Adaptive Category Selection for Navigation Destination Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems require unnecessary steps when selecting destinations, as users must first choose a parent category and then a subordinate category, which can slow down the destination entry process, especially in vehicles where time is critical.

Innovation Solution

The method dynamically adapts category selection by replacing parent categories with subordinate categories when a threshold value is met, allowing for quicker selection by displaying only relevant categories based on the user's location and reducing the number of higher-level categories, and providing an option to select from a complete list of destinations if ambiguous.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a hierarchical category selection is used with parent and subordinate categories, then the system provides a structured way to organize destinations, but it increases the number of selection steps required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecategory structureVSAvoidselection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the category selection structure adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically determines whether to display parent categories or subordinate categories based on the number of available destinations. When the destination count is below a threshold, subordinate categories are displayed directly; otherwise, parent categories are shown. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the selection process for different scenarios, reducing unnecessary selection steps while maintaining structured organization when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If parent categories are always displayed first, then the system maintains a consistent hierarchical structure, but it adds unnecessary selection steps in areas with few destinations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehierarchical structureVSAvoiddestination entry speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by using a threshold value (parameter) to control the display behavior. When the number of destinations in an area is below the threshold, the system changes the display parameter to show subordinate categories directly, bypassing the parent category selection. This parameter-based control allows the system to maintain hierarchical structure stability when needed while improving productivity by eliminating unnecessary steps when the threshold is not met.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If all subordinate categories are displayed under a parent category, then the system provides complete information, but it increases the complexity of the selection interface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecategory informationVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by selectively displaying only the necessary category information based on the destination count threshold. Instead of always showing the complete hierarchical structure with all parent and subordinate categories, the system extracts and displays only the relevant subordinate categories when the threshold is not met. This reduces interface complexity by removing unnecessary parent category layers while preserving complete category information for areas with more destinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2054700B1Method for inputting a travel destination
Publication Date: 2011.08.10 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2054700B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2054700B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2054700B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for inputting a travel destination, wherein first a category is selected, wherein subsequently travel destinations which correspond to the category selection are offered for selection, wherein at least some of the travel destinations are associated with in each case at least one subordinate category which has in each case one superordinate category, characterized in that a category is selected by virtue of the fact that for the category selection, in each case one superordinate category is displayed or in each case the superordinate category is substituted by one or the multiple categories which are subordinate thereto, and in that a substitution is in each case effected if the number of the subordinate categories of one superordinate category is in each case smaller than a predefined first threshold value.