JPS6145906B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of collecting failure information from a large number of terminals.

Nearly 90,000 traffic signals have already been installed across the country, but only a few of them are centrally monitored and controlled, and they are generally limited to urban areas. Therefore, most traffic signals are so-called stand-alone traffic signals that operate independently using only intersection equipment, and it is important to quickly and accurately detect malfunctions and inappropriate signal display times. is difficult. Of course, it is easy to set up a management center (hereinafter abbreviated as the center) and connect it with an organic line to collect failure information, but considering the enormous construction and maintenance costs associated with a wired line network, The feasibility of this is low.

Therefore, by using a wireless line and collecting fault information from a large number of individual traffic signals over a wide area with as few lines as one line, we can also use the free time to perform other functions such as traffic information collection, traffic signal control, sign control, etc. It is conceivable that it can be used freely for the following purposes.

In this case, the target area is divided into several subareas with base stations, and the center supervises the wireless line occupancy time between base stations, and within the subarea, the wireless line occupancy time for each traffic signal is controlled. The base station will supervise the following. Therefore, even if there is only one wireless line, by allocating the occupied time of the wireless line by time-division for each traffic signal and further by time-division for each sub-area, it is possible to divide In addition to inspecting the monitoring equipment consisting of the fault detection unit and wireless transmitter/receiver that have been detected, and collecting fault information, we also set up free time slots between these occupied time slots, and once traffic signal faults are detected at times other than when it is permissible to issue a warning, If a problem occurs in a zone, random notification is allowed in any subarea during this free time, thereby increasing the immediacy of failure information collection. An example of a series of these time allocations will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows
The basic time allocation is shown when the target area is one and the center directly controls the targeted traffic signals (hereinafter referred to as terminals), one boring period is T _C , and this period T _C is t ₁ , t ₁ ′ , t _r1 ~t _ro , t _2-1 ~t
Split into _2-o . Here, t ₁ is a fixed order from the terminal at a specified time interval in response to a simultaneous boring command from the center in order to check the operation of the terminal monitoring system (including the fault detection unit and the wireless transmitting/receiving unit) and to collect fault information. This is the time period for responding. Further, t ₁ ' is a re-boring period, which is a time period for reconfirming boring errors (due to transmission errors), terminal non-responses (due to failures in the monitoring system), and failure information within t ₁ . Also, t _r1 to t _ro are arranged separately,
Notification to the base station of a terminal failure that occurred after the response to boring is completed, or t _2-1 to be described later
This is the time period during which the base station is notified of a terminal failure that occurred within _t2-o . t _2-1 to _{t 2-o} is a time period set for performing control of traffic lights, control of signs, etc. other than failure monitoring of stand-alone traffic signals.

Now, the time allocation shown in Figure 1 above is the basic time allocation that is applied when the target area is one, but the target area is divided into several subareas (SA), and each subarea has its own base. Figure 2 shows a more practical example of time allocation in which the center and each base station are connected by wire or wirelessly, the center controls between the base stations, and the base station controls the subareas. There is. In this case, the above
Each of t ₁ , t ₁ ', and t _2-1 to _{t 2-o} is subdivided into subareas.

In Figure 2, t _1-1 and t ₁ ' _-1 are subarea 1
This is the time period for simultaneous boring and re-boring for (SA ₁ ), and t _1-N and t ₁ ' _-N are also for subarea N (SA-N). t _r1 is a random alerting period during which terminals in all subareas can issue alerts, and thereafter they are arranged as t _{r2 .} . . t _ro at appropriate division points within the time period used for other purposes.

t _2-1-1 is the first allocated time slot for subarea 1 (SA ₁ ) among the other purpose use time slots,
t2-1 _-N is the first allocation time slot for subarea N (SA-N). In addition to this, there are times when the purpose of use _{is n}
After completing one round, one bowling cycle is completed.

Figure 3 shows t _{1 at t 1 in} Figure 1 and
This is a more specific illustration of both time periods of t ₁ ′. At _t1 , a simultaneous command is first received from the center by all terminals. The information content includes at least an area number, a synchronization signal, or a time signal.

In the target terminal included in the designated area, a built-in clock device starts clocking in response to the synchronization signal. Furthermore, when receiving a time signal, the time of the timekeeping device is corrected. Note that the timekeeping device may be a counter or a clock.

In this way, each terminal uses the simultaneous command signal to
Timing starts until each individually determined time. For example, after terminal No. 1 receives a synchronization command from the center or _a simultaneous command that includes time information,
After the elapsed time, the status information of terminal No. 1 is reported to the center. Similarly, terminal No. 2 becomes terminal No. N after T ₂ elapses.
will be notified after T _N has passed. After all the terminals have responded in this manner, the allocation time t′ ₁ has passed, and the center individually bowls terminals that could not receive normal reception at the center or terminals that have not responded to request a response. In Figure 3, terminals No. 2 and No. 3
corresponds to this.

