Method for requesting transportation services
View Patent ↗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 by a computer system for managing transportation services, the method comprising:
receiving, from a wireless mobile device of a requester, a transportation request comprising an indication of a geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the requester;
providing, to a wireless mobile device of a transportation provider, the transportation request comprising the geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the requester;
receiving, from the wireless mobile device of the transportation provider, a confirmation for the transportation request;
determining a route associated with the transportation provider;
tracking a location of the transportation provider within the route associated with the transportation provider independently from locations of other transportation providers using a unique identifier associated with the transportation provider; and
providing, to the wireless mobile device of the requester, an acknowledgement message.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing a unique identifier associated with the requester to track the wireless mobile device of the requester independently of other wireless mobile devices of other requesters.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein utilizing the unique identifier associated with the requester to track the wireless mobile device of the requester comprises storing location information in association with the unique identifier in a digital storage.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
periodically receiving geographic location information for the wireless mobile device of the requester; and
periodically updating the stored location information based on the periodically received geographic location information.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier associated with the transportation provider comprises a cell phone number.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving one or more messages from the wireless mobile device of the requester, each of the one or more messages comprising a unique identifier associated with the requester; and
utilizing the unique identifier associated with the requester to identify the one or more messages as being associated with the wireless mobile device of the requester.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the route associated with the transportation provider comprises a scheduled route.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the schedule route comprises a bus route, a subway train route, a light rail train route, a commuter train route, a ferry route, or a truck route.
9. 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:
receive, from a wireless mobile device of a requester, a transportation request comprising an indication of a geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the requester;
provide, to a wireless mobile device of a transportation provider, the transportation request comprising the geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the requester;
receive, from the wireless mobile device of the transportation provider, a confirmation for the transportation request;
determine a route associated with the transportation provider;
track a location of the transportation provider within the route associated with the transportation provider independently from locations of other transportation providers using a unique identifier associated with the transportation provider; and
provide, to the wireless mobile device of the requester, an acknowledgement message.
10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to utilize a unique identifier associated with the requester to track the wireless mobile device of the requester independently of other wireless mobile devices of other requesters.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the computer device to utilize the unique identifier associated with the requester to track the wireless mobile device of the requester by storing location information associated with the unique identifier in a digital storage.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to:
periodically receive geographic location information for the wireless mobile device of the requester; and
periodically update the stored location information based on the periodically received geographic location information.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the unique identifier associated with the transportation provider comprises a cell phone number.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to:
receive one or more messages from the wireless mobile device of the requester, each of the one or more messages comprising a unique identifier associated with the requester; and
utilize the unique identifier associated with the requester to identify the one or more messages as being associated with the wireless mobile device of the requester.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the route associated with the transportation provider comprises a scheduled route.
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:
receive, from a wireless mobile device of a requester, a transportation request comprising an indication of a geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the requester;
provide, to a wireless mobile device of a transportation provider, the transportation request comprising the geographic location of the wireless mobile device of the requester;
receive, from the wireless mobile device of the transportation provider, a confirmation for the transportation request;
determine a route associated with the transportation provider;
track a location of the transportation provider within the route associated with the transportation provider independently from locations of other transportation providers using a unique identifier associated with the transportation provider; and
provide, to the wireless mobile device of the requester, an acknowledgement.
17. The system of claim 10 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to utilize a unique identifier associated with the requester to track the wireless mobile device of the requester independently of other wireless mobile devices of other requesters.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the system to utilize the unique identifier associated with the requester to track the wireless mobile device of the requester by storing location information associated with the unique identifier in a digital storage.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
periodically receive geographic location information for the wireless mobile device of the requester; and
periodically update the stored location information based on the periodically received geographic location information.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the route associated with the transportation provider comprises a scheduled route.