Abstract:
Systems, methods, and computer program products match a candidate passenger with a driver for a trip toward a common direction. A candidate passenger for the trip is automatically identified based on the physical start-address and direction sent to the database via text messaging (Short Message Service) or by wireless email. The driver is provided a means of contacting or locating the identified candidate passenger.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     References Cited [Referenced By] 
     U.S. Patent Documents 
       [0000]    
       
         Note: This invention utilizes Short Message Service technology (SMS). According to www.imconf.net/imc-2006/papers/p26-zerfos.pdf SMS was conceived in 1992 therefore, all patent search references prior to 1992 have been deleted as “not related” 
         U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,150 January 2004 Camer et al. (based on Origin &amp; destination) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,381 August 2005 Adamczyk et al. (based on GPS, &amp; destination) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,401 June 2003 Kirshenbaum, et al. (based on GPS, &amp; destination) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,381 August 2005 Adamczyk, et al (based on GPS &amp; destination) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,888 May 2006 Richards, et al. (based on Origin &amp; destination) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,376 June 2006 Oesterling, et al. (based on GPS, &amp; recorded route) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,019 July 2006 Hurzeler, et al. (based on origin &amp; destination) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,364 July 2006 Adamczyk, et al. (based on GPS, &amp; destination) 
         U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,057 March 2007 Adamczyk, et al. (based on GPS, &amp; destination) 
         App 20010056363 June 2001 Grantz et al. (based on email &amp; destination) 
         App 20040049424 Mar. 2004 Murray et al. (based on GPS &amp; destination) 
         App 20040267449 Dec. 2004 Adamczyk et al. (based on GPS &amp; destination) 
         App 20050251333 Nov. 2005 Adamczyk et al. (based on GPS &amp; destination) 
         App 20060200306 Sep. 2006 Adamczyk et al. (based on GPS &amp; destination) 
         App 20060276960 Dec. 2006 Adamczyk et al. (based on GPS &amp; destination) 
         App 20060293937 Dec. 2006 Solm et al. (based on website &amp; schedule) 
         App 20070276595 Nov. 2007 Lewinson, et al (based on website &amp; destination) None of the above listed patents and applications match ride partners by the combination of: start-location &amp; travel-direction. We have found no other ride matching patent documents newer than 1992 at the USPTO search website. 
       
     
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORS 
       [0019]    This invention was not sponsored by any federal sponsor. 
         [0020]    This invention has been developed independently. 
         [0021]    There is no joint research agreement. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention is based generally on the field of data communications and relates to ride matching systems. 
         [0023]    More particularly, this invention relates to a method and means to provide commuters throughout the United States with access to and use of a subscriber managed database and associated programming that operate in real time, allow direct and near-immediate communication between potential ride sharing partners, increase the safety of participants by ejecting violators, and provides a way to preserve the anonymity and privacy of users. 
         [0024]    Until now, carpooling has been restricted to ride partners who schedule a ride to the same destination. This often restricts the freedom to vary the time and destination. This invention solves this problem by matching only: start location, and direction. Driver or passenger is free to part ways anywhere along the trip. 
         [0025]    Since this method of ride sharing is more spontaneous and gives a greater level of freedom than the old “bulletin board” method, this invention also satisfies the resulting need to find immediate partners in the area on a real-time basis. A carpool is created within seconds of a candidate passenger&#39;s need. As soon as a driver&#39;s path deviates from the passenger&#39;s path, the passenger gets out and quickly finds a new driver. 
         [0026]    Safety is also improved because a subscriber&#39;s cell phone number is registered to a database where the subscriber has to live up to the terms of service. One or more offenses result in the termination of a subscriber&#39;s membership. This creates a society of members where any subscriber will feel more secure in riding with another member. 
         [0027]    Communication through the system is made possible without the need to give out phone numbers; this improves safety over the old way of carpooling where phone numbers were the primary means of contact. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    This invention provides a fast way for subscribers to find a ride through the use of Text Messaging or wireless email. First, several candidate passengers send a text message or email to the database requesting a ride and gives the start location (or street address) and desired direction of travel (see  FIG. 6 ). Upon receiving these messages, the database looks up the Latitude and Longitude of each address and records each request. Secondly, a driver sends a text message indicating a willingness to drive and gives a start location (or street address) along with the direction of travel (see  FIG. 7 ). The driver is immediately sent a reply giving the location of a nearby candidate passenger who shares the same direction of travel and that candidate passenger is removed from the list of candidates. By default, the driver is also given the cell phone number of the candidate passenger. (see  FIG. 8 ) 
         [0029]    Subscribers have the option to enroll into a privacy program where both parties are given a calling code instead of the driver calling the passenger directly. Both parties call a computer driven call center; they enter the membership number or temporary ID code of the other subscriber; once both parties have entered each other&#39;s code, they are connected together by 3-way calling. (see  FIG. 9 ) 
         [0030]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a system for matching potential ride sharing partners while making it possible to protect the privacy of the participants. 
         [0031]    Another object of this invention is to provide a ride sharing program that finds matches automatically from just the Driver and Passenger entries without a third person dispatcher. 
         [0032]    Other objects will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0033]    While described above with reference primarily to methods, systems and computer program products for linking wireless texting technologies to a database for the purpose of matching a driver to a candidate passenger for a trip toward a common direction are also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a Short Message Service system that links cell phones to the internet  FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a driver and passenger matching system according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a data processing system utilizing a ride matching server illustrating some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a more detailed block diagram of a data processing system utilizing a ride matching server illustrating some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating sequence of operations for matching a driver with a candidate passenger for a trip toward a common direction according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates a typical text message from a Candidate Passenger requesting a ride, where the candidate provides:
       1) A key word (here “ride”) that identifies the subscriber as a candidate passenger,   2) A desired direction of travel (n, nw, w, sw, s, se, e, ne),   3) Start location (such as a street address or Latitude-Longitude),   4) The city and state (or zip code) of the start location (omit #4 if Lat-Long in #3)   5) The cell phone&#39;s number or user&#39;s email address automatically identifies the user to the system.         
           [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates a typical text message from a Driver offering to drive, where the driver provides:
       1) A key word (here “drive”) that identifies the subscriber as a driver.   2) A desired direction of travel (n, nw, w, sw, s, se, e, ne),   3) Start location (such as a street address or Latitude-Longitude),   4) The city and state (or zip code) of the start location (omit #4 if Lat-Long in #3)   5) The cell phone&#39;s number or user&#39;s email address automatically identifies the user to the system and does not need to be sent to the candidate passenger.         
           [0050]      FIG. 8  illustrates a typical text message reply to a Driver showing the start location and phone number of the candidate passenger. 
           [0051]      FIG. 9  illustrates a typical text message reply to a Driver where the candidate passenger has enrolled in the privacy program (explained in paragraph 0010). 
           [0052]      FIG. 10  illustrates a typical text message reply to a Candidate Passenger where no Driver has been matched within a specific period of time. 
       
