Wearable Vibration Navigation Alerts for Hazardous Conditions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems face challenges in adverse environments such as bad weather, noise, and dangerous conditions, leading to user inconvenience and safety risks, especially for pedestrians, due to battery drain, difficulty in hearing navigation prompts, and lack of alerts for potential dangers.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize wearable devices and communication systems to detect and alert users to potential dangers by sending messages to wearable devices, such as vibrators in backpacks or handbags, based on object positions and material information, allowing for navigation guidance and user feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If navigation system uses traditional voice prompts and displays, then navigation information can be provided, but battery power is consumed rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation information deliveryVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies vibration alerts through wearable devices (such as smartwatches or vibration motors in bags) to convey navigation information to users. Instead of using audible voice prompts that consume significant battery power, the system uses mechanical vibrations to alert users about dangerous objects, route changes, or safety warnings, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional acoustic navigation system with a tactile feedback system. Instead of relying on speakers and audio outputs that drain battery quickly, the system substitutes mechanical vibration mechanisms that consume significantly less energy, while still effectively communicating navigation-critical information to the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If navigation system provides comprehensive risk factor alerts, then user safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the navigation system into multiple independent modules: a perception module that detects dangerous objects, a decision module that determines safety risks, and an alert module that notifies users through wearable devices. This segmentation allows each module to function independently and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wearable devices as intermediaries between the navigation system and the user. These wearable devices (smartwatches, vibration motors in bags) serve as mediators that receive navigation information from the complex processing system and present it to users in a simple, intuitive manner, thereby reducing the perceived system complexity from the user's perspective while maintaining comprehensive safety features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If navigation system operates in bad weather conditions, then navigation continuity is maintained, but user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation continuityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces audible voice prompts with tactile vibration alerts that work effectively in bad weather conditions. Since vibrations can be felt through clothing and wearable devices, users can receive navigation information even when rain, snow, or strong winds make auditory communication difficult or uncomfortable, thereby maintaining user experience across diverse environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the delivery parameter of navigation information from acoustic to tactile modalities. By using vibration frequency and pattern changes in wearable devices, the system can convey different types of navigation information (warnings, directions, safety alerts) through varying vibration characteristics, maintaining effective communication regardless of weather conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12553737B2Method and apparatus for navigation

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for navigation. A method performed by a communication device comprises obtaining a current position of an object. The method further comprises determining whether the object is dangerous to a user of a terminal device based on the current position of the object. The method further comprises, in response to a positive determination, sending a message for guiding the user to a first wearable device of the user and/or a message for informing a maintainer about the dangerous object.