Method for requesting transportation services
A method for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the use of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location is described. Individual and package transportation may be provided. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.
1. A method for managing transportation services, the method comprising:
providing, to one or more transporter devices, a transportation request received from a requester device associated with a requester, the transportation request comprising a location of the requester device and a dropoff destination;
receiving, from a transporter device of the one or more transporter devices and associated with a transporter, a confirmation to accept the transportation request and a location of the transporter device;
determining, based on the location of the requester device and the location of the transporter device, a time of the transporter from the requester;
receiving, from the transporter device, a pickup message indicating that a transportation service has begun for transporting a requester associated with the requester device to the dropoff destination and further indicating an actual pickup time for the transportation service;
determining, based on the actual pickup time and the dropoff destination, a calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination; and
providing, to the requester device, the calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, to the transporter device, the calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, based on receiving the pickup message, enabling the transporter device to provide a dropoff message to indicate completion of the transportation service.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving the pickup message, preventing the transporter device from providing a dropoff message to indicate completion of the transportation service.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically receiving requester location information from the requester device indicating a most recent location of the requester device.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
based on the most recent location of the requester device, updating the calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination; and
providing, to the requester device, the updated calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, to the requester device, the time of the transporter from the requester.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
periodically receiving, prior to receiving the pickup message, transporter location information from the transporter device indicating a most recent location of the transporter device; and
based on the most recent location of the transporter device, updating the time of the transporter from the requester.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing, to the requester device, the updated time of the transporter from the requester.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium for managing transportation services, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer device to:
provide, to one or more transporter devices, a transportation request received from a requester device associated with a requester, the transportation request comprising a location of the requester device and a dropoff destination;
receive, from a transporter device of the one or more transporter devices and associated with a transporter, a confirmation to accept the transportation request and a location of the transporter device;
determine, based on the location of the requester device and the location of the transporter device, a time of the transporter from the requester;
receive, from the transporter device, a pickup message indicating that a transportation service has begun for transporting a requester associated with the requester device to the dropoff destination and further indicating an actual pickup time for the transportation service;
determine, based on the actual pickup time and the dropoff destination, a calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination; and
provide, to the requester device, the calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to provide, to the requester device, the time of the transporter from the requester.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to, based on receiving the pickup message, enable the transporter device to provide a dropoff message to indicate completion of the transportation service.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to, prior to receiving the pickup message, prevent the transporter device from providing a dropoff message to indicate completion of the transportation service.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to:
periodically receive requester location information from the requester device indicating a most recent location of the requester device; and
based on the most recent location of the requester device, update the calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to provide, to the requester device, the updated calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
16. A system for managing transportation services, the system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
provide, to one or more transporter devices, a transportation request received from a requester device associated with a requester, the transportation request comprising a location of the requester device and a dropoff destination;
receive, from a transporter device of the one or more transporter devices and associated with a transporter, a confirmation to accept the transportation request and a location of the transporter device;
determine, based on the location of the requester device and the location of the transporter device, a time of the transporter from the requester;
receive, from the transporter device, a pickup message indicating that a transportation service has begun for transporting a requester associated with the requester device to the dropoff destination and further indicating an actual pickup time for the transportation service;
determine, based on the actual pickup time and the dropoff destination, a calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination; and
provide, to the requester device, the calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide, to the requester device, the time of the transporter from the requester.
18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide, to the transporter device, the calculated time of arrival to the dropoff destination.
19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to, based on receiving the pickup message, enable the transporter device to provide a dropoff message to indicate completion of the transportation service.
20. The system of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to periodically receive requester location information from the requester device indicating a most recent location of the requester device.