WO2002101683A1

WO2002101683A1 - System and method for online ordering of transport services

Info

Publication number: WO2002101683A1
Application number: PCT/DK2002/000394
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Thomsen; Carsten Stephansen
Original assignee: Immediate A/S
Priority date: 2001-06-13
Filing date: 2002-06-12
Publication date: 2002-12-19

Abstract

System and method for online ordering of transport services comprising, an input unit (10) for placing the order and entering an address, a central control unit (5) for processing the order, at least one transport unit (3) having a positioning device (2) for the determination of the position of the transport unit (3), at least one interface unit (6) for connecting the central control unit (5) with the positioning device (2) of the transport unit (3), a calculation unit (17) for the continuous calculation of an ETA of the transport unit (3), and an output unit (11) for displaying the confirmation and status of the order and the ETA of the transport unit (3). Hereby is obtained, that a customer always is informed of the substantially correct ETA of the transport unit, as the ETA is calculated from the factual position of the transport unit, which are to perform the service.

Description

System and method for online ordering of transport services

Technical field

The present invention relates to a system and a method for online ordering of transport services.

By transport services is meant services in which an object or person is transported from one destination to another or other services such as on the spot repair services, delivery services or medical services. Common for all these services are that they are ordered by the customer to a specific address.

As used herein, the following terms are defined to mean:

Estimated time of arrival (ETA), arrival of a transport unit on a customers address.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS), a satellite-based radio navigation system capa- ble of determining continuous position and velocity information for unlimited number of users. Depending on the geographic location, the GPS receiver samples data from up to six satellites, it then calculates the time taken for each satellite signal to reach the GPS receiver, and from the difference in time of reception, determines the location.

Dispatch or Fleet Management System (FMS), a transport service providers central system for handling bookings, etc. The system has computer/data access to each transport unit via a radio connection.

Wireless application protocol (WAP), an open international standard for applications that use wireless communication, e.g. internet access from a cellular telephone.

Short Message Service (SMS), a message service offered by the GSM digital cellular telephone system. Using SMS, a short alphanumeric message (160 alphanu- meric characters) can be sent to a mobile phone to be displayed there, much like in an alphanumeric pager system. The message is buffered by the GSM network until the phone becomes active.

Interface, a boundary across which two systems communicate. An interface might be a hardware connector used to link to other devices, or it might be a convention used to allow communication between two software systems.

Prior art

According to the prior art, the ordering of transport services is very often time- and cost-intensive, since, upon a customer inquiry for a service, it is necessary for the employee at a transport service provider, to take the order by telephone, hereafter checking available transport units, selecting a transport unit and finally sending the unit to the customer's address.

Due to the fact that the ordering of transport services is primarily performed by telephone, the customer often experience that it is close to impossible getting through to the transport service provider by telephone.

As the customer gets through to the provider and makes an inquiry for an transport service, they are often given a rough time estimate of when they can expect the transport unit's arrival at their address. This rough time estimate is given by the provider based on the work load, which the transport units are having at that moment and not based on the unit's, which are to perform the service, factual position and distance from the customers address.

Therefore, the customer is unaware of the factual time at which the transport unit will arrive at their address. Hereby, the customer will take the time estimate given by the provider as an indicator of arrival, however, this time estimate is normally not the correct one, thus, the customer often will be waiting for the transport unit for a long time, for instance when it is a taxi, and in other circumstances the transport unit will be waiting for the customer. This waiting time of the customer often removes the goodwill of the transport service provider in view of the customer, thus, they will probably chose another provider next time they need transport services.

In case the transport unit is being delayed, the customer will in the prior art not be aware of this and will expect arrival of the unit as informed by the provider. This can also have severe consequences for the customer, if they must catch a plane or arrive at a meeting at a certain time or if they have a courier packet which need delivery at a certain time.

During the 1990'ties there was a increasing interest from the transport service providers in Global Positioning Systems (GPS). These systems would enable the providers to know the exact position of the transport units at any given time.

At that time there were two positive elements to this; first of all you could optimise all of the transport units so that the nearest unit would be send to the ordered address at all times. Secondly there was a security element, if a transport unit driver was mugged and hereafter alarmed the provider, then the police could be guided to the exact location of the transport unit.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for online ordering of transport services, which provides a substantially correct estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a transport unit to a customers address.

Core of the invention

The object is solved according to the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims show advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention.

The system for online ordering of transport services according to the present invention comprises, an input unit for placing the order and entering an address, a central control unit for processing the order, at least one transport unit having a positioning device for the determination of the position of the transport unit, at least one inter- face unit for connecting the central control unit with the positioning device of the transport unit, a calculation unit for the continuous calculation of an ETA of the transport unit, and an output unit for displaying the confirmation and status of the order and the ETA of the transport unit.

