JP7708700B2 - Wireless on-board station system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless on-board station system, and in particular to a method for selectively switching between an analog wireless system and a digital wireless system in an environment where both systems are used together.

Conventionally, when switching from an analog radio system to a digital radio system, the most common method was to operate both analog and digital radio systems on the ground, and then remove the analog on-board station on the train and install a digital on-board station to perform the update.

However, if the analog radio system and digital radio system are not used together and a complete switchover is required at a certain point in time, the on-board station must be able to switch and connect to either the analog on-board station or the digital on-board station using the interface device between the vehicle circuits and on-board equipment, so it is necessary to have an analog/digital on-board station and a switching function.

The following prior art is included as background technology in this technical field. Patent Document 1 (JP 2007-82075 A) describes a wireless communication system that includes a mobile station device that moves along a preset trajectory, multiple base station devices provided along the trajectory, and a control station device that manages the multiple base station devices, in which the mobile station device and the base station devices communicate wirelessly and the mobile station device is handed off to each of the multiple base station devices as it moves along the trajectory, in which the mobile station device transmits information specifying the direction of travel of the mobile station device to the control station device via the base station device, and the control station device receives information transmitted from the mobile station device via the base station device, predicts the base station device to which the mobile station device will be handed off based on the received information, and controls the handoff based on the prediction result (see abstract).

JP 2007-82075 A

If the analog and digital radio systems are not used together but are to be fully switched over at a certain point, during the system transition preparation period, test radio waves may be transmitted by the ground-side digital radio system while the analog radio system is in operation. The base station equipment of the radio system constantly transmits radio waves, and the on-board station system in operation receives analog waves at the analog on-board station and digital waves at the digital on-board station. However, the analog on-board station and digital on-board station do not share their reception status with each other. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately grasp the operating status of the digital radio system based on the presence or absence of analog radio waves. Therefore, it is difficult to automatically and accurately switch the vehicle circuits and interface devices to the system in operation.

Basically, the test radio waves for the digital radio system are set up and transmitted correctly, but if the test radio waves are set up incorrectly or if digital waves cannot be transmitted, it will be impossible to select between analog and digital onboard stations.

The present invention aims to provide a train radio onboard station that can select and switch between an analog radio system and a digital radio system using the radio of the digital onboard station, and can fix the digital radio system or switch between the analog radio system and the digital radio system based on the digital onboard station operating device.

A representative example of the invention disclosed in the present application is as follows: That is, a wireless on-board station system that communicates with a wireless ground station system includes an analog on-board station that communicates with the wireless ground station system by analog waves, a digital on-board station that communicates with the wireless ground station system by digital waves, and an interface switching device that connects one of the analog on-board station and the digital on-board station to an interface device, the digital on-board station monitors a communication state and an operation state at startup, and outputs a switching signal to the interface switching device so as to automatically follow the analog wave or the digital wave based on the monitoring result , and is characterized in that when the communication state is synchronization established and the operation state is not under test, it is determined that the digital wave is in operation .

In addition, in one example of a wireless communication system of the present invention, the digital on-board station has an operation unit, and the digital on-board station outputs a signal for connecting to the digital on-board station or a signal for connecting to the analog on-board station to the interface switching device based on operation of the operation unit.

In addition, in one example of a wireless communication system of the present invention, the digital on-board station determines the communication status and operation status of the digital wave, and if the result of the determination is that the digital wave is in operation, outputs a signal to connect to the digital on-board station to the interface switching device.

