Central Supervision System for Multimodal Transport Network Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multimodal transport networks, passengers face challenges in minimizing journey time due to uncoordinated timetables across different monomodal networks, leading to prolonged waiting times and service disruptions, especially during vehicle delays or technical incidents.
Innovation Solution
A central supervision system that communicates with individual monomodal network operating systems to calculate and synchronize timetables, generate real-time traffic data, and modify operating rules to optimize passenger flow and service quality across interconnected networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If monomodal networks are managed independently by different operators with individual operating systems, then each network can be controlled according to its own operational constraints, but synchronization between networks is lost leading to prolonged passenger waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
A central supervision system is introduced as an intermediary between individual monomodal network operating systems. This central system receives real-time traffic data from multiple networks, calculates synchronized timetables considering interconnection constraints, and distributes modified operating rules back to the individual networks, thereby coordinating them without compromising their independent operational control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the operational supervision of multiple independent monomodal networks into a unified multimodal supervision framework. The central system combines traffic data from different networks and integrates timetable calculations across networks to achieve coordinated scheduling while maintaining the operational autonomy of each individual network
2Reliability
If theoretical timetables are used for journey planning, then passengers can plan their trips in advance, but the timetables are not correlated between networks and may not be respected during vehicle delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static theoretical timetables to dynamic real-time timetable adjustment. The central supervision system continuously receives actual traffic data, detects deviations and delays, and dynamically recalculates timetables for affected networks, ensuring that published schedules reflect current operational reality and can adapt to changing conditions
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism is established where the central supervision system monitors actual vehicle positions and timetable adherence in real-time, compares them against planned schedules, and automatically triggers recalculations and rule modifications when deviations are detected, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures timetable reliability
3Reliability
If a blockage occurs on one monomodal network, then that network experiences service disruption, but the impact spreads to other networks causing unforeseen congestion and extended passenger journeys
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting service disruptions and automatically calculating compensatory timetable adjustments before they propagate through the network. When a blockage is detected on one monomodal network, the central supervision system immediately recalculates timetables for connecting networks to prevent passenger accumulation and secondary congestion
4Loss of time
If a central supervision system is introduced to coordinate multiple monomodal networks, then synchronization and service quality improve, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supervision system is segmented into modular functional components: a data collection module that receives traffic data from individual networks, a central calculation module that processes timetables and constraints, and a distribution module that communicates modifications back to networks. This segmentation allows the complex system to be built and operated as independent, manageable modules
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an infrastructure and a method for supervising a multimodal transport network. The method comprises: - obtaining (40) real-time traffic data including multimodal transport requests, and generating (42) single-modal service requests from at least one multimodal transport request, - calculating (441-44i), by at least one single-modal network operating system, at least one single-modal network operating table intended to respond to a single-modal transport request, each operating table being defined according to operating constraints of said single-modal network and comprising at least one route including a series of stops to be served and at least one associated service timetable, - calculating (48), by the central supervision system, from operating tables received from the single-modal networks,of synchronizations between different operating tables to comply with predefined interconnection constraints, and -the calculation and transmission of at least one operating rule modification instruction to at least one single-mode network to implement (501-50i) an operating table complying with said synchronizations.