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 portable device comprising:
 at least one wireless transceiver for transmitting a request for transportation service from a transportation requester to a plurality of transportation providers that do not travel predetermined routes, automatically determining a geographic location of the portable device, and automatically and periodically transmitting a geographic location of the portable device to a dispatch computer; and   a touchscreen display configured to display, before the request for the transportation service has been made, a map, which is updated automatically and periodically, showing geographic locations of the plurality of transportation providers.   
     
     
         2 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to display, after the request for transportation service has been made, a textual message, which is updated automatically and periodically, regarding the geographic location of a transportation provider selected to service the request. 
     
     
         3 . The portable device of  claim 2 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to display the cellular telephone number of the selected transportation provider. 
     
     
         4 . The portable device of  claim 3 , wherein the portable device is configured to store the cellular telephone number of the selected transportation provider such that the transportation requester can identify the selected transportation provider after the transportation service has been provided. 
     
     
         5 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising software stored on the portable device configured to receive a message from a dispatch computer that no transportation provider was available to service a transportation request within a chosen time limit. 
     
     
         6 . The portable device of  claim 1  further comprising software stored on the portable device to signal the end of communication with the dispatch computer. 
     
     
         7 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to allow a transportation requester to specify a future time that a transportation request will be serviced. 
     
     
         8 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to display a button for requesting transportation service from a transportation provider unknown to the transportation requester. 
     
     
         9 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to periodically receive a message from the dispatch computer requesting the geographic location of the transportation requester. 
     
     
         10 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising software configured to allow transportation requests without requiring the transportation requester to provide preference information. 
     
     
         11 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising software configured to allow transportation requests without requiring the transportation requester to provide profile information. 
     
     
         12 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transportation providers includes transportation providers associated with more than one transportation service company. 
     
     
         13 . A smartphone comprising:
 at least one wireless transceiver for receiving a request for transportation service from a transportation requester, automatically determining a geographic location of the smartphone, and automatically and periodically transmitting the geographic location of the smartphone to a dispatch computer; and   a touchscreen display configured to display:   (i) before a transportation provider accepts the request for transportation service,   a map showing a geographic location of the transportation requester; and   (ii) a time limit to accept the request for transportation service.   
     
     
         14 . The smartphone of  claim 13 , wherein the smartphone is configured to transmit a confirmation message informing the dispatch computer that the provider accepts the request. 
     
     
         15 . The smartphone of  claim 14 , wherein the smartphone is configured to transmit a cancellation message informing the dispatch computer of the cancellation of the previously sent confirmation message. 
     
     
         16 . The smartphone of  claim 13 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to periodically display information on current location of the transportation requester. 
     
     
         17 . The smartphone of  claim 13 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to display the cellular telephone number of the transportation requester. 
     
     
         18 . The smartphone of  claim 13 , wherein the smartphone is configured to store the cellular telephone number of the selected transportation requester. 
     
     
         19 . The smartphone of  claim 13 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive a message from the dispatch computer requesting the geographic location of the transportation provider. 
     
     
         20 . The smartphone of  claim 19 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to respond to the message from the dispatch computer by sending the smartphone's geographic location to the dispatch computer. 
     
     
         21 . The smartphone of  claim 13 , wherein the touchscreen display is further configured to display the geographic location of a plurality of transportation requesters.