A test support method includes a step of obtaining a pre-change image and a post-change image to be displayed on a monitoring and control system, a step of extracting, from the post-change image, multiple symbols that have changed from corresponding symbols in the pre-change image, a step of adding order information to the multiple symbols extracted, and a step of outputting a test image in which the order information is added to the multiple symbols.

A system for modeling risk of rail buckling in railroad infrastructure is presented. The system can receive a myriad of data related to railroad tracks and/or railroad operations, and weight the data using specially-designed weighting factors that can be unique to each data type. The weighted data can be transformed via specialized algorithms to generate location scores reflective of a risk isolated to a particular area. The system can further utilize additional specialized algorithms to elucidate how such isolated risk can be extrapolated from one location to another. The system can implement a multilayer approach, formulating one or more layers of risk models and aggregating such models into an overarching risk model that can more-accurately forecast risk of rail buckling in a railroad track.

A method may include determining time-variable risk profiles for plural separate vehicle systems that are remotely controlled by operators that are located off-board the separate vehicle systems. The time-variable risk profiles represent one or more risks to travel of the separate vehicle systems. The method may include assigning the operators to remotely monitor or control the separate vehicle systems during the trips based on the time-variable risk profiles. The operator assigned changes with respect to time while the one or more separate vehicle systems is moving along one or more routes during the trip. A system may include one or more processors that may determine time-variable risk profiles for plural separate vehicle systems that are remotely controlled and assign the operators to remotely monitor or control the separate vehicle systems during the trips based on the time-variable risk profiles.

A system for modeling risk of rail buckling in railroad infrastructure is presented. The system can receive a myriad of data related to railroad tracks and/or railroad operations, and weight the data using specially-designed weighting factors that can be unique to each data type. The weighted data can be transformed via specialized algorithms to generate location scores reflective of a risk isolated to a particular area. The system can further utilize additional specialized algorithms to elucidate how such isolated risk can be extrapolated from one location to another. The system can implement a multilayer approach, formulating one or more layers of risk models and aggregating such models into an overarching risk model that can more-accurately forecast risk of rail buckling in a railroad track.

Tools .[.(such as system, apparatus, methodology, etc.).]. may be provided to control traffic over a railway track section, .Iadd.and more particularly, .Iaddend.when a railway worker is working on or near the track section.Iadd., a block is placed to prevent trains from traversing the track section.Iaddend.. .[.Move particularly, when traffic over the track section is to be blocked.]. .Iadd.Further.Iaddend., a release code is generated and sent to .[.an electronic contact address of the railway worker. Traffic through the track section is blocked until the release code is entered in the system.]. .Iadd.a user terminal. The block is removed from the track section when the release code is received by the system.Iaddend..

In various embodiments, techniques are provided for determining a connection between a rail turnout and another rail turnout or other rail element by a geometry connection process of rail network design software, by reducing the actual complex geometry of the rail turnout to a simplified arc, which at one end is tangent to the geometry of a connecting element at end of the rail turnout and at the other end is tangent to the geometry of a parent base element of the rail turnout. The simplified arc is utilized instead of the actual complex geometry of the rail turnout by a connection computation engine to determine the connection in the model (e.g., by fitting a connection solution using least squares).

In various embodiments, techniques are provided for determining a connection between a rail turnout and another rail turnout or other rail element by a geometry connection process of rail network design software, by reducing the actual complex geometry of the rail turnout to a simplified arc, which at one end is tangent to the geometry of a connecting element at end of the rail turnout and at the other end is tangent to the geometry of a parent base element of the rail turnout. The simplified arc is utilized instead of the actual complex geometry of the rail turnout by a connection computation engine to determine the connection in the model (e.g., by fitting a connection solution using least squares).

The present invention relates to a method for remotely controlling the status of graphic user interfaces such as monitors, panels, displays, screens and others, used in railway or transportation systems. For achieving a reliable safety level, so that a person can be sure that the information displayed by the graphic interface in real time correspond to the effective situation of the transportation network, there is provided a feedback control loop between an image elaboration-generation block, and a safety block. According to a preferred solution, the communications between the blocks of the control loop are encrypted. With the control method of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a top safety level in the railway networks, even when using commercially available graphic user interfaces, such as COTS terminal.

The present invention relates to a method for remotely controlling the status of graphic user interfaces such as monitors, panels, displays, screens and others, used in railway or transportation systems. For achieving a reliable safety level, so that a person can be sure that the information displayed by the graphic interface in real time correspond to the effective situation of the transportation network, there is provided a feedback control loop between an image elaboration-generation block, and a safety block. According to a preferred solution, the communications between the blocks of the control loop are encrypted. With the control method of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a top safety level in the railway networks, even when using commercially available graphic user interfaces, such as COTS terminal.

A rail planning system for planning movement of trains is disclosed. At least some trains comprising a plurality of containers and each container includes at least one train appliance. The system comprises a data storage device arranged to store container data indicative of the or each appliance associated with each container, and planned future locations of the containers. The system is arranged to produce data indicative of a train graph for display, the train graph including a line for each container, each line indicative of the planned locations in time and space of a container, and the system includes an interface arranged to facilitate modification by a user of the planned location of a container and thereby modification of the line associated with the container on the train graph.