DE102016210840A1 - System and method for providing information about transport options on a user's electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for providing information about transport options for a transport path at a user's electronic device (20), wherein the transport path is defined at least by a start location X within a spatial area. At least the following steps take place: acquisition of information about the position of at least one parked rental vehicle (31, ..., 31n) of a rental car pool; Determination of the starting location X for the transport route; - determining the current position and / or the travel path of at least one further shared vehicle (50; 51) which does not belong to the rental car pool; - determination of availability information for parked rental vehicles (31; ...; 31n) of the rental car pool in the vicinity of the starting point X; Determination of availability information for further towing vehicles (50, 51) whose current position and / or their travel path are in the region of the start location X for the transport route; and - providing both availability information to the user's electronic device (20), wherein the detection of information about the position of at least one parked rental vehicle (31; ...; 31n) of the car pool is performed by a decentralized data management unit (11) and the electronic device (20) of the user, the rental car vehicles (31; ...; 31n) and / or the shared vehicles (50; 51) communicate directly with each other.

Description

The invention relates to a system and a method for providing information about transport options for a transport path on a user's electronic device, wherein the transport path is defined at least by a start location within a spatial area.

In the field of car rental or car sharing, it is known to use software solutions in which a user on an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a computer available vehicles are displayed near a location. Here, the location can be set as the current location of the electronic device or the user can specify any location / start location from which he wants to start a journey. However, if a car is not near the current location of the user, it must first travel to the car, using, for example, public transport. However, he has to determine cheap connections with these means of transport to the location of the vehicle separately in another way.

Similar software solutions are also known from car sharing areas in which people share their vehicle with other people. Again, the providers of a vehicle can enter the position of their parked vehicle in an application, or they tell a planned trip on which they are willing to take another person. Such an application is for example in the patent application US 2013/0054281 A1 described.

A procedure for brokering a service, in particular the organization of a ride or transport service, between a provider and a prospective customer is described in the DE 10 2012 220 254 A1 described.

In addition, the disclosed DE 10 2010 009 443 A1 a method for determining a desired travel connection.

A disadvantage of such solutions, however, is that these systems always identify only one possible mode of transport and indicate the user for use and that these transport options are managed and displayed only via central databases. In contrast, spontaneous and alternative means of transport, which arise situationally at the momentary location of the user, are not shown, but must be determined by the user in the central databases of (possibly even several different) mobility providers if required. Possible combinations of transport options in order to advantageously reach a destination from a starting location are usually rigid, based on theoretical timetables and / or habitually described locations / parking spaces and traffic areas.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved system for providing information about transport options for a transport path to an electronic device of a user, which offers the user in particular a spontaneous and the laws of a naturally chaotic system according to constantly changing selection of transport options.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a system according to independent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the system will become apparent from the dependent claims 2-9. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method according to independent claim 10. Advantageous developments of the method will become apparent from the claims 11-17.

It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with each other in any technically meaningful manner and show further embodiments of the invention. The description additionally characterizes and specifies the invention, in particular in connection with the figures.

• – Mittel zur Bereitstellung von Informationen über die Position wenigstens eines geparkten Mietfahrzeuges eines Mietwagenpools;
• – Mittel zur Ermittlung des Startortes X für den Transportweg;
• – Mittel zur Ermittlung der aktuellen Position und/oder des Fahrtweges wenigstens eines weiteren Mitnutzungsfahrzeugs, welches nicht zu dem Mietwagenpool gehört, wobei

The system according to the invention serves to provide information on currently existing or spontaneously resulting transport options for a transport path on an electronic device of a user. The transport path is defined at least by a starting point X within a spatial area, in particular a traffic node center such as an airport, central station, downtown area Park & Ride car park and the like, and the system comprises at least

• - means for providing information on the location of at least one parked rental vehicle of a rental car pool;
• - means for determining the starting point X for the transport route;
• - means for determining the current position and / or the travel path of at least one further shared vehicle, which does not belong to the rental car pool, wherein

the system is designed to ascertain availability information for parked rental vehicles of the rental car pool in the vicinity of the starting location X and availability information for further vehicles to be used, whose current position and / or travel path is in the region of the starting location X for the transport route. Further, the system configured to provide this availability information to the user's electronic device.

In addition, according to the invention, a decentralized data management unit is provided in the spatial area, in particular a traffic junction, such as an airport, central station, downtown area Park & Ride car park and the like, to which the user's electronic device can be wirelessly connected Position of at least one parked rental vehicle of the car pool available, and the data management unit and / or the electronic device of the user are adapted to availability information parked rental vehicles of the car pool in the vicinity of the starting point X and availability information on other vehicles, their current position and / or Travel path in the region of the starting point X for the transport path is to determine, wherein the electronic device and at least one shared vehicle are adapted to communicate directly with each other.

With this system, it is possible not only to display a user on an electronic device available mobility services in the form of rental cars of a defined car pool, but also additional mobility offers such as shared vehicles, which he could also use for a transport route. In particular, these shared vehicles are vehicles of other persons who provide their vehicle for shared use. These vehicles may be parked like a rental car of the car pool pool in one place or move currently within the area. In particular, these are private vehicles of persons who have informed the system that they are providing their vehicle for shared use.

This shared use may include the transfer of the vehicle for a certain period of time and / or the transport of other persons on a planned journey. For example, if people are on vacation or do not use their vehicle during the day, it can be parked in a place where other people can pick up the vehicle and use it for a certain period of time. Alternatively, infotainment systems of all possible vehicles via their daily and / or current destination input in a navigation system also communicate planned routes to the system and take other people along this route according to the principle of carpooling.

The user thus not only receives availability information on locations of parked rental cars of a rental car pool, but also availability information about currently available other vehicles and mobility services that he could use for a transport route. This will increase the number of available vehicles and thus the possible mobility offers and may also include improvements in the possibilities of use. For example, rental cars in the vicinity of the user could only be usable for 24 hours, while other vehicles could be used by him for a longer period of time. Also, other vehicles could better suit their needs, such as the planned transport of large items to large-load vehicles, as opposed to small cars. In this case, a person offering the service does not have to be the driver of a shared vehicle, but may also be a passenger. For example, a taxi driver can indicate in which direction he drives and give other users the opportunity to drive for a corresponding fare sharing with him. However, the user can also spontaneously decide on other mobility offers available to him, which may even be more advantageous in the respective situation than a rental vehicle.

The electronic device of the user is typically a computer, mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, etc. The invention can be used particularly advantageously for portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, smartphones or tablets, with which the user can readily avail himself of the availability of vehicles can query.

Particularly advantageous for this invention, the communication in the defined spatial area via the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard instead, since terminals, which can send out information about mobility offers locally are very cheap, the energy consumption is very low and today already ranges of 300 m can be achieved. For example, all automobiles may be equipped with it in the future, but even an electrified bicycle (pedelec) could be equipped with it without sacrificing range.

An application scenario would be, for example, that a user stands at the airport, wants to go downtown, and sees on his smartphone that there is a small car of a rental car pool nearby that he could use. However, this small car would only be usable for 24 hours while the user needed it for 48 hours. In addition, he sees, however, that there is a collector for another passenger who drives in the same direction and could take him with him. In the city center there might be more vehicles available for 48h use. This is how the user stands various transport options available, between which he can choose flexibly.

If no rental car is available and a taxi would not be desirable because of the high cost, the comfort-oriented user could also be offered the randomly departing airport bus in 3 minutes. In the inner-city area, the user may find that renting a car does not make sense because of the traffic situation on the ground and then prefers to use other mobility offers, which are spontaneously displayed to him again.

