WO2002011072A1

WO2002011072A1 - Method of monitoring a driving service of a client

Info

Publication number: WO2002011072A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/001644
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Thorn
Original assignee: Hans Thorn
Priority date: 2000-07-31
Filing date: 2001-07-17
Publication date: 2002-02-07
Also published as: AU2001280342A1

Abstract

The method relates to monitoring of a driving service of a vehicle for a client. A receiver (12) disposed in the vehicle having a driver is activated. The receiver (12) sends an activation signal (14) to an operator (16) that sends a response signal (18) to the receiver (12). If the response signal (18) includes an approval message then the receiver (12) sends a display signal (20) to a display unit (22) to display a list of pre-approval destination addresses. The client then informs the driver of a destination address. The driver matches the destination address with the pre-approved destination addresses displayed on the display unit (22). If the response signal (18) includes a reject message in response to the activation signal (14) then the driving service is not performed and if the destination address cannot be matched with the pre-approved destination address then the driving service is not performed.

Description

Method of monitoring a driving service of a client

Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and device for using and monitoring driving services, such as taxi services.

Background and Summary of Invention It has become more important to be able to travel home safely due to the increased crime rates. For example, many parents would like their adolescent children to be able to get home safely although the children may not have enough money for a taxi ride. There is a need for a safe and convenient system that would enable individuals to travel with a driving service despite lack of credit cards or cash. The present invention provides such a system.

More particularly, the method of the present invention relates to monitoring of a driving service of a vehicle for a client. A receiver disposed in the vehicle having a driver is activated. The receiver sends an activation signal to an operator that sends a response signal to the receiver. If the response signal includes an approval message then the receiver sends a display signal to a display unit to display a list of pre- approved destination addresses. The client then informs the driver of a destination address. The driver matches the destination address with the pre-approved destination addresses displayed on the display unit. If the response signal includes a reject message in response to the activation signal then the driving service is not performed and if the destination address cannot be matched with the pre-approved destination address then the driving service is not performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of the present invention. Detailed Description

With reference to Fig. 1, the present invention is a sophisticated monitoring system 10 that monitors and provides a unique way of using driving services such as taxi services. The system 10 has an activation component 12 to activate a pre-programmed card such as by inserting the card into a drive unit in a taxi-terminal . The system 10 may also include a separate reading component or terminal for the customer of the service . One feature of the card is that the card is only intended to be used for the driving service, such as the taxi services, and ^'to make sure that the customer may be able to travel with the taxi despite lack of credit card or cash. For example, this feature is particularly useful if a person needs to get home from a disco or bar at night when it is important that the ride home is safe. The narrow usage of the card makes it also less desirable to steal . For extra security, the taxi driver may request an identification card from the customer prior to activating the card to ensure that the customer is the owner of the card. However, this may not be necessary.

After the card has been inserted into the taxi terminal inside the taxi cab, the component 12 may send an electronic activation signal 14 to an operator 16 such as an administrative department of a taxi operator. The component 12 may be a box terminal and a card reader that are mounted in the taxi cab. The component 12 may be able to read information from the card such as information about the customer, listed destination addresses and the balance on the card. The component 12 may also be able to read information related to the latest driving assignments and miscellaneous information such as the opening code for the front door of the customer's apartment complex. The information on the card may be updated by sending information directly to the operator 16. The sender of the modified information must be approved by the operator for the modified information to be entered into a database of the operator. The sender or the owner is often, but not necessarily, a person other than the customer such as the customer's parents or guardian so that the customer herself may not modify the information on the card. The card may be programmed to permit the customer to modify certain limited information without the guardian's approval . The available balance on the card may be increased by transferring money into the card similar to cash cards.

After receiving the activation signal 14, the operator 16 considers the requested service from the component 12 and the information on the card from the taxi customer such as the validity of the card, the available balance and the personal information about the customer and identi ication of the taxi driver. For example, if the card contains obsolete information, the operator 16 may update the card with, for example, new addresses or increased balance. The operator 16 may send a response signal 18 back to the component 12 with an approval or reject message. If the signal 18 includes a reject message, the taxi driver will not perform the requested service. For example, if the card has insufficient, no or negative balance, the operator 16 will transmit a reject message in the signal 18. If the signal 18 includes an approval message, the component 12 will send a display signal 20 to a display unit 22 to display the customer's name, address and available balance on the card. The customer informs the driver about the desired destination address and the driver may scroll among approved destination addresses. If -the requested destination address is not listed, the driver will no perform the requested service. If the requested destination address is listed, a selection signal 24 is send to a selection unit 26 to select required destination address. An information signal 28 is sent back to the operator 16 to inform the operator about the requested service and the destination thereof. In response thereto and if there is a sufficient balance on the card for the requested service, the operator 16 sends a confirmation signal 30 back to the unit 26 with a unique identification number for the particular driving assignment. This may be used to protect the customer should the taxi driver not perform the requested service properly. As part of the taxi service, the taxi driver may optionally contact the destination address by telephone prior to driving to the destination address to control that the intended receiver or host of the customer at the destination address is available. If the first intended receiver is not available, then the taxi driver may contact a second intended receiver until an available receiver is found. This is particularly useful is the customer is handicapped or for some other reason needs this extra service from the taxi driver. The taxi driver may charge the card in the component 12 for this pre-destination service. The unit 26 may send a reduction signal 32 to a reduction unit 34 that reduces the available balance of the card according to the taxi rate for performing the driving service because the card remains in the taxi terminal during the transportation. At the end of the service, a request signal 36 may be sent to a determination unit 38 that determines if the service was successfully completed. The unit 38 may provide the driver with a request to press certain commands depending upon whether the taxi has arrived at the destination address or not. If the taxi has not arrived at the destination address, the unit 38 may send a no-signal 40 to the operator 16 to indicate that the service was unsuccessful. For example, if the taxi has broken down during the way or if the roads are closed, the operator 16 may send back an instruction signal 42 to give the taxi driver instruction about how to solve the problem, such as sending a new taxi cab to the destination of the broken-down taxi cab. It may even be necessary to refund the customer for any amount that has been deducted from the card if the reason for the unsuccessful completion of the service is the operator's or the driver's fault.

