Systems and methods for proxy communication in a shared transport system

What is this patent about?

’071 is related to the field of ground transportation networks and, more specifically, to a dynamic marketplace that matches individual transport demand with the unused capacity of private or commercial vehicles. The technology addresses the inefficiencies of single-occupancy vehicle travel and the limitations of traditional mass transit by creating an ad-hoc, real-time infrastructure for ride-sharing. By leveraging mobile communication and location-aware devices, the system seeks to transform private cars into a flexible extension of the public transit grid.

The underlying idea behind ’071 is the creation of a trusted, anonymous communication layer that facilitates coordination between riders and drivers without compromising personal privacy. The inventor recognized that while matching location and destination is technically feasible, the human elements of trust and secure communication are the primary barriers to adoption. The system acts as an intermediary that manages the logistics of the journey—from initial matching to final verification—while providing a secure buffer for all interpersonal interactions.

The claims of ’071 focus on a proxy messaging system that enables a transport user and a transport provider to exchange information before or after a journey. The system identifies a specific pair of users based on a transport request and the proximity of a provider to a pick-up location. Once this link is established, the system receives a message from one party, generates a new message containing the original content but replacing the sender's direct contact info with a unique identifier, and then routes that message to the recipient.

In practice, this mechanism allows a driver to notify a rider of their arrival or a rider to inquire about a lost item without either party ever seeing the other’s actual phone number or email address. This proxying is integrated into a broader verification framework that uses continuous coordinated proximity to confirm that the rider and driver are actually traveling together. By monitoring the simultaneous movement of both devices via GPS or near-field links, the system can verify service delivery for billing and safety purposes without manual intervention.

This approach differs from prior carpooling or taxi dispatch systems by focusing on the anonymization of metadata and the automated validation of the ride itself. Unlike traditional systems that might simply pass through contact information, this invention maintains a persistent but shielded connection between users. Furthermore, by utilizing stochastic models to predict capacity and providing visual identifiers on vehicles, the system reduces the friction and uncertainty typically associated with non-scheduled, ad-hoc transportation services.