Abstract:
A system and method whereby a customer requiring hire of a taxi can view available taxis on their mobile phone and can select a taxi for hire. An authorisation of payment is carried out and the selected taxi allocated to the customer if the authorisation is successful.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a transport allocation and payment system, method and software. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a transport allocation and payment system, method and software for selecting preferred transport on a geographical basis. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Currently, when a prospective customer wishes to order a taxi they must either hail one that is passing, or alternatively they can book a taxi over the telephone. 
         [0003]    Both of these situations leave the taxi driver with possible non-payment issues, in both instances the customer who uses the taxi may not have sufficient funds to pay for their journey, and where the taxi is booked over the telephone via a control centre, the customer may not be at the location where they booked the taxi to collect them and thus without their expected fare. 
         [0004]    Additionally, when a customer books the taxi over the telephone the control centre attempts to optimise the customer to taxi distance so as to minimise the customer&#39;s waiting time. However, this is procedure is not always optimal, which can result in increased waiting times for customer&#39;s, and decreased customer satisfaction. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, neither of the above situations provides security to the customer as they have no guarantee that the “taxi” that arrives to collect them is in fact a licensed taxi and could be an unlicensed vehicle, leaving the customer subject to overcharging and even possibly physical attack. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a transport allocation and payment system comprising: 
         [0000]    a plurality of vehicles, each comprising a positional locator and a transceiver;
 
a base station comprising a transceiver and a server;
 
a user device comprising a processor, a transceiver, a display and a user interface;
 
the positional locator of each vehicle being arranged to transmit the location of each vehicle to the base station using the vehicle&#39;s transceiver;
 
the base station being arranged to receive the location of each vehicle via the base station&#39;s transceiver and to update a positional database stored on the server;
 
the user device being arranged to receive a request for transport from a user via a user interface and to transmit said request and the location of the user device to the server of the base station via the user device&#39;s transceiver;
 
the base station being arranged to transmit data corresponding to the locations of at least some of the plurality of vehicles to the user device;
 
the user device being arranged to display the location of the at least some of the plurality of vehicles on the display;
 
the user interface being arranged to receive a user input indicative of which one of the at least some of the plurality of vehicles the user wishes to hire;
 
the user device being arranged to transmit data corresponding to the user input to the base station; and
 
the base station being arranged to transmit the data corresponding to the user input to the one of the plurality of vehicles.
 
         [0007]    Such a system allows a customer to request, for example, a taxi and have details of those taxis in their locale forwarded to them so that they can select which taxi they wish to hire. 
         [0008]    The base station may comprise a database containing details of registered users of the system and may be arranged to request authorisation of a payment from a user&#39;s account in response to receiving the data corresponding to the user input. The base station may be arranged to prevent transmission of the data corresponding to the user input to the one of the plurality of vehicles if authorisation of the payment is refused. 
         [0009]    The pre-authorisation of payment for the hire of a vehicle ensures that the hire company, and consequently the driver, receive payment even in the event of a customer taking hiring another passing vehicle for hire or in the event of a malicious hire request. Also, the refusal of a hire request if the customer does not have sufficient funds to pay a hire fee reduces the likelihood of the hire company, and driver, not receiving payment for a hire. 
         [0010]    The user interface may be arranged to allow entry of data corresponding to the user&#39;s location. The user device may comprise a locator arranged to determine the location of the user device. The base station may be arranged to determine which of the plurality vehicles are located within a pre-determined distance of the location of the user device. The base station may be arranged to transmit data corresponding to the location of only those of the plurality of vehicles which are located within the pre-determined distance to the user device. 
         [0011]    This prevents the customer receiving details of vehicles which are a long distance away from them. 
         [0012]    One of the plurality of vehicles may comprise a driver interface unit arranged to display details of the user who has selected said vehicle. The driver interface unit may be arranged to receive a driver input either declining or accepting the user as a passenger. The vehicle&#39;s transceiver may be arranged to transmit data corresponding to the driver input to the base station. The base station may be arranged to transmit data corresponding to the driver input to the user device, where the contents of said data are displayed at the user interface. The base station may be arranged to change a status flag of said vehicle in response to the contents of the data corresponding to the driver input. The base station may be arranged to transmit data relating to only those of the plurality of vehicles to the user device which have a status flag corresponding to being available for hire. 
         [0013]    Such an operation allows the driver to decline a fare, and the customer to select another vehicle if the driver declines the fare. Also, selective transmission of data relating to only those vehicles which are available for hire means that the customer does not attempt to hire a vehicle which is already unavailable. 
         [0014]    At least some of the plurality of vehicles may be taxis. 
         [0015]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transport allocation and payment comprising the steps of 
         [0000]    transmitting the location of each of a plurality of vehicles to a base station using a respective transceiver of each of the plurality of vehicles;
 
receiving the location of at least one of the plurality of vehicles via a transceiver at a base station;
 
updating a positional database stored on a server of the base station;
 
receiving a request for transport from a user at a user device via a user interface;
 
transmitting the request and the location of the user device to the server of the base station via a transceiver of the user device;
 
transmitting data corresponding to the locations of at least some of the plurality of vehicles from the base station to the user device;
 
display the location of the at least some of the plurality of vehicles on a screen of the user device;
 
receiving a user input indicative of which one of the at least some of the plurality of vehicles the user wishes to hire at the user interface;
 
transmitting data corresponding to the user input to the base station from the user device; and
 
transmitting the data corresponding to the user input to the one of the plurality of vehicles from the base station.
 
