CLIAMS:What is claimed is:
1. A taxi customer selection system, the system comprising:
in a plurality of taxis, a touch-screen display map of a surrounding location of each said taxi;
an indicator of at least one future rider desiring a taxi, exhibited anonymously on each said display map and lacking destination data;
sensors within said touch-screen display, wherein upon receiving a selection of an indicator on one of said display maps from a driver of one of said taxis, said indicator is removed from all other display maps and said driver is sent a confirmation of said selection.
2. The taxi customer selection system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is a plurality of indicators, each of at least one possible future rider desiring a taxi, said indicators being identical.
3. The taxi customer selection system of claim 2, wherein said at least one future rider is notified as a result of a said sensor within said touch-screen display detecting a selection of a said indicator representative of said future rider.
4. The taxi customer selection system of claim 3, wherein a second detection of a selection made by said driver indicates that said formerly possible rider is now a rider inside of said car.
5. The taxi customer selection system of claim 4, wherein said driver is given instructions to proceed only if the first said selected indicator represented a location at which said taxi currently resides.
6. The in-taxi customer selection system of claim 5, wherein said currently residing taxi location is determined based on receiving data from a global positioning system satellite.
7. The in-taxi customer selection system of claim 6, wherein said instructions to proceed are given only if data from said rider is received and entered into a device comprising said display map.
8. A method of picking up a rider for a taxi ride comprising the steps of:
engaging a global positioning system to determine location;
viewing a street map showing said location;
viewing a plurality of indicators on said street map, each indicator anonymously representative of a person desiring to be a rider in a taxi and disappearing upon an indicator being selected by another;
using a processor to select a said indicator and driving to a location represented
by said selected indicator on said street map;
picking up a rider and receiving data from said rider indicating that said rider is said person represented by said selected indicator.
09. The method of claim 08, wherein, upon said selecting, said other indicators are no longer displayed on said street map.
10. The method of claim 08, wherein said method is carried out based on a request made for a taxi via a call to a telephone dispatcher.
,TagSPECI:AN IMPROVED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TRANSPORT SERVICES

RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to the field of vehicle usage from a customer or hiring perspective. The embodiments relate particularly to allow for effective matching of the position of two or more assets using GPS positioning.

BACKGROUND
[0003] With increasing strides in the technology of global navigation systems and handheld communications, a new generation of tools involving geo-location and wireless communications are common in taxi or cab services. It is now possible to use a mobile device to select the taxi for pickup/drop services and for the driver of the taxi to receive the signal within the cabin of the vehicle and pick one up.
[0004] The process of hailing a cab for the purpose of receiving a ride has been in place for decades and is understood worldwide. One can stand on a street corner in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, or New York and stick his hand out to hail a cab. The use of electronic devices, allowing a person to pick a certain cab and hail it via a communications network often is less efficient, not more so. Now, the cab may pass up three potential rides in order to pick up a person who hailed it from blocks away. Such systems also may create unfair advantages for some customers, compared to others, and thus, are forbidden by various taxi commissions. Cab drivers, in many cities, are not allowed to “skip over” or turn away anyone.
[0005] Typically, the taxi service providers work on a protracted reservation system where the taxi drivers work through a central telephone-based or Internet-based service that receives requests from customers for scheduled transportation. The service providers then communicate with drivers either by cellular phone, beeper or other mobile communication device. A customer often needs to provide several hours of advance notice in order to be certain that they will be able to obtain cab service.
[0006] Similar to other service-industry businesses, the hire a ride service business has remained unchanged for a long period of time. Due to the very nature of the service, at present, drivers must suffer lengthy, unpaid waits and down time. For example if a driver starts with the first pick up of the day at point A and drops the customer at point B, the driver has to wait for a long time until he gets a new customer in the vicinity of point B only to take the customer to point C and thereon. A driver in the context of the present specification need not be a hired driver but it could be anyone who is driving the automobile and ferrying passengers or goods.
[0007] On the other side, the commuters often find it difficult to get a driver at their location on a short notice. As a result there is a gap in supply (taxi drivers) and demand (commuters) which results in overall inefficiency and loss to the drivers.
[0008] In light of the above discussion, there is an unmet need for a car or taxi system to help address the above mentioned disadvantages in existing systems. Also, as seen by existing methods there is a desire to use technology, such as handheld wireless devices, to propel the state of the art forward and make hailing a cab easier; but what is needed is a way to do so which allows drivers to observe anti-discriminatory regulations while increasing efficiency of the taxi system, so that cab and limousine companies will be enticed to use such systems.
[0009] The car or taxi throughout this specification indicates a general pick up and drop service which need not be always be billed.
 
