JP7527410B2 - Mobile Station - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to mobile stations in train radio systems, and in particular to mobile stations capable of switching radio systems.

A train radio system is a system that communicates between each moving vehicle and a central control room during train operation. In a train radio system, wireless communication is performed between a mobile station mounted on a moving vehicle and a base station installed on the ground via space waves or a leaky coaxial cable (LCX). Until now, train radio systems have had a method for automatically switching frequencies when a moving vehicle enters a line section that uses a different radio frequency, such as a method disclosed in Patent Document 1 in which a switching signal is sent from a switching base station installed near the line section boundary to change the frequency of the mobile station.

JP 2002-368675 A

In the conventional line section switching method, when a mobile station enters a different line section, the frequency is switched upon receiving a switching signal sent by the switching base station. However, when entering lines under the jurisdiction of a different railway operator, not only is there a difference in frequency, but it is also possible that the systems are not synchronized. In such cases, the conventional method of only changing the frequency cannot be used. Also, when the lines are not synchronized, the system is switched while the train is stopped at the station connecting the lines. In this case, when the boundary between the lines is between stations, it is necessary to temporarily stop the train near the boundary to switch the system, which poses the problem of reducing operational efficiency.

This disclosure has been made to resolve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a mobile station that can seamlessly switch its radio system without reducing train operation efficiency, even on line sections that are not systemically synchronized.

A mobile station according to the present disclosure is a mobile station mounted on a train that moves across first and second lines having different train radio systems, and comprises a first line section mobile station, a second line section mobile station, and a line section switching identifier, wherein when the line section switching identifier receives a specific signal output from the first and second line section mobile stations, it determines a line section switch based on the specific signal, inputs a line section switching signal to the first and second line section mobile stations, and sets one of the first and second line section mobile stations corresponding to the line section after the switch as an operating mobile station that operates the train radio system , wherein when the line section switching signal is input, the first and second line section mobile stations cancel their status as the operating mobile station if they were the operating mobile station, and when they were not the operating mobile station, they become the operating mobile station, and when the line section switching signal is input, they do not cancel their status as the operating mobile station or become the operating mobile station for a predetermined time.

According to the mobile station disclosed herein, by determining whether to switch lines when reception of specific signals output from the first and second line-use mobile stations is used as a trigger, it is possible to seamlessly switch the radio system of the mobile station without reducing the efficiency of train operation, even in line sections operated by different train radio systems.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a train radio system using a mobile station of embodiment 1. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile station according to the first embodiment; 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of switching a wireless system in the mobile station according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile station according to a second embodiment. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of switching the wireless system in a mobile station according to a second embodiment.

<First embodiment>
Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a train radio system using a mobile station according to the first embodiment, and shows a train radio system in which an LCX is used as a radio antenna. In addition, in this train radio system, a train TR runs on a first line section, i.e., line section A, and a second line section, i.e., line section B, which are sections administered by different entities.

Here, line sections A and B are not synchronized as train radio systems and use different radio frequencies. The ends of the coaxial cables AX and BX of line sections A and B are laid so that they overlap with the line sections they each enter, securing an AB border zone, an area where radio waves from both line sections A and B can be received. In the AB border zone, mobile station MV1 mounted on train TR receives radio waves at frequency Fa used in line section A and frequency Fb used in line section B, but these are different frequencies that do not interfere with each other.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile station MV1 in the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the mobile station MV1 includes a first line section mobile station, i.e., an A line section mobile station AMV, a second line section mobile station, i.e., a B line section mobile station BMV, and a line section switching identifier SW. The A line section mobile station AMV and the B line section mobile station BMV are collectively referred to as individual line section mobile stations.

The mobile station AMV for line section A is configured to be capable of transmitting and receiving the radio signal ARS of frequency Fa for line section A, and the mobile station BMV for line section B is configured to be capable of transmitting and receiving the radio signal BRS of frequency Fb for line section B. Note that the mobile station that actually operates the train radio system, i.e., the operational mobile station, is only one of the mobile station AMV for line section A and the mobile station BMV for line section B.

