FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
POSITION SPECIFYING DEVICE, POSITION SPECIFYING SYSTEM,
POSITION SPECIFYING METHOD, AND POSITION SPECIFYING
PROGRAM;
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED
AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED
2
DESCRIPTION
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a position
5 specifying device that specifies positions of devices
installed on railroad vehicles and also relates to a
position specifying system, a position specifying method,
and a position specifying program.
10 Background
[0002] Each of vehicles composing a train has a
plurality of devices installed at externally visible
positions under a floor of a passenger compartment. When
there is a failed device, ascertaining what kind of train
15 in what kind of operation has actually used the failed
device can be helpful in ascertaining a cause of failure.
However, after the devices installed on the vehicle are
removed for repair, maintenance, or the like, there are
cases where the devices are not returned to the vehicle.
20 There are also cases where the vehicles are relocated
relative to one another in a composition of the train,
resulting in changes in the composition of the train.
Individual information items that identify the devices
installed in vehicles are not currently managed. Therefore,
25 ascertaining what kind of train in what kind of operation
has used a certain device has not been possible.
[0003] In a method for managing positions of devices in
a train, an identification tag storing an individual
information item is affixed to each of the devices, and a
30 location where the stored individual information item is
read from the identification tag is associated with the
individual information item. Use of wireless tags such as
radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs) as the identification
3
tags generally enables respective information items of the
plurality of wireless tags to be read collectively by a
wireless tag information reader. According to a technique
disclosed by Patent Literature 1, an information reader
5 reads an identification information item from one or more
wireless tags each of which is affixed to a corresponding
object to be managed, and the identification information
item of the object to be managed is associated with
information about an identification information reading
10 location when being stored.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
15 Laid-open No. 2017-174359
Summary
Technical Problem
[0005] However, when the above conventional technique is
20 used for specifying positions of devices installed in
vehicles in a train having a plurality of the vehicles
connected, there is a possibility in that when another
train is present next to the train targeted for specifying
positions of devices, identification information item of a
25 device installed in the adjacent train may be read. In
that case, the identification information item of the wrong
device is problematically associated with location
information. When the identification information item of
the device in the immediate train is read, removing the
30 identification information item of the device in the
immediate train from read device identification information
is necessary to prevent accidental association, and it
takes time.
4
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of
the above, and an object of the present invention is to
obtain a position specifying device that is capable of
identifying devices in a target train among a plurality of
5 trains.
Solution to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the above-stated problem and
achieve the object, a position specifying device according
10 to the present invention includes: a read target reception
unit to receive an indicated read range for an
identification tag to be read, the identification tag being
affixed to corresponding one of a plurality of devices
installed in vehicles of a train and storing an individual
15 information item identifying the corresponding one device;
a design information acquisition unit to obtain at least
one design information item indicating a model number of
one of the plurality of the devices within the indicated
read range and an installation position of the one of the
20 plurality of the devices with the model number in the
vehicles of the train, the model number indicating a type
of each of the devices; a model number information
acquisition unit to obtain at least one model number
information item indicating a relationship between the
25 model number and the individual information item; a reader
to read, from each of one or more identification tags, an
individual information item of one of the plurality of the
devices stored in the identification tag; and a
determination unit to ascertain, by use of the model number
30 information item(s), a model number of at least one of the
plurality of the devices having an individual information
item read by the reader, determine, by use of the design
information item(s), whether or not the at least one of the
5
plurality of the devices having the model number
ascertained is present in the indicated read range of the
read target reception unit, and associate an installation
position indicated by the design information item with the
5 individual information item of the at least one of the
plurality of devices having the model number ascertained
when the at least one of the plurality of the devices
having the model number ascertained is present in the
indicated read range.
10
Advantageous Effect of Invention
[0008] The position specifying device according to the
present invention is capable of specifying positions of
devices in a target train among a plurality of trains.
15
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a
position specifying system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an image illustrating how a position
20 specifying device reads individual information items of
devices from identification tags each affixed to the device
in the position specifying system according to the first
embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
25 example of the position specifying device according to the
first embodiment.
FIG. 4 illustrates examples of a design information
item that a design information acquisition unit according
to the first embodiment obtains.
30 FIG. 5 illustrates examples of a model number
information item that a model number information
acquisition unit according to the first embodiment obtains.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating how the position
6
specifying device according to the first embodiment
operates when associating respective installation positions
of the devices with the individual information items.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating how a determination
5 unit according to the first embodiment operates for
determining whether or not individual information items
read by a reader belong to devices within a read range.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which a processing
circuitry of the position specifying device according to
10 the first embodiment is configured to include a processor
and a memory.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example in which the processing
circuitry of the position specifying device according to
the first embodiment is configured as dedicated hardware.
15 FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating how a position
specifying device according to a second embodiment operates
when associating an installation position of a device with
an individual information item.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a
20 configuration example of a position specifying device
according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a
configuration example of a device according to the fourth
embodiment.
25 FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating how the device
according to the fourth embodiment operates when
transmitting a device state information item.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating how the position
specifying device according to the fourth embodiment
30 operates when obtaining the device state information item.
Description of Embodiments
[0010] With reference to the drawings, a detailed
7
description is hereinafter provided of position specifying
devicees, position specifying systems, position specifying
methods, and position specifying programs according to
embodiments of the present invention. It is to be noted
5 that these embodiments are not restrictive of the present
invention.
[0011] First Embodiment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a
position specifying system 50 according to the first
10 embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an image
illustrating how a position specifying device 1 reads
individual information items of devices from identification
tags each affixed to the device in the position specifying
system 50 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2
15 illustrates the devices installed on vehicles 11 to 13 of a
train 10 and the devices installed on vehicles 21 to 23 of
a train 20 in a view looking down at the trains 10 and 20
from which passenger compartments are removed.
[0012] The position specifying system 50 includes the
20 identification tags 111a to 115a, 121a, 122a, and 131a to
135a affixed respectively to the devices 111 to 115, 121,
122, and 131 to 135, which are installed under floors of
the vehicles 11 to 13 of the train 10. The position
specifying system 50 also includes the identification tags
25 211a to 215a, 221a, 222a, and 231a to 235a affixed
respectively to the devices 211 to 215, 221, 222, and 231
to 235, which are installed under floors of the vehicles 21
to 23 of the train 20. In FIG. 2, the devices 111, 121,
135, 211, 221, and 235 are brakes A, the devices 112, 134,
30 212, and 234 are variable-voltage/variable-frequency (VVVF)
inverters, the devices 113, 122, 133, 213, 222, and 233 are
brakes B, the devices 114, 132, 214, and 232 are protective
devices, and the devices 115, 131, 215, and 231 are static
8
inverters (SIVs). However, these devices are non-limiting
examples. Stored in each of the identification tags 111a
to 115a, 121a, 122a, 131a to 135a, 211a to 215a, 221a, 222a,
and 231a to 235a is the individual information item
5 identifying the device with the affixed identification tag.
The individual information item is, for example, a serial
number of the device. When hereinafter described without
distinction, the devices 111 to 115, 121, 122, 131 to 135,
211 to 215, 221, 222, and 231 to 235 may be simply referred
10 to as the devices. When hereinafter described without
distinction, the identification tags 111a to 115a, 121a,
122a, 131a to 135a, 211a to 215a, 221a, 222a, and 231a to
235a may be simply referred to as the identification tags.
The position specifying system 50 also includes the
15 position specifying device 1. The position specifying
device 1 emits radio waves toward the affixed
identification tags of the devices to read the individual
information items from the identification tags.
[0013] In the present embodiment, the identification
20 tags are assumed to be wireless tags. The wireless tags
are, for example, RFID tags. The position specifying
device 1 is capable of reading the individual information
items of the devices from a plurality of identification
tags at a time by emitting the radio waves over a wide
25 range. It is to be noted that while each of the
identification tags illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is large
compared with an actual size of the device, an actual size
of the identification tag is small enough compared with the
size of the device. The position specifying system 50
30 ascertains the individual information items of the devices
installed under the floors of the vehicles 11 to 13 of the
train 10 and associates the devices’ individual information
items with respective installation positions of the devices
9
on the vehicles 11 to 13 of the train 10. The position
specifying system 50 also ascertains the individual
information items of the devices installed under the floors
of the vehicles 21 to 23 of the train 20 and associates the
5 devices’ individual information items with respective
installation positions of the devices on the vehicles 21 to
23 of the train 20. An example that is described in the
present embodiment is such that the position specifying
system 50 ascertains the individual information items of
10 the devices installed under the floors of the vehicles 11
to 13 of the train 10 and associates the devices’
individual information items with the installation
positions of the devices on the vehicles 11 to 13 of the
train 10.
15 [0014] A description is provided of a configuration of
the position specifying device 1. FIG. 3 is a block
diagram illustrating a configuration example of the
position specifying device 1 according to the first
embodiment. The position specifying device 1 includes a
20 read target reception unit 2, a design information
acquisition unit 3, a model number information acquisition
unit 4, a reader 5, and a determination unit 6.
[0015] The read target reception unit 2 receives an
indication of a read range from a user. The indicated read
25 range includes the affixed identification tags from which
the stored individual information items identifying the
devices installed under the floors of the vehicle 11, 12,
or 13 of the train 10 are to be read. The user indicates
the read range to the read target reception unit 2 by
30 indicating the train, a left or right side of the vehicle
and the vehicle of the train, thus targeting the
identification tags from which the individual information
items of the devices are to be read. Specifically, the
10
user indicates the train by indicating a train composition
number that identifies the train. In the example of FIG. 2,
the user indicates the train 10. The user indicates the
left or right side of the train by indicating either of a
5 sea and a mountain side that represent the left and right
sides. In the example of FIG. 2, the user indicates the
mountain side. In a typical method, the sea and mountain
sides based on, for example, a traveling direction of the
train are used to represent the left side and the right
10 side of the train. However, another method may be used to
identify the left and right sides of the train. The user
indicates the vehicle by indicating a car number that
identifies the vehicle. In the example of FIG. 2, the user
indicates the vehicle 11. The position specifying device 1
15 is carried by the user when the user changes or shifts a
reading location where the position specifying device 1 is
to read the individual information items of the devices
from the identification tags. The present embodiment is
based on the assumption that the user carries the position
20 specifying device 1. By carrying the position specifying
device 1 to move the position specifying device 1, the user
changes the reading location and allows the position
specifying device 1 to emit radio waves toward the
identification tags for reading the individual information
25 items. The reading location is where the position
specifying device 1, namely, the reader 5 emits radio waves
toward the identification tags. Content to be indicated to
the read target reception unit 2 is changed each time the
user changes the reading location, namely, the read range.
