EP3778349A1 - Vehicle influencing system, route control centre and operating method for a vehicle influencing system - Google Patents

Abstract

In one embodiment, the vehicle control system (1) comprises - a route (2) for vehicles (3) to be influenced, - several radio cells (4) covering the route (2), - a control center (5) for the radio cells (4) - a route control center (6) which is set up to receive vehicle data (92) from the vehicles (3) to be influenced and to send control signals (93) to the vehicles (3) to be influenced, and- a data channel (71) between the control center (5) and the route control center (6), the control center (5) being set up to report status reports (91) about the state of the radio cells (4) to the route control center (6) via the data channel (71).

Description

A vehicle control system is specified. In addition, a route control center and an operating method for a vehicle control system are specified.

The pamphlet DE 10 2017 217 447 A1 relates to a method for carrying out a driving operation of track-guided vehicles in a route network which is divided into route areas.

One problem to be solved is to specify a vehicle influencing system with which a route with a radio network can be operated efficiently.

This object is achieved, inter alia, by a vehicle influencing system having the features of claim 1. Preferred further developments are the subject of the remaining claims.

In one embodiment, the vehicle influencing system comprises a route for vehicles to be influenced, the route preferably being a railway line and the vehicles being trains. Several radio cells cover the route. A control center, for example an MSC, is provided for controlling and / or monitoring and / or managing the radio cells. A route control center, for example an RBC, is set up to receive vehicle data from the vehicles to be influenced and to generate and send control signals to the vehicles to be influenced. A data channel between the control center and the line control center enables the control center to automatically report status messages about a status of the radio cells to the line control center. In the same way, the line control center, in particular when it is switched on or during initialization, can be set up to call up the status reports on the status of the radio cells via the data channel at the control center.

Up to now, the operators of a radio infrastructure that has radio cells along a railway line have had to take action themselves in the event of fault reports. This means that the operators have to notify the line control center that there are radio holes. Radio holes are to be activated in the line control center, that is, the line control center receives a message "radio cell XY is inactive", equivalent to "there is a radio hole XY". Such dead spots may even have to be entered and / or defined by the operator and then activated.

In this case, the radio infrastructure operator may not examine the available radio infrastructure until the vehicles on the route receive a corresponding malfunction report, i.e. if there is already an operational malfunction with corresponding restrictions.

With the connection of the control center for the radio cells to the line control center as described here, the status reports of the radio infrastructure in the line control center can activate and deactivate radio holes directly. The switching center is preferably a switching center of a mobile radio network, English Mobile Services Switching Center or MSC for short. The route control center is preferably an ETCS route control center, English Radio Block Center or RBC for short. In particular, the MSC itself or its diagnostic device transmits the status message directly or via a coupling computer to the RBC.

The individual radio cells can already be stored during the planning of the line control center, i.e. the RBC, or suitable restrictions for a radio cell are stored in a database so that radio holes can be automatically entered and activated and deactivated based on the status messages.

With the vehicle influencing system described here, faster reactions to failures and interference suppression (i.e. elimination of failures) of radio cells are possible, especially before negative operational effects occur. There is also a reduction in the workload of the operating personnel, as radio holes can be activated and deactivated fully automatically. There is also the option of evaluating the availability and quality of the mobile communications infrastructure used.

The vehicle control system described here is preferably a system for train control, in particular an ETCS (ETCS: European Train Control System). In the same way, the vehicle control system can also be used for road vehicles, for example, to influence and / or control truck convoys on motorways. Another possibility is that the vehicle influencing system described here can be used to influence a large number of transport vehicles, for example in a logistics center or on a large landfill.

The radio cells are based, for example, on the Global System for Mobile Communications - Rail, or GSM-R for short, which is a digital mobile radio system that is based on the GSM mobile radio standard, but has been expanded for use in the railways. In addition, communication can take place using the protocols CS (Circuit Switched, also referred to as CSD for Circuit Switched Data) or PS (Packet Switching, also referred to as General Packet Radio Service, GPRS for short). Alternatively or in combination, the radio cells can be based on the UMTS (3G), LTE (3.9G), LTEA (4G) and / or 5G standards.