SUMMARY
[0010] An object of the disclosed technology is to allow prospective riders of taxis and limousines to seek out such rides by usage of handheld wireless devices, telephones, and forms on websites.
[0011] An embodiment of the disclosed technology is an in-taxi customer selection system. The selection system is placed in a plurality of taxis in the form of a device which includes a touch-screen display map of a surrounding location of each taxi. An indicator of at least one future rider in need of a taxi is exhibited anonymously (from the perspective of the taxi driver him or herself) on each display map. The indicator exhibits only a location, and thus lacks destination data or information about the potential rider other than his or her location of pickup. Although, in certain circumstances the destination data may not be provided and it is upto the driver and the passenger to co-ordinate.
[0012] On any given display map in a taxi, there may be a plurality of indicators, each of at least one potential passenger desiring a taxi. All indicators depicted may be identical. In embodiments of the disclosed technology, at least one potential passenger may be notified that a taxi is coming to pick him/her up, as a result of a sensor within said touch-screen display detecting a selection of an indicator representative of the future rider.
[0013] In a method of embodiments of the disclosed technology, a rider is picked up for a taxi ride. The method is carried out by way of engaging a global positioning system to determine location, viewing a street map showing the location, and viewing a plurality of indicators on the street map, each indicator anonymously representative of a person desiring to be a rider in a taxi, and disappearing upon an indicator being selected by another taxi. Once an indicator is selected, the driver drives to a location represented by the selected indicator on the street map and picks up the rider. The driver, or a device under the operative control of the driver, receives data from the rider indicating that the rider is a person represented by the selected indicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