30 When the vehicles 11, 12, and 13 are car Nos. 1, 2, and 3,
respectively, the user may simplify the vehicle indicating
process by indicating the car number of the vehicle from
which the reading starts, namely, the car No. 1 or 3 so
11
that the car Nos. 1, 2, and 3 or the car Nos. 3, 2, and 1
are targeted for reading in this order. An input interface
such as a touch panel that is not illustrated is used when
the read target reception unit 2 receives the read range
5 indicated from the user.
[0016] The design information acquisition unit 3 obtains
design information items. Each of the design information
items indicates a model number of the device within the
read range received by the read target reception unit 2,
10 and the installation position of the device with the model
number in a vehicle of the train. The model number
indicates a type of the device. Specifically, the design
information acquisition unit 3 obtains, from among the
design information items each indicating the installation
15 position of the device with the model number in a vehicle
of the train, those design information items that are
relevant to the read range. FIG. 4 illustrates examples of
the design information item that the design information
acquisition unit 3 according to the first embodiment
20 obtains. The design information items illustrated in FIG.
4 indicate that the vehicle 11 of the train 10 and the
vehicle 21 of the train 20 each have the brake A installed
on the mountain side of a place A, the VVVF drive installed
on the mountain side of a place B, the brake B installed on
25 the mountain side of a place C, the protective device
installed on the sea side of the place A, and the SIV
installed on the sea side of the place B. The design
information items illustrated in FIG. 4 are the examples.
The design information items concerning the vehicles 12, 13,
30 22, and 23 are also obtained by the design information
acquisition unit 3. The design information acquisition
unit 3 obtains, from among the design information items
illustrated in FIG. 4, the design information items
12
relevant to the read range, namely, the design information
items about the brake A, the VVVF drive, and the brake B on
the mountain side of the vehicle 11 of the train 10. The
design information acquisition unit 3 obtains, via
5 communication or a storage medium, the design information
items to store from a server (not illustrated) storing the
design information items.
[0017] The model number information acquisition unit 4
obtains model number information items each indicating a
10 relationship between the model number indicating the type
of the device and the individual information item of the
device. When the individual information item of each
device is the device’s serial number that includes
information about the device's type, namely, about the
15 device's model number, use of the individual information
item read from the identification tag affixed to the device
enables the device’s model number to be found. FIG. 5
illustrates examples of the model number information item
that the model number information acquisition unit 4
20 according to the first embodiment obtains. The model
number information items in FIG. 5 indicate that the device
with the individual information item, namely, the serial
number in a range of from 1000 to 1300 has the model number
BRAKE A, that the device with the individual information
25 item, namely, the serial number in a range of from 2000 to
2200 has the model number VVVF, that the device with the
individual information item, namely, the serial number in a
range of from 3000 to 3300 has the model number BRAKE B,
that the device with the individual information item,
30 namely, the serial number in a range of from 4000 to 4200
has the model number PROTECTIVE DEVICE and that the device
with the individual information item, namely, the serial
number in a range of from 5000 to 5200 has the model number
13
SIV. When, for example, the individual information item,
namely, the serial number read by the reader 5 is “1104”,
the model number information item to be used tells that the
device with the individual information item, namely, the
5 serial number “1104” has the model number BRAKE A. On the
basis of the design information items obtained by the
design information acquisition unit 3, the model number
information acquisition unit 4 at least obtains, from among
the model number information items illustrated in FIG. 5,
10 the model number information items about the devices within
the read range, namely, the model number information items
about the brake A, the VVVF drive, and the brake B. It is
to be noted that the model number information acquisition
unit 4 may obtain all the model number information items
15 illustrated in FIG. 5. The model number information
acquisition unit 4 obtains, via communication or a storage
medium, the model number information items to store from
the server (not illustrated) storing the model number
information items.
20 [0018] The reader 5 reads, from one or more of the
identification tags, the individual information items of
the corresponding devices stored in the identification tags
affixed to the devices. By emitting radio waves toward its
surroundings, the reader 5 reads the individual information
25 items of devices that allow their respective individual
information items to be read regardless of whether it is
the train 10 or the train 20. The reader 5 may store the
read individual information items in itself or in a storage
unit that is not illustrated.
30 [0019] Using the model number information items obtained
by the model number information acquisition unit 4, the
determination unit 6 ascertains the model number of each
device having the individual information item read by the
14
reader 5. Using the design information items obtained by
the design information acquisition unit 3, the
determination unit 6 determines whether or not the devices
each having the model number ascertained are present in the
5 indicated read range of the read target reception unit 2.
For each of the devices that are present in the indicated
read range of the read target reception unit 2, the
determination unit 6 associates the installation position
indicated by the design information item with the
10 individual information item of the device having the model
number ascertained.
[0020] In the present embodiment, the position
specifying device 1 is configured to be portable by the
user and is assumed to perform all the processes. However,
15 this is not limiting. For example, the position specifying
device 1 may include a reading device that is constituted
by the read target reception unit 2 and the reader 5, and
an operational device that is constituted by the design
information acquisition unit 3, the model number
20 information acquisition unit 4, and the determination unit
6. The reading device shares the individual information
items with the operational device by transmitting the
individual information items via communication or passing
the individual information items via a storage medium.
