Predictive location selection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12096522-B2
Application number	US-202318213068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2023
Priority date	May 19, 2017
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A system can receive location data from a computing device of a requesting user, where the location data indicates a current position of the requesting user. The system can determine a rendezvous location for the requesting user prior to the requesting user transmitting a service request to the network computer system. The system may then transmit data corresponding to the rendezvous location to the computing device of the requesting user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A network computer system implementing a transport service, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the network computer system to:
receive, over one or more networks, location data from a computing device of a requesting user, the location data indicating a current position of the requesting user;
determine a plurality of transport providers within a predetermined distance or time from the current position of the requesting user;
based at least in part on respective locations of the plurality of transport providers, and prior to the user transmitting a service request to the network computer system, transmit, over the one or more networks, map data to the computing device of the requesting user, the map data initiating the computing device of the requesting user to indicate a rendezvous location, at which the requesting user is to rendezvous with a subsequently matched transport provider, on a map interface;
upon receiving the service request from the computing device of the requesting user, and as the user travels to the rendezvous location, (i) select a first transport provider for the requesting user, and (ii) transmit, over the one or more networks, a service invitation to a computing device of the first transport provider; and
upon receiving an acceptance input from the computing device of the first transport provider, transmit, over the one or more networks, a confirmation to the computing device of the requesting user, the confirmation identifying the first transport provider and the rendezvous location for the requesting user.

2. The network computer system of claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to determine the rendezvous location based on directional headings of a plurality of proximate transport providers in relation to the current position of the requesting user.

3. The network computer system of claim 1 , wherein the map data further initiates the computing device of the requesting user to present travel directions to the rendezvous location on the map interface.

4. The network computer system of claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to repeatedly determine updated rendezvous locations for the requesting user based on updated locations of transport providers within the predetermined distance or time from the current position of the requesting user.

5. The network computer system of claim 4 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to repeatedly determine the updated rendezvous locations in response to requests for updated rendezvous locations being received from the computing device of the requesting user.

6. The network computer system of claim 5 , wherein the network computer system receives each request for an updated rendezvous location from the computing device of the user at regular time intervals.

7. The network computer system of claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to determine a respective rendezvous location for the requesting user to account for inherent delays in a matching process in which the requesting user is matched with the first transport provider subsequent to receiving the service request.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for implementing a transport service, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a network computer system, cause the network computer system to:
receive, over one or more networks, location data from a computing device of a requesting user, the location data indicating a current position of the requesting user;
determine a plurality of transport providers within a predetermined distance or time from the current position of the requesting user;
based at least in part on respective locations of the plurality of transport providers, and prior to the user transmitting a service request to the network computer system, transmit, over the one or more networks, map data to the computing device of the requesting user, the map data initiating the computing device of the requesting user to indicate a rendezvous location, at which the requesting user is to rendezvous with a subsequently matched transport provider, on a map interface;
upon receiving the service request from the computing device of the requesting user, and as the user travels to the rendezvous location, (i) select a first transport provider for the requesting user, and (ii) transmit, over the one or more networks, a service invitation to a computing device of the first transport provider; and
upon receiving an acceptance input from the computing device of the first transport provider, transmit, over the one or more networks, a confirmation to the computing device of the requesting user, the confirmation identifying the first transport provider and the rendezvous location for the requesting user.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to determine the rendezvous location based on directional headings of a plurality of proximate transport providers in relation to the current position of the requesting user.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the map data further initiates the computing device of the requesting user to present travel directions to the rendezvous location on the map interface.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to repeatedly determine the updated rendezvous locations for the requesting user based on updated locations of transport providers within the predetermined distance or time from the current position of the requesting user.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to repeatedly determine the updated rendezvous locations in response to requests for updated rendezvous locations being received from the computing device of the requesting user.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the network computer system receives each request for an updated rendezvous location from the computing device of the user at regular time intervals.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the network computer system to determine a respective rendezvous location for the requesting user to account for inherent delays in a matching process in which the requesting user is matched with the first transport provider subsequent to receiving the service request.

15. A computer-implemented method of managing a transport service, the method being performed by one or more processors of a network computer system and comprising:
receiving, over one or more networks, location data from a computing device of a requesting user, the location data indicating a current position of the requesting user;
determining a plurality of transport providers within a predetermined distance or time from the current position of the requesting user;
based at least in part on respective locations of the plurality of transport providers, and prior to the user transmitting a service request to the network computer system, transmitting, over the one or more networks, map data to the computing device of the requesting user, the map data initiating the computing device of the requesting user to indicate a rendezvous location, at which the requesting u

Assignees

• Uber Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Pan Pan
• Petersen Jon
• Su Kevin
• Trivedi Ronak

Classifications

• H04W92/02

  Inter-networking arrangements · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W48/18 Primary

  Selecting a network or a communication service · CPC title

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04W64/00

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title