Abstract: A first vehicular system may include a lead vehicle and a pod vehicle disposed behind the lead vehicle. The lead vehicle may be configured to protect the pod vehicle from a potential impact to a front portion of the pod vehicle. A second vehicular system may include a lead vehicle, a following vehicle and one or more pod vehicles disposed between the lead and the following vehicle. The lead vehicle may be configured to protect the one or more pod vehicles from a potential impact to a front portion of each of the one or more pod vehicles, and the following vehicle may be configured to protect the one or more pod vehicles from a potential impact to a rear portion of each of the one or more pod vehicles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a transportation marketplace are provided. A transportation server receives, from a client device of a user, a request for a transportation service. The transportation server determines a set of drivers in response to the request, the set of drivers further being available to provide the transportation service when the request is received. The transportation server provides the set of drivers to the client device, wherein each driver within the set of drivers is selectable by the user of the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing discounts for shared transportation are described. A transportation server receives, from a client device of a first user, a first request for a shared transportation service. The transportation server receives, from a client device of a second user, a second request to join the shared transportation service. The transportation server calculates a first price for the first user for the shared transportation service based on at least a portion of a shared transportation service trip. The transportation server calculates a second price for the second user for the shared transportation service trip based on at least the portion of a shared transportation service trip.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a transportation marketplace are provided. A transportation server receives, from a client device of a user, a request for a transportation service. The transportation server determines a set of drivers in response to the request, the set of drivers further being available to provide the transportation service when the request is received. The transportation server provides the set of drivers to the client device, wherein each driver within the set of drivers is selectable by the user of the client device.

Abstract: Systems, methods and a computer-readable medium provide for package delivery by transportation services that transport one or more passenger to desired locations. In one or more embodiments, a transportation server identifies a package delivery location for a package. The transportation server determines a route characteristic based at least on the package delivery location. The transportation server sends the route characteristic to a transportation service for transporting at least one passenger to a passenger drop-off location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing discounts for shared transportation are provided. A transportation server receives, from a client device of a first user, a first request for a shared transportation service. The transportation server receives, from a client device of a second user, a second request to join the shared transportation service. The transportation server calculates a first price for the first user for the shared transportation service based on at least a portion of a shared transportation service trip. The transportation server calculates a second price for the second user for the shared transportation service trip based on at least the portion of a shared transportation service trip.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing transportation discounts are disclosed. A server receives, from a client device of a user, a request for a transportation service. In response, the server identifies that the request relates to a particular characteristic associated with modified pricing. The server then calculates an adjusted price for the transportation service based on the modified pricing associated with the particular characteristic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a transportation marketplace are provided. A transportation server receives, from a client device of a user, a request for a transportation service. The transportation server determines a set of drivers in response to the request, the set of drivers further being available to provide the transportation service when the request is received. The transportation server provides the set of drivers to the client device, wherein each driver within the set of drivers is selectable by the user of the client device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described below. The steps may be embodied in machine-executable instructions. The instructions can be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform certain steps. Alternatively, these steps may be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components.

Abstract: A server is disclosed for filtering e-mail messages. The server receives requests to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client and then retrieves e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client. The server then filters the e-mail messages based on one or more rules and transfers the filtered e-mail messages to the client. In addition, the server continues to filter the e-mail messages after the client has disconnected from the server. In one embodiment of the invention the e-mail message recipient is sent a notification by the server indicating that messages have been filtered. The recipient is then able to scan the filtered messages and insure that the messages have been filtered correctly. In another embodiment, a third party scans the e-mail messages on behalf of the e-mail user to make this determination. Also disclosed is an e-mail filter comprising an application programming interface and a plurality of dynamically loaded rule modules adapted to interface with the API.

Abstract: A system and method are described for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles.

Abstract: A server is disclosed for filtering e-mail messages. The server receives requests to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client and then retrieves e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client. The server then filters the e-mail messages based on one or more rules and transfers the filtered e-mail messages to the client. In addition, the server continues to filter the e-mail messages after the client has disconnected from the server. In one embodiment of the invention the e-mail message recipient is sent a notification by the server indicating that messages have been filtered. The recipient is then able to scan the filtered messages and insure that the messages have been filtered correctly. In another embodiment, a third party scans the e-mail messages on behalf of the e-mail user to make this determination. Also disclosed is an e-mail filter comprising an application programming interface and a plurality of dynamically loaded rule modules adapted to interface with the API.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is described for determining an efficient transportation route comprising: compiling travel data over one or more travel segments, the travel data transmitted from one or more transportation vehicles traveling over the travel segments; receiving positional data associated with a transportation request, the positional data including an origin and a destination; and providing a driver of a vehicle with a first efficient route from the origin to the destination using the travel data, the first efficient route including one or more of the travel segments. Also described is a computer-implemented method for providing transportation services comprising: receiving a transportation request from a passenger; tracking the passenger's position following the request using positional detection logic; and transmitting positional data identifying the passenger's position to a pickup vehicle.

Abstract: In a system and method and system for controlling delivery of unsolicited electronic mail messages, one or more spam probe e-mail addresses are created and planted at various sites on the communications network in order to insure their inclusion on large-scale electronic junk mail ("spam") mailing lists. The mailboxes corresponding to the spam probe e-mail addresses are monitored for incoming mail by a spam control center. Upon receipt of incoming mail addressed to the spam probe addresses, the spam control center automatically analyzes the received spam e-mail to identify the source of the message, extracts the spam source data from the message, and generates an alert signal containing the spam source data. This alert signal is broadcast to all network servers and/or all user terminals within the communications network.

Abstract: A system for eliminating unsolicited electronic mail generates and stores a user inclusion list including identification data for identifying e-mail desired by the user. Data from one or more fields of incoming electronic mail messages are compared with the identification data stored in the user inclusion list. If the electronic mail message data matches corresponding identification data from the user inclusion list, the e-mail message is marked with a first display code, such as "OK." If no match is detected, the system performs at least one heuristic process to determine whether the electronic mail message may be of interest to the user. If the message satisfies one or more criteria as determined by the heuristic process and is therefore of potential interest to the user, the message is marked with a second display code, such as "NEW." If the e-mail message does not satisfy any of the heuristic criteria, the e-mail message may be marked with a third display code, such as "JUNK.

Abstract: A server is disclosed for filtering e-mail messages. The server receives requests to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client and then retrieves e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client. The server then filters the e-mail messages based on one or more rules and transfers the filtered e-mail messages to the client. In addition, the server continues to filter the e-mail messages after the client has disconnected from the server. In one embodiment of the invention the e-mail message recipient is sent a notification by the server indicating that messages have been filtered. The recipient is then able to scan the filtered messages and insure that the messages have been filtered correctly. In another embodiment, a third party scans the e-mail messages on behalf of the e-mail user to make this determination. Also disclosed is an e-mail filter comprising an application programming interface and a plurality of dynamically loaded rule modules adapted to interface with the API.