25 [0021] A description is provided next of how the
position specifying device 1 reads the individual
information items of the devices from the identification
tags, ascertains which individual-information-item carrying
device is in which installation position of the vehicle 11,
30 12, or 13 of the train 10 and associates each of the
devices’ installation positions with the individual
information item. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating how
the position specifying device 1 according to the first
15
embodiment operates when associating the installation
position of each of the devices with the individual
information item. The description provided here is of the
example in which the position specifying device 1 receives
5 the user-indicated read range indicating the mountain side
of the vehicle 11 of the train 10.
[0022] As stated earlier, the user indicates the read
range to the read target reception unit 2 by indicating the
train 10, the mountain side, and the vehicle 11. The read
10 target reception unit 2 of the position specifying device 1
receives the indicated read range from the user (step S1).
[0023] With the received read range of the read target
reception unit 2 targeted, the design information
acquisition unit 3 obtains the design information items
15 (step S2). Specifically, the design information
acquisition unit 3 obtains the design information items
relevant to the read range received by the read target
reception unit 2, namely, the design information items
indicating that the vehicle 11 of the train 10 has the
20 brake A installed as the device 111 on the mountain side of
the place A, the VVVF drive installed as the device 112 on
the mountain side of the place B, and the brake B installed
as the device 113 on the mountain side of the place C.
[0024] The model number information acquisition unit 4
25 obtains the model number information items each indicating
the relationship between the model number and the
individual information item (step S3). Specifically, using
the design information items obtained by the design
information acquisition unit 3, the model number
30 information acquisition unit 4 at least obtains, from among
the model number information items illustrated in FIG. 5,
the model number information item about the model number
BRAKE A, the model number information item about the model
16
number VVVF, and the model number information item about
the model number BRAKE B.
[0025] The reader 5 emits radio waves toward its
surroundings to read the individual information items of
5 the devices from the identification tags affixed to the
devices (step S4). As described earlier, the reader 5 is
capable of reading, from one or more identification tags,
the individual information items of the devices stored in
the identification tags affixed to the devices. When the
10 position specifying device 1 is present at a reading
location illustrated in FIG. 2 for reading the individual
information items of the devices, the reader 5 reads, from
the identification tags affixed to the devices within an
area surrounded by a dotted line, the individual
15 information items of these devices. In other words, the
reader 5 reads the individual information items of the
devices 111 to 113 from the identification tags 111a to
113a affixed to the respective devices 111 to 113 within
the read range, which has been received by the read target
20 reception unit 2. The reader 5 also reads the individual
information items of the devices 214 and 215 from the
identification tags 214a and 215a affixed to the respective
devices 214 and 215, which are installed on the sea side of
the vehicle 21 of the immediate train 20, although the
25 devices 214 and 215 are outside the read range received by
the read target reception unit 2.
[0026] The determination unit 6 determines whether or
not the individual information items read by the reader 5
belong to the devices within the indicated read range of
30 the read target reception unit 2 (step S5). A detailed
description is provided of how the determination unit 6
operates. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating how the
determination unit 6 according to the first embodiment
17
operates for determining whether or not the individual
information items read by the reader 5 belong to the
devices within the read range.
[0027] Using the model number information items, the
5 determination unit 6 ascertains the model number of each
device having the individual information item read by the
reader 5 (step S11). For example, when the individual
information items read by the reader 5 include “1204”,
“2081”, “3219”, “4077”, and “5063”, the determination unit
10 6 uses the model number information items and determines
that the device with the individual information item “1204”
has the model number BRAKE A, that the device with the
individual information item “2081” has the model number
VVVF and that the device with the individual information
15 item “3219” has the model number BRAKE B. When the model
number information acquisition unit 4 has obtained only the
model number information items about the devices within the
read range, namely, the model number information items
about the brake A, the VVVF drive, and the brake B, the
20 determination unit 6 is unable to identify the device with
the individual information item “4077” and the device with
the individual information item “5063”. However, because
the device with the individual information item “4077” and
the device with the individual information item “5063” are
25 outside the read range, the determination unit 6 does not
have to ascertain the model number of the device with the
individual information item “4077” and the model number of
the device with the individual information item “5063”.
When the model number information acquisition unit 4 has
30 obtained the model number information items about all the
model numbers, the determination unit 6 determines that the
device with the individual information item “4077” has the
model number PROTECTIVE DEVICE and that the device with the
18
individual information item “5063” has the model number SIV.
[0028] Using the design information items, the
determination unit 6 determines whether or not the devices
each having the model number ascertained are present in the
5 indicated range of the read target reception unit 2 (step
S12). As described earlier, the devices on the mountain
side of the vehicle 11 of the train 10, that is to say, the
devices within the read range are the brake A, the VVVF
drive, and the brake B. Because the device with the
10 individual information item “1204”, the device with the
individual information item “2081”, and the device with the
individual information item “3219” respectively have the
model number BRAKE A, the model number VVVF, and the model
number BRAKE B, the determination unit 6 determines that
15 these three devices are present in the read range. The
determination unit 6 determines that the device with the
individual information item “4077” and the device with the
individual information item “5063” are not present in the
read range.
20 [0029] For each of the devices that are present in the
indicated range, the determination unit 6 associates the
installation position indicated by the design information
item with the individual information item of the device
having the model number ascertained (step S13).
