Meeting Point Routing for Fair Travel Time Across Transport Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining a meeting or starting point between entities fail to account for diverse travel modes and conditions, leading to unfair travel distances or times among participants.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that iteratively determine an optimal starting point by considering the locations of entities, their travel routes, and average speeds, adjusting for different modes of transport, and allowing for real-time adjustments to ensure fair and efficient arrival times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the starting point is determined as the midpoint between entities based on spatial distance, then the spatial distance is minimized, but the travel time becomes unfair when entities use different modes of transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for determining the starting point from pure spatial distance to a composite metric that incorporates both spatial distance and travel time. By calculating the starting point based on a function of spatial distance and travel time parameters, the system achieves fairer travel conditions for entities using different transport modes while still minimizing overall distance.
2Productivity
If the starting point is determined to minimize total travel distance, then the sum of distances is reduced, but entities with slower transport modes arrive significantly later
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the starting point position is optimized based on real-time or estimated travel conditions. The system iteratively adjusts the starting point location to balance the arrival times of all entities, allowing for adaptive optimization that considers the specific transport modes and speeds of each entity involved.
3Ease of manufacture
If the starting point is fixed at the geometric center, then the calculation is simple, but it does not account for varying travel speeds and transport modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations by pre-determining the geometric center as an initial estimate, then systematically refines this estimate through iterative optimization. This preliminary action provides a simple starting point while the subsequent refinement steps incorporate complex travel mode considerations, achieving both computational efficiency and adaptability.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining a starting point (M) between entities (E), the entities (E) each being configured to ascertain their location and to communicate by means of a communication interface. The invention is characterized in that the locations (A, A*) of the entities (E) are ascertained in map material (1), a circle (2) surrounding all entities (E) is ascertained and an optimum position of the starting point (M) is iteratively determined, the starting point (M) initially coinciding with a circle centre (3) of the circle (2) surrounding the entities (E), wherein an optimum position of the starting point (M) for each entity (E) is found by ascertaining a route (R) between the respective location (A) and the starting point (M), which route is made up of at least two route points connected by a particular route section, and the position of the starting point (M) is moved as a result of a sum of all temporal or spatial distances of the routes (R) between entities (E) and the starting point (M) falling short of a stipulated maximum distance, and/or a temporal or spatial distance difference between a shortest and a longest route (R) falling short of a stipulated maximum difference.