REQUESTING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a wireless communication device associated with a transportation provider, wherein the wireless communication device is a first node in a distributed computing network that manages requests for transportation services, comprising:
- sharing, at the wireless communication device associated with the transportation provider, at least one task performed by the distributed computing network that manages requests for transportation services;
receiving, from a second node in the distributed computing network, a request for transportation service from a transportation requester, wherein the request includes a time limit to accept the request for transportation service.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is described for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the user of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location determination. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a wireless communication device associated with a transportation provider, wherein the wireless communication device is a first node in a distributed computing network that manages requests for transportation services, comprising:
-
sharing, at the wireless communication device associated with the transportation provider, at least one task performed by the distributed computing network that manages requests for transportation services; receiving, from a second node in the distributed computing network, a request for transportation service from a transportation requester, wherein the request includes a time limit to accept the request for transportation service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A wireless communication device configured for operation as a first node, associated with a transportation provider, in a distributed computing network that manages requests for transportation services, wherein said operation of the wireless communication device comprises:
-
sharing at least one task performed by the distributed computing network that manages requests for transportation services; receiving, from a second node in the distributed computing network, a request for transportation service from a transportation requester, wherein the request includes a time limit to accept the request for transportation service. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method by a dispatch system for managing a transportation service, comprising:
-
receiving from a wireless mobile device of a transportation requester a message initializing communication with the dispatch system; receiving from a wireless mobile device of each of a plurality of transportation providers a message initializing communication with the dispatch system; automatically and periodically receiving messages including the geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester after receiving the message initializing communication with the dispatch system from the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester; storing, at the dispatch system, the messages including the geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester; transmitting the most recent geographic locations of the plurality of transportation providers to the wireless mobile device of the requester; receiving, from a wireless mobile device of the transportation requester, a request for transportation service, wherein the request includes a geographic location of the wireless mobile device that was determined by the wireless mobile device; selecting as a selected transportation provider one of the plurality of transportation providers based on at least provider availability; transmitting to the wireless mobile device of the selected transportation provider a message identifying the request for the transportation service, wherein the message includes (i) the geographic location of the transportation requester and (ii) a time limit for confirming that the selected transportation provider will service the transportation request; receiving a message from the selected transportation provider confirming that the selected transportation provider will provide the requested transportation service; after receiving the confirmation message from the selected transportation provider, automatically and periodically transmitting time-varying geographic location information with respect to the selected transportation provider to the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester; and receiving from the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester a message signaling the end of communication with the dispatch system.
-
-
16. A dispatch system for managing a transportation service, the dispatch system being configured to perform a method comprising:
-
receiving from a wireless mobile device of a transportation requester a message initializing communication with the dispatch system; receiving from a wireless mobile device of each of a plurality of transportation providers a message initializing communication with the dispatch system; automatically and periodically receiving messages including the geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester after receiving the message initializing communication with the dispatch system from the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester; storing, at the dispatch system, the messages including the geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester; transmitting the most recent geographic locations of the plurality of transportation providers to the wireless mobile device of the requester; receiving, from a wireless mobile device of the transportation requester, a request for transportation service, wherein the request includes a geographic location of the wireless mobile device that was determined by the wireless mobile device; selecting as a selected transportation provider one of the plurality of transportation providers based on at least provider availability; transmitting to the wireless mobile device of the selected transportation provider a message identifying the request for the transportation service, wherein the message includes (i) the geographic location of the transportation requester and (ii) a time limit for confirming that the selected transportation provider will service the transportation request; receiving a message from the selected transportation provider confirming that the selected transportation provider will provide the requested transportation service; after receiving the confirmation message from the selected transportation provider, automatically and periodically transmitting time-varying geographic location information with respect to the selected transportation provider to the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester; and receiving from the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester a message signaling the end of communication with the dispatch system.
-
Specification