[0014] In the accompanying figures, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a high block diagram of the process flow used by a driver, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram of a device which may be used to carry out the present invention, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram illustrating the steps carried out by the driver, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a machine in the example form of a computer system 500 within which instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed.
 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The presently disclosed technology simplifies the process for a person seeking a ride, while retaining control over pickups by the taxi drivers. The technology also meets guidelines set out by taxi and limousine commissions. The present technology allows for the least amount of change to the typical habits of taxi hailers and taxi drivers.
[0020] In embodiments of the disclosed technology, a customer selection system is provided in a plurality of taxis. A taxi hailer, hereinafter, “rider,” indicates that he or she would like to be picked up by a taxi. A taxi, as defined in this disclosure, is any vehicle which picks up a rider or riders (one or more persons) who desire a ride in the vehicle to a destination for a fee or free. A taxi driver, hereinafter “driver,” receives geo-location information on a screen within the taxi indicating a location of the rider. Such geo-location information may be in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates, and address, or a cross-street, and is represented by a dot or other indicator on a map showing the area surrounding the taxi and driver. When a driver selects a rider, the dot or other indicator disappears from the screens of other drivers. As such, the actual selection of who will be picked up (which rider enters which taxi) is made by a driver, and a rider needs to expend less effort than is required in the prior art.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention proposes a platform for providing taxi services wherein the fulfillment, which is providing the taxi to the needy commuters at the right time and the right place is driven by the suppliers, i.e. drivers.
[0022] The system essentially comprises of a server that maintains a database of drivers along with their details such as vehicle type, name, age and other profile attributes, contact numbers, place of origin and so on.
[0023] Further the system will comprise of mobile devices associated with each driver. The mobile phone can be any smart phone or an ordinary phone. For the smartphone carrying drivers, an application is provided that acts as an interface and a medium for identifying nearby commuters.
[0024] On the other hand, a mobile/web application and a telephonic medium is provided for commuters to make their trip booking.
[0025] The primary embodiment of this invention is the missed call feature of the platform, wherein the driver is only required to give a missed call to the number provided by the service provider.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a high block diagram of the process flow used by a driver, according to the embodiments as disclosed herein. Any number of taxis may be used. Taxis are, in this example, in the same geographic area, though, again, this disclosed technology may be used while taxis overlap in a given geographic area and when in separate geographic areas. The map size shown in each taxi may be pre-defined, such as within a quarter mile, half mile, or one mile radius, or may be adjusted by the driver. A maximum number of indicators of positions of potential riders may be shown, and a maximum distance away may be shown for privacy and/or security purposes. Further, in this regard, a driver is aware only of locations of people who want to be picked up, and he receives no further information. In some embodiments, such as where many riders want to be picked up in a designated area, in one taxi, certain riders are as shown, while in another taxi other riders are shown.
[0027] A potential rider (the term rider may also indicate tangible material such as goods or any material capable of transportation) provides information such as through a mobile app by way of a handheld wireless device, web interface, phone interface, via a regular phone call, or by pressing a button at a certain location or letting a dispatcher at a taxi stand know that he or she desires a taxi ride. Such a location with a button or dispatcher may be a high traffic area which taxis frequent, such as a bus terminal, train station, or airport. Upon pressing a button, verification information may be given, such as a ticket number to be presented to the taxi cab to ensure rides are given in proper order and to alleviate the need for lines (queues). Similarly, such information may be transmitted via near field communication to a person's handheld wireless device, which is then transmitted from the wireless device to a console or device within the taxi to verify that the correct rider enters the correct taxi. So, too, the rider may enter his billing information at a taxi stand, while waiting for a taxi to arrive, via a handheld wireless device, or via a web interface anytime before receiving the taxi ride, such as when he has created an account with the taxi company or taxi commission.
[0028] In another example, a handheld wireless device may be equipped with a geo-location device (cellular, satellite navigation based, or a combination thereof) or may allow the potential rider to input his present address or position. Similarly, a potential rider may indicate his location via a mobile app interface (e.g., speaking to a dispatcher or operator) or web interface. These data are uploaded to a central server, such as a server operated by or under the control of a taxi cab company, a taxi commission, government agency, or the like, to aggregate such data.
[0029] Though not shown in the figures, the (potential) rider, through his or her handheld device, through a phone system (automated or dispatcher), or in any other manner, is informed, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, that a taxi will approach to pick him or her up. This is in response to the hailing of the taxi. At any time, a rider may select a “cancel fare” button, notify a dispatcher of a cancellation, and so forth, and the selection is then undone or removed, and the process starts anew. It should also be noted that once the trip is started the cancellation option is no longer available to a passenger. After a certain number of no-shows, cancelled calls, and the like for a particular rider, his account may be terminated, charged a fee, or warned of same. If the rider does get into the car, software used by the rider to hail the cab may further include a fare calculator which takes into account time of day, city vs. rural, tolls, rates for driving to airports and the like, so that an estimate can be made by the rider to ensure proper billing, or billing within a reasonable range (e.g., estimated within 15% of the actual rate) of the cab driver's bill. The actual bill, as it accrues, and other ride information, may be displayed on the person's wireless device, or received via a cellular or near field communication data stream. Such data may also be provided or viewable afterwards via a web interface, printout, or the like.
[0030] In embodiments of the disclosed technology, other cabs using the system may also be displayed on a map in a console. This may help the cab driver to decide whether or not to select a potential rider through a console, as the rider may simply decide to take another cab passing by. Additionally, a cab driver may use this information to decide to go to a certain area or avoid a certain area, e.g., if there are too many cabs in an area already, a cab driver may choose to drive in another direction. Even if the other cabs aren't actively using the console, this information is still helpful to other cab drivers. Information on a console may also be color-coded in embodiments of the disclosed technology.
