Traffic control system

Abstract

To provide a traffic control system that can simulate traffic control relating to an arbitrary partial section, of all of railroad sections to be controlled.SOLUTION: A traffic control system 1 is equipped with: a first control operation logic part 10 that performs central control of train service in a predetermined section while making communication with station devices 53 through a first network N1, at normal times; a second control operation logic part 20 that operates in a stand-by mode, while making communication with the station devices through the first network; and an operation terminal 40 for training that can make communication with the second control operation logic part 20 through a second network by cloud connection communication. The second control operation logic part 20 can execute a training-support mode of simulating a process of the station devices 53 relating to a given training section of the predetermined section and the central control of train service in the training section. The operation terminal 40 for training can perform operation of instructing a diagram in the training section, in the training-support mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation management system.

Background Art

[0002] In the railway, when the train operation according to the planned timetable becomes difficult due to timetable disruption, in order to quickly recover, operation adjustment such as train suspension, order change, turning operation, arrival time and platform change is carried out. The operation adjustment is carried out based on the knowledge of the dispatcher, etc. However, in order to carry out quick and appropriate operation adjustment, it is necessary to accumulate experience in various situations and to be familiar with the operation of the operation management system. As training for dispatchers who perform operation adjustment, there is training using an operation management simulator that simulates the operation of the operation management system, but constructing a training device is costly.

[0003] By the way, in order to ensure high reliability, it is common for the operation management system to configure the control operation logic unit in a dual system. Therefore, it has been proposed to use the standby system that is not used during normal times for dispatcher training (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the operation management system of the centralized management method, the entire section is treated as one control target. Therefore, when applying the technology of Patent Document 1, the operation management simulation by the standby system becomes a simulation related to the entire section. It was difficult to perform the operation management simulation of an arbitrary partial section rather than the entire section. In addition, the training of the dispatcher using the standby system is carried out using the display desks and dispatching desks provided corresponding to the standby system, so the implementation location of the dispatcher's training is restricted to the installation location of the standby system.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a technology of an operation management system that enables operation management simulation for an arbitrary partial section among the entire section to be controlled.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] The first invention for solving the above problem is a first control operation logic unit that communicates with each station device via a first network in normal times to centrally manage the operation of trains in a predetermined section; a second control operation logic unit that communicates with each of the station devices via a second network, which is a network capable of communication by a predetermined cloud connection communication, and operates in a standby mode, in the normal times; comprising the first control operation logic unit is connected to the second network; the second control operation logic unit includes training support control means (for example, the training support control unit 22 in FIG. 3) for simulating the processing of the station devices related to a given training section among the predetermined section and the centralized management of the operation of trains in the training section, and can activate a training support mode for starting the simulation by the training support control means; a training operation terminal capable of instructing the train operation diagram in the training section in the training support mode is communicably provided to the second control operation logic unit via the second network by the cloud connection communication; an operation management system.

[0008] According to the first invention, it is possible to realize an operation management system that can perform operation management simulation for the entire line section of a control target and also for any partial section. That is, in normal times, the operation management system is configured as a standby dual system including a first control operation logic unit that centrally manages the operation of trains in a predetermined section that is the entire line section of the control target, and a second control operation logic unit that operates in a standby mode. And the second control operation logic unit can activate a training support mode that simulates the processing of station devices related to a given training section among the predetermined section and the centralized management of train operation in the training section.

[0009] Thereby, in normal times, the training support mode is activated in the second control operation logic unit operating in the standby mode to simulate the operation management in the training section, and training for train dispatching in a partial section among the predetermined section, such as the dispatcher performing an instruction operation of the train diagram in the training section using a training operation terminal, can be carried out. Also, since the training operation terminal used for training can communicate with the second control operation logic unit by cloud connection communication and its installation location is arbitrary, training can be carried out at any location.

