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Shared vehicle deployment and reallocation using predicted and current demand location and transit data

  • US 6,317,720 B1
  • Filed: 06/16/1999
  • Issued: 11/13/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a vehicle allocation system for allocating a first number of vehicles amongst a second number of vehicle ports where passengers demand the services of one or more vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:

  • acquiring past vehicle demand data based upon past passenger transportation activity;

    forming predictive vehicle demand data, based upon the past vehicle demand data;

    storing the predictive vehicle demand data;

    detecting a number of available vehicles at each of the ports;

    sensing current vehicle demand data representing passengers actually seeking transportation at each of the ports;

    reading vehicle destination and arrival data of vehicles starting or in transit to one of the ports;

    predicting the number of arriving vehicles at each of the ports based upon the vehicle destination and arrival data;

    determining whether a given port has a deficiency or an excess of vehicles by analyzing the current vehicle demand data, the predictive vehicle demand data, the number of available vehicles, and the number of arriving vehicles, for a predetermined period of time; and

    reallocating vehicles from a port determined to have an excess of vehicles to a port determined to have a deficiency of vehicles.

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