Communications server apparatus, method and communications system for managing request for transport-related services

A method, performed in a communications server apparatus for managing a request for transport-related services, the method comprising, under control of a processor of the communications server apparatus:

• in response to receiving user request data comprising a data field indicative of an origin location and a data field indicative of a destination location,
• generate a data record comprising a plurality of transit point data fields having data for a corresponding plurality of transit points from the origin location to the destination location, the plurality of transit point data fields comprising a variable transit point data field having data corresponding to a variable transit point, wherein a location of the variable transit point is changeable and is determined based on data associated with at least one transportation network-related parameter;
• generate, in the data record, a plurality of trip section data fields for a corresponding plurality of trip sections defining navigation directions from the origin location to the destination location;
• and
• wherein, for each trip section data field, associate the trip section data field with a respective transit point data field of the plurality of transit point data fields, and further, based on the data of the associated transit point data field, determine a respective transportation mode for the corresponding trip section and generate transit data in respect of the respective transportation mode.

A communications system for managing a request for transport-related services, comprising a communications server apparatus, at least one user communications device and communications network equipment operable for the communications server apparatus and the at least one user communications device to establish communication with each other therethrough,

• wherein the at least one user communications device comprises a first processor and a first memory, the at least one user communications device being configured, under control of the first processor, to execute first instructions stored in the first memory to:
• in response to receiving first request data comprising a data field indicative of an origin location and a data field indicative of a destination location,
• generate data corresponding to the origin location and the destination location;
• and
• transmit the data for receipt by the communications server apparatus for processing;
• and
• wherein the communications server apparatus comprises a second processor and a second memory, the communications server apparatus being configured, under control of the second processor, to execute second instructions stored in the second memory to:
• in response to receiving second request data indicative of the data transmitted by the at least one user communications device,
• generate a data record comprising a plurality of transit point data fields having data for a corresponding plurality of transit points from the origin location to the destination location, the plurality of transit point data fields comprising a variable transit point data field having data corresponding to a variable transit point, wherein a location of the variable transit point is changeable and is determined based on data associated with at least one transportation network-related parameter;
• generate, in the data record, a plurality of trip section data fields for a corresponding plurality of trip sections defining navigation directions from the origin location to the destination location;
• wherein, for each trip section data field, the communications server apparatus is further configured to associate the trip section data field with a respective transit point data field of the plurality of transit point data fields, and further configured to, based on the data of the associated transit point data field, determine a respective transportation mode for the corresponding trip section and generate transit data in respect of the respective transportation mode;
• and
• transmit, for receipt by the at least one user communications device, data corresponding to the plurality of trip sections, and, for each trip section of the plurality of trip sections, data corresponding to a respective transit point associated with the trip section, data corresponding to a respective transportation mode for the trip section and the transit data in respect of the respective transportation mode.