A derivation method includes: an acquisition step of acquiring time-series data including a physical quantity generated at a predetermined observation point in a structure as a response caused by a movement of a formation moving object formed with one or more moving objects on the structure; an environment information acquisition step of acquiring, as environment information, information on a structure length that is a length of the structure, a moving object length that is a length of the moving object, and an installation position of a contact portion of the moving object with the structure; a fundamental frequency derivation step of deriving a fundamental frequency of the time-series data based on the time-series data; a passing period derivation step of deriving a passing period during which the formation moving object passes through the structure based on the time-series data; and a number derivation step of deriving the number of the moving objects included in the formation moving object based on the environment information, the fundamental frequency, and the passing period.

A method for identifying properties of rail-guided vehicles uses an axle counter to detect vehicle measurement data as the vehicle crosses. The measurement data are analyzed in a computer and speed and distances between vehicle axles are ascertained. A property of the vehicle is ascertained in a computer based on the ascertained speed and distances between axles. A checking step ascertains a pattern of normal distances between axles in that a normal distance between axles calculated by considering a predefined normal speed is assigned to each ascertained distance between axles, and by considering their order, the normal distances between axles merge to form the pattern. The pattern is compared with reference patterns, and upon identified conformity of the pattern and reference pattern, a type linked to the reference pattern is assigned to the vehicle as a property. An apparatus and computer program determining properties of vehicles are also provided.

A method and a system determine a subsequent number of guided vehicles occupying a track section of a railway network. The system has a trackside device configured for controlling and managing a movement authority of a guided vehicle for a track section and at least one neighboring trackside device. Each neighboring trackside device is configured for controlling and managing a movement authority for a directly neighboring track section. The trackside device is configured for calculating the subsequent number of guided vehicles from a number of guided vehicles occupying the track section previously determined by the trackside device and information received from each neighboring trackside device regarding a number of guided vehicles entering, from the track section. The directly neighboring track section is controlled by the neighboring trackside device and a number of guided vehicles leaving the directly neighboring track section for the track section.

A method for detecting a movement of a rail vehicle, in particular a freight or passenger train, in a warning zone of a rail crossing, includes: determining a first temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a portion of the warning zone at a first time; determining a second temperature in the warning zone of the rail crossing or in a portion of the warning zone at a second time. The first time is chronologically before the second time. The method compares the first temperature with the second temperature. If the comparison demonstrates that the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, the method outputs a warning signal and initiates blocking of the rail crossing.

A method for determining the speed of a rail-bound vehicle, includes the following method steps: detection of a reference element, wherein the first detection device generates a first detection signal when the reference element passes the first detection device; detection of the reference element, wherein the second detection device generates a second detection signal when the reference element passes the second detection device; conversion of the detection signals into digital detection pulses; determining the time difference between the two detection pulses; wherein an XOR signal is generated in an XOR gate by linking the first and the second detection pulse using an XOR logic; and the duration of the XOR signal is determined; and wherein the time difference between the two detection pulses is determined by halving the duration of the XOR signal. The speed can be measured with higher accuracy when using an existing infrastructure without additional assembly work.

A method and device for ascertaining movement authority for track-bound vehicles allow interference with a driving operation resulting in special operational situations or disturbances to be kept as low as possible. The position of the vehicle is determined and used to check whether the vehicle is located completely in an axle-counting section of an axle-counting system. The number of axles of the vehicle is compared with the number of axles located in the relevant section according to the system. If the vehicle is located completely in the relevant section and the number of axles of the vehicle matches the number of axles located in the section according to the system, a movement authority is ascertained for the vehicle. The part of the relevant section in front of the vehicle in the driving direction is assumed to be free of other vehicles when ascertaining the movement authority.

A method for identifying properties of rail-guided vehicles uses an axle counter to detect vehicle measurement data as the vehicle crosses. The measurement data are analyzed in a computer and speed and distances between vehicle axles are ascertained. A property of the vehicle is ascertained in a computer based on the ascertained speed and distances between axles. A checking step ascertains a pattern of normal distances between axles in that a normal distance between axles calculated by considering a predefined normal speed is assigned to each ascertained distance between axles, and by considering their order, the normal distances between axles merge to form the pattern. The pattern is compared with reference patterns, and upon identified conformity of the pattern and reference pattern, a type linked to the reference pattern is assigned to the vehicle as a property. An apparatus and computer program determining properties of vehicles are also provided.

A method and a system determine a subsequent number of guided vehicles occupying a track section of a railway network. The system has a trackside device configured for controlling and managing a movement authority of a guided vehicle for a track section and at least one neighboring trackside device. Each neighboring trackside device is configured for controlling and managing a movement authority for a directly neighboring track section. The trackside device is configured for calculating the subsequent number of guided vehicles from a number of guided vehicles occupying the track section previously determined by the trackside device and information received from each neighboring trackside device regarding a number of guided vehicles entering, from the track section. The directly neighboring track section is controlled by the neighboring trackside device and a number of guided vehicles leaving the directly neighboring track section for the track section.

A method for operating an axle counter system for monitoring the occupation status of a track section being limited by counting positions which have at least one detection point and at least one counting position a set of redundant detection points, includes the steps of: (a) incrementing or decrementing axle counter values in dependence of the moving direction of a passing axle; (b) transmitting the axle counter value to an axle counter evaluator; (c) determining the number of remaining axles within the track section; and (d) outputting a track occupation status. Prior to step (c) for each counting position exactly one detection point is selected for further processing independent of the selection at any other counting position. In step (c) the counter values of the selected detection points are used for determining the number of remaining axles and the counter values of the non-selected redundant detection points are ignored.

A method for determining the speed of a rail-bound vehicle, includes the following method steps: detection of a reference element, wherein the first detection device generates a first detection signal when the reference element passes the first detection device; detection of the reference element, wherein the second detection device generates a second detection signal when the reference element passes the second detection device; conversion of the detection signals into digital detection pulses; determining the time difference between the two detection pulses; wherein an XOR signal is generated in an XOR gate by linking the first and the second detection pulse using an XOR logic; and the duration of the XOR signal is determined; and wherein the time difference between the two detection pulses is determined by halving the duration of the XOR signal. The speed can be measured with higher accuracy when using an existing infrastructure without additional assembly work.