[0010] The second invention is in the above-mentioned invention, The training support control means stores a training scenario including any one of the occurrence of an abnormality in the first control operation logic unit, the occurrence of an obstacle in train operation in the training section, and the occurrence of a communication abnormality in the first network, and the occurrence timing, and executes the simulation according to the training scenario. It is an operation management system.

[0011] According to the second invention, by predetermining a training scenario, training can be carried out when a desired abnormality occurs at a desired timing.

[0012] The third invention is in the above-mentioned invention, The training support control means receives a designation of the training section from the training operation terminal and executes the simulation in the received training section. It is an operation management system.

[0013] According to the third invention, since the training section can be arbitrarily designated from the training operation terminal, training in a desired training section becomes possible.

[0014] The fourth invention is in the above-mentioned invention, The second control operation logic unit activates the training support mode by causing the training support control means to start the simulation using the standby control data related to the standby mode until immediately before a given training start timing. It is an operation management system.

[0015] According to the fourth invention, by starting the simulation using the standby control data related to the standby mode until immediately before the training start timing, it becomes possible to perform training in accordance with the actual train operation.

[0016] The fifth invention is in the above-mentioned invention, The second control operation logic unit, is capable of activating the training support mode in parallel with the standby mode or by stopping the standby mode, and during the activation of the training support mode, communicates with the first control operation logic unit via the second network and determines that the centralized management by the first control operation logic unit is impossible. A determination means, and means for ending the training support mode when it is determined to be impossible by the determination means. has, is an operation management system.

[0017] ​According to the fifth invention, when the second control operation logic unit in the standby system cannot centrally manage train operations by the first control operation logic unit in the main system during the activation of the training support mode, it can quickly end the training support mode, return to the standby mode, and perform a system switch to switch to the main system that centrally manages train operations. Thereby, without impairing the reliability of the operation management system, the second control operation logic unit in the standby system can activate the training support mode and conduct training that effectively utilizes resources during normal times when the first control operation logic unit in the main system centrally manages train operations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the forms to which the present invention is applicable are not limited to the following embodiments. Also, in the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements.

[0020] [System Configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the operation management system 1 in the present embodiment. The operation management system 1 includes a first control operation logic unit 10, a second control operation logic unit 20, an operation terminal 30, and a training operation terminal 40. This operation management system 1 is a system in which the control operation logic units (the first control operation logic unit 10 and the second control operation logic unit 20) that centrally manage the operations of trains in a predetermined section, which is the entire section to be controlled, are configured in a standby dual system. That is, in normal times, the first control operation logic unit 10 is the main system that operates in the main system mode, communicates with each of the station devices 53, and centrally manages the operations of trains in the predetermined section, and the second control operation logic unit 20 is the standby system that operates in the standby mode.

[0021] Furthermore, the first control operation logic unit 10 may be configured as a dual system (system 1 and system 2). In this case, system 1 of the first control operation logic unit 10 operates as the main system, and systems 2 and the second control operation logic unit 20 operate as standby systems. When system 1 of the first control operation logic unit 10 fails, system 2 is switched to the main system. Furthermore, when both systems of the first control operation logic unit 10 fail, the second control operation logic unit 20 is switched to the main system.

[0022] The first control operation logic unit 10 is an on-premises logic unit installed in the equipment room of the command post. The first control operation logic unit 10 is connected to the first network N1 and can communicate with each station device 53 installed at each station in a predetermined section and the operation terminal 30 via the first network N1. Also, the first control operation logic unit 10 is connected to the second network N2 and can communicate with the second control operation logic unit 20 and the training operation terminal 40 via the second network N2.

[0023] The first network N1 is, for example, a dedicated transmission line (optical line or metal line) for the operation management system. The second network N2 is a network that can be connected by a predetermined cloud connection communication, for example, an Internet VPN (Virtual Private Network). The cloud connection communication here means communicating via the Internet. Note that both the first network N1 and the second network N2 may be configured as IP-VPN (Internet Protocol-Virtual Private Network), or both may be configured as Internet VPN.

