Systems and methods for pairing for-hire vehicles with their associated medallion are disclosed. Some for-hire vehicles, such as taxis operate with a for-hire vehicle meter (taximeter). In some embodiments, the meter contains an identifier of a medallion that is associated with the meter. The meter may then determine if it is connected or properly associated with the medallion. If the meter is connected or properly associated with the medallion, it will then access the identification information of the medallion and determine if identification information matches its contained medallion identifier. If the identification information does not match, the meter may shut down and thereafter be non-engageable. The relationship between the medallion and the meter is advantageously used to enforce restrictions on the operation of the for-hire vehicle including, for example, time and location of pick-up restrictions. In other embodiments, meters and medallions communicate their identification and locations to a central server. The central server then compares the locations to determine the distance between the meter and the medallion. If the distance does not satisfy a predetermined range (indicating the meter and the medallion are close together), the central server may generate an alert or it may command the meter to shut down. The central server may also advantageously be used to enforce restrictions on the operation of the for-hire vehicle. Meters and/or medallions not attached to their assigned medallion and/or meter may also be tracked via the central server.

In one embodiment, a system can be used for providing a taxi service. The system includes an integrated terminal configured to communicate with an operating server that provides a response to a request for a service received from a user terminal through a network. The integrated terminal is configured to determine whether to identify vehicle distribution call information by using an operation state of a vehicle and information acquired by associating a boarding location of a user and heading direction information of the vehicle, calculate an operation fee by using GPS information or wheel speed information of the vehicle, and determine whether an output screen of the vehicle is changed based on gear state information, wheel speed information, or information received from an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

A computing device determines that one or more users have departed a vehicle. The computing device determines whether a vehicle door is ajar. A power door subsystem is actuated to close the vehicle door when the vehicle door is ajar and the vehicle has no users. A fare is determined when the vehicle door is in a latched position. A message is sent to the at least one of the one or more users indicating the fare.

An indication device for a vehicle of a service provider associated with a transport service includes an output device and a communication interface for establishing a communication link with a provider device of the service provider. The communication interface can receive, via the communication link, a set of output configuration data associated with a request for the transport service to cause the output device to transition from outputting a default configuration to outputting the output configuration based on a determined state of the service provider or the transport service.

A computing system is configured to receive a request for a transport service from a user device of a requesting user. In response to receiving the request, the computing system identifies a service provider to fulfill the request and determines a state for the service provider. The computing system transmits, to a provider device of the service provider, configuration data indicating an output configuration for the request. The provider device is communicatively coupled to an indication device to cause the indication device to transition from displaying a default configuration to displaying the output configuration for the request based on the determined state of the service provider.

An on-vehicle relay device that is connected to a first on-vehicle device and a second on-vehicle device via an on-vehicle network, and relays a message transmitted from the first on-vehicle device to the second on-vehicle device, includes a processor configured to receive a permission request for transmission of a first message from the first on-vehicle device, determine whether the total of the usage rate of the bandwidth of the on-vehicle network used by at least one message already permitted to be transmitted via the on-vehicle network, and the usage rate of the bandwidth of the on-vehicle network used by the first message is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and send a reply that permits transmission of the first message, to the first on-vehicle device, when the sum is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value.

A transportation system for operating an automated-taxi includes a power-connection and a controller-circuit. The power-connection is used to establish an electrical-connection between an automated-taxi and a charged-battery that was brought to the automated-taxi by a client of the automated-taxi. The charged-battery provides electrical-energy to propel the automated-taxi while connected. The controller-circuit is in communication with the power-connection. The controller-circuit is configured to assess a fee for transporting the client to a destination by the automated-taxi. The fee is determined in accordance with an energy-value drawn from the charged-battery while the client is being transported.

A transportation system for operating an automated-taxi includes a power-connection and a controller-circuit. The power-connection is used to establish an electrical-connection between an automated-taxi and a charged-battery that was brought to the automated-taxi by a client of the automated-taxi. The charged-battery provides electrical-energy to propel the automated-taxi while connected. The controller-circuit is in communication with the power-connection. The controller-circuit is configured to assess a fee for transporting the client to a destination by the automated-taxi. The fee is determined in accordance with an energy-value drawn from the charged-battery while the client is being transported.

An apparatus and method for real time visual based taxi vehicle authentication for customers and drivers for smartphone application based taxi services. The method includes providing a visible display on a taxi vehicle in a conspicuously visible location. The display is configured for real time selective displaying changeable unique visual identification signals. The method includes selecting a specific visual identification signal by the smartphone application for a given customer, driver and vehicle for a specific use and sending this visual identification signal to the customer and to the driver via the smartphone application, wherein the visual identification signal is selectively viewable by the customer and displayed on the customer's smartphone; and displaying the visual identification signal on the display at least at a time when the vehicle is in proximity to the customer.

A system and method for managing a permit-based parking environment governed by a parking program. The permit-based parking environment includes a number of parking permits each including a unique RFID tag and tag number. One or more RFID readers are used to scan the vehicles parked in the parking environment to determine if a RFID tag is associated with the parked vehicle. The results of the scan along with information related to the parked vehicle are provided to a permit management system to determine if the vehicle is parked within the scope of privileges pre-defined for that vehicle, pursuant to the parking program governing the parking environment. The permit management system stores, manages, and monitors data related to the permits controlled under the parking program.