Dynamic Blocking Flags for Junction Guidance in Navigation Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems fail to provide clear and dynamic guidance on when to turn off a road, leading to potential wrong turns and circuitous routes, as they lack the ability to dynamically update visual cues based on the vehicle's progress through junctions.

Innovation Solution

A navigation method and system that determines a route, displays it on a map, identifies maneuver points, and uses blocking flags to indicate which roads branching off at junctions should not be taken until the vehicle has passed those junctions, with these flags being dynamically updated as the vehicle progresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If blocking flags are displayed for all junctions to prevent wrong turns, then driver orientation is improved, but visual clutter and map complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver orientation accuracyVSAvoidmap visual complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by displaying blocking flags selectively only for junctions that are relevant to the current route and vehicle position, rather than marking all junctions uniformly. This ensures that critical guidance information is provided at specific locations without creating unnecessary visual clutter across the entire map display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the junction information by dividing junctions into different categories based on their relevance to the current route. Blocking flags are applied only to specific segments (junctions) that require attention, while other junctions remain unmarked, thus reducing overall map complexity while maintaining orientation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If blocking flags are updated dynamically as vehicle passes junctions, then route guidance accuracy is improved, but processing requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute guidance information accuracyVSAvoidsystem processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the sequence of junctions along the route in advance. This allows the system to efficiently update blocking flags by simply comparing the vehicle's current position against the pre-established junction sequence, rather than performing complex real-time route analysis, thus reducing processing requirements while maintaining information accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors vehicle position and compares it with the predetermined junction sequence. Based on this feedback, blocking flags are dynamically updated to reflect which junctions have been passed and which remain upcoming, ensuring accurate route guidance with minimal processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2631596B1Navigation method and corresponding navigation system
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH
  • EP2631596B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2631596B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A navigation method and its corresponding navigation system (40), wherein said method comprises the steps of: - determining a route (20); - displaying the route (20) on a map (10); - determining a maneuver point (22) on the route (20); - outputting a maneuver instruction (23) for the maneuver point (22); - representing a current position on the route (20) by a position symbol (21) on the map (10), - determining a junction (17, 18) between the position symbol (21) and the maneuver point (22) on the route (20); - determining a road (11, 12) branching off the route (20) at the junction (17, 18); - marking the road (11, 12) by a blocking flag (31, 32) on the map (10); - determining a passing (29) at the junction (17, 18); and - changing the blocking flag (31, 32) on the map (10) as a function of the passing (29).