In one example of the wireless communication system of the present invention, the digital on-board station repeatedly determines the communication state for a first predetermined time after startup, and if the communication state is synchronization established, repeatedly determines the operation state for a second predetermined time, and if the operation state is not in test for the second predetermined time consecutively, determines that the digital wave is in operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, system switching can be performed smoothly. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be made clear through the explanation of the following embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a train radio on-board station system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a train radio on-board station system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart of an analog/digital switching determination process executed by a control unit of a digital on-board station at startup according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart of an analog/digital switching determination process executed by a control unit of a digital on-board station at startup according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart of an analog/digital switching process executed by a control unit in response to a button operation of an operating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an operator of a digital on-board station according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a train radio on-board station system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a flowchart of an analog/digital switching determination process executed by a control unit of a digital on-board station according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a train radio on-board station system constituting a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The train radio on-board station system 20 of this embodiment is connected to the analog train radio ground station system 1 and the digital train radio ground station system 2. The train radio on-board station system 20 has an analog on-board station 3, a digital on-board station 4, and an interface switching device 6. The analog on-board station 3 communicates with the analog train radio ground station system 1, and the digital on-board station 4 communicates with the digital train radio ground station system 2. The interface switching device 6 connects the vehicle circuit 5A to either the analog on-board station 3 or the digital on-board station 4. The vehicle circuit 5A is a device that comprehensively controls the running of the vehicle, and on-board devices (emergency notification device, in-car broadcasting device, master control key) that enable voice communication with the command center via the train radio on-board station system 20.

The train radio on-board station system 20 of this embodiment also has an analog on-board station 3, a digital on-board station 4, and an interface switching device 6 installed in the first car (car 1), and an analog on-board station 3, a digital on-board station 4, and an interface switching device 6 installed in the last car (car 8). The interface switching device 6 in car 1 and the interface switching device 6 in car 8 communicate voice and on-board station status via a wire. The digital on-board station 4 in car 1 and the digital on-board station 4 in car 8 communicate control device signals via a wire.

In this way, in the wireless communication system of this embodiment, during the transition between the analog wireless system and the digital wireless system, the analog train radio ground station system 1 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 are installed side by side, and the train radio on-board station system 20 transmits with either the analog train radio ground station system 1 or the digital train radio ground station system 2.

Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of the train radio on-board station system 20 of the first embodiment.

As described above, the train radio on-board station system 20 has an analog on-board station 3, a digital on-board station 4, and an interface switching device 6. The digital on-board station 4 has a control unit 7, a radio unit 8, an operating device 9, and a duplexer 11.

The control unit 7 is composed of a non-volatile memory, a stored memory, and a processor (CPU). The non-volatile memory of the control unit 7 stores a program for each line section, and one of the programs is selectively loaded into the volatile memory and started according to the input master control key information. When a program for a certain line section is started, an analog/digital switching decision process (Fig. 3C) is executed, and communication is performed with either the analog train radio ground station system 1 or the digital train radio ground station system 2 depending on the system operation status. In addition, when multiple buttons on the operation device 9 of the digital on-board station 4 shown in Fig. 4 are operated, an analog/digital switching process (Fig. 3C) is executed.

The radio unit 8 has multiple radios that communicate on different channels, for example, a control channel digital radio 81, a communication channel digital radio 82, and a direct protection digital radio 83 that communicate on different frequency channels. The control channel digital radio 81 transmits and receives control signals with the digital train radio ground station system 2. The communication channel digital radio 82 transmits and receives voice call signals with the digital train radio ground station system 2. The direct protection digital radio 83 transmits and receives signals for train protection.

The control unit 9 has switches that are operated to select channels and to send and receive protection alerts, lamps and indicators that show the operating status, and a handset for making calls with the digital on-board station 4. The control unit 9 may be shared with the analog on-board station 3.

Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration of the controller of the digital train radio on-board station in the first embodiment.

The operating device 9 has a handset 901, a protection alarm button 902, an emergency alarm button 903, a regenerative brake recovery button 904, an acknowledgement button 905, a power lamp 906, a busy lamp 907, a vehicle failure lamp 908, a vehicle other than the vehicle failure lamp 909, an emergency call lamp 910, a parking lamp 911, a response button 912, an interrupt button 913, a vehicle/vehicle other than the vehicle button 914, a good/failed button 915, a seven-segment display 916, a manual switch button 917, a line section switch button 918, and a volume change button 919.

The handset 901 has a transmitter and receiver used when making a call.

