Navigation Route Selection Using Relative Flow Values
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems often exacerbate congestion by independently calculating alternative routes based on similar traffic information, leading to uneven traffic distribution across the network, rather than effectively balancing load.
Innovation Solution
A method that selects routes based on relative flow values determined by current capacity data, where the probability of route selection is weighted by the flow value, allowing navigation devices to independently generate routes that balance traffic load without needing to know other devices' routes, thereby reducing computational intensity and promoting even traffic distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If navigation devices independently calculate alternative routes based on similar traffic information, then route guidance functionality is provided, but traffic congestion is exacerbated due to uneven traffic distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual traffic flow on selected routes and using this information to dynamically adjust route recommendations. Navigation devices receive updated traffic flow data that reflects the cumulative effect of previous route selections, enabling the system to adapt and redistribute traffic away from congested routes in subsequent recommendations.
Solution Approach 2:
A central server acts as an intermediary between navigation devices and the road network. This server collects traffic information, calculates optimal route distributions that balance load across the network, and distributes route recommendations to multiple navigation devices. The intermediary ensures that individual device decisions contribute to overall traffic balance rather than exacerbating congestion.
2Productivity
If a central system coordinates route selection to balance traffic flow, then even traffic distribution is achieved, but computational intensity and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the route selection process into two distinct functions: a central coordination function performed by a server that handles traffic flow balancing calculations, and a local execution function performed by navigation devices that handle route display and guidance. This segmentation allows complex traffic balancing logic to be centralized while keeping individual device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The central server serves as an intermediary that absorbs the computational complexity of traffic flow balancing. Instead of requiring each navigation device to perform complex calculations to achieve balanced traffic distribution, the server performs these calculations centrally and provides simplified route recommendations to devices, reducing their computational burden while maintaining overall system effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If multiple navigation devices select routes independently without coordination, then device simplicity is maintained, but traffic load balancing fails
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains device simplicity by having navigation devices follow straightforward guidance instructions, while implementing traffic load balancing through feedback mechanisms. The server monitors which routes are being selected by multiple devices and provides feedback information that guides devices toward underutilized routes, achieving balanced traffic distribution without requiring complex decision-making at the device level.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is disclosed for determining a route in an area covered by an electronic map, the map comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable segments of a navigable network in the area covered by the electronic map. The method involves generating a plurality of routes through the navigable network between a first location and a second location, determining a relative traffic flow value for each of the routes using data indicative of a relative current capacity of segments of the navigable network, and selecting a given one of the routes from the plurality of routes for use in navigating between the first location and the second location. The probability of a given one of the plurality of routes being selected is based on the determined relative flow value for the route.