Transportation service matching with location tracking and arrival estimation
First Claim
1. A method for determining matches for transportation services with transportation service providers and providing tracking, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for a transportation service;
using one or more computing devices to automatically query a plurality of respondents, at least one of which accepts queries for transportation service bids in a predetermined automated format;
receiving shipment or other transportation service bids from at least one of the plurality of respondents, and electronically storing the received bids in a data store as an aggregated bid database;
during or subsequent to using the one or more computing devices to automatically query the plurality of respondents, querying the respondents concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent and in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and electronically storing the response with the received bids in the aggregated bid database, and in the case of the respondent not having authority to accept mobile telephone tracking, electronically storing a “
no authority”
status in the aggregated bid database, wherein the “
no authority”
status permits responses in which the transportation service provider has neither accepted nor refused the request for mobile telephone tracking;
performing one of selecting a bid from the aggregated bid database based on predetermined criteria provided by the entity requesting the transportation service or presenting the received bids for selection by the entity requesting the transportation service;
determining a selected bid and associating the selected bid with a transportation service provider or driver identified in the bid;
in the case of storage of a “
no authority”
status for the selected bid in the aggregated bid database, querying the transportation service provider or driver concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) by the transportation service provider or driver associated with the bid, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and electronically storing the response with the accepted bid;
in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent without direct authorization by the transportation service provider or operator, using one or more computing devices to automatically communicate with the obtained mobile telephone number to confirm acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in), and electronically storing an indication of the confirmation in one or more electronic databases along with a confirmation descriptor;
using one or more computing devices to automatically access a mobile telephone location service to obtain location information based on the mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device for the respondent and for the shipment prior to pick up, after loading the shipment or upon initiating a transportation service, conditional on the one or more computing devices obtaining consent using at least one consent procedure for implementing location services;
establishing a threshold for initiating reporting to at least one of a receiver of the transportation service and a destination contact, and providing tracking information to the receiver of the transportation service or destination contact after the transportation service provider reaches the threshold;
using one or more computing devices to automatically estimate completion of delivery or arrival;
using one or more computing devices to automatically update the estimated completion of delivery or arrival with the location information;
providing the location information and the updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival, to the receiver of the shipment or destination contact in accordance with the threshold for initiating reporting to a receiver of the transportation service, provided that the receiver of the shipment or destination contact elect to receive reporting;
providing automated access to the location and the updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival to at least one of the entity requesting the transportation service, the receiver of the shipment or destination contact, thereby providing substantially a “
24/7”
access to the location and updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival; and
upon completion of delivery or final arrival, using one or more computing devices to automatically terminate the obtaining of location information and communicating the termination of obtaining location information to the transportation service provider or driver (automatic opt-out).
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Matches for transportation services with transportation service providers (TSPs) and providing tracking are combined with an option for location tracking of the load or transportation service. Bids are accepted for transportation services and, on acceptance, a request is made for the TSP or driver “opt-in” to location tracking through a mobile device. The system automatically communicates with the driver to confirm acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) and location tracking is initiated. The location is reported according to a threshold, along with updated estimates of pick-up and of completion of delivery. The tracking provides substantially a “24/7” access to the location and updated estimated completion of delivery. Upon completion of delivery, the tracking is terminated (automatic opt-out).
80 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for determining matches for transportation services with transportation service providers and providing tracking, the method comprising:
-
receiving a request for a transportation service; using one or more computing devices to automatically query a plurality of respondents, at least one of which accepts queries for transportation service bids in a predetermined automated format; receiving shipment or other transportation service bids from at least one of the plurality of respondents, and electronically storing the received bids in a data store as an aggregated bid database; during or subsequent to using the one or more computing devices to automatically query the plurality of respondents, querying the respondents concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent and in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and electronically storing the response with the received bids in the aggregated bid database, and in the case of the respondent not having authority to accept mobile telephone tracking, electronically storing a “
no authority”
status in the aggregated bid database, wherein the “
no authority”
status permits responses in which the transportation service provider has neither accepted nor refused the request for mobile telephone tracking;performing one of selecting a bid from the aggregated bid database based on predetermined criteria provided by the entity requesting the transportation service or presenting the received bids for selection by the entity requesting the transportation service; determining a selected bid and associating the selected bid with a transportation service provider or driver identified in the bid; in the case of storage of a “
no authority”
status for the selected bid in the aggregated bid database, querying the transportation service provider or driver concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) by the transportation service provider or driver associated with the bid, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and electronically storing the response with the accepted bid;in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent without direct authorization by the transportation service provider or operator, using one or more computing devices to automatically communicate with the obtained mobile telephone number to confirm acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in), and electronically storing an indication of the confirmation in one or more electronic databases along with a confirmation descriptor; using one or more computing devices to automatically access a mobile telephone location service to obtain location information based on the mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device for the respondent and for the shipment prior to pick up, after loading the shipment or upon initiating a transportation service, conditional on the one or more computing devices obtaining consent using at least one consent procedure for implementing location services; establishing a threshold for initiating reporting to at least one of a receiver of the transportation service and a destination contact, and providing tracking information to the receiver of the transportation service or destination contact after the transportation service provider reaches the threshold; using one or more computing devices to automatically estimate completion of delivery or arrival; using one or more computing devices to automatically update the estimated completion of delivery or arrival with the location information; providing the location information and the updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival, to the receiver of the shipment or destination contact in accordance with the threshold for initiating reporting to a receiver of the transportation service, provided that the receiver of the shipment or destination contact elect to receive reporting; providing automated access to the location and the updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival to at least one of the entity requesting the transportation service, the receiver of the shipment or destination contact, thereby providing substantially a “
24/7”
access to the location and updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival; andupon completion of delivery or final arrival, using one or more computing devices to automatically terminate the obtaining of location information and communicating the termination of obtaining location information to the transportation service provider or driver (automatic opt-out). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing tracking information for transportation services, the method comprising:
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using one or more computing devices to automatically query a respondent transportation service provider or driver concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent and in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and electronically storing the response in a tracking database, and in the case of the respondent not having authority to accept mobile telephone tracking, electronically storing a “
no authority”
status in the tracking database, wherein the “
no authority”
status permits responses in which the transportation service provider has neither accepted nor refused the request for mobile telephone tracking;in the case of storage of a “
no authority”
status in the database, querying the driver concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) by the driver, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and electronically storing the response in the tracking database;in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) by the respondent without direct authorization by the transportation service provider or operator, using one or more computing devices to automatically communicate with the obtained mobile telephone number to confirm acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in), and electronically storing an indication of the confirmation in the tracking database along with a confirmation descriptor; using a mobile telephone location service to obtain location information based on the mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device for the respondent and for the shipment prior to pick-up, after loading the shipment or upon initiating a transportation service; establishing a threshold for initiating reporting to a receiver of the transportation service, and providing tracking information to the receiver of the transportation service after the transportation service provider reaches the threshold; using one or more computing devices to automatically estimate completion of delivery; updating the estimated completion of delivery with the location information; using the location information to provide updated information on a location status of the load or other transportation service; and upon completion of the transportation service, using one or more computing devices to automatically terminate the obtaining of location information and communicating the termination of obtaining location information to the transportation service provider or driver (automatic opt-out). - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification