Control device for a mass transport device and method for exchanging data therein

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for a mass transit system comprising an on-board computer connected to first peripheral devices via first data lines for exchanging data with them via the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol. The present invention also relates to a method for exchanging data via the control device. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A well-known data transmission protocol for information and control tasks in a means of mass transit, such as a regular bus or passenger train, is the so-called Integrated Onboard Information System (IBIS). The associated hardware comprises a central onboard computer connected to a user interface and peripheral devices via a bus system or data lines. This is used to control or read peripheral devices such as a video camera, a rear display, a front display, a side display, a ticket validator, a passenger counter, and TFT monitors of the means of mass transit.

[0003] The IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol is defined in publications of the VDV (formerly VÖV). A basic definition for the IBIS protocol can be found in the "VDV-Schrift 300, Integrated On-Board Information System (IBIS) Main Work K1042, Edition 06 / 84".Definitions for the IBIS-IP protocol can be found in VDV publication No. 301-X. The IBIS and IBIS-IP protocols are common standards in passenger transport, so they will not be discussed further.

[0004] For example, the ticket printer and the on-board computer are wired directly to the vehicle and thus have a permanent connection to, among other things, the IBIS star point.

[0005] This is especially essential on public buses, for example, to query and supply data to exterior and interior displays, ticket validators, TFT monitors, passenger counting systems, etc. The data is transmitted via the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol.

[0006] DE 10 2015 000 497 A1 describes a method for collecting journey-related information from public transport passengers using a vehicle-mounted control unit and a mobile display and input unit. The vehicle is equipped with a control unit that is bidirectionally connected to the on-board computer via a vehicle-mounted communication bus and communicates wirelessly bidirectionally with a mobile display and input device.

[0007] DE 101 05 858 A1 describes a vehicle communication system having a first bus to which devices connected to the vehicle are connected and configured to exchange data with each other and / or with a controller connected to the first bus via the first bus. A second bus with a high transmission speed is proposed, to which a communication interface interacting with a wireless remote transmission device and a bus interface are connected, wherein the communication interface is configured to exchange data with a remote station via the remote transmission device, the bus interface is also connected to the first bus and configured to transmit data from the first bus to the second bus and vice versa, and the second bus is connected to a computer interface for connecting a computer.DE 10 2013 021 495 A1 describes a method for providing information and services to public transport passengers using smartphones and mobile handheld devices.

[0008] DE 10 2013 003953 A1 describes a method for controlling acoustic and / or optical information elements in vehicles.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a mass transit vehicle and a method for exchanging data that offer improved flexibility compared to the prior art. This object is achieved by the control device for a mass transit vehicle having the features of claim 1 and by the method for exchanging data in a mass transit vehicle having the features of claim 6. The present invention is further developed in the subclaims. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0010] The mass transit vehicle for which the control device according to the invention is intended typically has an on-board computer connected to first peripheral devices via first data lines for exchanging data with them using the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol. According to the present invention, the control device is configured to be connected to the on-board computer via a central data line, and the control device is configured to be connected to second peripheral devices via second data lines for exchanging data with them without the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol. This can be any protocol or no protocol at all.The control device has a radio interface adapted to establish a wireless radio connection with a wireless user interface such that data is exchanged between a wireless user interface and both the first and second peripheral devices via the control device. This achieves increased flexibility of the overall control system by allowing any second peripheral devices to be integrated into the control system via any protocol or no protocol at all. Furthermore, the wireless user interface enables access to the control of the first and second peripheral devices from any location.

[0011] According to the invention, the first peripheral devices comprise a video camera, a rear display, a front display, a side display, a ticket validator, a passenger counter and / or TFT monitors.

[0012] As the second peripheral devices, the present invention integrates a door signal transmitter, a path signal transmitter, a beacon signal transmitter, a tachometer signal transmitter, a car stop signal transmitter, a CAN bus, a LAN / Ethernet connection, an RS232 interface, a USB connection, a panic button, and / or an electro-acoustic system into the control system.

