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

• US 9,581,455 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/455,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20150323327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 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 computationally-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a request for transporting one or more end users to a destination location from a starting location;

presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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;

determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location; and

transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users at the rendezvous location in order to transport the one or more end users over the at least one transport route leg responsive to the detecting that the at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of the rendezvous location,

wherein at least one of the receiving, presenting, determining, or transmitting is at least partially implemented using at least one processing device.

2. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

circuitry configured for receiving a request for transporting one or more end users to a destination location from a starting location;

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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;

circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location; and

circuitry configured for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users at the rendezvous location in order to transport the one or more end users over the at least one transport route leg responsive to the detecting that the at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of the rendezvous location.

3. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for receiving a request for transporting one or more end users to a destination location from a starting location comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving one or more end user preferences that indicates one or more mass transit or ferry preferences for at least one of the one or more end users.

4. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for receiving a request for transporting one or more end users to a destination location from a starting location comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving one or more end user preferences that indicates one or more walking or bicycling preferences for at least one of the one or more end users.

5. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for receiving a request for transporting one or more end users to a destination location from a starting location comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving one or more end user preferences that indicates one or more geographic preferences for at least one of the one or more end users.

6. The computationally-implemented system of claim 5, wherein circuitry configured for receiving one or more end user preferences that indicates one or more geographic preferences for at least one of the one or more end users comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving one or more end user preferences relating to one or more geographic locations or roads that the at least one of the one or more end users prefers to be not routed through.

7. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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 comprises:

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

8. The computationally-implemented system of claim 7, wherein circuitry configured for developing the one or more portions of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for determining a rendezvous location for the at least one transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users over the transport route leg.

9. The computationally-implemented system of claim 8, wherein circuitry configured for determining a rendezvous location for the at least one transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users over the transport route leg comprises:

circuitry configured for estimating arrival time of the one or more end users at the rendezvous location, where the rendezvous location is a start of the transport route leg, which follows a preceding route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan.

10. The computationally-implemented system of claim 9, wherein circuitry configured for estimating arrival time of the one or more end users at the rendezvous location, where the rendezvous location is start of the transport route leg, which follows a preceding route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for estimating the arrival time of the one or more end users at the rendezvous location, where the preceding route leg along the overall travel route does not call for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over any portion of the preceding route leg.

11. The computationally-implemented system of claim 9, wherein circuitry configured for estimating arrival time of the one or more end users at the rendezvous location, where the rendezvous location is start of the transport route leg, which follows a preceding route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for estimating the arrival time of the one or more end users at the rendezvous location, where the preceding route leg along the overall travel route is a preceding transport route leg that calls for a second transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the preceding transport route leg.

12. The computationally-implemented system of claim 7, wherein circuitry configured for developing the one or more portions of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for estimating one or more planned arrival times of the one or more end users at one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the at least two route legs of the travel plan, the one or more intermediate locations being one or more locations located between a starting point and an end point for the at least one of the at least two route legs.

13. The computationally-implemented system of claim 12, wherein circuitry configured for estimating one or more planned arrival times of the one or more end users at one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the at least two route legs of the travel plan, the one or more intermediate locations being one or more locations located between a starting point and an end point for the at least one of the at least two route legs comprises:

circuitry configured for estimating the one or more planned arrival times of the one or more end users at the one or more intermediate locations of the at least one of the at least two route legs of the travel plan, the at least one of the at least two route legs of the travel plan being a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan.

14. The computationally-implemented system of claim 13, wherein circuitry configured for estimating the one or more planned arrival times of the one or more end users at the one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the route legs of the travel plan, the at least one of the route legs of the travel plan being a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for estimating the one or more planned arrival times of the one or more end users at the one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the route legs of the travel plan, the at least one of the route legs of the travel plan being a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan and that does not call for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over any portion of the preceding route leg.

15. The computationally-implemented system of claim 13, wherein circuitry configured for estimating the one or more planned arrival times of the one or more end users at the one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the route legs of the travel plan, the at least one of the route legs of the travel plan being a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for estimating the one or more planned arrival times of the one or more end users at the one or more intermediate locations of at least one of the route legs of the travel plan, the at least one of the route legs of the travel plan being a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan and that calls for a second transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the preceding route leg.

16. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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 comprises:

circuitry configured for transmitting a request for the one or more portions of the travel plan; and

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

17. The computationally-implemented system of claim 16, wherein circuitry configured for transmitting a request for the at least one or more portions of the travel plan comprises:

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

18. The computationally-implemented system of claim 16, wherein circuitry configured for transmitting a request for the at least one or more portions of the travel plan comprises:

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

19. The computationally-implemented system of claim 18, wherein circuitry configured for transmitting end user preference data that indicates one or more geographic preferences of at least one of the one or more end users comprises:

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

20. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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 comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling at least partway between the starting location and the destination location of the travel plan.

