Method of selective ride-sharing among multiple users along an optimized travel route

Abstract

A computer-implementable method and system for identifying the preferred commuting route to be used for a given route requirement subject to travel and personal preference criteria. The method and system uses computerized mapping software programs that match stored travel and user preferences to a given route by matching end points and waypoints along the given route and providing user-enabled filtering among multiple users. The method and system also serve well in finding people whose origin and destination are along the drive route.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a computer mapping program, a method for ride-sharing among multiple users along an optimized travel route, said method comprising:
 identifying an origin corresponding to each of two or more users;   identifying personal preference criteria related to each of said two or more users;   identifying a destination provided by each of said two or more users;   correlating said origins and said destinations so as to find matched origins and destinations;   determining a matched list of users based upon said origins and said destinations of said two or more users;   filtering said matched list of users based upon said personal preference criteria; and   determining an optimized travel route corresponding to said origins and destinations related to said matched list of users.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each said origin corresponding to each of said two or more users is a start point for travel along said optimized travel route. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each said destination corresponding to each of said two or more users is an end point for travel along said optimized travel route. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one said origin corresponding to said two or more users is a waypoint in a travel direction along said optimized travel route. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one said destination corresponding to said two or more users is a waypoint in a travel direction along said optimized travel route. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said step of determining said matched list of users based upon said origins and said destinations of said two or more users further includes applying a travel route filter and a travel schedule filter to said matched list of users. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said travel route filters are applied by at least one of said two or more users whose travel origin and travel destination are both less than a specified distance away from a corresponding travel origin and travel destination of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said travel route filters are applied by at least one of said two or more users
 whose travel origin is less than a first specified distance away from a corresponding travel origin of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner and 
 whose travel destination is less than a second specified distance away from a corresponding travel route of said another one of said two or more users. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said travel route filters are applied by at least one of said two or more users
 whose travel origin is less than a first specified distance away from a corresponding travel route of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner and 
 whose travel destination is less than a second specified distance away from a corresponding travel destination of said another one of said two or more users. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said travel route filters are applied by at least one of said two or more users
 whose travel origin is less than a first specified distance away from a corresponding travel route of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner and 
 whose travel destination is less than a second specified distance away from a corresponding travel route destination of said another one of said two or more users. 
 
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for identifying an optimized travel route to be used for a given ride-sharing requirement, which when executed, comprise:
 identifying an origin corresponding to each of two or more users;   identifying personal preference criteria related to each of said two or more users;   identifying a destination provided by each of said two or more users;   correlating said origins and said destinations so as to find matched origins and destinations;   determining a matched list of users based upon said origins and said destinations of said two or more users;   filtering said matched list of users based upon said personal preference criteria; and   determining an optimized travel route corresponding to said origins and destinations related to said matched list of users.   
     
     
         12 . An Internet-based system for identifying an optimized travel route to be used for a given ride-sharing requirement, said system comprising:
 a means for identifying an origin corresponding to each of two or more users;   a means for identifying personal preference criteria related to each of said two or more users;   a means for identifying a destination provided by each of said two or more users;   a means for correlating said origins and said destinations so as to find matched origins and destinations;   a means for determining a matched list of users based upon said origins and said destinations of said two or more users;   a means for filtering said matched list of users based upon said personal preference criteria; and   a means for determining an optimized travel route corresponding to said origins and destinations related to said matched list of users.   
     
     
         13 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said means for identifying said origin and said means for identifying said destination form location information established via a graphical user interface available to one or more users searching for a ride sharing partner. 
     
     
         14 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said location information is uploaded to a mapping module that applies ride-sharing requirements. 
     
     
         15 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said location information is geocoded prior to uploading to said mapping module. 
     
     
         16 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said location information is geocoded by said mapping module. 
     
     
         17 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said mapping module applies said ride-sharing requirements by determining said matched list of users based upon said origins and said destinations of said two or more users and applying a travel route filter and a travel schedule filter to said matched list of users. 
     
     
         18 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said travel route filters are applied via said graphical user interface by at least one of said two or more users whose travel origin and travel destination are both less than a specified distance away from a corresponding travel origin and travel destination of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner. 
     
     
         19 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said travel route filters are applied via said graphical user interface by at least one of said two or more users
 whose travel origin is less than a first specified distance away from a corresponding travel origin of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner and 
 whose travel destination is less than a second specified distance away from a corresponding travel route of said another one of said two or more users. 
 
     
     
         20 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said travel route filters are applied via said graphical user interface by at least one of said two or more users
 whose travel origin is less than a first specified distance away from a corresponding travel route of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner and 
 whose travel destination is less than a second specified distance away from a corresponding travel destination of said another one of said two or more users. 
 
     
     
         21 . The Internet-based system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said travel route filters are applied via said graphical user interface by at least one of said two or more users
 whose travel origin is less than a first specified distance away from a corresponding travel route of another one of said two or more users searching for a ride sharing partner and 
 whose travel destination is less than a second specified distance away from a corresponding travel route destination of said another one of said two or more users.