EP4349686A1

EP4349686A1 - Signal transfer system, associated wayside assembly and method of signal transferring

Info

Publication number: EP4349686A1
Application number: EP22306476.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Attilio ERRIQUEZ
Original assignee: Alstom Holdings SA
Current assignee: Alstom Holdings SA
Priority date: 2022-10-04
Filing date: 2022-10-04
Publication date: 2024-04-10

Abstract

This signal transfer system (18) comprises:
- a first transfer unit (20), configured to receive an input signal (I) from a controller (12) and to transfer the input signal (I) of said controller (12) to the wayside equipment (16) as the output signal (O) of the signal transfer system (18),
- a second transfer unit (22), configured to receive an input signal (I) from a controller (14) and to transfer the input signal (I) of said controller (14) to the wayside equipment (16) as the output signal (O) of the signal transfer system (18),
the first and second transfer unit (20, 22) implementing together an election logic configured for electing a master (MU) unit and a slave unit (SU) from the first (20) and second (22) transfer unit,
the output signal (O) being the input signal (I) received by the unit (20, 22) elected as a master unit (MU).

Description

The present invention relates to a signal transfer system. The invention also relates to a wayside assembly comprising such a signal transfer system. The invention further relates to a method of signal transferring, implemented by such a signal transfer system.
In the domain of signal transfer systems, and especially for signal transfer systems for wayside assemblies in the railway industry, it is critical to ensure that a signal is reliably transferred from source device, for example a controller, to a target device, for example an equipment to be controlled by the controller.
To that end, it is known to have redundant controllers, that are both able to generate and transfer a signal to the wayside equipment. The controllers are for example connected between them, such that only one of the controllers transfers a signal to the wayside equipment.
In certain cases, for example if the controller transferring the signal to the equipment exhibits a failure, the signal transferring responsibility is carried to the other controller that then transfers the signal it generates to the equipment.
Such signal transferring is appreciated, in particular because it ensures a redundant transferring of the signal, but remains not entirely satisfying.
Indeed, the controllers need to be designed to communicate with each other and to provide a failover in the responsibility to transfer the signal to the equipment. Furthermore, due to the complexity of the controllers, the failover can often be long, which can disrupt the operation of the wayside equipment being controlled.
A goal of the invention is therefore to provide a signal transfer system that do not require significant changes to controllers and which minimize disruption of the operation of an equipment controlled by controllers.
To that end, the invention relates to a signal transfer system configured for receiving an input signal from a first and a second wayside controllers and to transfer an output signal to a wayside equipment,

the system comprising:
- a first transfer unit, configured to be connected to the first wayside controller and to receive an input signal from said controller, the first transfer unit being able to transfer the input signal of said controller to the wayside equipment as the output signal of the signal transfer system,
- a second transfer unit, configured to be connected to the second wayside controller and to receive an input signal from said controller, the second transfer unit being able to transfer the input signal of said controller to the wayside equipment as the output signal of the signal transfer system,
the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit being connected by a communication link and implementing together an election logic,
said election logic being configured for electing a master unit and a slave unit from the first and second transfer unit,
the output signal of the system transferred to the wayside equipment being the input signal received by the transfer unit elected as a master unit.

The use of transfer units implementing such an election logic allows to use wayside controllers without significant changes to those controllers, while allowing a fast failover between the transfer units, and thus between the signal being transferred to the wayside equipment.
According to specific embodiments of the invention, the signal transfer system device further comprises one or several of the features mentioned below, considered independently or along any technically possible combination:

the first transfer unit is further configured for receiving a status signal from the first wayside controller and the second transfer unit is further configured for receiving a status signal from the second wayside controller, the election logic being configured for electing the master and slave units based on the status signal received by the first and second transfer units;
the status signal received by the first and second transfer units comprises an health information, the election logic being configured for electing a new master and slave units when the health information received by the master transfer unit is representative of an unhealthy wayside controller and the health information received by the slave unit is representative of an healthy wayside controller;
the election logic is configured for electing the master and slave units less than 20 ms after the receiving of the status signal by the first and second transfer units;
the first and second transfer units are part of a single control board; and
the input signal of the first and second controllers comprises a plurality of channels.

The invention also relates to a wayside assembly comprising a wayside equipment, a first and second wayside controllers and a transfer system as above mentioned, the transfer system being connected to the first wayside controller, to the second wayside controller and to the wayside equipment.
According to specific embodiments of the invention, the wayside assembly further comprises one or several of the features mentioned below, considered independently or along any technically possible combination:

the first and second controllers are of identical type and are of a controller type chosen from the list consisting of: signaling wayside controller, power supply controller; and
the wayside equipment is of an equipment type chosen from the list consisting of: signaling light, power supply module or actuation module.