The protection alert button 902 is operated to send a protection alert from the digital on-board station 4 to the digital train radio ground station system 2. The emergency alert button 903 is operated to send an emergency alert from the digital on-board station 4 to the digital train radio ground station system 2. The regenerative brake return button 904 is operated to return the regenerative brakes that were activated based on the protection alert signal received by the digital on-board station 4. The acknowledge button 905 is operated to confirm acknowledgement from the digital train radio ground station system 2 in a mass call or individual call.

The power lamp 906 lights up based on the power-on state of the digital on-board station 4. The busy lamp 907 lights up during a call with the digital train radio ground station system 2. The own vehicle malfunction lamp 908 lights up when there is a malfunction in the digital on-board station 4 of the vehicle on which the control unit 9 is installed. The other vehicle malfunction lamp 909 lights up when there is a malfunction in the digital on-board station 4 of the vehicle opposite the vehicle on which the control unit 9 is installed. The emergency call lamp 910 lights up during an emergency call. The entrance lamp 911 lights up when entering a garage.

When the answer button 912 is operated during an incoming call, it answers the call and outputs the voice of the commander from the speaker. The interrupt button 913 is operated to interrupt a call with another on-board station and make a call. The own/other vehicle button 914 is operated to switch between the currently used digital on-board station 4 in a redundant configuration. Alternatively, the own/other vehicle button 914 lights up the own vehicle if the currently used digital on-board station 4 is the on-board station of the vehicle on which the controller 9 is installed, and lights up the other vehicle if the currently used digital on-board station 4 is the on-board station of the vehicle on the opposite side to the vehicle on which the controller 9 is installed.

The OK/FAIL button 915 is operated when the vehicle leaves the garage to check the soundness of the on-board station. If the soundness check result is good, the OK lamp is turned on for a specified time and then turned off, and if the soundness check result is bad, the FAIL lamp is turned on for a specified time and then turned off.

The seven-segment display 916 is a display device capable of displaying two-digit numbers, and displays a number representing the line section, for example, when a line section switching operation is performed.

The manual switch button 917 and the line section switch button 918 are operated when switching lines. For example, when the manual switch button 917 is operated, it lights up, and when the line section switch button 918 is operated while the manual switch button 917 is lit, the display on the 7-segment display 916 changes, and when the manual switch button 917 is lit, it is turned off and the display changes to the line section displayed on the 7-segment display 916.

The volume change button 919 switches the volume output from the speaker between the small button, the medium button, and the large button. Note that the volume may also be selected with a rotary switch.

The duplexer 11 is provided between the radio unit 8 and the antenna 12A, and mixes and separates signals of different frequencies, distributes signals of the required frequencies to each of the radios 81 to 83, and suppresses signals of other frequencies. Note that the analog on-board station 3 is connected to an antenna 12B different from that of the digital on-board station 4, but may be connected to a common antenna 12A via the duplexer 11.

Figures 3A and 3B are flowcharts of the analog/digital switching determination process executed by the control unit 7 of the digital on-board station 4 in Example 1.

First, the digital on-board station 4 receives line section information from the vehicle circuit 5A (S101). For example, the line section may be determined by operating a master control key inserted into the vehicle circuit 5A, and the line section information may be input to the interface switching device 6. Alternatively, the line section information may be input by operating a line section selection button provided on the operation device 9.

The control unit 7 starts the line program corresponding to the input line information (S102). The line 3 program has an analog/digital switching function implemented. When the line 3 program is started, the analog/digital switching process from step S103 onwards is executed, and when the line 1-2 program is started, the analog/digital switching process from step S103 onwards is not executed, and the radio unit 8 starts at the frequency specified by the program, enabling communication with the digital train radio ground station system 2.

Then, the control unit 7 determines whether the interface is fixed to digital (S103), and if so, transmits a digital designation signal to the interface switching device 6 (S104). If the interface is not fixed to digital, the control unit 7 determines whether the interface is fixed to analog (S105). If the interface is fixed to analog, the control unit 7 transmits an analog designation signal to the interface switching device 6 (S106).

