Passenger information system and passenger information system monitoring method

Abstract

To solve the conventional problems in that when a computing machine having the same function as an operation computing machine is provided as backup at the time of occurrence of abnormality, it is not in use except when the backup is operated and this results in an excessive facility.SOLUTION: As a passenger guiding system configured of a plurality of computing machines, each of the plurality of computing machines includes a monitoring unit and a plurality of common functions. A first priority is set to each of the plurality of computing machines and a second priority is set to each of the plurality of common functions. Each of the plurality of computing machines executes a function having the second priority corresponding to its own first priority and determines a function to be executed by the other computing machine by mutual state monitoring by the monitoring units between the computing machine and the other computing machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger guidance system that is made up of a plurality of guidance devices and a method for monitoring the passenger guidance system. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional passenger guidance system, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which, when an operational abnormality is detected, corrected guidance information corresponding to the operational abnormality is obtained, and passenger guidance is provided in accordance with this corrected guidance information.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a train traffic management system in which multiple control devices (computers) each having multiple information processing means (objects) are configured, and in the event of an abnormality, another computer having the same information processing means (object) takes over and processes information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-18688 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-139312 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The computer that serves as the backup in the event of an abnormality is assumed to be a substitute computer with the same functions as the computer in operation, and this computer will not be used except when it is performing backup operations, becoming redundant equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one representative passenger information system of the present invention is composed of a plurality of computers, each of which has a monitoring unit and a plurality of common functions, a first priority is set for each of the plurality of computers and a second priority is set for each of the plurality of common functions, and each of the plurality of computers executes a function having a second priority corresponding to its own first priority, and determines the functions executed by the other computers by mutual status monitoring with the other computers by the monitoring unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to assign priorities to the multiple functions possessed by each of the multiple computers that make up the passenger information system, minimize the functions that are degraded when an abnormality occurs, and reduce the amount of equipment used as alternatives. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a device configuration of a passenger information system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as a mode for carrying out the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. EXAMPLES

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a device configuration of a passenger information system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first computer 101, the second computer 201, and the third computer 301 each have a first function (102, 202, 302), a second function (103, 203, 303), a third function (104, 204, 304), a monitoring unit (105, 205, 305), and an external equipment communication unit (106, 206, 306).

[0011] In terms of a passenger information system, each computer (101, 201, 301) corresponds to, for example, information devices installed in a station, and the first to third functions correspond to, for example, information control, broadcast output, and display output to a departure board.

[0012] A priority order is set for each of the first computer 101, the second computer 201, and the third computer 301, and in this embodiment, the priority order is highest for the first computer 101, the second computer 201, and the third computer 301.

[0013] In addition, a priority order is set for each function possessed by the first computer 101, the second computer 201, and the third computer 301, and in this embodiment, the priority order is the first function, the second function, and the third function.

[0014] Furthermore, the first computer 101, the second computer 201, and the third computer 301 mutually transmit and receive status information (401, 402, 403) of the other computers via their respective monitoring units (105, 205, 305), thereby determining and recognizing the operating status of each other's computers.

[0015] According to the above priority order, The first computer 101 with the highest priority executes the first function 102 with the highest priority. The second computer 201, which has the second highest priority, determines through the monitor 205 that the first computer 101 is executing the first function 102, and executes the second function 203, which has the second highest priority. The third computer 301, which has third priority, determines through the monitoring unit 305 that the first computer 101 is executing the first function 102 and the second computer 201 is executing the second function 203, and executes the third function 304, which has third priority.

[0016] The guidance control for the external facility 501 is performed by each computer (101, 201, 301) executing each function via each external facility communication unit (106, 206, 306).

[0017] Next, the operation modes when the first computer 101, the second computer 201, and the third computer 301 are each stopped will be described.

