Interactive Map Navigation Directions With Adaptive Detail Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geographic applications require explicit user input to specify destinations for navigation directions, leading to inefficiencies in network bandwidth usage, processing power, and latency, particularly in portable devices communicating over wireless networks.
Innovation Solution
A geographic application automatically determines the destination based on signals other than explicit user input, optimizing network bandwidth and processing power by retrieving navigation directions at varying levels of detail and only when necessary, using cached data or a remote server, and adapting to viewport movement thresholds and user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If navigation directions are automatically provided for every viewport position, then user convenience is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different levels of detail to navigation directions based on viewport position. Intermediate positions receive simplified directions with lower detail, while the final destination receives complete navigation information. This local differentiation reduces overall network bandwidth consumption while maintaining user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing complete navigation directions for every viewport position, the system provides partial navigation information at intermediate positions and only retrieves full navigation directions when the viewport reaches the final destination or when explicitly requested. This partial action approach significantly reduces network bandwidth usage.
2Measurement precision
If navigation directions are retrieved for every viewport change, then direction accuracy is improved, but processing power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different processing levels based on viewport position. At intermediate positions, simplified processing generates approximate directions with acceptable accuracy. At the final destination, complete processing ensures high direction accuracy. This local quality differentiation reduces overall processing power consumption while maintaining necessary accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial navigation calculations at intermediate viewport positions rather than complete calculations. Full navigation direction retrieval is performed only when needed at the final destination, reducing processing power consumption while maintaining direction accuracy where it matters most.
3Speed
If navigation requests are sent frequently to track viewport movement, then direction responsiveness is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different response strategies based on viewport position. At intermediate positions, simplified navigation data is provided quickly with lower responsiveness requirements. At the final destination, complete navigation directions are provided with higher responsiveness. This local quality approach reduces overall latency while maintaining necessary responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system sends partial navigation requests at intermediate viewport positions rather than complete navigation requests. Full navigation direction retrieval is performed only at the final destination, reducing the frequency of heavy network transactions and overall latency while maintaining direction responsiveness where needed.
4Loss of information
If complete navigation directions are provided at all viewport positions, then navigation completeness is improved, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores and provides different levels of navigation information based on viewport position. Intermediate positions receive simplified navigation data with reduced completeness, while the final destination receives complete navigation directions. This local quality differentiation reduces overall memory usage while maintaining navigation completeness where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system retrieves and stores partial navigation information at intermediate viewport positions rather than complete navigation directions. Full navigation data is retrieved only when the viewport reaches the final destination or when explicitly requested, reducing memory usage while maintaining navigation completeness when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
An interactive digital map of a geographic area is provided via a user interface of a user device, with the currently visible portion of the interactive digital map visible within a viewport. The viewport is repositioned from an initial position on the digital map to a target position on the digital map along a trajectory in accordance with one or more user commands. For different positions on the trajectory of the viewport, navigation directions to a geographic location near a center of the viewport are automatically retrieved, without receiving commands via the user interface to obtain navigation directions to the geographic location. The navigation directions having a first and second levels of detail are retrieved for a first and second points on the trajectory, respectively, the first level of detail including less information than the second level of detail. The navigation directions are displayed via the user interface.