JP6770967B2 - Information transmission device and information transmission system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting state information indicating the state of a railroad vehicle.

The state of a railroad vehicle is monitored using various sensors (see Patent Document 1). The information obtained from these sensors is stored in a memory element mounted on a railroad vehicle. Workers performing maintenance, maintenance and other necessary work on railcars may also extract information from memory elements to analyze the cause of anomalies that occur in the railcars. Alternatively, the operator can also use the information stored in the memory element to prevent the occurrence of an abnormality that may occur in the railway vehicle.

An operator may connect an information processing device (for example, a portable personal computer) to a substrate on which a memory element is mounted via a cable, and extract state information indicating the state of a railroad vehicle. However, wired connections increase the effort of the operator. For example, the operator needs to open the protective cover that covers the connector and then connect the cable terminals to the connector.

Patent Document 2 proposes to take out the state information of a railroad vehicle by wireless connection. According to Patent Document 2, the operator can acquire the state information without physically connecting the information processing apparatus to the substrate.

The worker wants to acquire the state information of the railroad vehicle under various communication environments. However, under the conventional technology, the worker can acquire the state information of the railroad vehicle only in a limited communication environment.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-107417 JP-A-2009-521902

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables an operator to acquire state information of a railway vehicle under various communication environments.

The information transmitting device according to one aspect of the present invention transmits state information indicating the state of a railroad vehicle. The information transmission device transmits the state information to the storage unit that stores the state information and the slave communication device that receives the beacon signal in the master unit mode in which the beacon signal indicating the existence of the information transmission device is output. Moreover, in the slave unit mode in which another beacon signal indicating the existence of the parent communication device output from the parent communication device provided separately from the information transmission device is received, the state is described to the parent communication device. It includes a communication unit for transmitting information and a switching unit for switching an operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode.

The above-mentioned technology enables an operator to acquire state information of a railroad vehicle under various communication environments.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

It is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission device of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic timing chart which shows the exemplary operation of the information transmission apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission device of 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the exemplary operation of the information transmission apparatus shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the master unit mode of the information transmission device shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the handset mode of the information transmission device shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission system of 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic timing chart which shows the exemplary operation of the information transmission system shown in FIG. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the exemplary operation of the information transmission apparatus of the information transmission system shown in FIG.

<First Embodiment>
The state information indicating the state of the railroad vehicle is useful for troubleshooting for resolving the failure of various facilities mounted on the railroad car and for daily or regular maintenance work on the railroad car. With respect to the prior art, a worker can acquire status information by using communication between a master unit mounted on a railroad vehicle and a slave unit operated by a worker performing maintenance work. For example, when the master unit transmits a beacon signal indicating the existence of the master unit and then the slave unit receives the beacon signal, communication between the master unit and the slave unit is established. When the status information is transmitted from the master unit to the slave unit after the communication is established, the operator can confirm the status information.

Workers may also wish to obtain status information representing the status of multiple rolling stock at the depot in order to inspect and / or maintain the rolling stock. In this case, the worker needs to establish communication between the master unit and the slave unit for each railroad vehicle in order to know the state of each of the plurality of railroad vehicles. Therefore, the worker must frequently perform the work for establishing the communication between the master unit and the slave unit.

If the slave unit is mounted on each of a plurality of railroad vehicles, the worker is freed from frequent communication establishment work. The status information is transmitted from the slave units mounted on each of the plurality of railway vehicles to one master unit. The status information is then transmitted from the master unit to the terminal device (another slave unit) operated by the operator. As a result, the worker can collectively know the state of each of the plurality of railroad vehicles. Workers may also wish to obtain the status of a particular railcar stopped on the railroad track. In this case, since the master unit may not exist around the stop position of the railroad vehicle, the operator may not always be able to acquire the status information. Therefore, the worker cannot easily acquire the state information under various communication environments under the prior art. The present inventors have developed a technique that makes it possible to easily acquire state information under various communication environments. In the first embodiment, an exemplary information transmission device that makes it possible to easily acquire state information under various communication environments will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission device 100 of the first embodiment. The information transmission device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

The information transmission device 100 includes a storage unit 200, a switching unit 300, and a communication unit 400. The storage unit 200 stores state information indicating the state of a railway vehicle (not shown). For example, state information includes the pressure of air used to open and close railroad vehicle braking devices (not shown) and railroad car doors, the temperature of bearings used in railroad cars (not shown), and railroad car It may contain various other contents that represent the state. The principle of this embodiment is not limited to the specific content represented by the state information.

