Systems and methods for queueing in dynamic transportation networks

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include matching transportation requests to transportation providers using a dynamic transportation matching system. Matching transportation requestors which have varying preferences for waiting times and transportation pricing with transportation providers having varying levels of available supply may involve matching methods that satisfy the transportation requestors while maintaining an appropriate level of supply. A method which provides immediate service for transportation requestors that may be willing to pay a premium fare while placing transportation requestors not willing to pay a premium fare and may be willing to wait may provide a balance of supply and demand of transportation providers. Accordingly, immediately matching transportation requestors not willing to wait while placing the transportation requestors willing to wait in a queue may provide the balanced approach to managing transportation provider availability. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, from a transportation requestor device associated with a transportation requestor, a request to be transported from an initial location to a destination location within a geographic area;   determining that the received request is to be placed in a transportation request queue that organizes transportation requests for at least a first form of transportation service;   determining a current length of the transportation request queue, the current length of the transportation request queue indicating at least a minimum amount of time before which the first form of transportation service will be provided to the transportation requestor device;   based at least in part on the current length of the transportation request queue, determining that an alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device; and   providing the determined alternative form of transportation service to the transportation requestor device.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the determined alternative form of transportation service to the transportation requestor device comprises instructing the transportation requestor device on how to access the alternative form of transportation service. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the alternative form of transportation service comprises at least one of: walking, cycling, taking a bus, taking a train, taking a subway, or taking a personal mobility vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein providing the determined alternative form of transportation to the transportation requestor device includes providing instructions for a combination of at least two of: walking, cycling, taking a bus, taking a train, taking a subway, or taking a personal mobility vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum amount of time before which the first form of transportation service will be provided to the transportation requestor device comprises an estimated time that is estimated based on one or more factors. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device is further based on the current length being at least a specified minimum length. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device is further based on an estimated time of the request being in the transportation request queue. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device is further based on an estimated time of travel from the initial location to the destination location. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device is further based on an estimated time to travel to the transportation requestor's destination location using the alternative form of transportation service. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein a fare associated with the request is based, at least in part, on the current length of the transportation request queue. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the fare associated with the transportation request is increased, decreased, or maintained according to the current length of the transportation request queue in the geographic area. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising one or more physical processors and one or more memories coupled to one or more of the physical processors, the one or more memories comprising instructions operable when executed by the one or more physical processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a transportation requestor device associated with a transportation requestor, a request to be transported from an initial location to a destination location within a geographic area;   determining that the received request is to be placed in a transportation request queue that organizes transportation requests for at least a first form of transportation service;   determining a current length of the transportation request queue, the current length of the transportation request queue indicating at least a minimum amount of time before which the first form of transportation service will be provided to the transportation requestor device;   based at least in part on the current length of the transportation request queue, determining that an alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to an electronic device associated with the transportation requestor device; and   providing the determined alternative form of transportation service to the transportation requestor device.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein providing the determined alternative form of transportation service to the transportation requestor device comprises instructing the transportation requestor device on how to access the alternative form of transportation service. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the alternative form of transportation service comprises at least one of: walking, cycling, taking a bus, taking a train, taking a subway, or taking a personal mobility vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein providing the determined alternative form of transportation to the transportation requestor device includes providing instructions for a combination of at least two of: walking, cycling, taking a bus, taking a train, taking a subway, or taking a personal mobility vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the minimum amount of time before which the first form of transportation service will be provided to the transportation requestor device comprises an estimated time that is estimated based on one or more factors. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining that the alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device is further based on the current length being at least a specified minimum length. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining that the alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device is further based on an estimated time of the transportation requestor being in the transportation request queue. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining that the alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to the transportation requestor device is further based on an estimated time of travel from the initial location to the destination location. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:
 receive, from a transportation requestor device associated with a transportation requestor, a request to be transported from an initial location to a destination location within a geographic area;   determine that the received request is to be placed in a transportation request queue that organizes transportation requests for at least a first form of transportation service;   determine a current length of the transportation request queue, the current length of the transportation request queue indicating at least a minimum amount of time before which the first form of transportation service will be provided to the transportation requestor device;   based at least in part on the current length of the transportation request queue, determine that an alternative form of transportation service is to be offered to an electronic device associated with the transportation requestor device; and   provide the determined alternative form of transportation service to the transportation requestor device.