# US 2021/0241619 A1 · Systems and methods for matching pick-up requests with transport providers, tracking trip progress, and enabling provider ratings

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- Number: US 2021/0241619 A1
- Document ID: US20210241619A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/236,491
- Filed: 2021-04-21
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-12
- Assignees: Carma Technology Limited
- Applicants: Carma Technology Limited
- Inventors: Sean O'SULLIVAN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241619A1

## CPC

- G08G 1/123: indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; {Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams}(transmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968)
- G01C 21/3423: {Multimodal routing}
- G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management
- G06Q 10/02: Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
- G06Q 10/025: {Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation}
- G06Q 10/063112: {Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task}
- G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083)
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The network system triggers registration of the start of a transport journey in response to a communication of a transport user device and a transport provider device with each other, performs a continuous coordinated proximity monitoring to verify the identity of a transport user and a transport provider vehicle, and triggers registration of the end of the transport journey through communication of the transport user device and the transport provider device with each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

(canceled)

### Claim 2

A method implemented by at least one processor of a shared transport system, the method comprising:
receiving, from a transport user application operating on a transport user device corresponding to a transport user, a pick-up request for at least one person or item, the pick-up request identifying a pick-up location and a drop-off location for the at least one person or item;
identifying one or more transport providers available to service the pick-up request, based on information from a transport provider application operating on one or more transport provider devices corresponding to the identified one or more transport providers;
transmitting the pick-up request to a transport provider device corresponding to a transport provider, the transport provider being one of the identified one or more transport providers;
causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, one or more of the pick-up location or a transport user rating score associated with the transport user;
receiving an indication of an acceptance of the pick-up request;
causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, at least: (1) navigation instructions from a location of the transport provider to the pick-up location, the location determined based on GPS position data of the transport provider device; and (2) information descriptive of the at least one person or item;
causing the transport user device to display, via the transport user application:
information descriptive of one or more of the transport provider, a transport provider vehicle associated with the transport provider, or a transport provider rating score associated with the transport provider;
an estimated cost associated with servicing the pick-up request;
an estimated time associated with arrival of the at least one person or item at the drop-off location; and
location information of the transport provider based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
receiving an indication, based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device, that the transport provider is approaching the pick-up location;
in response to receiving the indication that the transport provider is approaching the pick-up location, causing the transport user device, via the transport user application, to display a notification indicative of the approaching transport provider;
receiving, from the transport provider device, an indication that the at least one person or item has been picked up;
causing the transport provider device, via the transport provider application, to display navigation directions to the drop-off location based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
causing the transport user device, via the transport user application, to display one or more of an estimated time associated with arrival of the at least one person or item at the drop-off location or the location information of the transport provider based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
tracking progress of travel of the transport provider along a route from the pick-up location to the drop-off location based on one or more of the GPS position data of the transport provider device or GPS position data of the transport user device;
receiving an indication that the transport provider has delivered the at least one person or item to the drop-off location from at least one of the transport provider device or the transport user device;
transmitting trip summary data associated with the pick-up request to the transport user device, the trip summary data displayable via the transport user application and including a cost for servicing the pick-up request and a transport provider rating prompt soliciting the transport user to provide a rating value for the transport provider;
receiving the rating value for the transport provider from the transport user device via the transport user application;
updating the transport provider rating score of the transport provider based on the received rating value for the transport provider; and
causing the cost for servicing the pick-up request to be charged to a payment method associated with the transport user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein:
the pick-up request is for at least one person; and
the method further comprises:
determining one or more of (i) whether the at least one person is remote from the pick-up location or (ii) whether an alternative pick-up location is located near the pick-up location; and
in response to determining one or more of that the at least one person is remote from the pick-up location or that an alternative pick-up location is located near the pick-up location, one or more of (i) modifying the pick-up location to be the alternative pick-up location, or (ii) causing the transport user device to display, via the transport user application, navigation directions to the pick-up location based on GPS position data of the transport user device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, an estimated time associated with arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the estimated time associated with arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location includes one or more of an estimated time of arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location or an estimated time remaining until arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
causing at least one of the transport user device or the transport provider device to display, via the transport user application or the transport provider application, respectively, an interface configured to generate, transmit, and receive messages to and from an other of the at least one of the transport user device or the transport provider device, wherein contact information of the transport user and of the transport provider are anonymized.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
determining that the transport provider has failed to pick up the at least one person or item; and
in response to determining that the transport provider has failed to pick up the at least one person or item, re-allocating the pick-up request to a different transport provider so as to replace the transport provider with the different transport provider.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
monitoring the progress of travel of the transport provider along the route from the pick-up location to the drop-off location for anomalies, wherein the shared transport system is configured to transmit an anomaly notification to one or more of the transport user device, the transport provider device, or one or more devices associated with safety personnel in response to detection of an anomaly in the progress of the travel of the transport provider.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the cost for servicing the pick-up request accounts for any tolls or fees encountered by the transport provider during the travel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the indication of the acceptance of the pick-up request is one or more of received from transport user device, received from the transport provider device, or based on a determination of coordinated proximity between the transport user device and the transport provider device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
transmitting a transport user rating prompt to the transport provider device, the transport user rating prompt soliciting the transport provider to provide a rating value for the transport user via the transport provider application;
receiving the rating value for the transport user from the transport provider device via the transport provider application; and
updating the transport user rating score of the transport user based on the received rating value for the transport user.

