GB2431535A

GB2431535A - Means for summoning a taxi based on GPS position

Info

Publication number: GB2431535A
Application number: GB0521557A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Leech
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-22
Filing date: 2005-10-22
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Also published as: GB0521557D0

Abstract

An arrangement is disclosed whereby a taxi 2 equipped with a GPS receiver 3 may be hailed by means of a fixed payment device 8 located on a street or via a mobile telephone (8,Fig3). In a first embodiment, upon inserting a payment into the fixed payment device 8, the device transmits a signal to a mainframe 13 advising that a taxi is required at that particular street location. In an alternative embodiment, the person sends an SMS message from their mobile telephone (8,Fig3) to the taxi service including the street name at which they are located. The SMS is relayed via the telephone operators messaging centre (19,Fig3) to the mainframe 13 advising that a taxi is required at that particular street location. In both embodiments the mainframe 13 processes the information and selects the most appropriate taxi for hire based on which one is closest to the particular fixed payment device or street location. A signal is then sent from the mainframe 13 to the correct taxi prompting them to pick up the passenger.

Description

Taxi Find This invention relates to finding a taxi in a busy town or city.

When you are in a busy town or city it may be difficult to find a taxi for hire. They may be in other parts of the town or city that are busier than your location or there may not be many taxis for hire at that particular time.

To overcome this, this invention consists of a passenger using a meter in a city street or their mobile telephone to summon the nearest taxi for hire using Global Positioning System technology The meter accepts payment or the mobile telephone sends an SMS.

This would eliminate the need for a taxi controller.

This would allow the passenger to board a taxi at the quickest possible time.

This would also give the taxi company an advantage over their competitors An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure I shows taxis on a busy street and a passenger looking for a taxi.

Figure 2 shows a passenger summoning a taxi using a meter and Global Positioning System.

Figure 3 shows a passenger summoning a taxi using their mobile telephone.

In figure 1, a taxi passenger 1 is standing in a street next to the road 2 A taxi that has picked up passengers 3 is passing the passenger 1. Another taxi 4, which is for hire is passing the passenger and will need to be prompted to stop In figure 2, the GPS receiver I in the taxi 2 and the GPS receiver 3 in the taxi 4 have calculated their street location by sending and receiving signals 16 and 17 to the GPS Satellite 4. The taxi 6 has disabled their GPS receiver 5 as they have picked up passengers The radio transmitter and receivers 9 and 10 have sent signals of the street location 11 and 12 to the mainframe 13. The passenger 7 is standing in a street next to the road 18 and has input the starting fare for the journey e.g. 2.00 into the taxi box 8 which in turn has sent a signal 14 to the mainframe 13 advising that a taxi is required at that particular street location. The mainframe 13 then processes the information and selects the most suitable taxi for the hire based on which one is closest to the street the taxi meter 8 is situated. A signal 15 is then sent from the mainframe to the correct taxi radio transmitter and receiver 10 that is suitable for the hire, prompting them to pick up the passenger.

In figure 3, the GPS receiver 1 in the taxi 2 and the GPS receiver 3 in the taxi 4 have calculated their street location by sending and receiving signals 16 and 17 to the GPS Satellite 4. The taxi 6 has disabled their UPS receiver 5 as thy have picked up passengers. The radio transmitter and receivers 9 and 10 have sent signals of the street location 11 and 12 to the mainframe 13. The passenger 7 is standing in a street next to the road 18 and has send an SMS 14 from their mobile telephone 8 to the taxi service with the street name they are located. This SMS 14 is sent from the mobile telephone to the telephone operators' message centre 19 The SMS is relayed 20 from the telephone operators' message centre 19 and is received by the mainframe 13 advising that a taxi is required at that particular Street location. The mainframe 13 then processes the information and selects the most suitable taxi for the hire based on which one is closest to the street the passenger 7 is located. A signal 15 is then sent from the mainframe to the correct taxi radio transmitter and receiver 10 that is suitable for the hire, prompting them to pick up the passenger.

Claims

Claims I. This invention consists of a passenger on a town or city street

summoning the nearest taxi for hire using Global Positioning System technology
2. A. passenger summoning a taxi on a town or city street according to claim I, in which a meter is installed in the street that accepts payment from the passenger and uses Global Positioning System technology to locate the nearest taxi for hire
3. A passenger summoning a taxi on a town or city street according to claim I, in which a passenger sends an SMS from their mobile telephone to a mainframe computer that uses Global Positioning System technology to locate the nearest taxi for hire