[0013] Preferably, the wireless interface uses a Bluetooth ®< or WLAN protocol, so that more preferably a smartphone or a laptop can be used as the wireless user interface.

[0014] The present invention is particularly suitable for a regular bus or passenger train, since corresponding peripheral devices are to be controlled there.

[0015] Preferably, the central data line and / or the first data lines are part of a bus system of the control system and can therefore be implemented into the existing control system with little effort.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a method for exchanging data in a mass transit vehicle via a control device, wherein the mass transit vehicle has an on-board computer connected to first peripheral devices via first data lines in order to exchange data with them via the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol. The inventive method has the following steps: connecting the control device to the on-board computer via a central data line; connecting the control device to second peripheral devices via second data lines in order to exchange data with them without the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol; establishing a wireless radio connection between the control device and a wireless user interface such that data is exchanged between the wireless user interface and both the first and the second peripheral devices via the control device.The method according to the invention also comprises the above-mentioned first and / or second specific peripheral devices.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a control system for a mass transit system, comprising the control device according to the invention and a central on-board computer connected to the control device via a central data line and configured to be connected to first peripheral devices via first data lines. Preferably, the control system further comprises a wireless user interface.

[0018] An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a control system according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 shows a system diagram of a control device in the embodiment of the control system according to the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 1shows an embodiment of a control system 1 according to the present invention. The control system 1 is to be implemented in a means of mass transit, such as a scheduled bus or passenger train. The control system 1 has an on-board computer 2, which is connected via first data lines 3 to first peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in order to exchange data with them via the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol. Furthermore, a control device 11, which is connected to the on-board computer 2 via a central data line 12, and a wireless user interface 13 are provided. The central data line 12 and the first data lines 3 can be part of an existing bus system of the control system 1.The control device 11 is connected to second peripheral devices 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 via second data lines 14 in order to exchange data with them without the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol (for example, using a protocol other than IBIS or IBIS-IP). The control device 11 has a radio interface adapted to establish a wireless radio connection with the wireless user interface 13 such that data exchange between the wireless user interface 13 and both the first peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and the second peripheral devices 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 takes place via the control device 11. This makes it possible for the user to have control access to the second peripheral devices 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 via the wireless user interface 13, which is connected to the control device 11 via the radio interface.Furthermore, it is possible for the user to have control access to the first peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 via the wireless user interface 13, which is connected via the radio interface to the control device 11, which in turn is connected via the central data line 12 to the on-board computer 2.

[0020] The first peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 include, for example, a video camera 4, a rear display 5, a front display 6, a side display 7, a ticket validator 8, a passenger counter 9 and / or TFT monitors 10.

[0021] The control device 11 makes it possible to integrate any peripheral devices, such as a door signal transmitter 18, a path signal transmitter, a beacon signal transmitter, a speedometer signal transmitter 17, a carriage stop signal transmitter, a CAN bus 16, a LAN / Ethernet connection, an RS232 interface, a USB connection, a panic button, and / or an electroacoustic system 19, such as an announcement device, into the control system 1 as the second peripheral devices 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Furthermore, additional connections 15 of the control device 11 can be freely configured depending on the application. Unlike the first peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, the second peripheral devices 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 do not require the data exchange to be implemented via the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol.

[0022] The radio interface uses the Bluetooth ®< or WLAN protocol, so that a standard smartphone or a standard laptop can be used as the wireless user interface 13.

[0023] The control device 11 and the control system 1 operate as follows. The control device 11 is first connected to the on-board computer 2 via a central data line 12 and to the second peripheral devices 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 via the second data lines 14 in order to be able to exchange data with them without the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol. Furthermore, a wireless radio connection is established between the control device 11 and the wireless user interface 13 such that data can be exchanged between the wireless user interface 13 and both the first peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and the second peripheral devices 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 via the control device 11.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a system diagram of the control device 11 in the embodiment of the control system 1 according to the present invention. The control device 11 internally has a microcontroller (CPU) including a rewritable random access memory (RAM). Additionally, a power supply connection, a timer (RTC), various configuration memories, and optical display means (LEDs) are provided in the control device 11.

