METHOD FOR DETERMINING A WAGON SEQUENCE OF A TRACK-GUIDED VEHICLE COMBINATION

Abstract

A method and an apparatus determine a wagon sequence of a track-guided vehicle combination of vehicles in which, in a registration process, wagon identifiers of each of the vehicles are recorded one after the other in the sequence of the wagon sequence with a registration device in a contactless manner. An activation device triggers a respective registration step of the registration process in each of the vehicles, in which a registration signal of the relevant vehicle containing the wagon identifier is transmitted to the registration device by a transmitter device and stored therein. In addition to the wagon identifier for each vehicle, a point in time relating to the recording of the wagon identifier is stored in the registration device. A first result of the wagon sequence is determined by sorting the wagon identifiers in the chronological order of the times of recording after all vehicles have been recorded.

Claims

1. A method for determining a wagon sequence of a track-guided vehicle combination of vehicles, which comprises the steps of: performing a registration process in which wagon identifiers of each of the vehicles are recorded one after another in a sequence of the wagon sequence with a registration device in a computer-aided, contactless manner, which comprises the sub-steps of: a) triggering, via an activation device, a respective registration step of the registration process in each of the vehicles, in which a registration signal of a relevant vehicle of the vehicles each containing a wagon identifier is transmitted to the registration device with a first transmitter device and stored therein; b) storing a point in time for recording the wagon identifier in the registration device, in addition to the wagon identifier for each of the vehicles; and c) determining a first result of the wagon sequence by sorting the wagon identifiers in a chronological order of times of recording after all the vehicles have been recorded.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises prompting the first transmitter device only to transmit the wagon identifier if, when an identification device approaches, the identification device has received an identification signal containing an identification code with a first receiver device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the registration device does not complete the registration process before a recording of all the vehicles of the track-guided vehicle combination has taken place a second time and a second result of the wagon sequence has been determined.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein after a second recording of all the vehicles in each case is complete, determining the wagon sequence again by sorting the wagon identifiers in a reverse chronological order of the times of recording.

5. The method according to claim 4, which further comprises determining the vehicle at an end of the wagon sequence by determining the wagon identifier which occurs twice in direct succession in a chronological order of the times of recording.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein: first activation devices are used on each of the vehicles for recording the wagon sequence for determining the first result; second activation devices are used on each of the vehicles for recording the wagon sequence for determining the second result; and the first activation devices are mounted on a respective one side of the vehicles and the second activation devices are mounted on a respective other side of the vehicles.

7. The method according to claim 3, which further comprises carrying out a plausibility test for a determined wagon sequence, which includes the sub-steps of: d) comparing the first result of the wagon sequence with the second result of the wagon sequence; and e) releasing a compared result for further processing only if the first result matches the second result.

8. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises generating an error signal if the first result does not match the second result.

9. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises storing a start time and an end time for the registration process in the registration device.

10. A telematics facility for a vehicle, in which a wagon identifier for the vehicle is stored, the telematics facility configured: f) to be activated in accordance with step a) according to claim 1; g) said first transmitter device set up to transmit the wagon identifier of the vehicle to the registration device.

11. The telematics facility according to claim 10, further comprising an activation device which can be triggered via an activation interface in order to send an activation signal to said first transmitter device.

12. A registration device for registering a vehicle, the registration device configured: h) to store transmitted wagon identifiers of vehicles in accordance with step a) according to claim 1; and i) to store times for a recording of the wagon identifiers.

13. An identification device for identifying a user on a vehicle, the identification device being configured to send an identification signal containing an identification code to a first receiver device according to claim 2 when the first receiver device is approached.

14. A non-transitory computer program comprising program commands which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to claim 1.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program product according to claim 14 is stored.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0086] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of devices according to the invention with their interactions;

[0087] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a computing environment for the arrangement according to FIG. 1, the individual computing instances executing program modules, each of which can run in one or more of the computers shown by way of example and it being possible for the interfaces shown to be implemented accordingly by software in one computer or by hardware between different computers; and

[0088] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, it being possible for the method steps shown to be implemented individually or in groups by program modules and the computing instances and interfaces according to FIG. 2 being indicated by way of example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0089] Independent of the grammatical term usage, individuals with male, female or other gender identities are included within the term.

