External Storage for Railway Sensor Data Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining output information in railway technology are unreliable after a client device failure, as they require manual reprocessing of internal status information and are limited to specific applications, with high storage and connection costs for outdoor components.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves determining input information at reference points, storing it in sensor devices, transmitting it to an evaluation unit, processing it to derive output information, and storing the data set externally, allowing for continuity checks and reliable determination of current output information after client device reactivation without losing stored data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If client device stores internal status information locally, then output information can be determined after failure, but storage capacity is consumed and data may be lost during failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage function from the client device and places it in an external storage device. The external storage device stores datasets containing input information and output information independently of the client device's operational state, preventing data loss during failures while eliminating the need for large local storage capacity in the client device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external storage device as an intermediary between the sensor device and client device. This intermediary stores the necessary data independently, allowing the client device to retrieve output information after failure without requiring large local storage or risking data loss during operational failures.
2Reliability
If manual reprocessing of internal status information is performed after failure, then output information can be recalculated, but time and operational efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by storing complete datasets containing both input information and previously determined output information in an external storage device before any failure occurs. After client device failure, the system can directly retrieve the stored output information without requiring time-consuming manual reprocessing or recalculation.
3Reliability
If outdoor storage components are used for data storage, then data can be preserved after failure, but storage and connection costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, permanent outdoor storage components with more economical storage solutions. The external storage device can be positioned in locations with better infrastructure access, allowing the use of standard, cost-effective storage technologies rather than specialized outdoor-rated equipment, thereby reducing storage and connection costs while maintaining data preservation capability.
4Reliability
If all input information is transmitted after failure, then current output information can be determined, but data transmission volume and network load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the client device retrieve only the specific dataset containing the relevant input information and output information from the external storage device, rather than transmitting all possible input information. This selective retrieval reduces data transmission volume and network load while still providing sufficient information to determine current output information after failure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for reliably determining current output information (Iout(TN+M)) after the failure of a client device connected to a sensor device and an evaluation device, comprising the following method steps: a) determination of input information (Iin) at a reference time (T1...TN), wherein retrieval information (Ihol) is stored in the sensor device (1); b) transmission of the input information (Iin) to the client device (3); c) determination of the output information (Iout) or status information; d) storage of a data record (DS(T1)...DS(TN)) comprising the transmitted input information (Iin) and the output information (Iaus) or status information in a storage device (5) outside the sensor device; after failure of the client device at a failure time (TAusfall) and reactivation of the client device at a reactivation time (TReaktivierung): e) transmission of the last stored data record (DS(TN)) to the evaluation unit; f) transmission of the retrieval information (Ihol) to the client device (3); and g) determination of the current output information, whereby step f) and thus step g) are only carried out if a continuity check shows that the sensor device was available between the reference time (T1...TN) of the data record (DS(TN)) stored in e) and the reactivation time (TReaktivierung).