Traffic management system, control device, control method, and control program

Abstract

To provide an operation management system which allows reduction in burden when a railway business organization introduces a new operation management system.SOLUTION: An operation management system 100 comprises a control device 1, plural display devices 3 and plural handling devices 4. The control device 1 is constituted in a cloud environment and individually manages trains 9 of plural railway business organizations 21, 22 and 23. The plural display devices 3 are installed in each of corresponding railway business organizations of the plural railway business organizations 21, 22 and 23. The plural handling devices 4 are installed in each of corresponding railway business organizations of the plural railway business organizations 21, 22, and 23. The control device 1 makes each of the plural display devices 3 individually display information indicating the operation state of train 9 of corresponding railway business organizations of the plural railway business organizations 21, 22, and 23, and individually controls railway equipment 5 of plural railway business organizations 21, 22 and 23 based on the control requests transmitted from the plural handling devices 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a traffic control system, a control device, a control method, and a control program for managing train operations. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, traffic control systems that manage train operations have been known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a traffic control system that controls train routes and displays information on passenger information devices at each station to inform passengers of train arrivals and departures. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-93906 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since conventional traffic control systems are constructed for each railway operator, when a railway operator introduces a new traffic control system, it takes time and money to introduce the new traffic control system. For this reason, for example, railway operators that operate small regional lines may find it difficult to introduce conventional traffic control systems that require time and money.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a traffic control system that can reduce the burden on railway operators when introducing a new traffic control system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the traffic management system of the present disclosure includes a control device, a plurality of operation devices, and a plurality of interface units. The control device is constructed in a cloud environment and individually manages the operation of trains of a plurality of railway operators. The plurality of operation devices are provided for each corresponding railway operator among the plurality of railway operators and are communicatively connected to the control device. The plurality of interface units are connected to the control device via a virtual private network and are provided for each corresponding railway operator among the plurality of railway operators. The control device includes in the information to be transmitted, as a destination network address, the network address of the interface unit to which the information is to be transmitted, among the plurality of interface units. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The present disclosure has the effect of reducing the burden on railway operators when introducing a new traffic management system. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a traffic management system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of a traffic control system according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of TID terminals, interlocking devices, station transmission devices, and IF units corresponding to each railway operator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an on-board device installed in a train according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information transmitted and received between a control device according to a first embodiment, a display device, an operation device, an interlocking device, a TID terminal, and an interlocking device; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a control device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a processing unit of a control device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a sub-control device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 9]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a connection relationship between a control room and station-side devices in a traffic control system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 10] A flowchart showing an example of processing by a processing unit of a sub-control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of operation management by a control device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow in traffic management by the control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of operation management by a sub-controller according to a first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow in traffic management by a sub-control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of a traffic control system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a portable terminal according to a second embodiment; [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a control device according to a second embodiment; [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process performed by a switching processing unit according to the second embodiment; [Figure 20] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a process performed by a switching processing unit of a control device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between a service provider, a railway operator, a cloud service provider, and a maintenance company in a traffic management service by a traffic management system according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a traffic control system, a control device, a control method, and a control program according to the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a traffic control system according to the embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the traffic control system 100 according to the embodiment 1 includes a control device 1 that individually manages the operation of a train 9 for each of a plurality of railway operators 21, 22, and 23, a plurality of display devices 3, a plurality of operation devices 4, a plurality of railway facilities 5, a plurality of sub-control devices 6, and a terminal device 8.

[0011] Each of the railway operators 21, 22, 23 is, for example, a railway operator that operates a small regional line. In the following, when the multiple railway operators 21, 22, 23 are indicated without being individually distinguished, they may be described as a railway operator 2. In addition, in the following, the railway operators 2 for which the operation of the trains 9 is managed by the control device 1 are described as being three companies, but the number of railway operators 2 for which the operation of the trains 9 is managed by the control device 1 may be two companies or four companies or more.

[0012] The control device 1 is provided by a service provider that provides a traffic management service, which is a service for managing the operation of trains 9. The control device 1 is constructed in a cloud environment. The cloud environment includes computer resources provided in a cloud service platform. The cloud service platform is provided by a cloud service provider and includes, for example, PaaS (Platform as a Service). Since the control device 1 is constructed in the cloud environment, it may also be called a cloud server.

[0013] In the traffic control system 100, a display device 3, an operating device 4, railway equipment 5, and a sub-controller 6 are provided corresponding to each railway business operator 2. The display device 3, the operating device 4, the railway equipment 5, and the sub-controller 6 are, for example, owned by the railway business operator 2, but some of these may be provided to the railway business operator 2 by a service provider. The display device 3, the operating device 4, and the sub-controller 6 are, for example, arranged in the control room of each railway business operator.

[0014] The display device 3 transmits and receives information to and from the control device 1 via a network 7. The network 7 is, for example, a wide area network (WAN) including multiple wireless base stations, but may also be a local area network (LAN) including multiple wireless base stations. The wireless base stations may be wireless base stations of a mobile communication network, or wireless LAN access points. The information displayed on the display device 3 is, for example, information indicating the operating status of the train 9, and includes information indicating the position of the train 9, the status of signals, the status of points, etc.

[0015] The operation devices 4 are each communicatively connected to the control device 1 via a network 7. The operation devices 4 are operated, for example, by a dispatcher, and a control request from the dispatcher is input to the operation device 4. The control request is a request to control the railway equipment 5. The railway equipment 5 is, for example, an interlocking device that controls the operation of points, signals, etc.

[0016] When a command request is transmitted from the operation device 4, the control device 1 transmits a control command corresponding to the command request from the operation device 4 to the railway equipment 5 via the network 7. The railway equipment 5 performs an operation corresponding to the control command from the control device 1.

[0017] When the control device 1 is unable to manage the operation of the train 9, the sub-controller 6 manages the operation of the train 9 in place of the control device 1. The operation management function of the train 9 by the sub-controller 6 is less powerful than the operation management function of the train 9 by the control device 1. The configuration and operation of the sub-controller 6 will be described in detail later.

[0018] The terminal device 8 is managed by a maintenance company and is communicatively connected to the control device 1 via the network 7. The terminal device 8 receives, for example, information transmitted from the control device 1 and displays the received information on a display unit (not shown). The information transmitted from the control device 1 to the terminal device 8 is, for example, information related to the maintenance of the display device 3, the operation device 4, the railway facility 5, the sub-control device 6, or the like.

[0019] The control device 1 causes each display device 3 to individually display information indicating the operation status of trains 9 of a corresponding railway operator among the multiple railway operators 2. The control device 1 also individually controls the corresponding railway equipment among the multiple railway facilities 5 based on a control request transmitted from each operating device 4.

[0020] As a result, the traffic control system 100 makes it possible to consolidate the functions of control devices that would conventionally be owned by multiple railway operators 2 into the same cloud environment and centrally manage them. Therefore, the traffic control system 100 can provide the functions of the control device 1 to each railway operator 2 at a lower cost than when a traffic control system is individually constructed for each railway operator 2. Therefore, the traffic control system 100 can reduce the burden on, for example, a railway operator 2 that operates a small regional line when introducing a new traffic control system.

