Railway Signalling via MCData SDS Tunneling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current railway signalling systems over wireless networks face inefficiencies and latency issues in TCP, UDP, or SCTP communications, which are critical for mission-critical operations and require enhanced reliability and low-latency solutions.
Innovation Solution
The method employs MCData SDS services for tunneling IP communications, leveraging 'mission critical' priority for fast and efficient signalling, with MCData servers handling authentication, authorization, security, and configuration, allowing railway entities to be simplified and utilizing redundancy strategies for fail-safe operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated wireless networks (TETRA, GSM-R, WLAN) are used for railway signalling, then reliability and low latency are achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling LTE networks to perform multiple functions - both general data transmission and mission-critical railway signalling - through the MCData service framework. This allows the existing LTE infrastructure to be used for signalling without requiring dedicated railway networks, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining reliability through priority handling mechanisms
2Reliability
If standalone signalling systems with own IP services cores are used, then authentication and security are handled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signalling entities' authentication and security functions with the MCData service core in the network. Instead of each signalling system having its own IP services core, the MCData service provides centralized authentication, authorization, and security management, reducing the complexity of individual signalling systems while maintaining robust security through network-level controls
3Ease of operation
If generic IP connectivity services are used, then ease of operation is improved, but latency and reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing differentiated service quality within the MCData framework. Mission-critical signalling messages receive priority handling, guaranteed bandwidth, and low-latency treatment specifically, while other data traffic uses standard IP services. This allows the system to maintain ease of operation through unified MCData access while ensuring low latency and high reliability for critical signalling communications
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of TCP, UDP or SCTP communication between two railway signalling entities (6, 18) over a wireless network (3), comprising: configuring first and second MCData clients (15, 21) for the signalling entities (6, 18) and registering the first and second MCData clients (15, 21) with an MCData server (14) of the wireless network (3) for MCData SDS transfer according to a 3GPP LTE standard; receiving a signalling message (19) according to a TCP, UDP or SCTP standard from the first signalling entity (6) in the first MCData client (15); in the first MCData client (15), wrapping the signalling message (19) in an MCData SDS message (22); sending the MCData SDS message (22) from the first MCData client (15) to the second MCData client (21) via the MCData server (14); extracting the signalling message (19) from the MCData SDS message (22) in the second MCData client (21); and sending the signalling message (19) to the second signalling entity (18).