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 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
POSITION SPECIFYING DEVICE, POSITION SPECIFYING SYSTEM,
POSITION SPECIFYING METHOD, AND POSITION SPECIFYING PROGRAM
5
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a position
specifying device that specifies positions of devices
installed on railroad vehicles and also relates to a
10 position specifying system, a position specifying method,
and a position specifying program.
Background
[0002] Each of vehicles composing a train has a
15 plurality of devices installed under a floor of a passenger
compartment. When there is a failed device, ascertaining
what kind of train 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
20 the vehicle are removed for repair, maintenance, or the
like, there are cases where the devices are not returned to
the vehicle. 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.
25 Individual information items that respectively identify the
devices installed on the train are not currently managed.
Therefore, ascertaining what kind of train in what kind of
operation has used a certain device, has not been possible.
[0003] In a system that is described in Patent
30 Literature 1 for managing a position of a device housed in
a rack, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag storing
position information about a device installation part of
the rack is affixed to the rack, and an RFID tag storing an
3
individual information item of the device is affixed to the
device. With the device installed at the device
installation part of the rack, the RFID tag storing the
position information is shielded by the device installation
part to be prevented from being read by 5 a reading means.
Instead, the RFID tag storing the individual information
item of the device affixed to the device installation part,
is read. In this management technique disclosed for
grasping what kind of device is installed at which position
10 of the rack, the device installation part of the rack is
associated with the individual information item of the
device.
Citation List
15 Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2010-205127
Summary
20 Technical Problem
[0005] However, when the above conventional technique is
used for specifying a position of a device installed in a
train, an RFID tag storing position information about a
device installation part must be affixed to a device
25 installation position, and when the device installed, the
RFID tag storing the position information must be shielded
by the device installation part to be prevented from being
read by a reading means. Such a configuration
problematically causes a vehicle body of the train and the
30 device to be installed to have limitations and cannot be
used particularly in a vehicle body already put into
operation.
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of
4
the above, and an object of the present invention is to
obtain a position specifying device that specifies
positions of devices in a train.
Solution 5 to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the above-stated problem and
achieve the object, a position specifying device according
to the present invention includes a storage unit that
stores device installation position information indicating
10 a plurality of installation positions for a plurality of
devices installed under floors of a plurality of vehicles
of a train, stores a plurality of reading locations at each
of which at least one individual information item
identifying one of the plurality of the devices is read
15 from an identification tag storing the individual
information item, each of the reading locations being where
radio waves are emitted toward the identification tag
affixed to corresponding one of the plurality of the
devices, and stores, correspondingly to radio wave strength
20 for each of the plurality of the reading locations, at
least one individual information item that is read with
varied radio wave strengths in radio wave emission toward
the identification tag of the corresponding one of the
devices. The position specifying device also includes a
25 position specifying unit that ascertains, by use of the
device installation position information and the individual
information items read with the varied radio wave strengths
at the plurality of the reading locations, which one of the
plurality of the devices each carrying the individual
30 information item is in which one of the plurality of the
installation positions of the plurality of the vehicles of
the train and associates the one of the plurality of the
installation positions with the individual information item
5
identified.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] The position specifying device according to the
present invention is capable of specifying 5 the positions of
the plurality of the devices in the train.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a
10 position specifying system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an image illustrating how a position
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
15 embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
example of the position specifying device according to the
first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating how the position
20 specifying device according to the first embodiment
operates when associating respective installation positions
of the devices with the individual information items.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a registration table
that is to be stored in a storage unit of the position
25 specifying device according to the first embodiment and is
to store reading locations, radio wave strengths, and the
individual information items that have been read.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating how a position
specifying unit according to the first embodiment operates
30 for specifying a position of the installed device.
FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which a processing
circuitry of the position specifying device according to
the first embodiment is configured to include a processor
6
and a memory.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the processing
circuitry of the position specifying device according to
the first embodiment is configured as dedicated hardware.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating 5 a configuration
example of a position specifying device according to a
second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a
configuration example of a device according to the second
10 embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating how the device
according to the second embodiment operates when
transmitting a device state information item.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating how the position
15 specifying device according to the second embodiment
operates when obtaining the device state information item.
Description of Embodiments
[0010] With reference to the drawings, a detailed
20 description is hereinafter provided of position specifying
devices, position specifying systems, position specifying
methods, and position specifying programs according to
embodiments of the present invention. It is to be noted
that these embodiments are not restrictive of the present
25 invention.