[0021] The traffic control system 100 will be described in further detail below. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the traffic control system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the traffic control system 100 includes a display device 3, an operation device 4, a sub-control device 6, a plurality of TID (Traffic Information Display) terminals 31, an interlocking device 32, and a plurality of station transmission devices 75 provided corresponding to each of the railway operators 21, 22, and 23.

[0022] The display device 3, the operation device 4, and the sub-control device 6 are arranged, for example, in the control room of each railway operator 2. The TID terminal 31, the interlocking device 32, and the station transmission device 75 are arranged on the station side. The station side is not limited to the inside of the station building and the station premises, but includes the area around the station. The interlocking device 32 is included in the railway facilities 5. The TID terminal 31 and the display device 3 are each an example of a display device. The station transmission device 75 is connected between the interlocking device 32 and the TID terminal 31, respectively, and the control device 1, and performs processing such as relaying communications between the interlocking device 32 and the TID terminal 31, respectively, and the control device 1.

[0023] The TID terminal 31 receives information such as the train number, the location on the line, and the delay time of the train 9 from the control device 1, and displays the received information. The TID terminal 31 and the interlocking device 32 are arranged, for example, at each station of the railway operator 2.

[0024] The TID terminal 31 and interlocking device 32 provided corresponding to the railway operator 21 are communicatively connected to an IF (Interface) unit 711 communicatively connected to the control device 1 via a station transmission device 75 and a VPN (Virtual Private Network) 731. Similarly, the TID terminal 31 and interlocking device 32 provided corresponding to the railway operator 22 are communicatively connected to an IF unit 712 communicatively connected to the control device 1 via the station transmission device 75 and a VPN 732. The TID terminal 31 and interlocking device 32 provided corresponding to the railway operator 23 are communicatively connected to an IF unit 713 communicatively connected to the control device 1 via the station transmission device 75 and a VPN 733.

[0025] Each of the IF units 711, 712, and 713 is arranged corresponding to a corresponding one of the railway operators 21, 22, and 23, and is also called an access point. The IF units 711, 712, and 713 are connected to a corresponding one of the VPNs 731, 732, and 733. Each of the IF units 711, 712, and 713 is communicatively connected to a transmission device (not shown) installed in a station, for example.

[0026] VPNs 731, 732, and 733 are constructed in the network 7. Hereinafter, when IF units 711, 712, and 713 are indicated without being individually distinguished, they may be referred to as IF unit 71, and when VPNs 731, 732, and 733 are indicated without being individually distinguished, they may be referred to as VPN 73. Note that IF unit 71 and VPN 73 may be provided corresponding to each station.

[0027] Furthermore, the display device 3, operation device 4, and sub-control device 6 provided corresponding to the railway business operator 21 are communicatively connected to an IF unit 721 that is communicatively connected to the control device 1 via a VPN 741. Similarly, the display device 3, operation device 4, and sub-control device 6 provided corresponding to the railway business operator 22 are communicatively connected to an IF unit 722 that is communicatively connected to the control device 1 via a VPN 742. The display device 3, operation device 4, and sub-control device 6 provided corresponding to the railway business operator 23 are communicatively connected to an IF unit 723 that is communicatively connected to the control device 1 via a VPN 743.

[0028] Each of the IF units 721, 722, and 723 is arranged corresponding to a corresponding one of the railway operators 21, 22, and 23, and is also called an access point. The VPNs 741, 742, and 743 are constructed in the network 7. Hereinafter, when the IF units 721, 722, and 723 are indicated without being individually distinguished, they may be described as an IF unit 72, and when the VPNs 741, 742, and 743 are indicated without being individually distinguished, they may be described as a VPN 74.

[0029] In this way, in the traffic control system 100, dedicated IF units 71, 72 connected to the control device 1 via VPNs 73, 74 are provided for each railway operator 2. Therefore, in the traffic control system 100, for example, it is possible to prevent a situation in which each railway operator 2 is able to access the database of another railway operator 2, thereby improving security.

[0030] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the TID terminals, interlocking devices, station transmission devices, and IF units corresponding to each railway operator according to embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 3, a TID terminal 31, an interlocking device 32, and a station transmission device 75 are arranged corresponding to each station of each railway operator 2.

[0031] The station transmission device 75 includes, for example, a wireless LAN access point, and can perform wireless communication with the train 9 located within the station. The station transmission device 75 receives position information of the train 9 and image information of the inside of the train 9 from an on-board device (not shown) provided on the train 9, and transmits the received information to the control device 1 via the IF unit 71 and the VPN 73. Note that the station transmission device 75 may be configured to include the IF unit 71.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an on-board device installed in a train according to the embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 4, an on-board device 50 installed in a train 9 includes a position detection unit 51, an on-board camera 52, an on-board monitor unit 53, an on-board fare display unit 54, and an on-board wireless unit 55.

[0033] The position detection unit 51 detects the position of the train 9. For example, the position detection unit 51 detects the latitude and longitude of the train 9 based on distance measurement signals transmitted from a plurality of satellites. The on-board camera 52 captures images of the inside of the train 9. The on-board monitor unit 53 outputs, to the on-board wireless unit 55, position information indicating the position detected by the position detection unit 51 and image information indicating the image captured by the on-board camera 52.

[0034] The on-board fare display unit 54 displays, for example, fare information transmitted from the control device 1 via the on-board wireless unit 55. The on-board wireless unit 55 periodically transmits the position information and image information output from the on-board monitor unit 53 to the control device 1 by wireless communication via a wireless base station of a mobile communication network included in the network 7. As a result, the position information and image information are transmitted from the on-board device 50 to the control device 1. The mobile communication network is, for example, a communication network of a fourth generation mobile communication system or a communication network of a fifth generation mobile communication system.

[0035] When the train 9 is in or around a station, the on-board wireless unit 55 transmits the position information and image information output from the on-board monitor unit 53 to the IF unit 71 by wireless communication. As a result, the position information and image information are transmitted to the control device 1 via the IF unit 71 and the VPN 73.

[0036] Here, a description will be given of information transmitted and received between the control device 1 and the display device 3, the operation device 4, the TID terminal 31, and the interlocking device 32. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information transmitted and received between the control device according to the first embodiment and the display device, the operation device, the interlocking device, the TID terminal, and the interlocking device.

[0037] 5, display information is transmitted from the station transmission device 75 to the control device 1 via the IF unit 71 and the VPN 73, and train information is transmitted from the train 9 to the control device 1. The display information includes information indicating the state of the points and information indicating the state of the signals. The train information includes position information indicating the position of the train 9 and imaging information indicating images captured inside the train 9. The train information is transmitted to the IF unit 71 from the on-board device 50 provided on the train 9 by wireless communication.

[0038] 5, the display information and train information are transmitted from the control device 1 to the display device 3 via the IF unit 72 and the VPN 74. The display device 3 displays a monitoring screen based on the display information and train information from the control device 1. Such a monitoring screen includes a train schedule diagram shown by a line diagram. The train schedule diagram includes, for example, icons indicating the position of each train 9.

