IP Library › Granted Patent US 12694463
Granted Patent B2
US 12694463 · App. 18/738,777 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Identifying matched requestors and providers

Inventors: Ethan Duncan Eyler (San Francisco, CA); Taggart Matthiesen (San Francisco, CA); Martin Conte Mac Donell (San Francisco, CA); Jesse Jones McMillin (San Francisco, CA); Sebastian Rolf Johan Brannstrom (San Francisco, CA); Christopher Kuh (San Francisco, CA); Sang Ik Lee (San Francisco, CA); Nicholas Robert Barrett (San Francisco, CA); Sean Patrick Murphy (San Francisco, CA); Edward Stephen Lowe (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
G06Q50/40G01C21/3438G01C21/3697G06Q10/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12694463
App. No.
18/738,777
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments provide techniques, including systems and methods, for identifying and matching requestors and providers. For example, embodiments can display an identification pattern that is unique for a matched requestor and provider to allow the providers and requestors to quickly, easily, and accurately validate one another's identities prior to a service being provided. In some embodiments, the identification element may be presented on a provider communication device to clearly display graphics associated with an identification element to all requestors in an area so that the requestors may easily identify a matched provider.

Claims (64)

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a transportation request from a requestor computing device to transport a requestor from a pick-up location to a destination location;

sending the transportation request to a provider device within a vehicle, wherein the provider device is paired with a paired provider communication device within the vehicle, wherein the paired provider communication device comprises a front display and a rear display; and

causing the provider device to:

in response to determining that the provider device is travelling toward the pick-up location, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the rear display to present navigation instructions to the pick-up location via a first graphic;

in response to determining by comparing GPS data of the provider device with GPS data of the requestor computing device that the provider device is within a threshold of the requestor computing device, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update on the front display to present a matching identification element via a second graphic;

in response to determining by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device that the provider device is at the pick-up location, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the rear display to present a digital vehicle entry message for the requestor via a third graphic which replaces the navigation instructions; and

in response to detecting a pickup event of the provider device picking up the requestor computing device, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the front display to remove the matching identification element.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a pick-up distance threshold for the transportation request from the requestor computing device, wherein satisfying the pick-up distance threshold triggers the requestor computing device to display the matching identification element; and

in response to determining that the provider device is within the pick-up distance threshold of the requestor computing device by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device, providing the matching identification element for display on the requestor computing device.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining that the provider device is within the threshold of the requestor computing device by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device, providing the matching identification element for display on the front display and the rear display of the paired provider communication device.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising,

determining, by comparing GPS data of the requestor computing device and the provider device, that the requestor computing device is positioned in front of the provider device; and

causing the provider device to communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to present on the front display, the matching identification element based on determining that the requestor computing device is positioned in front of the provider device.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising,

determining, by comparing GPS data of the requestor computing device and the provider device, that the requestor computing device is positioned behind the provider device; and

causing the provider device to communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to present on the rear display, the matching identification element based on determining that the requestor computing device is positioned behind the provider device.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

based on receiving an additional transportation request associated with the pick-up location, determining a conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request;

selecting, based on the conflict and utilizing an identification element selection model, the matching identification element from available identification elements; and

in response to determining the conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request causing the provider device associated with the transportation request to communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to present on the front display, the matching identification element via the second graphic selected from the available identification elements.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising in response to determining the conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request, causing an additional provider device associated with an additional transportation request to communicate with an additional paired provider communication device to cause the additional paired provider communication device to present on an additional front display, an additional indicator.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising determining the conflict by determining that an additional pick-up location for the additional transportation request is within a threshold distance of the pick-up location for the transportation request.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising determining the conflict by determining that an estimated time of arrival of the provider device is within a time threshold of the estimated time of arrival of the additional provider device.

