Navigation Route Guidance Intersection Geometry Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional navigation systems provide limited route guidance at intersections, failing to accurately represent complex real-world scenarios, which can lead to drivers misinterpreting turning instructions and deviating from planned routes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves modeling the geometrical form of transitions through intersections using curved paths, specifically stored as spline, vector curve, or Bezier curves, which connect incoming and outgoing road segments, allowing for detailed route guidance by highlighting specific driving lanes and intersection features like traffic lights and lane markings, enhancing the driver's ability to follow the planned route.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simplified road network graph representation is used for route guidance, then data storage requirements are reduced and route finding is simplified, but the accuracy of representing real-world intersection geometry deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage complexityVSAvoidintersection geometry representation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the intersection representation into two segments: a simplified road network graph for route finding and a detailed curved path model for route guidance. The curved path is segmented into multiple points that define its geometry, allowing the system to maintain both simplified data structures and accurate geometric representation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the intersection geometry in the form of a curved path model that parallels the road network graph representation. This curved path copy contains the detailed geometric information needed for accurate route guidance while the original graph structure remains simplified for efficient route finding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Quantity of substance

If turning indicators are calculated at run-time based on road segments and nodes, then additional data storage is avoided, but the ability to provide detailed route guidance through complex intersections is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage volumeVSAvoidroute guidance quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores the curved path geometry in the database before run-time. The curved path is computed in advance based on the road network graph and intersection geometry, and this pre-computed geometric model is stored for efficient retrieval during route guidance, avoiding the need for complex run-time calculations while providing detailed guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If an intersection is modeled as a point feature in the road network graph, then the graph structure remains simple and route finding is efficient, but route guidance while moving through the intersection becomes impossible or limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegraph structure complexityVSAvoidroute guidance reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a zero-dimensional point feature representation to a one-dimensional curved path representation. The curved path adds geometric dimensionality to the intersection model, transforming it from a simple node to a continuous geometric form that spans the intersection area, enabling detailed route guidance while maintaining graph structure simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2775261B1Route guidance at intersections
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH
  • EP2775261B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2775261B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2775261B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3

AI summary

Various embodiments relate to techniques of providing route guidance along a planned route leading through at least one intersection (105-1, 105-2). Predetermined attributes for a respective transition through the at least one intersection (105-1, 105-2) are retrieved from a database, the attributes specifying at least a curved path (210) modelling a geometrical form of the transition. The curved path (210) is displayed in a map view (250) for route guidance along a planned route.