System and method for coordinating personal transportation

A method for dispatching vehicles and coordinating on-demand, door-to-door rides, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one request for a ride, said request specifying a pick-up location and a destination location;
• and
• developing and updating a path for said ride, said path specifying the roads over which a rider will travel as well as the particular ones of said vehicles that said rider will ride in and the locations of any transfers that said rider must take;
• wherein said path is developed as a function of current factors including (i) said pick-up location, (ii) said destination location, (iii) a present position of said vehicles, (iv) paths presently scheduled, and (v) traffic conditions along routes presently projected to be traversed by said vehicles, and on changes in the current factors.

A system for coordinating substantially on-demand transportation, comprising:

• means for receiving a request for a ride, said request specifying a pick-up location and a destination location;
• means for storing a route for each of a plurality of vehicles;
• means for monitoring at least a present position of each of said vehicles and the traffic conditions existing along their respective routes;
• means for developing and updating a path for said ride as a function of (i) said pick-up location, (ii) said destination location, (iii) said present position of said vehicles, (iv) said route for each of said vehicles, and (v) said traffic conditions, said path for said ride specifying an ordered arrangement of at least one of said vehicles and the locations of any required transfers;
• and
• means in at least one of said vehicles for communicating a change of said destination location while en route, wherein:
• said means for developing is responsive to said communication for developing an updated present path;
• and
• said updated present path is communicated to said at least one of said vehicles.

A system for coordinating substantially on-demand transportation, comprising:

• means for receiving a request for a ride, said request specifying a pick-up location and a destination location;
• means for storing a route for each of a plurality of vehicles;
• means for monitoring at least a present position of each of said vehicles and the traffic conditions existing along their respective routes;
• means for developing and updating a path for said ride as a function of (i) said pick-up location, (ii) said destination location, (iii) said present position of said vehicles, (iv) said route for each of said vehicles, and (v) said traffic conditions, said path for said ride specifying an ordered arrangement of at least one of said vehicles and the locations of any required transfers;
• and
• means for modifying said route of at least one of said vehicles to incorporate changes necessary to accommodate said ride according to said developed path.

A system for coordinating substantially on-demand transportation, comprising:

• means for receiving a request for a ride, said request specifying a pick-up location and a destination location;
• means for storing a route for each of a plurality of vehicles;
• means for monitoring at least a present position of each of said vehicles and the traffic conditions existing along their respective routes;
• means for developing and updating the path for said ride as a function of (i) said pick-up location, (ii) said destination location, (iii) said present position of said vehicles, (iv) said route for each of said vehicles, and (v) said traffic conditions, said path for said ride specifying an ordered arrangement of at least one of said vehicles and the locations of any required transfers;
• means for communicating to at least one of said vehicles that a delay in the arrival time of at least one of said rides is presently likely;
• means for receiving a response from said at least one vehicle that said at least one ride agrees to pay a premium rate to have a new path developed so that said likely delay is avoided;
• and
• means for modifying said route of said at least one vehicle to incorporate changes necessary to accommodate said ride according to said developed path.

A method for dispatching vehicles and coordinating on-demand, door-to-door rides, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for a ride, said request specifying a pick-up location and a destination location;
• developing and updating a path for said ride, said path specifying the roads over which a rider will travel as well as the particular ones of said vehicles that said rider will ride in and the locations of any transfers that said rider must take;
• communicating to at least one of said vehicles that a delay in the arrival time of at least one of said riders is presently likely;
• receiving a response from said at least one vehicle that said at least one rider agrees to pay a premium rate to have a new path developed so that said likely delay is avoided;
• and
• modifying said route of said at least one vehicle to incorporate changes necessary to accommodate said rider according to said developed path;
• wherein said path is developed as a function of (i) said pick-up location, (ii) said destination location, (iii) a present position of said vehicles, (iv) paths presently scheduled, and (v) traffic conditions along routes presently projected to be traversed by said vehicles.