Hierarchical selection process

Abstract

A network computer system can implement a hierarchical selection process to fulfill a scheduled transport request. The hierarchical selection process can include a first selection process and a second selection process. The first selection process can include assigning a first transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request. The second selection process can be implemented at a specified time prior to the scheduled time and can include selecting a backup transport provider to service the scheduled transport request.

1 . A computer system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memory resources storing instructions that are executed by the one or more processors to cause the computer system to:
 a scheduled transport request from a computing device of a user, the scheduled transport request indicating (i) a pick-up location and (ii) a scheduled time for a scheduled transportation service; 
 determine a transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request; 
 transmit, to a computing device of the transport provider, a transport invitation to fulfill an on-demand transport request for one or more other users prior to the scheduled time; 
 receive data indicative of an acceptance of the transport invitation by the transport provider to fulfill the on-demand transport request; 
 determine an ability of the transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time based on location data from received from the computing device of the transport provider and the pick-up location; and 
 based on the ability of transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time, transmit data indicative of a confirmation associated with the scheduled transport request if the transport provider is able to fulfill the scheduled transport request, or determine a backup transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time if the transport provider is unable to fulfill the scheduled transport request. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to transmit the data indicative of the confirmation to the computing device of the transport provider. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to transmit the data indicative of the confirmation to the computing device of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to select the transport provider from a plurality of transport providers based, at least in part, on a preselected location for each of the plurality of transport providers. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to determine that the transport provider is unable to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time based on the transport provider being unavailable at a predetermined decouple time prior to the scheduled time. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the computer system to:
 transmit one or more reminder notifications to the computing device of the transport provider prior to the scheduled time.   
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to determine the backup transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request by identifying, at a predetermined time prior to the scheduled time, a plurality of available transport providers within an estimated arrival time to the pick-up location, and selecting the backup transport provider to service the scheduled transport request based at least in part on an estimated time of arrival of the backup transport provider to the pick-up location. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
 receive a scheduled transport request from a computing device of a user, the scheduled transport request indicating (i) a pick-up location and (ii) a scheduled time for a scheduled transportation service;   determine a transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request;   transmit, to a computing device of the transport provider, a transport invitation to fulfill an on-demand transport request for one or more other users prior to the scheduled time;   receive data indicative of an acceptance of the transport invitation by the transport provider to fulfill the on-demand transport request;   determine an ability of the transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time based on location data from received from the computing device of the transport provider and the pick-up location; and   based on the ability of transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time, transmit data indicative of a confirmation associated with the scheduled transport request if the transport provider is able to fulfill the scheduled transport request, or determine a backup transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time if the transport provider is unable to fulfill the scheduled transport request.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to transmit the data indicative of the confirmation to the computing device of the transport provider. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to transmit the data indicative of the confirmation to the computing device of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to select the transport provider from a plurality of transport providers based, at least in part, on a preselected location for each of the plurality of transport providers. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to determine that the transport provider is unable to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time based on the transport provider being unavailable at a predetermined decouple time prior to the scheduled time. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the computer system to:
 transmit one or more reminder notifications to the computing device of the transport provider prior to the scheduled time.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computer system to determine the backup transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request by identifying, at a predetermined time prior to the scheduled time, a plurality of available transport providers within an estimated arrival time to the pick-up location, and selecting the backup transport provider to service the scheduled transport request based at least in part on an estimated time of arrival of the backup transport provider to the pick-up location. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method for managing a transport service, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:
 receiving a scheduled transport request from a computing device of a user, the scheduled transport request indicating (i) a pick-up location and (ii) a scheduled time for a scheduled transportation service;   determining a transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request;   transmitting, to a computing device of the transport provider, a transport invitation to fulfill an on-demand transport request for one or more other users prior to the scheduled time;   receiving data indicative of an acceptance of the transport invitation by the transport provider to fulfill the on-demand transport request;   determining an ability of the transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time based on location data from received from the computing device of the transport provider and the pick-up location; and   based on the ability of transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time, transmitting data indicative of a confirmation associated with the scheduled transport request if the transport provider is able to fulfill the scheduled transport request, or determine a backup transport provider to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time if the transport provider is unable to fulfill the scheduled transport request.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors transmit the data indicative of the confirmation to the computing device of the transport provider. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors transmit the data indicative of the confirmation to the computing device of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors select the transport provider from a plurality of transport providers based, at least in part, on a preselected location for each of the plurality of transport providers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors determine that the transport provider is unable to fulfill the scheduled transport request at the scheduled time based on the transport provider being unavailable at a predetermined decouple time prior to the scheduled time. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transmitting one or more reminder notifications to the computing device of the transport provider prior to the scheduled time.