[0090] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an arrangement, containing a track system with a track GL and a control center LZ, a vehicle combination FV, including a first vehicle FZ1, a second vehicle FZ2, a third vehicle FZ3, a fourth vehicle FZ4 and a last vehicle FZ5 (each coupled via couplings KP), being parked on the track GL. An employee MA is shown walking along an indicated arrow along the vehicle combination FV, first on one side from the first vehicle FZ1 to the last vehicle FZ5 and then on the other side from the last vehicle FZ5 to the first vehicle FZ1 (he is on the way back at the level of the second vehicle FZ2). The employee MA has an identification device ID with him (for example, a handheld device or a glove), which is equipped with an antenna AT in order to communicate with a registration device via a third interface S3 (for example, so that a start time and an end time for the registration process can be transmitted from the identification device to the registration device), which also has an antenna AT. Transmitting devices SD1 . . . SD3 and receiving devices RC1L, RC1R, RC2, RC3 are each connected to the processors via transmit-receive interfaces SDS (bidirectionality indicated by two connection lines in each case).

[0091] In the vehicles FZ1 . . . FZ5, telematics facilities TE are provided, which also have antennae AT for communication. In addition, the vehicles FZ1 . . . FZ5 are each equipped with activation devices ADR, ADL on one side as well as on the other side, which enable the activation of a first transmitter device SD1 (compare FIG. 2) not shown in detail. The registration device RD is also provided in the control center LZ, with the aid of which the vehicles FZ1 . . . FZ5 of the vehicle combination FV can be registered.

[0092] In a computing environment RU, the computing instances used according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and their and other functional components are connected by a first interface S1 (between a first transmitter device SD1 in the telematics facility TE and a third receiver device RC3 in the registration device RD), by a second interface S2 (between a second transmitter device SD2 in the identification device ID and two first receiving devices RC1L, RC1R in the telematics facility TE), by the aforementioned third interface S3, by a fourth interface S4 and by a fifth interface S5. Furthermore, a second receiver device RC2 is also present in the identification device ID and a third transmitter device SD3 in the registration device RD. Without going into further detail, the respective transmitting devices and receiving devices are connected via transmit-receive interfaces to the respective processors P1 . . . P3 in the identification device ID, in the registration device RD and in the telematics facility TE.

[0093] According to FIG. 2, in particular in the computing environment RU, in the telematics facility TE a first processor P1 is connected to a first storage unit SE1 by an eleventh interface S11, in the identification device ID a second processor P2 is connected to a second storage unit SE2 by a twelfth interface S12 and in a first computer C1, in which the registration device RD is implemented, a third processor P3 is connected to a third storage unit SE3 by a thirteenth interface S13, the aforementioned first to third processors being jointly referred to as processors P1 . . . P3 and the aforementioned first to third storage unit being collectively referred to as storage units SE1 . . . SE3.

[0094] In addition, FIG. 2 shows the activation devices ADR, ADL, which are also shown in FIG. 1. These consist, for example, of a button not shown in detail, which is why they are mounted so that they are accessible from the outside so that the employee MA can reach them. At the same time, a first receiver RC1L and RC1R are arranged on both sides of the vehicle for near-field communication within an indicated near field NF with a radius of less than 1 m with the identification device ID, which means that identification is only possible if the identification device ID is located at a distance of less than 1 m from the activation device ADR, ADL.

