POI Practicality Determiner for Trip Route Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing location-based services (LBS) fail to effectively determine the practicality of visiting points of interest (POI) during a trip, as they typically present POIs in order of distance from the starting location without considering the impact on the overall trip route to the finishing location, leading to suboptimal choices.

Innovation Solution

A method implemented in computing devices to automatically determine the practicality of visiting POIs as intermediate locations by considering both the starting and finishing locations, using a POI practicality determiner to estimate additional time, distance, traffic, and other factors, and present them to the user in a manner that reflects their practicality for the trip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If POIs are presented in order of distance from starting location, then users can easily identify nearest POIs, but the practicality of visiting POIs during the trip to finishing location cannot be determined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of identifying POIsVSAvoidtrip practicality information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the POI presentation by creating two distinct ordering criteria: distance-based ordering for ease of identification, and practicality-based ordering for trip efficiency. The system divides the information presentation into multiple dimensions, allowing users to access both nearest POIs and most practical POIs separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension to POI presentation by introducing practicality assessment based on both starting and finishing locations. Instead of single-dimension distance sorting, the system creates a multi-dimensional evaluation that includes distance from start, distance to finish, and overall trip practicality, thereby enriching the information provided to users.

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

2Length of moving object

If POIs are selected based on distance from starting location, then nearest POIs are identified, but additional travel time and distance to finishing location are not considered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance to POIVSAvoidadditional travel time
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary assessment of POI practicality by calculating the impact of visiting each POI on the overall trip to the finishing location before presenting options to the user. The system pre-computes additional travel time and distance metrics, allowing users to make informed decisions about which POIs to visit without having to manually calculate the impact on their itinerary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual assessment of POI practicality is performed, then users can evaluate each POI, but the determination process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser evaluation capabilityVSAvoiddetermination process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automated POI practicality determination system that performs the evaluation work automatically without requiring user intervention. The computing device self-calculates practicality metrics by analyzing the relationship between POI locations, starting location, and finishing location, thereby simplifying the user interface while maintaining comprehensive evaluation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2278276B1Method and apparatus for automatically determining practicality of a trip
Publication Date: 2012.02.08 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2278276B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2278276B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2278276B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a method and an apparatus for automatically determining practicality of a trip. A mobile device obtains at least one point of interest among a starting location and a finishing location for a trip. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, for each point of interest, the mobile device automatically determines an indication of practicality for making the point of interest an intermediate location to be visited during the trip based on both the starting location and the finishing location for the trip. By considering both the starting location and the finishing location, the points of interest can be presented to the user in a manner that reflects how practical it is to visit the points of interest given that the user is to end up at the finishing location.