Offline Map Download via WiFi for Roaming Cost Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices face high data charges and communication disruptions when traveling outside their home range, as they often require cellular network access to download maps, leading to costly roaming fees.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses GPS parameters to determine when a mobile device is outside its home range and downloads offline maps via an alternate communication channel, such as WiFi, allowing map usage without active cellular connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If mobile devices use cellular communication to download maps outside home range, then map availability is improved, but data costs increase due to roaming fees

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemap availabilityVSAvoiddata costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when the mobile device enters a foreign country using GPS coordinates comparison with home range parameters, and proactively notifies the user before roaming charges can accrue. This allows users to prepare alternative communication arrangements in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary communication channel (WiFi) between the mobile device and map services. Instead of directly using cellular communication which incurs roaming fees, the system routes map downloads through WiFi networks, eliminating or reducing data costs while maintaining map availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If mobile devices rely on cellular network for map downloads, then communication reliability is improved, but cost increases due to roaming charges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidroaming charges

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the communication parameter from cellular network to WiFi network when abroad. By detecting the device's location using GPS parameters and comparing against stored home range data, the system identifies when to switch communication channels, thereby maintaining reliability while avoiding roaming charges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If mobile devices download maps while traveling abroad, then map accessibility is improved, but data consumption increases leading to higher costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemap accessibilityVSAvoiddata consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses WiFi as an intermediary communication channel to download maps abroad. WiFi provides the necessary data transmission capability without incurring cellular roaming charges, thus maintaining map accessibility while eliminating the harmful effect of high data consumption costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10555120B2Offline map download

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A system discloses analyzing global positioning system (GPS) parameters of a mobile device to determine if the mobile device is outside a predetermined range and if it is determined that the mobile device is outside the predetermined range, communicating a notification to the mobile device to download maps on the mobile device using an alternate communication channel.