[0011] First Embodiment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a
position specifying system 50 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an image
30 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
7
illustrates the devices installed on vehicles 11 to 13 of a
train 10 in a view looking down at the train 10 from which
passenger compartments are removed.
[0012] The position specifying system 50 includes the
identification tags 21a to 28a affixed respectively 5 to the
devices 21 to 28, which are installed under floors of the
vehicles 11 to 13 of the train 10. The position specifying
system 50 also includes, along an opposite side from a side
of the train 10 that is illustrated in FIG. 1, the
10 identification tags 31a to 38a affixed respectively to the
devices 31 to 38, which are installed under the floors of
the vehicles 11 to 13. Non-limiting examples of the
devices 21 to 28 and 31 to 38, which are installed under
the floors of the vehicles 11 to 13, include brakes,
15 variable-voltage/variable-frequency (VVVF) inverters,
protective devices, and static inverters (SIVs). Stored in
each of the identification tags 21a to 28a and 31a to 38a
is the individual information item identifying the device
with the affixed identification tag. The individual
20 information item is, for example, a serial number of the
device. When hereinafter described without distinction,
the devices 21 to 28 and 31 to 38 may be simply referred to
as the devices. When hereinafter described without
distinction, the identification tags 21a to 28a and 31a to
25 38a may be simply referred to as the identification tags.
The position specifying system 50 also includes the
position specifying device 1. The position specifying
device 1 emits radio waves toward the affixed
identification tags of the devices to read the individual
30 information items from the identification tags.
[0013] In the present embodiment, the identification
tags are assumed to be wireless tags. The wireless tags
are, for example, RFID tags. The position specifying
8
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
range. It is to be noted that while each of the
identification tags illustrated in FIGS. 5 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
ascertains the individual information items of the devices
10 installed under the floors of the vehicles 11 to 13 of the
train 10 and associates the devices’ individual information
items correspondingly with installation positions of the
devices on the vehicles 11 to 13 of the train 10.
[0014] A description is provided of a configuration of
15 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
reading controller 2, a reader 3, a storage unit 4, and a
20 position specifying unit 5.
[0015] On the basis of device installation position
information indicating installation positions for the
devices under the floors of the vehicles 11 to 13 of the
train 10, the reading controller 2 indicates, to a user, a
25 reading location where the position specifying device 1
should be when reading the individual information items by
emitting radio waves toward the identification tags affixed
to the devices. The present embodiment is based on the
assumption that the user carries the position specifying
30 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
9
reading the individual information items. The reading
controller 2 controls strength of the radio waves that the
reader 3 emits toward the identification tags at the
reading location. The device installation position
information is such information as illustrated 5 in FIG. 2,
indicating the installation positions for the devices on
the vehicles. In the case of FIG. 2, the device
installation position information indicates that the
devices installed on each of the vehicles 11 and 13 of the
10 train 10 are six in number and that the devices installed
on the vehicle 12 of the train 10 are four in number. The
device installation position information also indicates
that the vehicle 12 has a space between a position D, which
is an installation position of the device 24, and a
15 position E, which is an installation position of the device
25, and a space between a position d, which is an
installation position of the device 34, and a position e,
which is an installation position of the device 35.
[0016] The reading location here is, for example, when
20 viewed from the side of the train 10, the position
specifying device 1 fronts on the devices in the respective
installation positions A to H illustrated in FIG. 2 or the
devices in the respective installation positions a to h
illustrated in FIG. 2 to read the individual information
25 items of the devices. As FIG. 2 illustrates, the position
specifying device 1 starts reading the individual
information items in front of the device 21 installed at
the position A, and the reading location keeps changing
until the position specifying device 1 reads the individual
30 information items in front of the device 28 installed at
the position H. The position specifying device 1 is
carried by the user when the user changes or shifts the
reading location. On the side opposite from the devices 21
10
to 28, the position specifying device 1 starts reading the
individual information items in front of the device 31
installed at the position a, and the reading location keeps
changing until the position specifying device 1 reads the
individual information items in front 5 of the device 38
installed at the position h. It is to be noted that the
order in which the position specifying device 1 reads the
individual information items of the devices is not limited
to the above example. Along the one side, the position
10 specifying device 1 may start from in front of the position
H and finish reading in front of the position A. Along the
opposite side, the position specifying device 1 may start
from in front of the position h and finish reading in front
of the position a. In one example, the position specifying
15 device 1 may read the individual information items of the
devices 21 to 28, starting from in front of the position A
and finish reading in front of the position H.