### Claim 12

A shared transport system, comprising:
a memory storing instructions; and
a processor operatively connected to the memory, and configured to execute the instructions to perform operations including:
receiving, from a transport user application operating on a transport user device corresponding to a transport user, a pick-up request for at least one person or item, the pick-up request identifying a pick-up location and a drop-off location for the at least one person or item;
identifying one or more transport providers available to service the pick-up request, based on information from a transport provider application operating on one or more transport provider devices corresponding to the identified one or more transport providers;
transmitting the pick-up request to a transport provider device corresponding to a transport provider, the transport provider being one of the identified one or more transport providers;
causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, one or more of the pick-up location or a transport user rating score associated with the transport user;
receiving an indication of an acceptance of the pick-up request;
causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, at least: (1) navigation instructions from a location of the transport provider to the pick-up location, the location determined based on GPS position data of the transport provider device; and (2) information descriptive of the at least one person or item;
causing the transport user device to display, via the transport user application:
information descriptive of one or more of the transport provider, a transport provider vehicle associated with the transport provider, or a transport provider rating score associated with the transport provider;
an estimated cost associated with servicing the pick-up request;
an estimated time associated with arrival of the at least one person or item at the drop-off location; and
location information of the transport provider based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
receiving an indication, based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device, that the transport provider is approaching the pick-up location;
in response to receiving the indication that the transport provider is approaching the pick-up location, causing the transport user device, via the transport user application, to display a notification indicative of the approaching transport provider;
receiving, from the transport provider device, an indication that the at least one person or item has been picked up;
causing the transport provider device, via the transport provider application, to display navigation directions to the drop-off location based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
causing the transport user device, via the transport user application, to display one or more of an estimated time associated with arrival of the at least one person or item at the drop-off location or the location information of the transport provider based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
tracking progress of travel of the transport provider along a route from the pick-up location to the drop-off location based on one or more of the GPS position data of the transport provider device or GPS position data of the transport user device;
receiving an indication that the transport provider has delivered the at least one person or item to the drop-off location from at least one of the transport provider device or the transport user device;
transmitting trip summary data associated with the pick-up request to the transport user device, the trip summary data displayable via the transport user application and including a cost for servicing the pick-up request and a transport provider rating prompt soliciting the transport user to provide a rating value for the transport provider;
receiving the rating value for the transport provider from the transport user device via the transport user application;
updating the transport provider rating score of the transport provider based on the received rating value for the transport provider; and
causing the cost for servicing the pick-up request to be charged to a payment method associated with the transport user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein:
the pick-up request is for at least one person; and
the operations further include:
determining one or more of (i) whether the at least one person is remote from the pick-up location or (ii) whether an alternative pick-up location is located near the pick-up location; and
in response to determining one or more of that the at least one person is remote from the pick-up location or that an alternative pick-up location is located near the pick-up location, one or more of (i) modifying the pick-up location to be the alternative pick-up location, or (ii) causing the transport user device to display, via the transport user application, navigation directions to the pick-up location based on GPS position data of the transport user device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein:
the operations further include causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, an estimated time associated with arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location; and
the estimated time associated with arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location includes one or more of an estimated time of arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location or an estimated time remaining until arrival of the transport provider at the pick-up location.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further include:
causing at least one of the transport user device or the transport provider device to display, via the transport user application or the transport provider application, respectively, an interface configured to generate, transmit, and receive messages to and from an other of the at least one of the transport user device or the transport provider device, wherein contact information of the transport user and of the transport provider are anonymized.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further include:
determining that the transport provider has failed to pick up the at least one person or item; and
in response to determining that the transport provider has failed to pick up the at least one person or item, re-allocating the pick-up request to a different transport provider so as to replace the transport provider with the different transport provider.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further include:
monitoring the progress of travel of the transport provider along the route from the pick-up location to the drop-off location for anomalies, wherein the shared transport system is configured to transmit an anomaly notification to one or more of the transport user device, the transport provider device, or one or more devices associated with safety personnel in response to detection of an anomaly in the progress of the travel of the transport provider.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the cost for servicing the pick-up request accounts for any tolls or fees encountered by the transport provider during the travel.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the indication of the acceptance of the pick-up request is one or more of received from transport user device, received from the transport provider device, based on a determination of coordinated proximity between the transport user device and the transport provider device.