[0024] The operation terminal 30 is installed at the command post corresponding to the first control operation logic unit 10 and is connected to the first network N1 and the second network N2. The operation terminal 30 has a function of displaying information (such as display information) related to the centralized management of the train operation by the first control operation logic unit 10, and a function of inputting the command operation (such as the operation of changing the train schedule) of the dispatcher to the first control operation logic unit 10. This operation terminal 30 is realized by a dedicated terminal device such as a command desk or a general-purpose terminal device such as a personal computer. In addition, the operation terminal 30 can communicate with the second control operation logic unit 20 via the second network N2. Note that a plurality of operation terminals 30 may be installed. In that case, command operations can be performed in parallel from any of the operation terminals 30.

[0025] The second control operation logic unit 20 is constructed in a cloud environment that can communicate through cloud connection communication via the second network N2. The cloud environment means an environment in which the second control operation logic unit 20 can be accessed from any location regardless of the location as long as the device can perform cloud connection communication. The second control operation logic unit 20 can communicate with the first control operation logic unit 10, the station device 53, the operation terminal 30, and the training operation terminal 40 via the second network N2, respectively.

[0026] The training operation terminal 40 is installed at an arbitrary location such as another command post, a station, the head office or a branch office of a railway operator. The training operation terminal 40 is connected to the second network N2 and can communicate with the first control operation logic unit 10 and the second control operation logic unit 20 via the second network N2. The training operation terminal 40 has the same functions as the operation terminal 30, and has a function of displaying information (such as display information) related to the centralized management of train operation by the first control operation logic unit 10, and a function of inputting a dispatcher's command operation (such as a schedule change operation) to the first control operation logic unit 10. In addition, in the training support mode described later, it has a function of inputting a dispatcher's command operation (such as a schedule instruction operation in a training section) to the second control operation logic unit 20. This training operation terminal 40 is realized by a dedicated or general-purpose terminal device similar to the operation terminal 30, as well as a portable terminal device such as a notebook computer or a tablet. The training operation terminal 40 may be installed permanently, or may be installed when necessary, such as when the second control operation logic unit 20 switches to the main system or when the training support mode described later is activated. Note that a plurality of training operation terminals 40 may be installed. In that case, command operations can be performed in parallel from any of the training operation terminals 40.

[0027] Also, the communication form in which the training operation terminal 40 is connected to the second network N2 may be any form. For example, in the case of a training operation terminal 40 which is a portable terminal device such as a notebook computer or a tablet and has a wireless communication function, a form of connecting to the second network N2 via a wireless communication network such as a mobile communication network or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) can be adopted. In that case, it can be installed at an arbitrary location, not necessarily within the station premises.

[0028] The station device 53 is installed at each station and is connected to the first network N1 and the second network N2 via a station transmission device (not shown) installed at the station, and can communicate with the first control operation logic unit 10 and the second control operation logic unit 20 via the first network N1 or the second network N2. The station device 53 is, for example, a CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) station device, and controls signal facilities such as signal lights and points in the station compound via the interlocking device 55 according to the control information received from the first control operation logic unit 10 and the second control operation logic unit 20. In addition, the station device 53 transmits display information indicating the states of the signal facilities and track circuits in the station compound, which is input from the interlocking device 55, to the first control operation logic unit 10 and the second control operation logic unit 20.

[0029] During normal operation, the operation management system 1 constitutes a standby dual system in which the first control operation logic unit 10 is the main system and the second control operation logic unit 20 is the standby system. The first control operation logic unit 10, which is the main system, communicates with each station device 53 via the first network N1 to centrally manage the operation of trains in a predetermined section. Specifically, as the centralized management of train operation, it performs schedule management for managing the train schedule for a predetermined section that is the entire line section, train tracking for tracking trains according to the display information received from the station device 53 and the train schedule, route control for setting the route of trains based on the train schedule, train tracking information, and display information received from the station device 53. In schedule management, when a schedule change command operation is input from the operation terminal 30, the schedule is changed according to the command operation. Then, according to the set route, control information for the signal facilities of each station is generated and transmitted to the corresponding station device 53.

[0030] In addition, the second control operation logic unit 20, which is the standby system, communicates with the first control operation logic unit 10 via the second network N2 and operates in the standby mode. Specifically, at any time, it receives the display information from each station device 53 and the results of the centralized management of train operation, performs schedule management, train tracking, and route setting, compares the results with the results by the first control operation logic unit 10, and updates and stores the latest control data as standby control data 26. However, unlike the first control operation logic unit 10, it does not transmit control information to the station device 53.

[0031] [Training Support Mode] In the operation management system 1, during normal operation, while the first control operation logic unit 10 centrally manages train operations as the main system, the second control operation logic unit 20, which is in the standby system, can activate a training support mode for assisting the training of the train dispatcher who conducts train sorting. The training support mode may be activated in parallel with the standby mode, or may be activated so as to stop the standby mode and switch to the training support mode.

[0032] Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the operation management system 1 in the training support mode. The second control operation logic unit 20 has a training support control unit 22 as a functional unit for realizing the training support mode, and stores one or more training scenarios 24 and standby control data 26.

[0033] The training support control unit 22 executes the processing of the station device 53 related to a given training section among a predetermined section and a simulation for centrally managing the operation of trains in the training section according to the training scenario 24. When the training support mode is activated, the simulation by the training support control unit 22 is started. Here, the training section may be the entire predetermined section or a partial section of the predetermined section, and can be arbitrarily specified.

[0034] The training scenario 24 includes the occurrence content such as the type and occurrence location of any abnormality assumed to occur in the operation management system 1, and the occurrence timing. Examples of the occurrence content include a failure of the first control operation logic unit, an obstacle to train operation in a predetermined section, and a communication abnormality of a network (the first network or the second network N2). The occurrence timing is, for example, the occurrence date and time.

[0035] The standby control data 26 is the latest control data that is the result of performing diagram management, train tracking, and route setting based on the display information from each station device 53 and the result of centrally managing train operations when the second control operation logic unit 20 is operating in the standby mode.

[0036] The training support control unit 22 executes a simulation according to the training scenario 24, using the standby control data 26 until immediately before the training start timing, where the occurrence timing of the failure defined in the training scenario 24 is taken as the training start timing.

[0037] Activation of the training support mode is made according to an instruction operation via the operation terminal 30 or the training operation terminal 40. Also, together with the activation instruction of the training support mode, an operation for designating the training scenario 24, the training section, the training operation terminal 40 used for training, etc. is made. Since the training operation terminal 40 can be installed at an arbitrary location, it is advisable to specify the training operation terminal 40 in consideration of the ease of training for the instructor (operation instruction for changing the diagram). The training support control unit 22 receives the designation of the training scenario 24, the training section, and the training operation terminal 40 from the operation terminal 30 or the training operation terminal 40, and executes a simulation in the received training section according to the training scenario 24.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows an operation example according to a training scenario 24a in which failures of the first control operation logic unit 10 and the operation terminal 30 and disconnection of communication of the second control operation logic unit 20 to the second network N2 are regarded as the contents of the occurrence of abnormalities.

[0039] This training scenario 24a is a training assuming the occurrence of a wide - scale disaster or the like including the entire command post. That is, since the first control operation logic unit 10 installed in the command post becomes unable to perform normal operation (centralized management of train operation) due to a failure or the like, the second control operation logic unit 20 is switched from the standby system to the main system operation to perform a system switch to start centralized management of train operation in a predetermined section. Furthermore, since an abnormality has occurred in the connection of the second control operation logic unit 20 to the second network N2, the training content is such that the second control operation logic unit 20 is made to change the access point for connecting to the second network N2.

