information includes fare calculation parameter and algorithm information.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the first and second trip-related information includes geographical zone and/or jurisdiction boundary information.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the first trip-related information includes taxi company information associated with the first FHV transaction.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the second trip-related information includes taxi company information associated with the second FHV transaction.

28. A computer-implemented method of optimizing for-hire vehicle (FHV) activity, the method comprising:

collecting FHV activity data indicating real-time positions of a plurality or FHVs in a first jurisdiction;

receiving a request for transportation services from a consumer;

calculating estimated distance and/or travel time between a designated pick-up location and each of the plurality of FHVs; and

automatically dispatching an FHV of the plurality of FHVs based at least in part on the calculated distance and/or travel time.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the plurality of FHVs is owned and operated by a first entity and at least one of the plurality of FHVs is owned and operated by a second entity.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the plurality of FHVs is located within a first regulatory jurisdiction and at least one of the plurality of FHVs is located within a second regulatory jurisdiction.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein automatically dispatching the FHV comprises dispatching an FHV to pick up the consumer at a location in a first geographical jurisdiction from a second geographical jurisdiction in order to meet demands of the first geographical jurisdiction.