Navigation System Return Journey Delay Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation systems typically only provide route information for one-way journeys, failing to account for the return journey, which can lead to inadequate trip planning due to differences in traffic conditions on the outbound and return routes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate route information for both outbound and return journeys, including estimated times and notifications, by determining the return destination as the initial location, allowing for comparison and notification of potential delays, thereby enhancing trip planning with comprehensive travel information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If navigation systems only provide route information for one-way journeys, then the system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of trip planning is worsened due to inadequate consideration of return journey traffic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The journey is segmented into distinct outbound and return portions, with separate route calculations and traffic condition assessments for each direction. This allows the system to provide comprehensive trip planning information without significantly increasing user interaction complexity, as each segment is processed and presented independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of both outbound and return journey routes and traffic conditions before the user makes travel decisions. By pre-computing both directions and presenting the information together, the system enables more reliable trip planning without requiring additional user actions during the actual travel decision-making process.
2Reliability
If navigation systems calculate both outbound and return journey routes with traffic conditions, then the reliability of trip planning is improved, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system utilizes existing multi-functional components for route calculation and traffic condition analysis, applying the same computational algorithms to both outbound and return journeys. This approach improves trip planning reliability by considering both directions while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a mirrored calculation model for the return journey based on the outbound route structure, applying the same computational logic to both directions. This copying approach ensures consistent and reliable trip planning information while reusing existing computational frameworks, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Loss of information
If navigation systems provide comprehensive route information including return journey delays, then the loss of information is reduced and trip planning accuracy is improved, but the quantity of information processed and presented increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges outbound and return journey information into a unified presentation, combining route details, traffic conditions, and delay warnings for both directions. This integrated approach reduces information loss by ensuring complete trip planning data is available while presenting it in a consolidated format that manages the quantity of information through efficient organization and integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for generating return journey notifications include obtaining a request for navigational directions to a target destination. An outbound journey route from an initial location to the target destination can be determined, wherein the outbound journey route includes an estimated outbound journey time. A return journey route from the target destination to a return destination can be determined, wherein the return journey route includes an estimated return journey time. The outbound journey route and/or return journey route can be determined at least in part from one or more of current traffic conditions or historical traffic conditions. One or more notifications regarding the return journey route can be generated when comparing the estimated outbound journey time to the estimated return journey time results in a determination that one or more predetermined criteria are met.