APPLICATION-BASED COMMERCIAL GROUND TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20160189067A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: City and County of San Francisco
• Original Assignee: City and County of San Francisco
• Inventors: Law, Ian, Loe, Humphrey, Cheong, Eva, Davol, Angus
• Application Number:
  US14/587,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20160189067A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2322 using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A management system for a Permitting Authority (PA) or its appointed designee to monitor and track application-based commercial ground transportation (ABCT) Provider activity through the ABCT-Driver'"'"'s mobile device, the ABCT-Provider'"'"'s app, the ABCT-Provider'"'"'s computer systems, and the PA'"'"'s electronically-enabled geo-fence, all without the need for specialized hardware such as transponders or other tracking equipment. Each mobile communication device associated with an ABCT-Vehicle continually transmits information to an ABCT-Provider Information and Communications Technology (“ICT”) System associated with an ABCT-Provider when an application on the mobile communication device is active. The information transmitted by the mobile communication device enables the ABCT-Provider ICT System to identify and monitor the ABCT-Driver'"'"'s identity, the vehicle information, the geographic locus, and/or the ABCT-Vehicle'"'"'s activity data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a mobile device at a first information system location information and transaction information;

accessing a data storage on which coordinates of a geographical boundary have been stored;

determining if the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary; and

transmitting a message to a second information system when the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following:

a vehicle identification, a driver identification, a trip identification, a transportation company identification, a license plate identification, and a timestamp.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted periodically.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted upon request.

5. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving from a mobile device at a first information system location information and transaction information;

accessing a data storage on which coordinates of a geographical boundary have been stored;

determining if the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary; and

transmitting a message to a second information system when the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary.

6. A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:

receive from a mobile device at a first information system location information and transaction information;

access a data storage on which coordinates of a geographical boundary have been stored;

determine if the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary; and

transmit a message to a second information system when the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary.

7. A method comprising:

receiving from a mobile device at a first information system information sufficient to identify an activity occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;

retrieving a set of business rules from a business rule database;

determining if the business rules apply to the activity;

calculating a fee based on the business rule and the activity; and

transmitting the calculated fee information to a second information system.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the calculated fee information comprises an invoice.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the activity comprises an entry into the predefined geographical boundary, an exit out of the predefined geographical boundary, a passenger pick up or a passenger drop off.

10. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving from a mobile device at a first information system information sufficient to identify an activity occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;

retrieving a set of business rules from a business rule database;

determining if the business rules apply to the activity;

calculating a fee based on the business rule and the activity; and

transmitting the calculated fee information to a second information system.

11. A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:

receive from a mobile device at a first information system information sufficient to identify an activity occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;

retrieve a set of business rules from a business rule database;

determine if the business rules apply to the activity;

calculate a fee based on the business rule and the activity; and

transmit the calculated fee information to a second information system.

12. A method comprising:

receiving from a mobile device at a first information system a plurality of messages, wherein each message includes at least a timestamp;

comparing the timestamp of a first message with a timestamp of a second message;

generating an alert when the difference between the timestamp of the first message and the timestamp of the second message exceeds a threshold time limit.

13. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving from a mobile device at a first information system a plurality of messages, wherein each message includes at least a timestamp;

comparing the timestamp of a first message with a timestamp of a second message;

generating an alert when the difference between the timestamp of the first message and the timestamp of the second message exceeds a threshold time limit.

14. A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:

receive from a mobile device at a first information system a plurality of messages, wherein each message includes at least a timestamp;

compare the timestamp of a first message with a timestamp of a second message;

generate an alert when the difference between the timestamp of the first message and the timestamp of the second message exceeds a threshold time limit.

15. A method comprising

receiving at a first information system a vehicle identification;

comparing said vehicle identification with vehicle identification information received by the first information system from a second information system, wherein said vehicle identification information includes at least a license plate number associated with a vehicle and a company associated with the vehicle;

generating a report if said vehicle identification matches said vehicle identification information;

transmitting the report to a third information system.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device.

17. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving at a first information system a vehicle identification;

comparing said vehicle identification with vehicle identification information received by the first information system from a second information system, wherein said vehicle identification information includes at least a license plate number associated with a vehicle and a company associated with the vehicle;

generating a report if said vehicle identification matches said vehicle identification information;

transmitting the report to a third information system.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device.

19. A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:

receiving at a first information system a vehicle identification;

comparing said vehicle identification with vehicle identification information received by the first information system from a second information system, wherein said vehicle identification information includes at least a license plate number associated with a vehicle and a company associated with the vehicle;

generating a report if said vehicle identification matches said vehicle identification information;

transmitting the report to a third information system.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device.

21. A method comprising

receiving at a first information system a plurality of messages from a second information system, wherein each message is associated with an activity of a vehicle occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;

storing the plurality of messages in a database associated with a first information system;

generating a list of one or more of the activities; and

transmitting the list to a third information system.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the list is dynamically updated when a message is received at a first information system.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying vehicle locations based on information contained in the plurality of messages.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a map of vehicle locations.

26. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving at a first information system a plurality of messages from a second information system, wherein each message is associated with an activity of a vehicle occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;

storing the plurality of messages in a database associated with a first information system;

generating a list of one or more of the activities; and

transmitting the list to a third information system.

27. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the list is dynamically updated when a message is received at a first information system.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising identifying vehicle locations based on information contained in the plurality of messages.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, further comprising providing a map of vehicle locations.

31. A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:

receive at a first information system a plurality of messages from a second information system, wherein each message is associated with an activity of a vehicle occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;

store the plurality of messages in a database associated with a first information system;

generate a list of one or more of the activities; and

transmit the list to a third information system.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the list is dynamically updated when a message is received at a first information system.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising identifying vehicle locations based on information contained in the plurality of messages.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising providing a map of vehicle locations.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the list includes at least one of a list of vehicles currently within the predefined geographical boundary;

a list of all activities within the last hour;

or a list of all activities within the last day.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the at least one list of one or more activities is displayed on a graphical user interface.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the graphical user interface includes a query pane for receiving user input and a results pane for displaying the results of the query.

39. A method comprising:

receiving at a first information system a message from a second information system wherein the message includes information sufficient to identify an activity;

retrieving a set of business rules from a database;

determining if the business rules apply to the activity identified in the message;

calculating a fee based on the business rules and the activity;

transmitting the calculated fee information to the second information system;

receiving at the first information system payment information from the second information system; and

transmitting the payment information to a third information system.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the calculated fee information comprises an invoice.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the activity comprises an entry into the predefined geographical boundary, an exit out of the predefined geographical boundary, a passenger pick up or a passenger drop off.