The method for online ordering of transport services according to the present invention comprising, placing an order and entering an address into an input unit, processing the order in a central control unit, determining the position of at least one transport unit having a positioning device, calculating continuously an ETA of the transport unit in a calculation unit, and displaying the confirmation and status of the order and the ETA of the transport unit on an output unit.

As the customer places the order and entering their address via the input unit into the online system, the central control unit receives the order and processes it.

The central control unit inquire via the interface unit, the positions of the transport units. These positions (co-ordinates) are determined by the positioning devices arranged in each transport unit. As the transport units are informing the central control unit of their positions, the central control unit calculates an ETA of each received position.

The central control unit selects the transport unit having the lowest ETA, and asks the transport unit to accept the order. As the central control unit receives the acceptance of the order from the transport unit, it displays the confirmation of the order and the ETA of the transport unit on the output unit to the customer.

Hereby is obtained, that the customer always is informed of the substantially correct ETA of the transport unit, as the ETA is calculated from the factual position of the transport unit, which are to perform the service.

Furthermore, due to the system according to the invention continuously is calculating the ETA of the transport unit, the central control unit will notify the customer via the output unit, if the ETA of the transport unit is substantial different from the first informed ETA. If the transport unit should be delayed, due to for instance traffic jam, the customer will be notified immediately. The inventors of the present invention realised the new possibilities in using the positioning devices in an online ordering-system. The system according to the invention puts a third positive element to the use of the positioning devices, by giving the waiting time for the transport unit to the customer online through the system.

This information generated in the transport service providers computer about the exact position of all transport units has only been used internally and never externally directly in correspondence with the customer.

For the person skilled in the art it has been surprising that by using the position information from the transport unit directly in the online system no persons is necessary for supplying the customer with the ETA of the ordered transport unit.

Hereby is obtained an online system and method in which a customer is able to place or enter an order with certain preferences, and the system will hereinafter process the order substantially without human intervention, and confirm the order as well as the status of the order to the customer.

According to an especially preferred embodiment a memory unit may be connected to the central control unit and have cartographic data. Hereby is ensured that the central control unit itself can alter the customers address into co-ordinates using the cartographic data.

In another preferred embodiment according to the invention the central control unit may comprise a further memory unit for storing customer data. Hereby is obtained that the data, which the customer is entering via the input unit, regarding addresses, preferences concerning transport service provider, E-mail-address, cellular telephone number, etc. are stored, whereby, the system easily can process the order next time the customer are using the online system.

The central control unit may advantageously according to the invention comprise a communication port for connection with external computer network or cellular telephone or net connection devices. In an especially preferred embodiment the positioning device may comprise a GPS device or a cellular telephone. Hereby is obtained that the position of the transport unit is correct determined.

According to the invention may preferably a external fleet management system be arranged. The transport service providers have often their own booking and computer system, which controls their fleet of transport units. When there is more than one transport service provider on the market it is important that they all are connected with the central control unit, thus, the customers preferences can be fulfilled, when they order a transport unit. Most advantageously the interface unit of the central control unit may be connected with the fleet management system.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the position of the customer may be controlled with cartographic data in order to validate the position. Hereby a correct customers address is obtainable, thus, the calculation of the ETA of the transport unit has less deviation than in the prior art. Furthermore, by the validation of the address the central control unit also controls whether the factual address exists. If the system not can match the address with the cartographic data, the system will suggest an most probable address.

Advantageously the position of the transport unit according to the invention may be controlled with cartographic data in order to validate the position. Thus, it is possible to control the position of the transport unit given by the positioning device. Furthermore by this validation it is possible to display the position of the transport unit on a road map on the output unit to the customer.

In an expedient manner according to the invention the central control unit may comprise a selection unit for the selection of the nearest transport unit or of the transport unit which fulfils most preferences of the customer. Hereby is obtained that the selection unit compares the calculated ETAs of the transport units and selects the transport unit with the lowest ETA.

According to the invention the input unit may comprise a computer network or digital television or net connection devices. It is of great importance that the customer has an easy access to the online system, whether they use the internet via a work sta- tion on their office or for instance via net connection devices. Common for all the input units are that they are able to transmit and receive data.

The output unit may preferably comprise a computer or computer network or digital television or net connection devices or cellular telephones. Hereby is obtained that the customer flexible can choose the output unit which is most advantageously for them. The output units may be online or offline systems. For instance, if a customer have ordered a taxi via the online system, he or she can follow the processing of the order on their online workstation and the ETA of the taxi, and as they leave their office for the arrival of the taxi he or she can be notified via SMS or MMS on their cellular telephone.