[0039] 5, a control request is transmitted from the operation device 4 to the control device 1 via the IF unit 72, the VPN 74, and the station transmission device 75. The control device 1 generates a control command based on the control request transmitted from the operation device 4, and transmits the generated control command to the station transmission device 75 via the IF unit 71 and the VPN 73. The interlocking device 32 receives the control command from the control device 1 via the station transmission device 75, and controls points, signals, etc. based on the received control signal.

[0040] 5, train number management information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the TID terminal 31 via the IF unit 72, the VPN 74, and the station transmission device 75. The train number management information is information such as the train number, current track position, and delay time of the train 9. The TID terminal 31 displays the train number, current track position, and delay time of the train 9 based on the train number management information from the control device 1.

[0041] Next, the configuration and operation of the control device 1 will be described in more detail. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, the control device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a storage unit 11, and a processing unit 12. The communication unit 10 is communicatively connected to a network 7, and transmits and receives information via the network 7.

[0042] The IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723 are assigned different network addresses, and the communication unit 10 identifies from which of the IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723 the received information was transmitted, based on a source network address included in the received information. When the network 7 includes an IP network, the network address is, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

[0043] Furthermore, the communication unit 10 includes the network address of the IF unit among the IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723 to which information is to be transmitted as the network address of the transmission destination in the information to be transmitted.

[0044] The storage unit 11 stores individual data that is individual data for each of the multiple railway operators 21, 22, and 23. Specifically, the storage unit 11 stores first individual data as the individual data for the railway operator 21, stores second individual data as the individual data for the railway operator 22, and stores third individual data as the individual data for the railway operator 23.

[0045] The first individual data stored in the storage unit 11 includes setting parameters, an actual timetable, and a track record timetable. The setting parameters set, for example, functions to be provided to the railway business operator 21 among a plurality of functions executable by the processing unit 12, and the configuration of the lines of the railway business operator 21. The first individual data includes data on the railway business operator 21 among the information processed by the processing unit 12, in addition to the actual timetable and the track record timetable.

[0046] The multiple functions executable by the processing unit 12 include, in addition to functions related to operation management such as a route control function, a passenger guidance function, and a timetable management function, for example, a crew management function, a vehicle maintenance management function, a logistics and sales function, an advertisement distribution function, etc. The configuration of the line of the railway operator 21 includes, for example, the arrangement and identification information of each of the stations, trains 9, points, signals, etc. that constitute the line.

[0047] The second individual data, like the first individual data, includes setting parameters, a planned timetable, and an actual timetable related to the railway operator 22. The second individual data includes data on the railway operator 22 from among the information processed by the processing unit 12, in addition to the planned timetable and the actual timetable. The third individual data, like the first individual data, includes setting parameters, a planned timetable, and an actual timetable related to the railway operator 23. The third individual data includes data on the railway operator 23 from among the information processed by the processing unit 12, in addition to the planned timetable and the actual timetable.

[0048] The processing unit 12 manages the operation of the train 9 individually for each of the multiple railway operators 21, 22, 23, based on the control request transmitted from the operation device 4 and received by the communication unit 10, the display information transmitted from the interlocking device 32 and received by the communication unit 10, and individual data. The management of the operation of the train 9 includes route control, monitoring display, passenger guidance, and the like.

[0049] Route control is, for example, control of points and signals. Monitoring display is display of the position of each train 9, the state of points, the state of signals, etc. on the display device 3. Passenger information is display of information such as the train number, current position, and delay time of the train 9 on the TID terminal 31.

[0050] The processing unit 12 includes a timetable management unit 21, a train tracking unit 22, a train rescheduling unit 23, a route control unit 24, and a passenger guidance unit 25. Data processed by each of the timetable management unit 21, the train tracking unit 22, the train rescheduling unit 23, the route control unit 24, and the passenger guidance unit 25 is stored in the memory unit 11. This updates the first individual data, the second individual data, or the third individual data. Data is exchanged between each of the timetable management unit 21, the train tracking unit 22, the train rescheduling unit 23, the route control unit 24, and the passenger guidance unit 25 via the memory unit 11.

[0051] The timetable management unit 21 creates and manages train schedules for the trains 9. The train schedule is, for example, an actual train schedule for the day, or a track record schedule for the day. The actual train schedule for the day is a planned train schedule that is created before the operation management for the day. The track record schedule for the day is a train schedule up to the current time during the operation period for the day, and includes, for example, information such as the arrival time at and departure time from a station for each train 9.

[0052] The timetable management unit 21 creates a performance timetable based on the planned timetable and time information, etc. The time information includes information such as the time when each train 9 arrives at a station and the time when each train 9 departs from a station.

[0053] The train tracking unit 22 acquires position information from each train 9 and updates the position of each train 9. In the train tracking unit 22, the position of the train 9 is managed on a track circuit basis. Based on the position information from the train 9, the train tracking unit 22 determines which track circuit out of multiple track circuits corresponds to the position where the train 9 is located. The track circuit corresponding to the position where the train 9 is located is a track circuit that detects the section where the train 9 is located. The train tracking unit 22 may be configured to update the position of each train 9 based on the detection information of the track circuit.

[0054] The timetable rescheduling unit 23 executes timetable rescheduling based on the implemented timetable, the actual timetable, and time information, and creates a predicted timetable, which is a train schedule based on the results of running predictions for each train 9.

[0055] Traffic rescheduling is a process of canceling the operation of some trains 9, changing the operation intervals of trains 9, or changing the operation sequence of trains 9, for example, when a delay occurs in train 9. In addition, the traffic rescheduling unit 23 can also display a train schedule diagram as a line schedule on the display device 3 and perform traffic rescheduling in response to input operations by the dispatcher to the operation device 4.

[0056] The route control unit 24 controls the route of each train 9 based on any one of the operation schedules, i.e., the actual operation schedule, the actual track record schedule, or the predicted schedule. For example, the route control unit 24 generates a control command for each interlocking device 32 based on the operation schedule or a control request input to the operation device 4 by a dispatcher, and causes the communication unit 10 to transmit the generated control command to a corresponding interlocking device among the multiple interlocking devices 32.

[0057] The passenger information unit 25 generates train number management information including information such as the train number, current position, and delay time of train 9 within a predetermined range of each station based on the position of train 9 tracked by the train tracking unit 22 and the train schedule, and causes the communication unit 10 to transmit the generated train number management information to a corresponding TID terminal among the multiple TID terminals 31.

[0058] Next, a process performed by the processor 12 of the control device 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a process performed by the processor of the control device according to the first embodiment. The processor 12 of the control device 1 repeatedly executes the process shown in Fig. 7.

[0059] 7, the processing unit 12 of the control device 1 determines whether the process to be executed is the operation management process of the railway operator 21 (step S10). When the processing unit 12 determines that the process to be executed is the operation management process of the railway operator 21 (step S10: Yes), the processing unit 12 executes the operation management process of the railway operator 21 (step S11). The operation management process of the railway operator 21 is a process for the operation management of the trains 9 of the railway operator 21.

[0060] The processing of information for the railway operator 21's operation management of trains 9 is, for example, processing of information transmitted from IF unit 711 or IF unit 721 and received by communication unit 10, processing for generating information to be transmitted from communication unit 10 to IF unit 711 or IF unit 721, or processing for transmitting information from communication unit 10 to IF unit 711 or IF unit 721.

