System and methods for providing at least a portion of a travel plan that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit

• US 9,534,912 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence T., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Lord, Robert W., Lord, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/456,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20150323331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/20, 701/21, 701/410, 701/533, 701/537, 701/200, 701/209, 340/573.4, 340/990, 455/456.5, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• 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

Abstract

Computationally implemented methods and systems that are designed for receiving a request for transporting one or more end users towards a destination location; presenting at least one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from a starting location, the travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the transport route leg; and transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users at a rendezvous location in order to transport the one or more end users over the at least one transport leg. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg; and

circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for developing at least one or more portions of the travel plan.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for developing at least one or more portions of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry for ascertaining a rendezvous location for the at least one transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for ascertaining a rendezvous location for the at least one transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for estimating arrival time of the end user at the rendezvous location.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein circuitry for estimating arrival time of the end user at the rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry for estimating the arrival time of the end user at the rendezvous location which follows a preceding route leg that does not call for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the end user over any portion of the preceding route leg.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein circuitry for estimating arrival time of the end user at the rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry for estimating the arrival time of the end user at the rendezvous location which follows a preceding transport route leg that calls for a second transportation vehicle unit to transport the end user over the preceding transport route leg.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for developing at least one or more portions of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry for estimating one or more planned arrival times of the end user at one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the at least two route legs.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein circuitry for estimating one or more planned arrival times of the end user at one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the at least two route legs comprises:

circuitry for estimating the one or more planned arrival times of the end user at one or more intermediate locations of a route leg that precedes the transport route leg.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for transmitting a request for the travel plan; and

circuitry for receiving the travel plan.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for the travel plan comprises:

circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more mass transit or ferry preferences of the end user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for the travel plan comprises:

circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of the end user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of the end user comprises:

circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of the end user that relate to one or more geographic locations or roads through which the end user prefers to be routed.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of the end user comprises:

circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of the end user that relate to one or more geographic locations or roads through which the end user prefers not to be routed.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of the end user comprises:

circuitry for transmitting at least some end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of the end user that relate to one or more geographic locations that the end user prefers to be used for rendezvousing with a transportation vehicle unit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a turn-by-turn travel plan.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying a preceding route leg that precedes the at least one transport route leg.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying a preceding route leg that does not call for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the end user over any portion of the preceding travel route.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying a subsequent route leg that is subsequent to the at least one transport route leg.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan for identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan indicating at least one of a rendezvous location or a rendezvous time for the end user to rendezvous with the at least one transportation vehicle unit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan indicating at least one of a rendezvous location or a rendezvous time for the end user to rendezvous with the at least one transportation vehicle unit comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan indicating a rendezvous location indicated as being the same as or proximate to a starting location for the travel plan.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan indicating at least one of a rendezvous location or a rendezvous time for the end user to rendezvous with the at least one transportation vehicle unit comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan indicating a rendezvous location that is an intermediate location located between a starting location for the travel plan and a destination location for the travel plan.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying the at least one transport route leg that calls for a first transportation vehicle unit to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one second transport route leg that calls for a second transportation vehicle unit to transport the end user over the at least one second transport route leg.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan minimizing total travel costs to be incurred in order for the end user to reach a destination.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan complying with one or more mass transit or ferry preferences of at the end user.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan complying with one or more walking or bicycling preferences of the end user.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan in response, at least in part, to receiving a request for transporting the end user towards a destination location.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location in response to detecting that the end user is within a predefined distance from the rendezvous location.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location in response to detecting that the end user is within a predefined distance from the rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location in response to detecting that the end user is within a predefined amount of time from reaching the rendezvous location.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location in response to detecting that the end user is within a predefined distance from the rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location in response to detecting that the end user has reached a particular point along a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two transport route legs including (i) at least one first transport route leg that calls for at least one first transportation vehicle unit to transport the end user over the at least one first transport route leg to at least one rendezvous location and (ii) at least one second transport route leg that calls for at least one second transportation vehicle unit to transport the end user over the at least one second transport route leg from the at least one rendezvous location; and

wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg includes at least;

circuitry for selecting the at least one second transportation vehicle unit when the end user is en route on the at least one first transport route leg when the end user is within at least one of a specified proximity or a specified time of arrival with respect to the at least one rendezvous location; and

circuitry for transmitting a request for the at least one second transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user at the at least one rendezvous location at least one of concurrent with or subsequent to the selecting the at least one second transportation vehicle unit when the end user is within the at least one of a specified proximity or a specified time of arrival with respect to the at least one rendezvous location.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for transmitting an identity of the end user who will rendezvous at the rendezvous location for transport over the at least one transport route leg.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location in order to transport the end user over the at least one transport leg comprises:

circuitry for transmitting the request for receipt by one or more of at least one mass transit vehicle unit, at least one ferry vehicle unit, at least one metro bus vehicle unit, at least one train vehicle unit, at least one ridesharing vehicle unit, or at least one aircraft vehicle unit, the request including at least some information relating to the end user who will rendezvous at the rendezvous location for transport in accordance with one or more schedules associated with the one or more transportation vehicle units.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg comprises:

circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg, the at least one different route leg including at least one or more of at least one walking route leg or at least one bicycling route leg.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg and the circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg are effected in at least one mobile device.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg and the circuitry for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg are effected in at least one cloud component.

30. A system, comprising:

a travel plan providing module configured for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg;

a transportation vehicle unit request transmitting module configured for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg; and

a network interface.

31. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a travel plan providing module configured for providing a travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport an end user over the at least one transport route leg and at least one different route leg either directly preceding or following the at least one transport route leg;

a transportation vehicle unit request transmitting module configured for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the end user at a rendezvous location to transport the end user over the at least one transport route leg;

a user interface; and

a network interface.