Navigation System Dynamic Feature Restriction for Driver Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation systems lack an effective device operation mechanism to control device usage during vehicle operation, particularly in challenging driving conditions, which hampers their functionality and user safety.

Innovation Solution

A navigation system that determines the surrounding conditions and operating context using various input sources, such as drones, satellites, and vehicle sensors, to restrict device features and alert notifications based on safety levels, ensuring safe operation by limiting access to device functions during unsafe conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If device features are freely accessible during vehicle operation, then device functionality and user interaction are improved, but driver safety deteriorates due to distractions during challenging driving conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoiddriver distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts device feature availability based on real-time driving conditions. An operating context determination module evaluates surrounding conditions (traffic congestion, weather, road conditions) and automatically enables or disables specific device features, creating a dynamic safety mechanism that adapts to changing driving environments without requiring manual user intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary operating context determination module that acts as a mediator between the driver and device features. This intermediary assesses driving safety conditions and controls access to device functions, preventing direct interaction when conditions are hazardous while maintaining full functionality when safe, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If device features are restricted during challenging driving conditions, then driver safety is improved, but device functionality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver safetyVSAvoiddevice functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by selectively enabling or disabling specific device features based on the determined operating context. Rather than uniformly restricting all functions, the system tailors restrictions to individual features appropriate to the driving conditions - for example, allowing audio playback during congestion but blocking text input during high-speed travel, thus maintaining necessary functionality while ensuring safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters of device features based on driving conditions. It modifies accessibility parameters (enabled/disabled states), response thresholds, and interaction modes dynamically. When challenging conditions are detected, parameters shift to restrict inappropriate interactions; when conditions improve, parameters return to normal operational states, preserving full device versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If navigation systems incorporate real-time information processing, then navigation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the navigation system into distinct functional modules: a surrounding condition detection module, an operating context determination module, and a feature availability control module. Each module handles specific tasks independently, processing real-time information in discrete stages. This segmentation maintains high navigation accuracy through comprehensive data analysis while managing system complexity through modular architecture and clear separation of concerns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3293490B1Navigation system with device operation mechanism and method of operation thereof
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 TELENAV INC
  • EP3293490B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3293490B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3293490B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of operation of a navigation system includes: determining a surrounding condition with a control unit for selecting an input source to capture a surrounding object; determining an operating context based on calculating an average stopped time meeting or exceeding a time threshold within the surrounding condition; determining a feature availability based on the operating context for restricting a device feature available on a device; and delivering an alert notification based on an object count below a count threshold for presenting on the device.