[0025] The control device 11 has, among other things, the following interfaces: an IBIS interface for a connection to the IBIS on-board computer 2 a WLAN interface as the radio interface a Bluetooth ®< interface as the radio interface a LAN / Ethernet interface USB interfaces, which can be used, for example, for the maintenance or configuration of the control device 11 an RS232 interface a CAN bus (not included in the Fig. 2 shown).

[0026] The control device 11 has, among other things, the following outputs: an audio output that can be used, for example, for the electro-acoustic system, a loudspeaker or the announcement device a digital output an alarm output

[0027] The control device has, among other things, the following inputs for: Door signal transmitter a path signal transmitter a beacon signal transmitter a speedometer signal transmitter a car stop signal transmitter a digital speedometer input a button input to which, for example, a panic button can be connected LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0028] 1Control system 2On-board computer 3First data line 4-10First peripheral device 11Control device 12Central data line 13Wireless user interface 14Second data line 15-19Second peripheral device

Claims

1. Control device (11) for a mass transport means which has an on-board computer (2) connected via first data lines (3) to first peripheral devices (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) in order to exchange data therewith via the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol, characterized in that - the control device (11) is configured to be connected to the on-board computer (2) via a central data line (12); - the control device (11) is configured to be connected via second data lines (14) to second peripheral devices (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) in order to exchange data therewith without the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol; - the control device (11) has a radio interface (20) which is adapted to set up a wireless radio connection to a wireless user interface (13) in such a way that data exchange takes place between the wireless user interface (13) and both the first peripheral devices (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and the second peripheral devices (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) via the control device (11); - wherein the first peripheral devices (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) have a video camera (4), a rear display (5), a front display (6), a side display (7), a ticket validator (8), a passenger counter (9) and / or TFT monitors (10); and - wherein the second peripheral devices (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) have a door signal generator (18), a route signal generator, a beacon signal generator, a tachometer signal generator (17), a carriage stop signal generator, a CAN bus (16), a LAN / Ethernet connection, an RS232 interface, a USB connection, an emergency button, and / or an electroacoustic system (19).

2. Control device (11) for a mass transport means according to claim 1, wherein the radio interface uses a Bluetooth® or WLAN protocol.

3. Control device (11) for a mass transport means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless user interface (13) is a smartphone or a laptop.

4. Control device (11) for a mass transport means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mass transport means is a public bus or a passenger train.

5. Control device (11) for a mass transport means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central data line (12) and / or the first data lines (3) are part of a bus system of the mass transport means.

6. Method for exchanging data in a mass transport means via a control device (11), wherein the mass transport means has an on-board computer (2) connected via first data lines (3) to first peripheral devices (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) in order to exchange data therewith via the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol, characterized by - connecting the control device (11) to the on-board computer (2) via a central data line (12); - connecting the control device (11) via second data lines (14) to second peripheral devices (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) in order to exchange data therewith without the IBIS or IBIS-IP protocol; - setting up a wireless radio connection between the control device (11) and a wireless user interface (13) in such a way that data are exchanged between the wireless user interface (13) and both the first peripheral devices (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and the second peripheral devices (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) via the control device (11); - wherein the first peripheral devices (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) have a video camera (4), a rear display (5), a front display (6), a side display (7), a ticket validator (8), a passenger counter (9) and / or TFT monitors (10); and - wherein the second peripheral devices (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) have a door signal generator (18), a route signal generator, a beacon signal generator, a tachometer signal generator (17), a carriage stop signal generator, a CAN bus (16), a LAN / Ethernet connection, an RS232 interface, a USB connection, an emergency button, and / or an electroacoustic system (19).

7. Control system (1) for a mass transport means, with a control device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a central on-board computer (2) which is connected via a central data line (12) to the control device (11) and which is configured to be connected via first data lines (3) to first peripheral devices (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10).

8. Control system (1) according to claim 7, further having a wireless user interface (13).