IP Library Granted Patent US 12,001,975
Granted Patent B2
US 12,001,975 · App. 17/965,182 · Granted Jun 4, 2024

Systems and methods for transporting multiple end users

Inventors: Richard T. Lord (San Francisco, CA); Robert W. Lord (San Francisco, CA); Nathan P. Myhrvold (San Francisco, CA); Clarence T. Tegreene (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
G06Q10/06G06Q10/063114G06Q10/06315G06Q50/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,001,975
App. No.
17/965,182
Granted
Jun 4, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Computationally implemented methods and systems that are designed for receiving one or more first directives that direct a transportation vehicle unit to transport a first end user; receiving, while the transportation vehicle unit is en route to or is transporting the first end user, one or more second directives that direct the transportation vehicle unit to transport a second end user while transporting the first end user, the transportation vehicle unit having been determined to be able to accommodate transport of the second end user while transporting the first end user; and verifying that compliance with the one or more second directives will not conflict with one or more obligations to transport the first end user by the transportation vehicle unit. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Claims (29)

1. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory to store instructions;

wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

while a transportation vehicle unit is fulfilling a first directive to transport a first end user to a first destination, make a determination as to whether the transportation vehicle unit is capable of being rerouted to a rendezvous location to pickup and transport a second end user to a second destination without causing the transportation vehicle unit to be in conflict with a set of conditions of the first directive; and

based on the determination, transmit a second directive to reroute the first transportation vehicle unit to the rendezvous location before fulfilling the first directive.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination includes a determination that the transport vehicle unit has sufficient passenger space to accommodate both the first end user and the second end user.

3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination includes a determination as to whether the transport vehicle unit is in sufficient proximity to the rendezvous location.

4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination includes a determination that transporting the first end user at the same time as the second end user is in compliance with a carpooling preference of the first end user.

5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination includes a determination that a first route is sufficiently near to the second destination.

6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination includes a determination that transporting the second end user will not cause a delay that exceeds a threshold to the first end user arriving at the first destination.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination includes a determination that transporting the second end user will not cause a total number of stops for the first end user to exceed a given number.

8. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the second directive included displaying navigation instructions on an electronic device of the vehicle.

9. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle transport unit is a robotic vehicle.

10. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination is made while the vehicle transport unit transports the first end user to the first destination.

11. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the determination is made while the vehicle transport unit is en route to rendezvous with the first end user.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations that include:

while a transportation vehicle unit is fulfilling a first directive to transport a first end user to a first destination, make a determination as to whether the transportation vehicle unit is capable of being rerouted to a rendezvous location to pickup and transport a second end user to a second destination without causing the transportation vehicle unit to be in conflict with a set of conditions of the first directive; and

based on the determination, transmit a second directive to reroute the first transportation vehicle unit to the rendezvous location before fulfilling the first directive.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the determination includes a determination that the transport vehicle unit has sufficient passenger space to accommodate both the first end user and the second end user.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the determination includes a determination as to whether the transport vehicle unit is in sufficient proximity to the rendezvous location.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the determination includes a determination that transporting the first end user and the second end user is in compliance with a carpooling preference of the first end user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the determination includes a determination that a first route is sufficiently near to the second destination.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the determination includes a determination that transporting the second end user will not cause a delay that exceeds a threshold to the first end user arriving at the first destination.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the determination includes a determination that transporting the second end user will not cause a total number of stops for the first end user to exceed a given number.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein transmitting the directive included displaying navigation instructions on an electronic device of the vehicle.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

while a transportation vehicle unit is fulfilling a first directive to transport a first end user to a first destination, make a determination as to whether the transportation vehicle unit is capable of being rerouted to a rendezvous location to pickup and transport a second end user to a second destination without causing the transportation vehicle unit to be in conflict with a set of conditions of the first directive; and

based on the determination, transmit a second directive to reroute the first transportation vehicle unit to the rendezvous location before fulfilling the first directive.

Continuity (22)
Continuation 16849984 · Apr 15, 2020
Continuation 15985652 · May 21, 2018
Continuation 15588502 · May 5, 2017
Continuation 14621151 · Feb 12, 2015
Continuation 14619812 · Feb 11, 2015
Continuation In Part 14597631 · Jan 15, 2015
Continuation 14596904 · Jan 14, 2015
Continuation In Part 14564358 · Dec 9, 2014
Continuation 14563134 · Dec 8, 2014
Continuation In Part 14537313 · Nov 10, 2014
Continuation 14536967 · Nov 10, 2014
Continuation In Part 14511706 · Oct 10, 2014
Continuation 14510383 · Oct 9, 2014
Continuation In Part 14476042 · Sep 3, 2014
Continuation 14474587 · Sep 2, 2014
Continuation In Part 14456627 · Aug 11, 2014
Continuation 14455534 · Aug 8, 2014
Continuation In Part 14329451 · Jul 11, 2014
Continuation 14328002 · Jul 10, 2014
Continuation In Part 14318182 · Jun 27, 2014
Provisional Application 61989394 · May 6, 2014
Related Publication 20230044882A1 · Feb 9, 2023