         [0016]    The base station may comprise a database containing details of registered users of the system. The method may comprise requesting authorisation of a payment from a user&#39;s account in response to receiving the data corresponding to the user input. The method may comprise preventing transmission of the data corresponding to the user input to the one of the plurality of vehicles from the base station if authorisation of the payment is refused. 
         [0017]    The method may comprise allow entry of data corresponding to the user&#39;s location at the user interface. The method may comprise determining the location of the user device using a locator device. The method may comprise determining which of the plurality vehicles are located within a pre-determined distance of the location of the user device, at the base station. The method may comprise transmitting data corresponding to the location of only those of the plurality of vehicles which are located within the pre-determined distance to the user device from the base station. 
         [0018]    The method may comprise receiving a driver input either declining or accepting the user as a passenger at a driver interface unit. The method may comprise transmitting data corresponding to the driver input to the base station via the vehicle&#39;s transceiver. The method may comprise transmitting data corresponding to the driver input to the user device, where the contents of said data are displayed at the user interface. The method may comprise changing a status flag of said vehicle in response to the contents of the data corresponding to the driver input. The method may comprise transmitting data relating to only those of the plurality of vehicles which have a status flag corresponding to being available for hire from the base station to the user device. 
         [0019]    At least some of the plurality of vehicles may be taxis. 
         [0020]    According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile device software application which when executed upon a processor of the mobile device causes the mobile device to operate as the user device of the first aspect of the present invention. 
         [0021]    According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided base station software which when executed upon a processor of the base station causes the base station to operate as the base station of the first aspect of the present invention. 
         [0022]    According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile device arranged to operate as the user device of the first aspect of the present invention. 
         [0023]    According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle hire base station arranged to operate as the base station of the first aspect of the present invention. 
         [0024]    According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile device software application arranged to generate and display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the user device of the first aspect of the present invention wherein the GUI corresponds to the user interface of the first aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a transport allocation and payment system according an aspect of the present invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart detailing a method of transport allocation and payment according to another aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  a transport allocation and payment system  100  comprises a fleet of vehicles, for example taxis  102   a - d , a base station  104  and a user device, for example a mobile telephone  106 . 
         [0029]    Each taxi  102   a - d , each comprises a positional locator device  108 , typically a global positioning system (GPS) device, a transceiver  110  and a driver interface unit  112 . 
         [0030]    The base station  104  comprises a transceiver  114  and a server  116 . 
         [0031]    The mobile telephone  106  comprises a processor  118 , a transceiver  120 , a display  122  and a user interface  124 . Typically, the user interface  124  comprises a graphical user interface (GUI)  126  displayed on the display and a touch screen  128  overlaying the display  122 . 
         [0032]    The positional locator device  108  of each taxi  102   a - d  transmits the location of each vehicle to the base station  104  using the taxi&#39;s transceiver  110 . The base station  104  receives the location of each taxi  102   a - d  via the base station&#39;s transceiver  114  and to update a positional database  130  stored on the server  116  to reflect any change in the location of any of the taxis  102   a - d.    
         [0033]    A customer requiring hire of a taxi  102   a - d  inputs a request at the mobile telephone  106  via the user interface  124 . The mobile telephone  106  transmits the request and the location of the mobile telephone  106  to the server  116  base station  104  via the mobile telephone&#39;s transceiver  114 . The location of the mobile telephone  106  can be either determined from a locator device, typically a GPS device, in the mobile telephone  106  or by the customer entering their location via the user interface  124 . In response to receiving the request from mobile telephone  106  the base station  104  transmits data corresponding to the locations some of the taxis  102   a - d  to the mobile telephone  106 . Usually, the base station  104  applies a filter to data relating to the taxis  102   a - d , for example only forwarding data relating to taxis  102   a - d  that are within a particular distance of the mobile telephone  106 , this distance may vary according to the location of the mobile telephone  106 , for example the distance may be a 1 km radius in an urban area or up to a 10 km radius in a rural area. Such a variation of the filtered distance can be achieved by use of a flag than can be preset by the customer or by a dynamic model of the customer&#39;s environment. Other possible filters include, but are not limited to: the sex of the driver of a taxi, such that female customers can hire taxis only driven by women; the name of the taxi firm, such that a passenger can choose to hire taxis only of their preferred firm. It will be appreciated that the server  116  may retain a customer profile which allows the application of a single filter criterion or, where defined in the customer profile, a number of filter criteria to be applied to the data relating to the taxis  102   a - d  such that only data relating to those taxis  102   a - d  which conform to the customer profile are transmitted to the mobile telephone  106 . 
