Automated, door-to-door, demand-responsive public transportation system

• US 4,360,875 A
• Filed: 02/23/1981
• Issued: 11/23/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard F. Behnke
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Behnke
• Inventors: Behnke, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krass, Errol A.
• Application Number:
  US06/236,858
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/436, 340/22-24, 246/5, 246/187 B
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/00 Taximeters measuring distance travelled G01C; measuring time G04
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00

Abstract

A flexible-route transportation system, primarily utilizing privately-owned vehicles to provide ridesharing transportation for the public, is described. Interactive communications terminals are provided through which drivers of the vehicles may rapidly transmit ride offers via a telecommunications network to a central operations coordinating station, equipped with a general-purpose programmable computer. Rider interactive communications terminals, located at public and private facilities, are also connected by the telecommunications network with the central coordinating station, permitting eligible members of the public to quickly request rides from one location to another. The central coordinating station matches the ride requests with the ride offers, on a trip-by-trip basis, comparing the driver'"'"'s indicated origin, destination, seating requirements and time with the rider'"'"'s requested origin, destination, seat availability and time. If a ride offer and ride request can be matched within reasonable limits of space and time, the central coordinating station transmits to the driver the rider'"'"'s identity and location and transmits to the rider the description and identity of the vehicle, so that the driver can pick up and drop off the rider en route to his or her destination. The system includes security features for preventing unauthorized access to the system by either drivers or riders, accounting features for properly billing riders and reimbursing vehicle owners for transportation services, and special terminals for entering trip information quickly and accurately.

Claims

1. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination not necessarily located identically to said driver-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other even though such respective origins and destinations are not located identically to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to the respective origin of a ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said ride-user register means further includes means for selectively registering variable ride-user-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said central coordinating station includes means automatically responsive to said ride-request electromagnetic signals for transmitting ride-user-identifying electromagnetic signals, indicative of the identity of a respective ride-user who has transmitted said ride-request signals, to a respective driver with which said respective ride-user has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said ride-user-identifying electromagnetic signals.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said driver register means includes means for selectively registering variable amounts of space in a respective vehicle and transmitting to said central coordinating station space-indicating electromagnetic signals indicative of the amount of space available in the respective vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said ride-user register means includes means for selectively registering variable amounts of space required and transmitting to said central coordinating station space-identifying electromagnetic signals indicative of the amount of space required.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said driver register means includes means for selectively registering variable times when a driver intends to travel between a respective origin and destination and transmitting to said central coordinating station time-indicating electromagnetic signals indicative of said time.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said ride-user register means includes means for selectively registering variable times when a ride-user requests transportation between a respective origin and destination and transmitting to said central coordinating station time-indicating electromagnetic signals indicative of said time.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said receiver means comprises means for visually displaying variable messages.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said register means includes means for digitally registering variable information.

10. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination not necessarily located identically to said driver-selected origin and destination;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other even though such respective origins and destinations are not located identically to each other; and

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to the respective origin of a ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched.

11. The method of claim 10, further including transmitting ride-user identifying electromagnetic signals, indicative of the identity of a respective ride-user, to a respective driver with which said respective ride-user has been so matched.

12. The method of claim 10, further including receiving space-indicating electromagnetic signals indicative of the amount of space made available by a respective driver in connection with a respective ride offer, receiving space-identifying electromagnetic signals indicative of the amount of space requested by a respective ride-user in connection with a respective ride request, comparing said respective space-identifying electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations bear said predetermined geographical relationship to each other and wherein the amount of space made available by the respective driver is at least as great as the amount of space requested by the respective ride-user.

13. The method of claim 10, further including receiving time-indicating electromagnetic signals indicative of the time for which a respective ride-offer is made available by a respective driver, receiving time-indicating electromagnetic signals indicative of the time for which a respective ride is requested by a respective ride-user, comparing said respective time-indicating electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations bear said predetermined geographical relationship to each other and whose respective times as indicated by said respective time-indicating signals are both within a predetermined time period.

14. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) at least some of said respective driver terminal means comprising mobile terminals in said vehicles which are in wireless communication with said central coordinating station, each of said mobile terminals having driver-register means which includes means for selectively registering variable driver-selected origins from a plurality of possible origins having no predetermined route relationship to one another.

15. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectivety for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) said central coordinating station including means automatically responsive to said ride-offer electromagnetic signals for transmitting vehicle-identifying electromagnetic signals, indicative of the identity of the vehicle driven by a respective driver who has transmitted said ride-offer signals, to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said ride-user terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said vehicle-identifying electromagnetic signals.

16. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication munication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) said central coordinating station including means automatically responsive to said ride-request electromagnetic signals for transmitting origin-identifying electromagnetic signals, indicative of the origin of a respective ride-user who has transmitted said ride-request signals, to a respective driver with which said respective ride-user has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said origin-identifying signals.

17. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) each of said driver register means including means for selectively registering variable driver identities and variable coded identity-verification indicia associated with each driver identity, said system further including storage means containing security data matching driver identities with predetermined coded identity-verification indicia associated with each driver identity and means automatically responsive to said driver register means for comparing said driver identities and coded identity-vertification indicia registered thereon with said security data.

18. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) each of said ride-user register means including means for selectively registering variable ride-user identities and variable coded identity-verfication indicia associated with each ride-user identity, said system further including storage means containing security data matching ride-user identities with predetermined coded identity-verification indicia associated with each ride-user identity and means automatically responsive to said ride-user register means for comparing said ride-user identities and coded identity-verification indicia registered thereon with said security data.

19. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) said central coordinating station including storage means containing variable eligibility data regarding the eligibility of respective vehicles to provide transportation and means automatically responsive to said ride-offer electromagnetic signals for comparing the identity of a respective vehicle for which said ride-offer signals have been transmitted with the eligibility data pertaining to said respective vehicle.

20. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) said central coordinating station including storage means containing variable eligibility data regarding the eligibility of respective drivers to provide transportation and means automatically responsive to said ride-offer electromagnetic signals for comparing the identity of a respective driver who has transmitted said ride-offer signals with the eligibility data pertaining to said respective driver.

21. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user-selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station and said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) said central coordinating station including storage means containing variable eligibility data regarding the eligibility of respective ride-users to obtain transportation and means automatically responsive to said ride-request electromagnetic signals for comparing the identity of a respective ride-user who has transmitted said ride-request signals with the eligibility data pertaining to said respective ride-user.

22. An automatic system for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said system comprising:

(a) a central coordinating station comprising means for receiving ride-offer electromagnetic signals, indicative of driver-selected origins and destinations, and ride-request electromagnetic signals, indicative of ride-user selected origins and destinations, respectively;

(b) respective driver terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said driver terminal means including driver register means for registering a driver-selected origin and variable driver-selected destinations from a plurality of possible destinations having no predetermined route relationship to one another and means for transmitting to said station said ride-offer electromagnetic signals;

(c) respective ride-user terminal means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station, each of said ride-user terminal means including ride-user register means for registering a ride-user-selected origin and destination and means for transmitting to said station said ride-request electromagnetic signals;

(d) said central coordinating station including logical circuitry means automatically responsive to said ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals respectively for comparing said respective electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(e) said central coordinating station further including means automatically responsive to said respective electromagnetic signals for transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched, each of said driver terminal means having receiver means in telecommunication with said central coordinating station for receiving said electromagnetic message signals;

(f) at least some of said respective terminal means including register means for registering variable geographical location-identifying coded indicia each uniquely associated with a respective origin or destination, said system further including storage means containing data matching geographical descriptions of respective origins or destinations with said respective coded indicia and means automatically responsive to the entry of a respective one of said coded indicia on said register means for transmitting electromagnetic signals indicative of the respective geographical description matched by said storage means with said respective one of said coded indicia.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said storage means includes means containing data matching geographical descriptions of both an origin and a destination with a respective one of said coded indicia and means responsive to the entry of said respective one of said coded indicia on said register means for transmitting electromagnetic signals indicative of both of said geographical descriptions.

