Route Information System for Personalized Public Transit Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital map systems lack personalized and real-time information for planning public transportation journeys, as they do not effectively integrate time table data with user location and transportation mode, making it difficult to provide optimal route suggestions based on current position and time.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that receive position and time table data to determine recommended connection routes by calculating travel times and arrival times, classifying routes based on likelihood of reaching destinations on time, and providing navigation instructions, using a device with a receiver, processing unit, and transmitter to display this information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electronic map systems display time table information at terminals or local stops, then users can access departure and arrival times, but the information is not personalized to the user's current position or travel needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalization of route informationVSAvoidsystem complexity for integrating position and time table data

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the transportation network into discrete elements (terminals, local stops, connection routes) and processes position data and time table data separately before integrating them. This allows personalized route information to be generated by combining user position with segmented transportation data, resolving the contradiction between personalization and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating connection routes and their associated travel times between terminals and local stops. By preparing this route information in advance and storing it, the system can quickly provide personalized recommendations when a user queries their current position, without requiring complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the system calculates multiple connection routes with travel times to provide personalized recommendations, then users receive optimal route suggestions, but the calculation and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of route timing informationVSAvoidtime required to calculate and provide route recommendations

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores travel times for multiple connection routes between terminals and local stops before they are needed. When a user requests route information, the system retrieves pre-computed data and compares it with current position and time table information, providing accurate recommendations without requiring time-consuming real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system calculates travel times for multiple connection routes (excessive action) and then selects only the relevant ones based on user position and time table data. By computing more routes than immediately necessary and filtering them down, the system ensures accurate timing information is available while managing processing time efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the system integrates position data, time table data, and transportation mode speeds to determine recommended routes, then users receive accurate arrival time predictions, but the data processing and computation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of arrival time predictionVSAvoidcomputation complexity for integrating multiple data types

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the computation into distinct modules: position data processing, time table data processing, transportation mode speed lookup, and route recommendation generation. Each module handles a specific aspect of the data integration, making the overall complex process manageable and maintainable while ensuring accurate arrival time predictions through systematic data combination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives position data, time table data, and transportation mode information, then coordinates their integration to produce recommended routes. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of combining multiple data types by providing a structured approach to data fusion and route calculation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8406995B2Providing time table information

Publication Date: 2013.03.26 VODAFONE GRP PLC

AI summary

A method of providing time table information and navigation instructions comprises receiving position data associated with a number of pre-determined positions along a transportation route, receiving time table data, receiving position data associated with a reference position, and determining a number of connection routes from the reference position to at least one of the pre-determined positions. Corresponding device and computer program product are also provided.