System for Identifying Events and Preemptively Navigating Drivers to Transport Passengers From the Events

• US 20170132540A1
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Juno Lab, Inc.
• Inventors: Haparnas, Ziv, Marco, Talmon, Agasi, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,467,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

In one embodiment a plurality of transportation requests sent within a particular time window to a taxi service that specify the same destination location are detected. It is determined that an event is occurring at the destination location. An end time of the event is estimated. Prior to the end time of the event, a plurality of drivers associated with the taxi service are directed to drive to the destination location to transport passengers from the event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting that a plurality of transportation requests sent within a particular time window to a taxi service specify the same destination location;

determining that an event is occurring at the destination location;

estimating an end time of the event; and

prior to the end time of the event, directing a plurality of drivers associated with the taxi service to drive to the destination location to transport passengers from the event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting a driver associated with the taxi service via a mobile device to ask a passenger whether an event is occurring at the destination location in response to detecting the plurality of transportation requests.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the estimation of the end time of the event is based at least on input received from a driver in response to the prompting.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining information associated with the event by accessing a social network system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising parsing data from one or more websites to determine information associated with the event in response to detecting that the plurality of transportation requests specify the same destination location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an expected demand for drivers of the taxi service to transport passengers from the event.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the expected demand for drivers of the taxi service to transport passengers from the event is based on a number of transportation requests sent to the taxi service for rides to the destination location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a message to a mobile device of a passenger that requested a ride through the taxi service to the destination location, wherein the message offers a ride from the event.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that an event is occurring at the destination location is based at least on a determination that a number of transportation requests sent to the taxi service specifying the destination location within the particular time window exceeds a predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the end time is estimated based at least in part on requests received by the taxi service to transport passengers from the event.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface; and

at least one processor to;

detect that a plurality of transportation requests sent within a particular time window to a taxi service specify the same destination location;

determine that an event is occurring at the destination location;

estimate an end time of the event; and

prior to the end time of the event, direct a plurality of drivers associated with the taxi service to drive to the destination location to transport passengers from the event.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further to prompt a driver associated with the taxi service via a mobile device to ask a passenger whether an event is occurring at the destination location in response to detecting the plurality of transportation requests.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further to determine an expected demand for drivers of the taxi service to transport passengers from the event.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the expected demand for drivers of the taxi service to transport passengers from the event is based on a number of transportation requests sent to the taxi service for rides to the destination location.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further to send a message to a mobile device of a passenger that requested a ride through the taxi service to the destination location, wherein the message offers a ride from the event.

16. At least one computer-readable non-transitory media comprising one or more instructions that when executed by at least one processor configure the at least one processor to cause the performance of operations comprising:

detecting that a plurality of transportation requests sent within a particular time window to a taxi service specify the same destination location;

determining that an event is occurring at the destination location;

estimating an end time of the event; and

prior to the end time of the event, directing a plurality of drivers associated with the taxi service to drive to the destination location to transport passengers from the event.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the instructions when executed are further to cause the prompting of a driver associated with the taxi service via a mobile device to ask a passenger whether an event is occurring at the destination location in response to detecting the plurality of transportation requests.

18. The media of claim 16, wherein the instructions when executed are further to cause determining an expected demand for drivers of the taxi service to transport passengers from the event.

19. The media of claim 18, wherein the expected demand for drivers of the taxi service to transport passengers from the event is based on a number of transportation requests sent to the taxi service for rides to the destination location.

20. The media of claim 16, wherein the instructions when executed are further to cause the sending of a message to a mobile device of a passenger that requested a ride through the taxi service to the destination location, wherein the message offers a ride from the event.