As shown in Figure 2, the mobile station AMV for line A has a radio transmission/reception unit 1, a demodulation unit 2, a control unit 3, a memory unit 4, an input/output unit 5 and a wait timer counter 6. The mobile station BMV for line B has a radio transmission/reception unit 11, a demodulation unit 12, a control unit 13, a memory unit 14, an input/output unit 15 and a wait timer counter 16.

Each individual line section mobile station can transmit and receive radio signals via the LCX in its corresponding line section. That is, taking the A line section mobile station AMV as an example, the radio signal ARS received in the A line section is demodulated in the demodulator 2. The control unit 3, which has detected the synchronization word contained in the demodulated radio signal ARS a specified number of times, synchronizes with the first base station in the A line section, i.e., base station AS, and the radio transceiver unit 1 becomes capable of transmitting the radio signal ARS. At that time, the control unit 3, which has completed synchronization, outputs a synchronization completion signal S1 to the line section switching identifier SW via the input/output unit 5. The above operation is similar for the second base station in the B line section, i.e., base station BS, and the B line section mobile station BMV.

Here, a synchronization word is a pattern used to determine the timing of a mobile station's frame transmission. Multiple types of patterns are stored in each frame transmitted from the base station, and by detecting this pattern, synchronization with the base station is achieved, making it possible to transmit radio signals.

The line section switching identifier SW receives a specific signal output from the A line section mobile station AMV and the B line section mobile station BMV, i.e., one of the synchronization completion signals S1 and S11, at the input/output unit 21, and determines line section switching in the control unit 22 based on the received synchronization completion signal S1 or S11. That is, when the control unit 22 receives the synchronization completion signal S11, it determines that switching has occurred from line section A to line section B, and when the control unit 22 receives the synchronization completion signal S1, it determines that switching has occurred from line section B to line section A. In this way, by using the synchronization completion signals S1 and S11 as triggers to determine line section switching, line section switching can be determined with high accuracy.

When the line section switching identifier SW determines that a line section should be switched, it outputs a switching signal S10 to each individual line section mobile station from the input/output unit 21. The switching signal S10 is input to the input/output units 5 and 15 of the A line section mobile station AMV and the B line section mobile station BMV, respectively.

Taking the case where the A line section mobile station AMV is not an operational mobile station as an example, when a switching signal S10 is input to the input/output unit 5 of the A line section mobile station AMV, the control unit 3 sets it as an operational mobile station in the memory unit 4. On the other hand, when a switching signal S10 is input to the input/output unit 15 of the B line section mobile station BMV, which was an operational mobile station, the control unit 13 cancels the setting of the B line section mobile station BMV as an operational mobile station in the memory unit 14.

Next, referring to Figure 2, the operation of switching the wireless system in mobile station MV1 in embodiment 1 will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the switching operation is started, first, in step ST0, a control unit (not shown) of mobile station MV1 determines whether the current operating state of the mobile station is line section A operation or line section B operation by receiving the setting contents of the operating mobile station stored in the memory unit of each line section mobile station from each line section mobile station via the input/output unit, and stores in the memory unit of the individual line section mobile station that it is the currently operating mobile station.

If the currently operating mobile station is a mobile station AMV for line section A, the mobile station AMV will be in an A line section operation state in which it operates the train radio system for line section A (step ST1). On the other hand, if the currently operating mobile station is a mobile station BMV for line section B, the mobile station BMV for line section B will be in a B line section operation state in which it operates the train radio system for line section B (step ST2).

Below, we will explain the case where the currently operating mobile station is a mobile station AMV for line section A, and the operating mobile station is switched to a mobile station BMV for line section B.

If the currently operating mobile station is a mobile station AMV for line section A, the process proceeds to step ST3, and the control unit 3 of the mobile station AMV for line section A determines whether a switching signal S10 has been input from the line section switching identifier SW via the input/output unit 5.

Here, when the control unit 22 of the line section switching identifier SW receives a synchronization completion signal S11 via the input/output unit 21 from an individual line section mobile station, i.e., a mobile station for line section BMV, different from the currently operating mobile station, i.e., the mobile station for line section AMV, stored in the memory unit 23 of the line section switching identifier SW, the control unit 22 determines that a line section switch has occurred, and outputs a switching signal S10 to the mobile station for line section A AMV and the mobile station for line section BMV.

