| 主权项 |
1. A method for determining matches for transportation services with transportation service providers and providing tracking, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a transportation service; using one or more computing devices to query a plurality of respondents, at least one of which accepts queries for transportation service bids in a predetermined automated format; receiving shipment or other transportation service bids from at least one of the plurality of respondents, and storing the received bids in a data store as an aggregated bid database; during or subsequent to using the one or more computing devices to query the plurality of respondents, querying the respondents concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent and in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and storing the response with the received bids in the aggregated bid database, and in the case of the respondent not having authority to accept mobile telephone tracking, storing a “no authority” status in the aggregated bid database, wherein the “no authority” status permits responses in which the transportation service provider has neither accepted nor refused the request for mobile telephone tracking; performing one of selecting a bid from the database based on predetermined criteria provided by the entity requesting the transportation service or presenting the received bids for selection by the entity requesting the transportation service; determining a selected bid and associating the selected bid with an transportation service provider or driver identified in the bid; in the case of storage of a “no authority” status for the selected bid in the aggregated bid database, querying the transportation service provider or driver concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) by the transportation service provider or driver associated with the bid, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and storing the response with the accepted bid; in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking by the respondent without direct authorization by the transportation service provider or operator, using one or more computing devices to automatically communicate with the obtained mobile telephone number to confirm acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in), and storing an indication of the confirmation in one or more databases along with a confirmation descriptor; using one or more computing devices to access a mobile telephone location service to obtain location information based on the mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device for the respondent and for the shipment prior to pick up, after loading the shipment or upon initiating a transportation service, conditional on the one or more computing devices obtaining consent using at least one consent procedure for implementing location services; establishing a threshold for initiating reporting to at least one of a receiver of the transportation service and a destination contact, and providing tracking information to the receiver of the transportation service or destination contact after the transportation service provider reaches the threshold; using one or more computing devices to estimate completion of delivery or arrival; updating the estimated completion of delivery or arrival with the location information; providing the location information and the updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival, to the receiver of the shipment or destination contact in accordance with the threshold for initiating reporting to a receiver of the transportation service, provided that the receiver of the shipment or destination contact elect to receive reporting; providing automated access to the location and the updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival to at least one of the entity requesting the transportation service, the receiver of the shipment or destination contact, thereby providing substantially a “24/7” access to the location and updated estimated completion of delivery or arrival; and upon completion of delivery or final arrival, terminating the obtaining of location information and communicating the termination of obtaining location information to the transportation service provider or driver (automatic opt-out). |
