Method and system for ultrasonic proximity service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022158745-A1
Application number	US-202217592379-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 3, 2022
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	May 19, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system can receive a request for service from the computing device of a requesting user of the users of the network service and select a driver to provide the service for the requesting user. The system transmits an invitation to the computing device of the selected driver to facilitate the request, and transmits a first set of data to the computing device of the requesting user or the selected driver. The first set of data enabling the computing device of the requesting user or selected driver to output an ultrasonic signal. The system then receives a second set of data indicating that the computing device of the selected driver or the user detected the ultrasonic signal. Based on receiving the second set of data, the system verifies that a rendezvous between the requesting user and the selected driver has occurred.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computing system implementing a network service, comprising:
a network communication interface to communicate, over one or more networks, with (i) computing devices of users of the network service, and (ii) computing devices of drivers of the network service; one or more processors; and one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to:
receive, over the one or more networks, a request for service from the computing device of a requesting user of the users of the network service;
select a driver to provide the service for the requesting user;
transmit, over the one or more networks, an invitation to the computing device of the selected driver to facilitate the request for the requesting user;
transmit, over the one or more networks, a first set of data to the computing device of the requesting user, the first set of data enabling the computing device of the requesting user to output an ultrasonic signal;
receive, over the one or more networks, a second set of data from the computing device of the selected driver, the second set of data indicating that the computing device of the selected driver detected the ultrasonic signal; and
based on receiving the second set of data, verify that a rendezvous between the requesting user and the selected driver has occurred.

2 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device of the requesting user outputs the ultrasonic signature in response to a user input from the requesting user.

3 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic signature from the computing device of the requesting user requires the computing device of the selected driver to be within a threshold distance of the computing device of the requesting user for detection.

4 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic signature comprises a unique match code configured to authenticate the selected driver as a driver of the network service.

5 . The computing system of claim 4 , wherein the ultrasonic signature further comprises a data frame comprising a preamble and a set of bit states that define the unique match code.

6 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computing system to select the selected driver based on at least one of a distance or an estimated time of arrival to a current location of the requesting user.

7 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the network service comprises at least one of a package delivery service or a mail delivery service.

8 . A computing system implementing a network service, comprising:
a network communication interface to communicate, over one or more networks, with (i) computing devices of users of the network service, and (ii) computing devices of drivers of the network service; one or more processors; and one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to:
receive, over the one or more networks, a request for service from the computing device of a requesting user of the users of the network service;
select a driver to service the request for the requesting user;
transmit, over the one or more networks, an invitation to the computing device of the selected driver to facilitate the request for the requesting user;
transmit, over the one or more networks, a first set of data to the computing device of the selected driver, the signal enabling the computing device of the selected driver to output an ultrasonic signature;
receive, over the one or more networks, a second set of data from the computing device of the requesting user, the second set of data indicating that the computing device of the requesting user detected the ultrasonic signature; and
based on receiving the second set of data, verify that a rendezvous between the requesting user and the selected driver has occurred.

9 . The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the computing device of the selected driver outputs the ultrasonic signature in response to an input from the selected driver.

10 . The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the ultrasonic signature from the computing device of the selected driver requires the computing device of the requesting user to be within a threshold distance of the computing device of the selected driver for detection.

11 . The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the ultrasonic signature comprises a unique match code configured to authenticate the selected driver as a driver of the network service.

12 . The computing system of claim 11 , wherein the ultrasonic signature further comprises a data frame comprising a preamble and a set of bit states that define the unique match code.

13 . The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computing system to select the selected driver based on at least one of a distance or an estimated time of arrival to a current location of the requesting user.

14 . The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the network service comprises at least one of a package delivery service or a mail delivery service.

15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to:
communicate, over one or more networks, with (i) computing devices of users of the network service, and (ii) computing devices of drivers of the network service; receive, over the one or more networks, a request for service from the computing device of a requesting user of the users of the network service; select a driver to service the request for the requesting user; transmit, over the one or more networks, an invitation to the computing device of the selected driver to facilitate the request for the requesting user; transmit, over the one or more networks, a first set of data to the computing device of the selected driver, the signal enabling the computing device of the selected driver to output an ultrasonic signature; receive, over the one or more networks, a second set of data from the computing device of the requesting user, the second set of data indicating that the computing device of the requesting user detected the ultrasonic signature; and based on receiving the second set of data, verify that a rendezvous between the requesting user and the selected driver has occurred.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the computing device of the selected driver outputs the ultrasonic signature in response to an input from the selected driver.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic signature from the computing device of the selected driver requires the computing device of the requesting user to be within a threshold distance of the computing device of the selected driver for detection.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic signature comprises a unique match code configured to authenticate the selected driver as a driver of the network service.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the ultrasonic signature further comprises a data frame comprising a preamble and a set of bit states that define the unique match code.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computing system to select the selected driver bas

Assignees

• Uber Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Cirit Fahrettin Olcay

Classifications

• G01S5/18 Primary

  using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04B11/00 Primary

  Transmission systems employing ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves · CPC title

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04W12/65

  Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data · CPC title