Vehicle-mounted communication system

Abstract

The invention relates to an in-vehicle communication system comprising a set of communication devices configured to communicate with each other via an internal wireless network. The device includes an acquisition card (110) configured to interface with a vehicle subsystem; a network card (120) configured to interface with the internal wireless network; and a control unit (140) configured to retrieve data from the subsystem by means of the acquisition card (110); and transmit the data to one or more other communication devices via the internal wireless network by means of the network card (120) so that said data is accessible to each of the other communication devices. The invention also relates to a method for remotely diagnosing a vehicle equipped with such a communication system. (See Fig. 2 for an abstract.)

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle-mounted communication system. Background of the invention.

[0001] The present presentation relates to a communication system embedded in a vehicle, in particular in the railway field.

[0002] Railway vehicles generally comprise a set of subsystems with varying architectures and connectivity capabilities that do not systematically communicate with each other. These subsystems may include, for example, doors, toilets, air conditioning, and brakes.

[0003] In particular, some vehicle fleets include trains that lack good connectivity capabilities and therefore do not allow access to subsystem data without physically connecting to those subsystems. For example, although some trains have a wired network (such as CAN, MVB, FIP, Ethernet, RS485, LON, Profinet, etc.) that connects certain subsystems, this network often has insufficient bandwidth and / or does not connect all of the train's subsystems or only transmits a portion of the relevant subsystem information. The data generated by the subsystems often remains unused and is frequently volatile (not stored).

[0004] In this context, one way to improve the communication capabilities of a railway vehicle between subsystems is generally to create a high-speed wired network within the train (for example, Ethernet). However, this generates very high costs because it is necessary to completely replace the hardware layer (control electronics) and the software layer of each subsystem, which entails a need to revalidate the entire train's functionality. Furthermore, certain train-specific problems limit the applicability of such a solution; for example, the difficulty of transmitting a signal between cars because this requires replacing the couplers (the system enabling the electrical connection between two adjacent cars).

[0005] Solutions have been proposed to resolve this connectivity problem of railway vehicle subsystems.

[0006] For example, it has been proposed to integrate a LoRa (Long Range) type wireless communication system into trains, see [REF 1]. This system makes it possible to create a wireless network in the train to which the various subsystems are connected. However, this system is designed so that the volume of information transmitted is very limited and often consists of transmitting values discrete (of the individual sensor reading type). Moreover, state-of-the-art solutions do not allow access to all the information on board the vehicle without going through a direct connection, or via a cloud architecture, to a concentrator system that aggregates said information and transmits it to the cloud.

[0007] There is therefore a need to remedy the problems of the state of the art. References

[0008] [REF 1] JUTON, Anthony. Very low power, long range, low bandwidth networks, the example of LoRaWAN. 3EI Review, 2019. Object and summary of the invention

[0009] The present exposition aims to remedy at least some of these drawbacks.

[0010] To this end, the present description relates to a communication system embedded in a vehicle comprising a set of communication devices configured to communicate with each other by means of a wireless network internal to the vehicle, each device comprising: - an acquisition card configured to interface with a subsystem of the vehicle; - a network card configured to interface with the internal wireless network; and - a control unit configured for: - to collect data from the subsystem using the acquisition card; and - to transmit the data from the subsystem to the other communication devices via the internal wireless network so that said data is accessible to each of the other communication devices.

[0011] With the present invention, it is thus possible to create a wireless network inside a vehicle to enable communication between different vehicle subsystems via communication devices interfaced with the subsystems. In particular, it is possible to access data from each subsystem by any operator connected to one of the devices forming part of the communication system. Data access is therefore possible at several points within the vehicle covered by the internal wireless network.

[0012] This communication system is particularly advantageous in the field of railway vehicles, which generally have subsystems (brakes, air conditioning, doors, restrooms) with limited or incompatible communication capabilities. In particular, trains may have internal wired networks with very low bandwidth and / or networks accessible only from a specific network entry point. Some trains even have several wired sub-networks of different types, the intercommunication of which is sometimes difficult to achieve.

