System and method for tracking light electric vehicle rentals
The present application describes systems and methods for tracking rides, using various signal inputs to determine automatically when a ride is terminated, and billing the rider an accurate amount for a vehicle was in use. Users may sometimes forget to terminate their rides via, for example, a smartphone application that allows a user to terminate a ride. Terminating the ride allows the user to stop the timer used to determine the ride price. Terminating a ride early and accurately if a user forgets to themselves also allows the vehicle to be put into a pool of available vehicles more quickly, resulting in more availability for additional users. Ride share vehicles are becoming more and more prevalent in.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a server via a wireless network signal, an input indicating that a rider is reserving a vehicle via an application running on a user device, the reserved vehicle including a location tracking system that is configured to be uniquely matched to the rider during the reservation;
in response to receiving the vehicle reservation, starting, by the server, a ride clock that is remote from the vehicle;
receiving, at the server, one or more inputs from sensors on the reserved vehicle or the user device, wherein the application comprises a location interface,
wherein the one or more of inputs include vehicle speed data and vehicle location data;
determining, at the server, whether the plurality of inputs match a plurality of criteria,
wherein the plurality of criteria include:
whether an input, received from the reserved vehicle, indicates that the reserved vehicle has moved within a predetermined period, wherein the predetermined period is configurable and stored in a memory of the server, and
whether the reserved vehicle has moved more than a predetermined distance within the predetermined period;
terminating, at the server, the ride clock if the plurality of inputs match the plurality of criteria;
calculating, at the server, a ride cost, wherein the ride cost comprises a duration of use of the reserved vehicle, minus the predetermined period;
communicating, by the server, with a network to charge the rider based on a duration of use or a travel distance;
transmitting, by the server, the ride cost to the application running on the user device; and
displaying, by the application, the ride cost on the user device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inputs further comprise a user device location.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of criteria further comprises whether a distance between a vehicle location and a user device location exceeds a predetermined threshold distance.
4. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a server via a wireless network and remote from a user device, an input from the user device or vehicle, which includes a location tracking system configured to be uniquely matched to a user, indicating a start of a ride of the matched vehicle;
beginning, by the server, a ride clock for the matched vehicle;
receiving, at the server, a plurality of inputs from sensors on the matched vehicle or the user device comprising vehicle speed and vehicle location;
determining, at the server, whether the plurality of inputs match a plurality of criteria;
terminating, at the server, the ride clock for the matched vehicle if the plurality of inputs match the plurality of criteria; and
communicating, by the server, with a network to charge the rider based on a duration of use or a travel distance.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving, at the server, a pause indication from the user device; and
pausing, by the server, the ride clock for the matched vehicle.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of inputs further include whether the matched vehicle is moving.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of criteria include whether an input, received from the matched vehicle, indicates that the vehicle has moved within a predetermined period.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of criteria further comprises determining whether the matched vehicle has moved more than a predetermined distance within the predetermined period.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
calculating, at the server, a ride cost, wherein the ride cost comprises a duration of use of the matched vehicle, minus the predetermined period;
transmitting, by the server, the ride cost to an application running on the user device; and
displaying, by the application, the ride cost on the user device.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
calculating, at the server, a ride cost, wherein the ride cost comprises a duration of use of the matched vehicle, minus the predetermined period;
transmitting, by the server, the ride cost to an application running on the user device; and
displaying, by the application, the ride cost on the user device.
11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of inputs further comprise a user device location.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of criteria further comprises whether a distance between the matched vehicle location and the user device location exceeds a predetermined threshold distance.
13. A system comprising:
a vehicle comprising:
a location tracking system that is configured to be uniquely matched to a user;
a plurality of sensors including a location component; and
a communication link;
a user device comprising:
a location interface;
a network communication interface; and
an application having a user interface to the system; and
a server in communication with the matched vehicle and the application, wherein the server is remote from the matched vehicle and is configured to:
receive an input indicating a start of a ride of the matched vehicle from the location interface and network communication interface of the application;
initiate a ride clock for the matched vehicle;
receive a plurality of inputs comprising vehicle speed and vehicle location from the location component and communication link of the matched vehicle;
determine whether the plurality of inputs match a plurality of criteria;
terminate the ride clock for the matched vehicle if the plurality of inputs match the plurality of criteria; and
communicate with a network to charge the rider based on a duration of use or a travel distance.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the server is further configured to:
receive a pause indication from the user device; and
pause the ride clock for the matched vehicle.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of inputs further include whether the matched vehicle is moving.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of criteria include whether an input, received from the matched vehicle, indicates that the matched vehicle has moved within a predetermined period.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of criteria further comprises determining whether the matched vehicle has moved more than a predetermined distance within the predetermined period.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the server is further configured to:
calculate a ride cost,
wherein the ride cost comprises a duration of use of the matched vehicle, minus the predetermined period;
transmit the ride cost to the application running on the user device; and
cause the application to display the ride cost on the user device.
19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of inputs further comprise a user device location.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of criteria further comprises whether a distance between the matched vehicle location and the user device location exceeds a predetermined threshold distance.