[0061] The processing for generating information to be transmitted from the communication unit 10 to the IF unit 711 or the IF unit 721 includes, for example, processing for generating control commands, processing for generating a train schedule, and processing for generating information to be displayed on the display device 3 and the TID terminal 31, etc.

[0062] When the processing of step S11 is completed, or when it is determined that the processing to be executed is not the operation management processing of the railway operator 21 (step S10: No), the processing unit 12 determines whether the processing to be executed is the operation management processing of the railway operator 22 (step S12). The operation management processing of the railway operator 22 is processing for the operation management of the trains 9 of the railway operator 22. When the processing unit 12 determines that the processing to be executed is the operation management processing of the railway operator 22 (step S12: Yes), it executes the operation management processing of the railway operator 22 (step S13).

[0063] When the processing unit 12 has finished the process of step S13 or has determined that the process to be executed is not the traffic management process of the railway operator 22 (step S12: No), the processing unit 12 determines whether the process to be executed is the traffic management process of the railway operator 23 (step S14). The traffic management process of the railway operator 23 is a process for the traffic management of the trains 9 of the railway operator 23. When the processing unit 12 has determined that the process to be executed is the traffic management process of the railway operator 23 (step S14: Yes), the processing unit 12 executes the traffic management process of the railway operator 23 (step S15). When the processing unit 12 has finished the process of step S15 or has determined that the process to be executed is not the traffic management process of the railway operator 23 (step S14: No), the processing unit 12 ends the process shown in FIG. 7.

[0064] Next, the sub-control device 6 will be described in more detail. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the sub-control device according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, the sub-control device 6 includes a communication unit 60, a processing unit 61, and a storage unit 62.

[0065] The communication unit 60 is communicatively connected to a station transmission device 75 shown in Fig. 3. The processing unit 61 acquires information required for managing the operation of the train 9 from the control device 1 via the communication unit 60, and performs processing for managing the operation of the train 9 based on the information acquired from the control device 1 when the control device 1 cannot manage the operation of the train 9.

[0066] The processing unit 61 includes a synchronization processing unit 63, a timetable management unit 64, a train tracking unit 65, a control processing unit 66, and a passenger information unit 67. The synchronization processing unit 63 acquires traffic management information, which is information necessary for managing the operation of the trains 9, via the control device 1 or the communication unit 60, and stores the acquired traffic management information in the storage unit 62. The traffic management information includes, for example, information such as the actual timetable, actual timetable, predicted timetable, the position of each train 9, the state of the points, and the state of the signals.

[0067] The timetable management unit 64 creates a performance timetable based on the planned timetable and time information, etc. The time information includes information such as the time when each train 9 arrives at a station and the time when each train 9 departs from a station.

[0068] The train tracking unit 65 acquires position information from each train 9 and updates the position of each train 9. When the control device 1 is unable to manage the operation of the train 9, the train tracking unit 65 cannot acquire, from the control device 1, position information transmitted from the on-board device 50 of the train 9 to the control device 1 via a wireless base station of the mobile communication network, and therefore acquires the position information of the train 9 via a wireless LAN access point included in the station transmission device 75. The train tracking unit 65 updates the position information of each train 9 included in the operation management information stored in the memory unit 62 based on the acquired position information of the train 9.

[0069] The control processing unit 66 displays the train operation diagram in the form of a line diagram on the display device 3. The control processing unit 66 also predicts the arrival time of each train 9 at each station after the next station, based on the position of each train 9, the planned timetable, the past timetable, and the like stored in the memory unit 62. The control processing unit 66 also generates a control command for the interlocking device 32 based on a control request input by the dispatcher to the operation device 4, and causes the communication unit 60 to transmit the generated control command to the interlocking device 32.

[0070] The passenger information unit 67 generates information such as the train number, current position, arrival time at the next station, and delay time of train 9 based on the position of train 9, the operation schedule, and the arrival time at the next station for each train 9 stored in the memory unit 62, and transmits the generated information to a corresponding TID terminal among the multiple TID terminals 31 via the communication unit 60.

[0071] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the connection relationship between a control room and station-side devices in the traffic control system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9, a central transmission device 76 is disposed in the control room, and a display device 3, an operation device 4, and a sub-control device 6 are connected to the central transmission device 76. The sub-control device 6 can transmit and receive information to and from each of the display device 3 and the operation device 4 via the central transmission device 76.

[0072] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the station transmission device 75 and the central transmission device 76 are connected by wire or wirelessly, and the sub-control device 6 can transmit and receive information between each of the TID terminals 31 and the interlocking devices 32 via the central transmission device 76 and the station transmission device 75.

[0073] When the control device 1 is unable to manage the operation of the train 9, the sub-controller 6 transmits and receives information to and from each of the display device 3, the operation device 4, the TID terminal 31, and the interlocking device 32 to manage the operation of the train 9. The operation management function of the sub-controller 6 for the train 9 is lower in functionality than the operation management function of the control device 1 for the train 9, and hereinafter, the mode in which the operation of the train 9 is managed by the sub-controller 6 is referred to as a reduced function mode, and the mode in which the operation of the train 9 is managed by the control device 1 is referred to as a normal mode.

[0074] Next, a process performed by the processor 61 of the sub-controller 6 will be described with reference to a flowchart. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process performed by the processor of the sub-controller according to the first embodiment.

[0075] 10, the processing unit 61 of the sub-control device 6 determines whether or not the operation management information of the control device 1 has been updated (step S20). If the processing unit 61 determines that the operation management information of the control device 1 has been updated (step S20: Yes), it acquires information on the updated portion of the operation management information from the control device 1 and updates the operation management information of the control device 1 based on the acquired information (step S21). Note that the information on the updated portion of the operation management information may be transmitted from the control device 1 to the sub-control device 6 in a push-type manner.

[0076] When the processing of step S21 is completed or when it is determined that the operation management information of the control device 1 has not been updated (step S20: No), the processing unit 61 determines whether or not operation management by the control device 1 is not possible (step S22). In the processing of step S22, the processing unit 61 determines that operation management by the control device 1 is not possible when, for example, the operation of the control device 1 has stopped or the IF units 71 and 72 have failed.

[0077] When the processing unit 61 determines that the control device 1 is not in a state where it can manage the operation (step S22: Yes), it starts the operation management in the function reduction mode (step S23). When the processing unit 61 finishes the processing of step S23 or determines that the control device 1 is not in a state where it can manage the operation (step S22: No), it ends the processing shown in FIG.

[0078] Here, an example of the difference between operation management by the control device 1 and operation management by the sub-control device 6 will be described. First, an example of operation management by the control device 1 will be described. Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining an overview of operation management by the control device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a process flow in operation management by the control device according to the first embodiment.

[0079] As shown in Fig. 11, in traffic management by the control device 1, the position of the train 9 is processed in units of track circuits. In the example shown in Fig. 11, "1T", "2T", "3T", and "4T" are codes corresponding to the track circuits.

