Waymo patents API for partner apps to book self-driving rides
This patent describes a software connection that lets third-party ride-hailing apps check if a Waymo self-driving car is available and book it. The system sends a temporary code to confirm the ride details before the car is dispatched to pick up the passenger.
In the filing’s own words
The technology relates to a seamless interface between an autonomous vehicle service provider and one or more ridesharing or ride-hailing partner companies. An API enables efficient and robust communication with such partner companies for effective rider services and support. The API enables a partner company to determine how quickly an autonomous vehicle from the service provider could pick up a rider from a given location, as well as the cost of the ride. Customers may request rides or modify scheduled trips via an app running on the user's mobile phone or other communication device. The service may allow customers to directly communicate with the ride provider company, and may also allow customers to book or modify rides via interaction with a partner company that works with the ride provider company, either with the same or a different app.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by one or more first processors of a ride provider system from one or more second processors of a partner server system, a query regarding availability of a fleet of autonomous vehicles to service a trip from a pickup location to a destination, wherein the one or more first processors of the ride provider system are configured to communicate with the fleet of autonomous vehicles, the one or more second processors of the partner server system, and one or more client computing devices, wherein the one or more second processors of the partner server system are configured to communicate with the ride provider system and the one or more client computing devices, and wherein the partner server system is not in direct communication with the fleet of autonomous vehicles; responsive to the query from the one or more second processors of the partner server system: evaluating, by the one or more first processors of the ride provider system, availability of one or more autonomous vehicles of the fleet of autonomous vehicles to service the trip; providing, by the one or more first processors of the ride provider system to the one or more second processors of the partner server system, a reply indicating whether at least one of the one or more autonomous vehicles is available to service the trip, wherein the reply is based on evaluating the availability of the one or more autonomous vehicles; and prior to providing the reply, generating, by the one or more first processors of the ride provider system based on evaluating the availability of the one or more autonomous vehicles, a proposed trip token including at least one waypoint for the trip and having a specified time limit; subsequent to providing the reply, receiving, by the one or more first processors of the ride provider system from the one or more second processors of the partner server system, a dispatch request for the trip; and responsive to the dispatch request, causing, by the one or more first processors of the ride provider system based on the dispatch request, an autonomous vehicle selected from the one or more autonomous vehicles to navigate, in an autonomous driving mode, to the pickup location.
Facts
- Company
- Google (WAYMO LLC)
- Official title
- Partner trip application programming interface
- Patent number
- US12762636B1
- Application number
- 18633858
- Filed
- Apr 12, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
G06Q 50/47 Physics & computingB60W 60/00253 Operations & transportG06Q 10/02 Physics & computingG06Q 10/06315 Physics & computingB60W 60/00256 Operations & transportB60W 2556/45 Operations & transportMore from Google in Cars & transport
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.