auto meter wireless...
n the present embodiment, this functionality is implemented through a series of taxi stops at convenient locations throughout a given area. The taxi stops are equipped with a wireless receiver and transmitter, which are capable of sending and receiving messages both to other taxi stops as well as to the vehicle management systems of operators within the logical queue. A customer approaches the taxi stop and signals his desire for a taxi through the use of a personal wireless transmitter. This request is relayed through the wireless network to the coordinating entity that prioritizes the operators first by physical distance to the taxi stop, and then by priority within the queue. The closest, highest priority operator is signalled to pick up the passenger by displaying the alphanumeric identifier of the taxi stop on the operators vehicle management system. The operator is given a short period to acknowledge the fare before the vehicle management device times out and the fare is passed to the next available operator. In the event the customer leaves the taxi stop before a taxi operator arrives, the queueing system will note the departure by the personal transmitter of the customer moving out of range and automatically cancel the request. If the taxi operator subsequently arrives at the taxi stop after the customer has left, the vehicle management device will note the cancellation and the operator will not lose his original location within the queue.
