Map Display System Dynamic Offset for Route Congestion Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional map display systems face visibility issues when displaying a route line and congestion line, as the width of the route line is not always consistent with the road line, leading to overlapping and decreased visibility, especially when the route line is superimposed on the road line.

Innovation Solution

The system determines an offset distance between the road line and congestion line based on whether the route line is superimposed on a road line, using different offset distances to prevent overlap and ensure high visibility by positioning the congestion line at a distance that avoids overlap with either the route line or the road line, depending on their relative widths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the width of the route line is changed according to the scale, then the visibility of the route line is improved at different scales, but the route line may overlap with the congestion line when the route line is superimposed on a road line

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of route lineVSAvoidoverlap between route line and congestion line

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The offset distance between the congestion line and road line is made dynamic, varying according to whether a route line is superimposed on the road line. When a route line is present, a first offset distance is used; when absent, a second offset distance is used. This dynamic adjustment prevents overlap while maintaining visibility across different scales.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of offset distance based on the presence or absence of a route line. By switching between two distinct offset distance values (first offset distance when route line is present, second offset distance when absent), the system adapts the congestion line positioning to avoid overlap while preserving visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the congestion line is positioned close to the road line, then the map space is utilized efficiently, but the congestion line overlaps with the route line when the route line is superimposed on the road line

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemap space utilizationVSAvoidoverlap between congestion line and route line

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The offset distance is dynamically adjusted based on the presence of a route line. When a route line is superimposed on the road line, a larger first offset distance is applied to prevent overlap. When no route line is present, a smaller second offset distance is used to maximize map space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different offset distances are applied in different local conditions: a first offset distance is used in the local condition where a route line is superimposed on the road line, and a second offset distance is used when no route line is present. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between space utilization and overlap prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the width of the road line is changed according to road attribute and actual road width, then the accuracy of road representation is improved, but the route line may overlap with the congestion line when the route line width does not match the road line width

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad representation accuracyVSAvoidoverlap between route line and congestion line

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary determination of whether a route line is superimposed on a road line before positioning the congestion line. Based on this preliminary assessment, it selects the appropriate offset distance (first or second) in advance, ensuring that the congestion line will not overlap with the route line while maintaining accurate road representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8989997B2Map display system, method, and program

Publication Date: 2015.03.24 AISIN AW CO LTD

AI summary

A map display system and method are provided. The display system includes a map information acquiring unit that acquires map information and a congestion level acquiring unit that acquires a congestion level for each road section within the map. The system also includes a route line display determining unit that determines whether a route line is displayed superimposed on any road line, the route line representing a planned travel route, each road line representing a road section within the map. The display is controlled such that if the route line is displayed superimposed on any road line a congestion line is displayed at a position by a first off-set distance from the road line on the display part and if the route line is not displayed superimposed on any road line, the congestion line is displayed at a second off-set distance from the road line on the display part.