Navigation System Image-Based Place Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional navigation systems face challenges in accurately identifying and selecting specific places from photographed images, especially when multiple locations share the same name, leading to inaccurate data searches.

Innovation Solution

A navigation system comprising a photographing unit, display unit, input unit, and control unit, with a storage unit that includes map data and guide information, allowing users to select specific places from a generated operation screen based on identified name information, and providing guide screens with relevant data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a photographed image is used to search for place information, then the search process becomes more intuitive and user-friendly, but accuracy deteriorates when multiple places share the same name

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch process intuitivenessVSAvoidplace identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the place identification process into multiple stages: first identifying candidate places from the photographed image, then presenting them as selectable options to the user, and finally confirming the specific place through user selection. This segmentation allows the system to handle ambiguity by breaking down the single-step identification into a multi-step selection process, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediate operation screen that acts as a mediator between the photographed image and the final place identification. This screen displays multiple candidate places with the same name found in the image, allowing users to select the correct one. The intermediary screen resolves the contradiction by providing both the intuitive image-based search and the accurate place selection through user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple places with the same name are identified from a photographed image, then more complete search results are provided, but the complexity of selecting the correct place increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch result completenessVSAvoidselection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the selection process by presenting candidate places individually on an operation screen with clear visual distinctions. Each candidate place is displayed as a separate selectable option, allowing users to easily navigate and choose the correct place without being overwhelmed by a complex unified interface. This segmentation reduces perceived complexity while maintaining result completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs self-service by automatically generating the operation screen with multiple candidate places based on the photographed image, without requiring users to manually input search criteria or navigate complex menus. The user simply views the presented options and selects the correct place, making the system reliable and complete while keeping the interaction simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If an operation screen with selectable areas is generated from map data, then accurate place selection is enabled, but the time required to display and process information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplace selection accuracyVSAvoidscreen generation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the photographed image to identify all candidate places with the same name before displaying them on the operation screen. The system performs image recognition, map data matching, and candidate selection in advance, so that when the operation screen is generated, the information is already organized and ready for quick user selection. This reduces the perceived processing time while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2584515B1Navigation system, terminal apparatus, navigation server, navigation apparatus, navigation method, and program
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 NAVITIME JAPAN CO LTD
  • EP2584515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2584515B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2584515B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A task of the present invention is to provide a navigation system, a terminal apparatus, a navigation server, a navigation apparatus, a navigation method, and a computer program product that are capable of providing an operation screen that enables a user to select an arbitrary place that is present in a photographed image as an input unit of data search conditions and accurately performing a data search for a place selected on the operation screen in an easy manner. The present invention solves the task by specifying map data that corresponds to the photographed image based on the display content identified from the photographed image, generating an operation screen, on which display areas of name information included in the map data are set as selectable areas, used for selecting a specific place by using the specified map data, extracting guide information that coincides with name information based on the set name information that corresponds to the selectable area that is selected out of selectable areas on the displayed operation screen on the display unit, and displaying the generated guide screen on the display unit.