[0031] Volatile memory 110 (such as random access memory) and non-volatile memory 120 (such as a solid state or magnetic storage device) store data, such as map data, instructions to be carried out by the central processing unit 140, graphics and text to be displayed, and so forth. Data from different subsystems is communicated via a bus system. The GPS subsystem 130 comprises a GPS receiver which receives signals from satellites, determines location based on triangulation of the received data, and outputs coordinates for further processing by the central processing unit 140 to display a current location. Such location information may be transferred by a packet-switched long range network interface 150 over a network, such as a radio communication network. A cellular data network, WiFi, WiMax, or other network may be utilized for this purpose. Via the long range network interface, location data is received related to the location of nearby people seeking taxi rides. In embodiments of the disclosed technology, the location data transmitted to the taxi consists only of location data of people seeking rides. No further information about potential riders is transmitted to the console at all, or in some embodiments, until it is verified that the rider is in the taxi. In some embodiments, a quantity of riders in a party to be picked up is sent, so the taxi driver may ensure that he/she can fit all the riders in his taxi. In other embodiments, the information is sent, but the console within the taxi only displays the location data and hides the rest of the received data.
[0032] The display shows a map of the surrounding area and may include sensor inputs, such that when an area of the map is touched corresponding to where a location indicator is displayed this is recognized and the selection is transmitted over the bus system and through the long range network. This causes other indicators to be removed from the display in this console, and the selected indicator to be removed in other consoles. Information is then transmitted, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, via the network to the console, which may be used for verification. For example, a code may be transmitted to the console, and then the rider may only ride in the taxi if he provides this verification information. The verification data may be provided by way of a short range wireless connection over network, such as a near field communication link, scanning of a code exhibited on a rider's handheld device, or the like. Another form of verification may be the location data. That is, unless the taxi driver is in the location represented by the selected indicator, the driver will not be able to proceed with billing (engaging the meter). In this manner, it is ensured that the rider picked up is the correct rider.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows a high-level block diagram of a device that may be used to carry out the disclosed technology. Device 200 comprises a processor 250 that controls the overall operation of the computer by executing the device's program instructions which define such operation. The device's program instructions may be stored in a storage device 220 (e.g., magnetic disk, database) and loaded into memory 230 when execution of the console's program instructions is desired. Thus, the device's operation will be defined by the device's program instructions stored in memory 230 and/or storage 220, and the console will be controlled by processor 250 executing the console's program instructions. A device 200 also includes one or a plurality of input network interfaces for communicating with other devices via a network (e.g., the internet). A device 200 further includes an electrical input interface. A device 200 also includes one or more output network interfaces 210 for communicating with other devices. Device 200 also includes input/output 240 representing devices which allow for user interaction with a computer (e.g., display, keyboard, mouse, speakers, buttons, etc.). One skilled in the art will recognize that an implementation of an actual device will contain other components as well, and that FIG. 2 is a high level representation of some of the components of such a device for illustrative purposes.
[0034] While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows steps carried out by a taxi driver in embodiments of the disclosed technology. In step 310, location is determined based on engaging a GPS (global positioning system) device. Once the location is determined, in step 320, the driver views the surrounding street map with, in step 330, anonymous indicators of potential riders. In step 340, the taxi driver selects an indicator, by, for example, typing the number associated with an indicator (e.g., the closest nine people available for pickup are shown and numbered 1-9), a colored dot, or the like. Once selected, the indicator is removed from other taxis utilizing this system, and in step 350, the unselected indicators are removed from the display in the selecting taxi.
[0036] Information is then received from the rider, in step 360, to verify his or her identity. This information may be as simple as the rider (here, still a “potential rider”) flagging down a cab, such as a cab with a certain color light indicating that the cab is headed to pick someone up, and the rider saying, “Hi, I called a cab to this location!” This, of course, works only at uncrowded locations such as a residential street address. The rider may verify that the taxi driver is at the correct location. In more dense areas, such as on a city street, the information may include a confirmation code, data transmitted electronically, or the like. If it turns out, while trying to find the rider, that the found person is the wrong person (e.g., wrong street address, wrong confirmation code, etc.), then the taxi driver keeps scanning the location and step 360 is repeated. This may be in the form of, “Who here has ticket number 45? You're next!” Then, the person holding this ticket steps up, or the person with this confirmation on his handheld wireless device exhibits same or transmits same. Once the rider is authenticated, the ride begins. Until the authentication is completed, the taxi driver may be prevented from beginning the ride/beginning to bill the rider.
[0037] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0038] The feature of the embodiments of the applicant’s claimed invention allows the missed call to serve as an indication of the fact that the driver is available for taking up new commuters.
[0039] On receiving the missed call, the server at the service provider traces the location using any of the known methods in the art and rings back the driver with an IVR option to confirm the availability at the location; the driver is only required to give Boolean indication.
[0040] The server then scans the commuter requests database for matching location and sends an SMS to the driver with pick up details. In the smartphone application this happens via the app.
[0041] It is to be noted that the commuters while raising a request for taxi service are required to enter both the pick up (point A) and drop address (point B). Once the driver in the vicinity of point A confirms his engagement for the commuter at point A, a missed call from the same driver, i.e. a request for new trip is only accepted when the driver has reached point B or a pre-determined time has passed. This ensures that the driver has not provided the service promised to commuter at point A. The time which has passed is estimated by the difference between time taken for travelling from point A to point B.
[0042] The platform further provides several insights to the service provider such as tracking the entire trip of the driver from point A-B, B-C, C-D, D-E, E-A etc. and predict the time taken for each of the trip (and also different permutations of the same trip). It also helps predict the availability of drivers at a given point based on the historic data.
[0043] Further, the continuous tracking helps in identifying the shortest routes possible between A-B and also serves as traffic congestion alert for other drivers passing through the same route as A-B.  

