Mobile Device Wayfinding via Dynamic Location Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile devices lack efficient methods to enable users to navigate and communicate their geographic locations dynamically, especially in scenarios where users need to meet each other, such as a child and parent in a park, without requiring specialized equipment or infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a process where mobile devices, such as smartphones and smartwatches, share their geographic locations via wireless communications, using GPS signals and wireless telecommunications service provider networks to generate and convey directions, allowing users to navigate towards each other through visual, aural, or haptic feedback, with optional progress updates and time limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices use existing wireless communications and GPS networks for location sharing and navigation, then user safety and navigation efficiency are improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple existing functions (GPS location tracking, wireless communication, haptic feedback, and visual display) into a unified wayfinding system. By merging these capabilities into a single integrated application, the system improves user safety through comprehensive navigation support without requiring additional specialized equipment, thus managing device complexity through software integration rather than hardware addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing mobile devices perform multiple functions: they serve as location trackers, communication devices, navigation guides, and safety monitors simultaneously. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to improve user safety and navigation efficiency using devices users already possess, avoiding the need for specialized single-purpose equipment while managing the complexity burden through software-based solutions.
2Ease of operation
If mobile devices continuously share location data and provide real-time navigation directions, then navigation accuracy and user convenience are improved, but energy consumption and network usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic location updates and directional guidance rather than continuous real-time processing. The system provides navigation directions at key decision points and updates location sharing at intervals, which maintains user convenience for wayfinding while significantly reducing the energy consumption and network bandwidth usage associated with continuous monitoring and communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to initiate and control their own navigation sessions, with the mobile device autonomously managing the location sharing and direction provision. Users can start and stop navigation as needed, and the system automatically determines when location updates are necessary, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining convenience when users actually need the service.
3Reliability
If the system provides multiple feedback modalities (visual, aural, haptic) for navigation directions, then navigation reliability and user experience are improved, but device resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different feedback modalities based on the specific navigation context and user needs. Haptic feedback is used for immediate directional guidance during movement, visual display provides comprehensive route information when the user is stationary or needs detailed directions, and aural feedback supplements other modalities when needed. This localized application of feedback types improves navigation reliability while minimizing overall energy consumption by not constantly activating all feedback systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and dynamic navigation between mobile device users without additional equipment, conserving resources and improving user safety by utilizing existing mobile devices and networks for geographic wayfinding.
Implementation Method 1
using GPS signals and wireless telecommunications service provider networks to generate and convey directions
Implementation Method 2
share their geographic locations with each other via wireless communications
Data Source
AI summary
Mobile device users navigate to each other by their mobile devices sharing location information, and then one or more of the mobile devices receiving or generating geographical directions for presentation to the mobile device's user to navigate to another of the mobile devices. Two mobile devices can provide geographical directions to enable their respective users to navigate toward each other, and a group of mobile devices can receive and provide or display geographical directions to variously enable their respective users to navigate to different mobile devices in the group. In one scenario, first and second mobile devices provide geographical directions to their respective locations and a third mobile device provides geographical directions to the first or second mobile device, and directions are dynamically updated as the mobile devices move.