Subsequently, the position specifying device 1 may read the
individual information items of the devices 31 to 38,
20 starting from in front of the position h and finish reading
in front of the position a. The reading controller 2 may
use a display that is not illustrated or a speech when
indicating the reading location to the user. Non-limiting
examples of the location specification include “Please move
25 to the reading location in front of the position B”.
[0017] In accordance with the radio wave strength
variably controlled by the reading controller 2 in the
radio wave emission, the reader 3 reads, from one or more
of the tags, the individual information items stored in the
30 identification tags affixed to the corresponding devices.
The reader 3 stores, in the storage unit 4, the reading
location where the reader 3 has read the individual
information items and also stores, in the storage unit 4,
11
that corresponds to radio wave strength for each of the
reading locations, the individual information items that
have been read with the varied radio wave strengths in the
radio wave emission toward the identification tags of the
devices. The radio wave strength may be 5 changed manually
or automatically.
[0018] Stored in the storage unit 4 is the device
installation position information indicating the
installation positions for the devices under the floors of
10 the vehicles 11 to 13 of the train 10. Moreover, the
storage unit 4 stores the reading locations where the
individual information items have been read from the
devices’ affixed identification tags each storing the
individual information item, which identifies the device,
15 and also stores, correspondingly to radio wave strength for
each of the reading locations, the individual information
items that have been read with the varied radio wave
strengths in the radio wave emissions toward the
identification tags of the devices. Each of these reading
20 locations is where the position specifying device 1, namely,
the reader 3 has emitted the radio waves toward the
identification tags.
[0019] Using the device installation position
information stored in the storage unit 4 and the individual
25 information items stored correspondingly to radio wave
strength for each of the reading locations in the storage
unit 4, the position specifying unit 5 ascertains which one
of the devices each carrying the individual information
item is in which one of the installation positions of the
30 vehicles 11 to 13 of the train 10. The position specifying
unit 5 associates the installation position indicated in
the device installation position information with the
individual information item of the device.
12
[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,
this is not limiting. For example, the position specifying
device 1 may include a reading device that 5 is constituted
by the reading controller 2, the reader 3, and the storage
unit 4, and an operational device that is constituted by
the storage unit 4 and the position specifying unit 5. The
reading device shares the contents of the storage unit 4
10 with the operational device by transmitting the contents of
the storage unit 4 via communication or passing the
contents of the storage unit 4 via a storage medium.
[0021] A description is provided next of how the
position specifying device 1 reads the individual
15 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,
12, or 13 of the train 10 and associates each of the
devices’ installation positions with the individual
20 information item. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating how
the position specifying device 1 according to the first
embodiment operates when associating the respective
installation positions of the devices with the individual
information items. The description provided here is of an
25 example in which the position specifying device 1 reads the
individual information items of the devices 21 to 28 from
the identification tags 21a to 28a affixed respectively to
the devices 21 to 28, and associates the installation
positions of the devices 21 to 28 with the individual
30 information items.
[0022] Standing, for example, in front of the device 22
by the side of the train 10, the user first allows the
position specifying device 1 to emit radio waves toward the
13
affixed identification tag 22a of the device 22 while
changing the radio wave strength. The stronger the radio
waves to emit, the more individual information items the
position specifying device 1 can read from the
identification tags of the devices. The 5 user sets, for the
position specifying device 1, namely, the reading
controller 2, two radio wave strengths so that a varying
number of individual information items are read by the
position specifying device 1. Specifically, the user sets,
10 for the position specifying device 1, a higher one of the
two radio wave strengths as a high radio wave strength, and
a lower one of the two radio wave strengths as a low radio
wave strength. In other words, the reading controller 2 of
the position specifying device 1 receives, from the user,
15 the high radio wave strength and the low radio wave
strength as the settings (step S1).
[0023] Using the device installation position
information stored in the storage unit 4, the reading
controller 2 instructs the user to move to the first
20 location where radio waves are to be emitted for reading of
the individual information items, that is to say, the
initial reading location (step S2). In FIG. 2, the initial
reading location is in front of the device 21 installed at
the position A; however, this is an example. The initial
25 reading location may be in front of the device 28 installed
at the position H.
