3D Train Trajectory Visualization for Timetable Irrationalities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional train graphs fail to visually express the physical irrationality of timetables in complex track layouts, leading to unrecognized timetable inconsistencies.

Innovation Solution

A transport management system that calculates and displays train trajectories in a three-dimensional space, incorporating track layout, timetable, and travel path data to intuitively highlight timetable irrationalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional two-dimensional train graph is used to display timetables, then the display is simple and easy to understand, but physical irrationalities in complex track layouts cannot be visually expressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of displayVSAvoidvisibility of timetable irrationality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a conventional two-dimensional train graph to a three-dimensional space representation. The third dimension represents the vertical layer corresponding to different railway tracks, allowing the display to preserve both the simplicity of 2D visualization and the ability to express complex track layout relationships. Train trajectories are displayed as three-dimensional curves that incorporate time, horizontal position, and vertical track layer information, enabling visual detection of timetable irrationalities that were invisible in 2D representations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If train schedule lines are displayed in a two-dimensional train graph, then the graph is easy to create and display, but crossing lines do not indicate irrationality in complicated track layouts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplexity of train graphVSAvoidaccuracy of timetable representation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by adding a vertical dimension to represent different railway tracks. Instead of having train schedule lines cross ambiguously in 2D space, the 3D representation shows trains on different tracks at different vertical layers, making it immediately visible when timetable arrangements are physically irrational. The computation apparatus calculates three-dimensional trajectories that incorporate track layer information, ensuring accurate representation without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If a three-dimensional display of train trajectories is implemented, then timetable irrationalities can be intuitively recognized, but the computational complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of timetable irrationalityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the computation apparatus pre-calculate the three-dimensional trajectories of trains based on timetable data and track layout information before display. The trajectory drawing unit computes the three-dimensional curves in advance, storing the calculated trajectory data for efficient rendering. This approach enables intuitive visualization of timetable irrationalities while managing computational complexity through pre-processing rather than real-time calculation during display operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4596368A1Transport management system and transport management method
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 HITACHI LTD
  • EP4596368A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4596368A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4596368A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a transport management system (100) that displays a timetable of a movable body, the transport management system including a calculator including a computation apparatus (101) that executes a predetermined computation process and a storage apparatus (103) that can be accessed by the computation apparatus. The computation apparatus includes a trajectory drawing unit (111) configured to calculate a first trajectory indicating a top position of the movable body in a three-dimensional space including one dimension representing a time and two dimensions representing a position of the movable body on a plane, based on a timetable of the movable body, track layout, and a travel path of the movable body, and generate data for displaying the calculated first trajectory in the three-dimensional space.