[0080] 11 shows that train 9 departs from station A at 7:00 and is present at a position detected by the track circuit corresponding to "1T," ​​and the control device 1 creates a train schedule in which train 9 arrives at station B at 7:20, at station C at 7:40, at station D at 8:05, and at station E at 8:25. In this way, in the operation management by the control device 1, a train schedule from the starting station to the terminal station of each train 9 is created and managed.

[0081] In traffic management by the control device 1, as shown in Fig. 12, information is transmitted and received in the traffic management system 100. Specifically, display information is transmitted from the interlocking device 32 to the control device 1. The display information from the interlocking device 32 is received by the communication unit 10 of the control device 1 via the station transmission device 75, the IF unit 71, and the VPN 73. The display information includes information indicating the respective states of the points and signals controlled by the interlocking device 32. In addition, although not shown, position information from the train 9 is also received by the communication unit 10 via the network 7.

[0082] The train tracking unit 22 acquires position information from each train 9 from the communication unit 10, and updates the position of each train 9 on a track circuit basis based on the acquired position information. The train tracking unit 22 notifies the route control unit 24 of the train tracking information indicating the position of each train 9 on a track circuit basis.

[0083] The route control unit 24 notifies the timetable management unit 21 of the actual timetable and time information based on the display information and the train tracking information, and obtains the actual timetable from the timetable management unit 21. The time information includes information such as the time when each train 9 arrives at a station and the time when each train 9 departs from a station. The timetable management unit 21 creates the actual timetable based on the actual timetable and the time information.

[0084] The traffic rescheduling unit 23 executes traffic rescheduling based on the actual timetable, the actual timetable, and time information, and creates a predicted timetable, which is a service timetable based on the results of travel prediction for each train 9. The route control unit 24 generates a control command based on the predicted timetable created by the traffic rescheduling unit 23 or a control request input to the operation device 4 by the dispatcher, and causes the communication unit 10 to transmit the generated control command to the interlocking device 32.

[0085] A control command from the control device 1 is received by the interlocking device 32 via the VPN 73, the IF unit 71, and the station transmission device 75, and the interlocking device 32 controls points or signals based on the received control command.

[0086] Although not shown, train number management information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the TID terminal 31 via the VPN 73, the IF unit 71, and the station transmission device 75. As described above, the train number management information includes information such as the train number, on-track position, and delay time of trains 9 within a preset range from each station.

[0087] Next, the operation management by the sub-controller 6 will be described. Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the operation management by the sub-controller according to the first embodiment. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a process flow in the operation management by the sub-controller according to the first embodiment.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 13, when traffic management by the control device 1 cannot be executed, traffic management is performed by the sub-control device 6. In traffic management by the sub-control device 6, the position of the train 9 is processed as a station-by-station position, not a track circuit-by-track circuit position. In the example shown in Fig. 13, it is shown that the train 9 departs from station A at 7:00, is present between stations A and B, and is scheduled to arrive at station B at 7:20.

[0089] 13, after train 9 arrives at station B, the arrival time of train 9 at station C is predicted. In this way, in operation management by the sub-controller 6, an operation plan is created up to the scheduled arrival time of each train 9 at the next station, and the scheduled arrival time of each train 9 beyond the next station is managed using estimated times.

[0090] In traffic management by the sub-controller 6, as shown in Fig. 14, information is transmitted and received in the traffic management system 100. Specifically, display information is transmitted from the interlocking device 32 to the sub-controller 6. The display information from the interlocking device 32 is received by the sub-controller 6 via the station transmission device 75 and the central transmission device 76. In addition, although not shown, position information from the train 9 is also received by the communication unit 60 via the station transmission device 75 and the central transmission device 76.

[0091] The train tracking unit 65 acquires location information from each train 9 from the communication unit 60, and updates the location of each train 9 on a station-by-station basis based on the acquired location information. The train tracking unit 65 notifies the control processing unit 66 of the train tracking information indicating the location of each train 9 on a station-by-station basis.

[0092] The control processing unit 66 notifies the schedule management unit 64 of the planned schedule and time information based on the display information and the train tracking information, and obtains the planned schedule from the schedule management unit 64. The time information includes information such as the time when each train 9 arrives at a station and the time when each train 9 departs from a station.

[0093] The control processing unit 66 creates a train schedule to the next station for each train 9 based on the position of each train 9 updated by the train tracking unit 65, the planned timetable, the actual timetable, etc., and predicts the arrival time of each train 9 at each station after the next station. In addition, the control processing unit 66 creates a control command for the interlocking device 32 based on the created train schedule or a control request input by the dispatcher to the operation device 4, and causes the communication unit 60 to transmit the created control command to the interlocking device 32.

[0094] The control commands from the sub-controller 6 are received by the interlocking device 32 via the central transmission device 76 and the station transmission device 75, and the interlocking device 32 controls points or signals, etc. based on the received control commands.

[0095] Although not shown, train number management information is transmitted from the sub-controller 6 to the TID terminal 31 via the central transmission device 76 and the station transmission device 75. As described above, the train number management information includes information such as the train number of the train 9, its current position on the line, its arrival time at the next station, and the delay time.

[0096] 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the control device according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the control device 1 includes a computer including a processor 101, a memory 102, a communication device 103, and a bus 104.

[0097] The processor 101, memory 102, and communication device 103 can transmit and receive information to and from each other via a bus 104. The storage unit 11 is realized by the memory 102. The communication unit 10 is realized by the communication device 103. The processor 101 executes the functions of the processing unit 12 by reading and executing a program stored in the memory 102. The processor 101 is, for example, an example of a processing circuit, and includes one or more of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and a system LSI (Large Scale Integration).

[0098] The memory 102 includes one or more of a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)). The memory 102 also includes a recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded. Such a recording medium includes one or more of a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible memory, an optical disk, a compact disk, and a digital versatile disk (DVD). The control device 1 may include an integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0099] The control device 1 may be composed of two or more devices located at separate locations. In this case, each of the two or more devices has, for example, the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 15. Note that communication between the two or more devices is performed via a communication device 103.

[0100] As described above, the traffic control system 100 according to the first embodiment includes the control device 1, the plurality of display devices 3, and the plurality of operation devices 4. The control device 1 is constructed in a cloud environment and individually manages the operation of the trains 9 of the plurality of railway operators 2. The plurality of display devices 3 are provided for each of the corresponding railway operators among the plurality of railway operators 2, and are communicatively connected to the control device 1. The plurality of operation devices 4 are provided for each of the corresponding railway operators among the plurality of railway operators 2, and are communicatively connected to the control device 1. The control device 1 causes each of the plurality of display devices 3 to individually display information indicating the operation status of the trains 9 of the corresponding railway operator among the plurality of railway operators 2, and individually controls the railway facilities 5 of the plurality of railway operators 2 based on the control requests transmitted from the plurality of operation devices 4. As a result, the traffic control system 100 can reduce system costs and labor costs for managing the operation of the trains 9 compared to the case where a traffic control system is constructed individually for each railway operator 2, and can provide the functions of the control device 1 to each railway operator 2 at a low cost. Therefore, the traffic control system 100 can reduce the burden on the railway operator 2 that operates a small-scale local line when introducing a new traffic control system.

