Taxi Hailing Interface for Visibility and Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the NYC market, there is no effective app to help passengers find taxicabs or drivers find passengers efficiently, due to regulatory restrictions against pre-arranged dispatch services, leading to inefficiencies in taxi availability and passenger pickup, especially in high-density areas with limited visibility and obstructions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a graphical user interface on mobile devices to anonymously and spontaneously connect passengers and taxicab drivers, allowing drivers to locate hailing passengers beyond their line of sight through a map-based interface, and enabling passengers to electronically hail taxis without pre-arrangement, improving visibility and accessibility of available taxis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If drivers physically search for passengers by driving around and using line of sight, then they can pick up hailing passengers, but their view is limited by obstructions such as large trucks, buildings, weather, and darkness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of visual detection (drivers physically seeing passengers) with an electronic information system. The server collects location data from both drivers and passengers, processes this information, and transmits it through the application interface, substituting human vision and physical searching with automated electronic matching and display of passenger locations to drivers.
2Ease of operation
If passengers physically search for taxis by walking to busy avenues, then they can find available taxis, but they must leave their destination location
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables passengers to remain at their location and have taxi information brought to them. The application automatically detects the passenger's location, finds nearby available taxis, and displays this information on the passenger's device, allowing the passenger to receive service without physically moving to search for a taxi.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical action of passengers physically walking and searching for taxis with an electronic information delivery system. The server and application handle the search and matching process electronically, presenting taxi options to passengers at their current location through the device interface.
3Productivity
If taxis drive around picking up people immediately upon seeing them, then the process is simple and quick for passengers, but drivers can only see hailing persons within their line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the driver's search capability from a two-dimensional visual field (line of sight) to a three-dimensional geographic space. By using location data from the server and displaying it through the application interface, the system allows drivers to access information about passengers beyond their immediate visual range, effectively adding a spatial dimension to their search capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a system and method for enabling a driver to locate a passenger. In one or more implementations, a graphical user interface is provided that is operable to send and receive information associated with passengers and vehicles. A location of a first vehicle, a location of a first passenger and a location of a second passenger are received. Information associated with the locations of the first and second passenger is transmitted and a representation of at least one of the first passenger and the second passenger and the respective location thereof is provided.