System and method for brokering mobile service providers

• US 7,647,057 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shahryar Jamshidi
• Original Assignee: Shahryar Jamshidi
• Inventors: Jamshidi, Shahryar
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Danh C
• Application Number:
  US12/031,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20090143077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/414.1, 455/456.6, 701/33, 705/1
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and system for dispatching a plurality of mobile service providers among a plurality of users (stationary) based on proximity of a user to a particular mobile service provider. One or more representations of proximity will be presented to a user on a map by the system and the system computes offers based on proximity.

Claims

1. A method of dispatching a plurality of Mobile Service Providers among a plurality of stationary users, comprising the steps of:

a) operating a system to interact with the Mobile Service Providers and stationary users over a public computer network,

b) enrolling a plurality of Mobile Service Providers in the system,

c) enrolling a plurality of stationary users in the system,

d) tracking the position of at least some of the plurality of Mobile Service Providers as a function of date and time on spatial calendars, wherein each spatial calendar applies to one Mobile Service Provider and each position is linked to a map,

e) allowing stationary users to perform an automated search of the spatial calendars to find Mobile Service Providers within a certain proximity,

f) offering services to stationary users at a price related to the proximity of the Mobile Service Providers, and

g) allowing customers to book services with Mobile Service Providers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking the position of at least some of the Mobile Service Providers comprises tracking the position on the current date and at least one future date on a spatial calendar.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein tracking the position of at least some of the Mobile Service Providers comprises allowing the Mobile Service Providers to input their current and planned future positions by inputting locations manually on a spatial calendar.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein tracking the position of at least some of the Mobile Service Providers comprises tracking the Mobile Service Providers with a global positioning system.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein proximity comprises ground distance.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein proximity comprises estimated travel time.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein proximity comprises estimated travel time taking into account local traffic conditions.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein offering services to stationary users comprises offering a lower price for services to be provided by more proximal Mobile Service Providers.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the computer network comprises the public Internet.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein enrolling Mobile Service Providers comprises, pairing independent journeyman with sponsorship by appropriate master craftsman.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein enrolling Mobile Service Providers further comprises verifying credentials of the Mobile Service Providers.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising accepting criteria from a stationary user and presenting the user only with those MSP'"'"'s which meet the user'"'"'s criteria.

13. A server programmed to perform the steps in claim 2.

14. A server programmed to perform the steps in claim 1.

15. A system for dispatching a plurality of Mobile Service Providers among a plurality of stationary users, comprising:

a system server operating accessible on a public network, the system server comprising logic and resources to enroll a plurality of Mobile Service providers, to enroll a plurality of stationary users, to track the position of at least some of the Mobile Service Providers as a function of date and time on spatial calendars wherein a spatial calendar applies to one Mobile Service Provider and each position is linked to a map, to allow stationary users to perform automated searches of the spatial calendars to find Mobile Service Providers within a certain proximity, to offer services to stationary users based on their proximity to a Mobile Service Provider, and to allow customers to book services with Mobile Service Provider;

a map engine;

a financial engine;

telephones and computers connected to the public network.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the logic and resources to track the position of at least some of the Mobile Service Providers includes logic and resources to track at least some of the Mobile Service providers on the current day and at least one other day.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the logic and resources further comprises logic and resources to accept a reservation from a stationary user, assign the reservation to a Mobile Service Provider and charge the user'"'"'s account when the service has been provided.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the public network is the Internet.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the logic and resources to offer services to at least some stationary users comprises logic and resources to offer a lower price for services to be provided by a more proximal Mobile Service Provider.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising logic and resources to accept criteria from a user and logic and resources to offer only those MSP'"'"'s which meet the criterion.