Method And System For Ride Shares Involving Hierarchical Driver Referrals

Abstract

Systems and methods according to which a mobile application is running on a driver's mobile device for authenticating ride share drivers. When a driver initially registers with a rideshare service, the driver is prompted to provide biometric information via a mobile app running on the driver's mobile device. The biometric information is then stored in a database with a ride share management server in a file associated with the driver's account. Subsequently, when the driver expresses an offer to provide a ride share trip, the server performs an authentication check based on the pre-stored biometric information. Furthermore, the system discloses herein facilitates increased rideshare revenue generation by creating referral chains for a driver when a previously-registered driver, or an affiliate of the rideshare service refers a proposed new driver to the rideshare service and the proposed new driver then registers with the rideshare service.

1 . A method for facilitating vehicle rideshares to passengers by drivers via drivers' mobile devices, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a user interface of a driver's mobile device, registration information from a driver, wherein the registration information includes a first biometric scan of the driver;   transmitting the registration information to a ridesharing server;   in response to detecting that the driver selects to provide a rideshare trip requested by a passenger, prompting the driver, via the user interface, to provide a second biometric scan;   upon receiving the second biometric scan from the driver, comparing the first biometric scan and the second biometric scan for a match; and   in response to detecting the match, providing pickup information to the driver, wherein the pickup information includes a name of the passenger and a pickup location of the passenger.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric scan is received via a biometric sensor coupled to, or inside the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registration information includes a name of the driver and at least one of license information of the driver, a social security number of the driver, car information, a picture of the driver, and a picture of the car. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving referral information from the driver, wherein the referral information includes a referral code provided to the driver by an existing driver associated with the ridesharing server;   transmitting the referral information to the rideshare server for verification of the referral information; and   in response to receiving information corresponding to successful verification of the referral information, displaying a link connection between a user profile of the driver and a user profile of the existing driver on the user interface.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an intended destination of the passenger; and   receiving, in real-time, navigation directions to the intended destination along a route from the pickup location to the intended destination.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a source of the navigation directions is a geocoding server coupled to the rideshare server. 
     
     
         7 . A method for facilitating rideshares to passengers by drivers via a ridesharing server, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the ridesharing server, registration information via a mobile application running on a mobile device of a potential driver that is signing up with the ridesharing server for providing rideshare trips, the registration information including a first biometric scan of the driver;   in response to determining that the driver selects to offer a rideshare trip, receiving a second biometric scan from the driver;   comparing the first biometric scan and the second biometric scan for a match; and   in response to detecting the match, providing pickup information to the mobile application running on the mobile device of the driver, wherein the pickup information includes a name of a passenger and a pickup location of the passenger.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the registration information includes a name of the driver, license information of the driver, a social security number of the driver, car information, a picture of the driver, and a picture of the car. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving referral information from the mobile application running on the mobile device of the driver, wherein the referral information includes a referral code provided to the driver by an existing driver associated with the ridesharing server; and   in response to receiving information corresponding to successful verification of the referral information, creating a link connection in a database storing a userprofile of the driver and a userprofile of the existing driver.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving referral information from the mobile application running on the mobile device of the driver, wherein the referral information includes a referral code provided to the driver by an existing driver associated with the ridesharing server;   in response to receiving information corresponding to successful verification of the referral information, creating a hierarchical link in a database storing a userprofile of the driver and a userprofile of the existing driver; and   transmitting to the mobile application running on the mobile device of the driver, information pertaining to signup of the driver with the ridesharing service.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 transmitting to a mobile application running on a mobile device of the existing driver, information pertaining to signup of the driver with the ridesharing service.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hierarchical link includes one or more levels, each level corresponding to a referral link between a first driver that has signed up with the ridesharing server and a second driver that refers the first driver. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hierarchical link includes one or more levels, each level corresponding to a referral link between a first driver that has signed up with the ridesharing server and a second driver that refers the first driver, further comprising:
 providing a percentage of earnings of the driver to the existing driver according to a level in the hierarchical link connection.   
     
     
         14 . A method for creating a referral-based ridesharing service, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a ridesharing server, registration information from an individual;   providing a first referral code to the individual, in response to the individual providing information pertaining to a potential driver that intends to register with the rideshare server;   receiving at the ridesharing server, registration information from a driver that is signing up with the ridesharing server for providing rideshare trips, wherein the registration information from the driver includes a second referral code;   comparing the first referral code and the second referral code; and   in response to determining a match between the first referral code and the second referral code, creating a hierarchical link in a database storing a userprofile of the individual and a userprofile of the driver.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the referral code is a string chosen from at least one of: alphabets, numbers, or a combination of alphabets and numbers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the individual is an existing driver associated with the rideshare server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the individual is a network marketer having business affiliations with the rideshare server. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 verifying the registration information provided by the driver that includes performing a background check on the driver based on the registration information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hierarchical link includes one or more levels, each level corresponding to a referral link between a driver that has signed up with the ridesharing server and an individual that refers the driver. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hierarchical link includes one or more levels, each level corresponding to a referral link between a driver that has signed up with the ridesharing server and an individual that refers the driver, further comprising:
 providing a percentage of earnings of the driver to the individual according to a level in the hierarchical link connection.