For example, if the control unit 7 stores the digital fixed state in non-volatile memory before transmitting a digital designation signal to the interface switching device 6 (S104), or if the operation shown in FIG. 3C is performed on the operation device 9 to select digital, it is determined that the digital is fixed (YES in S103).

Also, if the operation shown in FIG. 3C is performed on the controller 9 to select analog, it is determined that analog is fixed (YES in S104).

If the control unit 7 is not fixed to digital or analog, it sets the digital test continuation count and analog test continuation count to 0 (S107). The control unit 7 then starts an analog operation determination timer to switch to analog operation if digital cannot be received (S108). The control unit 7 then determines whether the analog operation determination timer has expired, and if so, stops transmission and reception of the digital radio to avoid adversely affecting analog operation (S110). It then sends an analog designation signal to the interface switching device 6 (S106).

If the analog operation determination timer has not expired, it is determined whether synchronization is in progress (S112). If synchronization is not in progress, the analog test continuation count and digital test continuation count are set to 0 (S127). If synchronization is in progress, it is determined whether a digital wave is being tested (S113).

If the digital wave is being tested, the control unit 7 sets the digital test count to 0 and adds 1 to the analog test count (S114). It then determines whether the analog test count has exceeded a predetermined threshold (S115). If the analog test count has exceeded the predetermined threshold, it stops transmission and reception of the digital radio (S110) and sends an analog designation signal to the interface switching device 6 (S126). If the analog test count has not exceeded the predetermined threshold, it returns to determining whether the analog operation determination timer has expired (S109).

When the digital wave is not being tested, the control unit 7 adds 1 to the digital test continuation count, sets the analog test continuation count to 0 (S116), and determines whether the digital test continuation count has exceeded a predetermined threshold (S117). If the digital test continuation count has exceeded the predetermined threshold, a digital designation signal is sent to the interface switching device 6 (S124). If the digital test continuation count has not exceeded the predetermined threshold, the process returns to determining whether the analog operation determination timer has expired (S109).

The analog/digital switching determination process may be performed not only when the program is started, but also by repeatedly determining the communication state and operation state of the digital train radio ground station system 2, so that even after switching from the analog train radio ground station system 1 to the digital train radio ground station system 2, it may be possible to switch from the digital train radio ground station system 2 to the analog train radio ground station system 1 again. For example, after switching from the analog train radio ground station system 1 to the digital train radio ground station system 2, it may be possible to switch back to the analog train radio ground station system 1 in the event of a problem with the digital train radio ground station system 2 without performing a switchback operation in the train radio on-board station system 20, allowing the analog radio system and the digital radio system to be operated in parallel.

In this way, the train radio on-board station system 20 determines the communication status and operation status of the digital train radio and switches the operation of the interface switching device 6, allowing connection to either the analog train radio ground station system 1 or the digital train radio ground station system 2 while prioritizing the digital train radio ground station system 2.

Furthermore, the digital on-board station 4 of this embodiment is configured to be able to transmit a digital designated signal to the interface switching device 6 by operating a combination of multiple buttons on the control unit 9, regardless of whether the signal is analog or digital.

Figure 3C is a flowchart of the analog/digital switching process executed by the control unit 7 in response to a button operation on the controller 9 in the first embodiment.

First, the control unit 7 sets the number of continuous multiple button presses to 0 (S201). Then, the control unit 7 starts a button operation determination timer (S202), and when the button operation determination timer expires (S203), it determines whether multiple buttons are being operated (S204). If multiple buttons are not being operated, the process returns to S202, and the button operation determination timer is started to determine whether a button is being operated. On the other hand, if multiple buttons are being operated, the number of continuous multiple button operations is incremented by 1 (S205).

