Transportation network system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A transportation network system for routing a transportation request between at least two transportation network subscriber systems, each of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems including at least one terminal for controlling transportation reservations in geographical areas, said transportation network system comprising:
- a first subscriber system and a second subscriber system, said first subscriber system controlling said transportation reservations in a first geographical area and initiating said transportation request for performance in a second geographical area, said second geographical area being different from said first geographical area;
a central system for receiving said transportation request from said first subscriber system, said central system further automatically routing said transportation request to one of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems based on at least one predetermined routing rule, said predetermined routing rule including a rule wherein said transportation request is routed to said second subscriber system which controls transportation requests in said second geographical area;
after said central system receives a confirmation from said second subscriber system indicating an acceptance of said transportation request, said central system relays said confirmation to said first subscriber system; and
after said central system relays said confirmation to said first subscriber system, said central system monitors and communicates a status of performance of said transportation request to said first subscriber system until completion of said transportation request by said second subscriber system.
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Abstract
A transportation network system and method which integrates communications and data transmission requirements for ground transportation service providers into a single, centrally controlled network. The transportation network of the present invention provides for the seamless distribution of reservations data and other information between ground transportation service providers. Specifically, communications networks, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, are used as the data distribution backbone between the various service providers. In one embodiment of the present invention, the service providers subscribe to the transportation network in order to be allowed to upload requests to the system, i.e., to other subscribers in distant locations, as well as to be allowed to download requests, i.e., to fulfill service requests issued by other service providers.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A transportation network system for routing a transportation request between at least two transportation network subscriber systems, each of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems including at least one terminal for controlling transportation reservations in geographical areas, said transportation network system comprising:
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a first subscriber system and a second subscriber system, said first subscriber system controlling said transportation reservations in a first geographical area and initiating said transportation request for performance in a second geographical area, said second geographical area being different from said first geographical area; a central system for receiving said transportation request from said first subscriber system, said central system further automatically routing said transportation request to one of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems based on at least one predetermined routing rule, said predetermined routing rule including a rule wherein said transportation request is routed to said second subscriber system which controls transportation requests in said second geographical area; after said central system receives a confirmation from said second subscriber system indicating an acceptance of said transportation request, said central system relays said confirmation to said first subscriber system; and after said central system relays said confirmation to said first subscriber system, said central system monitors and communicates a status of performance of said transportation request to said first subscriber system until completion of said transportation request by said second subscriber system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A transportation network system for routing a transportation request between at least two transportation network subscriber systems, each of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems including at least one terminal for controlling transportation reservations in geographical areas, said transportation network system comprising:
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a first subscriber system and a second subscriber system, said first subscriber system controlling said transportation reservations in a first geographical area and initiating said transportation request for performance in a second geographical area, said second geographical area being different from said first geographical area; a central system for receiving said transportation request from said first subscriber system, said central system further automatically routing said transportation request to one of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems based on at least one predetermined routing rule, said at least one predetermined routing rule including a rule wherein said transportation request is routed to said second subscriber system which controls transportation requests in said second geographical area; said central system further receiving accounting information from said first subscriber system and said second subscriber system; after said central system receives a confirmation from said second subscriber system indicating an acceptance of said transportation request, said central system relays said confirmation to said first subscriber system; and said central system calculates an accounts payable record for said first subscriber system and an accounts receivable record for said second subscriber system, and after said central system relays said confirmation to said first subscriber system, said central system monitors and communicates a status of performance of said transportation request to said first subscriber system until completion of said transportation request by said second subscriber system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for routing a transportation request between at least two transportation network subscriber systems, each of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems having at least one terminal for controlling transportation reservations in geographical areas, wherein a first subscriber system controls said transportation reservations in a first geographical area, the method comprising:
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receiving at a central location said transportation request from said first subscriber system, wherein said transportation request is to be performed in a second geographical area, said second geographical area being different from said first geographical area; sending a request acknowledgment of said transportation request to said first subscriber system; executing at least one predetermined routing rule, wherein said at least one predetermined routing rule is for determining one of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems to which said transportation request is to be sent, said at least one predetermined routing rule including a rule wherein said transportation request is routed to a second subscriber system which controls transportation requests in said second geographical area; routing said transportation request to said second subscriber system; receiving at said central location an acknowledgment of receipt of said transportation request from said second subscriber system; monitoring and updating said first subscriber system with a status of performance of said transportation request by said second subscriber system; receiving at said central location a confirmation that said second subscriber system has completed performance of said transportation request; and notifying said first subscriber system that said second subscriber system has completed performance of said transportation request. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for routing a transportation request between at least two transportation network subscriber systems, each of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems having at least one terminal for controlling transportation reservations in geographical areas, the method comprising:
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receiving at a central location said transportation request from a first subscriber system, wherein said transportation request is to be performed in a second geographical area, said second geographical area being different from a first geographical area; sending a request acknowledgment of said transportation request to said first subscriber system; executing at least one predetermined routing rule, wherein said at least one predetermined routing rule is for determining one of said at least two transportation network subscriber systems to which said transportation request is to be sent, said at least one predetermined routing rule including a rule wherein said transportation request is routed to a second subscriber system which controls transportation requests in said second geographical area; routing said transportation request to said second subscriber system; receiving at said central location an acknowledgment of receipt of said transportation request from said second subscriber system; monitoring and updating said first subscriber system with a status of performance of said transportation request by said second subscriber system; receiving at said central location a confirmation that said second subscriber system has completed performance of said transportation request; notifying said first subscriber system that said second subscriber system has completed performance of said transportation request; receiving at said central location accounting information from said first subscriber system and said second subscriber system; and calculating an accounts payable record for said first subscriber system and an accounts receivable record for said second subscriber system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification