Mobile Card Processing Using Multiple Wireless Devices

Abstract

A taxi fare system for a vehicle includes a meter, a wireless access point carried on the vehicle, a first mobile computing device a wireless, a second mobile computing device, a display and a credit card reader. The meter is configured to receive data from the vehicle indicating distance travelled, to measure waiting time, and to calculate an amount of a passenger fare based at least on the distance travelled and the waiting time. The first mobile computing device is positioned in a driver section of the vehicle and receives data from the meter. The second mobile computing device is positioned in a passenger section of the vehicle and receive card information from the card reader. The first and second mobile computing devices are configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless access point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A taxi fare system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a meter configured to receive data from the vehicle indicating distance travelled, to measure waiting time, and to calculate an amount of a passenger fare based at least on the distance travelled and the waiting time;   a wireless access point carried on the vehicle;   a first mobile computing device positioned in a driver section of the vehicle, the first mobile computing device coupled to the meter to receive data indicating the amount of the passenger fare, the first mobile computing device configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless access point;   a second mobile computing device positioned in a passenger section of the vehicle, the second mobile computing device configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless access point, wherein at least one of the wireless access point, the first mobile computing device or the second mobile computing device is configured to provide a wireless connection to the Internet;   a display configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless access point; and   a credit card reader coupled to the second mobile computing device, wherein the second mobile computing device is configured to receive card information from a scan of a card, and at least one of the second mobile computing device or the first mobile computing device is configured to submit a request for authorization for a transaction with the card for the passenger fare via the wireless connection to the Internet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless access point is configured to generate a local Wi-Fi hotspot. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second mobile computing device includes the display. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second mobile computing device is configured to receive the amount of the passenger fare from the first mobile computing device via the wireless access point. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first second mobile computing device is configured to display the amount of the passenger fare on the display. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second mobile computing device is configured to submit the request for authorization for the transaction. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second mobile computing device is configured to send the card information to the first mobile computing device, and the first mobile computing device is configured to submit the request for authorization for the transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mobile computing device is coupled to the meter by a data cable. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mobile device is configured to receive signals from the meter indicating a start and an end for a trip of the passenger. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first mobile device is configured to determine a start time and end time for the trip from the signals. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first mobile device is configured to determine starting geographical position and ending geographical position based at least upon the signals from the meter indicating the start and the end for the trip, and wherein the first mobile device is configured to send the starting geographical position and ending geographical position to a dispatcher system via the wireless access point. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mobile device is configured to receive from the meter a start time and end time for a trip of the passenger. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  or  12 , wherein the first mobile device is configured to send the start time, end time and distance travelled to a dispatcher system via the wireless access point. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second mobile device is configured to request a card scan prior to arrival at destination. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second mobile device is configured to store the card information or the second mobile device is configured to send the card information to the first mobile device and the first mobile device is configured to store the card information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the second mobile computing device or the first mobile computing device is configured to submit the request for authorization after receiving a signal from the meter indicating an end for a trip of the passenger. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first mobile device or the second mobile device is configured to send the card information to a server via the wireless connection to the Internet, and to receive from the server one or more prior destinations associated with a user of the card, and to display the prior destinations on the display. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the display comprises a touch screen display, and wherein the first mobile device is configured to receive from the display a passenger selection of one of the prior destinations. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first mobile device or the second mobile device is configured to send the card information to a server via the wireless connection to the Internet, and to receive from the server data containing an advertisement personalized based on the card information. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  or  19  wherein the card information comprises a cardholder name taken from a scan of the card. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  or  19  wherein the card information comprises a card number taken from a scan of the card. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first mobile device or the second mobile device is configured to cause the display to display a graphical user interface configured to receive passenger input identifying a tip. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless connection to the Internet comprises a cellular connection. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless access point is configured to provide the wireless connection to the Internet. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mobile device is configured to provide the wireless connection to the Internet. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mobile device comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second mobile device comprises a tablet computer. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the second mobile device is mounted on a back of a seat in the vehicle. 
     
     
         29 . A taxi, comprising:
 a vehicle;   a meter configured to receive data from the vehicle indicating distance travelled, to measure waiting time, and to calculate an amount of a passenger fare based at least on the distance travelled and the waiting time;   a wireless access point carried on the vehicle;   a first mobile computing device positioned in a driver section of the vehicle, the first mobile computing device coupled to the meter to receive data indicating the amount of the passenger fare, the first mobile computing device configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless access point;   a second mobile computing device positioned in a passenger section of the vehicle, the second mobile computing device configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless access point, wherein at least one of the wireless access point, the first mobile computing device or the second mobile computing device is configured to provide a wireless connection to the Internet;   a display configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless access point; and   a credit card reader coupled to the second mobile computing device, wherein the second mobile computing device is configured to receive card information from a scan of a card, and at least one of the second mobile computing device or the first mobile computing device is configured to submit a request for authorization for a transaction with the card for the passenger fare via the wireless connection to the Internet.