Unified Route Sorting with Mode Penalties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing directions fail to display routes for different modes of transportation in a unified manner, making it difficult for users to compare and choose the most suitable option.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating unified directions by receiving and combining lists of routes for multiple transportation modes, applying penalties to subsequent routes, and sorting them based on duration and other criteria to prioritize different modes of travel, allowing users to compare and select the best option.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If routes for different modes of transportation are provided separately, then each mode can be optimized independently, but users cannot compare and select the most suitable option efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate route lists for different modes of transportation (driving, walking, bicycling, transit, flight) into a single unified list. Each route is assigned a mode identifier and consolidated with its duration, allowing users to view and compare all transportation options in one interface rather than accessing them through separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal directions interface that handles multiple transportation modes through a single algorithm and display mechanism. The unified directions algorithm processes routes from all modes using the same sorting and presentation logic, enabling one system to serve multiple transportation purposes simultaneously.
2Productivity
If all routes are displayed without penalty adjustment, then the original route ordering is preserved, but subsequent routes in each mode's list are less competitive and may not be prominently featured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a penalty adjustment to route durations based on their position in the original list. Routes at higher positions (subsequent routes) receive penalty values that increase their effective duration, while the first route in each mode's list maintains its original duration without penalty. This parameter transformation ensures that routes are sorted and displayed in a way that prioritizes more competitive options while still presenting alternative routes.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for unified directions are described herein. The method includes receiving a list of one or more routes from an origin to a destination for each of two or more different modes of transportation, each route having an associated duration. The durations of routes from each list that are subsequent to a first route from the respective list are penalized. One or more routes from each list are combined to generate a combined list of routes for each of the two or more different modes of transportation. The combined list of routes is sorted to generate a sorted list of routes based, at least in part, on the durations and penalized durations of the routes.