If the service was successfully completed, i.e., the taxi arrived at the destination, the unit 38 may produce a yes-signal 44 to a determination unit 46 that requests the taxi driver to determine if the intended receiver at the destination address is available before the customer is let out of the taxi. If the taxi driver determines that the receiver is available, i.e., the parent is at home, then the unit 46 produces a yes- signal 48 to a deactivation unit 50 to stop reducing the available balance on the card and the card may be removed from the component 12. The taxi driver may transmit a reset signal 52 to a reset unit 54 to reset the component and prepare for the next customer.

If the intended receiver is not available, then the unit 46 sends a no-signal 56 to a selection unit 58 so that the taxi driver and/or the customer may select a new destination address listed. Of course, the no-signal 56 may be transmitted back to the unit 26 to iterate the selection and reduction of balance as described above. The card remains in the component 12 so that the unit 58 (or unit 26) may send a reduce signal 60 to a reduction unit 62 that continuous to reduce the available balance of the card. The unit 62 sends a determination signal 64 to a determination unit 66 that, when the taxi arrives at the second destination address, asks the taxi driver to determine if the second destination was successfully reached. If the taxi broke down, or for some other reasons did not reach the second destination address, then unit 66 may generate a no- signal 68 back to the operator 70 to receive further instructions from the operator. If the taxi successfully reached the second destination address, then the unit 66 may transmit a yes-signal 72 to a determination unit 74 that asks the taxi driver to determine if the second intended receiver is available, i.e., at home.

If the taxi driver determines that the second intended receiver is not available, then the taxi driver may go to a third destination or the unit 74 may send a default signal 76 to instruct the taxi driver to go to a back-up destination 78 such as the police station or hospital, if the customer is likely to need such services, or any other suitable back-up destination that is safe to go to for the customer, such as during the night. If the taxi driver determines that the second receiver is available, i.e., the second parent is at home, then the unit 74 may produce a yes-signal 80 to a deactivation unit 82 to stop reducing the available balance on the card and the card may be removed from the component 12. The taxi driver may transmit a reset signal 84 to a reset unit 86 to reset the component 12 and prepare for the next customer . The system may also enable the taxi driver to add information to a comment box of the card that may include information about why the driving distance is longer than the usual distance. For example, the taxi driver may have been forced to take a longer route due to heavy traffic or road work.

The operator 16 may have a set of tables stored in databases so that each address of the registered customers or owners has a unique identification number. Similarly, the drivers and the customer and the particular reservation may be designated unique identification numbers.

While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims .

Claims

I claim :

1. A method of monitoring a driving service of a client, comprising: activating a receiver (12) disposed in a vehicle having a driver; the receiver (12) sending an activation signal (14) to a remote operator (16) ; the operator (16) receiving the activation signal (14) from the receiver (12) and sending a response signal (18) in response to the activation signal (14) ; if the response signal (18) includes an approval message then the receiver (12) sending a display signal (20) to a display unit (22) to display a list of pre-approved destination addresses,- the client informing the driver of a destination address; the driver matching the destination address with the pre-approved destination addresses displayed on the display unit (22) and selecting the pre-approved destination address; the receiver (12) sending an information signal (28) to the operator (16) informing the operator (16) about the selected pre-approved destination address; if the response signal (18) includes a reject message in response to the activation signal (14) then the driving service is not performed; and if the destination address cannot be matched with the pre-approved destination address then the driving service is not performed.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises inserting a client card into a terminal of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the method further comprises the steps of the operator (16) sending a confirmation signal (30) if the client card has sufficient funds to pay for the driving service to the approved destination address and the operator (16) sending a reject signal if the client card has insufficient funds to pay for the driving service to the approved destination address.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the method further comprises the steps of including a unique identification number in the confirmation signal (30) for the requested driving service to the approved destination address .

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the steps of the driver making contact with a third person at the pre-approved destination address prior to driving the vehicle to the pre-approved destination address.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein the method further comprises removing the client card from the terminal when the vehicle has reached the pre- approved destination address.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the method further comprises the step of the operator (16) sending a reduction signal (32) to the terminal to reduce a client balance of the client card.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein the method further comprises selecting a new destination address when the driver cannot make a contact with the third person at the pre-approved destination address prior to driving to the pre-approved destination address.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the method further comprises the driver determining if the new destination address is included in a list of pre- approved destination addresses.

10. The method according to claim 5 wherein the method further comprises the driver making a contact with the third person before permitting the client to leave the vehicle.