    
    
       [0053]    While  FIGS. 6 through 10  specifically illustrate the use of Text Messaging or SMS, a means of sending data to and from the database by other wireless text techniques are also provided such as by wireless email. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    The present invention now will be described more fully herein with reference to the drawings, where in embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in may different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; instead, these embodiments are provided to disclose the functions of this invention completely and will fully describe the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The same numbers are carried from one figure to the next. 
         [0055]    Those skilled in this art can see that the present invention can be delivered as a method, data processing system, and/or computer program product. Likewise, the present invention may be integrated entirely of hardware components or may utilize programmable hardware which relies on software programming such as Java, C++, html, or assembly language such that the instructions stored in processor-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which perform the acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blocks. 
         [0056]    The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device to result in a series of operational steps to be performed on the device to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the device implement the acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blocks 
         [0057]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems and/or computer program products for matching a driver with a candidate passenger for a trip toward a common direction and provides a way of putting violators of the Terms of Service on an “Inactive” list, all without third party human intervention between users, while giving subscribers the option to preserve their privacy. Those capabilities allow the system to accommodate a onetime ride share arrangement. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the data input device  301  consists of the subscriber&#39;s cell phone keypad where a candidate passenger creates a request similar to one seen in  FIG. 6 . The subscriber sends the data by radio frequency modulation  302 . The request is carried by radio wave to a cell tower  102  of  FIG. 1  which relays the message to a Gateway  104 . The 5 or 6 digit short code address provided by the sender determines the Internet URL where the request is sent over the Internet  110 . 
         [0059]    Once the request arrives at Network Interface  202  in  FIG. 2 , the Ride Matching Server  203  uses message sorting program  411  in  FIG. 4  to verify membership status in the Subscriber Profiles  421  in  FIG. 4  then perform the sorting function  502  in  FIG. 5   
         [0060]    The keyword “ride” in  FIG. 6  triggers the command “NO” in block  502  of  FIG. 5  resulting in lookup program  412  of  FIG. 4  to perform step  503  in  FIG. 5  where the request is stored in the queue. 
         [0061]    Once steps  501 ,  502 ,  503  in  FIG. 5  is performed by a plurality of candidate passengers, a driver inputs a request  FIG. 7  on cell phone keypad  301  in  FIG. 3  which in like manner is conveyed by gateway  100  to internet  110  and arrives at interface  303  then processor  304  uses sorting program  411  to verify membership in profile  421  and identify the keyword “drive” in  FIG. 7  to trigger step  504  in  FIG. 5  which uses lookup program  412  and searches the queue for a nearby candidate passenger who shares the same direction of travel request. 
         [0062]    The candidate passenger selected by step  504  is removed from the queue and message of  FIG. 8  is sent to the driver&#39;s display  306  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0063]    If the candidate passenger or driver has subscribed to privacy protection, step  505  of  FIG. 5  will generate a contact number as illustrated in  FIG. 9  where the driver and passenger both call a computer dispatched phone number, listens for a tone, then enters each other&#39;s contact number. Both calls are then connected together by 3-way calling so they can coordinate the exact pick up location. In this case, neither party is given the direct phone number to the other party. 
         [0064]    Upon successful transmission of contact information, the Billing Application  414  of  FIG. 4  will automatically debit the passenger&#39;s account and credit the driver&#39;s account balance  422  of  FIG. 4   
         [0065]    Message sorting application  411  also has the function of receiving subscriber complaints and recording these complaints into the subscriber profile  421  and automatically sending a warning message to the offending subscriber. When complaint status crosses a predetermined threshold, the offending subscriber is moved to “inactive” status where future matches will not be made. 
         [0066]    As described above, it will be seen that ride matching systems according to various embodiments of the present invention may increase the usefulness of carpool scheduling by making such systems more flexible through automatic identification of candidate passengers based on the start location and desired travel direction. Such automated matching of candidate passengers may encourage the use of this system by forming a carpool in such a quick manner. 
         [0067]    The flowcharts, and examples for  FIG. 2 through 10  illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products for matching a driver with a candidate passenger for a trip from a start location toward a common direction according to embodiments of this present invention. In this manner, each function in the figures represents a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for performing particular logical acts. It should be noted that, in some alternative implementation, the acts noted in the figures may occur in different orders and still fulfill the purpose of this invention. 
         [0068]    In the drawings and specifications, there have been disclosed typical illustrative embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms have been used to describe operations, they are offered in a generic intent only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention having been set forth in the claims of this patent.