Method for requesting transportation services
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a network connection to communicate wirelessly with a wireless mobile device of a transportation requester and with respective wireless mobile devices of a plurality of transportation providers;
a data processing system configured to;
store a transportation request message, according to a message protocol of the transportation requester, received via the network connection;
automatically and periodically track a geographic location of the transportation requester using messages containing geographic location information according to the message protocol provided by the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester via the network connection;
automatically and periodically track a time-varying geographic location of each of the plurality of transportation providers using messages containing time-varying geographic location information, according to the message protocol, provided by the wireless mobile devices of the plurality of transportation providers via the network connection;
select, as a selected transportation provider, one of the plurality of transportation providers based on (1) a type of transportation provider requested by the transportation requester, (2) an availability of each of the plurality of transportation providers of the type requested by the transportation requester to serve the transportation requester, and (3) either or both of (i) a distance between a geographic location of each of the plurality of transportation providers of the type requested by the transportation requester and a geographic location of the transportation requester or (ii) a time estimated to take each of the plurality of transportation providers of the type requested by the transportation requester to travel to the geographic location of the transportation requester; and
send, via the network connection, a confirmation message, according to the message protocol, to the transportation requester that a transportation has been arranged with the selected transportation provider.
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Abstract
A method for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the use of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location is described. Individual and package transportation may be provided. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.
63 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a network connection to communicate wirelessly with a wireless mobile device of a transportation requester and with respective wireless mobile devices of a plurality of transportation providers; a data processing system configured to; store a transportation request message, according to a message protocol of the transportation requester, received via the network connection; automatically and periodically track a geographic location of the transportation requester using messages containing geographic location information according to the message protocol provided by the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester via the network connection; automatically and periodically track a time-varying geographic location of each of the plurality of transportation providers using messages containing time-varying geographic location information, according to the message protocol, provided by the wireless mobile devices of the plurality of transportation providers via the network connection; select, as a selected transportation provider, one of the plurality of transportation providers based on (1) a type of transportation provider requested by the transportation requester, (2) an availability of each of the plurality of transportation providers of the type requested by the transportation requester to serve the transportation requester, and (3) either or both of (i) a distance between a geographic location of each of the plurality of transportation providers of the type requested by the transportation requester and a geographic location of the transportation requester or (ii) a time estimated to take each of the plurality of transportation providers of the type requested by the transportation requester to travel to the geographic location of the transportation requester; and send, via the network connection, a confirmation message, according to the message protocol, to the transportation requester that a transportation has been arranged with the selected transportation provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a network connection to communicate wirelessly with a wireless mobile device of a transportation requester and with respective wireless mobile devices of a plurality of transportation providers; a data processing system configured to store a transportation request message according to a message protocol of the transportation requester received via the network connection; automatically and periodically track a geographic location of the transportation requester using messages containing geographic location information according to the message protocol provided by the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester via the network connection; automatically and periodically track a time-varying geographic location of each of the plurality of transportation providers using messages containing time-varying geographic location information according to the message protocol provided by the wireless mobile devices of the plurality of transportation providers via the network connection; select, as a selected transportation provider, one of the plurality of transportation providers; send, via the network connection, a confirmation message according to the message protocol to the transportation requester that a transportation has been arranged with the selected transportation provider; and send, via the network connection, to (i) the transportation requester and (ii) a separate wireless mobile device equipped with software for making transportation requests, time-varying geographic location information with respect to the selected transportation provider, wherein the time-varying geographic location information with respect to the selected transportation provider is displayed on a map displayed on (i) the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester and (ii) the separate wireless mobile device equipped with software for making transportation requests. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system comprising:
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a network connection to communicate wirelessly with a wireless mobile device of a transportation requester and with respective wireless mobile devices of a plurality of transportation providers; a data processing system configured to; store a transportation request message, according to a message protocol of the transportation requester, received via the network connection; automatically and periodically track a geographic location of the transportation requester using messages containing geographic location information according to the message protocol provided by the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester via the network connection; automatically and periodically track a time-varying geographic location of each of the plurality of transportation providers using messages containing time-varying geographic location information, according to the message protocol, provided by the wireless mobile devices of the plurality of transportation providers via the network connection; send, via the network connection, a first dispatch message identifying the transportation requester, according to the message protocol, to a first transportation provider in the plurality of transportation providers; and upon receipt of a negative acknowledgement of the first dispatch message, send, via the network connection, a second dispatch message identifying the transportation requester, according to the message protocol, to a second transportation provider in the plurality of transportation providers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification