EP1668589A1

EP1668589A1 - System for the arrangement of services

Info

Publication number: EP1668589A1
Application number: EP04786244A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Hinrichs; Florian Wildschuette
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2003-09-19
Filing date: 2004-08-31
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Also published as: US9026454B2; DE10343486A1; WO2005029376A1; US20070198276A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for arranging services, particularly carpooling opportunities and transport services, for example. Said system (1) comprises at least one service server (10) and a plurality of users encompassing service providers (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) and interested parties (14.1,14.2) The system (1) further comprises means of communication which allow at least information to be exchanged between the service server (10) and the users (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 14.1, 14.2), locating means for determining the current position of the users (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 14.1, 14.2), and memory means for at least temporarily storing information and positions of the users (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 14.1, 14.2).

Description

System for the mediation of services

State of the art

The invention relates to a system for switching services according to the preamble of claim 1.

DE 196 32 296 AI discloses a method and a device for arranging carpooling opportunities in a telecommunications network. In this known method for arranging carpooling opportunities, a subscriber looking for carpooling accesses a service server via a telecommunications network in order to obtain and select offers for carpooling opportunities stored there. The service server contains an interface circuit which connects it to a switching center and which receives a call from the searching subscriber, and a data store which stores data records, contain the information on the ridesharing opportunities offered and which are each assigned to one of the bidding participants. In addition, the service server contains a processor which controls a voice input of input data which the searching subscriber enters and which contains the details of the carpool sought, which compares the input data with the data records and which outputs voice output from those data records which match the input data, controls.

Passenger centers in metropolitan areas or in an internet structure are also known. Here, a provider announces several days or even weeks before the planned travel date that he wants to travel from location x to location Y at a certain date and is ready to take passengers with him. Such data is collected by the carpooling center mentioned or the internet organization and made available to potential interested parties. Interested parties who inquire about a ride with the carpooling center receive a fee-based information about existing carpool offers and can then contact the provider directly.

The mediation of ridesharing via the SMS service is also known. A search query is sent to a carpool via SMS. The search query includes at least information on the place of departure, the destination and the desired departure time. The carpool center determines a suitable provider and sends the phone number back to the interested party. Interested parties and providers can then continue to talk about the details of the ride. Advantages of the invention

The invention aims at an advantageous further development of ride-sharing systems, which is characterized in particular by increased flexibility. Compared to known systems, it is therefore possible to make even greater use of potentially available ridesharing resources and not only to maintain mobility, but even to increase it, despite the ever increasing traffic density, without providing additional vehicles. The invention also takes advantage of the fact that numerous traffic analyzes prove it

Road users should only take part in traffic with partially full vehicles and would be happy to take passengers with them. With constantly increasing fuel costs and lack of parking space in the metropolitan areas, this could be a particularly attractive offer for many road users. An essential core point of the invention is the up-to-date linkage of position and / or route information from providers of ridesharing opportunities on the one hand and position and / or route information from interested parties to corresponding ones

Carpooling on the other hand. Compared to conventional mediation offers for carpooling, which generally only coordinate departure and destination locations, the invention enables the linking of route information from the provider and the interested party. This means that it is not only possible to coordinate the starting point and the destination, but also to link all the locations or possible stops along a route. In this case, an intended route of a prospective customer can also be composed particularly advantageously from corresponding subsections of routes from several providers. An exchange of information between an on-board vehicle is particularly useful Navigation system and at least one preferably fixed service server supported. For example, the route information of a provider is communicated to the service server when the journey begins. The provider can also indicate that he is flexible with regard to his route choice and define a travel corridor of a predeterminable width that includes the specified route. The same applies to the specification of start and destination. If greater flexibility is possible, the provider can also define a starting and / or destination area by specifying a radius that is convenient for him around the starting point and / or destination. Finally, instead of specifying a specific start and arrival time, the provider can define a time window for his departure and / or arrival time. A prospect can also act similarly flexibly to increase the likelihood of being hit. The position information of prospective customers stored in the service server is communicated to the on-board navigation system as an intermediate destination to be approached. In order to facilitate the smooth admission of a passenger without delay, the prospective arrival of the provider at the stopover and pickup location is advised to the interested party. This can be done by a corresponding transmission of a time, a distance or a combination of these details. Ridesharing can be found practically spontaneously and in real time and does not have to be planned days or even weeks in advance. This greatly increases the flexibility of such a system and leads to increased acceptance among potential users. The solution according to the invention therefore also enables ridesharing opportunities in short-distance traffic, for example in an urban area. A practically constant update of the position information of the provider and the prospect increases the reliability of the contact at the prospect's location. The solution according to the invention is also of great interest for freight transport, since Have empty runs largely avoided. A connection to existing transport networks is also particularly advantageous, since mobility can also be ensured in this way if there is no carpool available on part of a route.

drawing

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows

1 shows the schematic representation of a system for the switching of services, FIG. 2 shows a list of offers,

Figure 3 shows a route plan

FIG. 4 shows a route plan,

Figure 5 shows a route plan.

Description of the embodiments

In the following description, certain terms are used, which will first be briefly explained. A provider in the sense of the invention is to be understood as someone who offers a service, such as ridesharing or transportation, in order to transport people and / or goods. This can be a private individual or a company. A prospect is someone who is one

Looking for transportation for yourself and / or other people or goods. The carpool is the Possibility of transporting people or goods understood.

The essence of the invention is to create a system which makes it possible to offer and search for a service, such as, in particular, a carpool, in real time, in order to find the available ones

Making better use of transport resources than before, reducing costs and increasing mobility in this way without placing a greater burden on the transport systems. The invention is based on the knowledge that there are unused transport capacities day after day that are only idle because supply and demand have so far not been able to be brought together in sufficient time. This applies in particular to transport offers and transport requests that arise at short notice and cannot be planned in the longer term. A prerequisite for the solution according to the invention is the possibility of capturing position information from providers and searchers in real time as far as possible and, at least temporarily, storing this, possibly together with further information transmitted by them, in order to keep a current one

Make a comparison between supply and demand and find out offers that satisfy the search request. The invention takes advantage of the fact that many potential users of such a system, that is to say both providers and prospective customers, are already equipped with GSM / GPRS / UMTS and / or GPS devices. For the foreseeable future, an increasing spread of these devices can be assumed. If, for example, vehicles available for carpool offers are equipped with the devices mentioned, their current position can easily be determined and transmitted to the service server. Furthermore, particularly in metropolitan areas, the position of a prospect can be determined with sufficient accuracy using various location methods, provided that the latter uses a mobile terminal, such as a PDA, mobile telephone, etc. The structure of the system according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG 1 shown. The system 1 comprises at least one service server 10, which is preferably arranged to be stationary. Two providers that are representative of any number of providers are designated 11.1 and 11.2. These providers 11.1 and 11.2 are mobile

Participants or users of system 1, for example the drivers of vehicles equipped with a navigation system, which offer a ride from location x to location y. With 12 a satellite of the GPS system is designated. Reference number 13 is one

Infrastructure device of a network operator, for example a transceiver. Finally, reference numbers 14.1 and 14.2 denote two prospective customers who are equipped with a mobile terminal, such as a PDA or cell phone, and which are representative of any number of prospective customers. Like the providers 11.1, 11.2, the interested parties 14.1, 14.2 are mobile subscribers or users of the system 1 who, for example, are currently looking for a ride from location x to location y. The above

System components, or users of the system, are connected to one another via a data connection, which enables a diverse exchange of information. In Figure 1, this data connection is indicated schematically by the arrows and double arrows shown there. The data connection mentioned is expediently implemented via already existing telecommunication networks, which preferably enable communication between the said system components and users by wireless means.

Preferably, the users of the system, such as providers 11.1, 11.2 and prospective customers 14.1, 14.2, log on to the service server 10 and store there a user profile to be defined by the system administrator that meets the mutual interests of the providers 11.1, 11.2 and the prospective customers 14.1, 14.2 becomes. This user profile can, for example, in addition to personal data, information about Costs and a photo also include information about the available or desired vehicles. The users can determine which information is only intended for the service server and which information can also be passed on to other users. Such a registration can expediently be carried out by potential users of the system 1 in advance, that is to say independently of a specific mediation process, so that the corresponding data are already available at the service server 10 when the service server 10 later offers an opportunity for a ride or a corresponding search request will be forwarded. This procedure is particularly recommended for regular users of system 1. For the present example it is assumed that provider 11.1 and prospective customer 14.1 are regular users of system 1 and that they have registered the following user profiles with service server 10:

Provider 11.1:

Person: male, age 52, frequent driver, non-smoker, passport photo

Vehicle: DC E-Class, like new, travel costs: 5 ct / km,

Passenger accident insurance.

Interested party 14.1:

Person: male, age 32, no driver's license, non-smoker, passport photo.

Providers 11.2 and prospective customers 14.2 who are not yet known to service server 10 have a current offer or search request and forward the offer and search request with their characteristic data to service server 10. Provider 11.2:

Person: male, age 32, frequent driver, smoker, passport photo Vehicle: DC C-Class, occupant accident insurance, is looking for passengers who are willing to take the wheel themselves on certain routes.

Interested party 14.2:

Person: male, age 23, driving license for cars and commercial vehicles, smoker, passport photo.

Examples:

Example 1:

A first exemplary embodiment is explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows a list of offers and Figure 3 shows a route plan. On Monday mornings, providers 11.1 and 11.2 are on their way from Hanover to Hildesheim. Provider 11.1 wants to get his job in Hildesheim. Provider 11.2 has embarked on a long-distance journey to Austria and plans to make a stopover in Hildesheim to pick up courier goods. When starting the journey, the providers 11.1 and 11.2 have the planned route, as well

Times, such as the start time, possible arrival time at the destination and intermediate times, communicated to the service server 10. Furthermore, you have deposited your carpool offer there. Provider 11.1 can accommodate three passengers, for example. Provider 11.2 is ready to transport a passenger who has a driving license and is ready to drive the vehicle on sections of the route to control the planned long-distance route itself in order to relieve the burden on the provider 11.2. At the same time, an interested party 14.1 is looking for a ride for two people to drive from Hanover, Hildesheimer Strasse 23 to Hildesheim, Goslarer Strasse 12. He sent this ride request to the service server 10. In response, a list of offers is submitted, which is provided by the provider 11.1. In addition to or as an alternative to this list, a site plan with marked routes can also be transmitted, from which the current positions of the providers of the current ridesharing opportunities can be seen, who are currently traveling on the route, or who are going to drive partial routes of the desired route and who are ready, passengers take. In addition, background information about the providers and their vehicles is transmitted. This includes, for example, information about pricing. So whether the provider offers the carpool for free or requires a fee. In addition, background information about the vehicles and people involved is available as

Providers and prospects must register or register before using the service. Possible information is, for example, vehicle type, name of the provider or driver, photo of vehicle and provider, or the like. By clicking the selected one

Vehicle symbol or the entry in the list (here provider 11.2) on the side of the seeker 14.1, the provider 11.2 is sent a corresponding message that, for example, an interested party 14.1 would like to travel from Hanover to Hildesheim. Furthermore, additional information about the interested party 14.1, such as a photo, can be transmitted to the provider 11.1. The provider 11.1 can then respond to the request for a ride from the prospective customer 14.1 by pressing a button and / or by voice. It is expedient to derive target information from this at the same time, which is entered into the navigation system of the vehicle of the provider 11.1 fed in and saved there as a future breakpoint. In the example, the prospect 14.1 has selected the provider 11.1, who also promptly confirms the request of the prospect 14.1. The provider 11.1 then moves to the current position of the prospective customer 14.1 in order to accommodate the passenger. Since the interested party 14.1 has transmitted his request via a mobile terminal, his current position can also be determined comparatively easily and automatically by the service server 10 in cooperation with the network operator's facilities.

By using a location module, the mobile device could also determine the position itself. The data is expediently transmitted via existing data networks, such as in particular GSM, GPRS or other suitable data connections. GPRS could expediently be used for the transmission of the position data of the mobile partners (providers, prospective customers) to and from the service server, since this enables a permanent online connection to be implemented and the amount of data to be transmitted is very small.

The prospect 14.2 is looking for a ride from Hanover to Munich. The service server 10 sends him an offer list, which also includes the offer of the provider 11.2. He is happy to accept this offer as there is a prospect of free carpooling for the temporary steering of the vehicle.

Example 2: A second example is explained with reference to FIG. 4.

A provider 11.1 wants to drive from Kiel to Osnabrück and is ready to take passengers. His route takes him via Hamburg and Bremen. A prospective customer 14.1 would like to drive from Hamburg to Bremen. The routes mentioned thus overlap from Hamburg to Bremen. The

Interested 14.1 can use this carpool to travel from Hamburg to Bremen. Example 3:

A third example is explained with reference to FIG. 5. A first provider 11.1 drives from Schwerin via Hamburg to Kassel and is ready to take passengers. A second provider 11.2 drives from Kiel to Osnabrück and is also ready to take passengers. A prospect

14.1 would like to travel from Neumünster to Hildesheim and could therefore travel with the second provider 11.2 between Neumünster and Hamburg. He then gets off at a rest stop in Hamburg and then looks for a carpool from Hamburg to Hildesheim by mobile phone. The provider

11.2 continues its journey to its destination Osnabrück. The first provider 11.1 has just arrived in Hamburg. The service server knows the route and the current position of the first provider 11.1 and communicates this to the interested party 14.1. The interested party 14.1 now sends an inquiry to the first provider 11.1. This agrees to the ride request. He therefore picks up prospect 14.1 at the rest area and transports him from Hamburg to Hildesheim. There he drops prospective customer 14.1 to his destination and then continues his journey to Kassel.

In another example, a prospect 14.1 from Hanover, Hildesheimerstr. Drive 123 to Hildesheim, Goslarer-Str. 12. Its corresponding request is sent to server 10. In response, prospective customer 14.1 receives a list of vehicles or a list of

Returned routes, from which the positions of providers 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 can be seen, who are currently traveling on the desired route or at least drive off partial routes and who want to take a passenger with them. Background information is available about these providers and is stored in the server 10. Possible information is, for example, vehicle type, information about the driver and / or keeper of the vehicle, picture of the driver and / or vehicle, price requests, etc. By clicking on the selected vehicle symbol or the list entry on the end device of the prospective customer 14.1, a message is sent to the driver of the selected vehicle indicating that there is a request for a ride the place X and the place Y was registered. Furthermore, if the provider 11.3 so requests, additional information about the prospect 14.1, such as personal data and / or a photo, can be transmitted. The provider 11.3 can then confirm the ride request by pressing a button or voice input and thereby accept the order. Together with this confirmation, the negotiated meeting point can be adopted as the destination in the navigation system of the vehicle. The data to be exchanged can be transmitted via GSM, GPRS or other data connections. GPRS could also be used to transmit position data, since this enables a permanent online connection to be implemented and the amount of data is very small.

It goes without saying that mediation processes can also be carried out in the opposite direction. For example, a provider can search for a suitable prospect to offer one

Find a carpool or other transport service.

In another example, the system can be used to track the current position of a parcel service or general cargo supplier. In combination with a route planner, the recipient of a shipment can be automatically notified when the parcel service comes close to the delivery address. An estimated time of arrival can also be transmitted. Freight forwarders and their customers can transfer their transport services and orders, as well as their usual route network, to server 10 report and have the transport services optimized by them. This avoids unnecessary empty trips by trucks.

It is still possible to expand the system to include other providers of transport services, such as airlines, railway companies and shipping companies. This could further increase mobility and reduce costs.

In a further example, trips or at least trips on partial routes by public transport can be proposed as an alternative solution. For this purpose, current vehicle positions of such means of transport as well as arrival or departure times can be transmitted, which enable an estimate of the arrival time at a stop, in order to avoid unnecessary waiting times in this way. Price information can also be transmitted. This alternative is useful, for example, if there are no carpool offers with private vehicles at certain times and / or on certain routes.

With the help of the system, a comprehensive supply of traffic services can also be realized by having one or more vehicles available for serving an area or corridor. No predefined routes and no fixed stops are assigned to these vehicles. Rather, suitable routes are compiled in real time by the server 10 on request. A present request for a ride is communicated to the vehicle that can be approached that the destination is approaching.

The system can also advantageously be used by taxi companies that use the services of the server 10. So the current location of free taxis be determined in order to keep travel costs to the customer's location as low as possible. In the case of shared taxis, an optimal route can be defined that ensures that the seat capacity is used to the greatest possible extent. This improves the revenue situation of the taxi company and at the same time reduces the costs for the passenger.

It is advisable to log all of the mediation processes handled by the system, so that they can be traced at any time. This is also recommended in the event that costs are claimed for system activities, for example by charging fees for successful placements.

Claims

claims

1. System (l) for the mediation of services, such as ridesharing and transport services in particular, with at least one fixed service server (10) and a large number of providers (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) and interested parties (14.1, 14.2) comprising participants that the system (1) comprises communication means that allow at least one exchange of information between the fixed service server (10) and the subscribers (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 14.1, 14.2), that the system (1) continues to locate the current Position of the participants (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 14.1, 14.2), and that the system (1) finally includes storage means for the at least temporary storage of positions and route information of the participants (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 14.1, 14.2) ,

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that interested parties (14.1, 14.2) in the system (1) incoming transport requests in real time compared with the transport offers registered by providers (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) and that if suitable offers are found, they will be sent to the interested party (14.1, 14.2).

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that if there is a match between supply and demand, a communication link between a provider (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) and an interested party (14.1, 14.2) can be established.

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for real-time detection of the position of participants (providers 11.1, 11.2, 11.3; prospective customers 14.1, 14.2).

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that supply and / or demand include not only start and destination locations but also route information.

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the offers of several providers (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) can be combined in order to offer a prospective customer (14.1, 14.2) a complete route.

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expected arrival times can be determined for any position on a route and are made available to the participants.

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that offers are provided in the form of a list or as a map, each with time information.

9. _S ystem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a participant (prospect 14.1,

14.2) is notified when a provider (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) has reached a certain position.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an interested party (14.1, 14.2) can specify start and / or destination areas by specifying a radius value around a start and / or destination point when specifying a start and / or destination point.

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when a route is announced, a provider specifies a corridor which includes the route and has a predeterminable width.

12. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the participants (11.1, 11.2, 11, 11, 14, 14, 14.2) specify time slots when specifying departure and arrival times in order to increase the probability of hits.

13. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the absence of a private offer, the prospect (14.1, 14.2) is offered a means of transport by public transport.

14. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that if there are several alternative offers, the prospective customer (14.1, 14.2) is offered a selection list comprising the alternative offers.

15. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that providers (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) and interested parties (14.1, 14.2) identifying characteristic data are stored in the system (1).