Then, the control unit 7 judges whether the number of continuous multiple button operations exceeds a predetermined threshold (S206). As a result, if the number of continuous multiple button operations does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the process returns to S202, and the button operation judgment timer is started to judge the button operations. On the other hand, if the number of continuous multiple button operations exceeds the specified value, the operation of multiple buttons has continued for a predetermined time, so the number of continuous multiple button operations is set to 0 (S207), the digital selection state is displayed on the 7-segment display 916 of the controller 9 (S208), and the digital fixation is stored in non-volatile memory (S209). Then, a digital designation signal is sent to the interface switching device 6 (S210).

In this way, when any of a number of buttons are operated continuously for a predetermined period of time, communication is switched from the analog on-board station 3 to the digital on-board station 4, so that an attendant can manually switch from analog communication to digital communication. Note that the buttons operated to switch to digital communication may be limited to specific buttons. Furthermore, it may be possible to select between switching from analog communication to digital communication and switching from digital communication to analog communication. Furthermore, it may be possible to switch to fixed digital communication, in which analog communication is not possible, by operating the operating device 9.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, digital and analog waves can be automatically selected depending on the status of the digital waves and the test telephones for the digital waves. Furthermore, even if the analog train radio ground station system 1 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 are not used in combination and a full switchover is made at a certain point in time, an analog/digital switching determination process is implemented in the line program, so that during the preparation period for the transition from the analog train radio ground station system 1 to the digital train radio ground station system 2, the interface switching device 6 can be automatically switched to the analog on-board station 3 or digital on-board station 4 in operation, allowing for a smooth system switchover. Furthermore, the on-board station's operating device can be used to preliminarily switch between analog and digital waves.

Example 2
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The wireless communication system of this embodiment has an analog train radio ground station system 1, a digital train radio ground station system 2, and a train radio on-board station system 20. The train radio on-board station system 20 has an analog on-board station 3, a digital on-board station 4, and an interface switching device 6. The analog on-board station 3 communicates with the analog train radio ground station system 1, and the digital on-board station 4 communicates with the digital train radio ground station system 2. The interface switching device 6 connects the vehicle circuit/interface device 5B to either the analog on-board station 3 or the digital on-board station 4. The vehicle circuit/interface device 5B is an electronic circuit that comprehensively controls the running of the vehicle, and on-board devices (emergency notification device, on-board public address device, etc.) that enable voice communication with the command center via the train radio on-board station system 20.

In this way, in the wireless communication system of this embodiment, the analog train radio ground station system 1 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 are installed side by side, and the train radio on-board station system 20 can communicate with both the analog train radio ground station system 1 and the digital train radio ground station system 2. For example, there are cases during a transition between the analog radio system and the digital radio system, or when an analog radio system and a digital radio system are installed side by side within a single line section. Also, during a transition between the analog radio system and the digital radio system, the analog train radio ground station system 1 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 transmit simultaneously, and it is necessary to connect the vehicle circuit/interface device 5B to either the analog on-board station 3 or the digital on-board station 4.

Figure 6 is a configuration diagram of the train radio on-board station system 20 of the second embodiment.

As described above, the train radio on-board station system 20 has an analog on-board station 3, a digital on-board station 4, and an interface switching device 6. The digital on-board station 4 has a control unit 7, a radio unit 8, an operating device 9, and a duplexer 11.

The control unit 7 is composed of a processor (CPU) that executes programs stored in memory. The control unit 7 is equipped with a program for each line section, and one of the programs is selectively started according to the input master control key information. The line section 4 program is equipped with an analog/digital switching function, and when the line section 4 program is started, an analog/digital switching decision process (Figure 7) is executed, and communication is performed with either the analog train radio ground station system 1 or the digital train radio ground station system 2 depending on the system operation status.

The radio unit 8 has multiple radios that communicate on different channels, for example, a control channel digital radio 81, a communication channel digital radio 82, and a direct protection digital radio 83 that communicate on different frequency channels. The control channel digital radio 81 transmits and receives control signals with the digital train radio ground station system 2. The communication channel digital radio 82 transmits and receives voice call signals with the digital train radio ground station system 2. The direct protection digital radio 83 transmits and receives signals for train protection.

The control unit 9 has switches that are operated to select channels and to send and receive protection alerts, lamps and indicators that show the operating status, and a handset for making calls with the digital on-board station 4. The control unit 9 may be shared with the analog on-board station 3.

The duplexer 11 is provided between the radio unit 8 and the antenna 12A, and mixes and separates signals of different frequencies, distributes signals of the required frequencies to each of the radios 81 to 83, and suppresses signals of other frequencies. Note that the analog on-board station 3 is connected to an antenna 12B different from that of the digital on-board station 4, but may be connected to a common antenna 12A via the duplexer 11.

Figure 7 is a flowchart of the analog/digital switching determination process executed by the control unit 7 of the digital on-board station 4 in the second embodiment.

First, the digital on-board station 4 receives line section information from the vehicle circuitry and interface device 5B (S101). For example, the vehicle circuitry and interface device 5B may determine the line section by operating a master control key inserted into the master controller, and input the line section information to the interface switching device 6. Alternatively, the line section information may be input by operating a line section selection button provided on the operation device 9.

The control unit 7 starts the line program corresponding to the input line information (S102). As mentioned above, the line 4 program is equipped with an analog/digital switching function. When the line 4 program is started, the analog/digital switching process from step S103 onwards is executed, and when the line 1-3 programs are started, the analog/digital switching process from step S103 onwards is not executed, and the radio unit 8 starts at the frequency specified by the program, enabling communication with the digital train radio ground station system 2.

Then, the control unit 7 starts a digital synchronization determination monitoring process that determines the communication state between the digital on-board station 4 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 (S103). In the digital synchronization determination monitoring process, a digital synchronization determination timer is started (S104), and the communication state of the digital wave (e.g., whether synchronization has been established) is repeatedly determined until the digital synchronization determination timer expires (S105).

If synchronization between the digital on-board station 4 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 has not been established, the process proceeds to step S110, and the processes from step S105 to step S109 are repeatedly executed until the digital synchronization determination timer expires. Note that instead of using the digital synchronization determination timer to determine a predetermined period of time, a predetermined number of times may be used.

On the other hand, if the synchronization between the digital on-board station 4 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 is established, a digital operation determination fixed-period monitoring process is started to determine the operation state of the digital train radio ground station system 2 (S106). In the digital operation determination fixed-period monitoring process, a digital operation determination timer is started (S107), and it is repeatedly determined whether the digital train radio ground station system 2 is transmitting a test signal until the digital operation determination timer expires (S108). Note that the digital operation determination timer may not be used to determine the test signal for a predetermined period of time, but may be used to determine the test signal a predetermined number of times. If the digital operation determination timer receives a test signal transmitted from the digital train radio ground station system 2 during the period of the digital operation determination timer, the digital train radio ground station system 2 is determined to be not in operation, and the digital operation determination timer and the digital synchronization determination timer are waited for to expire (S109, S110), and a determination result that digital wireless communication is not possible is output (S111), and an analog designation signal is transmitted to the interface switching device 6 (S112). The interface switching device 6 connects the analog on-board station 3 to the vehicle circuit/interface device 5B to operate analog wireless communication.

On the other hand, if synchronization with the digital train radio ground station system 2 is established but a test in progress signal transmitted from the digital train radio ground station system 2 is not received during the entire period of the digital operation determination timer, the digital train radio ground station system 2 determines that it is in operation, waits for the digital operation determination timer and the digital synchronization determination timer to expire (S113, S114), outputs a determination result that digital wireless communication is possible (S115), and transmits a digital designation signal to the interface switching device 6 (S116). The interface switching device 6 connects the digital on-board station 4 and the vehicle circuit/interface device 5B to operate digital wireless communication.

The analog/digital switching determination process may be performed not only when the program is started, but also by repeatedly determining the communication state and operation state of the digital train radio ground station system 2, so that even after switching from the analog train radio ground station system 1 to the digital train radio ground station system 2, it may be possible to switch from the digital train radio ground station system 2 to the analog train radio ground station system 1 again. For example, after switching from the analog train radio ground station system 1 to the digital train radio ground station system 2, it may be possible to switch back to the analog train radio ground station system 1 in the event of a problem with the digital train radio ground station system 2 without performing a switchback operation in the train radio on-board station system 20, allowing the analog radio system and the digital radio system to be operated in parallel.