According to the invention the net connection devices may comprise a WAP or Imode or GPRS or UMTS or other mobile net devices.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the memory unit may have cartographic data arranged externally. By using a external supplier of cartographic data it is obtained that the data can be more frequently updated.

According to the invention the central control unit may advantageously perform an authentication procedure of the data placed by the customer via the input unit. This provision ensures that the system controls whether there is any deviation between the customer data stored in the system and the newly entered data by the customer.

The output unit may preferably be continuous displaying the ETA of the transport unit to the customer. Thus, the customer is able to be updated continuously, which provides the customer with a certainty for their inquiry is being processed.

Advantageously the transport unit may be a taxi or a courier vehicle or an emergency vehicle, such as ambulances, breakdown lorries, police cars and fire engines.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention a further memory unit connected to the central control unit may be arranged for storing information regarding each processed order in the system. The memory unit may advantageously store a tracking number dedicated to each order by the central control unit, time and date, transport service provider, transport unit ID, order ID, customer ID, positions and transport unit information.

The memory unit may store the information with a predetermined interval, such as one minute or two minutes or three minutes.

Hereby is ensured that the online system stores all relevant data from each order and thereby build up a database having statistic data concerning the transport units positions and ETA's at certain addresses.

The invention furthermore concerns an interface unit for a system for online ordering of transport services, wherein the interface unit interconnects a central control unit and a positioning device of a transport unit, so as to transfer data between the central control unit and the positioning device.

The invention also concerns an interface unit for a system for online ordering of transport services, wherein the interface unit interconnects a central control unit and a external fleet management system, so as to transfer data between the central control unit and the fleet management system.

Thereby it is ensured that the FMS and the positioning device can transmit data, such as positions and acceptances of orders, to the online system's central control unit and receive inquiries and customer data from said central control unit.

Detailed description

The invention will be explained more fully below with reference to particularly preferred embodiments as well as the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematically view of an embodiment according to the invention wherein the GPS system is shown, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the online system according to the invention,

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the central control unit,

Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the online system, in which a FMS is arranged,

Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing how a customer places an order in the online sys- tern according to the invention,

Fig. 6 is a expanded flow diagram of the flow diagram shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a expanded flow diagram showing the selection of and confirmation from a transport unit in an immediate order,

Fig. 8 is a expanded flow diagram showing how to find the nearest transport unit,

Fig. 9 is a flow diagram showing the selection of transport service provider and submission of the advance order, and

Fig. 10 is a expanded flow diagram showing the procedure of calculating the current ETA of the transport unit according to the invention.

All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and they show only parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.

In Fig. 1 is shown a positioning system according to the invention, here in the form of a GPS system, which consist of a plurality of satellites 1 , which are in orbit about the earth (not shown). The positioning device 2 of the transport unit 3, here a GPS device is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 4 from the various satellites 1.

The spread spectrum signals 4 continuously transmitted from each satellite 1 util- izes a highly accurate frequency standard accomplished with an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 1 , as part of its data signal transmission 4, transmits a data stream indicative of that particular satellite 1. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the GPS device 2 must acquire spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 4 from at least three satellites 1 for the GPS device 2 to calculate its two- dimensional position by triangulation.

The positioning system may also comprise a cellular telephone, whereby it is possible to obtain the exact position of that cellular telephone. The position of the cellular telephone is calculated via the radio communication or data signal transmission between the cellular telephone and at least two transmitting/receiving poles, preferably three poles.

The transport unit 3 is connected to the central control unit 5 via the interface unit 6. The central control unit 5 is connected to the customer 7. The connection between the transport unit 3 and the interface unit 6 is via radio communication. The arrows 8 between the transport unit 3, the interface unit 6, the central control unit 5 and the customer 7 indicates the data transmission.

In Fig. 2 is the online system 9 for ordering transport services according to the invention shown. The customer places their order via the input unit 10 into the system 9. The central control unit 5 processes the order and inquire via the interface units 6, the positions of the transport units 3. These positions (co-ordinates) are determined by the positioning devices arranged in each transport unit 3 as explained above.

As the transport units 3 are informing the central control unit 5 of their positions, the central control units 5 calculation unit calculates an ETA of each received position of the transport units 3. The transport unit 3 with the lowest ETA is chosen and the central control unit 5 asks the transport unit 3 to accept the order. If the transport unit 3 accepts the order, the central control unit 5 displays the confirmation of the order and the ETA of the transport unit 3 to the customer via the output unit 11.