In addition, in one embodiment of the invention, the system is provided with information about public means of transport within the area, and it is designed to transmit this information to the user's electronic device for at least a subsection of the transport route. In the application scenario described above, the user could thus be displayed for a transport route from the airport to the city center also a connection with public transport in the city center. The integration of this information has the advantage that the user does not have to determine it in another system. Furthermore, for a transport route, a combination of travel by public transport and rental cars / shared vehicles could be displayed. For example, if vehicles are not directly at the airport, but can be quickly reached by public transport, which also have short-term departure times, the user could be shown this as an alternative means of transport.

In order to be able to display the corresponding availability information to the user on his electronic device, the system has information about the position of several parked rental vehicles of a defined rental car pool. According to the present invention, this is done by means of a decentralized data management unit which has this information. This transmits this information at the respective location via the BLE standard to the electronic devices wirelessly connected to the data management unit.

Furthermore, the system can determine the starting location X for the transport path desired by the user. This can also be done in different ways. For example, the system may basically include a communication component for inputting information that is in communication with the data management unit. In particular, this communication component can be an Internet portal or a website via which persons can enter information and thus transmit it to the data management unit. For example, people in this way can indicate that they are deploying their vehicle for shared use. You can enter the type of vehicle, its location and / or a planned itinerary. However, this enumeration of types of information is not meant to be exhaustive, but may be supplemented by any other information that may be relevant to the use and association of a vehicle with a user. This includes in particular information about user charges, preferred co-users such as smoker / non-smoker, talkative / less talkative, etc. The communication components of all participants including the Internet portals and local data management units on site must therefore be sent via a bi-directional interface according to the One to Many / Many to One.

Potential users of vehicles can also enter information via the website. For example, they can enter their location or a starting location for a desired route or the desired route even with a start and a destination. In one embodiment of the invention, the communication component is therefore formed at least for the input of travel paths of shared vehicles and / or the starting location X of a transport path. However, such information can also be recorded via a mobile app on a portable electronic device and, if appropriate, transmitted to the data management unit.

However, the starting location for a user's transport route and / or the location of available vehicles may also be determined automatically via signalers that are permanently installed within the area. If a vehicle or the electronic device of a user who is looking for an available vehicle in his environment is in the vicinity of such a signal generator, the vehicle / electronic device exchanges information with it, from which the location of the vehicle / electronic device is determined can.

According to this invention, this data exchange between the devices preferably takes place via so-called near field communication standards for example BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).

An embodiment of the invention therefore provides that within the spatial area a plurality of signal transmitters are permanently installed and designed to transmit signals with information about their identity to electronic devices. Such signal transmitters are based on a transmitter-receiver principle and transmit at fixed time intervals signals that can be received by receivers. This is for example on one Smartphone a corresponding Mobile App installed or a vehicle includes an electronic unit that is designed to receive and evaluate these signals. If a receiver comes within the range of a signal generator, typically its UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) can be identified. From this UUID, the location deposited for this signal generator and thus the approximate location of the electronic device which has received the signal from the transmitter can be determined.

The data transmission between the signal generator and the receiver takes place, for example, via the BLE technology (BLE - Bluetooth Low Energy), since it works very energy-efficiently. As a result, batteries in the fixed signalers are very rarely replaced. The range of such signalers is typically within closed buildings in the order of 30-70 m, outside up to 300 m. When various of these auto switches are installed at locations such as airports, train stations, city centers, etc., the position of vehicles / electronic bones that are within range of a signal generator can be determined.

An embodiment of the invention therefore provides that the signal generators are used at least as means for detecting the current position of a shared vehicle, and the shared vehicle is adapted to receive signals with information about their identity from the signal generators. If a shared vehicle is within the range of a signal generator, the position of the vehicle can be determined. Furthermore, the signal generators can be used at least as a means for detecting the starting location X for the travel path, and the user's electronic device is then adapted to receive signals with information about their identity from the signal generators. If a user with an electronic device is within the range of a signal generator, the position of the user can be determined. This position can be equated with the starting point X for a transport route if the user desires transport possibilities from his current location. A destination Y can optionally be entered by the user on his electronic device.

