Train Door Camera Selection via Direction-Aware Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle monitoring systems face challenges in displaying images of open doors accurately when vehicles change direction during train operation, requiring manual setting changes that can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle monitoring system that includes cameras, a management device, and a display device, where the management device determines the correct camera to display based on initial camera positions and door opening-side information, automatically selecting cameras on the appropriate side to show images of open doors, even when vehicles have changed direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual setting changes are made to display images of open doors accurately when vehicles change direction, then display accuracy is improved, but operation time increases and error risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay accuracyVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The management device automatically determines the correct camera to display by comparing door opening-side information with stored initial position information, enabling the system to self-adjust without manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system self-servicing, thereby improving display accuracy while eliminating the time loss and error risk associated with manual setting changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system stores the initial position information of each camera in advance in the management device. When a vehicle changes direction, the management device uses this pre-stored information to automatically determine the correct camera, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing the system in advance, thereby improving display accuracy while reducing operation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual setting changes are made to display images of open doors accurately when vehicles change direction, then display accuracy is improved, but error risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay accuracyVSAvoiderror risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The management device automatically determines the correct camera to display by comparing door opening-side information with stored initial position information, enabling the system to self-adjust without manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system self-servicing, thereby improving display accuracy while eliminating the error risk associated with manual setting changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses door opening-side information as feedback to automatically determine which camera should be displayed. The management device compares the current door opening side with the stored initial position information and automatically selects the appropriate camera. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling automatic adjustment based on real-time information, thereby improving display accuracy while eliminating manual errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If automatic camera selection is implemented, then operation simplicity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores the initial position information of each camera in advance in the management device. When a vehicle changes direction, the management device uses this pre-stored information to automatically determine the correct camera, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing the system in advance, thereby improving operation simplicity while managing system complexity through efficient use of pre-stored data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The management device automatically determines the correct camera to display by comparing door opening-side information with stored initial position information, enabling the system to self-adjust without manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system self-servicing, thereby improving operation simplicity while containing system complexity within the management device's processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3509295B1Vehicle monitoring system, management device and monitoring method
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC
  • EP3509295B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3509295B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3509295B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a vehicle monitoring system that captures and displays the outside of an open door upon stopping of a train in which doors are provided on both sides (A side and B side) of each vehicle. The vehicle monitoring system includes a plurality of cameras provided corresponding to a plurality of doors, and a management device for determining a camera corresponding to an open door. The management device associates and stores the identifier of the plurality of cameras and the initial position indicating on which side, A side or B side, each camera is located. After obtaining door opening-side information (B side) when the train stops as well as open door identification information for identifying the open door, the management device determines a camera whose initial position is on the B side as the display use camera to be used for display, with respect to a vehicle in which the initial position of the door open camera corresponding to the open door identified by the open door identification information, and the door opening-side information match with the B side. With respect to a vehicle in which the initial position of the door open camera and the door opening-side information do not match with the B side, the management device determines a camera whose initial position is on the A side as the display use camera.