System and methods for directing one or more transportation vehicle units to transport one or more end users

• US 9,767,423 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/511,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20150323334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 701 19, 701 20, 701 21, 701410, 701533, 701537, 701200, 701209, 3405734, 340990, 4554565, 4555521
• 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 system for facilitating concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, comprising:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations; and

circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user in order to transport the end user to the one or more destination locations.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring the identity responsive to one or more requests for transporting the end user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit in proximate vicinity of one or more rendezvous locations for rendezvousing with the end user, including at least determining at least one position of the transportation vehicle unit based, at least in part, on data sensed by at least one hardware-based position sensor within a transport computing device of the transportation vehicle unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit in compliance with one or more package delivery preferences of the end user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit that does not have any currently pending package delivery obligation that requires the transportation vehicle unit to deliver one or more packages during transport of the end user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit that does not have any currently pending package delivery time deadlines that would be violated if the end user is transported by the transportation vehicle unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit that does not have any currently pending package delivery obligation for one or more specific destinations that would be violated if the end user is transported by the transportation vehicle unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit that does not have any currently pending package delivery obligation related to delivering one or more packages while in one or more specified environmental conditions that would be violated if the end user is transported by the transportation vehicle unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit based, at least in part, on a determination that the transportation vehicle unit at least partially satisfies one or more end user preferences of the end user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the end user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the end user comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more spatial requirements for transporting the end user.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the end user comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more temporal requirements for transporting the end user.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the end user comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more requirements that no more than a predefined amount of package deliveries will occur during transport of the end user to the one or more destination locations.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations that will not violate one or more requirements for transporting the end user comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a route from a rendezvous location where the end user can rendezvous with the transportation vehicle unit for transport to the one or more destination locations.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a route from a rendezvous location where the end user can rendezvous with the transportation vehicle unit for transport to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a route that is the shortest distance from the rendezvous location to the one or more destination locations.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a route from a rendezvous location where the end user can rendezvous with the transportation vehicle unit for transport to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a direct route that is the most time efficient route from the rendezvous location to the one or more destination locations.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations to one or more delivery locations that are along or proximate to a route from a rendezvous location where the end user can rendezvous with the transportation vehicle unit for transport to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit having one or more package delivery obligations to one or more delivery locations that transport of do not add more than a predefined amount of time to the total amount of time it would have taken to transport the end user to the one or more destination locations.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring package delivery information that identifies one or more packages to be delivered by the transportation vehicle unit during transport of the end user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein circuitry for acquiring package delivery information that identifies one or more packages to be delivered by the transportation vehicle unit during transport of the end user comprises:

circuitry for acquiring package delivery information that identifies one or more routes for delivering the one or more packages by the transportation vehicle unit during transport of the end user.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring package delivery information that identifies one or more packages that can be optionally delivered by the transportation vehicle unit during transport of the end user.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring, if the transportation vehicle unit is unable to transport end user, one or more identities of one or more alternative transportation vehicle units that do not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the one or more alternative transportation vehicle units transport the end user to the one or more destination locations.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of the transportation vehicle unit.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein circuitry for acquiring package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of the transportation vehicle unit comprises:

circuitry for acquiring package delivery obligation data that indicates that the transportation vehicle unit does not have any current package delivery obligation.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein circuitry for acquiring package delivery obligation data that indicates package delivery obligations of the transportation vehicle unit comprises:

circuitry for acquiring package delivery obligation data that indicates that the transportation vehicle unit has one or more package delivery obligations that would not be violated if the transportation vehicle unit transports the end user.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user in order to transport the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to deliver one or more identified packages during transport of the end user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to deliver one or more identified packages during transport of the end user comprises:

circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to deliver the one or more identified packages to one or more delivery locations using one or more specified routes.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to deliver one or more identified packages during transport of the end user comprises:

circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to deliver one or more identified packages during transport of the end user, the one or more identified packages not being associated with end user.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user in order to transport the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to one or more transport computing devices associated with the transportation vehicle unit, one or more images of the end user.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for directing the transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user in order to transport the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to one or more transport computing devices associated with the transportation vehicle unit, a discount fee rate to be charged to the end user as a result of the transportation vehicle unit delivering one or more packages during transport of the end user.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry for transmitting, to an end user device associated with the end user, one or more notifications at least identifying the transportation vehicle unit that will be transporting the end user to the one or more destination locations.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein circuitry for transmitting, to an end user device associated with the end user, one or more notifications at least identifying the transportation vehicle unit that will be transporting the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications further identifying one or more package delivery obligations of the transportation vehicle unit.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications identifying one or more package delivery obligations of the transportation vehicle unit comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications indicating a number of package deliveries to be made by the transportation vehicle unit during transport by the transportation vehicle unit of the end user to the one or more destination locations.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications identifying one or more package delivery obligations of the transportation vehicle unit comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications indicating an amount of estimated delay time added to the overall travel time to transport, by the transportation vehicle unit, of the end user to the one or more destination locations and as a result of one or more package deliveries to be made by the transportation vehicle unit.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein circuitry for transmitting, to an end user device associated with the end user, one or more notifications at least identifying the transportation vehicle unit that will be transporting the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications providing an option to confirm or reject the transportation vehicle unit.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein circuitry for transmitting, to an end user device associated with the end user, one or more notifications at least identifying the transportation vehicle unit that will be transporting the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications providing an option to accept or reject one or more planned package deliveries by the transportation vehicle unit during transport of the end user.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein circuitry for transmitting, to an end user device associated with the end user, one or more notifications at least identifying the transportation vehicle unit that will be transporting the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

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

37. The system of claim 30, wherein circuitry for transmitting, to an end user device associated with the end user, one or more notifications at least identifying the transportation vehicle unit that will be transporting the end user to the one or more destination locations comprises:

circuitry for transmitting, to the end user device, one or more notifications indicating an estimated arrival time of the end user at the one or more destination locations as a result of delivery of one or more packages by the transportation vehicle unit during transport of the end user.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery with no current package delivery obligation for transport of the end user to the one or more destination locations.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit with a package delivery obligation subsequent to an estimated arrival of the end user at the one or more destination locations.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and food delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more food delivery obligations.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and restaurant delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more restaurant delivery obligations.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transporting an end user from a rendezvous location to an end user destination location in association with delivering a package from a package pickup location to a package delivery location.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transporting an end user from a rendezvous location to an end user destination location in association with delivering a package from a package pickup location to a package delivery location comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of rendezvousing with an end user during carriage of a package to transport the end user to an end user destination location at least one of previous to, concurrent with, or subsequent to delivery of the package.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transporting an end user from a rendezvous location to an end user destination location in association with delivering a package from a package pickup location to a package delivery location comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of pickup of a package for delivery during carriage of an end user to deliver the package at least one of previous to, concurrent with, or subsequent to drop-off of the end user at the one or more destination locations.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transporting an end user from a rendezvous location to an end user destination location in association with delivering a package from a package pickup location to a package delivery location comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of simultaneous pickup of a package for delivery and rendezvous with an end user for transport to one or more destinations.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of simultaneous pickup of a package for delivery and rendezvous with an end user for transport to one or more destinations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of simultaneous delivery of the package and drop-off of the end user subsequent to the simultaneous pickup of the package for the delivery and rendezvous with the end user for the transport to the one or more destinations.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit that does not have any package delivery obligation that would be violated if the transportation vehicle unit transports an end user to one or more destination locations.

48. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is capable of meeting the one or more package delivery obligations by at least one of reducing or minimizing end user preferences related to concurrent package delivery that would be violated.

49. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations comprises:

circuitry for acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is capable of meeting the one or more package delivery obligations by at least one of reducing or minimizing end user delay related to concurrent package delivery that would result.

50. A method for facilitating concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, comprising:

acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more

destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations; and

directing the transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user in order to transport the end user to the one or more destination locations,

wherein at least one of the acquiring or directing is at least partially implemented using at least one processing device.

51. A system for facilitating concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

one or more instructions which, when executed on at least some of the one or more computing devices, cause at least some of the one or more computing devices to perform one or more operations including at least;

acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of concurrent passenger transport and package delivery, including at least acquiring an identity of a transportation vehicle unit capable of transport of an end user to one or more destination locations that is substantially compatible with one or more package delivery obligations; and

directing the transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the end user in order to transport the end user to the one or more destination locations.