The determination of the position from the information about the identity of a signal generator can be carried out by various components of the system. In particular, in one embodiment of the invention, the shared vehicle, the user's electronic device, and / or the data management unit may be configured to determine from information about the identity of a signal generator the position of the respective signal generator within the area. For example, it may be provided that the user's shared vehicle and electronic device are designed so that they can determine their position directly from the information received from a signal generator. For this purpose, the devices must have corresponding position information of each signal generator. Alternatively, this information can be stored in the data management unit or it has access to this information, so that the information from a shared vehicle and / or the electronic device of a user can be queried at the data management unit.

However, the position of vehicles and / or the electronic device of a user can also be determined in other ways. For example, a GPS or GSM location can also be used. Also, different technologies can be combined. Further, they can be used not only for locating co-owned vehicles and electronic devices of users, but also for determining the location of rental cars of the car pool.

Once the positions of available vehicles and at least the starting location X have been determined for a desired user's travel path, the system may at least determine and indicate to the user on his electronic device which parked rental vehicles and which other shared vehicles currently in the proximity of the signal generator Transport options are available whose current position is in the area of the starting point X for the transport route. This area can be defined by a certain radius around the starting point X, which can be defined by the system or the user himself. Furthermore, it can be determined for which vehicles a travel path has been deposited, in the area of which the starting point X lies. For example, if a person has indicated that they are planning a drive from a location A to a location B, and the user's starting location X is on that path, the person could stop at the starting location X and take the user as a passenger. This expediently requires that its destination Y also lies on this path A-B or at least that there is sufficient agreement for this ride to be advantageous for the user. This may be the case, for example, if, from a certain location where the two routes are separated from one another, there is the option of traveling on public transport. Alternatively, the possibility of using public transport to a place where a rental car of the car pool is. At the very least, these options can be displayed to the user for selection on his electronic device and he can flexibly decide whether to select them.

In this case, the decentralized data management unit can take over the provision of availability information, for which only if necessary a communication between the vehicles and the data management unit and the electronic device of the user and the data management unit is required. However, the vehicles and the electronic device of a user can also communicate directly with each other. This can also be done via nearfield communication (for example, BLE technology), in which electronic devices communicate directly with each other within a radius of approximately 30-70 m indoors and up to 300 m outdoors. This is also referred to as the "Internet of Things" and has proven to be particularly advantageous in the field of communication between micro devices. However, it can also be used for the invention. For example, a vehicle may transmit its location and / or planned route via BLE technology, which may be received by a user's electronic device in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. A mobile app on the device of the user then determines whether the vehicle offers a suitable means of transport and shows the user if necessary. If several vehicles are suitable, the user will also be shown several transport options. These can be supplemented by public transport information, which the mobile app receives from other sources but can connect directly to the availability information. So the user does not need to use a second mobile app.

The vehicles can continuously send information about their availability, so that any other electronic device in the current environment of this vehicle can receive and evaluate the information. Many vehicles thus offer transport options (services) that can be used by many users if they are in communication range with such a vehicle. By limiting the range to the immediate environment, however, a user only receives offers about services that are of interest to him at his location.

Due to the restriction to the directly on-site meaningful offers from the decentralized data management units and the direct communication between the electronic terminals of the users and transport possibilities, the answering of a search query is possible much faster than via various central databases in the network.

The user's electronic device can also communicate with a nearby vehicle and inform it, for example, that the user wishes to rent or drive. So a suitable meeting place could be agreed. The user's electronic device thus scans the surroundings for suitable transport options and displays them to the user for selection while the vehicles scan the surroundings for suitable tenants or passengers. Thus, in this embodiment, multiple devices locally communicate multiple requests / transport options to multiple users.