[0013] Moreover, with the present solution, it is possible to make the subsystems communicate with each other without changing their characteristics, the simple interfacing of a communication device enabling communication.

[0014] Thus, the present solution is transparent in terms of integration because it requires no intrinsic modification of the subsystems and the vehicle. It is sufficient to add the communication devices to the intrinsic structure of the vehicle.

[0015] Furthermore, the system is capable of integrating new functionalities. For example, it is possible to add sensors dedicated to measuring specific parameters, in addition to the train's native subsystems. Each of these sensors can be connected to the communication system described herein by one of the system's communication devices, which is equipped with a suitable acquisition card (of the DAIO type). Thus, the data generated by such sensors connected to the communication system will be accessible to an operator connected to the vehicle's internal network via a communication device in the same way that the train's subsystems are accessible to this operator.

[0016] According to some examples, the communication devices are linked together by the internal wireless network according to a network architecture whose topology is determined by the ability to ensure a transfer of data between a requesting communication device which sends a request for data relating to a target subsystem and a target communication device which is connected to said target subsystem.

[0017] For example, an operator wishing to obtain data from a target subsystem can connect to a requesting communication device, which will request the data from the target communication device connected to the target subsystem. During such an operation, the control unit of the requesting communication device will select and use the most suitable network topology (architecture) to transfer the data from the target communication device to the requesting communication device via the internal wireless network.

[0018] With the present invention, it is thus possible to use the most appropriate network architecture to retrieve data from a communication device connected to a target subsystem, by means of a "gateway" communication device to which a user connects directly. Thus, some intermediate communication devices can be used to relay the data transfer, while other communication devices can be bypassed. This adaptability allows, in particular, for maintaining data transmission when one of the communication devices is inaccessible or unavailable.

[0019] By way of example, the network of communication devices can adopt linear, star, chain, and / or mesh topologies. The network can also adopt a combination of several of these different topologies.

[0020] According to some examples, each communication device is configured to be addressable by an operator via a short-range wireless network different from the internal wireless network, so that the operator can access the data collected by the communication device and the data collected by any other communication device connected to the internal wireless network.

[0021] In this configuration, the communication devices may include a short-range wireless network card designed to allow an operator near the device to connect to it and retrieve data from subsystems connected to the communication system. The communication device to which the user connects can then play the aforementioned role of "gateway," transmitting the information that has been retrieved from one or more other communication devices.

[0022] In this way, the data of any subsystem to which a communications device is connected are accessible from any other communication device that is part of the on-board communication system, and an operator can connect via a short-range link to any of the devices (advantageously the closest one) to access all the information. Furthermore, this is advantageously possible without requiring the intermediary of a network external to the vehicle, thus enabling the use of this system even in areas not covered by an external network and / or in which the external network does not allow transmission at a sufficient speed.

[0023] According to some examples, the network card is a first network card, and at least one of the communication devices is a relay communication device further comprising: - a second network card configured to interface with a wireless network external to the vehicle, in which the control unit is configured to transmit data from one or more subsystems to a control center external to the vehicle via the external wireless network. This external wireless network allows, for example, establishing a vehicle-to-ground link to transmit data remotely.

[0024] According to some examples, the second network card is an LTE-type network card enabling a vehicle-to-ground link to be established via an LTE-type cellular network. This is particularly advantageous when the vehicle is moving rapidly on the railway network.

[0025] In this way, it is possible to collect data from any subsystem of the vehicle from a ground control center via one or more connection devices that can connect to the external network via the second network card.

[0026] In some examples, the second network card is of the WiFi or LoRa type, which advantageously allows a vehicle-to-ground link to be created in a storage area or maintenance workshop.