[0024] The reader 3 emits the radio waves with the
preset low radio wave strength and reads the stored
individual information items from the identification tags
30 of the devices (step S3). The reader 3 stores, in the
storage unit 4, information including the reading location,
the radio wave strength, and the individual information
items read (step S4).
14
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a registration
table that is to be stored in the storage unit 4 of the
position specifying device 1 according to the first
embodiment and is to store the reading locations, the radio
wave strengths, and the individual information 5 items that
have been read. In FIG. 5, “INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION ITEM”
refers to the individual information item read from the
device by the reader 3, “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H” refer
to the reading locations, “HIGH” refers to a condition in
10 which the individual information item of the device has
been read with the high radio wave strength, and “LOW”
refers to a condition in which the individual information
item of the device has been read with the low radio wave
strength. For convenience sake, the positions A to H are
15 used in FIG. 5 to represent the reading locations in front
of the devices 21 to 28, which are installed respectively
in the positions A to H. FIG. 5 shows results obtained
when the radio wave emission at all of the reading
locations in front of the positions A to H has been
20 finished. When the reader 3 has read the individual
information items “101” and “102” with the low radio wave
strength at the initial reading location, namely, the
location in front of the device 21 installed at the
position A, the reader 3 stores the results in the storage
25 unit 4.
[0026] Because this is the initial reading location (Yes
to step S5), the reading controller 2 instructs the user to
move to the next reading location, specifically, the
location in front of the device 22 installed at the
30 position B, by using the device installation position
information stored in the storage unit 4 (step S10). At an
end of the train 10, the position specifying device 1 does
not need to use the varied radio wave strengths to obtain
15
two reading results. This is because the position
specifying unit 5 (described later) only needs one reading
result for a process of associating the installation
position of the device with the individual information item.
Therefore, at the initial reading location, 5 the position
specifying device 1 does not perform processes of emitting
the radio waves with the preset high radio wave strength
and reading the stored individual information item of the
device 21 from the identification tag 21a. In steps S3 and
10 S4, the reader 3 performs the same operation as that
described above. Because the position B is not the initial
reading location (No to step S5), the reading controller 2
proceeds to step S6.
[0027] The reader 3 emits radio waves with the preset
15 high radio wave strength and reads the stored individual
information items from the identification tags of the
devices (step S6). The reader 3 stores, in the storage
unit 4, information including the reading location, the
radio wave strength, and the individual information items
20 read (step S7). At this point, the table of FIG. 5 stored
in the storage unit 4 shows the information relevant to the
position A and the information relevant to the position B.
[0028] Using the device installation position
information and the devices’ individual information items
25 read with the varied radio wave strengths at each of the
reading locations, the position specifying unit 5
identifies the installed device by ascertaining which one
of the devices each carrying the individual information
item is in which one of the installation positions of the
30 vehicle 11, 12, or 13 of the train 10 (step S8). A
detailed description is provided of how the position
specifying unit 5 operates. FIG. 6 is a flowchart
illustrating how the position specifying unit 5 according
16
to the first embodiment operates for specifying the
positions of the installed devices. The position
specifying unit 5 compares the individual information items
read at the current reading location with the individual
information items read as far as the 5 preceding reading
location (step S21). The position specifying unit 5 checks
whether or not there is any individual information item
that has no longer been read at the current reading
location (step S22).
10 [0029] Specifically, the position specifying unit 5
compares the individual information items indicated in FIG.
5 for the position B with the individual information items
indicated in FIG. 5 for the position A. At the position A,
the individual information items “101” and “102” have been
15 read with the low radio wave strength. At the position B,
however, the individual information item “101” has no
longer been read with the low radio wave strength.
Ascertaining that there is an individual information item
that has no longer been read at the current reading
20 location (Yes to step S22), the position specifying unit 5
associates the installation position A with the individual
information item “101” (step S23). In other words, the
position specifying unit 5 uses the individual information
items read with the varied radio wave strengths at a first
25 reading location that is the reading location, and the
individual information items read with the varied radio
wave strengths at a second reading location that
immediately precedes the first reading location, for
determining whether or not there is any individual
30 information item that has been read at the second reading
location but not at the first reading location. When there
is an individual information item that has no longer been
read at the first reading location, the position specifying
17
unit 5 associates, with the individual information item,
the installation position that is closer to the second
reading location than the first reading location and is
farthest from the first reading location among those
installation positions that are included 5 in the device
installation position information and are not yet each
associated with the individual information item. In the
above example, the reading location in front of the device
22 installed at the position B is the first reading
10 location, and the reading location in front of the device
21 installed at the position A is the second reading
location. Moreover, the position A is the installation
position that is closer to the second reading location than
the first reading location and is farthest from the first
15 reading location among those installation positions that
are included in the device installation position
information and are not yet each associated with the
individual information item. When there is no individual
information item that has no longer been read at the
20 current reading location (No to step S22), the position
specifying unit 5 does not perform the process indicated by
step S23.
