Method for data transmission inside a rail-bound traffic system

Abstract

A method for data transmission inside a rail-bound traffic system has of a plurality of field elements, in which the data transmission takes place via a flexible wireless transmission path between a sender field element and a control unit along available field elements. A data transmission system is for application of the method and a rail-bound traffic system having such a data transmission system. Furthermore, there is use of communication units on field elements of a rail-bound traffic system to form the data transmission system.

Claims

1. A method for data transmission inside a rail-bound traffic system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first field element having a first communication unit, where the first field element is disposed along a railway at a first location; providing a second field element having a second communication unit, where the second field element is disposed along the railway at a second location; providing a third field element having a third communication unit, where the third field element is disposed along the railway at a third location; providing a control unit of the rail-bound traffic system having a fourth communication unit, where the control unit is disposed at a fourth location; the data being transmitted wirelessly between the communication units of the field elements; wirelessly sending an availability query from the first field element to either the second or the third field element; receiving the availability query by either the second or the third field element, and if receiving the availability query, forwarding the availability query to the control unit; receiving the availability query by the control unit from either the second or the third field element, and if receiving the availability query, sending back a response query to the second or the third field element; receiving the response query by either the second or the third field element, and if receiving the response query, forwarding the response query to the first field element; receiving the response query by the first field element from either the second or the third field element; determining from the response query, by the first field element or the first communication unit, a beginning transmission path between the first field element and either the second or the third field element based upon the availability of the second and the third field elements; and sending the data transmission along the beginning transmission path between the first field element and either the second or the third field element; wherein a subsequent transmission path is configured to reach the control unit of the rail-bound traffic system; wherein an entire transmission path between the first field element and the control unit comprises the beginning transmission path and the subsequent transmission path; and wherein the subsequent transmission path is unknown by the first field element.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an ad hoc network is set up for data transmission between the field elements.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the single transmission path is determined for each data transmission.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the data transmission, the availability of the field elements is checked at regular time intervals, and the single transmission path is changed if one of the field elements over which the previously single transmission path runs is no longer available.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first field element determines the availability of adjacent field elements by receiving status messages and/or by means of the signal strength of the other field elements, field elements being considered to be adjacent if the signal ranges of the field elements are sufficient for communication with the respective other field element in a disruption-free state.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and all field elements are designed to receive instructions.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the status, being diagnostic data, of the first field element is transmitted to the control unit by means of the data transmission.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein only the field elements located on the transmission path communicate with one another for data transmission.

9. A data transmission system of the rail-bound traffic system for carrying out the method according to claim 1, having the first field element and the first communication unit, the second field element and the second communication unit, the third field element and the third communication unit, and the control unit and the fourth communication unit.

10. The transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the communication units are configured to set up an ad hoc network.

11. The transmission system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the communication units has an interface that is designed to transmit information from the field element, being diagnostic data, to the communication unit.

12. The transmission system according to claim 11, wherein the interface is designed to transmit information being control instructions, from the communication unit to the field element.

13. The transmission system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the communication units is designed to be supplied with energy via an energy supply of an associated field element.

14. A rail-bound traffic system having the data transmission system according to claim 9.

15. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the beginning transmission path between the first field element and either the second or the third field element includes a time-limited validity, wherein after the time-limited validity has expired, a second availability query from the first field element to either the second or the third field element is wirelessly sent and the method repeated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Detailed Description of the Invention and Drawings

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a data transmission system inside a rail-bound traffic system;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a determined transmission path between a first field element and a control unit inside the data transmission system from FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows an alternative transmission path as a result of a disruption in the transmission path from FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a method according to the invention for determining a transmission path along available field elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a data transmission system 10 having field elements 12 in the form of axle counters 14 I-V, in the form of signals 16 I-V and in the form of points 18 I-II of a rail-bound traffic system 1 (for reasons of clarity, only one field element 12 is provided with a reference sign). The field elements 12 are arranged along rails 20 and are used to monitor rail traffic. A field element 12, in particular the signal 16 V, is connected to a control unit 24 via a data line 22.

(6) The field elements 12 each have a communication unit 26 for wireless communication with adjacent field elements 12. Field elements 12 are considered to be adjacent if the signal ranges 28 of the field elements 12 are sufficient for communication with the respective other field element 12 in a disruption-free state. In the case of communication units 26 of identical design, the signal range 28 can deviate due to external conditions, in particular the landscape and/or buildings.

(7) According to FIG. 1, the axle counter 14 V has a signal range 30 V that allows communication with the signal 16 V, the signal 16 IV, the signal 16 III, the point 18 I, the axle counter 14 III and the axle counter 14 IV.

(8) The axle counter 14 IV has a signal range of 30 IV that allows communication with the axle counter 14 V, point 18 I, point 18 II, signal 16 II and axle counter 14 I.

