CA2304683A1 - Method of dispatching taxicabs using portable wireless device - Google Patents
Method of dispatching taxicabs using portable wireless device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2304683A1 CA2304683A1 CA 2304683 CA2304683A CA2304683A1 CA 2304683 A1 CA2304683 A1 CA 2304683A1 CA 2304683 CA2304683 CA 2304683 CA 2304683 A CA2304683 A CA 2304683A CA 2304683 A1 CA2304683 A1 CA 2304683A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- control device
- portable wireless
- signal
- taxi
- wireless device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/20—Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
- G08G1/202—Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
Abstract
A method of hailing a taxicab with a portable wireless device, wherein the user of the portable wireless device points the device at a taxi and sends a signal that is picked up by the taxi. If the taxi is available it the driver will be notified that a passenger is waiting. If the taxi is unavailable the taxi will automatically notify the dispatch system and the closest available taxi will be sent to pick up the passenger.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The object of the invention is to provide people with a better method of hailing a cab. The new method employs known technology in a novel way. Instead of whistling or stepping into the road and waving, the user simply points a portable wireless device, possibly an infrared device at a taxi. Upon receiving a signal from a portable wireless device, a separate device within the taxi will either:
notify the driver that a passenger wishes to be picked up if the taxi is available; or notify the dispatch system that a passenger wishes to be picked up in that area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
Taxicabs will be equipped with wireless receivers, transmitters, control devices, and GPS devices. The method begins with the user pointing a portable wireless device (mobile phone, electronic organizer or other) at a taxicab and sending a hailing signal. When the receiver in the taxi gets a hailing signal, it will pass the signal along to the control device. If the taxi is available the control device will simply indicate to the driver that a passenger has hailed the cab. The indication to the driver will be via visual means, audio means or a combination of the two, but the type of indication used is not essential to the invention.
If the taxi is unavailable when the user send a hailing signal, the control device will determine the taxi's position by using the GPS device. The control device will then cause the transmitter to transmit the position and the user request to the dispatch system. The signal from the transmitter will be sent via wireless means, preferably cellular means.
The object of the invention is to provide people with a better method of hailing a cab. The new method employs known technology in a novel way. Instead of whistling or stepping into the road and waving, the user simply points a portable wireless device, possibly an infrared device at a taxi. Upon receiving a signal from a portable wireless device, a separate device within the taxi will either:
notify the driver that a passenger wishes to be picked up if the taxi is available; or notify the dispatch system that a passenger wishes to be picked up in that area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
Taxicabs will be equipped with wireless receivers, transmitters, control devices, and GPS devices. The method begins with the user pointing a portable wireless device (mobile phone, electronic organizer or other) at a taxicab and sending a hailing signal. When the receiver in the taxi gets a hailing signal, it will pass the signal along to the control device. If the taxi is available the control device will simply indicate to the driver that a passenger has hailed the cab. The indication to the driver will be via visual means, audio means or a combination of the two, but the type of indication used is not essential to the invention.
If the taxi is unavailable when the user send a hailing signal, the control device will determine the taxi's position by using the GPS device. The control device will then cause the transmitter to transmit the position and the user request to the dispatch system. The signal from the transmitter will be sent via wireless means, preferably cellular means.
Claims (6)
1. A method of dispatching taxicabs using a portable wireless device, a wireless receiver and transmitter, a GPS device and a control device, said wireless receiver and transmitter and GPS device all electronically connected to said control device, said method comprising the steps of:
sending a hailing signal from the portable wireless device pointed by a prospective passenger at a taxicab;
said receiver receiving said hailing signal and passing it along to said control device;
said control device notifying the driver of the hailing signal if the taxicab is available to pick up the passenger;
said control device obtaining the position of the taxicab from said GPS
device and causing the transmitter to send a signal to the dispatch system, notifying said dispatch system of the position of the taxi at the time the hailing signal was received.
sending a hailing signal from the portable wireless device pointed by a prospective passenger at a taxicab;
said receiver receiving said hailing signal and passing it along to said control device;
said control device notifying the driver of the hailing signal if the taxicab is available to pick up the passenger;
said control device obtaining the position of the taxicab from said GPS
device and causing the transmitter to send a signal to the dispatch system, notifying said dispatch system of the position of the taxi at the time the hailing signal was received.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable wireless device sends an infrared hailing signal.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable wireless device sends a radio frequency hailing signal.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitter sends a cellular signal.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the control device is a microprocessor.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the control device is a programmable logic array.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2304683 CA2304683A1 (en) | 2000-04-07 | 2000-04-07 | Method of dispatching taxicabs using portable wireless device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2304683 CA2304683A1 (en) | 2000-04-07 | 2000-04-07 | Method of dispatching taxicabs using portable wireless device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2304683A1 true CA2304683A1 (en) | 2001-10-07 |
Family
ID=4165828
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2304683 Abandoned CA2304683A1 (en) | 2000-04-07 | 2000-04-07 | Method of dispatching taxicabs using portable wireless device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2304683A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108734950A (en) * | 2017-04-18 | 2018-11-02 | 北京嘀嘀无限科技发展有限公司 | Share-car method and device, network about vehicle method and device |
-
2000
- 2000-04-07 CA CA 2304683 patent/CA2304683A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108734950A (en) * | 2017-04-18 | 2018-11-02 | 北京嘀嘀无限科技发展有限公司 | Share-car method and device, network about vehicle method and device |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |