Patent ID: 9111315
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: G06Q,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for facilitating ride-sharing transactions between a first plurality of travelers and a second plurality of travelers, the method comprising: storing in a database trip information and personal preference information received from each of the first plurality of travelers, each of the first plurality of travelers offering a ride on a trip he or she is planning to take using a vehicle he or she is providing in exchange for an agreement to directly share the expenses of the trip, the received trip and personal preference information being uniquely associated with the planned trip for which the ride is being offered, the personal preference information for each offered ride including terms specified by each of the first plurality of travelers to govern how the expenses will be shared directly between travelers sharing that ride, the received trip information for each offered ride specifying a point of origin and a point of destination for the planned trip and information regarding the vehicle to be provided; storing in a database trip information and personal preference information received from each of the second plurality of travelers, each of the second plurality of travelers requesting to share a ride for a desired trip in exchange for accepting the terms specifying the manner in which the expenses for the trip will be shared, the received trip and personal preference information uniquely associated with the desired trip for which the ride is being requested, the received trip information for each requested ride specifying a desired point of origin and a desired point of destination; identifying ride-sharing matches between the rides offered by the first plurality of travelers and the rides requested by the second plurality of travelers, said identifying comprising: notifying each one of the second plurality of travelers of any identified ride-sharing matches for the ride he or she has requested, said notifying further comprising providing the trip information and personal preference information associated with the offered ride of each of the identified ride-sharing matches; and receiving acceptances from the second plurality of travelers of the offered rides, including the terms specifying how expenses will be shared, of one of their notified ride-sharing matches, and for each of the received acceptances: informing the one of the first plurality of travelers that their offered ride, as well as the terms associated with the accepted ride-sharing match has been accepted.