Application-based commercial ground transportation management system

Abstract

A management system for a Permitting Authority (PA) or its appointed designee to monitor and track application-based commercial ground transportation (ABCT) Provider activity through the ABCT-Driver's mobile device, the ABCT-Provider's app, the ABCT-Provider's computer systems, and the PA's electronically-enabled geo-fence, all without the need for specialized hardware such as transponders or other tracking equipment. Each mobile communication device associated with an ABCT-Vehicle continually transmits information to an ABCT-Provider Information and Communications Technology (“ICT”) System associated with an ABCT-Provider when an application on the mobile communication device is active. The information transmitted by the mobile communication device enables the ABCT-Provider ICT System to identify and monitor the ABCT-Driver's identity, the vehicle information, the geographic locus, and/or the ABCT-Vehicle's activity data.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving from a mobile device at a first information system location information and transaction information;   accessing a data storage on which coordinates of a geographical boundary have been stored;   determining if the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary; and   transmitting a message to a second information system when the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the message comprises at least one of the following: a vehicle identification, a driver identification, a trip identification, a transportation company identification, a license plate identification, and a timestamp. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the message is transmitted periodically. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the message is transmitted upon request. 
     
     
         5 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:
 receiving from a mobile device at a first information system location information and transaction information;   accessing a data storage on which coordinates of a geographical boundary have been stored;   determining if the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary; and   transmitting a message to a second information system when the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary.   
     
     
         6 . A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:
 receive from a mobile device at a first information system location information and transaction information;   access a data storage on which coordinates of a geographical boundary have been stored;   determine if the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary; and   transmit a message to a second information system when the location of the mobile device is within the geographical boundary.   
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 receiving from a mobile device at a first information system information sufficient to identify an activity occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;   retrieving a set of business rules from a business rule database;   determining if the business rules apply to the activity;   calculating a fee based on the business rule and the activity; and   transmitting the calculated fee information to a second information system.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the calculated fee information comprises an invoice. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the activity comprises an entry into the predefined geographical boundary, an exit out of the predefined geographical boundary, a passenger pick up or a passenger drop off. 
     
     
         10 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:
 receiving from a mobile device at a first information system information sufficient to identify an activity occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;   retrieving a set of business rules from a business rule database;   determining if the business rules apply to the activity;   calculating a fee based on the business rule and the activity; and   transmitting the calculated fee information to a second information system.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:
 receive from a mobile device at a first information system information sufficient to identify an activity occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;   retrieve a set of business rules from a business rule database;   determine if the business rules apply to the activity;   calculate a fee based on the business rule and the activity; and   transmit the calculated fee information to a second information system.   
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving from a mobile device at a first information system a plurality of messages, wherein each message includes at least a timestamp;   comparing the timestamp of a first message with a timestamp of a second message;   generating an alert when the difference between the timestamp of the first message and the timestamp of the second message exceeds a threshold time limit.   
     
     
         13 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:
 receiving from a mobile device at a first information system a plurality of messages, wherein each message includes at least a timestamp;   comparing the timestamp of a first message with a timestamp of a second message;   generating an alert when the difference between the timestamp of the first message and the timestamp of the second message exceeds a threshold time limit.   
     
     
         14 . A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:
 receive from a mobile device at a first information system a plurality of messages, wherein each message includes at least a timestamp;   compare the timestamp of a first message with a timestamp of a second message;   generate an alert when the difference between the timestamp of the first message and the timestamp of the second message exceeds a threshold time limit.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising
 receiving at a first information system a vehicle identification;   comparing said vehicle identification with vehicle identification information received by the first information system from a second information system, wherein said vehicle identification information includes at least a license plate number associated with a vehicle and a company associated with the vehicle;   generating a report if said vehicle identification matches said vehicle identification information;   transmitting the report to a third information system.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:
 receiving at a first information system a vehicle identification;   comparing said vehicle identification with vehicle identification information received by the first information system from a second information system, wherein said vehicle identification information includes at least a license plate number associated with a vehicle and a company associated with the vehicle;   generating a report if said vehicle identification matches said vehicle identification information;   transmitting the report to a third information system.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:
 receiving at a first information system a vehicle identification;   comparing said vehicle identification with vehicle identification information received by the first information system from a second information system, wherein said vehicle identification information includes at least a license plate number associated with a vehicle and a company associated with the vehicle;   generating a report if said vehicle identification matches said vehicle identification information;   transmitting the report to a third information system.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising
 receiving at a first information system a plurality of messages from a second information system, wherein each message is associated with an activity of a vehicle occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;   storing the plurality of messages in a database associated with a first information system;   generating a list of one or more of the activities; and   transmitting the list to a third information system.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the list is dynamically updated when a message is received at a first information system. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising identifying vehicle locations based on information contained in the plurality of messages. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a map of vehicle locations. 
     
     
         26 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method, the method comprising:
 receiving at a first information system a plurality of messages from a second information system, wherein each message is associated with an activity of a vehicle occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;   storing the plurality of messages in a database associated with a first information system;   generating a list of one or more of the activities; and   transmitting the list to a third information system.   
     
     
         27 . The computer program product according to  claim 26 , wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the list is dynamically updated when a message is received at a first information system. 
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 26 , further comprising identifying vehicle locations based on information contained in the plurality of messages. 
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 29 , further comprising providing a map of vehicle locations. 
     
     
         31 . A system comprising a processor-based application, which when executed on a computer, will cause the processor to:
 receive at a first information system a plurality of messages from a second information system, wherein each message is associated with an activity of a vehicle occurring within a predefined geographical boundary;   store the plurality of messages in a database associated with a first information system;   generate a list of one or more of the activities; and   transmit the list to a third information system.   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the third information system comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the list is dynamically updated when a message is received at a first information system. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising identifying vehicle locations based on information contained in the plurality of messages. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising providing a map of vehicle locations. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the list includes at least one of a list of vehicles currently within the predefined geographical boundary; a list of all activities within the last hour; or a list of all activities within the last day. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one list of one or more activities is displayed on a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a query pane for receiving user input and a results pane for displaying the results of the query. 
     
     
         39 . A method comprising:
 receiving at a first information system a message from a second information system wherein the message includes information sufficient to identify an activity;   retrieving a set of business rules from a database;   determining if the business rules apply to the activity identified in the message;   calculating a fee based on the business rules and the activity;   transmitting the calculated fee information to the second information system;   receiving at the first information system payment information from the second information system; and   transmitting the payment information to a third information system.   
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39 , wherein the calculated fee information comprises an invoice. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 39 , wherein the activity comprises an entry into the predefined geographical boundary, an exit out of the predefined geographical boundary, a passenger pick up or a passenger drop off.