[0030] A return is made to the description of the
flowchart of FIG. 4. The reading controller 2 determines
25 whether or not the current reading location is the last
reading location for one of the both sides of the train 10,
that is to say, for the one side (step S9). In the example
of FIG. 4, the reading location in front of the device 28
installed at the position H corresponds to the last reading
30 location for the one side. When the current reading
location is not the last reading location for the one side
of the train 10 (No to step S9), the reading controller 2
returns to the process indicated by step S10. When the
18
individual information items of the devices have been read
by the reader 3 with the varied radio wave strengths at the
given reading location, the reading controller 2 instructs
the user to move to the next reading location on the basis
of the device installation position information 5 (step S10).
Thereafter, the position specifying device 1 repeats a
process from step S3 to S8.
[0031] When the current reading location is the last
reading location for the one side of the train 10 (Yes to
10 step S9), the position specifying unit 5 attempts to
ascertain the installation position of the device having
the installation position unidentified by using the device
installation position information and the devices’
individual information items read with the varied radio
15 wave strengths at each of the reading locations (step S11).
With yes answered to step S9, the installation positions A
to G are being associated respectively with the individual
information items “101” to “107” by the position specifying
unit 5. The position specifying unit 5 compares the
20 individual information items read at the reading location
in front of the device 28, which is installed at the
position H, with the individual information items read as
far as the reading location in front of the device 27,
which is installed at the position G. The position
25 specifying unit 5 cannot read the individual information
item “108” at the reading location in front of the device
26, which is installed at the position F, but has been read
both at the reading location in front of the device 27,
which is installed at the position G, and at the reading
30 location in front of the device 28, which is installed at
the position H. The position H is the only the
installation position not yet associated with the
individual information item and the individual information
19
item “108” is the only individual information item not yet
associated with the reading location. Accordingly, the
position specifying unit 5 determines that the individual
information item of the device installed at the position H
is the individual information item “108” 5 and associates the
installation position H with the individual information
item “108”.
[0032] In the process indicated by the flowchart of FIG.
6, the position specifying unit 5 associates the individual
10 information item that has no longer been read at the
current reading location with the installation position;
however, this is a non-limiting example. The position
specifying unit 5 may associate, with the installation
position, the individual information item that has come
15 readable at the current reading location as in step S11 of
FIG. 3. For example, at the reading location (current
reading location) in front of the device 22, which is
installed at the position B, the position specifying device
1 has read the individual information items “102” and “103”
20 with the low radio wave strength and the individual
information item “103” with the high radio wave strength.
At the preceding reading location in front of the device 21,
which is installed at the position A, the position
specifying device 1 has read the individual information
25 items “101” and “102” with the low radio wave strength.
Because each of the installation positions is to be
associated with the single individual information item, the
fact that the individual information item “103” has been
read at the current reading location but not at the first
30 reading location enables the position specifying unit 5 to
assume that the installation position A or B is to be
associated with either of the individual information items
“101” and “102” that have been read at the preceding
20
reading location. Consequently, the position specifying
unit 5 is enabled to associate the position C, which
corresponds to the third reading location from the end,
with the individual information item “103” that has not
been read at the first 5 reading location.
[0033] Upon finishing the reading at the last reading
location for the one side, the position specifying device 1
indicates, to the user, the opposite side, namely, the
reading location where some of the identification tags 31a
10 to 38a affixed to the devices 31 to 38 can be read, and
then performs the same processes for the devices 31 to 38
as the position specifying device 1 has performed for the
devices 21 to 28.
[0034] The position specifying device 1 stores the
15 individual information items associated with the respective
installation positions, in a 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
20 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 searching the server for the
individual information item of the failed device.
