Circular Navigation Interface for Intuitive Route Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional navigation systems often present non-uniform and unintuitive map and route guidance interfaces, making it difficult for users to understand dynamic route information, especially when using different devices or systems.
Innovation Solution
A navigation user interface that provides a circular representation of the route with a map display area, including dynamic traffic information and route guidance steps, using sensors like GPS and a processor to offer intuitive turn-by-turn directions and user interaction, with optional secondary representations for additional detail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional navigation interfaces are used, then device compatibility is achieved, but user understanding and intuitiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation interface is segmented into distinct functional zones: a circular route representation showing progress along the journey, a map display area showing surrounding geography, and information panels for route guidance steps. This segmentation allows each zone to serve its specific purpose clearly, improving user understanding without requiring adaptation to a unified conventional interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a circular dimensional representation of the route progress, where the circle's circumference represents the journey path and the user's position is indicated by a marker moving along the circle. This dimensional change from linear to circular representation provides intuitive visual feedback about progress and remaining distance, enhancing ease of operation.
2Loss of information
If detailed route information is provided, then navigation accuracy improves, but interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the interface provide different levels and types of information: the circular representation shows overall progress, the map area provides spatial context, and side panels display detailed route guidance steps. This local quality assignment ensures that detailed information is available where needed without overwhelming the entire interface, maintaining clarity while reducing perceived complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface employs a nested layout where the circular route representation is positioned centrally, the map display area surrounds or adjoins it, and information panels are layered around the periphery. This nesting allows multiple information layers to coexist without clutter, providing comprehensive route information while maintaining a clean, organized interface structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user understanding of navigation by providing clear, intuitive graphical representations and real-time feedback, improving route guidance clarity and usability, especially in dynamic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A location of a present location may be presented on the representation of the route
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are therefore provided for providing a navigation user interface. The apparatus may be caused to: receive an indication of an origin and a destination; provide for presentation of a representation of the origin, a representation of the destination, and a representation of the route there between, where the representation of the route may include a bar extending in a circular shape between the representation of the origin and the representation of the destination, and defining a map display region within the circular shape. The apparatus may also be configured to provide for presentation of a present location indicator on the representation of the route and provide for presentation of a map within the map display region. The map within the map display region may correspond to at least one of a current location or a user selected location along the route.