[0027] Advantageously, when the communication system includes several relay communication devices, it has greater robustness. In particular, if one of the relay communication devices fails, it is still possible to use another relay communication device to maintain the vehicle-to-ground communication link and thus transmit data to the ground operator via the external wireless network.

[0028] According to some examples, the relay communication device is configured to: - receive control signals from the external wireless network by means of the second network card; - transmit, via the internal wireless network, the control signals to at least one other communication device from among all the communication devices by means of the first network card of said at least one other communication device, and - to command a change in the operating state of the subsystem to which said at least one other communication device is connected by means of said control signals.

[0029] In this description, a change in the operating state of a subsystem includes, for example, a change in one or more operating parameters. In particular, this may include a change in parameter value in the application layer of the subsystem.

[0030] According to some examples, the acquisition card comprises at least one of the following: - an acquisition card configured to acquire and / or transmit data from a wired network of the CAN, MVB, FIP, Ethernet, LON, Profinet, RS485, and / or RS232 type; and - an acquisition card configured to acquire analog or digital signals from a sensor.

[0031] It is thus possible to easily connect one or more sensors to the communication system. The sensors can, for example, be used to obtain vehicle parameters that are not measured or are not accessible with the vehicle's initial architecture. For example, such sensors could include temperature sensors and carbon dioxide level sensors.

[0032] According to some examples, the carrier frequency of the internal wireless network is included in a useful frequency band comprising only frequencies below 1 GHz.

[0033] This frequency is particularly advantageous because it is a frequency that allows a range greater than one kilometer while being compatible with a good level of data rate.

[0034] According to some examples, communication devices are configured to exchange information using a protocol comprising: - a scan of different channels within the useful frequency band; and - the transmission of information through an optimal channel selected from among the different scanned channels, the optimal channel being the channel with the highest Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI).

[0035] This advantageously maximizes the data transmission rate via the vehicle's internal wireless network. This transmission method allows, among other things, for data to be sent over the available channel at the most opportune time.

[0036] This presentation also relates to a method for remotely diagnosing a vehicle equipped with a communication system as described herein, comprising: - the sending of a request signal from an operator remotely from the vehicle to one of the communication devices of the vehicle's communication system; - the transmission of data from a subsystem of the vehicle to which the device is connected to the remote operator in response to the request; and - remote data analysis to diagnose the vehicle's operating status.

[0037] This method makes it possible to remotely diagnose a vehicle to determine, for example, whether intervention is necessary to resolve a malfunction in a subsystem. This eliminates the need for systematic physical intervention in the vehicle or on a specific subsystem. This method also allows for monitoring a precise system parameter to identify the root cause of degraded and / or non-nominal operation more accurately. Brief description of the drawings

[0038] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: • [Fig.1] The [Fig.1] is a schematic view of an example of a communication device according to the present description; • [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic view of an example of an on-board communication system in a vehicle according to this description; • [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of examples of topologies formed by communication devices according to the present description. Detailed description of the invention

[0039] Fig. 1 represents an example of a communication device 100 according to this description connected to a subsystem 200 of a vehicle.

[0040] The communication device comprises several electronic cards 110, 120, 130 connected to a motherboard 140 acting as the control unit of the device.

[0041] The communication device includes, in particular, an acquisition card 110 configured to interface with a vehicle subsystem 200. Depending on the specific characteristics of the target subsystem, the acquisition card may, for example, be a card with a connection capability to a wired network such as Ethernet, CAN, MVB, RS485, or RS232. Alternatively, the acquisition card may be a "DAIO" type card (Digital Input / Output) which allows interfacing with one or more analog and / or digital sensors and controlling, for example, additional equipment. This card enables the acquisition of discrete analog or digital signals (particularly from sensors). This card can also send signals to the subsystem in order, for example, to control the subsystem.

