Vehicle Navigation Interface Customization and Voice Input Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS navigators face challenges in user control due to small screens and lack of control devices like keyboards or mice, making them difficult to use in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A customizable user interface for vehicle navigation systems, allowing users to select 'skins,' clarify verbal inputs, and utilize autocompletion functions, with options that can be chosen using external devices or spoken commands, and leveraging a wireless client-server system with centralized geographical databases for improved input handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a small screen is used in the navigator, then the device can be positioned and used in a vehicle environment, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of control devices like keyboard or mouse
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into multiple interaction modes including voice commands, touchscreen gestures, and hierarchical menus. This allows the small screen to be compensated by dividing control functions across different input methods rather than requiring a single large interface
Solution Approach 2:
Voice recognition technology serves as an intermediary between the user and the navigation system, translating spoken commands into control actions. This mediator compensates for the lack of physical control devices by introducing a new communication channel that doesn't depend on screen size
2Ease of operation
If voice recognition is used to control the navigator, then ease of operation improves, but reliability deteriorates when verbal input is not clearly understood
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by displaying recognized verbal commands on the screen and asking for user confirmation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to detect recognition failures and correct them through user interaction, maintaining reliability while preserving voice control convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary voice recognition and displays potential interpretations before final execution. This preliminary action allows users to review and correct misrecognitions, ensuring reliable operation even when initial verbal input is ambiguous
3Adaptability or versatility
If customizable interface options are provided, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases due to additional customization features
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple interface skins and configurations are pre-configured and stored in the system. Users can switch between pre-prepared interface variations without manually configuring each element, achieving high adaptability while keeping the system simple to operate
Solution Approach 2:
The system stores multiple copies of interface configurations (skins) with different styles and layouts. Users can select from these pre-made copies rather than creating interfaces from scratch, providing versatility without requiring complex configuration capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are directed to the use and customization of user interfaces associated with vehicle navigation systems, including “skins,” selection of context for clarification, and autocompletion functions. The navigator may be a wireless client server navigation system comprising mobile clients used for requesting and receiving guidance from a central server that houses databases of geographical information. Customization may include images, icons, controls, menus, colors, symbols, or shapes that are added, removed, or moved on the display. Options may be selected using equipment external to the navigation system. If a word, or phrase is not understood, the method proceeds with the steps of: searching a database for potential matching letters, words, or phrases; querying the user with the potential matching words, or phrases; and, if the user selects one of the potential matching words, or phrases: performing an operating associated with the potential matching words, or phrases.