The state information may be obtained by known monitoring techniques used to grasp the state of various devices mounted on the railcar. Data signals generated by various detection elements such as pressure sensors and temperature sensors may be stored in the storage unit 200. Therefore, the storage unit 200 may be a general memory element. The principles of this embodiment are not limited to specific techniques for acquiring and retaining state information.

The switching unit 300 switches the operation mode of the information transmission device 100 between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode. The communication unit 400 transmits a beacon signal under the master unit mode. The communication unit 400 receives the beacon signal in the slave unit mode.

The switching unit 300 generates a beacon signal under the master unit mode. The beacon signal is output from the communication unit 400. If another communication device (not shown: hereinafter referred to as "child communication device") designed to communicate with the information transmission device 100 is within the reach of the beacon signal, the beacon signal is received. The child communication device generates a response signal in response to the beacon signal. When the communication unit 400 receives the response signal from the child communication device, the switching unit 300 executes a process for establishing communication with the child communication device. Communication between the information transmitting device 100 and the child communication device may be maintained until there is a request for cancellation of communication from the child communication device. The process for establishing communication with the child communication device may be based on the WiFi communication technology. The switching unit 300 may be a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a signal generation program that generates a beacon signal, a communication program for establishing communication with a child communication device, or another arithmetic circuit.

After the communication between the information transmitting device 100 and the child communication device is established, the switching unit 300 reads the state information from the storage unit 200. The switching unit 300 then transmits the state information to the child communication device that has received the beacon signal through the communication unit 400.

While the switching unit 300 sets the operation mode of the information transmission device 100 to the slave unit mode, the communication unit 400 uses the beacon signal as another communication device (not shown: hereinafter, referred to as a "parent communication device". When received from), the switching unit 300 executes various processes for establishing communication with the parent communication device. The process for establishing communication with the parent communication device may be based on the WiFi communication technology. The switching unit 300 may include a CPU and other arithmetic circuits that execute a communication program for establishing communication with the parent communication device. Another child communication device (not shown) that communicates with the parent communication device can also communicate with the information transmission device 100 through this parent communication device. Communication between the information transmitting device 100 and the parent communication device may be maintained until the communication between the information transmitting device 100 and the child communication device is canceled.

After the communication between the information transmitting device 100 and the parent communication device is established, the switching unit 300 reads the state information from the storage unit 200. After that, the switching unit 300 transmits the state information to the parent communication device, which is the output source of the beacon signal, through the communication unit 400.

The timing of switching the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode may be determined based on various conditions. For example, the switching unit 300 may determine the switching timing of the operation mode with reference to the execution time of the master unit mode and / or the slave unit mode. Alternatively, the switching unit 300 may determine the operation mode switching timing by referring to the information regarding the position of the railway vehicle on which the information transmitting device 100 is mounted. Alternatively, the switching unit 300 may determine the switching timing of the operation mode by referring to the information regarding the speed of the railway vehicle on which the information transmitting device 100 is mounted. Alternatively, the switching unit 300 may switch the operation mode in response to a switching request from another device. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific trigger that causes switching of the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode.

<Second Embodiment>
The information transmitting device may alternately switch between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode with the lapse of time. In the second embodiment, an exemplary information transmitting device will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission device 100A of the second embodiment. The information transmission device 100A will be described with reference to FIG. The reference numerals commonly used with the first embodiment represent the same elements as those of the first embodiment. The description of the first embodiment is incorporated into these elements.

Similar to the first embodiment, the information transmission device 100A includes a storage unit 200 and a communication unit 400. The information transmission device 100A further includes a switching unit 300A and a timer 500. The timer 500 individually measures the elapsed time from the start time of the master unit mode and the elapsed time from the start time of the slave unit mode. The timer 500 may be a timekeeping element different from the arithmetic element used as the switching unit 300A. Alternatively, the timer 500 may be a timekeeping program executed by an arithmetic element used as the switching unit 300A. The principle of this embodiment is not limited to a specific device or a specific program used as the timer 500.