25 Specifically, determining that the brake A with the
individual information item “1204” is installed on the
mountain side of the place A of the vehicle 11 in the train
10, that the VVVF drive with the individual information
item “2081” is installed on the mountain side of the place
30 B of the vehicle 11 in the train 10 and that the brake B
with the individual information item “3219” is installed on
the mountain side of the place C of the vehicle 11 in the
train 10, the determination unit 6 associates these
19
installation positions indicated by the design information
items with the individual information items of the devices
each having the model number ascertained.
[0030] After completing the operation with the mountain
5 side of the vehicle 11 of the train 10, the position
specifying device 1 then receives, from the user, a read
range indicating the mountain side of the vehicle 12 of the
train 10 and performs the same operation as the above.
[0031] The position specifying device 1 stores the
10 individual information items associated with the respective
installation positions, in the server which is not
illustrated. The position specifying device 1 may pass the
individual information items associated with the respective
installation positions to the server via communication or a
15 storage medium. Thus when there is a failed device, the
user is enabled to ascertain what kind of train composition
has used the failed device by searching the server for the
individual information item of the failed device.
[0032] An ordering of the steps in the flowchart of FIG.
20 6 is given as an example. The position specifying device 1
may have a partial reordering of the steps. For example,
the position specifying device 1 may read the individual
information items of the devices before obtaining the
design information items and the model number information
25 items.
[0033] A description is provided next of a hardware
configuration of the position specifying device 1. The
read target reception unit 2 of the position specifying
device 1 is the input interface for receiving operations
30 from the user. The reader 5 is an RFID reader that emits
radio waves toward the RFIDs. The design information
acquisition unit 3, the model number information
acquisition unit 4, and the determination unit 6 are
20
implemented by processing circuitry. The processing
circuitry may include a memory and a processor that
executes programs stored in the memory or may be dedicated
hardware.
5 [0034] FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the
processing circuitry of the position specifying device 1
according to the first embodiment is configured to include
a processor and a memory. When the processing circuitry
includes the processor 91 and the memory 92, the processing
10 circuitry of the position specifying device 1 is
functionally implemented by software, firmware, or a
combination of software and firmware. The software or the
firmware is described as programs and is stored in the
memory 92. In the processing circuitry, the processor 91
15 reads and executes the programs stored in the memory 92 for
functional implementations. This means that the memory 92
included in the processing circuitry stores the programs,
which eventually execute the processes of the position
specifying device 1. These programs can be said to cause a
20 computer to execute the steps and the methods of the
position specifying device 1.
[0035] The processor 91 here may be, for example, a
central processing unit (CPU), a processing unit, an
arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a
25 digital signal processor (DSP). The memory 92 corresponds
to, for example, a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor
memory such as a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only
memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable ROM
(EPROM), or an electrically EPROM (EEPROM) (registered
30 trademark), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical
disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a digital versatile
disc (DVD).
[0036] FIG. 9 illustrates an example in which the
21
processing circuitry of the position specifying device 1
according to the first embodiment is configured as
dedicated hardware. When the processing circuitry is the
dedicated hardware, the processing circuitry 93 illustrated
5 in FIG. 9 corresponds to, for example, a single circuit, a
composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel
programmed processor, an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or
a combination of these. Those functions of the position
10 specifying device 1 may be implemented individually or
collectively by the processing circuitry 93.
[0037] It is to be noted that some of the functions of
the position specifying device 1 may be implemented by
dedicated hardware, while some of the other functions may
15 be implemented by software or firmware. By including the
dedicated hardware, the software, the firmware or a
combination of these, the processing circuitry is capable
of the above functional implementations.
[0038] As described above, the position specifying
20 device 1 according to the present embodiment ascertains the
installation positions of the target train’s installed
devices within the indicated read range by using the design
information items and the model number information items,
and associates the installation positions with the
25 individual information items of the devices. Thus the
position specifying device 1 is capable of specifying the
positions of the installed devices of the target train
among the plurality of trains while avoiding associating
the installation position with the individual information
30 item of the installed device of the immediate train. The
description has been provided of the example in which the
devices are installed under the floors of the vehicles;
however, this example is not limiting. The position
22
specifying device 1 is also capable of targeting devices
installed in other places than under the floors if these
devices allow their respective individual information items
to be read.
5 [0039] Second Embodiment.
The first embodiment has been based on the assumption
that the devices’ model numbers to be ascertained from the
devices’ individual information items read by the position
specifying device 1 are all different. In the second
10 embodiment, a description is provided of a case where a
plurality of devices of the same model number are found
when the devices’ model numbers are ascertained from the
devices’ individual information items read by the position
specifying device 1. A description is provided of
15 difference from the first embodiment.
[0040] The position specifying device 1 according to the
second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the
first embodiment. The position specifying device 1
according to the second embodiment partially differs from
20 that of the first embodiment when operating to associate
the installation position of each of the devices with the
individual information item. FIG. 10 is a flowchart
illustrating how the position specifying device 1 according
to the second embodiment operates when associating the
25 installation position of each device with the individual
information item. In FIG. 10, the processes indicated by
steps S1 to S4 and S5 are the same as those in the first
embodiment. In the second embodiment, after the process
indicated by step S4, the determination unit 6 determines
30 whether or not the individual information items have been
read from the plurality of devices of the same model number
(step S21). When the individual information items have
been read from no devices of the same model number (No to
23
step S21), the determination unit 6 performs the process
indicated by step S5 as in the first embodiment. When the
individual information items have been read from the
plurality of devices of the same model number (Yes to step
5 S21), the determination unit 6 checks the design
information items and determines whether or not the design
information items indicate presence of the devices of the
same model number in the read range (step S22).