Therefore, when the control unit 3 of the mobile station AMV for line section A and the control unit 13 of the mobile station BMV for line section B each determine that the switching signal S10 has been input (Yes) in step ST3, they proceed to step ST5. On the other hand, when they determine that the switching signal S10 has not been input (No), they maintain the line section A operation state and repeat step ST3.

Here, in order to prevent repeated switching of the operating mobile station in the AB boundary zone, a wait time is set as a predetermined time, and during this wait time, even if a switching signal S10 is input, switching will not be performed. In other words, during the predetermined time, the operating mobile station will not be released from its status as an operating mobile station, nor will it become an operating mobile station.

The wait timer counter 6 of the mobile station AMV for the A line section has the function of a wait timer that sets the wait time and the function of a counter that counts the value of the wait timer, and the timer setting and counting are controlled by the control unit 3.

When it is determined in step ST3 that the switching signal S10 has been input, the wait timer counter 6 starts counting down. In step ST5, the control unit 3 refers to the value of the wait timer counter 6, and if it determines that the value X of the wait timer counter 6 is greater than 0 (Yes), that is, if it determines that the countdown has not ended and that the wait time is in progress, it repeats the processes from step ST3 onwards. On the other hand, if it determines that the value X of the wait timer counter 6 is 0 (No), that is, if it determines that the countdown has ended and the wait time has elapsed, it proceeds to step ST7.

The wait time is set in advance based on the length of the AB boundary zone, and can be set, for example, by dividing the length of the AB boundary zone by the train's operating speed, making it possible to set a realistic wait time.

In step ST7, the control unit 3 cancels the setting in the memory unit 4 that the A line section mobile station AMV is an active mobile station, and the control unit 13 of the B line section mobile station BMV stores the setting in the memory unit 14 as the B line section mobile station BMV being the new active mobile station. The B line section mobile station BMV also notifies the control unit (not shown) of the mobile station MV1 that it has switched to the active mobile station for the B line section. The control unit of the mobile station MV1 stores in the memory unit 14 of the B line section mobile station BMV that it is the currently active mobile station, so that the B line section mobile station BMV enters a B line section operating state in which it operates the B line section. In this way, the switching signal S10 switches the individual line section mobile station corresponding to the line section switch to an active mobile station, so that the switching of the active mobile station can be achieved with a relatively simple configuration.

Then, proceed to step ST9 and set the wait time to the value X of the wait timer counter 6 to prevent repeated switching of the operating mobile station in the AB border zone.

Thereafter, steps ST2, ST4, ST6, ST8 and ST10 are executed in the mobile station BMV for line B. However, as steps ST2, ST4, ST6, ST8 and ST10 are similar to the above-mentioned ST1, ST3, ST5, ST7 and ST9, respectively, in which the processing is replaced by processing in each part of the mobile station BMV for line B, explanations of these steps will be omitted.

As described above, the mobile station MV1 of the first embodiment includes the A line section mobile station AMV and the B line section mobile station BMV, and a line section switching identifier SW. When the line section switching identifier SW determines that a line section is being switched, it outputs a switching signal S10 to each individual line section mobile station, thereby switching the individual line section mobile station corresponding to the line section switch to the operating mobile station. This wireless system switching operation makes it possible to seamlessly switch the wireless system of the mobile stations without reducing the operating efficiency of trains, even in line sections operated by different train radio systems.

<Embodiment 2>
In the operation of train radio systems, it is necessary to continue wireless communication of safety-related information before and after a line switch, even in the case of line sections under different jurisdictions. The mobile station of the second embodiment has a function to transfer information that is determined to need to be continuously transmitted and received even after a line switch, based on the agreement between each railway operator, within each individual line mobile station.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile station MV2 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, in addition to the configuration of the mobile station MV1 shown in Figure 2, the mobile station MV2 includes a storage transmission unit MT to which a switching signal S10 output from a line section switching identifier SW is input. In addition, in Figure 4, the same components as those of the mobile station MV1 described using Figure 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations are omitted.