The switching unit 300A switches the operation mode of the information transmission device 100A between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode based on the elapsed time measured by the timer 500.

FIG. 3 is a schematic timing chart showing an exemplary operation of the information transmission device 100A. The operation of the information transmission device 100A will be further described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The timer 500 increases the timer count from "0" with the passage of time. When the value of the timer count becomes "T1 (> 0)" under the master unit mode, the timer 500 generates switching information indicating the switching timing. The switching information is output from the timer 500 to the switching unit 300A. The switching unit 300A switches the operation mode of the information transmission device 100A from the master unit mode to the slave unit mode according to the switching information. The timer 500 resets the timer count at the same time as outputting the switching information, and returns the value of the timer count to "0".

The timer 500 increases the timer count from "0" with the passage of time under the slave unit mode. When the value of the timer count becomes "T2 (> 0)" in the slave unit mode, the timer 500 generates switching information indicating the switching timing. The switching information is output from the timer 500 to the switching unit 300A. The switching unit 300A switches the operation mode of the information transmission device 100A from the slave unit mode to the master unit mode according to the switching information. The timer 500 resets the timer count at the same time as outputting the switching information, and returns the value of the timer count to "0".

The information transmission device 100A can repeat the above-mentioned operation and alternately switch the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode with the lapse of time. The set value "T1" that determines the length of the master unit mode may be equal to or different from the set value "T2" that determines the length of the slave unit mode. The set values "T1" and "T2" are the time required for the information transmission device 100A to establish communication with another communication device (parent communication device and / or child communication device), and other communication of the information transmission device 100A. It is decided appropriately in consideration of ability.

The designer who designs the information transmitting device 100A may give a value larger than the set value "T2" to the set value "T1". In this case, the information transmission device 100A can communicate with the access point fixedly installed at the depot under the slave unit mode. In addition, the information transmission device 100A can communicate with the terminal carried by the operator under the master unit mode.

Since the rail yard has been stopped for a long period of time at the depot, even if the set value "T1" has a value larger than the set value "T2", the information transmission device 100A and the access point There is no major hindrance to communication between them. On the other hand, since the set value "T2" is smaller than the set value "T1", the operator who operates the terminal can display the status information without waiting for a long period of time to switch the operation mode from the slave unit mode to the master unit mode. Can be obtained. The operator can also perform an input operation on the terminal for establishing communication between the information transmission device 100A and the terminal during the master unit mode.

<Third Embodiment>
The information transmitting device may switch the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode with reference to the position of the railway vehicle. In the third embodiment, an exemplary information transmitting device will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission device 100B of the third embodiment. The information transmission device 100B will be described with reference to FIG. The reference numerals commonly used with the first embodiment represent the same elements as those of the first embodiment. The description of the first embodiment is incorporated into these elements.

Generally, a position information generator PIG for acquiring first position information regarding the position of a railway vehicle (not shown) is mounted on the railway vehicle. The position information generation device PIG is a circuit device having the functions of a control device (so-called centralized traffic control device) for grasping the position of a railway vehicle in order to manage the operation of the railway vehicle and a GPS (Global Positioning System) function. May be good. For example, the position information generation device PIG may be a control device that performs various controls on a railroad vehicle using the first position information. The principle of this embodiment is not limited to the specific equipment used as the position information generator PIG.

Similar to the first embodiment, the information transmission device 100B includes a communication unit 400. The information transmission device 100B further includes a storage unit 200B and a switching unit 300B. The above-mentioned first position information is output from the position information generator PIG to the switching unit 300B.

Similar to the first embodiment, the storage unit 200B stores the state information. In addition to the state information, the storage unit 200B stores the second position information regarding the position of the access point (not shown) that outputs the beacon signal. Access points may be located at depots (not shown) where rolling stock is inspected and / or repaired. In the present embodiment, the parent communication device is exemplified by an access point located in the depot.

