Navigation System Breadcrumb Deviation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current in-vehicle navigation systems do not provide driving instructions unless specifically requested by the driver, leaving them unable to receive new instructions while driving on unfamiliar roads, especially when deviating from calculated paths due to obstacles like traffic congestion or road closures.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented navigation system that continuously monitors the vehicle's location and breadcrumbs to detect deviations from known paths, automatically calculating and displaying alternative routes in distance-based or traffic-based modes to assist the driver in returning to a known path or avoiding obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the navigation system only provides instructions upon driver request, then the system operation is simple and driver control is maintained, but the driver cannot receive new instructions while driving on unfamiliar roads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver controlVSAvoidcontinuous navigation assistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation system automatically detects when a driver has deviated from a known path using breadcrumb tracking and location monitoring, then autonomously provides alternative route instructions without requiring driver initiation. This self-service mechanism ensures continuous assistance on unfamiliar roads while maintaining simple operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the navigation system automatically detects path deviation and provides alternative routes, then continuous navigation assistance is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous navigation assistanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates alternative routes and stores breadcrumb data during normal navigation, so when deviation is detected, the alternative path is already prepared and can be immediately presented to the driver. This preliminary preparation reduces the computational complexity required at the moment of deviation detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors driver location against the known path using breadcrumb feedback, automatically triggering alternative route provision when deviation exceeds a threshold. This closed-loop feedback mechanism simplifies the control logic by using clear trigger conditions rather than complex continuous adjustment algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the navigation system provides alternative routes for deviation, then navigation reliability on unfamiliar roads is improved, but the response time for providing new instructions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation reliabilityVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Alternative routes are pre-calculated and stored in the system before the driver actually deviates from the known path. When deviation is detected, the system immediately retrieves and presents the pre-prepared alternative route, eliminating computational delay and ensuring rapid response while maintaining high navigation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3009798B1Providing alternative road navigation instructions for drivers on unfamiliar roads
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP3009798B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3009798B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3009798B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Techniques for providing driving instructions for drivers on unfamiliar roads. A navigation system (110) stores "breadcrumbs," or indicators of road segments on which a particular vehicle has previously driven. The system detects whether a vehicle has turned off of a "familiar" road by examining these breadcrumbs. If the navigation system determines that the current position of the vehicle is associated with a road segment for which a number of breadcrumbs below a particular threshold are stored, then the navigation system determines that the vehicle is on an unfamiliar road. The navigation system identifies a secondary path and presents that path to the driver to return the driver to the familiar road. The secondary path may be identified in a manner that avoids obstacles by examining traffic information or distance information.