Dynamic Virtual Bus Stops for Rideshare Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ride-sharing systems lack efficiency in dynamically routing vehicles to pick-up and drop-off locations, often requiring passengers to board and disembark at predetermined schedules and locations, which may not be optimal for individual users, leading to increased waiting times and inefficient route planning.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that dynamically selects virtual bus stops for rideshare vehicles based on the current locations of both vehicles and users, calculating expected arrival times to assign vehicles to pick-up locations where users arrive before the vehicle, thereby minimizing waiting times and optimizing routes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If predetermined bus stops and schedules are used for ride-sharing, then route planning is simplified, but user waiting time increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed, predetermined bus stops to dynamic virtual bus stops that are created in real-time based on user requests and vehicle locations. The system continuously updates pick-up and drop-off locations along the vehicle's travel route, allowing the routing system to adapt flexibly to changing conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through automated calculations.
2Loss of time
If virtual bus stops are dynamically selected along vehicle routes, then user waiting time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating virtual bus stops and expected arrival times before users actually request rides. The server determines potential pick-up and drop-off locations along vehicle routes in advance, and computes expected arrival times at these virtual stops, so that when ride requests come in, the system can quickly match users with appropriate vehicles without complex real-time calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring actual user arrival times at virtual bus stops and comparing them with expected arrival times. This feedback loop allows the system to refine its routing algorithms and virtual bus stop selections, improving efficiency while managing complexity through data-driven optimization rather than ad-hoc decision-making.
3Productivity
If users are assigned to different virtual bus stops, then route optimization improves, but coordination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a standardized virtual bus stop concept that serves multiple functions simultaneously. These virtual stops act as pick-up points, drop-off points, and coordination hubs all in one, allowing the system to optimize routes for multiple users with different destinations while using a unified framework. The server can assign different users to different virtual stops along the same vehicle route, enabling efficient multi-stop routing without requiring complex individual arrangements for each user.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for managing a fleet of ride-sharing. In one implementation, a method is provided for routing rideshare vehicles. The method includes receiving from a mobile communications device of a user a request for a rideshare, wherein the request includes information associated with a current location of the user and a desired destination; identifying, based on current locations of multiple rideshare vehicles and the received request, a rideshare vehicle to pick-up the user; selecting, based on the current travel route of the rideshare vehicle, virtual bus stops for the identified rideshare vehicle, wherein a location of the selected virtual bus stop for picking-up the user differs from the current location of the user and differs from a location of another virtual bus stop selected for picking-up another user assigned to the rideshare vehicle; and assigning the rideshare vehicle to pick up the user from the selected virtual bus stop.