The switching unit 300B reads the second position information from the storage unit 200B. After that, the switching unit 300B compares the first position information with the second position information, and sets the operation mode to one of the master unit mode and the slave unit mode.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary operation of the information transmission device 100B. The operation of the information transmission device 100B will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(Step S110)
The switching unit 300B receives the first position information from the position information generator PIG. In addition, the switching unit 300B reads out the second position information from the storage unit 200B. When the storage unit 200B acquires the first position information and the second position information, step S120 is executed.

(Step S120)
In FIG. 5, the position of the railroad vehicle represented by the first position information is represented by the symbol “CP”. In FIG. 5, the position of the access point represented by the second position information is represented by the symbol “AP”. The switching unit 300B performs a difference calculation using the first position information and the second position information, and calculates the distance between the railroad vehicle and the access point. If the calculated distance exceeds the distance threshold, step S130 is executed. If the calculated distance is less than or equal to the distance threshold, step S140 is executed.

(Step S130)
The switching unit 300B sets the operation mode of the information transmission device 100B to the master unit mode. The switching unit 300B generates a beacon signal. The beacon signal is transmitted from the communication unit 400. The information transmission device 100B transmits the state information to another communication device that has received the beacon signal.

(Step S140)
The switching unit 300B sets the operation mode of the information transmission device 100B to the slave unit mode. When the communication unit 400 receives the beacon signal from the access point, the information transmission device 100B transmits the status information to the access point.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of the master unit mode. The master unit mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6.

FIG. 6 shows three transmission control circuits 101, 102, 103, three railway vehicles TC1, TC2, TC3, and a tablet terminal TTM. Each of the transmission control circuits 101, 102, and 103 corresponds to the information transmission device 100B described with reference to FIG. The transmission control circuit 101 is mounted on the railway vehicle TC1 and stores state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle TC1. Similarly, the transmission control circuits 102 and 103 are mounted on the railway vehicles TC2 and T3, respectively, and store state information indicating the states of the railway vehicles TC2 and T3.

The tablet terminal TTM is operated by a collector who collects state information. The tablet terminal TTM can receive beacon signals from the transmission control circuits 101, 102, and 103, respectively. The collector operates the tablet terminal TTM and selects one of the transmission control circuits 101, 102, and 103 as the communication target. When the collector selects the transmission control circuit 101 as the communication target, the state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle TC1 is transmitted from the transmission control circuit 101 to the tablet terminal TTM. When the collector selects the transmission control circuit 102 as the communication target, the state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle TC2 is transmitted from the transmission control circuit 102 to the tablet terminal TTM. When the collector selects the transmission control circuit 103 as the communication target, the state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle TC3 is transmitted from the transmission control circuit 103 to the tablet terminal TTM.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of the slave unit mode. The slave unit mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Similar to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 shows transmission control circuits 101, 102, 103 and railway vehicles TC1, TC2, TC3. The railroad vehicles TC1, TC2, and TC3 are housed in the depot.

FIG. 7 shows an access point ACP and a personal computer PSC. The access point ACP is installed in the depot. The personal computer PSC is located in the office.

The access point ACP outputs a beacon signal. The beacon signal is received by the transmission control circuits 101, 102, 103 and the personal computer PSC. As a result, the access point ACP establishes communication with the transmission control circuits 101, 102, 103 and the personal computer PSC.

When the communication between the access point ACP and the transmission control circuit 101 is established, the state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle TC1 is transmitted from the transmission control circuit 101 to the access point ACP. When the communication between the access point ACP and the transmission control circuit 102 is established, the state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle TC2 is transmitted from the transmission control circuit 102 to the access point ACP. When the communication between the access point ACP and the transmission control circuit 103 is established, the state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle TC3 is transmitted from the transmission control circuit 103 to the access point ACP.

The state information indicating the state of the railroad vehicles TC1, TC2, and TC3 is then sent to the personal computer PSC through the access point ACP. Therefore, the collector can collectively acquire the state information indicating the state of the railroad vehicles TC1, TC2, and TC3 in the office.

<Fourth Embodiment>
As described in relation to the third embodiment, if the information transmission device is mounted on each of the plurality of railway vehicles, the state information indicating the state of each of the plurality of railway vehicles can be acquired. In the fourth embodiment, an information transmission system including a plurality of information transmission devices will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the information transmission system 600 of the fourth embodiment. The information transmission system 600 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 8. The reference numerals commonly used with the third embodiment represent the same elements as those of the third embodiment. The description of the third embodiment is incorporated into these elements.

