Method for requesting transportation services

Abstract

A method for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the use of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location is described. Individual and package transportation may be provided. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause at least one computing device to:
 receive, through a wireless communications network and from a first communications device associated with a transportation requester, a geographic location;   receive, through the wireless communications network, geographic location information of at least one transportation vehicle from at least one wireless mobile communications device associated with at least one transportation vehicle;   analyze the geographic location information of the at least one transportation vehicle;   compare the analyzed geographic location information of the at least one transportation vehicle with a route of the at least one transportation vehicle; and   based on comparing the analyzed geographic location information with the route, calculate a time-of-arrival to the geographic location for the at least one transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one computing device to receive the geographic location by receiving an indication of a user selection of the geographic location on a map. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one computing device to receive the geographic location by receiving a textual user entry of the geographic location into a text field displayed on the first communications device. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one computing device to:
 provide, to the first communications device, the time-of-arrival for the at least one transportation vehicle at the geographic location;   receive, from the first communications device, a selection of a transportation vehicle of the at least one transportation vehicle; and   transmit, to the selected transportation vehicle, a request for transportation services.   
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the route comprises a transportation service route associated with one or more other transportation requesters. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic location comprises a scheduled stop on a scheduled route driven by the at least one transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one computing device to permit the transportation requester to track the at least one transportation vehicle on a map displayed on the first communications device. 
     
     
         8 . A system for obtaining time-of-arrival information for at least one transportation vehicle at a location, the system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 receive, through a wireless communications network and from a first communications device associated with a transportation requester, a geographic location; 
 receive, through the wireless communications network, geographic location information of at least one transportation vehicle from at least one wireless mobile communications device associated with at least one transportation vehicle; 
 analyze the geographic location information of the at least one transportation vehicle; 
 compare the analyzed geographic location information of the at least one transportation vehicle with a route of the at least one transportation vehicle; and 
 based on comparing the analyzed geographic location information with the route, calculate a time-of-arrival to the geographic location for the at least one transportation vehicle. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to receive the geographic location by receiving an indication of a user selection of the geographic location on a map. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to receive the geographic location by receiving a textual user entry of the geographic location into a text field displayed on the first communications device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 provide, to the first communications device, the time-of-arrival for each transportation vehicle at the geographic location;   receive, from the first communications device, a selection of a transportation vehicle of the at least one transportation vehicle; and   transmit, to the selected transportation vehicle, a request for transportation services.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the route comprises a transportation service route associated with one or more other transportation requesters. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the geographic location comprises a scheduled stop on a scheduled route driven by the at least one transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to permit the transportation requester to track the at least one transportation vehicle on a map displayed on the first communications device. 
     
     
         15 . A method for obtaining time-of-arrival information for at least one transportation vehicle at a location, the method comprising:
 receiving, through a wireless communications network and from a first communications device associated with a transportation requester, a geographic location;   receiving, through the wireless communications network, geographic location information of at least one transportation vehicle from at least one wireless mobile communications device associated with at least one transportation vehicle;   analyzing the geographic location information of the at least one transportation vehicle;   comparing the analyzed geographic location information of the at least one transportation vehicle with a route of the at least one transportation vehicle; and   based on comparing the analyzed geographic location information with the route, calculating a time-of-arrival to the geographic location for the at least one transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein receiving the geographic location comprises receiving an indication of a user selection of the geographic location on a map. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a textual user entry of the geographic location into a text field displayed on the first communications device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing, to the first communications device, the time-of-arrival for the at least one transportation vehicle at the geographic location;   receiving, from the first communications device, a selection of a transportation vehicle of the at least one transportation vehicle; and   sending, to the selected transportation vehicle, a request for transportation services.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the geographic location comprises a scheduled stop on a scheduled route driven by the at least one transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising permitting the transportation requester to track the at least one transportation vehicle on a map displayed on the first communications device.