Selecting organizational transportation proposals based on commuter pledges and cost-benefit computation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for adaptive planning of a transportation service comprising:
- sending a transportation proposal to a plurality of organizations, the proposal including a set of initial options, each initial option including a set of variable parameters for specifying a transportation service;
with a computer processor, providing a graphical user interface for each organization to select values for one or more of the variable parameters to generate at least one modified option, and for making a commitment for at least one of the modified options, conditional on the organization-selected values for the variable parameters;
providing for each organization to send respective modified options to commuters of that organization and visualizing pledges received from the commuters for each of the modified options on a graphical interface;
receiving responses to the modified transportation proposal, at least some of the responses including pledges by the commuters for at least one of the modified options based on the organization-selected values for the variable parameters and, where selected, on commuter-selected values for the variable parameters;
with a computer processor, computing a cost-benefit function for each of a set of revised options for the transportation service, each of the revised options being based on a combination of the variable parameters for which pledges which cover the combination have been received, the computing the cost benefit function comprising computing for each of the set of revised options for a predetermined time period, a function of;
a total value of the pledges for that revised option, where each revised option has a different combination of parameter values or ranges of the parameter values,a cost of the revised option to the transport provider, which is a function of the parameter values or ranges for that revised option, anda benefit to the transport provider; and
with a computer processor, outputting at least one of the revised options based on the cost-benefit function to a graphical user interface displayed on a display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for planning a transportation service includes sending transportation proposal to a plurality of organizations. The proposal includes one or more initial options, each including a set of variable parameters. Each organization can generate a modified option and make a commitment conditional on selected ones of the parameters. Each organization sends respective modified options to commuters of that organization who may specify their own pledges for at least one of the modified options, conditional on the organization-selected values for the variable parameters and optionally on commuter-selected values for the variable parameters. A cost-benefit function is computed for each of a set of revised options for the transportation service, each of the revised options being based on a combination of the variable parameters for which pledges which cover the combination have been received and one or more of the revised options is identified, based on the computed cost-benefit function.
35 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for adaptive planning of a transportation service comprising:
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sending a transportation proposal to a plurality of organizations, the proposal including a set of initial options, each initial option including a set of variable parameters for specifying a transportation service; with a computer processor, providing a graphical user interface for each organization to select values for one or more of the variable parameters to generate at least one modified option, and for making a commitment for at least one of the modified options, conditional on the organization-selected values for the variable parameters; providing for each organization to send respective modified options to commuters of that organization and visualizing pledges received from the commuters for each of the modified options on a graphical interface; receiving responses to the modified transportation proposal, at least some of the responses including pledges by the commuters for at least one of the modified options based on the organization-selected values for the variable parameters and, where selected, on commuter-selected values for the variable parameters; with a computer processor, computing a cost-benefit function for each of a set of revised options for the transportation service, each of the revised options being based on a combination of the variable parameters for which pledges which cover the combination have been received, the computing the cost benefit function comprising computing for each of the set of revised options for a predetermined time period, a function of; a total value of the pledges for that revised option, where each revised option has a different combination of parameter values or ranges of the parameter values, a cost of the revised option to the transport provider, which is a function of the parameter values or ranges for that revised option, and a benefit to the transport provider; and with a computer processor, outputting at least one of the revised options based on the cost-benefit function to a graphical user interface displayed on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented system for adaptive planning of a transportation service comprising:
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a cost estimator for estimating a cost for each of an initial set of options, each initial option including a set of variable parameters for specifying a transportation service; a parameter component which stores selectable parameters associated with each initial option, and values of the selectable parameters selected by organizations in generating modified options; a user interface generator which generates; a first user interface for organizations to make a commitment for at least one of the modified options, based on the organization-selected values for the variable parameters, and a second user interface for commuters of the organizations to make a commitment for at least one of the modified options, based on the organization-selected values and on one or more user-specified values for the variable parameters; a pledge processing component which aggregates responses to the modified transportation proposal received from the organizations, at least some of the responses including pledges by the commuters for at least one of the modified options based on the organization-selected values for the variable parameters and on any commuter-selected values for the variable parameters; a cost-benefit computation component which computes a cost-benefit function for each of a set of revised options for the transportation service, each of the revised options being based on a combination of the variable parameters; an option update component which identifies at least one of the revised options based on the computed cost-benefit function; a graphical user interface which displays the identified at least one of the revised options; and a processor which implements the cost estimator, parameter component, user interface generator, pledge processing component, cost-benefit computation component, and option update component.
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16. A computer-implemented method for adaptive planning of a transportation service comprising:
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sending a transportation proposal to a plurality of organizations, the proposal including a set of variable parameters for specifying an option for a transportation service; generating a first graphical user interface for each of the organizations to pledge a number of tickets for the transportation service and to select conditions for the organization'"'"'s pledge, based on selected values for one or more of the variable parameters; generating a second graphical user interface for commuters of each organization to pledge to purchase a ticket for the transportation service and to select conditions for the commuter'"'"'s pledge, based on selected values for one or more of the variable parameters, the conditions for the commuter'"'"'s pledge being constrained by the conditions for the organization'"'"'s pledge; receiving the pledges made by the organizations and the commuters; and with a computer processor, computing a cost-benefit function for each of a set of combinations of the selectable parameters for the transportation service, the cost-benefit function taking into account those of the organization pledges and commuter pledges which cover the respective combination; and providing for identifying a revised option for the transportation service based on the computed cost-benefit function for one of the combinations and displaying the identified revised option in a graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification