Navigation Map Interface With 3D Pickup Imagery for Ride Booking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mapping applications require users to switch between different ride service applications for selecting and ordering transportation services, lacking integrated functionality for seamless ride service selection and navigation within the mapping interface.

Innovation Solution

A mapping application integrates ride service APIs to provide multi-modal travel directions, allowing users to select and order transportation services directly within the mapping interface, including visualization of ride services on the map and interactive three-dimensional street-level imagery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between multiple ride service applications for comparing and booking transportation services, then users can access comprehensive ride service options, but user convenience deteriorates due to app switching and fragmented navigation experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveride service optionsVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple ride service provider interfaces and navigation functionality into a single mapping application interface. The system displays ride service options from multiple providers simultaneously within the mapping app, allowing users to compare and book rides without switching applications. This merging approach maintains comprehensive ride service options while significantly improving user convenience by eliminating app switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mapping application is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it provides navigation directions, displays ride service options from multiple providers, shows pickup location imagery, and enables ride booking all within a single application. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain versatility in ride service options while improving ease of operation by consolidating these functions in one place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If mapping application provides integrated ride service data from multiple providers, then user experience improves through seamless booking, but system complexity increases due to multiple API integrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an intermediary layer (the mapping application's ride service interface) that manages multiple ride service provider APIs. This intermediary consolidates the complexity of multiple integrations behind a unified interface, allowing the system to provide seamless user experience while managing the underlying complexity through standardized communication protocols and centralized data handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If users view traditional two-dimensional map interface, then navigation information is clear, but pickup location visualization is insufficient for identifying exact location and surrounding context

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation informationVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances the traditional two-dimensional map interface by integrating three-dimensional street-level imagery (such as Google Street View) at pickup locations. This dimensional transition allows users to view the pickup location from multiple angles and understand the surrounding context better, providing comprehensive location information while maintaining the simplicity of the map interface through seamless integration.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4220090B1Providing street-level imagery related to a ride service in a navigation application
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4220090B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4220090B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4220090B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An interactive two-dimensional digital map is provided via a user interface. A request to obtain travel directions to a destination is received. An indication of a ride from a pick-up location to a drop-off location to traverse at least a portion of the route is obtained from a third-party provider of a ride service. Street-level imagery for the pick-up location is obtained and displayed on the digital map. In response to detecting a selection of the street-level imagery via the user interface, the two-dimensional digital map is transitioned to an interactive three-dimensional panoramic display of street-level imagery.