Method for requesting transportation services
First Claim
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1. A method operative in a distributed computing network, wherein the distributed computing network includes a plurality of nodes distributed to receive and assign requests for transportation services, the method comprising:
- periodically determining, by the distributed computing network, one or more real time geographic locations of transportation providers;
receiving, by the distributed computing network, an initialization message from a cellular mobile device;
after receiving the initialization message, receiving, by the distributed computing network, a request for transportation services from the cellular mobile device, wherein the request includes the geographical location of the cellular mobile device;
processing the request by the distributed computing network, to select a transportation provider in the transportation providers according to an availability of the transportation provider and an estimated time it takes for the transportation provider to travel to the geographical location of the cellular mobile device; and
sending a real-time geographic location of the selected transportation provider to the cellular mobile device for presentation on a map displayed on the cellular mobile device;
wherein the plurality of nodes includes a plurality of wireless mobile devices associated with the transportation providers; and
the wireless mobile devices associated with the transportation providers periodically receive and store information identifying at least one node in the distributed computing network.
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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.
65 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method operative in a distributed computing network, wherein the distributed computing network includes a plurality of nodes distributed to receive and assign requests for transportation services, the method comprising:
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periodically determining, by the distributed computing network, one or more real time geographic locations of transportation providers; receiving, by the distributed computing network, an initialization message from a cellular mobile device; after receiving the initialization message, receiving, by the distributed computing network, a request for transportation services from the cellular mobile device, wherein the request includes the geographical location of the cellular mobile device; processing the request by the distributed computing network, to select a transportation provider in the transportation providers according to an availability of the transportation provider and an estimated time it takes for the transportation provider to travel to the geographical location of the cellular mobile device; and sending a real-time geographic location of the selected transportation provider to the cellular mobile device for presentation on a map displayed on the cellular mobile device; wherein the plurality of nodes includes a plurality of wireless mobile devices associated with the transportation providers; and the wireless mobile devices associated with the transportation providers periodically receive and store information identifying at least one node in the distributed computing network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. 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 distributed computing system comprising the wireless mobile devices of the transportation providers but not the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester, and configured to; receive an initialization message from the transportation requester, according to a message protocol of the transportation requester, via the network connection; store a transportation request message after receipt of the initialization message, according to a message protocol of the transportation requester, received via the network connection; after receipt of the initialization message including before and after receipt of the transportation request message, 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 present a real-time geographic location of the selected transportation provider on the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester, wherein the real-time geographic location of the selected transportation provider is presented on a map displayed on the wireless mobile device of the transportation requester. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification