Interactive network and method for securing conveyance services
The inventive platform and method enhance the efficiency of systems in the interactive conveyance industry for goods and services by providing for the filtering, selection and securing of conveyance services in accordance with one or more of client and representative preferences in substantially real time.
1 . A platform for monitoring an autonomous vehicle (AV) performing a conveyance service for transportation of a person or an object in response to conveyance service requests (CSRs) communicated to a network, wherein the AV is a self-governing machine that performs the conveyance service unaided by a human operator, the platform comprising:
one or more external server in communication with the network, the one or more external server associated with a business entity that provides goods or services;
a central server in communication with the network, the central server configured for receiving the CSRs from the one or more external server, the CSRs for conveyance of the person or the object from a first geographical location to at least one second geographical location, the CSRs comprising conveyance data comprising information relating to one or more of the person or the object to be conveyed in fulfillment of a client order, an estimated time of arrival, and a vehicle detail, wherein the CSRs are repeatedly updated;
an application in communication with the network, the application configured for receiving one or a combination of geographical location data, vehicle-related data, and a representative preference;
a terminal in communication with the network, the terminal having an input device;
a display device configured to display information associated with the conveyance service;
wherein one or a combination of the central server and the application is automated in whole or in part and further configured to standardize and aggregate at least a portion of the CSRs and to:
(a) filter, in any order, at least a portion of the CSRs using one or a combination of the representative preference, the vehicle-related data, and the geographical location data to identify a filtered subset of CSRs;
(b) identify one or more preferred CSR from the filtered subset of CSRs using one or a combination of the representative preference, the conveyance data, the vehicle-related data, and the geographical location data;
(c) secure the conveyance service associated with the one or more preferred CSR to define a secured conveyance service;
(d) determine a route for the AV to perform the secured conveyance service from the first geographical location to the at least one second geographical location and communicate instructions to the AV, wherein the instructions comprise the route;
(e) generate on the display device a visual representation comprising a map having superimposed thereon a vehicle marker indicating an AV location relative to the route that the AV follows in providing the secured conveyance service; and
(f) dynamically update the vehicle marker on the map to display the AV location relative to the route;
wherein the AV receives the instructions via the network and follows the route to perform the secured conveyance service unaided by a human operator.
2 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the conveyance service is one or a combination of services that support or provide transportation of the person or the object to be conveyed.
3 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the representative preference is provided by one or more of a supply-side user, a courier, the business entity, a service provider, an AV owner, an employee or contractor of the AV owner, and an employee or contractor of the business entity.
4 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the business entity comprises one or more of an entity that conveys goods or services, an entity that provides transportation services, an AV owner, a goods supplier, a service provider, a courier, a dispatcher, a logistics provider, a broker, a freight provider, a fleet manager, and a map provider.
5 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the AV comprises one or more of a wheeled vehicle, a delivery vehicle, a truck, a trailer, a train, an aircraft, a vessel, a transportation machine, and a space vehicle.
6 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the application comprises one or a combination of a web application, a mobile application, a cloud application, a computer application, an application programming interface (API), a software as a service (SaaS), a computer program, and system software.
7 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the terminal comprises one or a combination of a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable device, a plugin, a computing device associated with the AV, a tracking device, an In-Vehicle device, a projecting device, a voice-controlled device, a network interface, a platform device, and an Internet of Things (IoT) device.
8 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the terminal is associated with one or more of the AV, a geographical location module, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a different input device, a computer processor, a computer readable memory, a remote display device, a network interface, and a sensor.
9 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein one or a combination of the application and the central server is further configured to repeat steps (a) through (c) to optimize utilization of the AV by securing an additional conveyance service.
10 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the input device is further configured to secure the one or more preferred CSR in response to a manual entry at the terminal.
11 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein at least one function of one or a combination of the central server and the application comprises using one of machine learning technology and blockchain technology.
12 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the CSRs, the conveyance data, the vehicle-related data, and the geographical location data is pre-filtered, pre-standardized, or pre-categorized.
13 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein, prior to step (a), at least a portion of one or a combination of the CSRs, the estimated time of arrival, the vehicle detail, the representative preference, the geographical location data, and the vehicle-related data is structured in a uniform format.
14 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein filtering in step (a) further comprises using a different geographical location.
15 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the display device is further configured to display one or a combination of the conveyance service, the secured conveyance service, the estimated time of arrival, the conveyance data, the CSRs, a client, and an additional conveyance service.
16 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the visual representation further displays one or a combination of the secured conveyance service, the estimated time of arrival, an additional conveyance service, the representative preference, the business entity, a service provider, a representative, a client, the conveyance data, the first geographical location, and the at least one second geographical location.
17 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein, after one of the conveyance service and an additional conveyance service is secured, one or a combination of the central server and the application is further configured to generate one or more of an updated order, an updated visual representation, an updated estimated time of arrival, the additional conveyance service, and an updated route.
18 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the input device is further configured to enable one of a client, a representative, a service provider, and the business entity to navigate within an area of the visual representation.
19 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein the visual representation is displayed within the AV.
