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.

Provided is an incoming and outgoing vehicle management method and an incoming and outgoing vehicle management system that are based on a vehicle number and a vehicle type identified therefrom, the method and system including: receiving incoming vehicle information including a vehicle number recognized from a vehicle image, and incoming time or an incoming gate identifier; determining a vehicle type by using the vehicle number of the incoming vehicle information; and generating an incoming vehicle message for directing the incoming vehicle to an incoming gate and transmitting the generated incoming vehicle message to a portable terminal designated to a user of the vehicle, wherein the incoming vehicle message includes incoming identification information that indicates the recognized vehicle number, and the incoming time or the incoming gate identifier.

A computer system identifies a service provider from a plurality of service providers to fulfill a request for a transport service from a user device of a user. The service provider operates a vehicle equipped with an indicator device. The computer system obtains an output configuration associated with the user, monitors location information of a provider device of the service provider, detects a state change of the transport service based on the location information of the provider device, and, in response to detecting the state change, communicates with the provider device to cause the indicator device to display the output configuration of the user.

A computer system identifies a service provider from a plurality of service providers to fulfill a request for a transport service from a user device of a user. The service provider operates a vehicle equipped with an indicator device. The computer system obtains an output configuration associated with the user, monitors location information of a provider device of the service provider, detects a state change of the transport service based on the location information of the provider device, and, in response to detecting the state change, communicates with the provider device to cause the indicator device to display the output configuration of the user.

Sensors are deployed within a for-hire vehicle (taxi, limousine, or shuttles, for example) to measure changes in the environment of the for-hire vehicle. The sensors transmit data to a computing system that processes the data to determine the severity of the change in the environment. The aggregate of the severity of the data is used to determine if remedial action should be taken against the driver or owner/operator of the for-hire vehicle. Remedial action may include issuing a citation, fining the driver, or disabling a meter located within the for-hire vehicle. In some embodiments, venues (hotels, airports, nightclubs, or entertainment venues, for example) may restrict the ability of for-hire vehicles to pick up passengers where the aggregate of the severity of the data indicates the drivers may be engaging in careless, reckless or overly negligent driving behavior.

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.

Sensors are deployed within a for-hire vehicle (taxi, limousine, or shuttles, for example) to measure changes in the environment of the for-hire vehicle. The sensors transmit data to a computing system that processes the data to determine the severity of the change in the environment. The aggregate of the severity of the data is used to determine if remedial action should be taken against the driver or owner/operator of the for-hire vehicle. Remedial action may include issuing a citation, fining the driver, or disabling a meter located within the for-hire vehicle. In some embodiments, venues (hotels, airports, nightclubs, or entertainment venues, for example) may restrict the ability of for-hire vehicles to pick up passengers where the aggregate of the severity of the data indicates the drivers may be engaging in careless, reckless or overly negligent driving behavior.

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.