Railroad Communication Jamming Detection and Power Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Railroad cars equipped with wireless communication devices are vulnerable to jamming signals, which can cause communication breakdowns and threaten safe travel, as existing technologies lack effective methods to detect and mitigate such interference.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising main and auxiliary antennas, a main receiver, an auxiliary receiver, and a controller that compares signal magnitudes to detect jamming signals and temporarily controls power to the communication device or antenna, including a power switching portion to cut off or manage power, and a jamming signal storage to record and transmit jamming information to a terrestrial base station.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless communication is used in railroad cars, then convenience is improved, but safety and security deteriorate due to vulnerability to jamming signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of wireless communicationVSAvoidsafety and security of communication
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting jamming signals in advance before they can disrupt normal communication. The detection device monitors the communication environment proactively, identifying jamming signals early so that protective measures can be taken before communication breakdown occurs, thus maintaining both convenience and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by taking countermeasures against jamming signals before they can cause harm. When a jamming signal is detected, the system automatically controls the power of the communication device or antenna to prevent the jamming signal from disrupting communication, thereby protecting safety while maintaining wireless communication convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If jamming signals are detected and power is cut off to protect the communication device, then reliability is improved, but communication continuity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of communication deviceVSAvoidcommunication continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the power control adaptive and responsive to real-time conditions. The system dynamically adjusts power based on jamming signal detection - cutting off power when jamming is detected to protect the device, and resuming power when the threat disappears to maintain communication continuity. This dynamic response resolves the contradiction between protection and continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through continuous monitoring of the communication environment. The detection device provides real-time information about jamming signals to the controller, which adjusts power accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that power is cut off only when necessary for protection, and restored when safe, thereby maintaining communication continuity while ensuring device reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If power is temporarily controlled when jamming signal is detected, then safety is improved, but communication time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety from jamming signalsVSAvoidcommunication interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies skipping by rapidly transitioning through the power control process - quickly detecting jamming signals, swiftly cutting off power to prevent harm, and promptly restoring power when the threat disappears. This rapid response minimizes the duration of communication interruption while ensuring safety, allowing the system to rush through the protective action with minimal time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP3434554B1Apparatus and method for protecting communication device of railroad car
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 KOREA RAILROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  • EP3434554B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3434554B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP3434554B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for protecting a communication device of a railroad car. The apparatus includes an antenna portion configured to include main antennas and an auxiliary antenna, a main receiver configured to check a magnitude of a received signal transferred through the main antennas of the antenna portion, an auxiliary receiver configured to check a magnitude of a received signal transferred through the auxiliary antenna of the antenna portion, and a controller configured to compare the magnitude of the signal received by the main receiver and the magnitude of the signal received by the auxiliary receiver, determine whether there is a jamming signal according to a comparison result, and take a preset countermeasure when it is determined that there is a jamming signal.