[0101] The control device 1 also includes a storage unit 11 and a processing unit 12. The storage unit 11 stores first individual data, second individual data, and third individual data as individual data for each of the multiple railway operators 2. The processing unit 12 causes a corresponding one of the multiple display devices 3 to individually display information indicating the operation status of a train 9 of a corresponding one of the multiple railway operators 2 based on the individual data for each of the multiple railway operators 2 stored in the storage unit 11, and individually controls the railway facilities 5 of the corresponding one of the multiple railway operators 2. In this way, the traffic control system 100 can reduce the burden on the railway operators 2 when they introduce a new traffic control system.

[0102] Further, each of the railway facilities 5 of the multiple railway operators 2 is communicatively connected to the control device 1 via a corresponding one of multiple VPNs 73 that are different from each other. The VPN 73 is an example of a first virtual private network. Each of multiple device groups, each including one of the multiple display devices 3 and one of the multiple operation devices 4, is communicatively connected to the control device 1 via a corresponding one of multiple VPNs 74 that are different from each other. The VPN 74 is an example of a second virtual private network. This allows the traffic control system 100 to prevent, for example, a situation in which each railway operator 2 is able to access the database of another railway operator 2, thereby improving security.

[0103] The traffic control system 100 also includes a plurality of IF units 71 and a plurality of IF units 72. The IF unit 71 is an example of a first interface unit, and the IF unit 72 is an example of a second interface unit. Each of the plurality of IF units 71 is provided between a railway facility 5 of a corresponding railway operator 2 among the plurality of railway operators 2 and a corresponding VPN among the plurality of VPNs 73, and is communicatively connected to the railway facility 5 of the corresponding railway operator 2 among the plurality of railway operators 2. Each of the plurality of IF units 72 is provided between a corresponding device group among the plurality of device groups and a corresponding VPN among the plurality of VPNs 74, and is communicatively connected to the corresponding device group among the plurality of device groups. As a result, in the traffic control system 100, the IF units 71 and 72 can be used as access points to improve security.

[0104] The traffic control system 100 also includes a plurality of sub-controllers 6. Each of the plurality of sub-controllers 6 is provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railway operators 2, and is communicatively connected to the control device 1. Each of the plurality of sub-controllers 6 acquires traffic control information, which is information related to traffic control of trains 9 of the corresponding one of the plurality of railway operators 2, from the control device 1, and manages the operation of the trains 9 of the corresponding railway operator in place of the control device 1 based on the acquired traffic control information. As a result, the traffic control system 100 can continue to manage the traffic of the trains 9 even when the control device 1 cannot manage the traffic of the trains 9.

[0105] Furthermore, the traffic management function for trains 9 by each of the multiple sub-controllers 6 is less powerful than the traffic management function for trains 9 by the control device 1. As a result, the traffic control system 100 can reduce the development costs and operating costs of the sub-controllers 6, and can reduce the burden on, for example, a railway operator 2 that operates a small regional line when introducing a new traffic control system.

[0106] Furthermore, the control device 1 manages the position of the train 9 on a track circuit basis to manage the operation of the train 9. Each of the multiple sub-controllers 6 manages the position of the train 9 on a station basis to manage the operation of the train 9. As a result, the traffic control system 100 can reduce the development costs and operating costs of the sub-controllers 6, and can reduce the burden on, for example, a railway operator 2 that operates a small regional line when introducing a new traffic control system.

[0107] Embodiment 2 The traffic control system according to the second embodiment differs from the traffic control system 100 according to the first embodiment in that the control device can be replaced with another control device, that the train operation status can be displayed and the operation status can be operated on a portable terminal, and that information can be transmitted and received between operators. In the following, components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted, and the explanation will focus on the points that are different from the traffic control system 100 of the first embodiment.

[0108] Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of a traffic control system according to the embodiment 2. As illustrated in Fig. 16, a traffic control system 100A according to the embodiment 2 differs from the traffic control system 100 in that the traffic control system 100A includes a control device 1A and a portable terminal 80 instead of the control device 1.

[0109] The portable terminal 80 is provided for each railway business operator 2. The portable terminal 80 is, for example, a tablet, a smartphone, or a notebook PC (Personal Computer), and can execute the functions of the display device 3 and the functions of the operation device 4.

[0110] Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a portable terminal according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 17, a portable terminal 80 according to the second embodiment includes a communication unit 81, a display unit 82, and an operation unit 83. The display unit 82 is an example of a display device. The operation unit 83 is an example of an operation device.

[0111] The communication unit 81 performs wireless communication. The communication unit 81 is communicatively connected to the IF unit 72 via, for example, a wireless base station of a mobile communication network. The communication unit 81 can also communicate with a wireless LAN access point included in the station transmission device 75 and be communicatively connected to the IF unit 72 via the station transmission device 75. The communication unit 81 receives display information and train information from the control device 1A via the IF unit 72. The communication unit 81 may be communicatively connected to the IF unit 71 instead of the IF unit 72.

[0112] The display unit 82 has the same functions as the display device 3, and displays a monitoring screen based on the display information and train information from the control device 1A received by the communication unit 81. The operation unit 83 transmits a control request based on an operation by a dispatcher to the communication unit 81 via the IF unit 72 to the control device 1A.

[0113] In this way, since the traffic control system 100A according to the second embodiment includes the portable terminal 80 having the functions of the display device 3 and the operation device 4, the dispatcher can grasp the operation status of the train 9 and control the operation of the train 9 from a location away from the command center, such as near a station or inside the train 9. Therefore, the traffic control system 100A can improve the convenience for the dispatcher.

[0114] Next, the configuration of the control device 1A will be described. Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 18, the control device 1A according to the second embodiment differs from the control device 1 in that it includes a processing unit 12A instead of the processing unit 12. As shown in Fig. 18, the processing unit 12A differs from the processing unit 12 in that it further includes a switching processing unit 26, a cost processing unit 27, and a maintenance request unit 28.

[0115] The switching processing unit 26 changes the network address of the control device 1A set in the IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723 when replacing the control device 1A of the traffic control system 100A.

[0116] Fig. 19 is a diagram for explaining an example of processing by the switching processing unit according to the second embodiment. In the example shown in Fig. 19, in order to distinguish between the two control devices 1A constructed in a cloud environment, the control device 1A included in the traffic management system 100A before switching is described as a control device 1A1, and the control device 1A included in the traffic management system 100A after switching is described as a control device 1A2.

[0117] In the example shown in FIG. 19, the control device 1A1 is assigned the IP address "10.160.00.101" as its network address, and the control device 1A2 is assigned the IP address "10.160.00.102" as its network address.

[0118] The switching processing unit 26 of the control device 1A1 acquires the network address of the control device 1A2 from an external device (not shown) via the communication unit 10. In the following, the network address of the control device 1A2 may be referred to as a switching destination address.

[0119] When the switching processing unit 26 of the control device 1A1 receives a switching request from an external device via the communication unit 10, it determines that the switching timing has arrived, which is the time to switch the control device 1A of the traffic management system 100A from the control device 1A1 to the control device 1A2.

[0120] When it is determined that the switching timing has arrived, the switching processing unit 26 changes the destination address set in the IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723 to the network address of the control device 1A2, which is the switching destination address. The destination address is the network address of the control device 1A, which is the destination of information sent by the IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723. As a result, the control device 1A constituting the traffic management system 100A is switched from the control device 1A1 to the control device 1A2.

