Shared transport system and service network

What is this patent about?

’427 is related to the field of ground transportation logistics and real-time resource allocation. It specifically addresses the inefficiencies of underutilized private vehicle capacity, such as empty seats during daily commutes, by integrating these personal vehicles into a dynamic, ad-hoc transit network that complements existing public infrastructure.

The underlying idea behind ’427 is to transform a chaotic stream of individual vehicle movements into a structured, searchable transit network by abstracting geographic routes into discrete nodes. Rather than matching raw GPS coordinates or specific street addresses, the system maps vehicle trajectories onto a predefined grid of pick-up and drop-off points, effectively treating every participating private car as a temporary bus or train with a predictable set of stops.

The claims of ’427 focus on a computer-implemented method and network for matching transport supply and demand through a specific node-based abstraction process. The independent claims require establishing an electronic registry of vehicle capacity and user demand, then calculating the intersections between a vehicle's intended journey and a network of nodes to represent that journey as a simplified set of pick-up and drop-off points for the matching engine.

In practice, the invention functions by monitoring the real-time location and spare capacity of registered vehicles and comparing them against user requests. A key implementation feature is the use of stochastic modeling to predict future capacity based on historical patterns, allowing the system to provide users with high-confidence arrival estimates even before a specific driver has logged onto the network for their morning commute.

This approach differs from prior carpooling solutions by moving away from rigid, pre-arranged schedules between known associates. By utilizing continuous coordinated proximity—verifying the ride via the simultaneous movement of the driver’s and rider’s mobile devices—the system creates a secure, automated, and high-trust environment that allows for spontaneous, anonymous, and verifiable peer-to-peer transit transactions.