The information transmission system 600 includes two information transmission devices 110 and 120. The information transmission device 110 corresponds to one of the transmission control circuits 101, 102, 103 described with reference to FIG. The information transmission device 120 corresponds to the other one of the transmission control circuits 101, 102, 103 described with reference to FIG.

The information transmission device 110 includes a storage unit 210, a switching unit 310, a communication unit 410, and a timer 510. The storage unit 210 corresponds to the storage unit 200B described with reference to FIG. The communication unit 410 corresponds to the communication unit 400 described with reference to FIG. The timer 510 corresponds to the timer 500 described with reference to FIG. The switching unit 310 receives the first position information from the position information generator PIG described in relation to the third embodiment.

The information transmission device 120 includes a storage unit 220, a switching unit 320, a communication unit 420, and a timer 520. The storage unit 220 corresponds to the storage unit 200B described with reference to FIG. The communication unit 420 corresponds to the communication unit 400 described with reference to FIG. The timer 520 corresponds to the timer 500 described with reference to FIG. The switching unit 320 receives the first position information from the position information generation device PIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic timing chart showing an exemplary operation of the information transmission system 600. The operation of the information transmission system 600 will be further described with reference to FIG.

Before the communication between the information transmission system 600 and the other communication device is established, the information transmission device 110 sets the master unit mode and the slave unit mode according to the switching principle described in connection with the second embodiment. The operation mode is switched alternately between. Like the information transmitting device 110, the information transmitting device 120 also alternately switches the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode according to the switching principle described in connection with the second embodiment. While the information transmitting device 110 is operating in the master unit mode, the information transmitting device 120 operates in the slave unit mode. While the information transmitting device 110 operates in the slave unit mode, the information transmitting device 120 operates in the master unit mode.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary operation of the information transmission device 110. The operation of the information transmission device 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

(Step S205)
The switching unit 310 sets the operation mode of the information transmission device 110 to the master unit mode. The switching unit 310 generates a beacon signal. The beacon signal is output from the communication unit 410. After that, step S210 is executed.

(Step S210)
The timer 510 sets the timer count to "0". After that, step S215 is executed.

(Step S215)
The timer 510 increases the timer count. After that, step S220 is executed.

(Step S220)
The switching unit 310 determines whether or not there is a communication device that responds to the beacon signal. If there is a communication device that responds to the beacon signal, the switching unit 310 performs a process for establishing communication with the communication device. If there is no communication device that responds to the beacon signal, step S225 is executed.

(Step S225)
The switching unit 310 refers to the timer count. If the value of the timer count exceeds "T1", step S230 is executed. In other cases, step S220 is executed.

(Step S230)
The switching unit 310 sets the operation mode of the information transmission device 110 to the slave unit mode, and waits for a beacon signal from another communication device. After the operation mode is set to the slave unit mode, step S235 is executed.

(Step S235)
The timer 510 sets the timer count to "0". After that, step S240 is executed.

(Step S240)
The timer 510 increases the timer count. After that, step S245 is executed.

(Step S245)
The switching unit 310 determines whether or not the beacon signal has been received from the communication device. If there is a communication device that outputs a beacon signal, the switching unit 310 performs a process for establishing communication with the communication device. If there is no communication device that outputs the beacon signal, step S250 is executed.

(Step S250)
The switching unit 310 refers to the timer count. If the value of the timer count exceeds "T2", step S255 is executed. In other cases, step S245 is executed.

(Step S255)
The switching unit 310 receives the first position information from the position information generation device PIG. In addition, the switching unit 310 reads the second position information from the storage unit 210. When the switching unit 310 acquires the first position information and the second position information, step S260 is executed.

(Step S260)
The switching unit 310 performs a difference calculation using the first position information (CP) indicating the position of the railway vehicle and the second position information (AP) indicating the position at the access point, and performs a difference calculation between the railway vehicle and the access point. Calculate the distance. If the calculated distance exceeds the distance threshold, step S205 is executed. If the calculated distance is less than or equal to the distance threshold, step S265 is executed.

