Automated-taxi that proposes alternate-destination to optimize route

1. A system for operating an automated-taxi, wherein the system comprises:

an input-device operable by a client to indicate a desired-destination of the client;

a display viewable by the client; and

a controller-circuit in communication with the input-device and the display, wherein the controller-circuit is configured to:

determine, based on the desired-destination and a plurality of other-destinations indicated by a plurality of other-clients of the automated taxi, a preferred-route that includes an alternate-destination for the client that is within a distance threshold of the desired-destination of the client;

operate, subsequent to identification of the alternate-destination, the display to request a route-approval from the client for the alternate-destination;

in response to receiving the route-approval related to the alternate-destination, operate the automated-taxi in accordance with the preferred-route to transport the client to the alternate-destination; and

request a delay-approval from the other-clients when taking the client to the desired-destination increases one or more arrival-times of the other-clients by greater than a delay-threshold, and, in response to one or more of the other-clients denying the delay-approval, the controller-circuit operates the automated-taxi to by-pass the client.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein, in response to the client denying the route-approval, the controller-circuit operates the automated-taxi to transport the client to the desired-destination.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein, in response to the client denying the route-approval, the controller-circuit operates the automated-taxi to by-pass the client.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein, the controller-circuit is configured to select the client and the other-clients from a client-population based on the desired-destination and the other-destinations.

5. A controller-circuit for operating an automated-taxi, said controller-circuit comprising:

an input configured to communicate with an input-device operable by a client to indicate a desired-destination of the client;

an output configured to communicate with a display viewable by the client; and

a processor in communication with the input-device and the display, said processor configured to:

determine a preferred-route in accordance with the desired-destination and a plurality of other-destinations indicated by a plurality of other-clients of an automated-taxi, wherein the preferred-route includes an alternate-destination for the client, said alternate-destination characterized as within a distance-threshold of the desired-destination of the client;

operate, subsequent to identification of the alternate-destination, the display to request a route-approval from the client for the alternate-destination;

in response to receiving the route-approval related to the alternate-destination, operate the automated-taxi in accordance with the preferred-route to transport the client to the alternate-destination; and

request a delay-approval from the other-clients when taking the client to the desired-destination increases one or more arrival-times of the other-clients by greater than a delay-threshold, and, in response to one or more of the other-clients denying the delay-approval, the processor operates the automated-taxi to by-pass the client.

6. The controller-circuit in accordance with claim 5 , wherein, in response to the client denying the route-approval, the processor operates the automated-taxi to transport the client to the desired-destination.

7. The controller-circuit in accordance with claim 5 , wherein, in response to the client denying the route-approval, the processor operates the automated-taxi to by-pass the client.

8. The controller-circuit in accordance with claim 5 , wherein, the processor is configured to select the client and the other-clients from a client-population based on the desired-destination and the other-destinations.

9. A method for operating an automated-taxi, said method comprising:

receiving a desired-destination of a client from an input-device operable by the client;

determining a preferred-route in accordance with the desired-destination and a plurality of other-destinations indicated by a plurality of other-clients of an automated-taxi, wherein the preferred-route includes an alternate-destination for the client, said alternate-destination characterized as within a distance-threshold of the desired-destination of the client;

operating, based on the alternate-destination, a display to show the preferred-route to the client;

requesting a route-approval from the client for the alternate-destination;

requesting a delay-approval from the other-clients when taking the client to the desired-destination increases one or more arrival-times of the other-clients by greater than a delay-threshold;

in response to one or more of the other-clients denying the delay-approval, operating the automated-taxi to by-pass the client; and

in response to receiving the route-approval related to the alternate-destination and in response to the other-clients not denying the delay-approval, operating the automated-taxi in accordance with the preferred-route to transport the client to the alternate-destination.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the method includes, in response to the client denying the route-approval, operating the automated-taxi to transport the client to the desired-destination.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the method includes, in response to the client denying the route-approval, operating the automated-taxi to by-pass the client.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the method includes selecting the client and the other-clients from a client-population based on the desired-destination and the other-destinations.