[0121] In this way, the traffic control system 100A can switch the control device 1A constituting the traffic control system 100A by changing the network address of the control device 1A, which is the destination address set in the IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723. Therefore, when maintenance of the control device 1A is required or when a change is required due to deterioration of the control device 1A, the control device 1A constituting the traffic control system 100A can be easily switched.

[0122] In the traffic control system 100A, the destination addresses set in the IF units 711, 712, 713, 721, 722, and 723 can be changed from the operation device 4 or a terminal device (not shown) instead of the control device 1A.

[0123] Next, the process performed by the switching processor 26 of the control device 1A will be described with reference to a flowchart. Fig. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the process performed by the switching processor of the control device according to the second embodiment.

[0124] 20, the switching processing unit 26 of the control device 1A determines whether or not a switching destination address has been acquired from an external device via the communication unit 10 (step S30). When the switching processing unit 26 determines that a switching destination address has not been acquired (step S30: No), it acquires the switching destination address from the external device (step S31).

[0125] When the process of step S31 is completed or when it is determined that the switching destination address has been acquired (step S30: Yes), the switching processing unit 26 determines whether or not a switching request has been acquired from an external device via the communication unit 10 (step S32). When it is determined that a switching request has been acquired (step S32: Yes), the switching processing unit 26 changes the destination address of the IF units 71 and 72 to the switching destination address (step S33). As a result, the control device 1A constituting the traffic management system 100A is switched from the control device 1A1 to the control device 1A2.

[0126] When the process of step S33 is completed, or when it is determined that a switching request has not been acquired (step S32: No), the switching processing unit 26 ends the process shown in FIG.

[0127] Returning to Fig. 18, the description of the control device 1A will be continued. The expense processing unit 27 of the control device 1A obtains the consideration for the traffic management service of the trains 9 by the control device 1A from each railway business operator 2. The expense processing unit 27 obtains the consideration for the traffic management service from the railway business operator 2, for example, by debiting a service fee, which is the cost of the traffic management service, from the bank account of the railway business operator 2. The expense processing unit 27 can also transmit data of an invoice or receipt to a device of the railway business operator 2, for example.

[0128] The maintenance request unit 28 requests the maintenance company to perform maintenance management of at least one of the multiple railway facilities 5. For example, when the maintenance request unit 28 detects railway facilities 5 that require repair or inspection based on information transmitted from the railway facilities 5, the maintenance request unit 28 requests the maintenance company to perform maintenance management of the railway facilities 5 by transmitting a request for maintenance management of the railway facilities 5 that require repair or inspection to the terminal of the maintenance company.

[0129] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between a service provider, a railway operator, a cloud service provider, and a maintenance company in the traffic management service by the traffic management system according to the second embodiment.

[0130] 21, a service provider that manages and operates the control device 1A provides a traffic management service to the railway business operator 2 and receives a service fee, which is the cost of the traffic management service, from the railway business operator 2. The service fee is a monthly or annual service fee.

[0131] The service provider receives a cloud environment from the cloud service provider, builds the control device 1A in the cloud environment, and pays a service fee to the cloud service provider as compensation for the provision of the cloud environment. The service fee is a monthly or annual service fee.

[0132] In addition, the service provider requests a maintenance company to perform maintenance management of the railway facilities 5 and the like, and pays the maintenance management fee to the maintenance company. The maintenance management fee may be a fixed fee on a monthly or annual basis, or may be a fee incurred for each maintenance management.

[0133] A hardware configuration example of the control device 1A according to the second embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the control device 1 shown in Fig. 15. The processor 101 can execute the functions of the processing unit 12A by reading and executing a program stored in the memory 102.

[0134] As described above, the traffic control system 100A according to the second embodiment includes a plurality of control devices 1A, and each of the plurality of IF units 71 and each of the plurality of IF units 72 can change the network address of the destination from the network address of one control device 1A1 of the plurality of control devices 1A to the network address of another control device 1A2 of the plurality of control devices 1A. This allows the traffic control system 100A to easily switch the control device 1A constituting the traffic control system 100A when maintenance of the control device 1A is required or when a change is required due to deterioration of the control device 1A.

[0135] The traffic control system 100A also includes a plurality of portable terminals 80 that are provided for each of the plurality of railway operators 2 and are communicatively connected to the control device 1A. Each of the plurality of portable terminals 80 includes a corresponding display unit among a plurality of display units 82 and a corresponding operation unit among a plurality of operation units 83. The display unit 82 is an example of a display device, and the operation unit 83 is an example of an operation device. As a result, in the traffic control system 100A, the dispatcher can grasp the operation status of the train 9 and control the operation of the train 9 from a position near the station or away from the dispatch center, such as inside the train 9, thereby improving the convenience of the dispatcher.

[0136] The control device 1A also includes a cost processing unit 27 that acquires the consideration for the traffic management service of the train 9 by the control device 1A from the multiple railway operators 2. As a result, in the traffic management system 100A, the service provider can acquire the consideration for the provision of the traffic management service.

[0137] The control device 1A also includes a maintenance request unit 28 that requests a maintenance company to perform maintenance management of at least one of the multiple railway facilities 5. This allows the traffic control system 100A to allow a service provider to easily request maintenance management of the railway facilities 5.

[0138] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies, or the embodiments may be combined with each other. Also, parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0139] 1, 1A, 1A1, 1A2 control device, 2, 21, 22, 23 railway operator, 3 display device, 4 operation device, 5 railway equipment, 6 sub-control device, 7 network, 8 terminal device, 9 train, 10, 60, 81 communication unit, 11, 62 memory unit, 12, 12A, 61 processing unit, 21, 64 timetable management unit, 22, 65 train tracking unit, 23 operation arrangement unit, 24 route control unit, 25, 67 passenger information unit, 26 switching processing unit, 27 cost processing unit, 28 maintenance request unit, 31 TID terminal, 32 interlocking device, 50 on-board device, 51 position detection unit, 52 on-board camera, 53 on-board monitor unit, 54 on-board fare display unit, 55 on-board radio unit, 63 synchronization processing unit, 66 Control processing unit, 71,711,712,713,72,721,722,723 IF unit, 73,731,732,733,74,741,742,743 VPN, 75 station transmission equipment, 76 central transmission equipment, 80 portable terminal, 82 display unit, 83 operation unit, 100,100A operation control system, 101 processor, 102 memory, 103 communication device, 104 bus.

Claims

1. A control device that is built in a cloud environment and individually manages the operation of trains for multiple railway operators; A plurality of operation devices are provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and are communicatively connected to the control device; A plurality of interface units connected to the control device via a virtual private network, each interface unit being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railroad operators; Equipped with The operation control system is characterized in that the control device includes, in the information to be transmitted, a network address of an interface unit to which information is to be transmitted, as a destination network address, among the plurality of interface units.

