Maintaining data for use with a transport service during connectivity loss between systems

• US 10,424,036 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Pedersen, Lars Soendergaard, Schmidt, Rene Wenzel
• Primary Examiner(s): Diaz, Susanna M.
• Application Number:
  US14/294,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20150348221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A system and method for operating a device for use with transport services is described. A record for a transport service is stored in a memory resource of the device. During performance of the transport service, the record is periodically updated with sets of information determined in connection with performance of the transport service at different instances in time, and the sets of information are periodically transmitted to a service system. In response to detecting a loss of network connectivity with the service system during performance of the transport service, the record is continued to be periodically updated but the sets of information are not periodically transmitted to the transport service system. Upon reestablishing network connectivity, one or more sets of information determined in connection with performance of the transport service during the loss of network connectivity is transmitted to the service system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

storing, in a memory resource of the mobile computing device, a record for a transport service that is to be provided by a driver operating the mobile computing device;

during performance of the transport service, (i) periodically updating the record with sets of information including location data determined by a location detection device of the mobile computing device in connection with performance of the transport service at different instances in time, and (ii) concurrently and periodically transmitting the sets of information including location data to a transport service system over a network;

detecting, by the mobile computing device, a loss of network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system during performance of the transport service;

in response to detecting the loss of network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system, continuing, by the mobile computing device, to periodically update the record of the mobile computing device with sets of information including location data determined by the location detection device in connection with performance of the transport service without periodically transmitting the sets of information to the transport service system; and

upon reestablishing network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system, (i) determining a duration of time corresponding to the loss of network connectivity, and (ii) transmitting, by the mobile computing device to the transport service system, one or more sets of information including location data from the periodically updated record during the duration of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, over the network, an invitation to provide the transport service for a user from the transport service system;

receiving, via an input mechanism of the mobile computing device, user input corresponding to an acceptance of the invitation; and

transmitting, over the network, a message for accepting the invitation to the transport service system;

wherein the transport service system determines a set of initial service information in response to receiving the message and provides the set of initial service information to the mobile computing device, the set of initial service information being stored in the record for the transport service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the set of initial service information includes (i) an identifier of the user, (ii) an identifier of the driver, and (iii) an identifier of the transport service for the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of initial service information is signed by the transport service system using a signature, the signature being associated with the identifier of the driver.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting, by the mobile computing device to the transport service system, the one or more sets of information including location data determined during the duration of time includes transmitting, to the transport service system, the signed set of initial service information with the one or more sets of information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically updating the record with sets of information including location data determined by the location detection device in connection with performance of the transport service is performed at a first rate, and wherein periodically transmitting the most recent set of information including location data to the transport service system is performed at a second rate that is identical to the first rate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically updating the record with sets of information including location data determined by the location detection device in connection with performance of the transport service is performed at a first rate, and wherein periodically transmitting the most recent set of information including location data to the transport service system is performed at a second rate, the second rate being slower than the first rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the loss of network connectivity with the transport service system corresponds to at least (i) a loss of cellular network connectivity, (ii) an outage of the transport service system, or (iii) a failover of the transport service system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual sets of information further includes a timestamp and a state information of the transport service at a time corresponding to the timestamp.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during performance of the transport service, (i) receiving, via an input mechanism of the mobile computing device, a user input corresponding to a change in state of the transport service, and (ii) in response to receiving the user input, updating the record with information about the change in state and transmitting, to the transport service system over the network, the information about the change in state.

11. A mobile computing device comprising:

a network interface;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor, coupled to the network interface and the memory, to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the mobile computing device to;

store, in a memory resource of the mobile computing device, a record for a transport service that is to be provided by a driver operating the mobile computing device;

during performance of the transport service, (i) periodically update the record with sets of information including location data determined by a location detection device of the mobile computing device in connection with performance of the transport service at different instances in time, and (ii) concurrently and periodically transmit the sets of information including location data to a transport service system over a network;

detect, by the mobile computing device, a loss of network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system during performance of the transport service;

in response to detecting the loss of network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system, continue, by the mobile computing device, to periodically update the record of the mobile computing device with sets of information including location data determined by the location detection device in connection with performance of the transport service without periodically transmitting the sets of information to the transport service system; and

upon reestablishing network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system, (i) determine a duration of time corresponding to the loss of network connectivity, and (ii) transmit, by the mobile computing device to the transport service system, one or more sets of information including location data from the periodically updated record during the duration of time.

12. A computer program product for operating a mobile computing device, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and including instructions for causing at least one processor to execute steps comprising:

storing, in a memory resource of the mobile computing device, a record for a transport service that is to be provided by a driver operating the mobile computing device;

during performance of the transport service, (i) periodically updating the record with sets of information including location data determined by a location detection device of the mobile computing device in connection with performance of the transport service at different instances in time, and (ii) concurrently and periodically transmitting the sets of information including location data to a transport service system over a network;

detecting, by the mobile computing device, a loss of network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system during performance of the transport service;

in response to detecting the loss of network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system, continuing, by the mobile computing device, to periodically update the record of the mobile computing device with sets of information including location data determined by the location detection device in connection with performance of the transport service without periodically transmitting the sets of information to the transport service system; and

upon reestablishing network connectivity between the mobile computing device and the transport service system, (i) determining a duration of time corresponding to the loss of network connectivity, and (ii) transmitting, by the mobile computing device to the transport service system, one or more sets of information including location data from the periodically updated record during the duration of time.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising instructions for:

receiving, over the network, an invitation to provide the transport service for a user from the transport service system;

receiving, via an input mechanism of the mobile computing device, user input corresponding to an acceptance of the invitation; and

transmitting, over the network, a message for accepting the invitation to the transport service system;

wherein the transport service system determines a set of initial service information in response to receiving the message and provides the set of initial service information to the mobile computing device, the set of initial service information being stored in the record for the transport service.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the set of initial service information includes (i) an identifier of the user, (ii) an identifier of the driver, and (iii) an identifier of the transport service for the user.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the set of initial service information is signed by the transport service system using a signature, the signature being associated with the identifier of the driver.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein transmitting, by the mobile computing device to the transport service system, the one or more sets of information including location data determined during the duration of time includes transmitting, to the transport service system, the signed set of initial service information with the one or more sets of information.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein periodically updating the record with sets of information including location data determined by the location detection device in connection with performance of the transport service is performed at a first rate, and wherein periodically transmitting the most recent set of information including location data to the transport service system is performed at a second rate that is identical to the first rate.

18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein periodically updating the record with sets of information including location data determined by the location detection device in connection with performance of the transport service is performed at a first rate, and wherein periodically transmitting the most recent set of information including location data to the transport service system is performed at a second rate, the second rate being slower than the first rate.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the loss of network connectivity with the transport service system corresponds to at least (i) a loss of cellular network connectivity, (ii) an outage of the transport service system, or (iii) a failover of the transport service system.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the individual sets of information further includes a timestamp and a state information of the transport service at a time corresponding to the timestamp.

21. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising instructions for:

during performance of the transport service, (i) receiving, via an input mechanism of the mobile computing device, a user input corresponding to a change in state of the transport service, and (ii) in response to receiving the user input, updating the record with information about the change in state and transmitting, to the transport service system over the network, the information about the change in state.