The basic operation of the mobile station MV2 is the same as that of the mobile station MV1 shown in Figure 2, and the line section switching identifier SW determines the line section switching based on the information input from each individual line section mobile station. The line section switching identifier SW then outputs a switching signal S10 to each individual line section mobile station, and the switching signal S10 is also input to the memory transmission unit MT.

The memory transmission unit MT receives and stores necessary information and parameters from the individual line mobile station that is currently the operating mobile station, even after the line is switched. The configuration and operation of the memory transmission unit MT will be described in detail later.

Next, referring to Figure 4, the operation of switching the wireless system in mobile station MV2 in embodiment 2 will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the switching operation is started, first, in step ST0, a control unit (not shown) of mobile station MV2 determines whether the current operating state of the mobile station is line section A operation or line section B operation by receiving the setting contents of the operating mobile station stored in the memory unit of each line section mobile station from each line section mobile station via the input/output unit, and stores in the memory unit of the individual line section mobile station that it is the currently operating mobile station.

If the currently operating mobile station is a mobile station AMV for line section A, the mobile station AMV for line section A enters an A line section operation state in which the mobile station AMV operates the train radio system for line section A (step ST11). On the other hand, if the currently operating mobile station is a mobile station BMV for line section B, the mobile station BMV for line section B enters a B line section operation state in which the mobile station BMV operates the train radio system for line section B (step ST12).

Below, we will explain the case where the currently operating mobile station is a mobile station AMV for line section A, and the operating mobile station is switched to a mobile station BMV for line section B.

If the currently operating mobile station is the A line section mobile station AMV, the process proceeds to step ST13, where the control unit 3 of the A line section mobile station AMV inputs the information and parameters that will continue to be required even after the line section switch, i.e., the post-line section switch continuing information, to the memory transmission unit MT via the input/output unit 5 as needed, and stores it in the memory transmission unit MT. Then, the process proceeds to step ST15, where the control unit 3 of the A line section mobile station AMV determines whether it has received a switching signal S10 from the line section switch identifier SW via the input/output unit 5.

Here, an example of a method for storing information and parameters in the memory transmission unit MT will be described. The memory transmission unit MT has a control unit (not shown), and stores information and parameters input from an individual line section mobile station in a memory area such as a register or memory of the control unit's CPU (Central Processing Unit). Then, the address areas of the control unit CPU's register or memory are pre-allocated according to the type of information and parameters to be taken over after line section switching, and when a signal is input from an individual line section mobile station, the memory is maintained by overwriting the value of the corresponding address according to the type of information and parameter. On the other hand, when transmitting information and parameters to the individual line section mobile station that has become the newly operating mobile station after line section switching is completed, the values stored at that time in the CPU register or memory of the control unit in the memory transmission unit MT are read and transmitted.

When the control unit 22 of the line section switching identifier SW receives a synchronization completion signal S11 at the input/output unit 21 from the mobile station BMV for line section B, if the control unit 22 receives a synchronization completion signal from an individual line section mobile station other than the currently operating mobile station stored in the memory unit 23 of the line section switching identifier SW, in this case the mobile station AMV for line section A, it determines that a line section switch has occurred and outputs a switching signal S10 to the mobile station AMV for line section A and the mobile station BMV for line section B.

Therefore, when the control unit 3 of the mobile station AMV for line section A and the control unit 13 of the mobile station BMV for line section B each determine that the switching signal S10 has been input (Yes) in step ST15, they proceed to step ST17. On the other hand, when they determine that the switching signal S10 has not been input (No), they maintain the line section A operation state and repeat step ST13.

Here, a wait time is set to prevent repeated switching of the operating mobile station in the AB border zone, and during this wait time, no switching will be performed even if a switching signal S10 is input.