According to at least one embodiment of the vehicle influencing system or the above-described embodiment of the vehicle influencing system, the data channel for the status reports of the radio cells is composed of several components. For example, the data channel includes a data input interface, a data output interface, a wired data line, a radio link and / or a coupling computer. Alternatively, the data channel is formed as a single component. The data channel can be a direct, preferably wired data line from the control center, in particular an MSC, to the line control center, in particular an RBC. In this context, “direct” means that there is no possibility of intervening in the data channel, but “direct” does not exclude the possibility that the data channel includes components that transmit data such as routers, switches, amplifiers and / or data relays.

According to at least one embodiment of the vehicle influencing system or the embodiments of the vehicle influencing system described above, the vehicles to be influenced are rail vehicles. The vehicles are passenger trains and / or freight trains. The associated route is accordingly a rail network or part of a rail network that can preferably be traveled by several of the vehicles at the same time.

According to at least one embodiment of the vehicle influencing system or the embodiments of the vehicle influencing system described above, the data channel is an exclusively digital communication path between the control center and the route control center. This means that no human intervention is required to transmit the status reports.

According to at least one embodiment of the vehicle influencing system or the embodiments of the vehicle influencing system described above, the data channel comprises one or more coupling computers. In terms of data, the at least one coupling computer is located between the control center and the line control center. For example, the coupling computer is used to decouple the control center from the line control center in terms of safety and / or to combine several different control centers for a specific line control center or the data of a specific line control center Distribute control center to several line control centers. Furthermore, it is possible that the coupling computer enables access to the status reports and / or the possibility of intervention by operating personnel, with no such intervention being required as a rule.

According to at least one embodiment of the vehicle influencing system or the embodiments of the vehicle influencing system described above, the route control center is set up for bidirectional communication with the control center. This means that the line control center can send data to the control center and vice versa. In this way, the line control center can in particular check whether the control center is still working and / or can actively request status reports.

According to at least one embodiment of the vehicle influencing system or the embodiments of the vehicle influencing system described above, a separate transmit / receive channel for the vehicle data and for the control signals is present in addition to the data channel for the status messages. This means that the vehicle data and the control signals, on the one hand, and the status reports, on the other hand, do not need to go through the same communication path between the line control center and the control center. In particular, it is possible that the control center is not integrated into the transmit / receive channel. The data channel and the transmit / receive channel can thus be designed to be partially or completely different from one another.

Alternatively, the send / receive channel is the same as the data channel, at least up to the control center.

According to at least one embodiment of the vehicle influencing system or the above-described embodiments of the vehicle influencing system, a geography of the radio cells and the route is stored in the route control center, so that in the event of a failure of a certain radio cell, a defined radio gap from the route control center is identified by means of the status message is recognized. Furthermore, the line control center is set up to automatically take into account the radio gap when generating the control signals.

For example, the line control then knows when and where a train is entering a dead zone and how long the train is likely to stay in the dead zone. Correspondingly, for example, signals of the route before and / or after the dead zone can be activated, in particular in order to adjust the distance between successive trains so that the route can be safely driven on despite the dead zone.

In addition, a route control center for a vehicle control system, as described above, is specified. Features of the route control center are therefore also disclosed for the vehicle control system and vice versa.

In at least one embodiment, the route control center is provided for a vehicle control system. The route control center is an ETCS route control center and comprises one or more data input interfaces for the status reports from the control center.

In addition, an operating method for a vehicle control system and for a route control center, as described above, is specified. Features of the operating method are therefore also disclosed for the vehicle control system and for the route control center, and vice versa.

In at least one embodiment, a vehicle control system is operated with the operating method. The control center automatically receives and / or generates the status reports on the status of the radio cells and forwards them automatically, directly or indirectly, to the line control center. The route control center automatically takes the received status reports into account, so that interference and fault clearance of the radio cells are included without human intervention when processing the vehicle data and when generating the control signals from the route control center.

die Figuren 1 und 2

schematische Darstellungen von Strecken mit Funkzellen für hier beschriebene Fahrzeugbeeinflussungssysteme zeigen, und

die Figuren 3 bis 6

schematische Blockdiagramme von hier beschriebenen Fahrzeugbeeinflussungssystemen, die mit einem hier beschriebenen Verfahren betrieben werden, zeigen.

