Method for locking and / or unlocking a track section in rail-bound traffic

Abstract

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a method for blocking and / or unblocking track sections in which human errors in the context of incorrect manipulations can be reliably excluded.This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for blocking and / or unblocking a track section in rail-bound traffic, which method comprises the following method steps: a) by means of an application executed on a mobile device, a blocking of a track and / or a switch is requested in a control system used to control rail-bound traffic; b) with this request, a secret key is generated, which is exchanged between the mobile device and the control system; c) every transaction that now takes place between a security chief and a train dispatcher operating the control system is always secured in the background by the mobile device and the control technology using cryptological methods based on the secret key, and is mutually controlled with regard to the desired blocking and / or unblocking.This ensures that only persons / authorities with the secret key can perform locking and / or unlocking actions that affect only the track section and / or switch identified by this key. This reliably prevents inadvertent access to the locked elements by third parties.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for blocking and / or unlocking a track section and / or a switch in rail-bound traffic.

[0002] In real rail traffic, individual sections and / or individual or multiple switches of the railway network must often be temporarily closed for work on the track, such as maintenance work, installation work, etc.

[0003] The current process requires that a person responsible for the safety of track work (the safety chief) requests the closure of one or more tracks, switches, etc., to secure a construction site from a dispatcher in the railway control center via radio or mobile phone, and the request is recorded. The dispatcher closes the tracks, switches, etc. and confirms the effectiveness of the requested closure to the safety chief, and the record is recorded. After the work is completed, the safety chief reports the tracks as being open to traffic to the dispatcher, and the record is recorded. The dispatcher then lifts the closure of the accessible tracks.

[0004] Although this process is fundamentally very error-prone, human error can result in incorrect entry of a track lock or removal of track locks at an inopportune time, thus posing a considerable risk to the people working on the track and their equipment.

[0005] The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method for blocking and / or unblocking track sections in which human errors caused by incorrect manipulations can be reliably excluded.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for blocking and / or unblocking a track section in rail-bound traffic, which comprises the following method steps: a) using an application running on a mobile device, a control system used to control rail traffic is used to request the blocking of a track and / or a switch; b) with this request, a secret key is generated which is exchanged between the mobile device and the control system; c) every transaction that now takes place between a security chief and a train dispatcher operating the control system is always secured in the background by the mobile device and the control technology using cryptological procedures based on the secret key and is mutually controlled with regard to the desired blocking and / or unlocking.

[0007] This ensures that only persons / authorities with the secret key can perform locking and / or unlocking actions that affect only the track section and / or switch identified by this key. This reliably prevents inadvertent access to the locked elements by third parties.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the secret key can be generated during the planning of a construction site and the resulting closure of the affected track section and / or the affected switch(es).

[0009] It is useful to enable the following transactions: a) The head of safety requests the dispatcher to block an element, such as a track section, switch, etc.; b) the control system automatically confirms the element is blocked to the head of safety; c) the head of safety queries the control system directly about the blocking status of the element; d) the head of safety automatically reports the element's blocking status back to the head of safety without the involvement of the dispatcher; e) the head of safety requests the dispatcher to unblock the element; and f) after the dispatcher has unblocked the element, the control system reports back an acknowledgment of the unblocking to the head of safety.

[0010] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that when a request for blocking is made, a reason for the blocking is also stated.

[0011] The flexibility of the procedure can also be increased if the secret key can be disclosed to other people or their mobile devices.

[0012] In order to enable several people to participate in the process, a further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for a central IT-based construction site management system, preferably within the control system, in which all participants must log in, ensuring that at any one time only one logged-in employee has the necessary authorizations to carry out actions to lock and unlock.

[0013] Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention can be found in the remaining subclaims.

[0014] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The figure shows a schematic view of the chronological sequence of the method for blocking and unblocking track sections.

[0015] According to the present invention, the process for blocking and unblocking a track section is now automated and secured using cryptological methods to ensure that the blocking is not accidentally lifted or incorrectly displayed due to falsification of the communication.

[0016] The process can essentially be described as follows: The security chief requests the closure of the tracks, switches, etc., on a mobile device. This request first generates a secret key, which is then exchanged between the mobile device and the railway control system. This key generation could also occur during the construction site planning phase. Every transaction that now takes place between the security chief and the train dispatcher is always secured and mutually controlled in the background by the mobile device and the control system using cryptographic procedures based on the secret key.

[0017] The following transactions are possible: Request blocking of element [x] (Head of Safety → Dispatcher) Confirm blocking of element [x] (Control system → Head of Safety) (automatically by the control system, without involvement of the dispatcher) Query the status of blocking of element [x] (Head of Safety → Control system) Report back the status of blocking of element [x] (Control system → Head of Safety; automatically by the control system, without involvement of the dispatcher) Cancel blocking of element [x] (Head of Safety → Dispatcher)

[0018] Optionally, a reason for the blocking could also be included with the messages. This would allow multiple blockings to be managed on the same element and ensure that a blocking can only be lifted once all requests for the blocking have been revoked. This reason, along with the blocking name, can be managed both on the mobile device and in the control system, along with the secret key, so that a relationship can be established between these three variables.

[0019] The secret key may also need to be shared with other employees or their mobile devices so that they can manage closures, for example, during extended construction work. This can be done, for example, via a central IT-based construction site management system, to which all participants can log in. This also ensures, for example, that only one employee has the necessary authorization at a time.

[0020] Cryptographic and other methods can be used to ensure that the lock states are transmitted to the mobile device and displayed there without tampering. The attached figure illustrates the individual possible process steps and the corresponding use of the secret key.

Claims

1. Method for blocking and / or unblocking a section of track in rail-based traffic, which comprises the following method steps: a) using an application running on a mobile device, a blocking of a track and / or a switch is requested in a control system used to control rail-based traffic; b) with this request, a secret key is generated which is exchanged between the mobile device and the control system; c) every transaction that now takes place between a head of security and a train dispatcher operating the control system is always secured in the background by the mobile device and the control technology using cryptological procedures based on the secret key and is mutually controlled with regard to the desired blocking and / or unblocking.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in thatThe secret key can be generated during the planning of a construction site and the resulting closure of the affected track section and / or switch.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatThe following transactions are possible: a) the head of safety requests the dispatcher to block an element, such as a track section, switch, etc.; b) the control system automatically confirms the element is blocked to the head of safety; c) the head of safety queries the control system directly about the blocking status of the element; d) the head of safety automatically reports the element's blocking status back to the head of safety without the involvement of the dispatcher; e) the head of safety requests the dispatcher to unblock the element; and f) after the dispatcher has unblocked the element, the control system reports back an acknowledgment of the unblocking to the head of safety.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that When requesting a block, a reason for the block is given.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the secret key is disclosed to other people or their mobile devices.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that a central IT-based construction site management system is provided, preferably within the framework of the control system, in which all participants must log in, ensuring that only one logged-in employee at a time has the necessary authorizations to carry out actions to lock and unlock.

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