Rideshare system and associated methodology

US8285571B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC. · US

Inventors

• David Demirdjian · Boca Raton, US
• Steven F. Kalik · Arlington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 18, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 9, 2012
• Expiry date: Jul 19, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q50/01
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A rideshare system and associated methodology for recommending rideshares to prospective riders and drivers uses itineraries and personal affinities to make the recommendations. The rideshare system computes a cost value by comparing the search criteria submitted by a user to stored user profiles. Results of the comparison are displayed in order of highest match to lowest match, according to the cost values computed. Further, the system also adaptively updates the stored profiles according to rideshare history. Lastly, the system includes a real-time user localization unit to locate prospective riders and drivers in real time, making just in time or unplanned rideshares possible.