Automatic Geographical Data Switching in Voice Destination Entry Navigation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Voice-enabled navigation systems face inefficiencies and potential failure in switching between geographical data files due to imperfect speech recognition and natural language understanding, requiring additional user utterances and increasing the risk of navigation errors when crossing geographical regions.

Innovation Solution

The system automatically determines the need to switch between geographical data files based on Voice Destination Entry inputs, using VDE-type classification and switching likelihood word lists to provide a list of candidates from relevant data files, optimizing candidate selection and ordering based on user inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dialogue cycle is added to switch geographical data files, then the navigation system can switch between regions, but the user interaction time increases and the risk of VDE task failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to switch between geographical regionsVSAvoiduser interaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively determines the user's intent to switch geographical regions by analyzing VDE inputs before the user explicitly requests the switch. By classifying VDE types and evaluating switching likelihood, the system prepares for regional transition in advance, eliminating the need for separate confirmation dialogues and reducing interaction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation system automatically detects when a VDE input suggests a geographical region switch and executes the switch without requiring user confirmation. The system serves itself by autonomously interpreting VDE inputs, determining switching likelihood, and transitioning between data files, thereby eliminating redundant user interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If a dialogue cycle is added to switch geographical data files, then the navigation system can switch between regions, but the complexity of the VDE solution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to switch between geographical regionsVSAvoidcomplexity of VDE solution
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The VDE input processing system is enhanced to simultaneously perform its original function (interpreting destination entries) and an additional function (detecting geographical region switch intent). By classifying VDE types and evaluating switching likelihood within the existing VDE framework, the system achieves multi-functionality without adding separate switching mechanisms, thereby reducing overall complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The geographical region switching functionality is merged with the existing VDE input processing pipeline. Instead of treating region switching as a separate dialogue cycle, the system combines region detection, VDE interpretation, and data file switching into a unified processing flow, reducing the number of discrete components and simplifying the overall architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If ASR and NLU are used for VDE, then voice input can be processed, but recognition accuracy is not 100% and errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice input capabilityVSAvoidrecognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where VDE inputs are classified into different types based on their likelihood of indicating a geographical region switch. This classification feedback allows the system to adjust its interpretation and switching behavior dynamically, compensating for ASR/NLU recognition errors by evaluating the contextual likelihood of different VDE types rather than relying on exact recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3292376B1Automatic data switching approach in onboard voice destination entry (VDE) navigation solution
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS INC
  • EP3292376B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3292376B1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP3292376B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Described is a system and method for automatically switching between geographical data files that contain geographical content, in an onboard navigation system that utilizes a Voice Destination Entry (VDE) feature. The described embodiments determine, based on one or more VDE inputs from a user, if the currently-active geographical data file should be used to search for geographical item candidates, or if two or more geographical data files should be used. The described embodiments may produce a list of VDE candidates from which the user selects. The described embodiments may populate this list from one or more data files, depending on an evaluation of the VDE input from the user.