Vehicle Protocol Converter for Mixed Fleet Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle consists face communication challenges due to different messaging protocols used by various types of vehicles, limiting the formation of consists with vehicles of different types and systems that cannot communicate with each other.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for converting messaging protocols, where a communication unit onboard a vehicle determines the protocol of received messages and modifies them to match the protocol used by the vehicle's control system, enabling communication between vehicles with different protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicles use different messaging protocols to maintain their original communication systems, then each vehicle maintains its existing communication capabilities, but vehicles of different types cannot communicate with each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a message conversion system that acts as an intermediary between vehicles using different messaging protocols. This converter receives messages in one protocol format, translates them to another protocol format, and forwards them to the destination vehicle. This mediator approach allows vehicles of different types to communicate without changing their original communication systems, resolving the contradiction between maintaining communication reliability and enabling vehicle composition flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The message conversion system changes the parameter format of communication messages by translating between different protocol specifications. It modifies message structure, data formats, and communication parameters while preserving the underlying communication intent, enabling compatibility between vehicles with different protocol requirements without altering their core communication capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all vehicles in a consist use the same protocol to ensure communication compatibility, then communication between vehicles is reliable, but the types of vehicles that can be combined are significantly limited
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than requiring all vehicles to use the same protocol or equipping each vehicle with multiple protocol capabilities, the patent places protocol conversion functionality in intermediary devices positioned between vehicles with different protocols. This approach enables vehicle composition flexibility while keeping the complexity localized to the converter devices rather than distributed across all vehicles.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles of different types are combined in a consist to increase operational versatility, then more vehicle types can be used, but communication between vehicles becomes impossible due to different protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The message conversion system performs parameter transformation on communication messages by changing their protocol format from one specification to another. This parameter change process preserves the essential information content while adapting the message structure to be compatible with different vehicle protocols, enabling diverse vehicle combinations without information loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for converting protocols of messages receive a first wireless message onboard a first vehicle in a vehicle consist that includes the first vehicle and one or more additional vehicles. The method and system also determine a first protocol of the first wireless message, determine a different, second protocol used by a control system disposed onboard the first vehicle, change the first wireless message to a different, second message by modifying the first protocol of the first wireless message to the different, second protocol, and communicate the second message to the control system.