[0095] Activation takes place by pressing the button (1st alternative) or via the activation interface AS from the identification device (2nd alternative), only one of the two aforementioned alternatives having to be implemented. The activation devices ADR, ADL are connected on one side of the vehicle FZ1 . . . FZ5 via the fourth interface S4 and on the other side of the vehicle FZ1 . . . FZ5 via the fifth interface S5 to the first processor P1, it being possible for the first processor P1 to register an activation and also evaluate on which of the two sides of the vehicle FZ1 . . . FZ5 the activation has taken place. However, activation also requires that an identification code has been sent from the identification device ID via the second interface S2 to one of the first receiving devices RC1L (the same process is repeated later on the other side of the vehicle in a manner not shown, more on this below).

[0096] The first two receiving devices RC1L, RC1R and the two activation devices ADL, ADR are identical in construction and also equal. For the purpose of this description of the invention, they are referred to by the letters L for left and R for right solely for the purpose of differentiation, but these properties are not permanently assigned to them. It should be noted that the vehicle combination consisting of vehicles can act equally in both directions and that their orientation in the vehicle combination is also random. In another vehicle combination, the right side and the left side can be interchanged, so to speak. However, as the activation devices and the first receiving devices have the same structure, the method according to the invention functions in the same way regardless of whether the right or the left side of a vehicle in the vehicle combination is recorded first.

[0097] The method for determining the wagon sequence, as shown in the flow chart according to FIG. 3, is explained step by step hereinafter. In FIG. 3, boxes also indicate, by way of example, in which functional components or computing instances according to FIGS. 1 and 2 the individual steps can be carried out. Insofar as the interfaces according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are used, these are also marked in FIG. 3.

[0098] In a first step 1, the method is started (START for short).

[0099] In a second step 2 for initiating the registration process RV (INI-REG for short), the devices involved in the method are put into standby mode. This applies at least to the registration device RD, which must be able to receive the messages from the telematics facilities of the vehicles FZ at any time (see fourth step). This can be realized, for example, with a button TS. The identification device is also activated so that it can send an identification code.

[0100] In a third step 3 for triggering a registration step (ACT-REG for short), a transmitter device is activated. This activation presupposes the presence of the identification code of the identification device ID in the activation device, which is approached to the first activation device ADL by the employee MA. In addition, it may be necessary to press a button, which is then embodied as part of the activation devices ADL, ADR, respectively. Alternatively, an activation button can also be provided on the identification device which triggers activation via the activation device, which in this case first receives the required activation signal from the identification device. The activation button can be physically configured as a switch or virtually as a surface on a touchscreen.

[0101] In a fourth step 4 for sending a registration signal with a wagon identifier, an identification signal with an identification code and an activation signal with an activation code (SND-COD for short), the wagon identifier of the vehicle FZ1 . . . FZ5 whose telematics facility TD or first transmitter device has been activated for this purpose is sent to the recording device. The recording device RD has a third processor P3, by which the wagon identifiers are stored together with the time of recording in the third storage unit SE3 (compare sixth step). In a first variant, the time of recording is determined as a digital time stamp in the third processor P3 (in this case, the following fifth step can be omitted).

[0102] In a fifth step 5 for determining a time stamp (REC-TS for short), in a second variant, a point in time for the recording of the relevant wagon identifier is determined and recorded as a digital time stamp in the first processor P1 of the telematics facility. In this variant, the time stamp must likewise be sent to the third processor P3 of the recording device RD. It is then part of the registration signal.

[0103] In a sixth step 6 for storing a data set (SVE-DAT for short), containing the wagon identifier and the associated time stamp, the data set is stored in the third storage unit SE3, as already explained.

[0104] In a seventh step 7 for querying an identical result (DAT-ID? for short), it is queried whether the same wagon identifier has been sent to the third processor P3 twice in succession, triggered by different activation devices. If this is not the case, a recursion loop is run through and the method is repeated from the third step. If this is the case, it means that the end of the vehicle combination FV has been reached by the employee MA and the last vehicle FZ5 has already been recorded for the second time. The method can therefore be continued with the eighth step.

[0105] In an eighth step 8 for creating the first result (SET-R1 for short), a wagon sequence is now created as the first result on the basis of the wagon identifiers of the vehicles FZ1 . . . FZ5 registered from step 3, the wagon identifiers being sorted in ascending order of the recording times. However, one of the wagon identifiers recorded twice is only taken into account in the second result (more on this below).

