Communications and computing based urban transit system

• US 20010037174A1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RideApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Dickerson, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,697,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A communications and computing based urban transit system based on digital cellular communication, GPS locating technology, and digital computers to provide real-time command and control of passengers and vehicles with the objective of minimizing the social costs of urban transportation.

Claims

1. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

a central assigning system capable of matching a passenger'"'"'s trip request with current transit parameters to determine vehicle assignment and routes that reduce passenger trip and wait times, wherein the current transit parameters and passenger location are obtained via wireless communication devices.

2. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) a central assigning system that in response to a travel request from the passenger is capable of assigning a vehicle to the passenger based on passenger specified parameters in combination with current transit parameters; and

(b) a communication device capable of providing wireless communications between the passenger and the central assigning system.

3. The automated transit system of

claim 2

, said communication device further capable of providing wireless communications between the vehicle, passenger, and the central assigning system.

4. The automated transit system of

claim 3

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

5. The automated transit system of

claim 3

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

6. The automated transit system of

claim 5

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

7. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) at least one vehicle containing a first communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless communication with a central assigning system;

(b) at least one passenger having a second communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless communication with a central assigning system; and

(c) a central assigning system that in response to a travel request from the passenger is capable of assigning at least one vehicle to at least one passenger based on passenger specified parameters in combination with current transit parameters.

8. The automated transit system of

claim 7

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

9. The automated transit system of

claim 7

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

10. The automated transit system of

claim 9

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

11. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) a central assigning system that in response to a travel request from the passenger is capable of assigning a vehicle to the passenger based on passenger specified parameters in combination with current transit parameters and automatically billing the passenger for the requested travel; and

(b) a communication device capable of providing wireless communications between the passenger and the central assigning system.

12. The automated transit system of

claim 11

, said communication device further capable of providing wireless communications between the vehicle, passenger, and the central assigning system.

13. The automated transit system of

claim 11

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

14. The automated transit system of

claim 12

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

15. The automated transit system of

claim 14

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

16. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) at least one vehicle containing a first communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless two-way communication with a central assigning system;

(b) at least one passenger having a second communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless two-way communication with a central assigning system; and

(c) a central assigning system that in response to a travel request from the passenger is capable of assigning at least one vehicle to at least one passenger based on passenger specified parameters in combination with current transit parameters and automatically billing the passenger for the requested travel.

17. The automated transit system of

claim 16

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

18. The automated transit system of

claim 16

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

19. The automated transit system of

claim 18

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

20. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) a first communication device capable of providing wireless communications between the passenger and the central assigning system; and

(b) a central assigning system capable of matching a passenger'"'"'s trip request with current transit parameters to determine vehicle assignment and routes that minimize passenger trip and wait times, wherein the current transit parameters are obtained via a plurality of wireless communication devices capable of transmitting location data.

21. The automated transit system of

claim 20

, said communication device further capable of providing wireless communications between vehicles, passengers, and the central assigning system.

22. The automated transit system of

claim 21

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

23. The automated transit system of

claim 21

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

24. The automated transit system of

claim 23

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

25. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) at least one vehicle containing a communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless communication with a central assigning system;

(b) at least one passenger having a communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless two-way communication with a central assigning system; and

(c) a central assigning system capable of matching a passenger'"'"'s trip request with current transit parameters to determine vehicle assignment and routes that minimize passenger trip and wait times, wherein the current transit parameters are obtained via wireless communication devices capable of transmitting location data.

26. The automated transit system of

claim 25

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

27. The automated transit system of

claim 25

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

28. The automated transit system of

claim 27

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

29. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) a central assigning system capable of

matching a passenger'"'"'s trip request with current transit parameters to determine vehicle assignment and routes that minimize passenger trip and wait times, wherein the current transit parameters are obtained via wireless communication devices capable of transmitting location data, and

automatically billing the passenger for the requested travel; and

(b) a communication device capable of providing wireless communications between the passenger and the central assigning system.

30. The automated transit system of

claim 29

, said communication device further capable of providing wireless communications between vehicles, passenger, and the central assigning system.

31. The automated transit system of

claim 29

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

32. The automated transit system of

claim 30

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

33. The automated transit system of

claim 32

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

34. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

(a) at least one vehicle containing a first communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless communication with a central assigning system;

(b) at least one passenger having a second communication device, wherein the communication device provides wireless communication with a central assigning system; and

(c) a central assigning system capable of

matching a passenger'"'"'s trip request with current transit parameters to determine vehicle assignment and routes that minimize passenger trip and wait times, wherein the current transit parameters are obtained via wireless communication devices capable of transmitting location data, and

automatically billing the passenger for the requested travel.

35. The automated transit system of

claim 34

, said central assigning system capable of maximizing efficiencies in urban transportation with the communications received from and sent to the passenger and vehicle.

36. The automated transit system of

claim 34

, said vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of a shared-ride vehicle and car rental.

37. The automated transit system of

claim 36

, said shared ride vehicle selected from the group of vehicles consisting of rail transit, a bus, a van and a multi-occupancy car.

38. A method of assigning a vehicle of a transit system to a passenger for transporting the passenger from an origination to a destination, said method of assigning comprising the following steps:

(a) receiving data from a passenger'"'"'s communication device regarding a trip request of the passenger;

(b) processing the data by a central assigning system, the central assigning system capable of determining efficient route alternatives to the trip request using passenger parameters and current transit parameters;

(c) transmitting the data regarding the route alternatives from the central assigning system to the passenger'"'"'s communication device; and

(d) receiving additional data from the passenger'"'"'s communication device, wherein the additional data is a route selection, request for further route alternatives, modified trip request, cancellation, or termination of communication.

39. A method of driver notification for a vehicle of a transit system, the vehicle capable of transporting a passenger from an origination to a destination, said method of notification comprising the following steps:

(a) transmitting data regarding traffic patterns from a central assigning system to the driver of the vehicle for optimizing the route of the vehicle to the origination;

(b) transmitting data from the central assigning system to the driver regarding the passenger to be picked up at the origination;

(c) transmitting data from the driver to the central assigning system regarding the passenger picked up at the origination; and

(d) transmitting data from the driver to the central assigning system regarding the passenger dropped off at the destination.

40. An automated transit system for vehicles capable of transporting freight, said system capable of utilizing exiting transit capabilities in order to transport freight from an origination to a destination, said automated transit system comprising:

(a) a central assigning system capable of assigning the vehicle to the freight upon receipt of a travel request for the freight;

(b) a first communication device capable of providing wireless communications between the freight and the central assigning system; and

(c) a second communication device capable of providing wireless communications between the vehicle and the central assigning system.

41. An automated information system in order to provide an individual information requested by the individual, said automated information system comprising:

(a) a receptor capable of accepting the requested information, the receptor accessible to the individual;

(b) a central assigning system capable of assigning the requested information to the individual upon receipt of the request for information from the individual; and

(c) a first communication device capable of providing wireless communications between the receptor and the central assigning system.

42. The automated information system of

claim 41

, the requested information being a newspaper.

43. An automated transit system capable of utilizing transit capabilities to transport a passenger from an origination to a destination comprising:

a central assigning system capable of matching a passenger'"'"'s trip request with current transit parameters to determine vehicle assignment and routes that reduce passenger trip and wait times, wherein the central assigning system integrates ride-share vehicles, rental vehicles, and automated billing functions.