Communication Terminal Elevation Cross-Sections for Evacuation Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication terminals do not adequately consider height information when displaying position information, making it difficult to grasp the positional relationship between users during emergencies like tsunamis where height differences are significant.
Innovation Solution
A communication terminal with a display unit that provides topographical cross-sections and planar maps, displaying height information in a user-friendly format, allowing users to visualize and understand height differences and movement directions of other users or real estate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If position information is displayed using traditional 2D map views, then the display is simple and easy to understand, but height differences and vertical positional relationships cannot be visualized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D map views to a 3D topographical cross-section view that adds the vertical height dimension. This allows users to visualize height differences and vertical positional relationships between locations, resolving the information loss about elevation while maintaining interpretability through a simplified cross-sectional representation rather than a full 3D model.
2Measurement precision
If height information is displayed using length measurement units (meters), then precise measurement is provided, but it is difficult to sensorially grasp the height difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the height parameter from absolute length measurement units (meters) into a relative scale where 1 unit represents a standardized height difference (e.g., 10 meters). This parameter transformation maintains measurement precision through the conversion formula while enabling sensory grasp by presenting height differences as intuitive unit steps rather than abstract meter values.
3Loss of information
If detailed topographical cross-sections are displayed for all locations, then height relationships are clearly visualized, but the display becomes complex and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the terrain into discrete elevation levels using standardized height units, creating a simplified cross-section that highlights only the most relevant height differences. This segmentation approach maintains essential height relationship information while reducing visual complexity by focusing on significant elevation changes rather than rendering every subtle topographical detail.
4Loss of information
If position information includes height and movement direction data, then user behavior can be grasped, but the amount of information to process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds movement direction as a new dimensional parameter to the position information display. By representing movement as arrows or indicators showing direction rather than listing detailed movement vectors, the system incorporates behavioral information without proportionally increasing the quantity of processed data, as the direction is visualized through simple graphical elements rather than complex numerical representations.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication terminal includes a display unit that shows either a first selection screen with one or more pieces of position information of different communication terminals, or a second selection screen with one or more pieces of position information of real estate. When one piece of position information of a different communication terminal is selected on the first selection screen, a first result screen is displayed showing a topographical cross section between a first region (where the terminal is located) and a second region (where the selected terminal is located). When one of the pieces of position information of real estate is selected on the second selection screen, a second result screen is displayed showing a topographical cross section between the first region and a third region (where the selected real estate is located).