System and method for security enhanced rideshare

• US 7,756,633 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Huang, Qingfeng, Weinerth, Dave, Fork, David K., Plurkowski, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US11/801,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• 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 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method and system for a comprehensive security-enhanced rideshare system is provided. The rideshare program includes localization, mapping and ride matching for participants. Participation incentives and revenue methods provide for the financial viability of the rideshare system. Participant security is monitored in near real-time using location-determining communication devices used by the participants in the system. The rideshare system monitors a number of security-indicating criteria and takes action when an anomalous condition is recognized.

Claims

1. A method for providing participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

having available a rideshare participant device including communications capabilities and location determining capabilities to at least one rideshare participant during a rideshare;

monitoring the rideshare participant device while the rideshare is in progress for abnormalities indicating a security alert; and

taking a security action in response to the security alert, comprising;

communicating a security inquiry message to the rideshare participant device;

requesting a rideshare participant reply from the rideshare participant;

contacting a security response provider if the rideshare participant replies that there is a security problem or if the rideshare participant did not respond within a predefined response time threshold; and

canceling the security alert if the passenger replies that there is no security problems.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a trip route;

determining the location of the rideshare participant device; and

generating a security alert when the location of the rideshare participant device deviates from the trip route by more than a predefined threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising assigning the trip route based at least in part upon security considerations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the security considerations include selecting a trip route for which the communication connectivity to the rideshare participant device is expected to be maintained throughout the trip.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the security considerations include selecting the trip route such that the trip route meets a criterion for exposure to the public.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requiring that the rideshare participant reply to the security inquiry message by including an identity confirmation token;

confirming the validity of the identity confirmation token;

contacting a security response provider if the validity of the identity confirmation token is not confirmed; and

canceling the security alert if the validity of the identity confirmation token is confirmed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the identity confirmation token is a personal identification number entered by the rideshare participant in response to the security inquiry message.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing a biometric input device with the rideshare participant device; and

generating the identity confirmation token from biometric information associated with the rideshare participant.

9. A method for providing participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

having available rideshare participant devices each including communications capabilities and location determining capabilities to at least one rideshare participant during a rideshare, wherein the rideshare participant devices comprise at least one driver rideshare participant device and at least one passenger rideshare participant device;

monitoring the rideshare participant devices while the rideshare is in progress for abnormalities indicating a security alert; and

taking a security action in response to the security alert, comprising;

determining the location of the driver rideshare participant device and the passenger rideshare participant device; and

generating a security alert when the location of the driver rideshare participant device and the location of the passenger rideshare participant device deviate from each other by more than a predefined threshold.

10. A system for providing participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

a rideshare participant device including communications capabilities and location determining capabilities and provided to at least one rideshare participant during a rideshare;

a rideshare transaction monitor module to monitor the rideshare participant device while the rideshare is in progress for abnormalities indicating a security alert; and

a rideshare security module to take a security action in response to the security alert comprising communicating a security inquiry message to the rideshare participant device, requesting a rideshare participant reply from the rideshare participant, contacting a security response provider if the rideshare participant replies that there is a security problem or if the rideshare participant did not respond within a predefined response time threshold, and canceling the security alert if the passenger replies that there is no security problems.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a navigation module to assign a trip route and to determine the location of the rideshare participant device; and

the rideshare security module to generate a security alert when the location of the rideshare participant device deviates from the trip route by more than a predefined threshold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the navigation module assigns the trip route based at least in part upon security considerations.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the security considerations include selecting the trip route for which the communication connectivity to the rideshare participant device is expected to be maintained throughout the trip.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the security considerations include selecting the trip route such that the trip route meets a criterion for exposure to the public.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the rideshare security module requires the rideshare participant to reply to the security inquiry message by including an identity confirmation token, confirms the validity of the identity confirmation token, contacts a security response provider if the validity of the identity confirmation token is not confirmed, and cancels the security alert if the validity of the identity confirmation token is confirmed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the identity confirmation token is a personal identification number entered by the rideshare participant in response to the security inquiry message.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

a biometric input device provided with the rideshare participant device to generate the identity confirmation token from biometric information associated with the rideshare participant.

18. A system for providing participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

rideshare participant devices each including communications capabilities and location determining capabilities and provided to at least one rideshare participant during a rideshare, wherein the rideshare participant devices comprise at least one driver rideshare participant device and at least one passenger device;

a rideshare transaction monitor module to monitor the rideshare participant device while the rideshare is in progress for abnormalities indicating a security alert; and

a rideshare security module to take a security action in response to the security alert comprising determining the location of the driver rideshare participant device and the passenger rideshare participant device and generating a security alert when the location of the driver rideshare participant device and the location of the passenger rideshare participant device deviate from each other by more than a predefined threshold.