Patent ID: 11859988
Assignee: VIA TRANSPORTATION, INC.
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B  H | IPC B  G  H

Claim 10:
11. A computer-implemented method for automated dispatching ridesharing vehicles, the method comprising:
predicting a first imminent demand and a second imminent demand of ridesharing requests in a geographical area based on the data relating to historical demand in the geographical area, wherein the predicted first imminent demand and the predicted second imminent demand occurs within a predetermined time period from a given point in time;
selecting, based on the predicted first and second imminent demands, a first holding zone location and a second holding zone location for propositioning empty ridesharing vehicles to wait in order to locate the empty ridesharing vehicles to expedite satisfaction of the predicted first and second imminent demands within a predetermined time threshold upon receipt, the second imminent demand being greater than the first imminent demand;
sending, via a communications interface, to a mobile communications device in a first specific ridesharing vehicle, instructions directing the first specific ridesharing vehicle to the first holding zone based on global positioning system (GPS) data received from a GPS device associated with the first specific ridesharing vehicle;
sending, via the communications interface, to a mobile communications device in a second specific ridesharing vehicle to the second holding zone based on GPS data received from a GPS device associated with the second specific ridesharing vehicle; and
sending, via the communications interface, to a mobile communications device in a third specific ridesharing vehicle to the second holding zone based on GPS data received from a GPS device associated with the third specific ridesharing vehicle.