Integrated Railway Dispatching and Virtual-Formation Train Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway signaling systems have low utilization of train journey data, and phased adjustment plans and train driving strategies rely heavily on personal experience, lacking automation and smart decision-making.

Innovation Solution

An integrated decision-maker is incorporated to receive train journey data, generating a time-optimal train driving strategy and multi-train driving strategy optimization using a knowledge-of-expert rule-based online optimization scheme and virtual formation mode, producing a graphic train schedule and multi-train target speed profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If an integrated decision-maker is incorporated to receive all train journey data and generate automated adjustment plans, then automation and smart decision-making levels are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation level of dispatching command and train operation controlVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the train dispatching command system and train operation control system into an integrated decision-maker that receives all train journey data from both subsystems. This consolidation enables unified automated decision-making for both dispatching commands and operation control, resolving the contradiction by achieving higher automation through system integration while managing complexity through functional unification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated decision-maker serves multiple functions: it receives train journey data, generates phased adjustment plans, creates assistant driving strategies, and coordinates between dispatching and control subsystems. This multi-functional design improves automation extent while containing complexity growth through a single versatile decision-making entity rather than multiple separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If train journey data is fully utilized through integrated decision-making, then productivity and operation efficiency are improved, but information processing requirements increase system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverailway operation efficiencyVSAvoiddata processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated decision-maker performs preliminary processing of train journey data to generate phased adjustment plans and assistant driving strategies in advance. By pre-calculating optimal solutions based on received data, the system improves operational productivity while managing complexity through structured data processing workflows that transform raw data into actionable plans before they are needed for execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If knowledge-of-expert rule-based online optimization is implemented for time-optimal train driving strategy, then manufacturing precision of driving strategy is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to reduced reliance on personal experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of train driving strategyVSAvoidease of operation for dispatcher and driver

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated decision-maker generates assistant driving strategies autonomously based on train journey data and knowledge-of-expert rules, without requiring manual input or adjustment by operators. The system self-optimizes driving strategies for time-efficiency and automatically transmits them to trains, improving precision while maintaining ease of operation through automated generation rather than manual creation of strategies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If multi-train driving strategy optimization based on virtual formation mode is implemented, then productivity of multi-train coordination is improved, but device complexity increases due to clustering and coordination algorithms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of multi-train coordinationVSAvoidalgorithm complexity for train clustering and coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments multiple trains into virtual formations or clusters based on their operational characteristics and spatial relationships. By dividing the multi-train coordination problem into smaller manageable clusters, the system improves overall productivity through coordinated optimization while managing algorithmic complexity through hierarchical segmentation rather than attempting to optimize all trains simultaneously as a single complex system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12351222B2Integrated railway movement dispatching and train operation control method, system, and application

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 BEIJING HUA-TIE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

An integrated railway movement dispatching and train operation control method, comprising: sensing in-transit information of a signal system; constructing an integrated railway movement dispatching and train operation control minimum system; optimizing a time-saving train driving strategy online; optimizing a multi-train driving strategy in a virtual formation mode; and generating an integrated railway movement dispatching and train operation control adjustment solution.