A combination of different communication paths may also be advantageous, so that a communication between the central data management unit and other components of the system is combined with a direct communication between these components.

• – Erfassung von Informationen über die Position mehrerer geparkter Mietfahrzeuge eines definierten Mietwagenpools;
• – Ermittlung des Startortes X für den Transportweg;
• – Ermittlung der aktuellen Position und/oder des Fahrtweges wenigstens eines weiteren Mitnutzungsfahrzeugs, welches nicht zu dem definierten Mietwagenpool gehört;
• – Ermittlung von Verfügbarkeitsinformationen zu geparkten Mietfahrzeugen des Mietwagenpools im Umfeld des Startortes X;
• – Ermittlung von Verfügbarkeitsinformationen zu weiteren Mitnutzungsfahrzeugen, deren aktuelle Position und/oder deren Fahrtweg im Bereich des Startorts X für den Transportweg liegt; und
• – Bereitstellung beider Verfügbarkeitsinformationen an dem elektronischen Gerät des Nutzers, wobei

die Erfassung von Informationen über die Position wenigstens eines geparkten Mietfahrzeugs des Mietwagenpools durch eine dezentrale Datenverwaltungseinheit erfolgt und das elektronische Gerät des Nutzers, die Mietwagenfahrzeuge und/oder die Mitnutzungsfahrzeuge direkt miteinander kommunizieren.The invention also encompasses a corresponding method for providing information about transport options for a transport path on a user's electronic device, comprising at least the following steps:

• - Collect information about the position of several parked rental vehicles of a defined rental car pool;
• Determination of the starting location X for the transport route;
• Determining the current position and / or the travel path of at least one further shared vehicle which does not belong to the defined rental car pool;
• Determination of availability information for parked rental vehicles of the rental car pool in the vicinity of the starting point X;
• Determination of availability information for further towing vehicles whose current position and / or their travel path lies in the region of the starting point X for the transport route; and
• - Providing both availability information to the electronic device of the user, wherein

the detection of information about the position of at least one parked rental vehicle of the car pool is made by a decentralized data management unit and the electronic device of the user, the rental car vehicles and / or the shared vehicles communicate directly with each other.

In this case, the availability information can be generated by the electronic device of the user or generated by a decentralized data management unit and transmitted to the electronic device of the user. For example, the user's electronic device may independently be able to determine the locations of nearby vehicles in order to determine and display their availability to the user. Alternatively or additionally, the data management unit can complete the steps required for this or completely partially perform and submit the user's electronic device according to availability information. For example, it can be provided that the data management unit transmits availability information about parked rental vehicles to the user's electronic device, while the electronic device can independently determine availability information for other vehicles in its proximity. The user's electronic device then collates this information and displays it to the user as a possible means of transport.

If a decentralized data management unit carries out steps for determining the availability of shared vehicles, in one embodiment of the method it is provided that travel paths of shared vehicles and / or a starting location X of a transport route are detected via an input component which transmits these to the data management unit. The input component can be, in particular, the Internet page described above or a mobile app on an electronic device, but in particular at least one piece of information of a local signal generator for recording mobility offers via near field communication.

When using permanently installed signal transmitters, it is preferably provided that the current position of a shared vehicle and / or the starting location X for a travel path are determined by means of a plurality of signal transmitters permanently installed within the area, which are designed to transmit signals with information about their identity to electronic devices Send out devices. The user's towing vehicle and / or electronic device may then receive these signals with information about their identity from the signalers. The position of the respective signal transmitter within the area can then be determined by the shared vehicle, the user's electronic device and / or the data management unit.

Information about public transport connections for at least one subsection of the transport path is transmitted, for example, from the data management unit to the electronic device of the user. However, the device may also receive this information from other sources and evaluate it accordingly.