[0018] (1) When the first computer 101 is stopped When the second computer 201 determines that the first computer 101 and its first function 102 have stopped from the status information 401 and 402 exchanged by the monitoring unit 205, it stops the second function 203 that it was executing and executes the first function 202 in place of the first computer 101. When the third computer 301 determines from the status information 402 and 403 exchanged by the monitoring unit 305 that the first computer 101 has stopped and that the second computer 201 is executing the first function 202 and the second function 203 has stopped, it stops the third function 304 that it was executing and executes the second function 303 in place of the second computer 201. As a result of the above, the passenger information system degrades the lower priority functions by stopping the third function itself.

[0019] (2) When the second computer 201 is stopped The first computer 101 continues the operation of the first function 102 . When the third computer 301 determines that the second computer 201 and the second function 203 have stopped from the status information 402 and 403 exchanged by the monitoring unit 305, it stops the third function 304 that it was executing and executes the second function 303 in place of the second computer 201. As a result of the above, the passenger information system degrades the lower priority functions by stopping the third function itself.

[0020] (3) When the third computer 301 is stopped The first computer 101 continues the operation of the first function 102, and the second computer 201 continues the operation of the second function 203. Since the third function 304 executed by the third computer 301 is stopped, the passenger information system degrades functions with lower priority due to the stopping of the third function itself.

[0021] As described above, when a constituent computer stops, it is possible to degrade functions with low priority and ensure that the operation of a specified function continues.

[0022] Furthermore, when recovering from a stop, the state information may be used to return to the original state (original functional configuration).

[0023] Here, the state information 401, 402, and 403 may be recorded including the states of other computers recognized by the sending computer. For example, the state information 401 includes the state of the second computer 201 and the state of the third computer 301 recognized by the second computer.

[0024] As a result, for example, when the first computer 101 fails to receive status information 403 from the third computer 301, the first computer 101 compares the status of the third computer 301 recorded in the status information 401 received from the second computer 201 with the failure to receive the status information 403, thereby determining whether the third computer 301 has stopped or the status information 403 is missing.

[0025] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in which there are three computers, the present invention can also be applied to a case in which there are two computers, or four or more computers. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 101: first computer, 201: second computer, 301: third computer, 102, 202, 302: First function, 103, 203, 303: Second function, 104, 204, 304: Third function, 105, 205, 305: Monitoring section, 106, 206, 306: External equipment communication unit, 401, 402, 403: Status information, 501: External equipment

Claims

1. A passenger information system comprising a plurality of computers, each of the plurality of computers includes a monitoring unit and a plurality of common functions; a first priority is set for each of the plurality of computers, and a second priority is set for each of the plurality of common functions; Each of the plurality of computers executes the function having the second priority corresponding to its own first priority, and determines the function executed by the other computers by mutual status monitoring with the other computers by the monitoring unit. A passenger information system comprising:

2. 2. The passenger information system according to claim 1, When each of the plurality of computers determines that the function executed by the other computer has been stopped through the state monitoring by the monitoring unit, the computer determines, based on the first priority order of the other computer, whether to stop the function that the computer is executing and execute the function that the other computer has been executing. A passenger information system comprising:

3. 3. The passenger information system according to claim 2, When the first priority of each of the plurality of computers is lower than the first priority of the other computers, each of the plurality of computers stops the function that it is executing and executes the function that was executed by the other computers. A passenger information system comprising:

4. A passenger information system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Each of the plurality of computers exchanges status information of all of the plurality of computers recognized by the other computers via the monitoring unit, and judges whether or not there is an error in the status information of the other computers recognized by itself. A passenger information system comprising:

5. A method for monitoring a passenger information system that is composed of a plurality of computers having a plurality of common functions, comprising the steps of: setting a first priority for each of the plurality of computers and a second priority for each of the plurality of common functions; Each of the plurality of computers executes the function having the second priority corresponding to its own first priority, and monitors the status of the other computers to determine the function executed by the other computers. When it is determined that the function should be stopped, the computer determines whether to stop the function it is executing and execute the function executed by the other computers based on the first priority of the other computers. A passenger information system monitoring method comprising:

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