Ride Request System Using Voice and SMS for Data-Limited Users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ride-sharing and transportation systems face challenges in providing flexible and reliable services, especially for users with limited mobile data capabilities, as they often require GPS location services and data networks, which can be costly or unavailable, leading to confusion and miscommunication in requesting and confirming transportation.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to request and confirm transportation via voice or text messages using cellular voice networks and SMS, with automated call centers to analyze voice commands and provide prompts for salient information, utilizing pre-determined pick-up and drop-off locations with codes or tags to simplify the process, enabling ride requests without internet data services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS location services and data networks are used for ride requests, then transportation service reliability is improved, but cost increases and accessibility decreases for users with limited data capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts GPS location services and data network requirements from the ride-requesting process, replacing them with cellular voice networks and SMS that do not require internet data. This removes the harmful dependency on data networks while maintaining the core functionality of location-based ride requesting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces automated call centers as intermediaries between users and the transportation matching service. These call centers handle voice commands and SMS messages, extracting salient information and communicating with the matching service backend, thereby enabling ride requests without direct internet data connectivity.
2Measurement precision
If detailed location and ride information is collected, then service precision is improved, but data transmission requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential salient information from ride requests (pickup location, dropoff location, ride type) and transmits this condensed data set through SMS and voice networks. Non-essential detailed information is obtained through automated follow-up questions rather than requiring complete data transmission upfront.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the information collection process into multiple stages: initial ride request with essential information, followed by automated follow-up questions for additional details. This segmentation allows precise service delivery while minimizing initial data transmission requirements.
3Productivity
If automated verification processes are implemented, then service efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated call centers that autonomously handle ride request verification, information extraction, and confirmation without requiring human operator intervention for each request. The system automatically verifies ride details, checks user eligibility, and processes matching service requests, thereby improving efficiency while keeping the user interface simple.
4Adaptability or versatility
If voice commands and SMS are used instead of data networks, then accessibility is improved, but information transmission capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses automated call centers as intermediaries that convert voice commands and SMS messages into structured ride request data. The call center system handles the complexity of information extraction and validation, translating limited-capacity voice/SMS inputs into comprehensive ride booking information without requiring users to have advanced technical capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A provider, such as a transportation management service, can manage transport for a number of riders between various locations. A customer can request transport between different locations. The provider may analyze the request for salient information, such as information corresponding to a start and end location, and determine whether there are errors in the salient information that would prevent the provider from providing the requested service. When the provider detects errors, the provider may request additional information from the customer in order to correct the errors.