10 . A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive a transportation request from a requestor computing device to transport a requestor from a pick-up location to a destination location;

send the transportation request to a provider device within a vehicle, wherein the provider device is paired with a paired provider communication device within the vehicle, wherein the paired provider communication device comprises a front display and a rear display; and

cause the provider device to:

in response to determining that the provider device is travelling toward the pick-up location, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the rear display to present navigation instructions to the pick-up location via a first graphic;

in response to determining by comparing GPS data of the provider device with GPS data of the requestor computing device that the provider device is within a threshold of the requestor computing device, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update on the front display to present a matching identification element via a second graphic;

in response to determining by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device that the provider device is at the pick-up location, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the rear display to present a digital vehicle entry message for the requestor via a third graphic which replaces the navigation instructions; and

in response to detecting a pickup event of the provider device picking up the requestor computing device, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the front display to remove the matching identification element.

11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to:

determine a pick-up distance threshold for the transportation request from the requestor computing device, wherein satisfying the pick-up distance threshold triggers the requestor computing device to display the matching identification element; and

in response to determining that the provider device is within the pick-up distance threshold of the requestor computing device by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device, provide the matching identification element for display on the requestor computing device.

12 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to, in response to determining that the provider device is within the threshold of the requestor computing device by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device, provide the matching identification element for display on the front display and the rear display of the paired provider communication device.

13 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to:

determine, by comparing GPS data of the requestor computing device and the provider device, that the requestor computing device is positioned behind the provider device; and

cause the provider device to communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to present on the rear display, the matching identification element based on determining that the requestor computing device is positioned behind the provider device.

14 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to:

based on receiving an additional transportation request associated with the pick-up location, determine a conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request;

select, based on the conflict and utilizing an identification element selection model, the matching identification element from available identification elements; and

in response to determining the conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request, cause the provider device associated with the transportation request to communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to present on the front display, the matching identification element via the second graphic selected from the available identification elements.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to, in response to determining the conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request, causing an additional provider device associated with an additional transportation request to communicate with an additional paired provider communication device to cause the additional paired provider communication device to present on an additional front display, an additional indicator.

16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a system to:

receive a transportation request from a requestor computing device to transport a requestor from a pick-up location to a destination location;

send the transportation request to a provider device within a vehicle, wherein the provider device is paired with a paired provider communication device within the vehicle, wherein the paired provider communication device comprises a front display and a rear display; and

cause the provider device to:

in response to determining that the provider device is travelling toward the pick-up location, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the rear display to present navigation instructions to the pick-up location via a first graphic;

in response to determining by comparing GPS data of the provider device with GPS data of the requestor computing device that the provider device is within a threshold of the requestor computing device, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update on the front display to present a matching identification element via a second graphic;

in response to determining by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device that the provider device is at the pick-up location, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the rear display to present a digital vehicle entry message for the requestor via a third graphic which replaces the navigation instructions; and

in response to detecting a pickup event of the provider device picking up the requestor computing device, communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to update the front display to remove the matching identification element.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine a pick-up distance threshold for the transportation request from the requestor computing device, wherein satisfying the pick-up distance threshold triggers the requestor computing device to display the matching identification element; and

in response to determining that the provider device is within the pick-up distance threshold of the requestor computing device by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device, provide the matching identification element for display on the requestor computing device.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to, in response to determining that the provider device is within the threshold of the requestor computing device by comparing the GPS data of the provider device with the GPS data of the requestor computing device, provide the matching identification element for display on the front display and the rear display of the paired provider communication device.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

based on receiving an additional transportation request associated with the pick-up location, determine a conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request;

select, based on the conflict and utilizing an identification element selection model, the matching identification element from available identification elements; and

in response to determining the conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request, cause the provider device associated with the transportation request to communicate with the paired provider communication device to cause the paired provider communication device to present on the front display, the matching identification element via the second graphic selected from the available identification elements.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to, in response to determining the conflict between the transportation request and the additional transportation request, causing an additional provider device associated with an additional transportation request to communicate with an additional paired provider communication device to cause the additional paired provider communication device to present on an additional front display, an additional indicator.