2. A control device constructed in a cloud environment and capable of individually managing the operation of trains of multiple railway operators; A plurality of operation devices are provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and are communicatively connected to the control device; A plurality of interface units connected to the control device via a virtual private network, each interface unit being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railroad operators; Equipped with A traffic management system characterized in that each of the railway equipment of the multiple railway operators is communicatively connected to the control device via a corresponding station virtual private network among multiple station virtual private networks.

3. A plurality of control devices constructed in a cloud environment and individually managing the operation of trains of a plurality of railway operators; A plurality of operation devices are provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and are communicatively connected to the control device; A plurality of interface units connected to the control device via a virtual private network, each interface unit being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railroad operators; Equipped with A traffic management system characterized in that the control device changes the destination network address set in the interface unit from the network address of one of the multiple control devices to the network address of the other control device.

4. A plurality of control devices constructed in a cloud environment and individually managing the operation of trains of a plurality of railway operators; A plurality of operation devices are provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and are communicatively connected to the control device; A plurality of interface units connected to the control device via a virtual private network, each interface unit being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railroad operators; A plurality of display devices provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and communicatively connected to the control device; Equipped with A traffic management system characterized in that the control device displays information indicating the operating status of the trains of a corresponding one of the multiple railway operators on the display device.

5. A plurality of control devices constructed in a cloud environment and individually managing the operation of trains of a plurality of railway operators; A plurality of operation devices are provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and are communicatively connected to the control device; A plurality of interface units connected to the control device via a virtual private network, each interface unit being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railroad operators; A plurality of sub-controllers provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and communicatively connected to the control device; Equipped with The sub-control device includes: A traffic management system characterized by obtaining train operation management information of a corresponding one of the multiple railway operators from the control device, and managing the operation of the train based on the obtained traffic management information.

6. A control device constructed in a cloud environment and individually managing the operation of trains of multiple railway operators; A plurality of operation devices are provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and are communicatively connected to the control device; A plurality of interface units connected to the control device via a virtual private network, each interface unit being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railroad operators; Equipped with The control device includes: A traffic management system comprising: a cost processing unit that acquires payment for the train traffic management service provided by the control device from a plurality of the railway operators.

7. A control device constructed in a cloud environment and individually managing the operation of trains of multiple railway operators; A plurality of operation devices are provided for each of the plurality of railroad operators and are communicatively connected to the control device; A plurality of interface units connected to the control device via a virtual private network, each interface unit being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of railroad operators; Equipped with The control device includes: A traffic management system comprising a maintenance request unit that requests a maintenance company to perform maintenance management of railway facilities of the railway operator.

8. 8. The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein different network addresses are assigned to the plurality of interface units.

9. The traffic management system according to claim 8, characterized in that the control device identifies which of the multiple interface units the received information was sent from, based on the network address of the sender contained in the received information.

10. The traffic management system according to claim 2, further comprising a station-side interface unit that is provided between a railway facility of a corresponding one of the plurality of railway operators and a corresponding one of the plurality of station-side virtual private networks, and is communicatively connected to the railway facility of the corresponding one of the plurality of railway operators.

11. A terminal device communicably connected to the control device, The traffic management system according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the operation device and the terminal device can change the destination network address set in the interface unit from the network address of one of the multiple control devices to the network address of the other of the multiple control devices.

12. 8. The traffic management system according to claim 1, wherein the control device has a memory unit that stores individual data of each of the plurality of railway operators from among the information received via the plurality of interface units.

13. 13. The traffic management system according to claim 12, wherein the individual data stored in the memory unit is information including a train schedule of the trains managed by a plurality of the railway operators.

14. The traffic management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control device controls railway equipment of a corresponding one of the multiple railway operators based on a control request transmitted from the operation device.

15. The operation management function for the train by the sub-controller is The traffic control system according to claim 5, characterized in that the traffic control system has a lower function than the traffic control function for the trains by the control device.

16. The control device includes: Manage the train's location on a track circuit basis to manage the train's operation; The sub-control device includes:

6. The traffic control system according to claim 5, wherein the train's location is controlled on a station-by-station basis to control the operation of the train.

17. The traffic management system according to claim 1 , further comprising a portable terminal communicatively connected to the interface unit and having the function of the operation device.

18. a communication unit that is constructed in a cloud environment, is connected via an operation device and a virtual private network provided for each of the plurality of railway operators corresponding to the railway operators, and receives a control request transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators corresponding to the railway operators; a processing unit that individually manages train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received by the communication unit, A control device comprising: a control unit for controlling a network address of an interface unit, which is a transmission target of information, among the plurality of interface units, included in information to be transmitted as a destination network address.

19. A communication unit constructed in a cloud environment, connected via an operation device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators corresponding to said railway operators, and receiving a control request transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators corresponding to said railway operators; a processing unit that individually manages train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received by the communication unit; an expense processing unit that acquires a fee for the train operation management service provided by the processing unit from a plurality of the railway operators; A control device comprising:

20. A communication unit constructed in a cloud environment, connected via an operation device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators corresponding to said railway operators, and receiving a control request transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators corresponding to said railway operators; a processing unit that individually manages train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received by the communication unit; a maintenance request unit that requests a maintenance company to perform maintenance management of railway equipment of the railway operator; A control device comprising:

21. A storage unit that stores individual data of each of the plurality of railway operators received by the communication unit, 21. The control device according to claim 18, wherein the processing unit individually controls railway facilities of the plurality of railway operators based on the individual data stored in the memory unit.

22. a first step of receiving a control request that is connected via an operation device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators and that is transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators; a second step of individually managing train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received in the first step; A control method comprising the step of: including in information to be transmitted, as a destination network address, a network address of an interface unit to which information is to be transmitted among the plurality of interface units.

23. A first step of receiving a control request that is connected via an operating device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators corresponding to the plurality of railway operators and transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators corresponding to the plurality of railway operators; a second step of individually managing train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received in the first step; a third step of acquiring a fee for the train operation management service obtained by the second step from the plurality of railway operators; A control method comprising:

24. A first step of receiving a control request that is connected via an operating device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators corresponding to the plurality of railway operators and transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators corresponding to the plurality of railway operators; a second step of individually managing train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received in the first step; A third step of requesting a maintenance company to perform maintenance management of the railway equipment of the railway operator; A control method comprising:

25. On the computer, a first step of receiving a control request that is connected via an operation device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators and that is transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators; a second step of individually managing the operation of trains of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received in the first step; A control program comprising: a network address of an interface unit, among the plurality of interface units, to which information is to be transmitted, the network address being included in the information to be transmitted as a destination network address.

26. A computer comprising: a first step of receiving a control request that is connected via an operation device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators and that is transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators; a second step of individually managing train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received in the first step; a third step of acquiring a fee for the train operation management service obtained by the second step from the plurality of railway operators; A control program for causing the computer to execute the above steps.

27. A computer comprising: a first step of receiving a control request that is connected via an operation device and a virtual private network provided for each of a plurality of railway operators and that is transmitted via an interface unit provided for each of the plurality of railway operators; a second step of individually managing train operations of the plurality of railroad operators based on the control request received in the first step; A third step of requesting a maintenance company to perform maintenance management of the railway equipment of the railway operator; A control program for causing the computer to execute the above steps.

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