Data processing system intended to facilitate confronting an offer and a demand

A method for facilitating confronting demands and offers for transportation services, the method comprising:

• a. receiving, from a user of a subscription-based, on-demand transportation system, a user-formulated request corresponding to a demand for point-to-point transportation services;
• b. receiving, from an in-vehicle device borne by a vehicle, respective vehicle location and ancillary information, the vehicle-borne device including a GPS receiver and being operable to receive information about the user-transmitted request;
• and
• c. responding to the request, each responding including one of (i) sending information about a vehicle available to provide the requested transportation services or (ii) sending an alert that the request is not being satisfied immediately,
• wherein:
• i. the user-formulated request is sent from a user-operated communication device adapted for transmitting data messages and operable to transmit requests for point-to-point personal transportation services to the data processing system and to receive therefrom corresponding responses, and
• ii. the user-formulated request is received by a data processing system comprising (A) an electronic communications apparatus operable to (I) receive the user-formulated requests and (II) send corresponding responses to the respective users who formulated the requests, and (B) a data-storage apparatus operable to store information about the user-transmitted requests.

A subscription-based, on-demand transportation system wherein user-formulated requests for point-to-point transportation services are computer-matched with vehicles that are available to provide the transportation services, the transportation system comprising:

• a. A data processing system operable to respond to user-formulated requests for point-to-point transportation services, wherein each responding includes one of (i) sending information about a vehicle available to provide the requested transportation services or (ii) sending an alert that the request is not being satisfied immediately, the data processing system comprising:
• i. an electronic communications apparatus operable to (A) receive the user-formulated requests and (B) send corresponding responses to the respective users who formulated the requests;
• and
• ii. a data-storage apparatus operable to store information about the user-transmitted requests;
• b. a plurality of user-operated communication devices adapted for transmitting data messages and operable to transmit requests for point-to-point personal transportation services to the data processing system and to receive therefrom corresponding responses;
• and
• c. a plurality of in-vehicle terminals borne by a respective plurality of vehicles, each of the vehicle-borne terminals including a GPS receiver and being operable to (i) transmit respective vehicle locations and ancillary information to the data processing system and (ii) receive information about user-transmitted requests from the data processing system.