Granted Patent B2

US 7,930,098 · App. 12/834,829 · Granted Apr 19, 2011

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A method for financial transactions in a rideshare system, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database of rideshare transactions, each rideshare transaction comprising at least one of passengers and drivers;

identifying a rideshare transaction having at least one available space for one of potential passengers and drivers along a predetermined route;

determining an economic demand for the rideshare transaction by determining at least one of a number of the potential passengers and a number of the potential drivers for the rideshare transaction;

determining an economic supply for the rideshare transaction by determining at least one of a number of the passengers and a number of the drivers associated with the rideshare transaction; and

setting a rideshare transaction price based at least in part upon the economic supply and the economic demand determined for the rideshare transaction; and

selecting at least one of the potential passengers and the potential drivers for inclusion in the rideshare transaction along the predetermined route at the set rideshare transaction price,

wherein the steps are performed by a suitably-programmed computer.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a commission based at least in part upon the rideshare transaction price.

3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

conducting an auction to set the rideshare transaction price by determining the economic demand and the economic supply of the rideshare transaction.

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing the rideshare transaction price when the economic demand is high and the economic supply is low.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

decreasing the rideshare transaction price when the economic demand is low and the economic supply is high.

6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

implementing at least one of third party sponsorships and third party reward programs to compensate the rideshare transaction.

7. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

offering insurance coverage from third parties to participants of the rideshare transaction.

8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

implementing at least one of a monthly fee and a transaction fee for the rideshare transaction.

9. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

providing carbon credits to participants in the rideshare transaction.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon credits can be exchanged for monetary value.

11. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

offering advertisement space in exchange for revenue.

12. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining at least one of sponsorships and subsidies from third party organizations.

Assignments (8)