Requesting transportation services

Abstract

A method is described for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the user of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location determination. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.

1 . A device comprising:
 at least one wireless transceiver for transmitting a request for a transportation service from a transportation requester, receiving a confirmation that the transportation service will be provided by a transportation provider, and automatically determining a geographic location of the device; and   a touchscreen display that is configured to display:
 (i) a button for requesting the transportation service; and 
 (ii) after the request for the transportation service has been made, a map, which is updated periodically and automatically, showing a geographic location of the transportation provider. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  is configured to obtain from, the transportation requester, a destination location of the transportation request via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  is configured to obtain from, the transportation requester, a type of item to be transported via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  is configured to obtain from, the transportation requester, a method of payment via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  includes a programmable cellular phone. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the request for the transportation service includes a request for delivery of a package. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display is configured to display: (ii) after the request for the transportation service has been made, the map, which is updated periodically and automatically, showing a real time geographic location of the transportation provider. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a mobile device to perform operations comprising:
 presenting, on a touchscreen display associated with the mobile device, a button for requesting a transportation service;   transmitting, using a wireless transceiver associated with the mobile device, a request for a transportation service from a transportation requester;   receiving a confirmation that the transportation service will be provided by a transportation provider;   automatically determining a geographic location of the mobile device; and   after the request for the transportation service has been made, presenting on the touchscreen display, a map, which is updated periodically and automatically, showing a geographic location of a transportation provider.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise: obtaining from, the transportation requester, a destination location of the transportation request via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise: obtain from, the transportation requester, a type of item to be transported via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise: to obtain from, the transportation requester, a method of payment via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile device is a programmable cellular phone. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the request for the transportation service includes a request for delivery of a package. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise: presenting, after the request for the transportation service has been made, the map, which is updated periodically and automatically, showing a real time geographic location of the transportation provider. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 presenting, on a touchscreen display associated with a mobile computing device, a button for requesting a transportation service;   transmitting, using a wireless transceiver associated with the mobile computing device, a request for a transportation service from a transportation requester;   receiving a confirmation that the transportation service will be provided by a transportation provider;   automatically determining a geographic location of the mobile computing device; and   presenting, after the request for the transportation service has been made, on the touchscreen display, a map, which is updated periodically and automatically, showing the geographic location of the transportation provider.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: obtaining from, the transportation requester, a type of item to be transported via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: obtaining from, the transportation requester, a method of payment via the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a programmable cellular phone.