[0042] The communication device also includes a first network card 120 configured to interface with an internal wireless network in the vehicle, in particular a sub-GHz network. This sub-GHz network has a carrier frequency within a frequency band comprising only frequencies below 1 GHz. The first network card 120 is used by the device to transmit data extracted from the subsystems to the internal wireless network.

[0043] The communication device also includes a second network card 130 configured to interface with a wireless network external to the vehicle. This second network card thus has connectivity capabilities for a cellular (LTE) or Wi-Fi network in order to communicate remotely with elements or operators outside the vehicle. In particular, this second electronic card 130 enables communication between a vehicle equipped with this communication system and a ground control center, via a cloud-based network architecture.

[0044] For the sake of simplicity, only certain useful elements are shown in [Fig. 1]. Thus, the devices may also include other elements necessary for the operation of an electronic module having the functionalities described in this description, such as a power supply board or additional acquisition boards.

[0045] Figure 2 shows an example of a communication system 20 according to the present description, installed in a vehicle 20. By way of illustration, the vehicle 20 shown is an example of a railway vehicle (train) comprising three cars. Each car includes several subsystems: an air conditioning system 201, a door control system 202, and a brake control system 203. According to a classic train architecture, the subsystems are interconnected via a "skeleton" network 22 through which they communicate with a central computer 21 on the train.

[0046] Furthermore, the vehicle is equipped with a communication system as described herein, comprising three communication devices 101, 102, 103 located in the three cars. Each device is connected to a subsystem of a car (in this case, for example, the door management system 202) via a wired connection 131. Thus, each communication device can retrieve data from the door management system of the car in which it is located.

[0047] Furthermore, in the general case, each communication device can send signals, such as control signals, to the subsystem to which it is connected. This is reserved for non-safety-related vehicle systems such as, for example, climate control systems 201.

[0048] The configurations described are generalizable to any other configuration, in particular configurations in which the communication devices are connected to subsystems of a different nature, and configurations in which several communication devices are located in the same car. However, as described above, the sending of control signals to the subsystems is reserved for non-safety subsystems.

[0049] The data, for example data relating to the operating status of a subsystem, can then be transmitted to one or more other communication devices or to one or more operators (or agents) external to the vehicle, as described below.

[0050] The communication devices 101, 102, 103 communicate with each other via an internal wireless network 150 in the vehicle 20. In this way, the communication devices 101, 102, 103 can exchange data taken from the subsystems (here the door management systems 202) to which they are connected.

[0051] In practice, it is possible to access the data collected by the device 103 located at the rear of vehicle 20 by connecting to the device 101 located at the front of the vehicle, thanks to the interconnection of the devices in the network, for example according to a linear topology via the device 102 acting as a relay (this is the topology illustrated schematically using the dotted lines in [Fig.2]).

[0052] Furthermore, if device 102 ceases to function or is unavailable for any other reason, it is still possible to access the tail data from the head, as the network topology will be dynamically changed by synergy between the control units of devices 101, 102, and 103 to enable this functionality. In particular, the network topology can be changed from a linear topology to a star topology in which the head device 101 is directly connected to the tail device 103.

[0053] In the example of [Fig.2], the head device is a “relay” device equipped with a functionality for connecting to an external wireless network of the cellular (LTE) type 30 type.

[0054] This allows the transmission of data from one or more subsystems to an agent connected to the LTE 30 network.

[0055] The data transmitted to the LTE network 30 may originate from the subsystem to which said head device 101 is connected but also, where applicable, from one or more of the subsystems connected to the other devices 102, 103 of the communication system.

[0056] The agent to which the data is transmitted can be a ground control center, which is therefore external to the vehicle. Thus, the communication system described herein allows remote access to data from any subsystem of the vehicle.

[0057] Furthermore, another configuration is possible when considering the case where an operator located at the rear of the train in the last car wishes to access a subsystem of the front car to which a communication device is connected. Although the operator cannot connect to the on-board computer 21 that centralizes information from all the subsystems, it is possible, using the communication system described herein, to connect to the nearest communication device via a short-range network (such as Bluetooth) in order to retrieve the desired data, with communication between different devices being carried out via the internal wireless network.