In this way, the train radio on-board station system 20 determines the communication status and operation status of the digital train radio and switches the operation of the interface switching device 6, allowing connection to either the analog train radio ground station system 1 or the digital train radio ground station system 2 while prioritizing the digital train radio ground station system 2.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, even if the analog train radio ground station system 1 and the digital train radio ground station system 2 are not used in combination and are switched over completely at a certain point in time, the analog/digital switching determination process is implemented in the line program, so that during the preparation period for the transition from the analog train radio ground station system 1 to the digital train radio ground station system 2, the interface switching device 6 can be automatically switched to the analog on-board station 3 or digital on-board station 4 in operation, and the system switching can be carried out smoothly.

The above describes the method of the present invention in which the digital on-board station 4 selectively switches between an analog train radio system and a digital train radio system in an environment in which an analog train radio system and a digital train radio system are used together. The present invention is suitable for simultaneous switching from an analog radio system to a digital radio system at a specified timing, but it can also be applied to cases in which an analog radio system and a digital radio system are simply used together, or to radio systems other than train radio systems.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modified examples and equivalent configurations within the spirit of the appended claims. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to having all of the configurations described. Furthermore, part of the configuration of one embodiment may be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. Furthermore, the configuration of another embodiment may be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, part of the configuration of each embodiment may be added, deleted, or replaced with other configurations.

Furthermore, each of the configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. described above may be realized in part or in whole in hardware, for example by designing them as integrated circuits, or may be realized in software by a processor interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function.

Information such as programs, tables, and files that realize each function can be stored in a storage device such as a memory, hard disk, or SSD (Solid State Drive), or in a recording medium such as an IC card, SD card, or DVD.

In addition, the control lines and information lines shown are those considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily represent all control lines and information lines necessary for implementation. In reality, it is safe to assume that almost all components are interconnected.

1 Analog train radio ground station system 2 Digital train radio ground station system 3 Analog on-board station 4 Digital on-board station 5A Vehicle circuit 5B Vehicle circuit/interface device 6 Interface switching device 7 Control unit 8 Radio unit 9 Operation device 11 Shared devices 12A, 12B Antenna 20 Train radio on-board station system

Claims (4)

A wireless on-board station system that communicates with a wireless ground station system,
an analog on-board station that communicates with the wireless ground station system by analog waves;
a digital on-board station that communicates with the wireless ground station system by digital waves;
an interface switching device that connects one of the analog on-board station and the digital on-board station to an interface device;
The digital on-board station includes:
At startup, it monitors the communication and operational status of digital waves,
Based on the result of the monitoring, a switching signal is output to the interface switching device so as to automatically follow an analog wave or a digital wave,
A radio on-board station system, characterized in that when the communication state is synchronization established and the operation state is not under test, it is determined that the digital wave is in operation . 2. The wireless on-board station system according to claim 1,
The digital on-board station has an operation unit,
A wireless on-board station system characterized in that the digital on-board station outputs a signal for connecting to the digital on-board station or a signal for connecting to the analog on-board station to the interface switching device based on operation of the operation unit. 2. The wireless on-board station system according to claim 1,
The digital on-board station includes:
Determining the communication status and operation status of the digital wave;
A radio on-board station system characterized in that, when the result of the determination shows that digital wave operation is in progress, a signal for connecting to the digital on-board station is output to the interface switching device. 2. The wireless on-board station system according to claim 1,
The digital on-board station includes:
repeatedly determining the communication state for a first predetermined time period after startup;
If the communication state is a synchronization establishment, repeatedly determining the operation state for a second predetermined time;
a second predetermined time period during which the operation status is not under test, the second predetermined time period being consecutively determined to be during digital wave operation;