EXEMPLARY SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

[0044] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a machine in the example form of a computer system 400 within which instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
[0045] The example computer system 400 includes a processor 402(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), a main memory 404, and a static memory 406, which communicate with each other via a bus. The computer system 400 may further include a video display unit 410 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 400 also includes an alphanumeric input device 412(e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI) navigation device 414(e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 416, a signal generation device 418(e.g., a speaker), and a network interface device 420. The computer system 400 may also include an environmental input device 426 that may provide a number of inputs describing the environment in which the computer system 400 or another device exists, including, but not limited to, any of a Global Positioning Sensing (GPS) receiver, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a still photo or video camera, an audio sensor (e.g., a microphone), a velocity sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a compass.
Machine-Readable Medium
[0046] The disk drive unit 416 includes a machine-readable medium 422 on which is stored one or more sets of data structures and instructions 424(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 424 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 404 and/or within the processor 402 during execution thereof by the computer system 400, the static memory 406 and the processor 402 also constituting machine-readable media.
[0047] While the machine-readable medium 422 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” may include a single medium or multiplemedia(e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more instructions 424 or data structures. The term “non-transitory machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any tangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present subject matter, or that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with such instructions. The term “non-transitory machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. Specific examples of non-transitory machine-readable media include, but are not limited to, non-volatile memory, including by way of example, semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices), magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

Transmission Medium
The instructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over a computer network450using a transmission medium. The instructions 424 may be transmitted using the network interface device 420 and any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, mobile telephone networks, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., WiFi and WiMAX networks). The term “transmission medium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine, and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of such software.
[0048] As described herein, computer software products can be written in any of various suitable programming languages, such as C, C++, C#, Pascal, Fortran, Perl, Matlab (from MathWorks), SAS, SPSS, JavaScript, AJAX, Java, and PHP. The computer software product can be an independent application with data input and data display modules. Alternatively, the computer software products can be classes that can be instantiated as distributed objects. The computer software products can also be component software, for example Java Beans (from Sun Microsystems) or Enterprise Java Beans (EJB from Sun Microsystems). Much functionality described herein can be implemented in computer software, computer hardware, or a combination.
[0049] Furthermore, a computer that is running the previously mentioned computer software can be connected to a network and can interface to other computers using the network. The network can be an intranet, internet, or the Internet, among others. The network can be a wired network (for example, using copper), telephone network, packet network, an optical network (for example, using optical fiber), or a wireless network, or a combination of such networks. For example, data and other information can be passed between the computer and components (or steps) of a system using a wireless network based on a protocol, for example Wi-Fi (IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, and 1802.11n). In one example, signals from the computer can be transferred, at least in part, wirelessly to components or other computers.
[0050] It is to be understood that although various components are illustrated herein as separate entities, each illustrated component represents a collection of functionalities which can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of these. Where a component is implemented as software, it can be implemented as a standalone program, but can also be implemented in other ways, for example as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate programs, as a kernel loadable module, as one or more device drivers or as one or more statically or dynamically linked libraries.
[0051] As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats.
[0052] Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects of the invention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of the three. Of course, wherever a component of the present invention is implemented as software, the component can be implemented as a script, as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate scripts and/or programs, as a statically or dynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future to those of skill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, the present invention is in no way limited to implementation in any specific programming language, or for any specific operating system or environment.
[0053] Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art that where the present invention is implemented in whole or in part in software, the software components thereof can be stored on computer readable media as computer program products. Any form of computer readable medium can be used in this context, such as magnetic or optical storage media. Additionally, software portions of the present invention can be instantiated (for example as object code or executable images) within the memory of any programmable computing device.

[0054] As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats.

[0055] Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.