The above-mentioned properties, features and advantages of the invention and the manner in which these are achieved are explained in more detail by the following description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the corresponding figures, wherein

Figures 1 and 2

show schematic representations of routes with radio cells for vehicle control systems described here, and

Figures 3 to 6

show schematic block diagrams of vehicle influencing systems described here, which are operated with a method described here.

In Figure 1 a route 2 is shown which is operated with a vehicle control system 1 and on which at least one vehicle 3 is moving. Line 2 is a railway line and vehicle 3 is a train. The route 2 is covered by several radio cells 4.

In Figure 2 it is illustrated that one of the radio cells 4 is defective, so that a radio hole 10 results. The dead zone 10 is in Figure 2 symbolized as a hatched area. The at least one vehicle 3 is thus temporarily located in an area without radio access, so that problems can arise when the route 2 is operated by means of an ETCS.

The vehicle control system 1 is shown in FIG Figure 3 explained schematically. Via a transmit / receive channel 72, a route control center 6 usually continuously receives vehicle data 92 from the at least one vehicle 3 to be influenced on route 2 and also sends control signals 93 to the at least one vehicle 3. Route control center 6 is particularly preferably a radio block center , RBC for short.

For communication with the at least one vehicle 3, the radio cells 4 are generated with the aid of base stations 40. The base stations 40 are preferably each base transceiver stations, English Base Transceiver Station or BTS for short, of a GSM-R cellular network. The base stations 40 are connected to at least one control center 5. The at least one switching center 5 is in particular a mobile services switching center, MSC for short.

The control center 5 is connected to the line control center 6 via a preferably bidirectional data channel 71. Status reports 91 relating to a state of the radio cells 4 or the base stations 40 are transmitted from the control center 5 directly or indirectly to the line control center 6 via the data channel 71. The route control center 6 takes the status messages 91 into account when generating and sending the control signals 93. This means that major disruptions to driving operations can be avoided, even if one of the radio cells 4 and thus one of the base stations 40 shows a defect. The status messages 91 are sent, received and processed automatically without the operator having to intervene.

The data channel 71 can differ from the transmit / receive channel 72. Alternatively, the transmit / receive channel 72 up to the control center 5 can use the same telecommunications infrastructure as the data channel 71. The data channel 71 preferably ends at the control center 5 and / or at the base stations 40.

In the Figures 4 and 5 the operating method of the vehicle influencing system 1 is illustrated in a greatly simplified manner. According to Figure 4 all base stations 40 are in function and thus also all radio cells are not shown. In contrast, in Figure 5 one of the base stations 40 and thus one of the radio cells has failed. This is detected by the control center 5 itself or by a diagnostic device in the control center 5.

As a result, the status message 71 is sent from the control center 5 itself or from a diagnostic device (not shown) to the line control center 6. With the status message 71, a "radio hole" state is automatically activated in the line control center 6 for the radio cell in question as a sign of its defect. The route control center 6 automatically takes this radio gap into account when generating the control signals 93 and when waiting for vehicle data 92 from the at least one vehicle 3.

In the embodiment of the vehicle influencing system 1 of Figure 6 the base stations 40 are optionally connected to a base station controller 45, English Base Station Controller or BSC for short. In terms of data, the base station control device 45 is located between the base stations 40 and the control center 5.

In addition, a coupling computer 8 is optionally located in the data channel 71. The transmit / receive channel 72 is routed past the coupling computer 8. For example, the coupling computer 8 allows operating personnel to access the status messages 91.

• Der Datenkanal 71 ist zum Beispiel mittels Ethernet realisiert, wobei eine Sicherungsübertragungsebene vorhanden sein kann.
• Die Statusmeldungen 91 enthalten einen eindeutigen Identifikator für die Funkzellen 4, zum Beispiel einen Namen und/oder eine Nummer. Es können auch Identifikatoren für Gruppen von Funkzellen 4, etwa für Bereiche eines BSC, verwendet werden.
• Die Statusmeldungen 91 sind freilaufende Meldungen von der Schaltzentrale 5 an die Streckenzentrale 6. Das Gleiche gilt für Anfragen von Statusmeldungen 91 von der Streckenzentrale 6 zur Schaltzentrale 5.

