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 non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to:
receive, through a wireless communications network, a request for transportation services from a first communications device of a transportation requester;
send the request for transportation services to a plurality of transportation providers having wireless mobile communications devices through the wireless communications network;
receive a plurality of confirmation signals from the wireless mobile communications devices of the plurality of transportation providers, the plurality of confirmation signals comprising a first confirmation signal sent first by a transportation provider and additional confirmation signals sent by other transportation providers subsequent to the first confirmation signal; and
select the transportation provider from the plurality of transportation providers based on the first confirmation signal associated with the transportation provider being sent first.
2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to select the transportation provider further based on at least one chosen criterion.
3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to select the transportation provider utilizing a dispatcher.
4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to notify the transportation requester of a time-of-arrival of the transportation provider.
5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the transportation services comprise one or more of transportation of at least one individual or transportation of at least one package.
6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
obtain an identity of the transportation requester; and
store the identity of the transportation requester.
7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to notify each transportation provider of the plurality of transportation providers that the transportation provider has been selected.
8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to track a location of the transportation requester using a geographic location of the first communications device.
9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to send, to the first communications device for storage, a telephone number of a wireless mobile communications device of the transportation provider, whereby the transportation requester can identify the transportation provider subsequent to performance of the transportation services.
10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to cause a wireless mobile communications device of the transportation provider to display a geographic location of the first communications device on a geographic map.
11. A system for managing transportation services, the system comprising:
at least one processor;
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
receive, through a wireless communications network, a request for transportation services from a first communications device of a transportation requester;
send the request for transportation services to a plurality of transportation providers having wireless mobile communications devices through the wireless communications network;
receive a plurality of confirmation signals from the wireless mobile communications devices of the plurality of transportation providers, the plurality of confirmation signals comprising a first confirmation signal sent first by a transportation provider and additional confirmation signals sent by other transportation providers subsequent to the first confirmation signal; and
select the transportation provider from the plurality of transportation providers based on the first confirmation signal associated with the transportation provider being sent first.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to select the transportation provider further based on at least one chosen criterion.
13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to notify the transportation requester of a time-of-arrival of the transportation provider.
14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to notify each transportation provider of the plurality of transportation providers that the transportation provider has been selected.
15. The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to track a location of the transportation requester using a geographic location of the first communications device.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the transportation services comprise one or more of transportation of at least one individual or transportation of at least one package.
17. The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to send, to the first communications device for storage, a telephone number of a wireless mobile communications device of the transportation provider, whereby the transportation requester can identify the transportation provider subsequent to performance of the transportation services.
18. A method for managing transportation services, the method comprising:
receiving, through a wireless communications network, a request for transportation services from a first communications device of a transportation requester;
sending the request for transportation services to a plurality of transportation providers having wireless mobile communications devices through the wireless communications network;
receiving a plurality of confirmation signals from the wireless mobile communications devices of the plurality of transportation providers, the plurality of confirmation signals comprising a first confirmation signal sent first by a transportation provider and additional confirmation signals sent by other transportation providers subsequent to the first confirmation signal; and
selecting the transportation provider from the plurality of transportation providers based on the first confirmation signal associated with the transportation provider being sent first.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising tracking a location of the transportation requester using a geographic location of the first communications device.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising causing a wireless mobile communications device of the transportation provider to display a geographic location of the first communications device on a geographic map.