Rules-based interlocking engine using virtual gates

In a digital computer, a rules based interlocking system for automatic train protection of a guideway comprising:

• a guideway data model comprising a plurality of data entries specifying guideway objects, at least one of the guideway objects corresponding to guideway hardware devices, the guideway data model specifying relationships between the guideway objects;
• a data base comprising rule sets for a plurality of guideway objects, said guideway objects defined by entry and exit points, the entry point to at least one guideway object being a virtual gate, the rule sets defining conditions for a respective guideway object which must be met before entry of a train through a virtual gate of said object is permitted;
• a user input guideway definition file comprising a high-level description of the guideway, including the guideway objects;
• a data model parser for parsing the guideway definition file and producing the guideway data model using the data base comprising the rule sets;
• an interlocking engine for processing status signals in real time to produce control signals;
• and
• I/O control means for sending said control signals to the guideway hardware devices and for receiving said status signals from the guideway hardware devices based on the guideway data model and sensed status signals.

A method of implementing a computer based interlocking system for automatic train protection, comprising:

• providing a data base of prestored rule sets for a plurality of guideway objects, the guideway objects being represented as at least one virtual gate of a plurality of virtual gate types, the rule sets defining conditions for a respective guideway object which must be met before entry through a virtual gate of said object is permitted;
• inputting a high-level description of a guideway layout including all of the guideway objects that form interlocking zones;
• and
• processing the high-level description using the pre-stored rule sets to form an overall interlocking system definition by locating, retrieving and linking appropriate rule sets corresponding to the respective input guideway objects.

In a digital computer, a rules based interlocking system for automatic train protection of a guideway comprising:

• a guideway data model comprising a plurality of data entries specifying guideway objects, at least one of the guideway objects corresponding to guideway hardware devices, the guideway objects being represented as at least one virtual gate of a plurality of virtual gate types, the guideway data model specifying relationships between the guideway objects;
• a database comprising rule sets for a plurality of guideway objects, the rule sets defining conditions for a respective guideway object which must be met before entry of a train through a virtual gate of said object is permitted;
• a user input guideway definition file comprising a high-level description of the guideway, including the guideway objects;
• a data model parser for parsing the guideway definition file and producing the guideway data model using the database comprising the rule sets;
• and
• I/O control means for sending control signals to the guideway hardware devices and for receiving status signals from the guideway hardware devices based on the guideway data model and sensed status signals.

A method of forming a database representing a guideway in a computer based interlocking system, comprising:

• dividing a guideway into a plurality of guideway objects;
• for each of the plurality of guideway objects, representing each entry point into the guideway object as a virtual gate of a plurality of virtual gate types;
• storing a rule set for each virtual gate type, the rule sets specifying virtual gate entry condition requirements;
• and
• associating the rule sets with the respective virtual gates of the plurality of guideway objects.

A method of representing a simple switch as a guideway object in a computer based guideway control system, wherein the simple switch is divided into a plurality of virtual gates, comprising for each virtual gate type:

• storing an object state condition defining a switch position in which entry through the virtual gate is allowed;
• storing at least one opposing gates state condition defining at least one state that other virtual gates of the switch must be in for entry through the virtual gate to be allowed;
• storing at least one object occupancy state condition defining at least one occupancy state of the switch in which entry through the virtual gate is allowed;
• storing at least one adjoining object occupancy state condition defining at least one occupancy state any adjoining objects must be in for entry through the virtual gate to be allowed;
• and
• storing at least one adjoining object direction of travel state condition defining at least one travel direction state any adjoining objects must be in for entry through the virtual gate to be allowed.

A computer implemented interlocking system protecting trains traversing a guideway system, said guideway system comprised of guideway objects which influence movement of trains in the system comprising:

• a computer;
• a guideway data model stored in said computer comprising a plurality of data entries specifying said guideway objects, said guideway objects defined by entry and exit points, the entry point to at least one guideway object being a virtual gate, at least one of the guideway objects corresponding to guideway hardware devices, the guideway data model specifying relationships between the guideway objects;
• a data base stored in said computer comprising rule sets for a plurality of guideway objects, the rule sets defining conditions for a respective guideway object which must be met before entry of a train through a virtual gate of said object is permitted;
• a computer implemented interlocking engine for processing status signals with reference to said data model and said rule sets in real time to produce control signals with reference to said data model and said rule sets;
• and
• input/output (I/O) control means for sending said control signals to the guideway hardware devices and for receiving said status signals from the guideway hardware devices.

A computer implemented interlocking system protecting trains traversing a guideway system, said guideway system comprised of guideway objects which influence movement of trains in the system comprising:

• a computer;
• a guideway data model stored in said computer comprising a plurality of data entries specifying said guideway objects, said guideway objects defined by entry and exit points, the entry point to at least one guideway object being a virtual gate, at least one of the guideway objects corresponding to guideway hardware devices, the guideway data model specifying relationships between the guideway objects;
• a data base stored in said computer comprising rule sets for a plurality of guideway objects, the rule sets defining conditions for a respective guideway object which must be met before entry of a train through a virtual gate of said object is permitted;
• a computer implemented interlocking engine for processing status signals with reference to said data model and said rule sets in real time to produce control signals with reference to said data model and said rule sets;
• a computer implemented speed code selection engine for processing said status signals in real time with reference to the data model and rule sets to produce speed control signals;
• input/output (I/O) control means for sending said control signals to the guideway hardware devices and said speed control signals to trains and for receiving said status signals from the guideway hardware devices.

A computer implemented interlocking system protecting trains traversing a guideway system, said guideway system comprised of guideway objects which influence movement of trains in the system comprising:

• a computer;
• a guideway data model stored in said computer comprising a plurality of data entries specifying said guideway objects, said guideway objects defined by entry and exit points, the entry point to at least one guideway object being a virtual gate, at least one of the guideway objects corresponding to guideway hardware devices, the guideway data model specifying relationships between the guideway objects;
• a data base stored in said computer comprising rule sets for defining protection zones for gateway objects, there being rules for a plurality of gateway objects, the rule sets defining conditions for a respective gateway object which must be met before entry of a train is permitted into a protection zone for said object;
• a computer implemented interlocking engine for processing status signals with reference to said data model and said rule sets in real time to produce control signals with reference to said data model and said rule sets;
• and
• input/output (I/O) control means for sending said control signals to the guideway hardware devices and for receiving said status signals from the guideway hardware devices.