The central control unit 5 shown in Fig. 3 comprises according to the invention a central processor (CPU) 12, RAM 13, ROM 14, a clock 15, an operating system 16, ETA calculation unit 17, memory unit for storing customer data 18 and a memory unit having cartographic data 19.

A conventional server with sufficient memory and processing capability may be used as the central control unit 5. In one embodiment it operates as a web server, both receiving and transmitting orders placed by customers. The central control unit 5 must be capable of high volume transaction processing, performing a significant number of mathematical calculations in processing communications and database searches.

In another embodiment according to the invention the central control unit 5 may be a computer connected to the Internet.

The input unit 10 is connected to the central control unit 5. The input unit 10 accord- ing to the invention may comprise a computer or a computer network or digital television or net connection devices.

The output unit 11 is also connected to the central control unit 5 and may comprise a computer or a computer network or digital television or net connection devices or cellular telephones.

The net connection devices may comprise WAP or Imode or GPRS or UMTS or other mobile net devices such as small hand-held computers or personal digital assistants (PDA).

The input unit 10 and output unit 11 may be connected to the central control unit 5 via an Internet connection using a public switched telephone network, such as those provided by a local or regional telephone operating company. Connection may also be provided by dedicated data lines, cellular, Personal Communication Systems, microwave or satellite networks.

Furthermore the interface unit 6 is connected to the central control unit 5. The interface unit 6 may be placed at the central control unit 5 and/or at the transport service provider (FMS) and/or at the transport unit. In Fig. 4 is schematically shown an embodiment according to the invention in which an external fleet management system (FMS) 20 is arranged. FMS is the transport service providers central system for handling bookings, etc. The system has computer/data access to each transport unit 3 via radio connections 21. Each transport unit 3 is provided with positioning devices, such as for instance GPS devices or a cellular telephones.

By transport service provider is meant companies which provides transport services such as taxi companies, courier companies, delivery companies etc.

The FMS 20 is connected to the central control unit 5 via the interface unit 6. The system may comprise a plurality of interface units.

The interface unit 6 is according to the invention a communication solution, which ensures that the central control unit 5 can transmit transactions to the FMS or the transport units and the FMS or the transport units can transmit transactions to the central control unit.

The interface unit is build up as a multi-layer protocol by the use of an Extensible Markup Language (XML) and a generic Application Program Interface (API) / transaction interface. Furthermore is used an open and supplier specific distributed application as well as application communication components, such as Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM), Remote Method Invocation (RMI), which will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art.

Furthermore a remote agent/module may be arranged in connection with the FMS at the transport service provider or with the transport unit so as to facilitate the transmitting of communications between the central control unit and the FMS/transport unit.

The connection between the central control unit and the FMS or transport unit is provided over the Internet, by wireless or dedicated connection lines, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN), frame-relay or Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) or ADSL. In an embodiment according to the present invention the connection between the central control unit and the FMS or transport unit may be provided by an dedicated encrypted connection line using a secure connection such as SSL or SSH.

With reference to Fig. 5, there is described the process by which the customer places an order in the system. At step 30 order of a transport service, each customer has a user profile containing basic customer data (e.g. name, telephone number etc.), preferred transport service provider(s), reception(s), transport unit preferences and notifications about ETA etc.

At step 40 the customer can order a transport unit with the default preferences immediately or change some preferences before ordering the transport unit. Furthermore the customer can state whether he wants to restrict his order to be submitted to the preferred transport service provider only, and/or he wants a transport unit that fulfils his transport unit preferences.

A receptionist shall be able to make an order for a guest (a non registered customer), by typing name, cellular telephone number etc.

At step 40 the online ordering system checks whether the customer has ordered an advance order and typed in the departure time. The central control unit will then check if there is more than a predetermined period to the departure time. If so, the order will be approved as an advance order and be processed further on to step 50, otherwise the customer will be informed and given the possibility to start over.

If the customer orders a transport service immediately the central control unit will process the order to step 60.

When ordering an immediate-transport unit at step 60, the system will locate the transport unit by using the following steps. Preferred transport service providers is requested for best ETA, fulfilling the customers transport unit preferences. Preferred transport service provider is requested for best ETA, (transport unit preferences are not taken into consideration). All transport service providers are requested for best ETA, fulfilling the customers transport unit preferences. All trans- port service providers are requested for best ETA. If the transport units provided do not have an acceptable ETA, the process will continue to next step. If the transport unit driver does not accept a fare or order with acceptable ETA - the request continues at the same level. When the fare or order is accepted, the customer shall be informed about name of the transport service provider and the ETA of the transport unit.

