System and method for rideshare security

• US 8,224,571 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• 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: Huang, Qingfeng, Weinerth, Dave, Plurkowski, Luke, Fork, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US12/895,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207
• US Class Current: 701/417
• 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 rideshare security is provided. A rideshare participant device is made available to at least one rideshare participant during a rideshare. A security check is triggered while the rideshare is in progress. An action is performed based on the security check. Security information regarding the rideshare participant device is gathered and analyzed for inconsistencies. A security response provider is contacted when the inconsistency is identified.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

making available a rideshare participant device to at least two rideshare participants during a rideshare;

triggering a security check while the rideshare is in progress; and

performing an action based on the security check, comprising;

gathering security information regarding the rideshare participant device and analyzing the security information for any inconsistencies, comprising;

conducting a check for device location;

determining the device location based on the at least two rideshare participant devices; and

comparing the device location to a predetermined route;

contacting a security response provider when the device location is outside predetermined boundaries from the predetermined route;

communicating a message to the rideshare participant and requesting a reply message; and

triggering an alarm upon at least one of when the reply message indicates that a security problem exists and when no reply message is received within a predefined response time.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

comparing the security information with safety metrics to determine a status of a security state;

and

contacting the security response provider when the security information and the safety metrics are outside of a safety range for the security state.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the safety metrics are programmed into the rideshare participant device.

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

contacting a security response provider upon at least one of when requested by the rideshare participant via an emergency button on the rideshare participant device and when the inconsistency is identified.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the security check is triggered during at least one of periodic, random, and scheduled intervals.

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

performing additional security checks when the inconsistency is identified.

7. A system for monitoring participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

a rideshare participant device associated with at least two rideshare participants during a rideshare;

a rideshare security timer to trigger a security check while the rideshare is in progress; and

a rideshare security module to perform an action based on the security check, comprising gathering security information regarding the rideshare participant device, analyzing the security information for any inconsistencies by conducting a check for device location, by determining the device location based on the at least two rideshare participant devices, and by comparing the device location to a predetermined route, contacting a security response provider when the device location is outside predetermined boundaries from the predetermined route, communicating a message to the rideshare participant, requesting a reply message, and triggering an alarm upon at least one of when the reply message indicates that a security problem exists and when no reply message is received within a predefined response time.

8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a security metric module to compare the security information with safety metrics to determine a status of a security state; and

a response module to contact the security response provider when the security information and the safety metrics are outside of a safety range for the security state.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the safety metrics are programmed into the rideshare participant device.

10. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a response module to contact a security response provider upon at least one of when requested by the rideshare participant via an emergency button on the rideshare participant device and when the inconsistency is identified.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the security check is triggered during at least one of periodic, random, and scheduled intervals.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the rideshare security timer performs additional security checks when the inconsistency is identified.

13. A method for rideshare security, comprising:

making available a rideshare participant device to at least two rideshare participants during a rideshare;

triggering a security check when the rideshare is in progress; and

performing an action based on the security check, comprising;

gathering security information comprising a device location based on the at least two rideshare participant devices;

analyzing the security information for any inconsistencies by applying the device location against predetermined metrics and identifying an inconsistency when the device location is outside a range of the predetermined metrics;

contacting a security response provider when the inconsistency is identified;

communicating a message to the rideshare participant and requesting a reply message; and

triggering an alarm upon at least one of when the reply message indicates that a security problem exists and when no reply message is received within a predefined response time.

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

identifying a safe security state when no inconsistency is identified.

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

triggering a security alarm based on the identified inconsistency.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the reply message comprises a reply from the participant and an identity token.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein the security check is triggered during at least one of periodic, random, and scheduled intervals.