System and method for financing a rideshare system

• US 8,095,305 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Weinerth, Dave, Plurkowski, Luke, Fork, David K., Huang, Qingfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US13/087,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• 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 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A system and method for financing a rideshare system is provided. A rideshare transaction is arranged. Potential participants are identified for the rideshare transaction. Two or more of the potential participants are matched for inclusion in the rideshare transaction. Revenue is derived through an offering of insurance coverage for the arranged rideshare transaction.

Claims

1. A method for financing a rideshare system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a fee by providing insurance to participants of a rideshare transaction,

monitoring a rideshare associated with the rideshare transaction via a rideshare participant device maintained by at least one of the participants;

communicating a security inquiry message to the rideshare participant device;

requesting a reply from the at least one participant; and

contacting a security response provider when one of the at least one participant replies that there is a security problem and the at least one participant did not respond within a predefined response time threshold,

wherein the steps are performed on a suitably-programmed computer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a rideshare program acts as an insurer and sells insurance pertaining to the rideshare transaction to the rideshare participant.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a rideshare program acts as an agent of an insurer and sells insurance pertaining to the rideshare transaction to the rideshare participant.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

charging the fee on one of a rideshare transaction basis and a monthly rideshare transaction basis.

5. A system for financing a rideshare system, comprising:

a rideshare module to arrange a rideshare comprising two or more participants;

a revenue module to derive revenue through an offering of insurance coverage for the arranged rideshare;

a security module to monitor the rideshare via a rideshare participant device maintained by at least one of the participants;

a participant module to communicate a security inquiry message to the rideshare participant device and to request a reply from the at least one participant; and

a safety monitor module to contact a security response provider when one of the at least one participant replies that there is a security problem and the at least one participant did not respond within a predefined response time threshold,

wherein the steps are performed on a suitably-programmed computer.

6. A system according to claim 5, further comprising at least one of:

an insurance policy module to provide the insurance coverage to the participants; and

an insurance revenue module to share in the revenue from the insurance coverage, which is provided by a third party.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the insurance coverage is offered on at least one of a per rideshare basis and a monthly unlimited basis.

8. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a third party revenue module to generate further revenue by at least one of obtaining sponsorships from third parties, selling advertising space to third parties, and providing memberships to one or more of the participants based on a purchase of a third party product.

9. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a security module to conduct a background check for one or more of the participants at a time prior to performance of the rideshare.

10. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a participant determination module to determine the two or more participants of the rideshare based on at least one of a relationship within a social network, a metric of successful rideshare, participant feedback scores, participant biographic information, participant behavioral information, and participant preferences.

11. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a fee module to set a transaction fee for the rideshare based on at least one of a supply and demand model and through bidding at an auction.

12. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a route matching module to determine a route for the rideshare based on at least one of a driver location, a passenger pick-up location, and a destination.

13. A method for financing a rideshare system, comprising the steps of:

arranging a rideshare comprising two or more participants;

deriving revenue through an offering of insurance coverage for the rideshare;

monitoring the rideshare via a rideshare participant device maintained by at least one of the participants;

communicating a security inquiry message to the rideshare participant device;

requesting a reply from the at least one participant; and

contacting a security response provider when one of the at least one participant replies that there is a security problem and the at least one participant did not respond within a predefined response time threshold,

wherein the steps are performed on a suitably programmed computer.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising at least one of:

providing the insurance coverage to the participants; and

sharing in the revenue from the insurance coverage, which is provided by a third party.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the insurance coverage is offered on at least one of a per rideshare basis and a monthly unlimited basis.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

generating further revenue, comprising at least one of;

obtaining sponsorships from third parties;

selling advertising space to third parties; and

providing memberships to one or more of the participants based on a purchase of a third party product.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

conducting a background check for one or more of the participants at a time prior to performance of the rideshare transaction.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

determining the two or more participants of the rideshare based on at least one of a relationship within a social network, a metric of successful rideshare, participant feedback scores, participant biographic information, participant behavioral information, and participant preferences.

19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

setting a transaction fee for the rideshare based on at least one of a supply and demand model and through bidding at an auction.

20. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

determining a route for the rideshare based on at least one of a driver location, a passenger pick-up location, and a destination.