Method and apparatus for enabling commuter groups

• US 7,974,771 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Cobbold, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaud, Gertrude Arthur
• Application Number:
  US11/525,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 701/24, 701/25, 701/33, 701/36, 701/117, 701/118, 701/201, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 455/39, 455/456.6, 709/202, 707/E17.032, 719/317
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• 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: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A commuter groups service (CGS) allows commuters to join commuter groups so that they are able to socialize while commuting. Through the commuter groups, the users may share commuting routes, traffic updates, road conditions, and other information. Group members may arrange car pools, short term riding arrangements, and may anonymously or directly contact each other. The CGS may collect group member position information, e.g. GPS information, to enable the CGS to calculate traffic conditions and to select location specific information for group members. The system may include an on-line service accessible through a computer or wireless networking device. The user may log into the CGS, create or modify a user profile, and join groups of their choosing. Groups may be associated with specific events or with getting to/from work. Commuter groups may be formed for commuters that use private vehicles and/or public transportation.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one processor to perform a method of enabling groups of commuters to communicate with each other, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving commuting information about a first commuter;

assigning the first commuter to a first commuter group associated with other commuters who commute independently from the first commuter but have a commuting pattern similar to the first commuter; and

while the first commuter is commuting, enabling communication between the first commuter and other independently commuting commuters of the first commuter group;

wherein the first commuter and the other independently commuting commuters are commuting in separate vehicles.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of providing information relevant to the common commuting pattern to the commuters assigned to the commuter group.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the step of providing information comprises at least one of providing video information of the commuting pattern to the commuter, providing a congestion indication to the commuter, providing an estimate travel time to the commuter, and providing contact information about other commuters of the commuter group.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the common commuting pattern is associated with commuters having a common destination, said common destination comprising at least one of a sporting event and a concert event.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the common commuting pattern is associated with commuters having similar starting points and similar destinations, said similar starting points being associated with a residential area and said similar destinations being associated with work areas.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the common commuting pattern is associated with a mode of travel.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the mode of travel includes private transportation.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the mode of travel includes at least one segment of public transportation.

9. A method of enabling commuter groups, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving commuting information about a first commuter;

comparing the commuting information about the first commuter with commuting information associated with established commuting groups to determine if the commuting information about the first commuter is similar to commuting information associated with any of the established commuting groups;

assigning the first commuter to a first commuter group associated with other commuters who commute independently from the first commuter but have commuting information similar to the commuting information associated with the first commuter; and

while the first commuter is commuting, enabling communication between the first commuter and other independently commuting commuters of the first commuter group;

wherein the first commuter and the other independently commuting commuters are commuting in separate vehicles.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of monitoring movement of the commuters.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of monitoring movement of the commuters comprises collecting location information of the commuters.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting location specific information to the commuters based on the location information.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of determining proximity information of commuters in a commuter group.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting information associated with the determined proximity information to select commuters that have been determined to be sufficiently proximate with each other.

15. A commuter groups service configured to enable commuters to join commuter groups to facilitate dissemination of commute specific information to the commuters, comprising:

a computer platform including a processor and a memory, said processor containing control logic configured to receive commuting information about a commute of a first commuter, assign the first commuter to a first commuter group associated with other commuters having a commute similar to the first commuter'"'"'s commute, and disseminate commute specific information relevant to the first commuter group;

wherein the control logic is further configured to create a new commuter group for the first commuter if the commuting information about the commute of the first commuter is at least not the same as commuting information associated with any established commuter group; and

wherein the control logic configured to create the new commuter group is further configured to enable the first commuter to specify criteria about commuter interests that other commuters must possess to be allowed to join the new commuter group.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the processor contains control logic configured to search for a set of candidate commuter groups based on the received commuting information about the first commuter.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the control logic is further configured to enable the first commuter to select one or more candidate commuter groups;

and wherein the control logic that is configured to assign the first commuter to the first commuter group includes control logic configured to assign the first commuter to at least one of the selected candidate commuter groups.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the control logic is further configured to search for a second set of candidate commuter groups upon request from the first commuter.

19. A commuter groups service configured to enable commuters to join commuter groups to facilitate dissemination of commute specific information to the commuters, comprising:

a computer platform including a processor and a memory, said processor containing control logic configured to receive commuting information about a commute of a first commuter, assign the first commuter to a first commuter group associated with other commuters having a commute similar to the first commuter'"'"'s commute, and disseminate commute specific information relevant to the first commuter group;

wherein the control logic is further configured to create a new commuter group for the first commuter if the commuting information about the commute of the first commuter is not similar to commuting information associated with any established commuter group; and

wherein the control logic configured to create the new commuter group is further configured to enable the first commuter to specify criteria about commuter interests that other commuters must possess to be allowed to join the new commuter group.