Method and apparatus for enabling commuter groups
View Patent ↗A commuter groups service (CGS) allows commuters to join commuter groups so that they are able to socialize while commuting. Through the commuter groups, the users may share commuting routes, traffic updates, road conditions, and other information. Group members may arrange car pools, short term riding arrangements, and may anonymously or directly contact each other. The CGS may collect group member position information, e.g. GPS information, to enable the CGS to calculate traffic conditions and to select location specific information for group members. The system may include an on-line service accessible through a computer or wireless networking device. The user may log into the CGS, create or modify a user profile, and join groups of their choosing. Groups may be associated with specific events or with getting to/from work. Commuter groups may be formed for commuters that use private vehicles and/or public transportation.
1. A method to enable communications comprising:
enabling a plurality of users to join a commuter group;
assigning a different user identifier to each of the plurality of users;
receiving from a first user of the plurality of users a request to communicate with a second user of the plurality of users;
translating the user identifier assigned to the second user for use on an external communication network; and
transmitting the translated user identifier via the external communication network to establish communication between the first user and the second user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein translating the user identifier assigned to the second user comprises translating the user identifier to a network address associated with the second user on the external communication network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein translating the user identifier assigned to the second user comprises translating the user identifier to an instant messaging address on the external communication network.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein translating the user identifier assigned to the second user comprises translating the user identifier to a telephone number.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising signaling a presence of at least one of the plurality of users currently logged onto a commuter groups service to at least another of the plurality of users.
6. A method of providing commuting information to users of a commuter groups service, the method comprising:
tracking locations of a first user and a second user of a plurality of users of the commuter groups service;
determining a respective travel time for each of the first user and the second user of the commuter groups service based on the tracked locations; and
providing the respective travel times to the other of the first user and the second user of the commuter groups service when the respective travel times are similar.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining, in response to the tracked locations and the respective travel times, congestion location information; and
providing the congestion location information to at least some users of the plurality of users.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first user and the second user are associated with at least one commuter group, further comprising providing at least one of the respective travel times to other users associated with the at least one commuter group.
9. A method of providing commuting information to a plurality of users of a commuter groups service, the method comprising:
associating a first user and a second user of the plurality of users with a commuter group; and
providing a live video feed to the first user and the second user associated with the commuter group.
10. An apparatus for enabling communication between users of a commuter groups service, each user being a member of at least one commuter group and each user having at least one user identifier within the commuter groups service, the apparatus comprising a processor-readable medium containing instructions for execution by at least one processor, the instructions comprising:
instructions executable to receive, from a first user, a request to communicate with a second user;
instructions executable to translate the at least one user identifier for the second user into a user identifier for use on a communication network external to the commuter groups service; and
instructions executable to establish communication between the first user and the second user via the external communication network.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions executable to translate the at least one user identifier for the second user comprise instructions executable to translate the at least one user identifier for the second user to a network address associated with the second user on the external communication network.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions executable to translate the at least one user identifier for the second user comprise instructions executable to translate the at least one user identifier for the second user to an instant messaging address associated with the second user on the external communication network.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions executable to translate the at least one user identifier for the second user comprise instructions executable to translate the at least one user identifier for the second user to a telephone number associated with the second user on the external communication network.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions executable to signal a presence of at least one of a plurality of users of a commuter group currently logged onto the commuter groups service to at least one of the others of the plurality of users.
15. An apparatus for providing commuting information to a plurality of users of a commuter groups service, the apparatus comprising a processor-readable medium containing instructions for execution by at least one processor, the instructions comprising:
instructions executable to track a first location of a first user and a second location of a second user of the plurality of users of the commuter groups service;
instructions executable to determine a first travel time for the first user and a second travel time for the second user based on the first location and the second location, respectively; and
instructions executable to provide the first travel time to the second user and the second travel time to the first user.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions executable to determine congestion information based on the first travel time and the second travel time; and
instructions executable to provide the congestion information to other users of the plurality of users of the commuter groups service.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first user and the second user of the commuter groups service are associated with at least one commuter group, and further comprising instructions executable to provide at least one of the first travel time and the second travel time to other users of the plurality of users.
18. An apparatus for providing commuting information to a plurality of users of a commuter groups service, the apparatus comprising a processor-readable medium containing instructions for execution by at least one processor, the instructions comprising:
instructions executable to associate a first user and a second user of the plurality of users with a commuter group; and
instructions executable to provide a live video feed to the first user and the second user associated with the commuter group.