         [0034]    The mobile telephone  106  displays the location of the taxis  102   a - d  on the display  122 . Typically, the location of the taxis  102   a - d  is displayed on a map generated by a software application resident on the mobile telephone  106 . Alternatively, or additionally, the location of the taxis  102   a - d  is displayed as an alphanumeric text list on the display  122 . 
         [0035]    The customer selects a taxi  102   a - d  and details of the taxi, for example taxi number, taxi firm &amp; taxi capacity are displayed. The customer then selects which taxi they wish to hire and inputs a request for hire corresponding to their choice of taxi  102   a - d  via the user interface  124 . Data corresponding to the customer&#39;s request for hire is transmitted to the base station  104  via the mobile telephone&#39;s transceiver. The base station  104  forwards this request for hire data to the taxi  102   a - d  indicated in the request for hire data. Typically, request data comprises the customer&#39;s name, location, and phone number. If the customer is not pre-registered with the system the request data may include the customer&#39;s payment details such that payment can be obtained in the event of a no-show or the customer not having sufficient cash to pay for their journey. 
         [0036]    A notification corresponding to the request for hire data is displayed on the driver interface unit  112  of the taxi  102   a - d  requested by the customer. The driver of the taxi  102   a - d  can select to either accept or decline the customer&#39;s request via the driver interface unit  112 . The acceptance or declination of the customer&#39;s request is transmitted to the base station  104  and if the driver has declined the customer&#39;s request notification data is transmitted to the mobile telephone  106 , where a notice to this effect is output on the display  122 , and the customer is requested to select another taxi  102   a - d . Should the taxi driver accept the customer&#39;s request a notification to this effect is transmitted to the customer via their mobile telephone  106 . 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, the server  116  retains the customer&#39;s bank details and connects to an authorisation host  132  via a secure network  134  to authorise payment of either a pre-determined minimum fee, for example $5, or a pre-agreed fee for the whole journey, prior to sending the notification of acceptance to the customer. If payment is authorised the acceptance notification is sent to the customer and a notification of payment authorisation is sent to the driver via the driver interface unit  112 . If payment is not authorised a notification of payment failure is sent to both the customer and the driver, and, in one embodiment, the driver can decide whether to accept or reject the customer as a cash only fare. In an alternative embodiment, the server  116  acts in response to receiving a failure of authorisation to prevent the driver of the selected taxi  102   a - d  from accepting the customer as a passenger in order to prevent the possibility of the customer being unable to pay the driver for their journey. 
         [0038]    In an alternative embodiment, the payment authorisation step is carried out prior to the driver receiving notification of the customer&#39;s request for their taxi  102   a - d . If the authorisation is declined the customer&#39;s request is not transmitted to the driver interface unit  112  and a notification that payment has been declined is forwarded to the customer&#39;s mobile phone  106 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a method of transport allocation and payment comprises transmitting the location of taxis to a base station using a respective transceiver of each of the taxis (Step  200 ). The base station receives the location of at least one of the taxis via a transceiver (Step  202 ). A positional database stored on a server of the base station is updated (Step  204 ). A mobile telephone receives a request for transport from a user via a user interface (Step  206 ). The mobile telephone transmits the request and the location of the user device to the server of the base station. (Step  208 ). The base station transmits data corresponding to the locations of at least some of the plurality of vehicles to the user device (Step  210 ). A screen of the user device displays the location of the at least some of the taxis (Step  212 ). The user interface receives a user input indicative of which one of the taxis that the user wishes to hire (Step  214 ). The mobile telephone transmits data corresponding to the user input to the base station (Step  216 ). The base station transmits the data corresponding to the user input to the one of the taxis (Step  218 ). 
         [0040]    It will be appreciated that the terms “usually”, “typically”, etc., as used herein are used in a non-exclusive sense, in so far as alternative or additional features to those described as usual or typical are envisaged. 
         [0041]    It will be appreciated that although described with reference to a mobile telephone and suitable user activated device may be used, for example a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, an automated teller machine (ATM), vending kiosk or self check-in/check-out kiosk. 
         [0042]    It will be further appreciated that although described with reference to taxis the present invention may be applied to any suitable mode of transport for hire. 
         [0043]    It will also be appreciated that the steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. The methods described herein may be performed by software in machine readable form on a tangible storage medium or as a propagating signal. 
         [0044]    Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.