Ride Request Filtering for Shared Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ride-hailing services face inefficiencies in data traffic and user interactions, as they often require users to receive and evaluate numerous ride requests, leading to unnecessary detours and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that assist users of means of transportation in finding suitable passengers by filtering and comparing ride requests with predefined or predicted routes, allowing for automatic decision-making on whether to accept ride requests based on predefined references.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all ride requests are forwarded to the user for evaluation, then the user can make informed decisions about ride-sharing opportunities, but the data traffic and user interaction load increase unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecision accuracyVSAvoiddata traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary filtering of ride requests against the user's predefined route and criteria before forwarding them to the user. This preliminary action eliminates obviously incompatible requests (e.g., requests that diverge significantly from the user's route) before they reach the user's device, reducing data traffic and interaction load while maintaining decision quality for relevant requests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If ride requests are filtered automatically based on predefined references, then unnecessary data traffic is reduced, but the complexity of the filtering system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata trafficVSAvoidfiltering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary filtering layer that automatically compares ride requests against the user's predefined route and criteria. This intermediary component handles the complex filtering logic centrally, preventing obviously incompatible requests from being transmitted to the user's device. The complexity is managed through automated algorithms rather than requiring complex user-side processing or manual evaluation of all requests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the user manually evaluates each ride request, then precise matching with personal preferences is achieved, but time and user interaction effort are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreference matching accuracyVSAvoidevaluation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated filtering of ride requests against the user's predefined criteria and route before presenting them for evaluation. This preliminary action pre-screens requests to ensure only potentially compatible ones reach the user, maintaining preference matching accuracy while eliminating the need for the user to manually evaluate every incoming request, thus saving time and effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If ride requests are automatically accepted based on route matching, then user acceptance rate increases, but the user loses control over ride-sharing decisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveride acceptance rateVSAvoiduser control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables the user to define their own preferences and criteria in advance, creating a personalized filtering system that automatically evaluates incoming ride requests against their specifications. This self-service approach allows the user to maintain full control over their preferences while the automated system handles the evaluation and presentation of compatible requests, increasing acceptance rates without sacrificing user autonomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3559872B1Apparatus, computer program product, signal sequence, means of transport and method for assisting a user in finding a suitable fellow passenger
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3559872B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3559872B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus, a computer program product, a signal sequence, a means of transport and a method for assisting a user (1) of a means of transport (10) in finding a suitable fellow passenger (2) are proposed. The method comprises the steps of: – receiving a ride request comprising a definition of a starting position (3) and of a destination position (4), – automatically comparing the ride request against a predefined route (5) of the means of transport (10) and taking a result of the comparison as a basis for – automatically deciding, on the basis of a predefined reference, whether or not the ride request is made to the user (1).