Furthermore, after the allocated time slots t ₁ and t ₁ ' have elapsed, a random alerting time slot t _r1 is reached, which is a time slot in which alerts can be issued from any terminal.

As is clear from the above description, the normal operation of the timekeeping device on the terminal side is an important issue for the smooth functioning of the entire system. Once this timing device does not operate normally, an alarm will not be issued within the response time specified for each terminal, and not only will its own response information not be received correctly by the center, but it will also interfere with the responses of other terminals. It becomes a factor.

The present invention monitors, at a center or a base station, the status of a timing device on the terminal side, which is important for the smooth functioning of the failure information collection system described above, and also monitors the status of the timing device on the terminal side, which is important for the smooth functioning of the failure information collection system described above. , this is modified by instructions from the center or base station. This is the third
This will be explained using figures.

First, at the start of one bowling cycle, the center transmits a simultaneous bowling signal containing at least area number, synchronization, or time information to all target terminals. Each terminal that has received the synchronization or time information waits for a certain period of time specified for each terminal to elapse, and then sends terminal status information to the center as a response.In this response information,
The time counted from the time the synchronization or time information is received until the start of the response is included in the transmission. The center that receives this information can monitor the timekeeping device of the terminal by comparing it with a timetable that defines the order for each terminal. In Figure 3, terminal No. 1 uses T ₁ , No. 2 uses T ₂ , and No. N uses T _N.
are included in the response information and sent.

Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows an example in which terminals No. 2 and No. 3 were not properly received by the center due to a transmission error, but in this case, the center sent a T. You can respond by including ₂ or _T3 .

Another response method is to include the elapsed time from the synchronization or time information reception point to the re-boring signal reception point in the response information and transmit it. In this case, the center can monitor and check the terminal timekeeping device by comparing it with its own timekeeping device.

Now, the information of the terminal timing device included in the response information from the terminal is used as the center's timetable.
Alternatively, if there is no match after checking with the center timing device, during individual re-boring to the terminal, specify the terminal and provide time information or counter contents to correct the timing device from the center. By directly transmitting the data, it is possible to restore the status to normal.

Next, after the time period for simultaneous bowling, response thereto, and re-boring ends, a random alarm time period begins. Each terminal can independently determine the start of its random alarm time period using the timing device. In addition to using a timing device, it is also possible to use means that receives a start signal for the random alarm time period from the center.If time information is included in this start signal, the terminal timing device can be corrected during the random alarm time period. It can also be done at the start of the process. If the target area is divided into several subareas, the start signal of the random notification time period will be transmitted sequentially for each subarea, as shown in FIG.

A terminal that uses a random notification time period to send information such as a serious traffic signal failure to the center must complete the transmission within a predetermined period of time from the start of that time period.

Note that during the other-purpose use time period, the terminals targeted for fault monitoring are prohibited from issuing alarms, so any faults that occur during this period must wait until the next random alarm period or response to simultaneous boring. .

Time control for all of these notifications is performed using synchronization or time information from the center and the terminal clock device.

As explained above with reference to the embodiments, according to the present invention, by using a means for monitoring the status of the terminal timing device and correcting the incorrect timing status, it is possible to operate the failure information collection system more smoothly, which is advantageous in practice. be.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show a fault information collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a time distribution diagram within one boring cycle, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the basic fault information collection method, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the fault information collection method from the center. FIG. 3 is a state diagram showing simultaneous bowling and responses from terminals.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A wireless transmitter/receiver is provided in a traffic signal that operates independently and is not centrally controlled by a center, and a simultaneous boring signal including an area number, synchronization, or time information is transmitted from the center by wireless,
The traffic signals included in the area sequentially transmit the status information of the traffic signals to the center at individually determined fixed time intervals in synchronization with the center or time information, and the traffic signals side The response information from the center includes timing information from the time of synchronization or reception of time information from the center to the start of the response, and the center compares it with a timetable that specifies the order of responses for each traffic signal. . A failure information collection method, comprising monitoring a timing device on the traffic signal side and monitoring an alarm order. 2. After collecting information through simultaneous boring from all target traffic signals in the area, the center will include information in response to individual boring from the center for traffic signals where interference has been detected or no response. By transmitting timing information including synchronization or time information reception until the start of response at the specified time, or time measurement information until the start of response to individual bowling, the center can check traffic information by comparing it with the timing device at that center. Claims characterized in that a failure in a timing device on a traffic signal side is discovered, and corrections are made by individually transmitting timing information from the center again to the traffic signal where the failure is discovered. The failure information collection method described in paragraph 1.