Dynamic Route Planning
An automated ridesharing dispatch system includes a communications interface configured to receive ride requests, each ride request including a starting point and a desired destination, and to receive from a mobile communications device associated with a ridesharing vehicle, a current location of the ridesharing vehicle. The system also includes at least one processor configured to send the ridesharing vehicle to pick up the plurality of users, determine based on a known passenger capacity of the ridesharing vehicle, a capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle. If the capacity status is below a capacity threshold, the processor directs the ridesharing vehicle along a first route, and if the capacity threshold is met, directs the ridesharing vehicle along a second route.
1 - 94 . (canceled)
95 . An automated ridesharing dispatch system, comprising:
a communications interface configured to:
receive ride requests from a plurality of users headed to differing destinations, wherein each ride request includes a starting point and a desired destination; and
receive from a mobile communications device associated with a ridesharing vehicle, a current location of the ridesharing vehicle;
at least one processor configured to:
in response to the ride requests, send the ridesharing vehicle to pick up the plurality of users headed to differing destinations;
determine based on a known passenger capacity of the ridesharing vehicle, a capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle;
if the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below a capacity threshold, direct the ridesharing vehicle along a first route resulting in a first set of arrival times for the plurality of users; and
if the capacity threshold is met, direct the ridesharing vehicle along a second route resulting in a second set of arrival times for the plurality of users, wherein the second set of arrival times are earlier than the first set of arrival times.
96 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to redirect the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold but imminent demand is predicted in an area near at least one drop-off location associated with at least one of the users.
97 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to redirect the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold but another ridesharing vehicle is driving along a route similar to the first route.
98 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to redirect the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold but at least one of the plurality of users booked an expedited ride.
99 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to redirect the ridesharing vehicle along the first route when the capacity threshold is met but an additional user is assigned to the ridesharing vehicle with a pick-up location along the first route.
100 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive real time traffic data and to redirect the ridesharing vehicle along the first route when the capacity threshold is met but atypical traffic congestion is identified along the second route.
101 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive real time traffic data and to redirect the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold and atypical traffic congestion is identified along the first route.
102 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to track a passenger' luggage that can have an effect on the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle and to change the capacity threshold accordingly.
103 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to track a passenger's physical condition that can have an effect on the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle and to change the capacity threshold accordingly.
104 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to continuously receive location information from the mobile communications device associated with the ridesharing vehicle, to estimate arrival time at a pick up location of one of the plurality of users and to reassign a different ridesharing vehicle when the at least one processor predicts a delay in arrival of the ridesharing vehicle at the pick-up location.
105 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to continuously receive location information from a communications device associated with the ridesharing vehicle, to estimate arrival time at a pick-up location and to reassign a different ridesharing vehicle when the at least one processor estimates that the ridesharing vehicle will arrive at the pick-up location later than a time originally estimated.
106 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the vehicle along the second route that includes a toll road.
107 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the vehicle along the second route that includes a highway.
108 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the capacity threshold is one person less than a passenger-capacity of the ridesharing vehicle.
109 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the capacity threshold is two persons less than a passenger-capacity of the ridesharing vehicle.
110 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the capacity threshold is four persons less than a passenger-capacity of the ridesharing vehicle.
111 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the capacity threshold is two passengers.
112 . The system of claim 95 , wherein the capacity threshold is three passengers.
113 . The system of claim 95 , further comprising memory for storing historical data of ridesharing demand, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine whether imminent demand is expected along an alternate route to the destinations and to send the ridesharing vehicle along the alternate route if imminent demand is expected along the alternate route.
114 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for managing a fleet of ridesharing vehicles, the method comprising:
receiving ride requests from a plurality of users headed to differing destinations, wherein each ride request includes a starting point and a desired destination;
receiving from a mobile communications device associated with a ridesharing vehicle, a current location of the ridesharing vehicle;
in response to the ride requests, sending the ridesharing vehicle to pick up the plurality of users headed to differing destinations;
determining based on a known passenger capacity of the ridesharing vehicle, a capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle;
if the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below a capacity threshold, directing the ridesharing vehicle along a first route resulting in a first set of arrival times for the plurality of users; and
if the capacity threshold is met, directing the ridesharing vehicle along a second route resulting in a second set of arrival times for the plurality of users, wherein the second set of arrival times are earlier than the first set of arrival times.
115 . An automated ridesharing dispatch system, comprising:
a communications interface configured to:
receive ride requests from a plurality of users headed to differing destinations, wherein each ride request includes a starting point and a desired destination; and
receive from a mobile communications device associated with a ridesharing vehicle, a current location of the ridesharing vehicle;
at least one processor configured to:
in response to the ride requests, send the ridesharing vehicle to pick up the plurality of users headed to differing destinations;
determine based on a known passenger capacity of the ridesharing vehicle, a capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle; and
direct the ridesharing vehicle along at least one of a first route and a second route based on a comparison of the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle to a capacity threshold, wherein the first route results in a first set of arrival times for the plurality of users, the second route results in a second set of arrival times for the plurality of users, and the second set of arrival times are earlier than the first set of arrival times.
116 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the first route if the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below a capacity threshold.
117 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the second route if the capacity threshold is met.
118 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold and imminent demand is predicted in an area near at least one drop-off location associated with at least one of the users.
119 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold but another ridesharing vehicle is driving along a route similar to the first route.
120 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold but at least one of the plurality of users booked an expedited ride.
121 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the first route when the capacity threshold is met but an additional user is assigned to the ridesharing vehicle with a pick-up location along the first route.
122 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the first route when the capacity threshold is met but atypical traffic congestion is identified along the second route.
123 . The system of claim 115 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to direct the ridesharing vehicle along the second route when the capacity status of the ridesharing vehicle is below the capacity threshold and atypical traffic congestion is identified along the first route.
124 - 184 . (canceled)