Method for providing route information and the system thereof

A method for providing route information and the system thereof are provided. The method includes receiving a route acquisition command including a GPS coordinate of a client device, searching for at least one service unit in a predefined range of the GPS coordinate, determining a suitable service unit from the at least one service unit for the client device, and sending matching route information to the client device and the suitable service unit.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to route information, and more particularly to a method for providing route information and the system thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

Usually, a dispatch-based taxi center includes a collection of taxis distributed within a geographic region, and a central dispatch office. A primary function of the central dispatch office is to receive customer pickup requests, match them with available service vehicles, and dispatch an available service vehicle to the customer.

One major cost of operating this system is the labor cost of a telephonist managing the dispatch-based taxi center, and the associated costs of office space, and telephone equipment, for example. In addition, the customer need to make a conventional audio telephone call to the dispatch office to designate the pickup address, which is time-consuming and cost-consuming.

Accordingly, a method and a system for providing route information are called for in order to overcome the limitations described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All of the processes described may be embodied in, and fully automated via, software code modules executed by one or more general purpose computers or processors. The code modules may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some or all of the methods may alternatively be embodied in specialized computer hardware or communication apparatus.

FIG. 1is a system view of an embodiment of a system10for providing route information for at least one client device30and a plurality of service units40. The system10includes an input module12, a determination module14, a message module16, a route-tracking module18. A processor20may be used to execute one or more computerized operations for the modules12-18.

As shown inFIG. 1, the client device30and the service units40are service members of an online community. The online community, in one embodiment, may comprise a network of linked communication devices, where people may communicate ideas among each other. Such a community may be used to inform people of locations of the client device30and the service units40, including time and service availability of the client device30and the service units40.

In the embodiment, the client device30and the service units40are equipped with Geo Positioning System (GPS) modules to periodically transmit GPS coordinates to the system10. In other embodiments, only the service units40may be used to periodically transmit GPS coordinates to the system10. In other embodiments, the client device30and the service units may be used to periodically transmit GPS coordinates to the online community.

In the illustrated embodiment, the client device30is a mobile phone, although other electronic devices, such as notebook computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), for example, are equally applicable while fully maintaining the scope of the disclosure. The service unit40is an electronic device, such as a navigator device, or a taximeter equipped with GPS modules.

The input module12is operable to receive the periodic GPS coordinates from the client device30and the service units40.

The input module12is also operable to receive a route acquisition command from the client device30. The route acquisition command includes identification (ID) of the client device30and the GPS coordinate of the client device30.

In addition, the input module12is operable to receive update messages from the service units40. The update message includes a service status and the GPS coordinate of the service unit40. The service status indicates whether the service unit40is capable of providing driving services to a user of the client device30.

Upon receiving the route acquisition command, the input module12searches for at least one service unit40in a predefined range of the GPS coordinate of the client device30. In the embodiment, the predefined range may be adjusted by the system10. For example, when the client device30is in downtown area, the predefined range may be 500 meters. When the client device30is in suburban area, the predefined range may be 2 kilometers.

The GPS coordinates of the client device30and information of the service unit40, such as the service status and the GPS coordinates, within the predefined range are then transmitted to the determination module14.

The determination module14is operable to determine a suitable service unit40for the client device30.

Upon receiving the information of the service unit40, the determination module14locates the service units40that are capable of providing driving services to the user of the client device30based on the service status indicated by the update messages.

The determination module14then calculates a distance between the located service units40and the client device30. In one exemplary embodiment, the distance may be calculated based on the GPS coordinates and traffic regulations.

FIG. 2is an illustration showing one example of a map showing positions of a plurality of service units40a-40cand the client device30. In the illustrated example ofFIG. 2, the client device30is in location A, and the service units40a,40band40care respectively in location B, C and D. The arrows inFIG. 2show the driving direction of the respective roads. For example, the service unit40ais only allowed to drive leftward. In this example, although the distance between A and B, and between A and D are less than the distance between A and C, the service unit40bin location C is determined as the suitable service unit40based on the driving directions of the roads.

After determining the suitable service unit40, the determination module14calculates an estimated pick-up time based on the distance between the client device30and the suitable service unit40. The estimated pick-up time and the GPS coordinate of the client device30, and the ID of the service unit40are then transmitted to the message module16.

The message module16is operable to send matching route information to the client device30and the suitable service unit40. The matching route information is determined according to a location of the suitable service unit40, a location of the client device30, and a suitable route between the client device30and the suitable service unit40. In one embodiment, the matching route information includes the estimated pick-up time and the GPS coordinate of the client device30, and the ID of the suitable service unit40.

In one embodiment, the system10further includes a route-tracking module18operable to record a route path of the client device30after the suitable service unit40starts to provide service to the client device30. In one example, the taximeter of the suitable service unit40may automatically activate the route-tracking module18so that the route-tracking module18records the route path according to the GPS coordinates periodically transmitted to a database22of the system10. In other embodiments, the route-tracking module18may be activated by the user of the client device30. In addition, the GPS coordinates transmitted to the database22may be the GPS coordinates of the client device30or the suitable service unit40.

In another embodiment, the recorded route path may be transmitted to other client devices designated by the client device30so as to provide enhanced safety functions to the client device30.

FIG. 3is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for providing route information. The method ofFIG. 3may used to provide route dispatch services for the client device30and at least one service units40. Depending on the embodiment, additional blocks may be added or deleted and the blocks may be executed in order other than that described.

In block S2, the input module12receives update messages from the at least one service unit40. The update message includes a service status and GPS coordinate of the service unit40.

In block S4, the input module receives a route acquisition command including the ID and the GPS coordinate of the client device30.

In block S6, the input module12searches for at least one service unit40in the predefined range of the GPS coordinate of the client device30. In the embodiment, the predefined range may be adjusted by the system10.

In block S8, the determination module14determines a suitable service unit40for the client device30. The determination module14locates the service units40that are capable of providing driving services based on the service status indicated by the update messages. The determination module14then calculates a distance between the located service units40and the client device30based on the GPS coordinate of the client device30and the traffic regulations.

In block S10, the message module16sends matching route information to the client device30and the suitable service unit40. In one embodiment, the matching route information includes an estimated pick-up time and the GPS coordinate of the client device30, and the ID of the suitable service unit40.

In block S12, the route-tracking module18records a route path of the client device30after the service units40starts to provide driving services to the client device30. In another embodiment, the data transmission module18records the route path of the service unit40after the service unit40starts to provide driving services to the client device30.

It is important to note that while the disclosure has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the disclosure are capable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the disclosure applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media such as floppy disc, a hard disk drive, random access memory (RAM), and compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), as well as transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links.

It should be emphasized that the described inventive embodiments are merely possible examples of implementations, and set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described inventive embodiments without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the above-described inventive embodiments, and the present disclosure is protected by the following claims.