The reservation of vehicles can be made via a decentralized data management unit or directly by an electronic device of a user. For subsequent use, opening, operation of rental vehicles or shared vehicles can also be provided that this also a mobile app can be used on an electronic device.

Further advantages, features and expedient developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the figure 1 ,

1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system according to the invention 10 , the at least one decentralized data management unit 11 and several vehicles. The data management unit 11 is in connection with a communication component 15 , which can be formed, for example, by at least one server and an Internet page, via which any information with the data management unit 11 can be exchanged. About the communication component 15 Thus, information can be entered and / or retrieved.

In conjunction with the data management unit 11 is also a data source 30 which has up-to-date, local information about rental vehicles of a car pool. This rental car pool may be operated by one or more operators and may include a variety of different rental vehicles. It can also be bicycles, trams, (long-distance) buses, private cars, rental cars, water taxis and possibly other forms of transportation such as automated, individual passenger carriers such as drones. Exemplary are in 1 some of these rental vehicles with reference numbers 31 ... 31 ⁿ marked. In the vehicle 32 it is another rental vehicle. The data source 30 can be the data management unit 11 at least provide information about current locations and car rental availability. In addition, the data management unit 11 with a data source 40 including information on additional important information such as timetables, availability, necessary operating / use rights and benefits and fares.

The system 10 is operable within a narrower spatial area, which may, for example, be a neighborhood. However, the system may also include smaller areas such as the surroundings of an airport or a train station. The system is then offered, for example, by the operator of the airport or train station, so that customers in the respective area are shown various transport options when they arrive there.

In addition to the rental car of one or more rental car pools, other vehicles that are offered for private use by private individuals can also participate in the system. This information can be communicated to the system in a number of ways, including: for example via the communication component 11 can be entered. These shared vehicles may be private vehicles, but may also be taxis, for example. Two such shared vehicles are in the 1 with the reference numbers 50 and 51 characterized. Both shared vehicles 50 . 51 are located near the location X of a user with his electronic device 20 , Also near the user's X location is one of several fixed signalers. Exemplary are in the 1 three signal heads 12 . 13 and 14 shown in different places, of which the signaler 13 near the user's X location. The signalers 12 . 13 . 14 send out at fixed time intervals signals that can be received by receivers in their environment. The electronic device 20 the user represents such a receiver, the signal from the transmitter 13 can receive information about his identity. In the electronic device 20 For example, the user is a smartphone on which a mobile app is installed, with which the signals of the signal generator 13 can be received and assigned. In the system are the positions of all signalers 12 . 13 . 14 stored together with their IDs, so that from a received ID, the assigned position of each signal generator can be determined. This can be done by the electronic device 20 or by the data management unit 11 done when the electronic device 20 the ID of a detected signal transmitter transmitted to this. The electronic device 20 is thus preferably via a wireless radio link with the data management unit 11 connectable. Vehicles may also be equipped with electronic devices that allow the signals from the signalers to be received. The vehicles can also communicate with the data management unit via a radio link 11 be connectable.

In the embodiment of 1 recognizes, for example, the electronic device 20 the user that it is near the signaler 13 is located so that from the stored position of the signaler can be closed to the approximate position of the user. Depending on the range of the signal generator so the location X of the user can be determined with an accuracy of, for example, 30-70m. At the same time the shared vehicle recognizes 51 that it is near the signaler 13 is located, so that also the current position of the shared vehicle 51 can be determined. This information may be from the shared vehicle 51 to the data management unit 11 or directly to the electronic device 20 of the user. If the user in the location X is looking for a vehicle to leave the location X, he can thus use this shared vehicle 51 on his electronic device 20 be displayed as a transport option. If there are also rental cars in the area of his location, these can also be offered to him. In the scenario of 1 is the next rental car 32 However, relatively far away, what about an identification of the signaler 12 in the area of this rental car 32 can be determined. Nevertheless, the user of this rental car 32 are displayed. In addition, information can be provided on whether and at what time public transport to the location of the rental car 32 could be used.