[0035] When the position specifying unit 5 has the
25 installation position that the position specifying unit 5
has not succeeded in associating with the individual
information item, the position specifying unit 5 may notify
the user of the fact. The user receives the notification
from the position specifying unit 5 and causes the
30 individual information item of the device read individually
from the identification tag affixed to the device at the
installation position with which the association has not
succeeded. In this case, the individual work by the user
21
takes place. However, compared to when the user causes all
the individual information items of the devices read
individually, the use of the position specifying device 1
enables the user to have reduced work time.
[0036] A description is provided 5 next of a hardware
configuration of the position specifying device 1. The
reader 3 of the position specifying device 1 is an RFID
reader that emits radio waves toward RFIDs. The storage
unit 4 is a memory. The reading controller 2 and the
10 position specifying unit 5 are 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.
[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the
15 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
circuitry of the position specifying device 1 is
20 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
reads and executes the programs stored in the memory 92 for
25 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
computer to execute the steps and the methods of the
30 position specifying device 1.
[0038] 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
22
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 (5 EEPROM) (registered
trademark), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical
disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a digital versatile
disc (DVD).
[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the
10 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
in FIG. 8 corresponds to, for example, a single circuit, a
15 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
specifying device 1 may be implemented individually or
20 collectively by the processing circuitry 93.
[0040] 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
be implemented by software or firmware. By including the
25 dedicated hardware, the software, the firmware or a
combination of these, the processing circuitry is capable
of the above functional implementations.
[0041] According to the present embodiment described
above, when reading the devices’ individual information
30 items from the identification tags affixed to the devices,
the position specifying device 1 changes the radio wave
strength in the radio wave emission and causes the reading
location to be changed. Using the device installation
23
position information and the devices’ individual
information items read with the varied radio wave strengths
at each of the reading locations, the position specifying
device 1 specifies the position of the installed device by
ascertaining which one of the devices 5 each carrying the
individual information item is in which one of the
installation positions of the vehicle of the train, and
associates the installation position with the individual
information item of the device. This enables the position
10 specifying device 1 to have reduced work time required to
specify the positions of the devices installed at the train
compared to when the individual information items of the
devices are read individually.
[0042] Second Embodiment.
15 In the first embodiment, the position specifying
device 1 obtains only the individual information item from
each of the devices installed on the vehicles 11 to 13 of
the train 10. A position specifying device according to
the second embodiment obtains, from each of the devices, a
20 device state information item indicating an operating state
of the device. A description is provided of difference
from the first embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a
configuration example of the position specifying device 1a
25 according to the second embodiment. Compared with the FIG.
3 position specifying device 1 according to the first
embodiment, the position specifying device 1a additionally
includes a device state information acquisition unit 6.
The device state information acquisition unit 6 obtains the
30 device state information items from the respective devices.
The device state information acquisition unit 6 stores the
device state information items in the storage unit 4. Each
of the device state information items indicates the
24
operating state of the device and enables a varying
characteristic of the device 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 5 indicates how many
times a relay is switched in the device and can be measured
in the form of voltage values, current values, vibration
values, pressure values, or any other values with a sensor
attached to the device. The individual information item of
10 each of the devices may be associated with the device state
information item by the device, the position specifying
device, or a server having information transmitted from the
position specifying device.
[0044] Using the device 21, a concrete description is
15 provided of the device that associates the individual
information item of the device with the device state
information item. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating
a configuration example of the device 21 according to the
second embodiment. The device 21 includes a sensor 61, a
20 storage unit 62, and a transmitter 63. It is to be noted
that FIG. 10 illustrates only a functional part that
transmits the device state information item, so that a
functional part that performs intrinsic operation of the
device 21 is omitted. The sensor 61 detects the device
25 state information item indicating the characteristic of the
device 21 and stores the detected device state information
item in the storage unit 62. When the device 21 is, for
example, a brake, the sensor 61 detects air pressure values
or others that control the operation of the brake. The
30 device 21 may include a plurality of the sensors 61 for
different uses. The storage unit 62 stores the device
state information item detected by the sensor 61. When the
individual information item has been read from the
25
identification tag 21a by the position specifying device 1a,
the transmitter 63, which is a transmitting device, reads
the device state information item from the storage unit 62,
obtains the individual information item from the
identification tag 21a and transmits 5 the device state
information item to the position specifying device 1a.