(Step S265)
The switching unit 310 generates a request signal requesting that the operation mode be set to the slave unit mode. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit 410. The communication unit 420 of the information transmission device 120 receives the request signal transmitted from the communication unit 410 of the information transmission device 110. The switching unit 320 of the information transmission device 120 sets the operation mode to the slave unit mode in response to the request signal.

While the information transmitting device 110 executes the processing routine from step S205 to step S225, the information transmitting device 120 executes the processing from step S230 to step S265. While the information transmitting device 110 executes the processing routine from step S230 to step S265, the information transmitting device 120 executes the processing routine from step S205 to step S225. As a result, the information transmission system 600 can operate under the switching pattern described with reference to FIG.

The control principles described in relation to the various embodiments described above are applicable to various information transmitters. Some of the various features described in connection with one of the various embodiments described above may be applied to the information transmitting apparatus described in connection with the other other embodiment.

The exemplary transmission technique described in connection with the various embodiments described above primarily comprises the following features:

The information transmitting device according to one aspect of the above-described embodiment transmits state information indicating the state of the railway vehicle. The information transmission device transmits the state information to the storage unit that stores the state information and the slave communication device that receives the beacon signal in the master unit mode in which the beacon signal indicating the existence of the information transmission device is output. Moreover, in the slave unit mode in which another beacon signal indicating the existence of the parent communication device output from the parent communication device provided separately from the information transmission device is received, the state is described to the parent communication device. It includes a communication unit for transmitting information and a switching unit for switching an operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode.

According to the above configuration, the information transmitting device can switch the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode. The information transmitting device can transmit the state information to the child communication device that can receive the beacon signal under the master unit mode. The information transmitting device can transmit the state information to the parent communication device that outputs the beacon signal in the slave unit mode. Therefore, the worker can acquire the state information both in the communication environment using the child communication device that receives the beacon signal and in the communication environment using the parent communication device that outputs the beacon signal. The beacon signal is a signal transmitted from an access point of a wireless LAN (local area network) that transmits / receives data using wireless communication, and is used by being received by a computer device equipped with a wireless LAN adapter. It is a clue to detect a possible wireless LAN network.

With respect to the above configuration, when the communication unit starts communication with the child communication device in the master unit mode, the switching unit performs the parent until communication between the communication unit and the child communication device is interrupted. The machine mode may be maintained. When the communication unit starts communication with the parent communication device in the slave unit mode, the switching unit maintains the slave unit mode until communication between the communication unit and the parent communication device is interrupted. You may.

According to the above configuration, in each of the master unit mode and the slave unit mode, the operator can quickly acquire the status information from the information transmitting device by one communication.

With respect to the above configuration, the switching unit may alternately switch the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode.

According to the above configuration, the switching unit alternately switches the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode, so that the information transmission device sets the device existing in the state information transmission range to the child communication device and the slave unit mode. It can be selected from the parent communication device. The information transmitting device operating in the master unit mode can establish communication with the child communication device existing in the transmission range of the state information and transmit the state information to the child communication device. The information transmitting device operating in the slave unit mode can establish communication with the parent communication device existing in the transmission range of the state information and transmit the state information to the parent communication device.

With respect to the above configuration, the parent communication device may be installed in a fixed manner. The child communication device may be a terminal carried by an operator. The period in which the operation mode is set to the master unit mode may be longer than the period in which the operation mode is set to the slave unit mode.

According to the above configuration, the information transmission device stays near the fixedly installed master communication device for a predetermined time or longer, so that the operation mode is set to the master unit mode for a period of time when the operation mode is the slave unit. Even if the period is longer than the period set in the mode, the status information can be appropriately transmitted to the parent communication device after waiting for the switching to the slave unit mode. On the other hand, the period in which the operation mode is set to the slave unit mode is shorter than the period in which the operation mode is set to the master unit mode, so that the worker can carry the status information to the terminal (child) carried by the worker. It can be received quickly through the communication device).

With respect to the above configuration, the switching unit may refer to the first position information regarding the position of the railroad vehicle and switch the operation mode to one of the master unit mode and the slave unit mode.

