Dual Transceiver Train Communication System Failover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems in distributed power train systems face challenges in efficiently re-establishing communication when a communication device fails or the signal path is interrupted, often taking up to 20 seconds to switch to an alternate transceiver, which can impact system performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
A communication system and method that utilize dual, redundant communication devices for both the lead and remote locomotive power groups, transmitting command messages in different time slots to ensure receipt and identification of failed or interrupted communication paths, reducing response time to less than 1 second by expanding available time slots and allocating adjacent slots for redundant transceivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single transceiver is used for communication between lead and remote locomotive power groups, then the system is simpler, but communication reliability deteriorates when the transceiver fails or signal path is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different functional characteristics to different transceivers in the master power group. The first transceiver is designated for normal command message transmission while the second transceiver is held in standby for failover scenarios. This differentiation in role assignment enhances communication reliability without requiring complete system redundancy, thereby balancing reliability improvement with device complexity management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-configuring a second standby transceiver in the master power group before any failure occurs. The standby transceiver is prepared with all necessary communication capabilities and can immediately take over if the primary transceiver fails or signal path is interrupted. This proactive preparation eliminates communication gaps and ensures continuous operation, directly addressing the reliability improvement goal.
2Reliability
If redundant transceivers are used with retry cycles, then communication reliability improves, but response time deteriorates to up to 20 seconds for transceiver swapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the second standby transceiver with all necessary communication protocols, credentials, and operational parameters before any failure occurs. The standby transceiver is kept in a ready state with minimal processing required to become active. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a failure occurs, the switchover can occur in seconds rather than 20 seconds, directly addressing the response time reduction goal while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies skipping by eliminating the lengthy retry cycle and systematic transceiver swapping process. Instead of methodically attempting communications through multiple retries and complex swap procedures, the system immediately switches to the pre-prepared standby transceiver when a failure is detected. This rushed, direct approach to failover reduces the response time from 20 seconds to a fraction of that time while maintaining the same level of communication reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple time slots are allocated for redundant transceivers, then communication reliability improves, but message exchange cycle complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by dividing the message exchange cycle into distinct time slots, with specific slots allocated to the first transceiver and others to the second transceiver. This temporal segmentation allows the system to systematically attempt communications through different transceivers without requiring complex simultaneous coordination. The segmented approach simplifies the management of redundant transceivers while ensuring reliable message delivery, directly addressing both reliability improvement and complexity management.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system for a train having a lead locomotive power group and at least one remote locomotive power group, the system including: a lead locomotive computer in communication with a first and second lead communication device and programmed to: generate a command message; transmit or cause the transmission of the command message from the first lead communication device in a predetermined time slot; and transmit or cause the transmission of the command message from the second lead communication device in a different predetermined time slot; and at least one remote locomotive computer in communication with at least one remote communication device and programmed to directly or indirectly receive the command message from the first lead communication device and/or the second lead communication device. A communication method for a train is also disclosed.