If the customer's reception has chosen an advance order transport service provider, all advance orders will be submitted to this transport service provider.

If the reception has not chosen an advance order transport service provider, then the advance order will be submitted to the transport service provider, which have the lowest calculated ETA. In both cases a rejected advance order, will be submitted to the second closest transport service provider.

At step 70 is ETA calculated using information from the transport unit or the FMS on the transport units position - and the central control unit's information about the location of the customer (reception address). These two points will be used as a basis for calculating driving time, by using a spherical calculation. If the customer, has chosen to be informed by SMS when placing the order, then the customer will start receiving these, when the customer logs off / informs that the monitor is abandoned. The customer receives current ETA calculations to be shown at the customers output unit.

At step 80 can the customer via the central control unit cancel or change the order.

If the order hasn't been confirmed by a transport unit, then the order will only be changed in the customers order status. If a transport unit has confirmed the order, then the transport unit or the FMS are notified about the cancellation or the change.

With reference to Fig. 6, there is shown an expanded flow diagram of the flow diagram shown in Fig. 5. As a customer at the online ordering system you first log on at the system, using your user id (e-mail address) and password at step 100. Receptionists have the same possibilities as customers, though they tend to order transport units for other people or for courier packages and therefore they have greater need to be able to change preferences during the ordering process. Basic customer data at step 110 (e.g. name and cellular telephone number) and preferences can be changed during entering of each order, or can be changed directly in the user profile. The company can choose to (not) authorize the customer (employee) to be able to change certain company preferences.

The customer specifies the desired type of transport unit, and the desired numbers of transport unit's, preferences, reception, name and other necessary information needed to finalize the order. Defaults for this information is previously registered, and filled in the form when the customer logs on to system. If the customer desires to order more than one transport unit, a confirmation is needed before the order is carried out. The customer can furthermore enter preferences concerning transport unit attributes.

Furthermore the following information has to be given in order to carry out the order, time of departure, when advance order; optional message to driver; state whether only preference transport service provider should be used; state whether only transport units which fulfil transport unit preferences should be sent.

Preferences are set as default by the system, but are inherited and can be edited by the different levels of users (company, reception, customer). Company/customer can select none, one or more preference transport service providers.

There is a selection of standard messages, which the customer can choose be- tween, and furthermore it is possible to write free text messages. After this the customer shall state how many transport units are desired.

Then the customer can state if he/she wants SMS updates about ETA. The customer will have the following options at step 120. The customer can highlight these fields: When the transport unit confirms fare. (Not activated by default), x number of minutes to the arrival of the transport unit (The customer will type the number of minutes), (Not activated by default), The taxi is delayed. (Activated by default).

At step 130 the online ordering system checks whether the customer has placed an advance order and typed in the departure time. If an advance order not has been submitted the order is processed further to step 140, which is described more fully below (arrow A).

If an advance order has been submitted the order is processed further to step 150. To help the customer he or she should be informed that it is only possible to order a transport unit in advance with at predetermined period. The advance order could for instance be set to 30 minutes notice, however, different notices can be set such as 45 minutes, 75 minutes, 90 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.

In another embodiment according to the present invention the central control unit will store the advance order of the customer. The central control unit will then place an immediate order in the system when it is time for the customers advance order.

If there is less than 30 minutes to the departure time, then the customer will be noti- fied in step 160 that it is not possible to make an advance order with such a short notice and the customer will again have the choice between an immediate order and an advance order in step 130.

If there is more than the predetermined period to the departure time, the order is processed further to step 170, which is described more fully below (arrow B).

In Fig. 7 is described the process of selection of and confirmation from a transport unit, when the order for a transport service is characterised as an immediate order.

When it is an immediate order, then the process can go through numerous steps: At step 200, find nearest preferred transport unit, which complies with customer preferences.

At step 210, find nearest preferred transport unit (not complying with customer preferences). At step 220, find nearest transport unit complying with customer preferences.

At step 230, find nearest transport unit (not complying with customer preferences).

When the process of finding a transport unit is starting and a transport unit with an acceptable ETA couldn't be found at the given level, the process will continue at the next level (from step 200 to step 210 to step 220 to step 230). In this instance the order for an immediate order may be characterised as an auction of the order between, to the system connected transport service providers or transport units, whereby the customer will experience a high and speedy service.

The customer can in step 120 in Fig. 6 choose the profile/order, that only to search for a transport unit within the criteria of his preference transport service provider, then only steps 200 and 210 will be used.

To limit the search for a transport unit, so only transport units that fulfil the criteria's of the transport unit preferences can be found, only steps 200 and 220 will be used.

