Method and apparatus for enabling commuter groups

• US 8,660,781 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP (Rockstar Consortium Inc.)
• Inventors: Cobbold, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/721,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 701/24, 701/25, 701/36, 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/410, 707/E17.032
• 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 method of enabling real-time communication between travellers intending to travel on routes between a range of highway entrances and a range of highway exits, the method comprising:

determining that each traveller of a group of travellers intends to travel on a respective route having a highway entrance in a range of highway entrances and a highway exit in a range of highway exits, the range of highway entrances and the range of highway exits being associated with the group of travellers;

determining current locations of travellers in the group of travellers;

selecting at least two travellers in the group of travellers based on their current locations;

providing real-time communication contact information of at least one of the selected at least two travellers to at least one other of the selected at least two travellers to enable real-time communication between the selected at least two travellers as they travel on routes between the range of highway entrances and the range of highway exits associated with the group of travellers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that each traveller of the group of travellers intends to travel on the respective route having the highway entrance in the range of highway entrances and the highway exit in the range of highway exits comprises receiving input from travellers on their respective intended routes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the input from the travellers on their respective intended routes comprises receiving input from the travellers on respective start points and respective end points of their respective intended routes.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising determining respective preferred routes for the travellers based on their respective start points and their respective end points.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising providing the respective preferred routes to the travellers.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising providing lane information to the travellers.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the input from the travellers on their respective intended routes comprises receiving input from the travellers on their respective intended travel times.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that each traveller of the group of travellers intends to travel on the respective route having the highway entrance in the range of highway entrances and the highway exit in the range of highway exits comprises:

associating the range of highway entrances and the range of highway exits with the group of travellers;

associating the travellers with the group of travelers based on the received input on their respective intended routes; and

determining that each traveller of the group of travellers is associated with the group of travellers.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising dynamically associating a traveller with the group of travellers based on a starting point and an ending point specified by the traveller.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising dynamically associating a traveller with the group of travellers based on a current location of the traveller.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising associating a traveller with the group of travellers for a segment of a route the traveller intends to travel.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current locations of the travellers in the group of travellers comprises determining current locations of communication terminals associated with the travellers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the at least two travellers in the group of travellers based on their current locations comprises determining that the at least two travellers are relatively proximate.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the at least two travellers in the group of travellers based on their current locations comprises selecting the at least two travellers based on respective directions of travel.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the at least two travellers in the group of travellers based on their current locations comprises selecting the at least two travellers based on respective times of travel.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the real-time communication contact information for the at least one of the selected at least two travellers comprises providing a telephone number associated with the at least one of the selected at least two travellers.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the real-time communication contact information for the at least one of the selected at least two travellers comprises providing an instant messaging address associated with the at least one of the selected at least two travellers.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the real-time communication contact information for the at least one of the selected at least two travellers comprises providing contact information that can be used by a traveller information system to set up communication with the at least one of the selected at least two travellers without revealing public network contact information of the at least one of the selected at least two travellers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the traveller information system is configured to set up the communication with the at least one of the selected at least two travellers by translating the contact information to the public network contact information and interacting with a public network to set up the communication.

20. The method of claim 1, comprising providing presence location information of the at least one of the selected at least two travellers to the at least one other of the selected at least two travellers.

21. The method of claim 1, comprising providing route information of at least one of the at least one of the selected at least two travellers to the at least one other of the selected at least two travellers.