[0041] When the design information items indicate the
10 presence of the devices of the same model number in the
read range (Yes to step S22), the determination unit 6
notifies a user that the individual information items have
been read from the plurality of devices of the same model
number and that the design information items indicate the
15 presence of the devices of the same model number in the
read range (step S23). After confirming the notification,
the user goes near each of the devices indicated in the
design information items and uses the position specifying
device 1 to make, for example, an adjustment of intensity
20 of radio waves to be emitted, to have each individual
information item read individually from the identification
tag affixed to the device and to have the installation
position associated with the individual information item.
[0042] When the design information items indicate no
25 devices of the same model number in the read range (No to
step S22), the determination unit 6 notifies the user that
the individual information items have been read from the
plurality of devices of the same model number and that the
design information items indicate no devices of the same
30 model number in the read range (step S24). After
confirming the notification, the user goes near each of the
devices indicated in the design information items and uses
the position specifying device 1 to make, for example, an
24
adjustment of the intensity of radio waves to be emitted,
to have the individual information item read from the
identification tag affixed to the device and to have the
installation position associated with the individual
5 information item.
[0043] As described above, the determination unit 6 of
the position specifying device 1 according to the present
embodiment notifies the user when the individual
information items have been read from the plurality of
10 devices of the same model number. Effects thus obtained
are the same as those in the first embodiment, and on the
basis of the contents of the notification, by manual
operation, the user has the individual information item
read from the identification tag and has the installation
15 position associated with the individual information item.
[0044] Third Embodiment.
In the first embodiment, when the train 10 and the
train 20 are next to each other, only the train 10 is
indicated in the read range. In the third embodiment,
20 these two trains 10 and 20 are indicated in read ranges. A
description is provided of difference from the first
embodiment.
[0045] The position specifying device 1 according to the
third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the
25 first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the position
specifying device 1 performs the operation illustrated by
the flowchart of FIG. 6 for the two trains 10 and 20. The
processes that are illustrated by the flowchart of FIG. 6
and are to be performed by the position specifying device 1
30 for the trains 10 and 20 are the same as those in the first
embodiment. In other words, the read target reception unit
2 receives, for each of the plurality of trains, a
indicated read range including the identification tags.
25
Using the model number information items, the determination
unit 6 ascertains, for each train, the respective model
numbers of the devices each having the individual
information item read by the reader 5. Using the design
5 information items, the determination unit 6 determines, for
each train, whether or not the devices each having the
model number ascertained are present in the indicated read
range of the read target reception unit 2. For each of the
devices that are present in the read ranges, the
10 determination unit 6 associates, for each train, the
installation position indicated by the design information
item with the individual information item of the device
having the model number ascertained.
[0046] When the trains 10 and 20 are configured as
15 illustrated in FIG. 2, a user holds the position specifying
device 1 and has the individual information items read from
the devices while moving from the vehicle 11 toward the
vehicle 13. Because the device of the train 10 in the one
read range and the device of the train 20 in the one read
20 range do not have the same model number, the position
specifying device 1 is capable of reading the individual
information items of the devices without reading the
individual information items of the plurality of devices of
the same model number from the trains 10 and 20. When the
25 train 20 is turned around to an opposite direction in FIG.
2 to have the vehicles 23, 22, and 21 arranged in this
order with the train 10 having the vehicles 11, 12, and 13
arranged in this order, the position specifying device 1
reads the individual information items from the plurality
30 of devices of the same model number when reading the
individual information items from the devices of the
vehicle 12 of the train 10 and the individual information
items from the devices of the vehicle 22 of the train 20.
26
Specifically, the position specifying device 1 reads the
individual information items from the respective brakes A
of the vehicles 12 and 22 of the trains 10 and 20 and reads
the individual information items from the respective brakes
5 B of the vehicles 12 and 22 of the trains 10 and 20. In
this case, the position specifying device 1 performs the
processes described in the second embodiment.
[0047] As described above, the position specifying
device 1 according to the present embodiment receives the
10 plurality of user-indicated read ranges, ascertains, for
each of the read ranges, the installation positions of the
installed devices of the target train and associates the
installation positions with the devices’ individual
information items. Thus the position specifying device 1
15 is capable of efficiently specifying the positions of the
devices compared with that of the first embodiment.
[0048] Fourth Embodiment.
In the first embodiment, the position specifying
device 1 obtains only the individual information item from
20 each of the devices installed on the vehicles 11 to 13 of
the train 10. A position specifying device according to
the fourth embodiment obtains, from each of the devices, a
device state information item indicating an operating state
of the device. A description is provided of difference
25 from the first embodiment.
[0049] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a
configuration example of the position specifying device 1a
according to the fourth embodiment. Compared with the FIG.
3 position specifying device 1 according to the first
30 embodiment, the position specifying device 1a additionally
includes a device state information acquisition unit 7.
The device state information acquisition unit 7 obtains the
device state information items from the devices. The
27
device state information acquisition unit 7 stores the
device state information items. Each of the device state
information items indicates the operating state of the
device and enables a varying characteristic of the device
5 to be ascertained. The device state information items are
different depending on the devices. The device state
information item is, for example, a contact opening/closing
count that indicates how many times a relay is switched in
the device and can be measured in the form of voltage
10 values, current values, vibration values, pressure values,
or any other values with a sensor attached to the device.
