Lane Direction Determination Using Road Attributes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional navigation systems often mislead drivers by discrepancies between displayed lane directions and actual lane orientations at intersections, especially in cases where the angle between incoming and outgoing roads is small, making it difficult to determine the correct direction of each lane.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system that determines the direction of each lane based on both lane information and road attributes of incoming and outgoing roads, using a map data acquiring unit, lane information acquiring unit, lane direction determining unit, and lane information display unit to display lane directions accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the lane direction is determined based on the actual geometry of roads, then the lane guide map can be displayed with directional arrows, but a discrepancy occurs between the displayed lane direction and the driver's recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter basis for determining lane direction from pure geometric calculation to a composite parameter system that includes road attributes (arterial/collector/local classification) and lane information. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction by aligning the displayed direction with driver expectations based on road hierarchy rather than strict geometric angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces road attributes as an intermediary element between the geometric road data and the lane direction display. This intermediary layer (road classification: arterial, collector, local) mediates the determination process, ensuring that the displayed lane direction reflects both geometric reality and driver perception based on road importance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the angle between incoming and outgoing roads is small, then the road connection exists, but it becomes difficult to clearly determine the direction of each lane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the lane direction determination from angle-based geometric measurement to attribute-based classification. When the angle between roads is small, the system relies on road attributes (arterial/collector/local) and lane information rather than angular measurement, enabling accurate direction determination in narrow-angle intersections where geometric methods fail.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of determining lane direction from the outgoing road's geometry (traditional approach), the patent inverts the logic by determining direction from the incoming road's attributes and lane information. This inversion allows the system to handle small-angle intersections effectively by prioritizing the entering vehicle's perspective and road classification over the exiting road's geometric angle.
3Ease of operation
If all lanes at a branch point are displayed as straightforward arrows due to small angles, then the display is simplified, but the directional information becomes inaccurate and confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining lane directions individually based on specific road attributes and lane information for each lane, rather than applying a uniform straightforward arrow to all lanes. This allows the display to maintain simplicity while preserving directional accuracy by showing different arrow directions (straightforward, diagonal right, diagonal left) according to each lane's specific characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation system includes a lane information acquiring unit 27 for acquiring both the number of lanes of a road which forms an intersection, and lane information which defines a road branching off from each of the lanes, a lane direction determining unit 28 for determining the direction of each of the lanes on the basis of both the lane information acquired by the lane information acquiring unit, and a road attribute of an incoming road coming into the intersection and a road attribute of an outgoing road extending from the intersection, the road attributes of the incoming and outgoing roads being included in map data acquired by a map data acquiring unit, and a lane information display unit 29 for displaying the direction of each of the lanes determined by the lane direction determining unit with an arrow.