Method and apparatus for a train control system
OwnerNabil N. Ghalyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus for a train control system are disclosed, and are based on virtualization of train control logic and the use of cloud computing resources. A train control system is configured into two main parts. The first part includes physical elements of the train control system, and the second part includes a virtual train control system that provides the computing resources for the required train control application platforms. The disclosed architecture can be used with various train control technologies, including communications based train control, cab-signaling and fixed block, wayside signal technology. Further, the disclosure describes methodologies to convert cab-signaling and manual operations into distance to go operation.
Claims18
A train control system, comprising:
- a physical train control installation that is located at a user's property, and which includes a plurality of physical train control elements, wherein said plurality of physical train control elements perform train control functions and generates operating data related to the physical train control elements,
- a virtual train control installation implemented in cloud computing environment, that includes at least one processor that performs train control functions and a plurality of logical modules to interface the at least one processor with said plurality of physical train control elements, wherein the virtual train control installation provides a train control service to the user, wherein the virtual train control installation receives the operating data from the physical train control installation, and wherein said service includes transmitting to the user commands to control the physical train control elements, and
- a communication network that provides two-way communication between the virtual train control installation and the physical train control installation.
A train control system, comprising:
- a physical train control installation that includes at least one of computers located on-board physical trains and wayside signal equipment, wherein an on-board computer controls the movement of associated physical train and provides at least the function of over-speed protection, and wherein said wayside equipment includes at least one of wayside signal, automatic train stop, train detection circuit and switch machine,
- a virtual train control system implemented in a cloud computing environment that includes at least one processor that provides train control functions, including at least one of determining movement authority limits for physical trains, determining speed codes for physical trains, and generating control data for wayside equipment, and
- two-way communication system between the physical train control installation and the virtual train control system.
A method for a train control system, wherein the train control system is configured into two main parts, wherein the first part includes at least one of train control computers located on-board physical trains, and physical trackside equipment, wherein a train control computer controls the movement of a physical train, wherein the trackside equipment includes at least one of wayside signals, automatic train stops, cab-signaling blocks, train detection circuits and switch machines, wherein the second part is implemented in a cloud computing environment, and includes at least one processor, and wherein a data communication structure provides two way communications between said two main parts, comprising the following steps:
- determining operating data within the first part, wherein the operating data includes at least one of physical train locations and status of trackside equipment,
- transmitting said operating data from the first part to the second part,
- processing operating data at the at least one processor located in the cloud computing environment to generate at least one of movement authority limits for physical trains, speed codes for physical trains, and control data for trackside equipment, and
- transmitting said at least one of movement authority limits for physical trains, speed codes for physical trains, and control data for trackside equipment to first part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.