In-vehicle Station Facility Image Selection for Platform Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle information providing systems for trains require large-scale systems and pre-held arrival platform information, leading to high costs and potential inaccuracies when actual platforms differ from scheduled ones.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle information providing apparatus with a storage unit containing a station-facility image management table and database, connected to display units and a train information management apparatus, which selects and displays station facility images based on real-time train information, including next station name, traveling direction, and door opening direction, without needing a large-scale system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ground device such as ATS or a large-scale system is used to provide station guidance information, then the reliability of station facility information is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of providing station facility information from complex ground-based systems like ATS. By using a simple image display device mounted on the train that shows pre-prepared station facility images corresponding to different platforms, the system achieves reliable information provision without requiring complex ground infrastructure or real-time communication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing multiple station facility images in advance for different platform scenarios. These images are stored in the image display device and selected based on the actual platform where the train stops, eliminating the need for real-time system complexity during operation while ensuring reliable information is always available.
2Productivity
If arrival platform information is held beforehand in a database, then the information provision speed is improved, but the reliability decreases when actual platforms differ from scheduled ones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the information provision dynamic by selecting from multiple pre-prepared images based on the actual platform condition. Instead of displaying fixed scheduled information, the system adapts by choosing the appropriate image that matches the actual platform where the train stops, thus maintaining both fast information provision and high reliability even when platforms change.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple station facility images are stored for different platforms, then the adaptability to platform changes is improved, but the information provision complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating multiple image copies representing different platform scenarios. These images are stored in the device's memory and selected based on the actual platform condition. This approach provides high adaptability to platform changes while keeping the system simple, as it only requires storing and selecting image copies rather than implementing complex real-time information processing.
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)~3(c)
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AI summary
To provide an in-vehicle information providing apparatus that can display more reliable station facility information without requiring introduction of any large-scale system. The in-vehicle information providing apparatus includes a storage unit 4 that stores therein a station-facility image management table 5 in which station-facility image selection conditions including at least a station name, a traveling direction, and a door opening direction are associated with station facility images, and a station-facility image database 6 in which a plurality of station facility images corresponding to the station-facility image selection conditions are registered for each station. The in-vehicle information providing apparatus further includes an image-display control unit 7 that selects, from the station-facility image database 6, a station facility image in which train information 30 acquired from a train information management apparatus 3 matches with the station-facility image selection conditions, by referring to the station-facility image management table 5, and transmits the selected station facility image as station-facility image information to the respective display units 1a and 1b.