Coordinated Navigation Service for Multi-User Route Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems do not effectively coordinate navigation for multiple users traveling to the same destination, lacking real-time communication and route optimization for groups, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased traffic congestion.

Innovation Solution

A navigation service that identifies potential multi-car navigation sessions based on explicit requests and implicit signals, providing real-time updates on participant locations, traffic conditions, and suggesting shared routes, stops, and merge points, while allowing for dynamic adjustments to navigation directions and coordination of parking activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If independent navigation guidance is provided to each driver, then each user receives optimized directions for their individual route, but coordination efficiency and traffic flow optimization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual navigation guidanceVSAvoidcoordination efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges individual navigation requests into coordinated group navigation by detecting multiple users traveling to the same destination and establishing a lead vehicle relationship. The navigation service then coordinates routes, merge points, and traffic information sharing between vehicles, transforming independent navigation into synchronized group travel while maintaining individual route optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where the navigation service monitors real-time positions of all vehicles, detects when vehicles are in close proximity, and dynamically adjusts navigation instructions. Traffic conditions, road closures, and vehicle positions are continuously fed back to optimize the coordinated navigation strategy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If real-time navigation coordination for groups is implemented, then traffic congestion and wait times are reduced, but system complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewait timesVSAvoidnavigation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating optimal merge points and coordinating departure times before vehicles actually converge. The navigation service identifies potential coordination opportunities in advance and establishes navigation protocols ahead of time, reducing real-time computational burden while minimizing wait times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation service acts as an intermediary between individual vehicles and the central navigation system. It receives navigation requests from multiple users, processes them into coordinated group navigation plans, and distributes optimized routes back to individual vehicles, managing system complexity through layered processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If navigation routes are optimized for individual users, then each user achieves the fastest personal route, but overall traffic efficiency and group coordination deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual route optimizationVSAvoidtraffic congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the optimization parameters from individual-based to group-based. Instead of solely minimizing individual travel time, the navigation service adjusts routes, merge points, and timing parameters to optimize overall traffic flow. This may involve deliberately delaying one vehicle to allow another to pass, or routing vehicles through different corridors to distribute traffic load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3788321B1Providing navigation instructions to one device in view of another device
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3788321B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3788321B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3788321B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A navigation service determines that a first user intends to navigate to a shared destination from a first location, at a first time, and that a second user intends to navigate to the shared destination from a second location, at a second time within a threshold interval of the first time. The navigation service notifies the first user using an electronic notification that the second user intends to navigate to the shared destination, receives from the first user an electronic request to coordinate navigation to the shared destination with the second user, and in response to receiving the electronic request, provides navigation directions to the shared destination to a device associated with the first user in view of a progress of the second user toward the shared destination.