Navigation Trajectory Color Coding for Overlap Distinction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems face difficulties in distinguishing overlapping trajectories, particularly when multiple anti-parallel trajectories are displayed simultaneously, as they become illegible when attempts are made to differentiate them using thinner lines or smaller symbols.

Innovation Solution

A navigation device and graphical display method that utilize color mapping information to assign unique colors to each trajectory based on its local direction, allowing opposing directions to have contrasting colors, thereby making them easily distinguishable even when trajectories overlap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple trajectories are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive trajectory information is provided, but the trajectories become difficult to distinguish when they overlap

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of trajectories displayedVSAvoiddifficulty of distinguishing trajectories
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different visual properties (colors, line styles, transparency levels) to different segments of trajectories based on their local characteristics such as direction, speed, or trajectory ID. This allows overlapping trajectories to be distinguished by their local visual attributes rather than requiring global differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes color changes as a primary differentiating mechanism. Each trajectory is assigned a distinct color or color pattern that remains consistent or varies systematically along the trajectory path. This allows users to visually trace and distinguish multiple trajectories even when they overlap spatially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Quantity of substance

If thinner lines are used to represent multiple trajectories, then more trajectories can be displayed, but the trajectories become illegible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of trajectories displayedVSAvoidlegibility of trajectories
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying solely on line thickness, the patent uses color variations to encode trajectory information. This allows multiple trajectories to be displayed with adequate line thickness while maintaining distinguishability through color coding, thus preserving legibility while increasing the number of displayable trajectories.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds the color dimension to the visual representation of trajectories. Rather than competing in the same visual dimension (line thickness), trajectories are differentiated along a new dimension (color), allowing more trajectories to be displayed without reducing line thickness to illegible levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Quantity of substance

If smaller symbols are used to indicate trajectory features, then more trajectory information can be displayed, but the symbols become harder to see

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of trajectory information displayedVSAvoidvisibility of symbols
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses color-coded symbols and features along the trajectories instead of relying on symbol size for differentiation. This allows smaller, more numerous features to be displayed while maintaining visibility through color contrast and variation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

Different visual properties are applied to different parts of the trajectory representation. Symbols and features vary in color, shape, or intensity based on local trajectory characteristics, allowing dense information display without sacrificing the visibility of individual features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2291609B1Method and apparatus for trajectory display
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT
  • EP2291609B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2291609B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2291609B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising a processor (210); and a store (230) containing map data, wherein the map data comprises a temporally-variable feature and the processor (210) is arranged, in a route planning process, to determine a status of the temporally-variable feature according to temporal information.