21. The computationally-implemented system of claim 20, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling at least partway between the starting location and the destination location of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling at least one of the at least two route legs of the travel plan.

22. The computationally-implemented system of claim 21, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling at least one of the at least two route legs of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling over a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan.

23. The computationally-implemented system of claim 22, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling over a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along the overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location, the preceding route leg not calling for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over any portion of the preceding travel route.

24. The computationally-implemented system of claim 21, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling at least one of the at least two route legs of the travel plan comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying a detailed planned travel route for traveling a subsequent route leg that is subsequent to the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location of the travel plan.

25. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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 comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying one or more modes of transporting the one or more end users for each of the at least two route legs.

26. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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 comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan indicating a rendezvous location and/or rendezvous time for the one or more end users to rendezvous with the at least one transportation vehicle unit in order for the one or more end users to be transported over the transport route leg.

27. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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 comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying the at least one transport route leg and a first route leg that is identified as not calling for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over any portion of the first route leg, the at least one transport route leg being a second route leg that calls for the at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the second route leg.

28. The computationally-implemented system of claim 27 wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying the at least one transport route leg and a first route leg that is identified as not calling for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over any portion of the first route leg, the at least one transport route leg being a second route leg that calls for the at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the second route leg comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of the travel plan identifying the first route leg that is identified as not calling for any transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over any portion of the first route leg and the second route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the second route leg, the first route leg identified as calling for the one or more end users to travel over the first route leg by walking, by bicycling, by mass transit, and/or by ferry.

29. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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 comprises:

circuitry configured for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the starting location, the travel plan having been developed to minimize total travel costs to be incurred in order for the one or more end users to reach the destination location from the starting location.

30. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is within a predefined distance from the rendezvous location.

31. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is within a predefined amount of time from reaching the rendezvous location.

32. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting that at least one of the one or more end users has reached a particular point along a preceding route leg that precedes the transport route leg along an overall travel route for traveling from a starting location to the destination location of the travel plan.

33. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

circuitry configured for determining at least two route legs associated with different transportation vehicles which minimizes the total travel time to the destination location, the at least two route legs including (i) at least one first route leg that calls for at least one first transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the at least one first route leg to a rendezvous location and (ii) at least one second route leg that calls for at least one other transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the at least one second route leg from the rendezvous location.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

circuitry configured for detecting that the one or more users are on the at least one first route leg and within a specified time of the at least one rendezvous location to begin the at least one second route leg; and

circuitry configured for determining at least one rendezvous time at which the one or more users are expected to arrive at the at least one rendezvous location.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

circuitry configured for determining at least one second transportation vehicle unit based on proximity of the at least one second transportation vehicle unit to the at least one rendezvous location (i) at least partly in response to detection that the one or more users is on the at least one first route leg and within the specified time of the at least one rendezvous location to begin the at least one second route leg and (ii) at least partly in response to determination of the at least one rendezvous time to which the one or more users are expected to arrive at the at least one rendezvous location.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

circuitry configured for transmitting via at least one wireless network at least one request for the at least one second transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the one or more users at the at least one rendezvous location at or by the at least one rendezvous time (i) at least partly in response to detection that the one or more users is on the at least one first route leg and within the specified time of the at least one rendezvous location to begin the at least one second route leg and (ii) at least partly in response to determination of the at least one rendezvous time to which the one or more users are expected to arrive at the at least one rendezvous location.

37. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location, the rendezvous location being the starting location.

38. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location, the rendezvous location being a pickup point for the at least one transport route leg.

39. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry configured for detecting that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location at least partially based on at least one indication of location of the one or more end users indicated by at least one transmission from at least one mobile device of the one or more end users.

40. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry configured for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location comprises:

circuitry configured for predicting that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location at least partially based on at least some schedule information obtained from at least one third party system.

41. A computer program product, comprising:

at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium including at least;

one or more instructions for receiving a request for transporting one or more end users to a destination location from a starting location;

one or more instructions for presenting one or more portions of a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from the 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;

one or more instructions for determining that at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of a rendezvous location; and

one or more instructions for transmitting a request for one or more transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users at the rendezvous location in order to transport the one or more end users over the at least one transport route leg responsive to the detecting that the at least one of the one or more end users is in proximity of the rendezvous location.