The individual information item of each of the devices may
be associated with the device state information item by the
device, the position specifying device, or a server having
15 information transmitted from the position specifying device.
[0050] Using the device 111, which is the brake A, a
concrete description is provided of the device that
associates the individual information item of the device
with the device state information item. FIG. 12 is a block
20 diagram illustrating a configuration example of the device
111 according to the fourth embodiment. The device 111
includes a sensor 61, a storage unit 62, and a transmitter
63. It is to be noted that FIG. 12 illustrates only a
functional part that transmits the device state information
25 item, so that a functional part of the device 111 that
operates intrinsically as the brake A is omitted. The
sensor 61 detects the device state information item
indicating the characteristic of the device 111 and stores
the detected device state information item in the storage
30 unit 62. The sensor 61 detects, for example, air pressure
values that control the operation of the brake A. The
device 111 may include a plurality of the sensors 61 for
different uses. The storage unit 62 stores the device
28
state information item detected by the sensor 61. When the
individual information item has been read from the
identification tag 111a by the position specifying device
1a, the transmitter 63, which is a transmitting device,
5 reads the device state information item from the storage
unit 62, obtains the individual information item from the
identification tag 111a and transmits the device state
information item to the position specifying device 1a.
Although not illustrated, compared with the position
10 specifying system 50 of FIG. 1, a position specifying
system according to the fourth embodiment includes the
position specifying device 1a in place of the position
specifying device 1 and additionally includes the
transmitter 63, which is the transmitting device. With the
15 sensor 61 included in the device 111, the storage unit 62
and the transmitter 63 may be included in another device
separate from the device 111. Even in this case, the
device state information item detected by the sensor 61 is
stored in the storage unit 62.
20 [0051] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating how the
device 111 according to the fourth embodiment operates when
transmitting the device state information item. The sensor
61 of the device 111 detects the device state information
item (step S31) and stores the detected device state
25 information item in the storage unit 62 (step S32). When
the individual information item has not been read from the
identification tag 111a yet (No to step S33), assuming that
the position specifying device 1a is not near the device
111, the device 111 continues following steps S31 and S32.
30 When the individual information item has been read from the
identification tag 111a (Yes to step S33), assuming that
the position specifying device 1a is near the device 111,
the transmitter 63 reads the device state information item
29
from the storage unit 62, obtains the individual
information item from the identification tag 111a and
transmits the device state information item to the position
specifying device 1a (step S34). The transmitter 63
5 determines that the individual information item has been
read from the identification tag 111a (Yes to step S33)
when, for example, the transmitter 63 or a sensor that is
not illustrated has detected radio waves emitted from the
position specifying device 1a; however, the determination
10 is not limited to this method. While the device 111 has
been described as an example, the other devices operate
similarly.
[0052] As with the position specifying device 1
according to the first embodiment, the position specifying
15 device 1a obtains the individual information item from each
device. This is when the device state information item
should be obtained only once from each device. FIG. 14 is
a flowchart illustrating how the position specifying device
1a according to the fourth embodiment operates when
20 obtaining the device state information item. When the
device state information acquisition unit 7 of the position
specifying device 1a has obtained the device state
information item from the device (step S41), the device
state information acquisition unit 7 stores the device
25 state information item (step S42).
[0053] The position specifying device 1a stores the
obtained device state information item along with the
individual information item in the server, which is not
illustrated. The position specifying device 1a may pass
30 the obtained device state information item to the server
via communication or a storage medium. Thus when there is
a failed device, a user is enabled to ascertain what kind
of train composition has used the failed device by
30
searching the server for the individual information item of
the failed device. Moreover, use of the device state
information item of the failed device enables the user to
ascertain changes in the device's operation that have led
5 up to the failure. The position specifying device 1a may
obtain the device state information item along with the
individual information item of the device.
[0054] As described above, the position specifying
device 1a according to the present embodiment obtains the
10 device state information item from each device. This
enables the position specifying device 1a to store the
device state information item in association with a use
state of the device.
[0055] The above configurations illustrated in the
15 embodiments are illustrative of contents of the present
invention, can be combined with other techniques that are
publicly known and can be partly omitted or changed without
departing from the gist of the present invention.
20 Reference Signs List
[0056] 1, 1a position specifying device; 2 read target
reception unit; 3 design information acquisition unit; 4
model number information acquisition unit; 5 reader; 6
determination unit; 7 device state information acquisition
25 unit; 10, 20 train; 11 to 13, 21 to 23 vehicle; 111 to
115, 121 to 122, 131 to 135, 211 to 215, 221 to 222, 231 to
235 device; 111a to 115a, 121a to 122a, 131a to 135a, 211a
to 215a, 221a to 222a, 231a to 235a identification tag; 50
position specifying system; 61 sensor; 62 storage unit;
30 63 transmitter.