24. The system of claim 22 or 23 wherein at least some of said respective terminal means includes said storage means as a portion thereof remote from said central coordinating station.

25. The system of claim 22 or 23 wherein at least some of said respective terminal means include means for permitting at least a portion of said storage means to be selectively connected operatively and removably to said terminal means from the exterior thereof by a user of said terminal means.

26. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver and at least some of said vehicles having mobile wireless terminals therein, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals transmitted by said mobile wireless terminals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other; and

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver by transmission thereof to one of said mobile wireless terminals and thereby directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched.

27. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched; and

(e) transmitting, automatically in response to said ride-offer electromagnetic signals, vehicle-identifying electromagnetic signals, indicative of the identity of a vehicle driven by a respective driver, to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched.

28. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched; and

(e) transmitting, automatically in response to said ride-request electromagnetic signals, origin-identifying electromagnetic signals, indicative of the origin of a respective ride-user, to a respective driver with which said respective ride user has been so matched.

29. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(d) transmitting electromagntic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched;

(e) storing security data which matches respective driver identities with respective predetermined coded identity-verification indicia uniquely associated with each driver identity;

(f) receiving driver-identifying electromagnetic signals indicative of a respective driver identity and identity-vertification electromagnetic signals indicative of respective coded indicia to be associated with said identity; and

(g) comparing said driver-identifying and identity-verification electromagnetic signals, automatically in response to the receipt thereof, with said security data.

30. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched;

(e) storing security data which matches respective ride-user identities with respective predetermined coded identity-verification indicia uniquely associated with each ride-user identity;

(f) receiving ride-user-identifying electromagnetic signals indicative of a respective ride-user identity and identity-verification electromagnetic signals indicative of respective coded indicia to be associated with said indentity; and

(g) comparing said ride-user-identifying and identity-verification electromagnetic signals, automatically in response to the receipt thereof, with said security data.

31. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched;

(e) storing eligibility data regarding the eligibility of respective vehicles to provide transportation;

(f) modifying said eligibility data; and

(g) comparing the identity of a respective vehicle for which ride-offer electromagnetic signals have been received, automatically in response to the receipt of said ride-offer electromagnetic signals, with the modified eligibility data pertaining to said respective vehicle.

32. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched;

(e) storing eligibility data regarding the eligibility of respective drivers to provide transportation;

(f) modifying said eligibility data; and

(g) comparing the identify of a respective driver from which ride-offer electromagnetic signals have been received, automatically in response to the receipt of said ride-offer electromagnetic signals, with the modified eligibility data pertaining to said respective driver.

33. A method for providing public ride-user access to transportation by driver-operated vehicles, each vehicle having independent variable origins and destinations and routes therebetween determined by its driver, said method comprising:

(a) receiving respective ride offers, from a plurality of drivers, in the form of ride-offer electromagnetic signals indicative of respective driver-selected origins and destinations, each ride offer indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(b) receiving respective ride requests, from a plurality of ride-users, in the form of ride-request electromagnetic signals indicative of respective ride-user-selected origins and destinations, each ride request indicating a respective origin and destination having no predetermined route relationship to each other;

(c) comparing said respective ride-offer and ride-request electromagnetic signals with each other and matching together a respective driver and ride-user whose respective origins and destinations as indicated by said signals bear a predetermined geographical relationship to each other;

(d) transmitting electromagnetic message signals to a respective driver directing said respective driver to a respective ride-user with which said respective driver has been so matched;

(e) storing eligibility data regarding the eligibility of respective ride-users to obtain transportation;

(f) modifying said eligibility data; and

(g) comparing the identify of a respective ride-user from which ride-request electromagnetic signals have been received, automatically in response to the receipt of said ride-request electromagnetic signals, with the modified eligibility data pertaining to said respective ride-user.