### Claim 20

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by a processor to perform operations including:
receiving, from a transport user application operating on a transport user device corresponding to a transport user, a pick-up request for at least one person or item, the pick-up request identifying a pick-up location and a drop-off location for the at least one person or item;
identifying one or more transport providers available to service the pick-up request, based on information from a transport provider application operating on one or more transport provider devices corresponding to the identified one or more transport providers;
transmitting the pick-up request to a transport provider device corresponding to a transport provider, the transport provider being one of the identified one or more transport providers;
causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, one or more of the pick-up location or a transport user rating score associated with the transport user;
receiving an indication of an acceptance of the pick-up request;
causing the transport provider device to display, via the transport provider application, at least: (1) navigation instructions from a location of the transport provider to the pick-up location, the location determined based on GPS position data of the transport provider device; and (2) information descriptive of the at least one person or item;
causing the transport user device to display, via the transport user application:
information descriptive of one or more of the transport provider, a transport provider vehicle associated with the transport provider, or a transport provider rating score associated with the transport provider;
an estimated cost associated with servicing the pick-up request;
an estimated time associated with arrival of the at least one person or item at the drop-off location; and
location information of the transport provider based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
receiving an indication, based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device, that the transport provider is approaching the pick-up location;
in response to receiving the indication that the transport provider is approaching the pick-up location, causing the transport user device, via the transport user application, to display a notification indicative of the approaching transport provider;
receiving, from the transport provider device, an indication that the at least one person or item has been picked up;
causing the transport provider device, via the transport provider application, to display navigation directions to the drop-off location based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
causing the transport user device, via the transport user application, to display one or more of an estimated time associated with arrival of the at least one person or item at the drop-off location or the location information of the transport provider based on the GPS position data of the transport provider device;
tracking progress of travel of the transport provider along a route from the pick-up location to the drop-off location based on one or more of the GPS position data of the transport provider device or GPS position data of the transport user device;
receiving an indication that the transport provider has delivered the at least one person or item to the drop-off location from at least one of the transport provider device or the transport user device;
transmitting trip summary data associated with the pick-up request to the transport user device, the trip summary data displayable via the transport user application and including a cost for servicing the pick-up request and a transport provider rating prompt soliciting the transport user to provide a rating value for the transport provider;
receiving the rating value for the transport provider from the transport user device via the transport user application;
updating the transport provider rating score of the transport provider based on the received rating value for the transport provider; and
causing the cost for servicing the pick-up request to be charged to a payment method associated with the transport user.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the operations further include:
transmitting a transport user rating prompt to the transport provider device, the transport user rating prompt soliciting the transport provider to provide a rating value for the transport user via the transport provider application;
receiving the rating value for the transport user from the transport provider device via the transport provider application; and
updating the transport user rating score of the transport user based on the received rating value for the transport user.