Telecom Adapter Routing 4G 5G Modems to Legacy Train Computers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Railway on-board computers with long service life struggle to support newer 4G and 5G radio standards due to outdated hardware and software, requiring extensive adaptations and retrofits, especially when older trains need to be modernized for modern communication standards.
Innovation Solution
An adapter device with a switching unit that connects modems of different radio standards to an on-board computer, allowing data to be routed between modems without modifying the on-board computer hardware, using signatures, headers, or command sets for efficient assignment, and utilizing interfaces like RS-232, RS-422, and FRMCS, with the option of being a plug-in card or integrated circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If on-board computer hardware is updated to support 4G/5G standards, then radio standard compatibility is improved, but device complexity and retrofit cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter device as an intermediary component between the existing on-board computer and the new 4G/5G modem. The adapter contains a switching unit that routes data packets between different radio standards (2G/3G via first modem, 4G/5G via second modem) without requiring modification of the on-board computer hardware. This mediator approach allows old hardware to support new standards through software updates alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the existing on-board computer, the adapter device with switching unit, and multiple modems for different radio standards. This segmentation allows independent updates of the adapter's routing logic to support new standards while preserving the original on-board computer hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive hardware retrofits are performed to support newer radio standards, then system compatibility is improved, but loss of time and increased complexity of adaptation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter device is pre-configured with switching logic and routing tables that can be updated via software before deployment. The switching unit is designed in advance to handle multiple radio standards, allowing rapid deployment of new standard support through firmware updates rather than time-consuming hardware retrofits.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple modems for different radio standards are integrated directly into the on-board computer, then radio standard versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter device serves as an intermediary that manages multiple modems externally, preventing direct integration into the on-board computer. The switching unit in the adapter handles all routing decisions, keeping the on-board computer simple while supporting multiple radio standards through external modular components.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an adapter device (1) for connecting several modems to an on-board computer, comprising a first interface (2) for a first modem of a first radio standard, a second interface (3) for a second modem of a second radio standard, a third interface (4) for the on-board computer, and a switching unit (5) connected to the first, second and third interfaces (2, 3, 4), which receives data from the on-board computer via the third interface (4).To provide an adapter device (1) that easily establishes compatibility between on-board computers in existing trains and the newer 4G and 5G transmission standards without requiring extensive modifications to the on-board computer, the switching unit (5) is configured to output the data from the third interface (4) to the first interface (2) when the data is intended for the first modem, and to output the data from the third interface (4) to the second interface (3) when the data is intended for the second modem. Furthermore, the invention comprises a system for telecommunications in a railway network and an associated method.