According to the above configuration, the switching unit refers to the first position information regarding the position of the railway vehicle and switches the operation mode to either the master unit mode or the slave unit mode. Therefore, the information transmitting device is the railway vehicle. Status information can be transmitted under an operation mode suitable for the surrounding environment.

With respect to the above configuration, the storage unit may store second position information regarding the position of the parent communication device. When the distance between the position of the railroad vehicle and the position of the parent communication device becomes equal to or less than the distance threshold value, the switching unit may switch the operation mode to the slave unit mode.

With respect to the above configuration, when the parent communication device is in the state information transmission range, the information transmission device can operate in the slave unit mode and transmit the state information to the parent communication device.

The information transmission system according to another aspect of the above-described embodiment is the above-mentioned information transmission device and another information transmission device that transmits the state of another railway vehicle forming a train together with the railway vehicle. And. While the information transmitting device operates in the master unit mode, the other information transmitting device operates in the slave unit mode. While the information transmitting device is operating in the slave unit mode, the other information transmitting device operates in the master unit mode. When one of the two information transmission devices receives the beacon signal output from the parent communication device under the slave unit mode, the one of the two information transmission devices transmits the two information. A request signal requesting that the operation mode be switched to the slave unit mode is transmitted to the other of the devices. The operation mode of the other of the two information transmission devices is switched to the slave unit mode in response to the request signal.

According to the above configuration, one of the two information transmission devices operates in the slave unit mode. Therefore, one of the two information transmitting devices can receive the beacon signal from the parent communication device. After that, the other of the two information transmission devices switches the operation mode to the slave unit mode in response to the request signal from the information transmission device that has received the beacon signal from the parent communication device, so that both of the two information transmission devices are used. Can communicate with the parent communication device.

The principles of the above-described embodiments are suitably used in various technical fields that require state information indicating the state of a railroad vehicle.

Claims (7)

An information transmission device that transmits status information indicating the status of a railroad vehicle.
A storage unit that stores the state information and
In the master unit mode for transmitting a beacon signal indicating the existence of the information transmission device, a first communication unit that transmits the state information to the child communication device after transmitting the beacon signal to the child communication device.
In handset mode receiving other another beacon signal indicating the presence of the parent communication device that is output from the parent communication device provided different, the previous SL information transmitting apparatus, the beacon from the master communication device A second communication unit that transmits the state information to the parent communication device after receiving the signal, and
A switching unit for switching an operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode is provided.
Information transmitter. When the communication unit starts communication with the child communication device in the master unit mode, the switching unit maintains the master unit mode until communication between the communication unit and the child communication device is interrupted. ,
When the communication unit starts communication with the parent communication device in the slave unit mode, the switching unit maintains the slave unit mode until communication between the communication unit and the parent communication device is interrupted. The information transmitting device according to claim 1. The information transmission device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching unit alternately switches the operation mode between the master unit mode and the slave unit mode with the passage of time. The information transmitting device according to claim 3, wherein the period in which the operation mode is set to the master unit mode is longer than the period in which the operation mode is set to the slave unit mode. The information transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit refers to the first position information regarding the position of the railway vehicle, and switches the operation mode to one of the master unit mode and the slave unit mode. The storage unit stores second position information regarding the position of the parent communication device.
The switching unit refers to the second position information and compares the distance between the position of the railroad vehicle and the position of the parent communication device with the distance threshold value.
The information transmission device according to claim 5, wherein when the distance becomes equal to or less than a distance threshold value, the switching unit switches the operation mode to the slave unit mode. The information transmitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and
It comprises another information transmitting device, which transmits the state of another railway vehicle forming a train together with the railway vehicle.
While the information transmitting device is operating in the master unit mode, the other information transmitting device is operating in the slave unit mode.
While the information transmitting device is operating in the slave unit mode, the other information transmitting device is operating in the master unit mode.
When one of the two information transmission devices receives the beacon signal output from the parent communication device under the slave unit mode, the one of the two information transmission devices transmits the two information. A request signal requesting that the operation mode be switched to the slave unit mode is transmitted to the other of the devices.
An information transmission system in which the operation mode of the other of the two information transmission devices is switched to the slave unit mode in response to the request signal.

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