Multi-user requests for service and optimizations thereof

A computer-implemented method for managing an on-demand service, the method being performed by a network system and comprising:

• monitoring respective locations and statuses of a plurality of service providers by receiving real-time data from devices of the plurality of service providers over a network, each of the plurality of service providers being associated with one of a plurality of provider classes;
• receiving, over the network from a requesting user device of a requesting user, a set of multi-user request data corresponding to a multi-user request for service for a plurality of users, the set of multi-user request data including identifying information associated with the plurality of users;
• in response to receiving the set of multi-user request data, identifying a plurality of potential service provider selections, each of the potential service provider selections including a respective set of service providers available to service the multi-user request;
• and
• select one of the plurality of potential service provider selections as a set of service providers to fulfill the multi-user request for service based on optimizing one or more parameters, including an aggregate measure of respective estimated fares for each of the plurality of users for the requested service.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network system, cause the network system to:

• monitor respective locations and statuses of a plurality of service providers by receiving real-time data from devices of the plurality of service providers over a network, each of the plurality of service providers being associated with one of a plurality of provider classes;
• receive, over the network from a requesting user device of a requesting user, a set of multi-user request data corresponding to a multi-user request for service for a plurality of users, the set of multi-user request data including identifying information associated with the plurality of users;
• in response to receiving the set of multi-user request data, identify a plurality of potential service provider selections, each of the potential service provider selections including a respective set of service providers available to service the multi-user request;
• and
• selecting one of the plurality of potential service provider selections as a set of service providers to fulfill the multi-user request for service based on optimizing one or more parameters, including an aggregate measure of respective estimated fares for each of the plurality of users for the requested service.