In the aforementioned transport options is checked whether positions of parked vehicles in the area of the user's location X are. If so, the user can use them to travel from their location to any destination. Alternatively, however, the user can also specify such a destination, so that his desired transport path is defined by a start location X and additionally by a destination Y. This is exemplified in 1 represented by a user-desired transport path X-Y. The system can now also propose vehicles as transport options whose travel at least partially coincides with this transport route. So other people can take the user completely or partially on their journey.

For example, for a shared vehicle 50 a planned travel route 60 known from A to B, in the area of the user's location X, the user can this vehicle 50 also be offered as a transport option if the desired transport route 61 the user at least partially with the travel path of the vehicle 50 matches. In the case of 1 is for example a part of the transport route 61 of the user on the way 60 of the shared vehicle 50 , Although the user does not reach his destination Y in this way, he may be able to display possible public transport connections again for the onward journey. The same applies to a ride on public transport to the rental car 32 ,

In the shared vehicle 50 it may, for example, be a private vehicle of a person who previously provided the system with the entrainment of persons on the route 60 from A to B via the communication component 15 communicated. In particular, it may also be a taxi, whose customer other passengers offer the ride.

• – Mitnutzung des geparkten Mitnutzungsfahrzeugs 51
• – Mitfahrt in dem Mitnutzungsfahrzeug 50 in Kombination mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln
• – Mieten des Mietfahrzeugs 32 in Kombination mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln.

Overall, the user can thus at least the following three transport options on his electronic device 20 are displayed:

• - Joint use of the parked shared vehicle 51
• - Travel in the shared vehicle 50 in combination with public transport
• - Rent the rental vehicle 32 in combination with public transport.

If more vehicles are available, this list can be supplemented by further transport options. Preferably, the transport options below or next to each other are displayed in a list, so that the user can capture and compare all at the same time. In addition, additional information such as an estimated travel time and / or the travel price can be displayed. Furthermore, the transport options in a listing can be sorted according to specific criteria such as travel duration and / or travel costs. These criteria can be definable by the user.

The availability information about various transport options can be obtained from the data management unit 11 determined and to the electronic device 20 be transmitted. The electronic device 20 However, it can also be designed to determine the availability information partially or completely yourself. It can also be used a direct communication in which vehicles communicate with each other and can exchange information. For example, the vehicles 50 . 51 and 32 the electronic device 20 inform the user directly about where they are or what their planned route looks like. This possible direct communication is in the 1 shown with two jagged lines. Furthermore, communication may also take place via electronic devices such as smartphones of drivers / co-drivers with each other and not via facilities in the vehicle itself. Also, the electronic device 20 send the information to a vehicle that a user wants to use that vehicle. This may, for example, also include the information about where a vehicle should stop to pick up a user.

The billing of the use of rental vehicles and / or shared vehicles can via a billing component 16 done, which also in conjunction with the data management unit 11 stands. However, the use of shared vehicles can also be settled directly between the user and another person.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

 system

11

 Data management unit

12, 13, 14

 signaler

15

 Communication component, website

16

 billing component

20

 Electronic device, smartphone

30

 Data source for car pool

31 ... 31 ⁿ , 32

 rental car

40

 Data source for public transport

50, 51

 shared use of vehicle

60

 Travel vehicle shared vehicle

61

 Transport route users

X

 Starting point of the transport route, location users

Y

 Destination of the transport route

A

 Starting point of the shared vehicle

B

 Destination of shared vehicle

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2013/0054281 A1 [0003]
• DE 102012220254 A1 [0004]
• DE 102010009443 A1 [0005]

Claims (17)