31
We Claim:
1. A position specifying device comprising:
5 a read target reception unit to receive an indicated
read range for an identification tag to be read, the
identification tag being affixed to corresponding one of a
plurality of devices installed in vehicles of a train and
storing an individual information item identifying the
10 corresponding one device;
a design information acquisition unit to obtain at
least one design information item indicating a model number
of one of the plurality of the devices within the indicated
read range and an installation position of the one of the
15 plurality of the devices with the model number in the
vehicles of the train, the model number indicating a type
of each of the devices;
a model number information acquisition unit to obtain
at least one model number information item indicating a
20 relationship between the model number and the individual
information item;
a reader to read, from each of one or more
identification tags, an individual information item of one
of the plurality of the devices stored in the
25 identification tag; and
a determination unit to ascertain, by use of the model
number information item(s), a model number of at least one
of the plurality of the devices having an individual
information item read by the reader, determine, by use of
30 the design information item(s), whether or not the at least
one of the plurality of the devices having the model number
ascertained is present in the indicated read range of the
read target reception unit, and associate an installation
32
position indicated by the design information item with the
individual information item of the at least one of the
plurality of devices having the model number ascertained
when the at least one of the plurality of the devices
5 having the model number ascertained is present in the
indicated read range.
2. The position specifying device according to claim 1,
wherein
10 the determination unit notifies a user when individual
information items are read from a plurality of devices
having identical model numbers.
3. The position specifying device according to claim 1 or
15 2, wherein
the read target reception unit receives, for a
plurality of the trains, an indicated read range for the
identification tag(s), and
for each of the plurality of the trains, the
20 determination unit ascertains, by use of the model number
information item(s), a model number of at least one of the
plurality of the devices having the individual information
item read by the reader, determines, by use of the design
information item(s), whether or not the at least one of the
25 plurality of the devices having the model number
ascertained is present in the indicated read range of the
read target reception unit, and associates an installation
position indicated by the design information item with the
individual information item of the at least one of the
30 plurality of the devices having a model number ascertained
when the at least one of the plurality of the devices
having the model number ascertained is present in the
indicated read range.
33
4. The position specifying device according to any one of
claims 1 to 3, further comprising
a device state information acquisition unit to obtain,
5 from any of the plurality of the devices, a device state
information item indicating an operating state of
corresponding one of the plurality of the devices.
5. A position specifying system comprising:
10 the position specifying device according to any one of
claims 1 to 3; and
identification tags each of which is affixed to
corresponding one of the devices installed in the vehicles
of each train, each of the identification tags storing an
15 individual information item identifying one of the
plurality of the devices.
6. A position specifying system comprising:
the position specifying device according to claim 4;
20 identification tags each of which is affixed to
corresponding one of the plurality of the devices installed
in the vehicles of each train, each of the identification
tags storing an individual information item identifying one
of the plurality of the devices; and
25 a transmitting device to transmit, to the position
specifying device, the device state information item
indicating an operating state of one of the plurality of
the devices, the transmitting device being installed in
each of the plurality of the devices.
30
7. A position specifying method of a position specifying
device, the position specifying method comprising:
a read target reception step of receiving an indicated
34
read range for an identification tag to be read, the
identification tag being affixed to corresponding one of a
plurality of devices installed in vehicles of a train and
storing an individual information item identifying the
5 corresponding one device, the read target reception step to
be carried out by a read target reception unit;
a design information acquisition step of obtaining at
least one design information item indicating a model number
of one of the plurality of the devices within the indicated
10 read range and an installation position of the one of the
plurality of the devices with the model number in the
vehicles of the train, the model number indicating a type
of each of the devices, the design information acquisition
step to be carried out by a design information acquisition
15 unit;
a model number information acquisition step of
obtaining at least one model number information item
indicating a relationship between the model number and the
individual information item, the model number information
20 acquisition step to be carried out by a model number
information acquisition unit;
a reading step of reading, from each of one or more
identification tags, an individual information item of one
of the plurality of the devices stored in the
25 identification tag, the reading step to be carried out by a
reader; and
a determination step to be carried out by a
determination unit, the determination step including:
ascertaining, by use of the model number information
30 item(s), a model number of at least one of the plurality of
the devices having an individual information item read by
the reader; determining, by use of the design information
item(s), whether or not the at least one of the plurality
35
of the devices having the model number ascertained is
present in the indicated read range of the read target
reception unit; and associating an installation position
indicated by the design information item with the
5 individual information item of the at least one of the
plurality of the devices having the model number
ascertained when the at least one of the plurality of the
devices having the model number ascertained is present in
the indicated read range.
10
8. The position specifying method according to claim 7,
wherein
the determination step also includes notifying, by the
determination unit, a user when individual information
15 items are read from a plurality of devices having identical
model numbers.
9. The position specifying method according to claim 7 or
8, wherein
20 in the read target reception step, the read target
reception unit receives an indicated read range for the
identification tag(s) for a plurality of the trains, and
in the determination step, for each of the plurality
of the trains, the determination unit ascertains, by use of
25 the plurality of the model number information item(s), a
model number of at least one of the plurality of the
devices having the individual information item read by the
reader, determines, by use of the plurality of the design
information item(s), whether or not the at least one of the
30 plurality of the devices having the model number
ascertained is present in the indicated read range of the
read target reception unit, and associates an installation
position indicated by the design information item with the
36
individual information item of the at least one of the
plurality of the devices having a model number ascertained
when the at least one of the plurality of the devices
having the model number ascertained is present in the
5 indicated read range.
10. The position specifying method according to any one of
claims 7 to 9, further comprising
a device state information acquisition step of
10 obtaining, from any of the plurality of the devices, a
device state information item indicating an operating state
of corresponding one of the plurality of the devices, the
device state information acquisition step to be carried out
by a device state information acquisition unit.
15
11. A position specifying program to cause a computer to
carry out the position specifying method according to any
one of claims 7 to 10.