Method for GPS carpool rendezvous tracking and personal safety verification

• US 7,136,747 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2005
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hailo Technologies, LLC (2S Ventures, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Stephen Raney
• Inventors: Raney, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/905,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 675 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

Rendezvous tracking subsystem uses GPS-enabled cell phones communicating with an application server for tracking the whereabouts of carpool participants and for providing on-time status of participants en-route to designated rendezvous points. Safety subsystem can be used to verify safe arrival of participants at carpool destinations. Participants can configure safety subsystem by defining escalation rules and procedures to follow when safety critical events occur.

Claims

1. A method using automated location tracking technology for coordinating a multi-path rendezvous with a desired meeting time between two or more people using surface transportation, comprising the steps of:

a) tracking the location of each person while en route;

b) calculating status of whether each person is on-time or late while persons are en route; and

c) providing visual feedback on a communications device to all participants on the status of all participants, indicating whether said participants are on-time or late, and indicating said participants'"'"' progress in traveling from starting location to the rendezvous location.

2. A method to identify participants in a multi-path rendezvous who are laggards and to initiate additional communication with them, comprising the steps of:

a) recording in a database whether persons are on-time or late over a period of time;

b) identifying laggards based on performance rules; and

c) communicating with said laggards a few minutes before the start of the multi-path rendezvous

whereby said laggards will be encouraged to reduce lateness.

3. A method to verify that an identified person traveling with one or more people arrives safely at said person'"'"'s desired destination at a desired arrival time, comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a series of pre-defined procedures and escalations to undertake based on the occurrence of specified events;

b) tracking the location of said person while en route, using automated location tracking technology; and

c) calculating the occurrence of specified events while en route, and initiating pre-defined procedures and escalations in response to the specified events.