The invention also relates to a method of signal transferring, implemented by a signal transfer system as above mentioned, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

receiving of an input signal of the first controller by the first transfer unit and receiving of an input signal of the second controller by the second transfer unit,
election of a master unit and a slave unit from the first and second transfer unit by the election logic implemented by the first and second transfer units, and
transferring the input signal of the unit elected as a master unit as the output signal of the system to the wayside equipment.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a detailed description which is given thereof below, as an indication and by no means as a limitation, with reference to the appended figures, wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic view of a wayside assembly comprising a signal transfer system according to the invention; and
figure 2 is a flowchart of the steps of the method of signal transferring according to the invention.

Referring to figure 1, a wayside assembly 10 comprises a first wayside controller 12, a second wayside controller 14, a wayside equipment 16 and a signal transfer system 18.
The wayside assembly 10 is for example integrated in a railway architecture and is for example configured to provide information or power supply to railway vehicles.
The first wayside controller 12 and the second wayside controller 14 are for example of a controller type chosen from the list consisting of: signaling wayside controller, power supply controller.
Such wayside controllers 12 are for example known under the following commercial denominations: SMIO OC (acronym for Smart I/O Object Controller), iVPI (acronym for integrated Vital Processor Interlocking Control System), OCS (acronym for Object Controller System) or ElectroLogIXS (acronym for Electronic Logic Interlocking-Level Crossing System).
In a specific embodiment, the first wayside controller 12 and the second wayside controller 14 are both of same type. The first wayside controller 12 and the second wayside controller 14 are for example similar controllers.
The first wayside controller 12 and the second wayside controller 14 are both configured to generate an input signal I. As this will be exposed later, the input signal I generated by the wayside controllers 12, 14 is an input of the signal transfer system 18.
The input signal I is for example a control signal intended to be received by the wayside equipment 16. The input signal I is for example a railway signalization signal, such as for example a traffic light signal, a power control signal or an actuation signal such as a track designation signal.
In a specific embodiment, the input signal I comprises a plurality of channels. The input signal I for example corresponds to a signal for controlling a wayside equipment 16 such as a display equipment. The input signals I then for example comprises a plurality of color channels such as for example three color channels.
In a specific embodiment, when both wayside controllers 12, 14, generate an input signal I, the input signal I of both wayside controllers 12, 14 is identical.
The first wayside controller 12 and the second wayside controller 14 are for example both configured to generate a status signal S.
The status signal S for example comprises a heath information representative of the health of the wayside controller 12, 14, generating the status signal S. For example, the health information is either representative of a healthy wayside controller 12, 14, or of an unhealthy wayside controller 12, 14.
As this will be exposed in more details later, the status signal S for example also comprises a responsibility information representative of the responsibility between the wayside controllers 12, 14. For example, the responsibility information is either representative of master wayside controller 12, 14, or of a slave wayside controller 12, 14.
In other word, the first wayside controller 12 is for example configured for generating a status signal S comprising an health information representative of its health and a responsibility information representative of its responsibility, the first wayside controller 12 being either a slave a of a master, as represented by the responsibility information.
Similarly, the second wayside controller 14 is for example configured for generating a status signal S comprising an health information representative of its health and a responsibility information representative of its responsibility, second wayside controller 14 being either a slave a of a master, as represented by the responsibility information.
As this will be presented later, only one of the wayside controllers 12, 14 can be a master wayside controller, the other wayside controller being a slave controller.
In a non-illustrated embodiment, the signal transfer system 18 is configured to determine the status signal S of a wayside controller 12, 14 based on the input signal I of said wayside controller. For example, the lack of an input signal from a wayside controller 12, 14 might correspond to an unhealthy wayside controller 12, 14. The signal transfer system 18 is thus for example configured to determine a status signal S comprising an health information representative of an unhealthy wayside controller 12, 14 if it does not receive an input signal from said wayside controller 12, 14.
The signal transfer system 18 is configured for receiving the input signal I generated by both the first 12 and second 14 wayside controllers.
The signal transfer system 18 is further configured to transfer an output signal O to the wayside equipment 16. As this will be exposed later, the output signal O corresponds to the input signal I received from one of the first 12 and second 14 wayside controller.
The signal transfer system 18 comprises a first transfer unit 20 and a second transfer unit 22.
The first 20 and second 22 transfer units are connected by a communication link L. The connection link L is for example a connection cable or is a wireless connection link.
In a specific embodiment, the signal transfer system 18 is formed by a single control board 24. The first 20 and second 22 transfer units are then part of such a single control board 24. In such an embodiment, the communication link L is for example a circuitry of the control board 24.
The first transfer unit 20 is connected to the first wayside controller 12 and configured to receive the input signal I from said controller 12, that is the input signal I generated by said controller 12. The first transfer unit 20 is further able to transfer the input signal I of the first wayside 12 controller as the output signal O of the signal transfer system 18.
The second transfer unit 22 is connected to the second wayside controller 14 and configured to receive the input signal I from said controller 14, that is the input signal I generated by said controller 14. The second transfer unit 22 is further able to transfer the input signal I of the second wayside controller 14 as the output signal O of the signal transfer system 18.
The first 20 and second 22 transfer units are configured for implementing together an election logic. In a specific embodiment, the first 20 and second 22 transfer units each comprise a memory and a processor, said processors being connected with the communication link L to implement together the election logic. In an alternative embodiment, the first 20 and second 22 transfer units are both connected to an additional election unit (non-represented) to implement the election logic.
