Positioning Device Off-Route Access Point Recording

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positioning devices often generate less than optimal routes due to limitations in selection algorithms, computation time, and user preferences, leading to inferior routes despite being satisfactory, and fail to effectively handle off-route scenarios and alternative access points.

Innovation Solution

The method involves a positioning device that detects when it is off-route, stores the location as an access point, and generates alternative routes using spiral, zig-zag, or grid patterns to prioritize segments close to the destination, allowing for dynamic route adjustments and storage of breadcrumb routes for future reference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional routing algorithms are used to generate routes from current location to destination, then a route can be provided within computation time limits, but the route quality is often suboptimal and fails to account for alternative access points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute qualityVSAvoidrouting system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The routing problem is segmented into multiple access points along the route between origin and destination. Each access point represents a potential off-route location where the user might need to access something. The system divides the journey into segments connected by these access points, allowing for more flexible and realistic route planning that accounts for intermediate stops and alternative paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the positioning device strictly follows the generated route, then computation and navigation are simplified, but the device cannot adapt to off-route scenarios or user deviations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoff-route handling capabilityVSAvoidnavigation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing multiple access points along the route before the user actually needs them. These access points are identified and saved in advance, so when the user deviates from the route or needs to access something off-route, the system can quickly retrieve and utilize the pre-computed access point information without requiring complex real-time recalculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If more access points are stored for future routing options, then route flexibility and alternative paths increase, but data storage requirements and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidstored location data

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by storing detailed access point information only at specific locations along the route where off-route access might be needed, rather than uniformly throughout the entire route. Each access point is stored with its specific geometric relationship to the route segments, allowing the system to efficiently retrieve only the relevant access points needed for the current routing context, reducing overall data storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8290703B2Method and apparatus for access point recording using a position device

Publication Date: 2012.10.16 MITAC INT CORP

AI summary

A method and apparatus for identifying access points using a positioning device and a map having a plurality of segments; determining that the positioning device is near a first location; detecting that the positioning device is off-route at a second location; and storing the second location as a first access point associated with the first location on the map.