Destination Prediction via GPS Trace Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable navigation devices (PNDs) are limited in utility when the user's destination is not entered, as they lack knowledge of the user's intended location, leading to reduced functionality in navigation assistance.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize digital map data and location determination via GPS to identify possible destinations and provide route information to the user without pre-entered destinations, incorporating traffic and historic data to determine optimal routes and display them on the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the navigation device waits for user input of destination, then it maintains simple operation, but it loses navigation assistance functionality when user does not enter destination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation assistance functionalityVSAvoiduser input requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation device automatically determines possible destinations by analyzing GPS trace data and map features without requiring explicit user input. The system serves itself by autonomously identifying destination candidates based on journey patterns and geographical features, eliminating the need for manual destination entry while maintaining navigation assistance functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-calculates possible destinations by analyzing GPS trace data and identifying potential destination locations before the user needs navigation assistance. By performing preliminary analysis of journey patterns and pre-identifying destination candidates, the system prepares navigation information in advance, enabling immediate assistance when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device calculates routes to multiple possible destinations, then it provides comprehensive navigation assistance, but it increases computational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute suggestion capabilityVSAvoidcomputational processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system focuses computational resources on calculating routes to locally relevant destinations within a predetermined radius of the current location. By limiting the analysis to local geographical features and nearby destinations rather than performing global route calculations, the system provides comprehensive navigation assistance while managing computational complexity through spatial localization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system calculates routes to multiple possible destinations beyond what a single explicit destination would require, providing a set of candidate routes. By performing partial calculations for several potential destinations simultaneously rather than waiting for explicit user selection, the system enables comprehensive assistance while the actual computational load is managed by presenting a limited set of pre-calculated options

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If the system uses GPS trace data to identify destinations, then it enables automatic destination detection, but it increases data processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedestination detection accuracyVSAvoiddata processing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts relevant destination information from GPS trace data by identifying specific geographical features and patterns in the recorded journey information. By selectively extracting only the necessary destination candidates from the raw GPS trace data rather than processing all data points, the system achieves accurate automatic destination detection while minimizing data processing requirements through targeted extraction of meaningful information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables users to navigate to potential destinations without prior entry, offering real-time and historic traffic-aware route suggestions, enhancing navigation assistance and user experience by dynamically updating route information based on changing conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a GPS antenna by means of which satellite-broadcast signals, including location data, can be received and subsequently processed to determine a current location of the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGPS signal reception:

Implementation Method 2

The PND device may also include electronic gyroscopes and accelerometers which produce signals that can be processed to determine the current angular and linear acceleration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 3

electronic gyroscopes and accelerometers which produce signals that can be processed to determine the current angular and linear acceleration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP2890955B1Method and apparatus for predicting destinations
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 TOMTOM NAVIGATION BV
  • EP2890955B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2890955B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2890955B1 patent drawingFigure 4~9

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention relate to a computer-implemented method of predicting a destination of a user of a mobile device, comprising selecting one or more geographic locations as a group of possible destinations based on a first location of the mobile device, determining a route from the first location to each of the geographic locations of the group of possible destinations according to one or more route planning criteria and digital map data, and updating the group of possible destinations based upon a second location of the mobile device and a change in an attribute of a route between the second location and each geographic location of the group of possible destinations.