Communications and computing based urban transit system

• US 6,697,730 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RideApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Dickerson, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/826,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 731/78.R, 340/907, 340/908, 340/993, 340/994, 342/352, 705/400
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A communications and computing based urban transit system based on digital cellular communication, GPS locating technology, and digital computers to provide real-time command and control of passengers and vehicles with the objective of minimizing the social costs of urban transportation.

Claims

1. An automated system for providing unified billing for passenger transport comprising:

(a) a central data system for tracking passenger transportation vehicle usage and distributing periodic invoices for the usage; and

(b) a plurality of communication devices for providing wireless communication between passengers, vehicles, and the central data system in connection with the passenger transportation vehicle usage;

wherein the vehicles comprise;

(a) a wireless means of on-demand allocation of a passenger to a specific vehicle through the central data system;

(b) a wireless means of informing the passenger of the assignment;

(c) a wireless means of detecting the proximity of the passenger and alerting the passenger of the proximity of the vehicle;

(d) a means of allowing the passenger to operate the vehicle;

(e) a automatic means of billing for the use of the vehicle; and

(f) a wireless vehicle locating system for tracking the vehicle.

5. The automated system of claim 1, wherein the vehicles comprise rental, carpool, or mass transit vehicles.

2. An automated system for providing unified billing for passenger transport comprising:

(a) a central data system for tracking passenger transportation vehicle usage and distributing periodic invoices for the usage; and

(b) a plurality of communication devices for providing wireless communication between passengers, vehicles, and the central data system in connection with the passenger transportation vehicle usage; and

(c) a wireless means of on-demand allocation of a passenger to a specific vehicle through the central data system.

3. An automated system for providing unified billing for passenger transport comprising:

(a) a central data system for tracking passenger transportation vehicle usage and distributing periodic invoices for the usage; and

(b) a plurality of communication devices for providing wireless communication between passengers, vehicles, and the central data system in connection with the passenger transportation vehicle usage;

(c) a wireless means of on-demand allocation of a passenger to a specific vehicle through the central data system; and

(d) a wireless means of informing the passenger of the assignment and updated expected arrival time.

4. An automated system for vehicles comprising:

(a) a central data system for collecting data on subscribers to the system, the data including locations for delivery of a rental car to the subscriber, and assigning a rental car to the subscriber based on the subscriber'"'"'s location needs wherein the subscriber of the rental car is informed electronically when a rental time is about to expire;

(b) communication devices for providing wireless communications among subscribers, rental cars, and the central data system; and

(c) a wireless means of detecting the proximity of the passenger and alerting the passenger of the proximity to rental car.

6. An automated system for providing unified billing for passenger transport comprising:

(a) a central data system for tracking passenger transportation vehicle usage and distributing periodic invoices for the usage; and

(b) a plurality of communication devices for providing wireless communication between passengers, vehicles, and the central data system in connection with the passenger transportation vehicle usage; and

(c) a wireless means of detecting the proximity of the passenger and alerting the passenger of the proximity of the vehicle.