Navigation System Virtual Link Route Calculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional navigation systems often fail to calculate the most efficient route to an intersection destination due to the structure of map data, which defines an intersection by multiple one-way road segments, leading to inefficient and redundant routes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a virtual zero-length dummy link attached to the intersection destination, allowing the navigation system to calculate routes to this dummy link instead of the original intersection, thereby selecting the most preferable route from the available road segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the navigation system calculates routes to an intersection destination using conventional map data structure, then the route calculation can be performed, but the calculated route becomes inefficient and redundant with unnecessary turns and detours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual zero-length dummy link as an intermediary element between the road network and the intersection destination. This dummy link acts as a mediator that allows the route calculation algorithm to treat the intersection as a reachable destination without requiring complex multi-segment pathfinding through multiple one-way streets. The dummy link simplifies the calculation by providing a direct virtual connection, thereby improving route calculation efficiency while eliminating redundant turns and detours that would otherwise be necessary.
2Reliability
If the navigation system uses multiple one-way road segments to define an intersection, then the map data structure can represent the intersection, but the calculated route becomes inefficient and redundant
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual zero-length dummy link serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the existing multi-segment one-way street representation and the need for efficient route calculation. By introducing this dummy link connected to the intersection, the system maintains the accurate representation of one-way streets in the map data while providing a simplified path for route calculation algorithms to reach the destination efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the dummy link to have zero length, which distinguishes it from actual road segments. This parameter change allows the dummy link to function as a computational tool rather than a physical road representation, enabling efficient route calculation without altering the fundamental accuracy of the map data's one-way street structure.
3Ease of operation
If the navigation system calculates routes through multiple road segments to reach an intersection, then the route can be established, but unnecessary turns and detours are included
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual zero-length dummy link acts as a mediator that enables direct route guidance to the intersection destination. By providing this virtual connection, the system can guide users directly to the intersection without requiring them to follow inefficient paths through multiple one-way streets, thereby reducing travel time while maintaining ease of operation through standard route guidance functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for a navigation system for calculating a route to an intersection destination establishes an optimum route to the intersection. The method and apparatus creates a virtual zero-length dummy link, connects one end of the virtual zero-length dummy link to all link-spot pairs indicating an original intersection destination, sets another end of the virtual zero-length dummy link as a temporary destination, calculates possible routes between the temporary destination and a current vehicle position and selects the optimum route. After determining the optimum route, the navigation system removes the virtual zero-length dummy link and starts the route guidance operation to the intersection destination.