Dynamic Fee Splitting for On-Demand Transport Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-demand service systems do not effectively allow for dynamic fee splitting among multiple users during the service delivery process, limiting user flexibility and fairness in cost sharing.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables users to request and dynamically split fees for on-demand services, such as transportation, by allowing users to invite friends to share the cost through a service application, with the system determining and charging each user's account for their respective share based on parameters like duration and distance traveled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the fee for an on-demand service is paid by a single requesting party, then the payment process is simple and direct, but the system lacks flexibility and fairness in cost sharing among multiple users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total service fee into multiple shareable portions that can be allocated to different users. The fee is divided based on service parameters such as distance traveled and duration, allowing each user to pay only for their portion of the service received while maintaining a unified payment processing system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic fee splitting where users can join or leave the service during its execution, and fees are recalculated in real-time based on current service parameters. The system dynamically adjusts the number of fee-paying users and their respective shares without requiring system reconfiguration
2Adaptability or versatility
If users can dynamically change fee sharing arrangements during service, then user flexibility is improved, but the complexity of tracking and calculating fees increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes to simplify dynamic fee calculations. Instead of tracking complex user interactions, the system recalculates fees based on changing service parameters (distance, duration) and the current number of fee-paying users. This transforms a complex tracking problem into a straightforward parameter-based calculation
3Manufacturing precision
If the system calculates fees based on multiple parameters like duration and distance, then fairness in cost sharing is improved, but the measurement and calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors service parameters (distance traveled, duration elapsed) and uses this information to recalculate fees in real-time. This feedback loop ensures accurate fee allocation based on actual service provided while automating the measurement and calculation process to reduce complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a fare for a transport service is provided. One or more processors determine that the transport service is in progress for a first user. A request to share the fare for the transport service in progress with a second user is received over a network from a first computing device of the first user. A confirmation that indicates that the second user is to share the fare is received over the network from a second computing device of the second user. A first amount of the fare for the first user and a second amount of the fare for the second user is determined.