(9) The signal 16 I only has a signal range 32 I that allows communication with the signal 16 II.

(10) Analogous to this, the signal ranges 28 of all field elements 12 allow communication with field elements 12 located within the signal ranges 28.

(11) Consequently, there is a superimposition of different signal ranges 28 inside the data transmission system 10, which allows a large number of communication paths between the field elements 12.

(12) To determine the adjacent field elements 12, an availability query is transmitted to all surrounding field elements 12. Field elements 12 that receive such an availability query send feedback to the output field element 12 of the availability query and at the same time forward the availability query to surrounding field elements 12 across their signal range 28. This procedure is carried out until no new available field elements 12 respond to the availability query and at least one field element 12 has confirmed the availability of the control unit 24 via the data line 22.

(13) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the data transmission system 10 from FIG. 1. On the basis of the available field elements 12 determined by the availability query, the signal 16 I, but in particular all field elements 12, determines at least one transmission path 36 to the control unit 24 along available field elements 16 II, 14 IV, 14 V and 16 V, the transmission path 36 running between the signal 16 V and control unit 24 via the data line 22.

(14) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the data transmission system 10 from FIG. 1, a temporary disturbance 38 in the form of a train interfering with the determined transmission path 36 (see FIG. 2) of the signal 16 I between the signal 16 II and the axle counter 14 IV.

(15) The disturbance is reported back to the signal 16 I by the signal 16 II located immediately upstream of the disturbance in the transmission path 36 (see FIG. 2). In this case, the signal 16 I can access another alternative transmission path 40 determined as part of the availability query and transmit the data to the control unit 24 along the alternative transmission path 40 via the field elements (in this case: 16 II, 14 I, 14 II, 14 III and 16 V).

(16) If only a single determined transmission path 36 is present, provision can be made for an alternative transmission path to be determined along available field elements 12 during the data transmission process. In particular, the signal 16 I can send a further availability query in order to determine the updated availability of the field elements 12 during the disruption that is occurring in order to determine an undisrupted transmission path to the control unit 24.

(17) FIG. 4 shows the transmission path determination 100 of a transmission path as part of the method according to the invention for data transmission from a sender field element to a control unit along available field elements.

(18) In a first method step 102, a sender field element sends an availability query to surrounding field elements. In a method step 104, field elements reached by the availability query respond to the sender field element directly and/or indirectly by returning availability information. Field elements not reached by the availability query therefore do not respond to the availability query and are considered unavailable.

(19) In a further method step 106, the availability query is forwarded from the field elements that have been reached to their surroundings, and method step 104 is repeated. The availability information is returned to the sender field element indirectly via the field elements that forwarded the availability query.

(20) Method steps 106 and 104 are repeated until no new availability information is returned to the sender field element and the availability (reachability) of the control unit has been confirmed for at least one field element.

(21) Then, in a method step 108, the sender field element determines a transmission path along available field elements and stores this for use in forthcoming data transmissions.

(22) In the event of a disruption during the data transmission and/or due to the expiry of the validity, in particular due to the expiry of a validity period, of the determined transmission path, provision can be made for transmission path determination 100 to be carried out again automatically, beginning with method step 102.

(23) When all the figures of the drawing are viewed together, the invention relates to a method for data transmission inside a rail-bound traffic system 1 consisting of a plurality of field elements 12, in which the data transmission takes place via a flexible wireless transmission path 36, 40 between a sender field element 16 I and a control unit 24 along available field elements 12. Furthermore, the invention relates to a data transmission system 10 for application of the method and a rail-bound traffic system 1 having such a data transmission system 10. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of communication units 26 on field elements 12 of a rail-bound traffic system 1 to form the data transmission system 10.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(24) [1] SIGNAL+DRAHT (110); Edition December 2018; pages 12 ff.; Article: Intelligenter Weichenantrieb [English: Intelligent Point Drive]; [2] CN 102063796 A: Intelligent traffic control system and method based on wireless mesh ad hoc network; [3] Wayside Train Separation; Lineside Electronic Unit LEU-2G; Ansaldo STS [4] A Study on the Development of the Train Control System Data Transmission Technology Using a Wireless Mesh; [5] UWB, Multi-sensors and Wifi-Mesh based precision positioning for urban rail traffic.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(25) rail-bound traffic system 1; data transmission system 10; field elements 12; axle counter 14 I-V; signals 16 I-V; points 18 I-II; rails 20; data line 22; control unit 24; communication unit 26; signal range 28; signal range 30 V; signal range 30 IV; signal range 32 I; transmission path 36; intermittent disruption 38; alternative transmission path 40; transmission path determination 100; method step 102; method step 104; method step 106; method step 108.