SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISTANCE-WEIGHTED CONTINUOUS PRICING FUNCTION FOR TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS
In one embodiment, there is disclosed a method, including: receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location. There is also disclosed an apparatus for providing the method, and a computer-readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for providing the method.
1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and
computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting, from a plurality of drivers, a first driver to pick up the passenger at the specified pickup location.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises adjusting the fare based on a number of the plurality of drivers.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first reference location nearest to the specified pickup location (S1) and having associated therewith a first reference location price (P S1 ), identifying a second reference location (S2) next-nearest to the specified pickup location and having associated therewith a second reference location price (P S2 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S1 (D S1 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S2 (D S2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function f(P S1 ,D S1 ,P S2 ,D S2 ).
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the function is of the form P=D S1 *P S1 +D S2 *P S2 .
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises determining that the specified pickup location is within a fixed-price radius of S1, and setting the fare as a fixed price for the fixed-price radius of S1.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the fixed-price radius is related to a geographic interest point.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises accounting for a plurality of reference locations.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ).
10 . An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
one or more logic elements comprising a pricing engine operable for:
receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and
computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the pricing engine is further operable for selecting, from a plurality of drivers, a first driver to pick up the passenger at the specified pickup location.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises adjusting the fare based on a number of the plurality of drivers.
13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ).
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises determining that the specified pickup location is within a fixed-price radius of S1, and setting the fare as a fixed price for the fixed-price radius of S1.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the fixed-price radius is related to a geographic interest point.
16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises accounting for additional reference locations.
17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ).
18 . One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums having stored thereon executable instructions for providing a pricing engine operable for:
receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and
computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location.
19 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 18 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first reference location nearest to the specified pickup location (S1) and having associated therewith a first reference location price (P S1 ), identifying a second reference location (S2) next-nearest to the specified pickup location and having associated therewith a second reference location price (P S2 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S1 (D S1 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S2 (D S2 ), and computing a price (P) of the form P=D S1 *P S1 +D S2 *P S2 .
20 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 19 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises determining that the specified pickup location is within a fixed-price radius of S1, and setting the fare as a fixed price for the fixed-price radius of S1.
21 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 18 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ).