Pre-Ride Vehicle Map Updating via Travel Plan and User Permission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing map data updating methods fail to ensure that users have the latest map data before riding a vehicle, as they predict future map data usage based on application usage status, leading to outdated data during travel.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that acquires travel plan data from a user's communication terminal, determines the necessity of map data updates, and requests user permission via a communication terminal before transmitting update instructions to a vehicle-mounted communicator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If map data is updated based on application usage status prediction, then the system can automatically update map data without user intervention, but the map data may not be updated before the user rides the vehicle leading to outdated data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic map data updateVSAvoidmap data freshness
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring travel plan data before the user rides the vehicle and determining update necessity in advance. The server determines whether map data needs updating based on the travel plan before the vehicle departs, ensuring updates are prepared in advance rather than waiting for usage detection after the user is already in the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by transmitting inquiry signals to the communication terminal to notify the user about update necessity and receiving permission signals before executing updates. This feedback loop ensures the user is informed and can provide input before the update occurs, bridging automatic determination with user awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system inquires user permission before updating map data, then the user is informed about updates, but this requires additional communication steps between vehicle and terminal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser awareness of updateVSAvoidcommunication protocol
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication terminal serves multiple functions: it stores travel plan data, receives inquiry signals from the server, displays update information to the user, and transmits permission signals back to the server. By making the terminal multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate dedicated devices for each function, thus managing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the vehicle-mounted navigator and the user's communication terminal. It determines update necessity based on travel plans, formulates inquiry signals, and processes permission signals before instructing the vehicle to update map data. This intermediary role streamlines the communication protocol by centralizing the decision-making logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If map data update is delayed until after vehicle ride begins, then the navigation system can operate with existing data, but the user cannot use the latest updated map data during travel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation system stabilityVSAvoidlatest map data
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the critical action of determining map data update necessity before the vehicle ride begins. By acquiring travel plan data in advance and evaluating whether updates are needed before departure, the system ensures that if updates are required, they can be executed while the vehicle is stationary, allowing the user to benefit from the latest data during travel without compromising system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary anti-action by preventing the problem of outdated map data before it occurs. Instead of allowing the vehicle to operate with potentially outdated data and then updating later, the system proactively determines update necessity before the ride and executes updates in advance, thereby preempting the loss of information that would otherwise occur during travel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3862995B1Information processing systems and information processing methods
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 RENAULT SA
  • EP3862995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3862995B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3862995B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

The controller 13 of the server 10 of the information processing apparatus acquires the travel plan data relating to the travel plan of the vehicle 30 from the communication terminal 20 via the server communicator 12 determines whether the map data needs to be updated, which is stored in the memory 31 of the vehicle 30 and used for travel in accordance with the travel plan. The controller 13 transmits an inquiry signal inquiring of the user whether to permit updating of the map data to the communication terminal 20 via the server communicator 12. The controller 13 transmits an update instruction signal for instructing the update of the map via the server communicator 12 to the on-vehicle communicator 32 when receiving a permission signal permitting the update of the map data.