Granted Patent B2

US 8,224,571 · App. 12/895,786 · Granted Jul 17, 2012

Abstract

Claims (47)

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

making available a rideshare participant device to at least two rideshare participants during a rideshare;

triggering a security check while the rideshare is in progress; and

performing an action based on the security check, comprising:

gathering security information regarding the rideshare participant device and analyzing the security information for any inconsistencies, comprising:

conducting a check for device location;

determining the device location based on the at least two rideshare participant devices; and

comparing the device location to a predetermined route;

contacting a security response provider when the device location is outside predetermined boundaries from the predetermined route;

communicating a message to the rideshare participant and requesting a reply message; and

triggering an alarm upon at least one of when the reply message indicates that a security problem exists and when no reply message is received within a predefined response time.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising

comparing the security information with safety metrics to determine a status of a security state; and

contacting the security response provider when the security information and the safety metrics are outside of a safety range for the security state.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the safety metrics are programmed into the rideshare participant device.

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

contacting a security response provider upon at least one of when requested by the rideshare participant via an emergency button on the rideshare participant device and when the inconsistency is identified.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the security check is triggered during at least one of periodic, random, and scheduled intervals.

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

performing additional security checks when the inconsistency is identified.

7. A system for monitoring participant security in a rideshare environment, comprising:

a rideshare participant device associated with at least two rideshare participants during a rideshare;

a rideshare security timer to trigger a security check while the rideshare is in progress; and

a rideshare security module to perform an action based on the security check, comprising gathering security information regarding the rideshare participant device, analyzing the security information for any inconsistencies by conducting a check for device location, by determining the device location based on the at least two rideshare participant devices, and by comparing the device location to a predetermined route, contacting a security response provider when the device location is outside predetermined boundaries from the predetermined route, communicating a message to the rideshare participant, requesting a reply message, and triggering an alarm upon at least one of when the reply message indicates that a security problem exists and when no reply message is received within a predefined response time.

8. A system according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a security metric module to compare the security information with safety metrics to determine a status of a security state; and

a response module to contact the security response provider when the security information and the safety metrics are outside of a safety range for the security state.

9. A system according to claim 8 , wherein the safety metrics are programmed into the rideshare participant device.

10. A system according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a response module to contact a security response provider upon at least one of when requested by the rideshare participant via an emergency button on the rideshare participant device and when the inconsistency is identified.

11. A system according to claim 7 , wherein the security check is triggered during at least one of periodic, random, and scheduled intervals.

12. A system according to claim 7 , wherein the rideshare security timer performs additional security checks when the inconsistency is identified.

13. A method for rideshare security, comprising:

making available a rideshare participant device to at least two rideshare participants during a rideshare;

triggering a security check when the rideshare is in progress; and

performing an action based on the security check, comprising:

gathering security information comprising a device location based on the at least two rideshare participant devices;

analyzing the security information for any inconsistencies by applying the device location against predetermined metrics and identifying an inconsistency when the device location is outside a range of the predetermined metrics;

contacting a security response provider when the inconsistency is identified;

communicating a message to the rideshare participant and requesting a reply message; and

triggering an alarm upon at least one of when the reply message indicates that a security problem exists and when no reply message is received within a predefined response time.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

identifying a safe security state when no inconsistency is identified.

15. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

triggering a security alarm based on the identified inconsistency.

16. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the reply message comprises a reply from the participant and an identity token.

17. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the security check is triggered during at least one of periodic, random, and scheduled intervals.

Assignments (8)