Shared transport system and service network

• US 20080195428A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carma Technology, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sean O'Sullivan
• Inventors: O'Sullivan, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

The network system matches the supply and demand of transportation services by incorporating unused transportation capacity (i.e., empty seats) with a real-time allocation and matching service that enables individuals and goods to conveniently hire that capacity with attractive pricing, rapid responsiveness, better information availability and trusted security. The network system provides an electronic registry of capacity containing an indication of the spare transport capacity and location of a plurality of transport vehicles, an electronic registry of demand containing an indication of the demand for transportation needs of a plurality of individuals and a central processing capability to effect a match of the transport capacity of at least one transport vehicle with the transport demand of at least one individual.

Claims

1. A method of sharing transportion comprising the steps of

providing an electronic registry of capacity containing an indication of the spare transport capacity and location of a plurality of transport vehicles;

providing an electronic registry of demand containing an indication of the demand for transportation needs of a plurality of individuals; and

providing a central processing capability to effect a match of said transport capacity of at least one transport vehicle in said electronic registry of capacity with said transport demand of at least one individual in said electronic registry of demand.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indication of transport demand includes start and destination locations.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indication of transport demand includes at least one of needed capacity of seats, baby seats and wheelchair access.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indication of transport demand includes requirements for a transport provider to be of at least one of a predetermined level of experience, gender, or membership in a predetermined community.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing automated communication between a matched transport vehicle and individual.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of directing a matched transport vehicle to a geographic location of the matched individual.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing identifying characteristics of a matched transport vehicle to the matched individual and identifying characteristics of a matched individual to the matched transport vehicle.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of tracking the pick-up and delivery of the matched individual by the matched transport vehicle.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of automatically re-allocating and rescheduling a missed pick-up of a matched individual to another matched transport vehicle in said registry of capacity.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of automatically determining the distance between said matched transport vehicle and said matched individual.

11. A ground transportation network comprising

an electronic registry of capacity containing an indication of the spare transport capacity and location of a plurality of transport vehicles;

an electronic registry of demand containing an indication of the demand for transportation needs of a plurality of individuals; and

a central processing capability to effect a match of said transport capacity of at least one transport vehicle in said electronic registry of capacity with said transport demand of at least one individual in said electronic registry of demand.

12. A ground transportation network as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of wireless data communicators, each said communicator being disposed in a respective transport vehicle for delivering information to said electronic registry of capacity indicative of the spare transport capacity and location of said respective transport vehicle.

13. A ground transportation network as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of means for delivering information to said electronic registry of demand indicative of the transport demands of a plurality of individuals.

14. A ground transportation network as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a network operations center for effecting at least one of bringing service irregularities to the attention of operations personnel, alerting operations personnel to a missed pick-up, providing automated escalation of response of a transport vehicle, continuously tracking a transportation vehicle and booking a request for service.

15. A ground transportation network as set forth in claim 11 further comprising secondary registry of capacity containing an indication of the spare transport capacity and location of a plurality of transport vehicles in at least one of a public and private transportation network and said central processing capability further effects a match of said transport capacity of at least one transport vehicle in said secondary registry of capacity with said transport demand of said at least one individual in said electronic registry of demand.

16. A ground transportation network as set forth in claim 11 further comprising means for tracking usage of the network by transport vehicles and individuals.