20 . The platform of claim 1 , wherein one or a combination of the application and the central server is further configured to receive input from a dispatcher associated with one of the business entity, a service provider, and the AV to secure one of the conveyance service and an additional conveyance service.
21 . A method using a platform within a network for monitoring an autonomous vehicle (AV) performing a conveyance service for transportation of a person or an object in response to conveyance service requests (CSRs) communicated to the network, wherein the AV is a self-governing machine that performs the conveyance service unaided by a human operator, the method comprising:
(a) receiving within one or a combination of an application and a central server in communication with the network, one or a combination of, in any order:
(i) the CSRs from one or more external server associated with a business entity that provides goods or services, the CSRs for conveyance of the person or the object from a first geographical location to at least one second geographical location, the CSRs comprising conveyance data, at least a portion of the conveyance data comprising information relating to one or more of the person or the object to be conveyed in fulfillment of a client order, an estimated time of arrival, and a vehicle detail, wherein the CSRs are repeatedly updated;
(ii) vehicle-related data;
(iii) geographical location data; and
(iv) a representative preference, the representative preference provided via a terminal, the terminal having an input device;
(b) processing at least a portion of the CSRs by:
(i) aggregating at least a portion of the CSRs;
(ii) filtering, in any order, at least a portion of the CSRs using one or a combination of the representative preference, the vehicle-related data, and the geographical location data to identify a filtered subset of CSRs; and
(iii) identifying one or more preferred CSR from the filtered subset of CSRs using one or a combination of the representative preference, the conveyance data, the vehicle-related data, and the geographical location data;
(c) securing the conveyance service associated with the one or more preferred CSR to define a secured conveyance service;
(d) determining a route for the AV to perform the secured conveyance service from the first geographical location to the at least one second geographical location and communicating instructions to the AV, wherein the instructions comprise the route;
(e) generating on a display device a visual representation comprising a map having superimposed thereon a vehicle marker indicating an AV location relative to the route that the AV follows in providing the secured conveyance service; and
(f) dynamically updating the vehicle marker on the map to display the AV location relative to the route;
wherein the AV receives the instructions via the network and follows the route to perform the secured conveyance service unaided by a human operator.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the representative preference is provided by one or more of a supply-side user, a courier, the business entity, a service provider, an AV owner, an employee or contractor of the AV owner, and an employee or contractor of the business entity.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the business entity comprises one or more of an entity that conveys goods or services, an entity that provides transportation services, an AV owner, a goods supplier, a service provider, a courier, a dispatcher, a logistics provider, a broker, a freight provider, a fleet manager, and a map provider.
24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the AV comprises one or more of a wheeled vehicle, a delivery vehicle, a truck, a trailer, a train, an aircraft, a vessel, a transportation machine, and a space vehicle.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the terminal comprises one or a combination of a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable device, a plugin, a computing device associated with the AV, a tracking device, an In-Vehicle device, a projecting device, a voice-controlled device, a network interface, a platform device, and an Internet of Things (IoT) device.
26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein one or a combination of the application and the central server is further configured to receive input from a dispatcher associated with one of the business entity, a service provider, and the AV to secure one of the conveyance service and an additional conveyance service.
27 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the display device is further configured to display one or a combination of the conveyance service, the secured conveyance service, the conveyance data, the CSRs, a client, the estimated time of arrival, and an additional conveyance service.
28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein one or a combination of the application and the central server is further configured to repeat steps (a) through (c) to optimize utilization of the AV by securing an additional conveyance service.
29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the input device is further configured to secure the one or more preferred CSR in response to a manual entry at the terminal.
30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein one or more of steps (a) through (f) comprises using one of machine learning technology and blockchain technology.
31 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the conveyance service is one or a combination of services that support or provide transportation of the person or the object to be conveyed.
32 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the application comprises one or a combination of a web application, a mobile application, a cloud application, a computer application, an application programming interface (API), a software as a service (SaaS), a computer program, and system software.
33 . The method of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the CSRs, the conveyance data, the vehicle-related data, and the geographical location data is pre-filtered, pre-standardized, or pre-categorized.
34 . The method of claim 21 , wherein, prior to step (a), at least a portion of one or a combination of the CSRs, the estimated time of arrival, the vehicle detail, the representative preference, the geographical location data, and the vehicle-related data is structured in a uniform format.
35 . The method of claim 21 , wherein filtering in step (b) (ii) further comprises using a different geographical location.
36 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the terminal is associated with one or more of the AV, a geographical location module, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a different input device, a computer processor, a computer readable memory, a remote display device, a network interface, and a sensor.
37 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the visual representation further displays one or a combination of the secured conveyance service, the estimated time of arrival, an additional conveyance service, the representative preference, the business entity, a service provider, a representative, a client, the conveyance data, the first geographical location, and the at least one second geographical location.
38 . The method of claim 21 , wherein, after one of the conveyance service and an additional conveyance service is secured, one or a combination of the central server and the application is further configured to generate one or more of an updated order, an updated visual representation, an updated estimated time of arrival, the additional conveyance service, and an updated route.
39 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the input device is further configured to enable one of a client, a representative, a service provider, and the business entity to navigate within an area of the visual representation.
40 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the visual representation is displayed within the AV.