If both limitations are chosen only step 200 will be used.

An acceptable ETA is set default by the system to 15 minutes, however, can be changed by the customer.

At step 240 chooses the system the transport service provider with the best ETA.

The ETA is at step 250 evaluated for the best transport service provider, and if it is acceptable, then the order process will continue to step 260. The order can go directly to a vacant transport unit as a request (step 270). If the order at step 280 is accepted by the driver, then a confirmation will be sent to the customer together with a updated ETA and distance at step 290. If the order is rejected by the driver, the transport service provider will again at step 300 be asked for their best transport unit, though not the same as before.

Best ETA can also be from a transport service provider that at the time has a queue (no vacant transport unit's). In this case the order will at step 310 be placed in the transport service providers actual queue, and the customer will be informed about it at step 290. The customer will be updated with the length of the queue and an estimated queue time.

When a transport unit has accepted the order, a message to the customer will be sent. Updating of ETA and distance in kilometres starts. After this, ETA calculations at step 320 will take place and the customer is able to follow up on current ETA and will furthermore be informed, if the taxi should be delayed.

The customer has still the option of cancelling the order at step 350.

At step 250 if the ETA not is acceptable the order is processed further to step 330. At this step the system will go through the next levels as described above, however, if all levels already is passed, the customer will be informed in step 340, that the

ETA cannot be met.

In Fig. 8 is described the process of finding the nearest transport unit. For every transport service provider the FMS system or transport units returns the closest/best transport unit at step 400, i.e. the transport unit that can arrive fastest at the customers address.

At step 410 the system inquire whether the transport unit is ready and waiting.

If yes, a transport service provider has a vacant transport unit, the transport units position and driver details are submitted to the online system at step 420, and the central control unit hereafter calculates the ETA on the basis of the taxis position by triangulation at step 430.

If the transport service provider has a queue, then the queue time is calculated / estimated at step 450 using the number of units in the streets (restricted to the customers preferences) and number of orders in queue informed at step 440.

The drive time at step 460 is calculated using triangulation from the transport ser- vice providers geographical position and the informed customer's address. At step

470 is the ETA of the transport unit calculated as the queue time + drive time.

At step 480 is the transport service provider with the best ETA chosen, and the order is processed further as described at step 250 in Fig. 7. In Fig. 9 is shown the selection of transport service provider and submission of the advance order. At step 500 the system checks whether the customer / reception has selected an advance order transport service provider.

If the company has chosen a specific advance order transport provider, then the advance order will be submitted to this transport provider at step 510. If not the advance order will be submitted to the transport service provider that is geographically closest at step 520.

At step 530 inquire the online system if the advance order is accepted. If the advance order is rejected by the transport service provider, the order will go to the nearest transport service provider at step 520, which has not been tried out yet.

If at step 540 a new transport service provider is found the order is processed back to step 510. If a new transport service provider not is found an error message is send to the customer, that the system not is able to process the advance order at step 550.

If the transport service provider accepts the order, an e-mail order confirmation will be sent to the customer at step 560, with an access code / Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to the given order. By URL is meant a standard way of specifying the location of an object, such as a web page on the Internet. The FMS will automatically allocate a transport unit a short period before the pickup time. After a transport unit has accepted the fare or the order, the information routine about ETA and dis- tance will start at step 570.

For advance orders, a SMS or MMS will be sent when the transport unit driver has accepted the fare. More SMS's or MMS's will be sent if delays should occur.

The customer will be able to see the following progress on his output unit, when placing an advance order: "Advanced order received", "Transport unit on its way" "The transport unit will be delayed with more than three minutes", "The transport unit has arrived" The customer can furthermore use his input unit to see the following information about the order: Name, Reception (Address), Ordering time, Pickup time, Other given preferences, Transport service provider, Telephone number to the transport service provider, Order status (se above).

The customer has still the option of cancelling the order at step 580.

In Fig. 10 is shown the procedure of calculating the current ETA of the transport unit according to the invention.

At step 600 is the transport unit or the FMS requested about the status of the transport unit. The online system inquire at step 610 whether the transport unit is in queue. If the transport unit not is in queue the transport units position is checked in step 620.

If a transport unit has accepted the order, then the ETA is calculated (the remaining drive time) using the transport units position and the customers address, via triangulation at step 630.

If the order is in a queue, then the ETA is estimated at step 630 using the length of the queue, number of taxis in the streets and the drive time to the customer informed at steps 640 and 650.

The system will at step 660 check if ETA = 0, i.e. if the transport unit has arrived at the customers address. If ETA not is 0 the steps 610 to 630 is repeated until ETA = 0.