A communication or a transfer protocol between the line control center 6 and the control center 5 preferably fulfills the following aspects, individually or in combination:

• The data channel 71 is implemented using Ethernet, for example, it being possible for a security transmission level to be present.
• The status messages 91 contain a unique identifier for the radio cells 4, for example a name and / or a number. Identifiers for groups of radio cells 4, for example for areas of a BSC, can also be used.
• The status messages 91 are free running messages from the control center 5 to the line control center 6. The same applies to requests for status messages 91 from the line control center 6 to the control center 5.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted to the disclosed exemplary embodiments and the specific combinations of features explained therein. Further variations of the invention can be obtained by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

List of reference symbols

1

Vehicle control system

2

route

3

vehicle

4th

Radio cell

40

Base station (BTS) of a radio cell

45

Base Station Controller (BSC)

5

Control center (MSC)

6

Route control center (RBC)

69

Data input interface for the status messages

71

Data channel for status messages

72

Transmit / receive channel for vehicle data and control signals

8th

Coupling computer

91

Status message about the status of a radio cell

92

Vehicle data from a vehicle to be influenced

93

Control signals to a vehicle to be influenced

10

Dead zone

Claims (10)

Vehicle control system (1) with - a route (2) for vehicles to be influenced (3), - several radio cells (4) that cover the route (2), - a control center (5) for the radio cells (4), - a route control center (6) which is set up to receive vehicle data (92) from the vehicles (3) to be influenced and to send control signals (93) to the vehicles (3) to be influenced, and - a data channel (71) between the control center (5) and the line control center (6), wherein the control center (5) is set up to report status reports (91) about a status of the radio cells (4) to the line control center (6) via the data channel (71). Vehicle control system (1) according to the preceding claim,
in which - the route (2) is a railway line and the vehicles to be influenced (3) are rail vehicles, - the control center (5) is a switching center of a mobile radio network with the radio cells (4), - The route control center (6) is an ETCS route control center, and - The data channel (71) is a direct or indirect, exclusively digital communication path between the control center (5) and the line control center (6). Vehicle influencing system (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the data channel (71) is a wired or wireless direct digital data connection between the control center (5) and the line control center (6), so that the control center (5) is set up to send the status messages (91) directly to the line control center (6) report and / or the route control center (6) is set up to request or collect the status reports (91) directly from the control center (5). Vehicle influencing system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the data channel (71) comprises at least one coupling computer (8), - The coupling computer (8) is between the control center (5) and the line control center (6) in terms of data, and - the coupling computer (8) is set up for direct communication with the route control center (6) so that the control center (5) is set up to report the status messages (91) indirectly via the coupling computer (8) to the route control center (6). Vehicle influencing system (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the line control center (6) is set up to automatically receive and process the status reports (91), and
wherein the line control center (6) is set up for bidirectional communication with the control center (5). Vehicle influencing system (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
In addition to the data channel (71), there is a separate transmit / receive channel (72) for the vehicle data (92) and for the control signals (93),
wherein the data channel (71) and the transmit / receive channel (72) are designed to be at least partially different from one another. Vehicle influencing system (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
where a geography of the radio cells (4) and the route (2) is stored in the route control center (6) so that if a certain radio cell (4) fails, a defined radio hole (10) is recognized by the route control center (6) and the route control center (6) is set up to automatically take into account the radio gap (10) when generating the control signals (93). Vehicle influencing system (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the control center (5) is set up to automatically report the status reports (91) about the status of the radio cells (4) via the data channel (71) to the line control center (6) when a fault or fault clearance occurs, and the line control center (6) is set up when switched on or initialized to retrieve the status messages (91) about the status of the radio cells (4) via the data channel (71) at the control center (5). Route control center (6) for a vehicle control system (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
which is an ETCS line control center and which comprises a data input interface (69) for the status messages (91) from the control center (5) and which is set up to process the status messages (91). Operating method for a vehicle control system (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
wherein the control center (5) automatically receives or generates the status reports (91) about the status of the radio cells (4) and automatically forwards them directly or indirectly to the line control center (6), and
the route control center (6) automatically taking into account the received status reports (91) so that disturbances in the radio cells (4) are included without human intervention when processing the vehicle data (92) and when generating the control signals (93) from the route control center (6) .

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