Although not illustrated, compared with the position
specifying system 50 of FIG. 1, a position specifying
system according to the second embodiment includes the
10 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
sensor 61 included in the device 21, the storage unit 62
and the transmitter 63 may be included in another device
15 separate from the device 21. Even in this case, the device
state information item detected by the sensor 61 is stored
in the storage unit 62.
[0045] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating how the
device 21 according to the second embodiment operates when
20 transmitting the device state information item. The sensor
61 of the device 21 detects the device state information
item (step S31) and stores the detected device state
information item in the storage unit 62 (step S32). When
the individual information item has not been read from the
25 identification tag 21a yet (No to step S33), assuming that
the position specifying device 1a is not near the device 21,
the device 21 continues following steps S31 and S32. When
the individual information item has been read from the
identification tag 21a (Yes to step S33), assuming that the
30 position specifying device 1a is near the device 21, the
transmitter 63 reads the device state information item from
the storage unit 62, obtains the individual information
item from the identification tag 21a and transmits the
26
device state information item to the position specifying
device 1a (step S34). The transmitter 63 determines that
the individual information item has been read from the
identification tag 21a (Yes to step S33) when, for example,
the transmitter 63 or a sensor that is not 5 illustrated has
detected radio waves emitted from the position specifying
device 1a; however, the determination is not limited to
this method. While the device 21 has been described as an
example, the other devices operate similarly.
10 [0046] As with the position specifying device 1
according to the first embodiment, the position specifying
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. 12 is
15 a flowchart illustrating how the position specifying device
1a according to the second embodiment operates when
obtaining the device state information item. When the
device state information acquisition unit 6 of the position
specifying device 1a has obtained the device state
20 information item from the device (step S41), the device
state information acquisition unit 6 stores the device
state information item in the storage unit 4 (step S42).
[0047] The position specifying device 1a stores the
obtained device state information item along with the
25 individual information item in the server, which is not
illustrated. The position specifying device 1a may pass
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
30 of train composition has used the failed device by
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
27
ascertain changes in the device's operation that have led
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.
[0048] As described above, the position 5 specifying
device 1a according to the present embodiment obtains the
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
10 state of the device.
[0049] The above configurations illustrated in the
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
15 departing from the gist of the present invention.
Reference Signs List
[0050] 1, 1a position specifying device; 2 reading
controller; 3 reader; 4, 62 storage unit; 5 position
20 specifying unit; 6 device state information acquisition
unit; 10 train; 11 to 13 vehicle; 21 to 28, 31 to 38
device; 21a to 28a, 31a to 38a identification tag; 50
position specifying system; 61 sensor; 63 transmitter.
28
We Claim :
1. A position specifying device comprising:
a storage unit to store device installation position
information indicating a plurality of installation
positions for a plurality of devices installed 5 under floors
of a plurality of vehicles of a train, store a plurality of
reading locations at each of which at least one individual
information item identifying one of the plurality of the
devices is read from an identification tag storing the
10 individual information item, each of the reading locations
being where radio waves are emitted toward the
identification tag affixed to corresponding one of the
plurality of the devices, and store, correspondingly to
radio wave strength for each of the plurality of the
15 reading locations, at least one individual information item
that is read with varied radio wave strengths in radio wave
emission toward the identification tag of the corresponding
one of the plurality of the devices; and
a position specifying unit to ascertain, by use of the
20 device installation position information and the individual
information items read with the varied radio wave strengths
at the plurality of the reading locations, which one of the
plurality of the devices each carrying the individual
information item is in which one of the plurality of the
25 installation positions of the plurality of the vehicles of
the train, and associate the one of the plurality of the
installation positions with the individual information item
identified.
30 2. The position specifying device according to claim 1,
wherein
the position specifying unit uses one or more
individual information items read with the varied radio
29
wave strengths at a first reading location among the
plurality of the reading locations and one or more
individual information items read with the varied radio
wave strengths at a second reading location that
immediately precedes the first reading 5 location among the
plurality of the reading locations, and when there is an
individual information item that is read at the second
reading location but not at the first reading location, the
position specifying unit associates, with the individual
10 information item, one of the plurality of the installation
positions that is closer to a second reading location than
the first reading location and is farthest from the first
reading location among some of the plurality of the
installation positions that are included in the device
15 installation position information and are not yet each
associated with an individual information item.