The customer has the opportunity to state whether he/she logs of the online system at step 670. This can be done by logging out of the session or, by simply closing the workstation. If a receptionist orders the transport unit, SMS notification is sent to the customer even if the workstation is not closed / session logged out.

If the customer has not left the workstation, then ETA updates will be sent to the workstation at step 680. If the customer leaves the workstation, a SMS is sent a few minutes before arrival of the transport unit at step 690. The same is the case if a substantial delay should occur as shown at step 700.

A receptionist shall be able to see status, ETA and delay for all transport units that has been ordered to the receptions he/she is assigned to. This is also the case if the customer shuts down his/hers workstation.

The customer has still the option of cancelling the order at step 710.

The first time the customer is ordering a transport unit from this system he has to enter name, address, etc., then when he visits the page next time to order a transport unit, he will be recognised, and he will jump this procedure. He will be offered to download a little program, that will put a little box on the toolbar at the bottom on the desktop - and next time he needs a transport unit he just clicks this box and all his registered information will be known by the central control unit already.

By default there will be ordered a transport unit to his destination immediately when he clicks the order button. He will also have another button, where it will be possible to change; the time he needs the transport unit, number of passengers or pack- ages, extra baggage etc.

As an example on the invention it may take approximately 30 seconds from he pushes the order button till he actually is connected with his transport unit. During that time the customer will be informed, a device will be shown counting down about 7 seconds during each process, first page: Looking for vacant transport unit, second page: waiting for acceptance from transport unit driver, third page: calculating ETA, fourth page: showing ETA.

It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, that the time intervals may be adapted to the factual time it takes to process the order.

In another example according to the invention may the customer use a wireless module as input unit. The first time the customer has to go through a little more stages than the second or third time he orders a transport unit, typically he will reg- ister the basic information on the Internet so he later can have quick access via the wireless module. To recognise the individual transport unit customer, when he orders second time, the system will use "show number" which is unique for every cellular telephone. He can then choose from a list he has pre typed on the Internet, in rare cases he has to type in the address because it is not already in his little ad- dress book.

There will be ordered a transport unit to his destination immediately when he clicks the order button. Here he will also have another button, where it will be possible to change; the time he needs the transport unit, number of passengers, extra baggage etc. Then the ordering process is the same as for the Internet as described above.

It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the transport units according to the invention may be any types of transport units which provides a transport service from one specific address to a delivery address. Advantageously may the transport unit be a taxi or a courier vehicle or an emergency vehicle, such as ambulances, break down lorries, police cars and fire engines.

Furthermore according to the invention may the transport units also be delivery or carrier units which transport goods from a supplier to a customers address.

According to the invention may the online system comprise a further memory unit connected to the central control unit for storing information regarding each processed order in the system.

The following information of each order will be stored in the memory unit, a tracking number dedicated to each order by the central control unit, time and date, transport service provider, transport unit ID, order ID, customer ID, positions and transport unit information.

The storage of information starts as soon as a transport unit accepts an order and continues until the position of the transport unit is identical with the customers address. This storage will be carried out with a predetermined interval, such as for instance one minute, two minutes, three minutes, etc. As the transport unit have picked the customer or the package up at the customers address the system will continue with the storage of the positions until the transport unit arrives at the final destination.

The online system stores all relevant data from each order and thereby build up a database having statistic data concerning the transport units positions and ETA's at certain addresses.

The stored data regarding the processed orders provides furthermore the online system the capability of comparing the calculated ETA to a specific order with the stored order data, whereby it is obtained that the online system can check the precision of the calculated ETA.

Furthermore, the online system may comprise an administration module or inter- face, which is adapted to control system as well as to extract relevant data regarding an specific order or customer from the memory unit.

Although the invention above has been described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that sev- eral modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. System for online ordering of transport services comprising,

- an input unit (10) for placing the order and entering an address,

- a central control unit (5) for processing the order,

- at least one transport unit (3) having a positioning device (2) for the determination of the position of the transport unit (3),

- at least one interface unit (6) for connecting the central control unit (5) with the positioning device (2) of the transport unit (3),

- a calculation unit (17) for the continuous calculation of an ETA of the transport unit (3), and

- an output unit (11 ) for displaying the confirmation and status of the order and the ETA of the transport unit (3).

2. System according to claim 1 , wherein a memory unit (19) is connected to the central control unit (5) and having cartographic data.

3. System according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the central control unit (5) comprises a further memory unit (18) for storing customer data.

4. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the central control unit (5) comprises a communication port for connection with external computer networks or cellular phones or net connection devices.