[0058] The communication system configuration shown in [Fig. 2] is purely illustrative. A specific configuration may be chosen according to the characteristics of the vehicle in question and the desired functionalities with regard to the subsystems present in the vehicle.

[0059] Fig. 3 illustrates examples of topology that the network formed by the communication devices within a communication system can adopt according to the present description.

[0060] The network formed by the communication devices can in particular adopt star-type topologies 310, linear-type topologies 320, and / or topologies of the 330 mesh type. In [Fig. 3], the black circles represent relay communication devices capable of transmitting information to agents not connected to the internal wireless network, i.e., specifically agents in a ground control center. The gray circles represent communication devices that are not relay type or that have the capability but are not used as such at a predetermined time. The rods connecting the circles represent direct connection links between communication devices via the vehicle's internal wireless network. As described previously, the communication system as described here can dynamically change the network configuration through which the communication devices are connected. In particular, the communication system can modify a linear topology architecture to become a mesh or other topology architecture.In the event of a failure of one of the communication devices (for example due to a faulty power supply), any data that initially passed through that communication device will be rerouted to another communication device (the one that allows the best data transmission), thus changing the topology of the internal wireless network.

[0061] Although the present description has been made with reference to a specific embodiment, it is evident that various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Furthermore, individual features of the various embodiments mentioned can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising: - a set of communication devices (100) configured to communicate with each other by means of an internal wireless network in the vehicle, each device comprising: - an acquisition card (110) configured to interface with a subsystem (200) of the vehicle; - a network card (120) configured to interface with the internal wireless network; and - a control unit (140) configured to: - retrieve data from the subsystem by means of the acquisition card (110); and - transmit the data from the subsystem to the other communication devices via the internal wireless network so that said data is accessible to each of the other communication devices.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the communication devices are interconnected by the internal wireless network according to a network architecture whose topology is determined by the ability to ensure data transfer between a requesting communication device that sends a data request relating to a target subsystem and a target communication device that is connected to said target subsystem.

3. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein each communication device is configured to be addressable by an operator via a short-range wireless network different from the internal wireless network, so that the operator can access the data collected by the communication device and the data collected by any other communication device connected to the internal wireless network.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the network card (102) is a first network card, and at least one of the communication devices is a relay communication device further comprising: - a second network card (103) configured to interface with a wireless network external to the vehicle, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to transmit data from one or more subsystems to an external control center via the external wireless network.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the second network card is an LTE type network card enabling the establishment of a vehicle-to-ground link via an LTE type cellular network.

6. System according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the relay communication device is configured to: - receive control signals from the external wireless network by means of the second network card; and - transmit, via the internal wireless network, the control signals to at least one other communication device from among the set of communication devices by means of the first network card of said at least one other communication device, - control a change in the operating state of the subsystem to which said at least one other communication device is connected by means of said control signals.

7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the acquisition card comprises at least one of: - an acquisition card configured to acquire and / or transmit data from a wired network of type CAN, MVB, FIP, Ethernet, LON, Profinet, RS485, and / or RS232; and - an acquisition card configured to acquire analog or digital signals from a sensor.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the carrier frequency of the wireless network is included in a useful frequency band comprising only frequencies below 1 GHz.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the communication devices are configured to exchange information using a protocol comprising: - scanning different channels within the useful frequency band; and - transmitting information through an optimal channel selected from among the different scanned channels, the optimal channel being the channel having the highest Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI).

10. A method for remotely diagnosing a vehicle equipped with a communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: - sending a request signal from a remote operator of the vehicle to one of the communication devices of the vehicle's communication system; - transmitting data from a subsystem of the vehicle to which the device is connected to the remote operator in response to the request; and - analyzing the remote data in order to diagnose an operating state of the vehicle.

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