[0106] In a ninth step 9 for triggering a registration step (ACT-REG for short), a transmitter device is activated (analogous to the third step).

[0107] In a tenth step 10 for sending a registration signal with a wagon identifier, an identification signal with an identification code and an activation signal with an activation code (SND-COD for short), the wagon identifier of the relevant vehicle FZ1 . . . FZ5 is sent (analogous to the fourth step).

[0108] In an eleventh step 11 for determining a time stamp (REC-TS for short), a point in time is determined for the recording of the relevant wagon identifier (analogous to the fifth step).

[0109] In a twelfth step 12 for storing a data set (SVE-DAT for short), containing the wagon identifier and the associated time stamp, the data set is stored in the third storage unit SE3 (analogous to the sixth step).

[0110] In a 13th step 13, the query is made as to whether the recording has been completed (RDY? for short). As already explained, this can be achieved by querying whether the currently determined wagon identifier corresponds to the first determined wagon identifier (with the oldest time stamp). If this is not the case, a recursion loop is run through and the process is repeated from step 9. If this is the case, step 14 described hereinafter is carried out.

[0111] In a 14th step 14 for ending the registration process RV (STP-REG for short), the registration process RV is completed by the registration device RD. This means that no more wagon identifiers of vehicles FZ1 . . . FZ5 are received, and an evaluation can begin.

[0112] In a 15th step 15 for creating the second result (SET-R2 for short), a wagon sequence is now created as a second result based on the wagon identifiers of the vehicles FZ1 . . . FZ5 registered from step 9, the wagon identifiers being sorted in descending order of the recording times.

[0113] In a 16th step 16, a query is made as to whether the first result corresponds to the second result, i.e. is identical (R1=R2? for short). If this is the case, the method can be terminated. If this is not the case, the method continues with the 17th step.

[0114] In a 17th step 17, an error message is displayed (OT-ERR for short). This error message can have various effects. For example, it can be automatically prevented that the vehicle combination FV starts its planned journey (prevention of track clearance). However, the error message can also be displayed in the control center LZ or on the identification device ID so that suitable measures can be initiated by employees MA. These can, for example, consist of manually repeating the recording of the wagon identifiers of the vehicles FZ1 . . . FZ5.

[0115] In a 20th step 20, the method is stopped (STOP for short).

[0116] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0117] GL Track [0118] LZ Control center [0119] FV Vehicle combination [0120] FZ1 First vehicle [0121] FZ2 Second vehicle [0122] FZ3 Third vehicle [0123] FZ4 Fourth vehicle [0124] FZ5 Last vehicle [0125] KP Couplings [0126] MA Employees [0127] AT Antenna [0128] S3 Third interface [0129] FZ1 . . . FZ5 Vehicles [0130] TE Telematics facility [0131] ADL, ADR First and second activation device on the left and right [0132] SD1 First transmitter device [0133] RD Registration device [0134] RU Computing environment [0135] S1 First interface [0136] RC3 Third receiver device [0137] S2 Second interface [0138] SD2 Second transmitter device [0139] RC1L, RC1R First receiver device on the left and right [0140] S4 Fourth interface [0141] S5 Fifth interface [0142] RC2 Second receiver device [0143] SD3 Third transmitter device [0144] P1 . . . P3 Processors [0145] P1 First processor [0146] SE1 First storage unit [0147] S11 Eleventh interface [0148] ID Identification device [0149] P2 Second processor [0150] SE2 Second storage unit [0151] S12 Twelfth interface [0152] C1 First computer [0153] P3 Third processor [0154] SE3 Third storage unit [0155] S13 Thirteenth interface [0156] SE1 . . . SE3 Storage units [0157] AS Activation interface [0158] RV Registration process [0159] TS Button [0160] NF Near field [0161] SES Transmit-receive interface