System ( 10 ) for providing information about transport possibilities for a transport path on an electronic device ( 20 ) of a user, the transport path being defined at least by a starting location X within a spatial area, comprising - means for providing information about the position of at least one parked rental vehicle ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁿ ) a rental car pool; - means for determining the starting location X of the transport path; Means for determining the current position and / or the travel path of at least one further shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ), which does not belong to the rental car pool, whereby the system ( 10 ) is adapted to provide availability information on parked rental vehicles ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁿ ) of the rental car pool in the vicinity of the starting point X and availability information on other shared vehicles ( 50 ; 51 ), whose current position and / or its travel path is in the region of the starting location X of the transport path, and to determine this availability information on the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user, wherein in the spatial area a decentralized data management unit ( 11 ) is provided, with which the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user is wirelessly connectable, wherein the data management unit ( 11 ) Information on the location of at least one parked rental vehicle ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁿ ) of the car pool, and the data management unit ( 11 ) and / or the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user are adapted to provide availability information on parked rental vehicles ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁿ ) of the rental car pool in the vicinity of the starting point X and availability information on other shared vehicles ( 50 ; 51 ), the current position and / or the travel path of which is in the region of the starting point X for the transport path, the electronic device ( 20 ) and at least one shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ) are adapted to communicate directly with each other. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the system ( 10 ) Information about public transport on the data management unit ( 11 ) within the area, and is adapted to provide information on public transport links for at least a portion of the transport path to the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user. System according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it is a communication component ( 15 ) for inputting information, which in connection with the data management unit ( 11 ) stands. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the communication component ( 15 ) at least for the entry of routes of co-use vehicles ( 50 ; 51 ) and / or the starting location X of a transport path is formed. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that within the spatial area at least one signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) and is adapted to send signals with information about its identity to electronic devices. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) as a means of recording the current position of a joint vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ) and the shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ) is adapted to receive signals with information about its identity from the signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) to recieve. System according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) is used as a means for detecting the starting location X for the travel path, and the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user is adapted to receive signals with information about his identity from the signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) to recieve. System according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ), the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user and / or the data management unit ( 11 ) are constructed from information about the identity of a signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) the position of the respective signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) within the area. System according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the data transmission between a signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) and an electronic device via a BLE technology. Method for providing information about transport possibilities for a transport path on an electronic device ( 20 ) of a user, the transport path being defined at least by a start location X within a spatial area, comprising at least the following steps: - detecting information about the position of at least one parked rental vehicle ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁿ ) a rental car pool; Determination of the starting location X for the transport route; Determination of the current position and / or the travel path of at least one further shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ), which does not belong to the rental car pool; - Determination of availability information for parked rental vehicles ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁿ ) of the rental car pool in the vicinity of the starting point X; - Identification of availability information for other means of use ( 50 ; 51 ), whose current position and / or its travel path is in the region of the starting point X for the transport route; and - providing both availability information to the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user, wherein the acquisition of information about the position of at least one parked rental vehicle ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁿ ) of the rental car pool by a decentralized data management unit ( 11 ) and the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user, the rental cars ( 31 ; ...; 31 ⁽ⁿ ) and / or the vehicles of use ( 50 ; 51 ) communicate directly with each other. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the availability information from the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user or by the data management unit ( 11 ) and to the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user. Method according to one of claims 10 to 11, characterized in that travel paths of shared vehicles ( 50 ; 51 ) and / or a starting location X of a transport path via an input component ( 15 ), which transmit these to a data management unit ( 11 ) transmitted. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the current position of a shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ) and / or the starting point X for a travel path by means of at least one signal transmitter permanently installed within the spatial area ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ), which is adapted to send signals with information about its identity to electronic devices. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ) and / or the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user signals with information about their identity from a signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) received. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the shared vehicle ( 50 ; 51 ), the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user and / or the data management unit ( 11 ) information about the identity of a signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) the position of the respective signal generator ( 12 ; 13 ; 14 ) within the area. Method according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the communication takes place via a BLE technology. Method according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the data management unit ( 11 ) Information on public transport links for at least a portion of the transport path to the electronic device ( 20 ) of the user.

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