In a non-illustrated example, the signal transfer system 18 comprises an information processing unit comprising, for example, a memory associated with a processor.
In such an example, the first transfer unit 20 and the second transfer unit 22 are each produced in the form of a software executable by the processor. The memory is then able to store a software operating as the first transfer unit 20 and a software operating as the second transfer unit 22 here described.
When the first transfer unit 20 and the second transfer unit 22 are made in the form of one or several software programs, i.e., in the form of a computer program, it is further able to be stored on a medium, not shown, readable by computer. The computer-readable medium is for example a medium suitable for storing electronic instructions and able to be coupled with a bus of a computer system. As an example, the readable medium is an optical disc, a magnetic-optical disc, a ROM memory, a RAM memory, any type of non-volatile memory (for example, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, NVRAM), a magnetic card or an optical card. A computer program including software instructions is then stored on the readable medium.
In another variant (not shown) the first transfer unit 20 and the second transfer unit 22 are each produced in the form of a programmable logic components, such as a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or in the form of a dedicated integrated circuit, such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or in the form of any combination of ASIC, FPGA and/or software.
The election logic is configured for electing a master unit MU and a slave unit SU from the first 20 and second 22 transfer units. It is understood that only one of the first 20 and second 22 transfer unit is elected by the election logic as the master unit MU, the other of the first 20 and second transfer units 22 being elected as a slave unit SU by the election logic.
The election logic is for example configured for electing the master unit MU and the slave unit SU based on the status signal S received by the first transfer unit 20 and by the second transfer unit 22. In a non-illustrated embodiment, the election logic is for example configured for electing the master unit MU and the slave unit SU based on the status input signal I.
The election logic is for example configured for electing a new master MU and slave SU unit when the health information received with the status signal S by the master transfer unit MU is representative of an unhealthy wayside controller and when the health information received with the status signal by the slave transfer unit SU is representative of an healthy wayside controller. It is then for example configured for keeping the master unit MU and the slave unit SU elected without electing a new master MU and slave SU unit for other health information received by the slave SU and master MU units, for example as long as the health information received by the master unit MU is representative of an healthy wayside controller or when the health information received by the slave unit SU is representative of an unhealthy wayside controller.
The election logic is thus configured for providing a failover in the responsibilities of the first 20 and second 22 transfer units a newly elected master unit MU being previously a slave unit SU and a newly elected slave unit SU being previously a master unit MU.
The election logic is for example configured for electing the master MU and slave SU units less than 50 ms, for example less than 20 ms, after the receiving of the status signal by the first and second transfer unit. For example, the election logic is configured for electing a new master transfer unit MU and slave transfer unit SU less than 50 ms, for example less than 20 ms, after the health information received by the master transfer MU unit is representative of an unhealthy wayside controller and the health information received by the slave unit SU is representative of an healthy wayside controller.
The output signal O of the signal transfer system 18 is sent to the wayside equipment 16. The output signal O of the signal transfer system 18 corresponds to the signal transferred to the wayside equipment 16 by the signal transfer system 18.
The output signal O of the signal transfer system 18 is the input signal I received by the master unit MU, that is by the transfer unit 20, 22 elected as a master unit. The output signal O thus correspond to the input signal I received by one of the transfer units 20, 22, from one of the wayside controllers 12, 14, and in particular to the input signal I received by the transfer unit 20, 22 elected as a master unit MU.
The wayside equipment 16 is configured for receiving the output signal O of the signal transfer system 18. In other words, the wayside equipment is configured for receiving the input signal I generated by one of the first 12 and second 14 wayside controllers, said input signal being transferred as an output signal of the signal transfer system 18 by the transfer unit 20, 22 elected as a master unit MU.
The wayside equipment 16 is thus an equipment configured to be controlled by the first wayside controller 12 and by the second wayside controller 14.
The wayside equipment is of an equipment type chosen from the list consisting of: signaling light, power supply module or actuation module.
A method 100 of signal transferring, implemented by a signal transfer system 18 as above described will now be presented.
In a receiving step 100, an input signal I, for example generated by the first wayside controller 12, is received by the first transfer unit 20. An input signal, for example generated by the second wayside controller 14, is received by the second transfer unit 22.
The input signals received by the first transfer unit 20 and by the second transfer unit 22 are for example received simultaneously.
Furthermore, a status signal S, for example generated by the first wayside controller 12 is for example is for example received by the first transfer unit 20. A status signal S, for example generated by the second wayside controller 14 is for example is for example received by the second transfer unit 22.
In an election step 120, a master unit MU and a slave unit SU is elected from the first 20 and second 22 transfer units. The master unit MU and the slave unit SU is elected by the election logic implemented by the first 20 and second 22 transfer units.
As seen above, the election logic is for example electing a new master unit MU and a new slave unit SU, that is swapping the master unit MU and the slave unit SU between the first 20 and second 22 transfer unit, when the health information received with the status signal S by the master transfer unit MU is representative of an unhealthy wayside controller and when the health information received with the status signal by the slave transfer unit SU is representative of an healthy wayside controller.
In a transferring step 130, the input signal I of the unit 20, 22 elected as a master unit MU is sent by said master unit MU to the wayside equipment 16. In other words, the input signal I of the transfer unit 20, 22 elected as the master unit MU is transferred to the wayside equipment 16 as the output signal O of the signal transfer system 18.