5. System according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning device comprises a GPS device or a cellular telephone.

6. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a external fleet man- agement system (20) is arranged.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein the interface unit (6) of the central control unit (5) is connected with the fleet managing system (20).

8. System according to claim 2, wherein the position of the customer is controlled with cartographic data in order to validate the position.

9. System according to claim 2, wherein the position of the transport unit (3) is controlled with cartographic data in order to validate the position.

10. System according to claim 1 , wherein the central control unit (5) comprises a selection unit for the selection of the nearest transport unit (3) or of the transport unit (3) which fulfils most preferences of the customer.

11. System according to claim 1 , wherein the input unit (10) comprises a computer or a computer network or digital television or net connection devices.

12. System according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit (11) comprises a computer or a computer network or digital television or net connection devices or cellular tele- phones.

13. System according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the net connection devices comprises WAP or Imode or other mobile net devices.

14. System according to claim 2, wherein the memory unit (19) having cartographic data is external arranged.

15. System according to claim 1 , wherein the central control unit (5) performs an authentication procedure of the data placed by the customer via the input unit (10).

16. System according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit (11) is continuous displaying the ETA of the transport unit (3) to the customer.

17. System according to claim 1 , wherein a further memory unit connected to the central control unit is arranged for storing information regarding each processed order in the system.

18. System according to claim 17, wherein the memory unit stores a tracking number dedicated to each order by the central control unit, time and date, transport ser- vice provider, transport unit ID, order ID, customer ID, positions and transport unit information.

19. System according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the memory unit stores the information with a predetermined interval, such as one minute or two minutes or three minutes.

20. System according to claim 1 , wherein the transport unit (3) is a taxi.

21. System according to claim 1 , wherein the transport unit (3) is a courier vehicle.

22. System according to claim 1 , wherein the transport unit (3) is a emergency vehicle, such as ambulances, break down lorries, police cars or fire engines.

23. Method for online ordering of transport services comprising,

-placing an order and entering an address into an input unit (10), -processing the order in a central control unit (5),

-determining the position of at least one transport unit (3) having a positioning device (2), -calculating continuously an ETA of the transport unit (3) in a calculation unit (17), and

-displaying the confirmation and status of the order and the ETA of the transport unit (3) on an output unit (11 ).

24. Method according to claim 23, whereby a memory unit (19) having cartographic data is connected to the central control unit (5).

25. Method according to claims 23 or 24, whereby the customer data is stored in a further memory unit (18) of the central control unit (5).

26. Method according to any of claims 23 to 25, whereby the central control unit (5) comprises a communication port for connection with external computer network or cellular phone or mobile net devices.

27. Method according to claim 23, whereby a external fleet management system (20) is arranged.

28. Method according to claim 27, whereby the interface unit (6) of the central control unit (5) is connected with the fleet managing system (20).

29. Method according to claim 24, whereby the position of the customer is controlled with cartographic data in order to validate the position.

30. Method according to claim 24, whereby the position of the transport unit (3) is controlled with cartographic data in order to validate the position.

31. Method according to claim 23, whereby the central control unit (5) comprises a selection unit for the selection of the nearest transport unit (3) or of the transport unit (3) which fulfils most preferences of the customer.

32. Method according to claim 23, whereby the input unit (10) comprises a computer or computer network or digital television or net connection devices.

33. Method according to claim 23, whereby the output unit (11 ) comprises a com- puter or computer network digital television or net connection devices or cellular telephones.

34. Method according to claim 24, whereby the memory unit (19) having cartographic data is external arranged.

35. Method according to claim 23, whereby the central control unit (5) performs an authentication procedure of the data placed by the customer via the input unit (10).

36. Method according to claim 23, whereby the output unit (11) is continuous dis- playing the ETA of the transport unit (3) to the customer.

37. Method according to claim 23, whereby a further memory unit connected to the central control unit is arranged for storing information regarding each processed order in the system.

38. Method according to claim 37, wherein the memory unit stores a tracking number dedicated to each order by the central control unit, time and date, transport service provider, transport unit ID, order ID, customer ID, positions and transport unit information.

39. Method according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the memory unit stores the information with a predetermined interval, such as one minute or two minutes or three minutes.

40. Interface unit for a system for online ordering of transport services, wherein the interface unit (6) interconnects a central control unit (5) and a positioning device (2) of a transport unit (3) so as to transfer data between the central control unit (5) and the positioning device (2).

41. Interface unit for a system for online ordering of transport services, wherein the interface unit (6) interconnects a central control unit (5) and a external fleet management system (20) so as to transfer data between the central control unit (5) and the fleet management system (20).