[0040] The access point mentioned here refers to the connection point of cloud connection communication, and means facilities and the like provided for connecting to the second network N2. The access points to which the second control operation logic unit 20 can be connected to the second network N2 have a plurality of candidates that have been confirmed to be accessible to the second network N2 during normal times prepared in advance, and the access point can be selected according to the instruction operations from the operation terminal 30 or the training operation terminal 40. When the second control operation logic unit 20 is connected to the second network N2 through one access point and the connection status becomes abnormal, it reconnects to the second network N2 by changing to another access point. For example, in FIG. 2, the second control operation logic unit 20 can change from the access point AP1 to the access point AP2.

[0041] In this case, since it is assumed that the operation terminal 30 installed at the command post is also malfunctioning, the training support control unit 22 of the second control operation logic unit 20 accepts the designation of the training operation terminal 40 and the training section used for training from an arbitrary training operation terminal 40 and starts the training. In the training, according to the operation commands of the dispatcher (designation of the access point to which the second control operation logic unit 20 reconnects, execution instruction of system switching, operation commands for changing the train diagram in the training section, etc.) through the received training operation terminal 40, the centralized management of train operation in the training section is simulated.

[0042] FIG. 3 is an operation example according to the training scenario 24b in which communication interruption of the network and line failure between certain stations are regarded as the occurrence content of abnormalities. This training scenario 24b is a training assuming the occurrence of a wide - range disaster or the like in a predetermined section. That is, between certain stations, a line failure occurs and the line becomes impassable, and both the first network and the second network N2 have communication interruption. Since a station device 53 that makes communication impossible via the first network N1 occurs in the first control operation logic unit 10, the first control operation logic unit 10 and the second control operation logic unit 20 are each made to centrally manage the train operation in the partial section related to the station device 53 where communication is possible in the predetermined section in a shared manner.

[0043] In this embodiment, since the first network N1 is, for example, a dedicated transmission line for an operation management system, if a communication failure occurs in part, some communications of the network (for example, the communication between the first control operation logic unit 10 in FIG. 3 and the station devices 53c and 53d at stations C and D) may become impossible. However, since the second network N2 is, for example, an Internet VPN that can be connected by a predetermined cloud connection communication, even if a communication failure occurs in part, partial communication is possible in the remaining communication section excluding at least the part with the communication failure.

[0044] In this case, the training support control unit 22 of the second control operation logic unit 20 receives the designation of the training operation terminal 40 to be used for training and the training section from an arbitrary training operation terminal 40 and starts the training. In the training, the stations where a track failure and a communication failure occur are determined from the training section, and among the two partial sections sandwiching those stations, the partial section to be the training target is determined and presented to the dispatcher via the received training operation terminal 40, and the centralized management of train operation in the partial section is simulated according to the operation command (such as an operation command for changing the train diagram) of the dispatcher via the training operation terminal 40.

[0045] In the example of FIG. 3, an example is shown in which a track failure and a communication failure of the network (the first network N1 and the second network N2) occur between stations B and C in a predetermined section composed of stations A to D. In this case, the predetermined section is divided into a first partial section composed of stations A to B and a second partial section composed of stations C to D. And the section between stations C and D, which is the second partial section, is the partial section to be the training target.

[0046] As the training operation terminal 40 used by the dispatcher for training, the training operation terminal 40c installed at any station in the partial section to be the training target may be used, or the training operation terminal 40d installed outside the station may be used. The dispatcher who conducts the training inputs a command operation such as a train diagram change operation to perform a reverse operation at station C using the training operation terminal 40.

[0047] [Advantages and effects] According to this embodiment, it is possible to realize an operation management system 1 that can perform operation management simulation for the entire section to be controlled and also for any partial section. That is, in normal times, the operation management system 1 is composed of a first control operation logic unit 10 that centrally manages the operation of trains in a predetermined section, which is the entire section to be controlled, and a standby dual system of a second control operation logic unit 20 that operates in a standby mode. And the second control operation logic unit 20 can activate a training support mode that simulates the processing of the station device 53 related to a given training section among the predetermined sections and the centralized management of the operation of trains in the training section.

[0048] Thereby, in normal times, the training support mode is activated for the second control operation logic unit 20 operating in the standby mode to simulate the operation management in the training section, and training for operation arrangement in a partial section among the predetermined sections can be performed, such as an instructor using the training operation terminal 40 to perform an instruction operation of the train diagram in the training section. Also, since the training operation terminal 40 used for training can communicate with the second control operation logic unit 20 by cloud connection communication and its installation location is arbitrary, training can be performed at any location.

[0049] [Modification Example] It should be noted that the applicable embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that they can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0050] For example, during the activation of the training support mode, if a station device 53 that becomes unable to communicate due to a failure of the first control operation logic unit 10, which is the main system, or an abnormality in the communication network (the first network N1 or the second network N2), etc. occurs, and when it becomes necessary for the second control operation logic unit 20 to switch to the main system because centralized management of train operation by the first control operation logic unit 10 becomes impossible, the second control operation logic unit 20 immediately stops and terminates the activated training support mode and switches to the main system. The failure of the first control operation logic unit 10, etc. can be determined by the communication between the second control operation logic unit 20 and the first control operation logic unit 10 via the second network. In that case, it is desirable to output to the training operation terminal 40 that the training is terminated for switching to the main system. When switching to the main system, if the training support mode is activated in parallel with the standby mode, after terminating the training support mode, it may be switched to the main system as a function of the standby mode. If the standby mode is stopped, after terminating the training support mode, the standby mode may be restarted and switched to the main system as a function of the standby mode. Of course, even when the training support mode ends normally, similarly, if the standby mode is stopped, the standby mode is restarted.

Explanation of Signs

[0051] 1…Operation Management System 10…First Control Operation Logic Unit 20…Second Control Operation Logic Unit 22…Training Support Control Unit 24…Training Scenario 26…Standby Control Data 30…Operation Terminal 40…Training Operation Terminal N1…First Network N2…Second Network 53…Station Device 55…Interlocking Device

Claims

1. a first control operation logic unit that, under normal circumstances, communicates with each station device via a first network to centrally manage train operations in a predetermined section; a second control operation logic unit that operates in a standby mode by communicating with each of the station devices via a second network that is a network capable of communicating through predetermined cloud connection communication during the normal state; Equipped with the first control operation logic unit is connected to the second network; the second control operation logic unit includes a training support control means for simulating processing of station equipment related to a given training section within the predetermined section and centralized management of train operations in the training section, and is capable of activating a training support mode for starting the simulation by the training support control means; a training operation terminal capable of instructing a timetable for the training section in the training support mode, the training operation terminal being communicable with the second control operation logic unit via the second network by the cloud connection communication; Operation management system.

2. the training support control means stores a training scenario including any one of occurrence of an abnormality in the first control operation logic unit, occurrence of a train operation failure in the training section, and occurrence of a communication abnormality in the first network, and the timing of the occurrence, and executes the simulation in accordance with the training scenario. The traffic management system according to claim 1 .

3. the training assistance control means receives designation of the training section from the training operation terminal, and executes the simulation in the received training section. The traffic management system according to claim 1 .

4. the second control operation logic unit activates the training assistance mode by causing the training assistance control means to start the simulation using standby control data related to the standby mode up to immediately before a given training start timing. The traffic control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The second control operation logic unit The training support mode can be activated in parallel with the standby mode or by terminating the standby mode, a determination means for determining, while the training support mode is activated, that the centralized management by the first control operation logic unit is impossible by communicating with the first control operation logic unit via the second network; means for terminating the training assistance mode when the determination means determines that the training assistance mode is impossible; having The traffic control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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