Claims

Signal transfer system (18) configured for receiving an input signal (I) from a first (12) and a second (14) wayside controllers and to transfer an output signal (O) to a wayside equipment (16),
the system (18) comprising:
- a first transfer unit (20), configured to be connected to the first wayside controller (12) and to receive an input signal (I) from said controller (12), the first transfer unit (20) being able to transfer the input signal (I) of said controller (12) to the wayside equipment (16) as the output signal (O) of the signal transfer system (18),

- a second transfer unit (22), configured to be connected to the second wayside controller (14) and to receive an input signal (I) from said controller (14), the second transfer unit (22) being able to transfer the input signal (I) of said controller (14) to the wayside equipment (16) as the output signal (O) of the signal transfer system (18),

the first transfer unit (20) and the second transfer unit (22) being connected by a communication link (L) and implementing together an election logic,

said election logic being configured for electing a master (MU) unit and a slave unit (SU) from the first (20) and second (22) transfer unit,

the output signal (O) of the system (18) transferred to the wayside equipment (16) being the input signal (I) received by the transfer unit (20, 22) elected as a master unit (MU).
Signal transfer system (18) according to claim 1, wherein the first transfer unit (20) is further configured for receiving a status signal (S) from the first wayside controller (12) and the second transfer unit (22) is further configured for receiving a status signal (S) from the second wayside controller (14), the election logic being configured for electing the master (MU) and slave (SU) units based on the status signal (S) received by the first (20) and second (22) transfer units.
Signal transfer system (18) according to claim 2, wherein the status signal (S) received by the first (20) and second (22) transfer units comprises a health information, the election logic being configured for electing a new master (MU) and slave (SU) units when the health information received by the master transfer (MU) unit is representative of an unhealthy wayside controller (12, 14) and the health information received by the slave unit (SU) is representative of a healthy wayside controller (12, 14).
Signal transfer system (18) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the election logic is configured for electing the master (MU) and slave units (SU) less than 20 ms after the receiving of the status (S) signal by the first (20) and second (22) transfer units.
Signal transfer system (18) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first (20) and second (22) transfer units are part of a single control board (24).
Signal transfer system (18) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the input signal (I) of the first (12) and second (14) controllers comprises a plurality of channels.
Wayside assembly (10) comprising a wayside equipment (16), a first (12) and second (14) wayside controllers and a transfer system (18) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, the transfer system (18) being connected to the first wayside controller (12), to the second wayside controller (14) and to the wayside equipment (16).
Wayside assembly (10) according to claim 7, wherein the first (12) and second (14) controllers are of identical type and are of a controller type chosen from the list consisting of: signaling wayside controller, power supply controller.
Wayside assembly (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the wayside equipment (16) is of an equipment type chosen from the list consisting of: signaling light, power supply module or actuation module.
Method (100) of signal transferring, implemented by a signal transfer system (18) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the method (100) comprises the following steps:
- receiving (110) of an input signal (I) of the first controller (12) by the first transfer unit (20) and receiving of an input signal (I) of the second controller (14) by the second transfer unit (22),

- election (120) of a master unit (MU) and a slave unit (SU) from the first (20) and second (22) transfer unit by the election logic implemented by the first (20) and second (22) transfer units, and

- transferring (130) the input signal (I) of the unit (20, 22) elected as a master unit (MU) as the output signal (O) of the system (18) to the wayside equipment (16).