Railway Vehicle Onboard Server Remote Software Update Method

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for updating electronic equipment on multiple vehicles, such as railway vehicles, require significant downtime and technician intervention, leading to reduced vehicle availability and complex management due to the need for manual updating across a fleet.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing onboard servers with radiofrequency communication modules to transfer and store updated data, allowing for remote software updates through an extended network, with specific steps for data transmission and authorization, enabling simultaneous or sequential updating of multiple vehicles without requiring a technician's presence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual updating by technician is used, then updating can be performed, but vehicle availability decreases and updating time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update reliabilityVSAvoidvehicle downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-updating of vehicles through remote server communication. The onboard server receives update packages, validates them, and installs them without requiring physical technician intervention, allowing vehicles to update themselves while maintaining operational availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A remote server acts as an intermediary between the technician and the vehicle fleet. The server distributes update packages to multiple vehicles simultaneously, eliminating the need for technicians to physically visit each vehicle and significantly reducing total updating time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sequential updating of each vehicle is performed, then updating can be completed, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate completion reliabilityVSAvoidfleet updating speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fleet is segmented into multiple independent update recipients, each receiving and processing update packages independently. This allows parallel updating of multiple vehicles simultaneously, dramatically increasing productivity compared to sequential updating while maintaining reliability through individual validation processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Update packages are prepared and validated in advance on the remote server before distribution. This preliminary preparation ensures that when packages are distributed to multiple vehicles simultaneously, each vehicle can install updates reliably without requiring coordination or waiting for other vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple software versions coexist in the fleet, then flexibility is maintained, but management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware version flexibilityVSAvoidfleet management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where vehicles report their current software versions and update status to the remote server. The server tracks and manages version distribution across the fleet, providing visibility and control that reduces management complexity while maintaining the ability to deploy different versions as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enhances vehicle availability by allowing for faster and more efficient software updates, reducing downtime, and simplifying fleet management by enabling quasi-simultaneous updates with minimal personnel and reduced sensitivity to network interruptions.

Implementation Method 1

transferring updated data, through an extended radiofrequency communication network, from at least one server on the ground to the onboard servers of the vehicles of said plurality

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiofrequency communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10678534B2Method for updating a plurality of vehicles and assembly formed by a plurality of railway vehicles and an associated management system

Publication Date: 2020.06.09 ALSTOM HOLDINGS SA

AI summary

A method for applying a plurality of vehicles each including an onboard server and at least two apparatuses, an onboard server and each of the apparatuses storing initial data, each onboard server being connected to the apparatuses mounted in the same vehicle with a local network. The method includes the steps of transferring modified data, through an extended radiofrequency communication network, from a server on the ground towards the onboard servers, when the modified data have been stored in memory in each onboard server, emitting via the extended network, an updating command, and transmitting modified data to at least one apparatus through the corresponding local network, the modified data replacing, in the apparatus, the initial data.