In step ST17, the control unit 3 refers to the value of the wait timer counter 6, and if it determines that the value X of the wait timer counter 6 is greater than 0 (Yes), that is, if it determines that the countdown has not ended and the wait time is in progress, it repeats the processing from step ST13 onwards. On the other hand, if it determines that the value X of the wait timer counter 6 is 0 (No), that is, if it determines that the countdown has ended and the wait time has elapsed, it proceeds to step ST19.

In step ST19, the control unit 3 cancels the setting in the memory unit 4 that the A line section mobile station AMV is an active mobile station, and the control unit 13 of the B line section mobile station BMV stores the setting in the memory unit 14 as the B line section mobile station BMV being the new active mobile station. The B line section mobile station BMV also notifies the control unit (not shown) of the mobile station MV2 that it has switched to being the active mobile station for the B line section. The control unit of the mobile station MV2 stores in the memory unit 14 of the B line section mobile station BMV that it is the currently active mobile station, so that the B line section mobile station BMV enters a B line section operating state in which it operates the B line section, and the process proceeds to step ST21.

In step ST21, the control unit of the mobile station MV2 outputs the post-line switching continuation information held in the memory transmission unit MT from the memory transmission unit MT to the input/output unit 15 of the mobile station BMV for line B.

Then, proceed to step ST23 and set the wait time to the value X of the wait timer counter 6 to prevent repeated switching of the operating mobile station in the AB border zone.

Thereafter, the processing of steps ST12, ST14, ST16, ST18, ST20, ST22 and ST24 is executed in the mobile station BMV for line section B. However, the processing of steps ST12, ST14, ST16, ST18, T20, ST22 and ST24 is the same as the processing of steps ST11, ST13, ST15, ST17, ST19, ST21 and ST23 described above, respectively, replaced by processing in each part of the mobile station BMV for line section B, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the mobile station MV2 of the second embodiment includes the A line section mobile station AMV and the B line section mobile station BMV, a line section switching identifier SW, and a memory transmission unit MT. When the line section switching identifier SW determines that a line section is being switched, the memory transmission unit MT outputs a switching signal S10 to each individual line section mobile station, thereby switching the individual line section mobile station corresponding to the line section switching to an operating mobile station. In addition, the memory transmission unit MT stores post-line section switching continuation information that is still required after the line section is switched, and when the line section is switched, the post-line section switching continuation information can be handed over to the individual line section mobile station after the switch. This wireless system switching operation makes it possible to seamlessly switch the wireless system of the mobile station without reducing the operating efficiency of trains, even in line sections operated by different systems.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, the above description is illustrative in all respects and does not limit the present disclosure. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, within the scope of this disclosure, it is possible to freely combine the various embodiments, and to modify or omit each embodiment as appropriate.

Claims (4)

A mobile station mounted on a train that travels across a first and a second line section having different train radio systems,
a first line mobile station;
a second line mobile station;
A line section switching identifier;
The line section switching identifier is
when receiving specific signals output from the first and second line section mobile stations, determining line section switching based on the specific signals, inputting line section switching signals to the first and second line section mobile stations, and designating one of the first and second line section mobile stations corresponding to the line section after switching as an operating mobile station for operating the train radio system ;
The first and second line section mobile stations include
When the line switching signal is input, if the mobile station is the operating mobile station, the mobile station cancels the operating mobile station status, and if the mobile station is not the operating mobile station, the mobile station becomes the operating mobile station;
A mobile station that, when the line switching signal is input, does not cancel its status as the operating mobile station or become the operating mobile station for a predetermined time. The mobile station,
2. The mobile station according to claim 1, further comprising a storage and transmission unit that acquires and stores post-line switching continuation information that is required continuously even after a line switching from an operational mobile station of the first and second line section mobile stations, and transmits the post-line switching continuation information to one of the first and second line section mobile stations that becomes the operational mobile station after the line switching. the first and second lines have first and second base stations, respectively;
The specific signal is
output from the first line section mobile station when the first line section mobile station is synchronized with the first base station;
3. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the signal is output from the second line section mobile station when the second line section mobile station is synchronized with the second base station. The first and second railway sections include:
a boundary zone capable of receiving radio waves from both the first and second railway lines;
The predetermined time is:
The mobile station of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is set based on a length of the boundary zone.

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