Electronic Interlocking Signal Degradation for Delay-Tolerant Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing full electronic interlocking systems in rail transport face challenges in controlling signals to switch states in a timely manner, leading to reduced safety and availability due to communication delays and potential system failures.
Innovation Solution
An automatic degradation method and system for full electronic interlocking signals, which includes managing signal states through control commands, determining the need for automatic degradation based on indication states, and implementing either abnormality protection degradation or availability degradation to ensure safe and timely signal control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Ethernet communication is used between the signal module and interlocking computer, then information exchange is achieved, but communication delay occurs especially when interference happens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary action by pre-configuring alternative communication paths and degradation modes. When the primary Ethernet communication path experiences interference or delay, the system automatically switches to alternative communication methods or degradation modes that were prepared in advance, thereby reducing the effective response time despite the initial communication delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a degradation management module that mediates between the signal module and interlocking computer. This intermediary can detect communication delays and facilitate switching to alternative communication paths or degradation modes, acting as a buffer that reduces the impact of Ethernet communication delays on overall system response time.
2Reliability
If the system waits for confirmation from the interlocking computer before switching signal states, then communication completeness is ensured, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the communication protocol adaptive. The system can dynamically adjust between synchronous confirmation mode (for reliability) and asynchronous execution mode (for speed) based on the operational context and communication conditions. This allows the signal switching speed to be optimized without completely sacrificing communication completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-validating command formats and preparing signal switching sequences before actual execution. This allows the interlocking computer to send commands that are pre-validated and can be executed with minimal confirmation delay, thereby improving signal switching speed while maintaining communication completeness through pre-executed validation.
3Device complexity
If the signal module directly controls light points without degradation modes, then system structure is simple, but safety and availability decrease during failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal control system into distinct functional modules: the primary control path through Ethernet communication, and secondary degradation paths that can be independently activated. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a relatively simple overall structure while incorporating multiple safety layers. Each segment can operate independently when needed, providing redundancy without significantly increasing the complexity of the normal operational path.
Solution Approach 2:
The degradation management module serves multiple functions: it monitors communication status, manages degradation modes, and coordinates alternative communication paths. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each safety function, thereby maintaining simpler system structure while enhancing safety and availability during failures.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This invention discloses an automatic degradation method for a full electronic interlocking signal, comprising: sending, by an interlocking computer, a control command to a signal module; managing, by the signal module, a signal according to the control command, meanwhile continuously monitoring an indication state cleared by the signal; determining, by the signal module, whether to perform signal automatic degradation according to the indication state cleared by the signal, continuing to determine a type of signal automatic degradation if signal automatic degradation is to be performed, the type of signal automatic degradation including abnormality protection degradation and availability degradation; feeding back, by the signal module, the indication state cleared by the signal and auxiliary information to the interlocking computer. By differentiating the degradation function, the present invention makes a division into abnormality protection degradation and availability degradation. For abnormality protection degradation, respond can be made quickly when danger indication is found, which improves the processing speed and avoids the time delay caused by a system failure or external factors; for availability degradation, degradation response time is reduced through an additional command mode, which improves safety and availability.