3. The position specifying device according to claim 1 or
2, further comprising:
20 a reading controller to indicate one of the plurality
of the reading locations to a user on a basis of the device
installation position information, and control the radio
wave strength in the radio wave emission toward the
identification tag at the one of the reading locations; and
25 a reader to read, from one or more identification tags,
one or more individual information items each stored in
each of the identification tags of the corresponding one of
the plurality of the devices with the radio wave strength
variably controlled by the reading controller.
30
4. The position specifying device according to claim 3,
wherein
when the reader performs reading for one or more
30
individual information items of one or more of the
plurality of the devices with the varied radio wave
strengths at a given reading location among the plurality
of the reading locations, the reading controller instructs
a user to move to a next reading 5 location among the
plurality of the reading locations on the basis of the
device installation position information.
5. The position specifying device according to any one of
10 claims 1 to 4, further comprising
a device state information acquisition unit to obtain,
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.
15
6. A position specifying system comprising:
the position specifying device according to any one of
claims 1 to 4; and
identification tags each of which is affixed to
20 corresponding one of the devices installed under floors of
the plurality of the vehicles of the train, each of the
identification tags storing an individual information item
identifying one of the plurality of the devices.
25 7. A position specifying system comprising:
the position specifying device according to claim 5;
identification tags each of which is affixed to
corresponding one of the plurality of the devices installed
under floors of the plurality of the vehicles of the train,
30 each of the identification tags storing an individual
information item identifying one of the plurality of the
devices; and
a transmitting device to transmit, to the position
31
specifying device, the device state information item
indicating an operating state of one of the devices, the
transmitting device being installed in each of the
plurality of the devices.
5
8. A position specifying method of a position specifying
device,
the position specifying device including a storage
unit to store device installation position information
10 indicating a plurality of installation positions for a
plurality of devices installed under floors of a plurality
of vehicles of a train, to store a plurality of reading
locations at each of which at least one individual
information item identifying one of the plurality of the
15 devices is read from an identification tag storing the
individual information item, and to store, correspondingly
to radio wave strength for each of the plurality of the
reading locations, at least one individual information item
that is read with varied radio wave strengths in radio wave
20 emission toward the identification tag of the corresponding
one of the devices, the position specifying method
comprising
a position specifying step to be carried out by a
position specifying unit, the position specifying step
25 including: ascertaining, by use of the device installation
position information and the individual information items
read with the varied radio wave strengths at the plurality
of the reading locations, which one of the plurality of the
devices each carrying the individual information item is in
30 which one of the plurality of the installation positions of
the plurality of the vehicles of the train; and associating
the one of the plurality of the installation positions with
the individual information item identified.
32
9. The position specifying method according to claim 8,
wherein
in the position specifying step, the position
specifying unit uses one or more individual 5 information
items read with the varied radio wave strengths at a first
reading location among the plurality of the reading
locations and one or more individual information items read
with the varied radio wave strengths at a second reading
10 location that immediately precedes the first reading
location among the plurality of the reading locations, and
when there is an individual information item that is read
at the second reading location but not at the first reading
location, associates the individual information item with
15 one of the plurality of the installation positions that is
closer to a second reading location than the first reading
location and is farthest from the first reading location
among some of the plurality of the installation positions
that are included in the device installation position
20 information and are not yet each associated with an
individual information item.
10. The position specifying method according to claim 8 or
9, further comprising:
25 a reading control step to be carried out by a reading
controller, the reading control step including: indicating
one of the plurality of the reading locations to a user on
a basis of the device installation position information;
and controlling the radio wave strength in the radio wave
30 emission toward the identification tag at the one of the
reading locations; and
a reading step of reading, from one or more
identification tags, one or more individual information
33
items each stored in each of the identification tags of the
corresponding one of the plurality of the devices with the
radio wave strength variably controlled by the reading
controller, the reading step to be carried out by a reader.
5
11. The position specifying method according to claim 10,
wherein
when reading for one or more individual information
items of one or more of the plurality of the devices is
10 performed by the reader with the varied radio wave
strengths at a given reading location among the plurality
of the reading locations, the reading controller instructs,
in the reading control step, a user to move to a next
reading location among the plurality of the reading
15 locations on the basis of the device installation position
information.
12. The position specifying method according to any one of
claims 8 to 11, further comprising
20 a device state information acquisition step of
obtaining, by a device state information acquisition unit,
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.
25
13. A position specifying program to cause a computer to
carry out the position specifying method according to any
one of claims 8 to 12.