SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DIRECTIING ONE OR MORE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE UNITS TO TRANSPORT ONE OR MORE END USERS

• US 20150324944A1
• Filed: 10/09/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Computationally implemented methods and systems that are designed for transmitting one or more requests for one or more identities of one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting one or more end users; receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations; and directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Claims

1. A computationally-implemented method, comprising:

transmitting one or more requests for one or more identities of one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting one or more end users;

receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations; and

directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.

2-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

means for transmitting one or more requests for one or more identities of one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting one or more end users

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations; and

means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.

81. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for transmitting one or more requests for one or more identities of one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting one or more end users comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more requests including transmitting end user preference data indicating one or more preferences that no package be delivered by a transportation vehicle unit that is used for transporting the one or more end users during transport of the one or more end users by the transportation vehicle unit.

82. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for transmitting one or more requests for one or more identities of one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting one or more end users comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more requests including transmitting end user preference data indicating one or more preferences as to the maximum number of package deliveries that can be made by a transportation vehicle unit that is used for transporting the one or more end users during transport of the one or more end users by the transportation vehicle unit.

83. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for transmitting one or more requests for one or more identities of one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting one or more end users comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more requests including transmitting end user preference data indicating the maximum amount of time delay that is allowed to be added to the overall travel time for transporting the one or more end users to one or more destination locations and as a result of a transportation vehicle unit transporting the one or more end users delivering one or more packages during the transport of the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.

93. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been determined, by a passenger/package transport management system that receives the one or more requests for the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, as not having any package delivery obligations that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations.

94. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligations that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations and that were further determined to be available for transporting the one or more end users and in proximate vicinity of one or more rendezvous locations for rendezvousing with the one or more end users.

97. The computationally-implemented system of claim 94, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligations that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations and that were further determined to be available for transporting the one or more end users and in proximate vicinity of one or more rendezvous locations for rendezvousing with the one or more end users comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units are available for transporting the one or more end users and in the proximate vicinity of the one or more rendezvous locations, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units further having been determined to be in compliance with one or more end user preferences related to package delivery preferences of at least one of the one or more end users.

99. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any currently pending package delivery obligation that requires the one or more identified transportation vehicles to deliver one or more packages during transport of the one or more end users by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units.

100. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any currently pending package delivery obligation related to an obligation for delivering one or more packages by one or more time deadlines that would be violated if the one or more end users are transported by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units.

101. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any currently pending package delivery obligation related to an obligation for delivering one or more packages to one or more specific destinations that would be violated if the one or more end users are transported by the one or more transportation vehicle units.

102. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any currently pending package delivery obligation that would be violated by transporting the one or more end users and that are related to an obligation for delivering one or more packages while in one or more specified environmental conditions.

103. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been further identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units at least partially satisfy one or more end user preferences of at least one of the one or more end users.

107. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more package delivery obligations for delivering one or more packages that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the one or more end users.

108. The computationally-implemented system of claim 107, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more package delivery obligations for delivering one or more packages that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the one or more end users comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery that will not violate one or more spatial requirements for transporting the one or more end users.

109. The computationally-implemented system of claim 107, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more package delivery obligations for delivering one or more packages that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the one or more end users comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery that will not violate one or more temporal requirements for transporting the one or more end users.

110. The computationally-implemented system of claim 107, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more package delivery obligations for delivering one or more packages that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the one or more end users comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery that will not violate one or more requirements that no more than a predefined amount of package deliveries will occur during transport of the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.

111. The computationally-implemented system of claim 107, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more package delivery obligations for delivering one or more packages that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the one or more end users comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a direct route to one or more destination locations of the one or more end users from one or more rendezvous locations where the one or more end users rendezvous with the one or more identified transportation vehicle units in order to be transported to the one or more destination locations.

112. The computationally-implemented system of claim 111, wherein said means receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a direct route to one or more destination locations of the one or more end users from one or more rendezvous locations where the one or more end users rendezvous with the one or more identified transportation vehicle units in order to be transported to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a direct route that is the shortest distance route to the one or more destination locations from the one or more rendezvous locations.

113. The computationally-implemented system of claim 111, wherein said means receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a direct route to one or more destination locations of the one or more end users from one or more rendezvous locations where the one or more end users rendezvous with the one or more identified transportation vehicle units in order to be transported to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a direct route that is the most time efficient route to the one or more destination locations from the one or more rendezvous locations.

114. The computationally-implemented system of claim 111, wherein said means receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a direct route to one or more destination locations of the one or more end users from one or more rendezvous locations where the one or more end users rendezvous with the one or more identified transportation vehicle units in order to be transported to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more packages for delivery to one or more delivery locations that when delivered by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units during transport of the one or more end users do not add more than a predefined amount of time to the total amount of time it would have taken to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations using the direct route and when no packages are being delivered during the transport of the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.

115. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving package delivery information that identifies one or more packages to be delivered by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units during transport of the one or more end users.

116. The computationally-implemented system of claim 115, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving package delivery information that identifies one or more packages to be delivered by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units during transport of the one or more end users comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving package delivery information that identifies one or more routes for delivering the one or more packages by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units during transport of the one or more end users.

117. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving package delivery information that identifies one or more packages that can be optionally delivered by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units during transport of the one or more end users.

118. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving one or more identities of one or more alternative transportation vehicle units that have been identified for transporting the one or more end users if the one or more transportation vehicle units are unable to transport the one or more end users, the one or more alternative transportation vehicle units having also been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more alternative transportation vehicle units does not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more alternative transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations.

119. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations comprises:

means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of each of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units.

120. The computationally-implemented system of claim 119, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of each of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units comprises:

means for receiving the package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of each of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units by receiving package delivery obligation data that indicates that at least one of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units does not have any current package delivery obligation.

121. The computationally-implemented system of claim 119, wherein said means for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users including receiving package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of each of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units comprises:

means for receiving the package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of each of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units by receiving package delivery obligation data that indicates that at least one of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units have one or more package delivery obligations that would not be violated if the at least one of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transports at least one of the one or more end users.

125. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users including directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to deliver one or more identified packages during transport of the one or more end users.

126. The computationally-implemented system of claim 125, wherein said means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users including directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to deliver one or more identified packages during transport of the one or more end users comprises:

means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to deliver one or more identified packages during transport of the one or more end users including directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to deliver the one or more identified packages to one or more delivery locations using one or more specified routes.

128. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users including transmitting to one or more one or more transport computing devices associated with the one or more identified transportation vehicle units one or more images of at least one of the one or more end users.

129. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, wherein said means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users including transmitting to one or more one or more transport computing devices associated with the one or more identified transportation vehicle units discount fee rate to be charge to the one or more end users as a result of at least one of the one or more transportation vehicle units delivering one or more packages during transport of the one or more end users.

131. The computationally-implemented system of claim 71, further comprising:

means for transmitting one or more notifications to one or more end user devices associated with the one or more end users, the one or more notifications at least identifying the one or more identified transportation vehicle units that will be transporting the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.

132. The computationally-implemented system of claim 131, wherein said means for transmitting one or more notifications to one or more end user devices associated with the one or more end users, the one or more notifications at least identifying the one or more identified transportation vehicle units that will be transporting the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more notifications to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications further identifying one or more package delivery obligations of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units.

133. The computationally-implemented system of claim 132, wherein said means for transmitting the one or more notifications to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications further identifying one or more package delivery obligations of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more notifications that identify the one or more package delivery obligations of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications indicating at least number of package deliveries to be made by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units during transport by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units of the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.

135. The computationally-implemented system of claim 132, wherein said means for transmitting the one or more notifications to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications further identifying one or more package delivery obligations of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more notifications that identify the one or more package delivery obligations of the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications indicating amount of estimated delay time added to the overall travel time to transport, by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units, of the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations and as a result of one or more package deliveries to be made by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units.

137. The computationally-implemented system of claim 131, wherein said means for transmitting one or more notifications to one or more end user devices associated with the one or more end users, the one or more notifications at least identifying the one or more identified transportation vehicle units that will be transporting the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more notifications to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications further providing an option to confirm or reject the one or more identified transportation vehicle units.

138. The computationally-implemented system of claim 131, wherein said means for transmitting one or more notifications to one or more end user devices associated with the one or more end users, the one or more notifications at least identifying the one or more identified transportation vehicle units that will be transporting the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more notifications to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications further providing an option to accept or reject one or more planned package deliveries by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units during transport of the one or more end users.

139. The computationally-implemented system of claim 131, wherein said means for transmitting one or more notifications to one or more end user devices associated with the one or more end users, the one or more notifications at least identifying the one or more identified transportation vehicle units that will be transporting the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more notifications to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications further indicating a passenger transport discount rate that is based, at least in part, on the one or more transportation vehicle units delivering one or more packages during transport of the one or more end users.

140. The computationally-implemented system of claim 131, wherein said means for transmitting one or more notifications to one or more end user devices associated with the one or more end users, the one or more notifications at least identifying the one or more identified transportation vehicle units that will be transporting the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more notifications to the one or more end user devices, the one or more notifications further indicating estimated arrival time at the one or more destination locations of the one or more end users as a result of being transported by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units and as a result of delivery of one or more packages by the one or more identified transportation vehicle units.

72-80. -80. (canceled)

84-92. -92. (canceled)

95. (canceled)

96. (canceled)

98. (canceled)

104-106. -106. (canceled)

122-124. -124. (canceled)

127. (canceled)

130. (canceled)

134. (canceled)

136. (canceled)

141. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium bearing;

one or more instructions for transmitting one or more requests for one or more identities of one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting one or more end users;

one or more instructions for receiving the one or more identities of the one or more transportation vehicle units for transporting the one or more end users, the one or more identified transportation vehicle units having been identified based, at least in part, on a determination that the one or more identified transportation vehicle units do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more identified transportation vehicle units transport the one or more end users to one or more destination locations; and

one or more instructions for directing the one or more identified transportation vehicle units to rendezvous with the one or more end users in order to transport the one or more end users to the one or more destination locations.