FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
TRAIN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE APPARATUS, CENTRAL
DEVICE, DISPLAY DEVICE, TRAIN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
TRAIN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE METHOD, AND TRAIN
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE 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.
5
2
DESCRIPTION
Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a train
information management assistance apparatus that assists in5
designing signals for use in a train information management
apparatus, to a central device, to a display device, to a
train information management system, to a train information
management assistance method, and to a train information
management assistance program.10
Background
[0002] Conventionally, a train information management
apparatus is installed in a train and manages states and
the like of on-board devices installed in the train. The15
train information management apparatus internally includes
devices such as a central device and a network that
connects the devices such as the central device with each
other. The devices such as the central device perform
various communication via the network. Here, signals for20
use inside the train information management apparatus by
the devices such as the central device are defined by a
designer or the like of the train information management
apparatus. The designer needs to designate storage
positions etc. on packets for storing signals indicating25
various information. However, as the number of on-board
devices to be managed increases, man-hours increase and
error is likely to occur. In response to such problems,
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for assisting in
designing plant signals for use in a monitoring control30
system that performs monitoring control for plant equipment.
Citation List
3
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2011-180669
Summary of Invention5
Problem to be solved by the Invention
[0004] According to the above-described conventional
technique, identification information is assigned to each
device, and information indicating a name, a state, and the
like is input for each piece of identification information.10
However, the train to be managed by the train information
management apparatus includes a plurality of cars, and the
number of cars constituting a train composition and the
combination of cars are appropriately changed in accordance
with the operations of the train. Thus, if the above-15
described conventional technique is applied to the design
of signals for use in the train information management
apparatus, a list of pieces of identification information
of on-board devices installed in the train needs to be
changed in accordance with the train composition, and there20
is a problem in that man-hours increase and error is likely
to occur.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of
the above, and an object of the present disclosure is to
provide a train information management assistance apparatus25
that can assist in designing signals for use in a train
information management apparatus while reducing man-hours
of a designer and occurrence of error.
Means to Solve the Problem30
[0006] To solve the above problems and achieve an object,
a train information management assistance apparatus
according to the present disclosure includes : an
4
acquisition unit to acquire internal signal definition
information and on-board device installation information,
the internal signal definition information being
information in which an internal signal that is a signal
for use inside a train information management apparatus to5
be installed in a train is defined in association with an
on-board device installed in the train, the on-board device
installation information being information in which a
number of the on-board device installed in each car of the
train is defined; and a generation unit to generate, based10
on the internal signal definition information and the on-
board device installation information, packet definition
information for identifying a position of the internal
signal associated with the on-board device within a packet
transmitted and received inside the train information15
management apparatus.
Effects of the Invention
[0007] The train information management assistance
apparatus of the present disclosure has an effect of20
capable of assisting in designing the signals for use in
the train information management apparatus while reducing
the man-hours of the designer and the occurrence of the
error.
25
Brief Description of Drawings
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train information management system according
to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of30
internal signal definition information that is input to a
train information management assistance apparatus according
to the first embodiment.
5
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of on-
board device installation information that is input to the
train information management assistance apparatus according
to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of packet5
definition information that is output from the train
information management assistance apparatus according to
the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
example of the train information management assistance10
apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the
train information management assistance apparatus according
to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration15
example of a central device according to the first
embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in
which the central device of a train information management
apparatus according to the first embodiment transmits a20
packet.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a display device according to the first
embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of25
display on the display device according to the first
embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in
which the display device of the train information
management apparatus according to the first embodiment30
receives the packet and performs display processing.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
configuration of processing circuitry when the processing
6
circuitry that implements a generation unit of the train
information management assistance apparatus according to
the first embodiment is implemented by a processor and a
memory.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a5
configuration of processing circuitry when the processing
circuitry that implements the generation unit of the train
information management assistance apparatus according to
the first embodiment is constituted by dedicated hardware.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a10
train information management assistance apparatus according
to a second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of packet
definition information that is output from the train
information management assistance apparatus according to15
the second embodiment.
Description of Embodiments
[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a
description will be given in detail of a train information20
management assistance apparatus, a central device, a
display device, a train information management system, a
train information management assistance method, and a train
information management assistance program according to
embodiments of the present disclosure.25
[0010] First Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train information management system 1
according to a first embodiment. The train information
management system 1 includes a train information management30
apparatus 10 and a train information management assistance
apparatus 60. The train information management apparatus
10 manages states etc. of on-board devices 50 installed in
7
a train 2. Examples of the on-board devices 50 include,
but are not limited to, a Brake Control Unit (BCU) 51, a
DOOR 52, an Automatic Train Control (ATC) 53, and the like.
The BCU 51 controls an operation of a brake (not
illustrated). For example, opening and closing of the DOOR5
52 are controlled by a door control device (not
illustrated). Although simplified in FIG. 1, in the
present embodiment, the following description assumes that
the train 2 includes a plurality of cars and has installed
therein a plurality of BCUs 51, a plurality of DOORs 52, a10
plurality of ATCs 53, or the like. Note that, the present
embodiment is also applicable to the train 2 configured as
a single-car train, and is also applicable to a
configuration in which the number of some of the on-board
devices 50 installed is one.15
[0011] The train information management apparatus 10
includes central devices 20, a display device 30, and a
network 40.
[0012] Each of the central devices 20 executes
calculation processing in the train information management20
apparatus 10. Specifically, the central device 20 acquires,
via the network 40, state information indicating operation
states and the like from the on-board devices 50 installed
in the train 2, and manages the states of the on-board
devices 50. The central device 20 generates command25
information for each of the on-board devices 50 based on
the state information and the like of the on-board devices
50, and transmits the command information to each of the
on-board devices 50 via the network 40. Additionally, the
central device 20 stores, in a packet 100, internal signals30
that have been obtained by calculation based on the pieces
of state information and the like of the on-board devices
50, and transmits, via the network 40, the internal signals
8
to other devices inside the train information management
apparatus 10. The internal signal is a signal for use
inside the train information management apparatus 10 and
whose storage position inside the packet 100 is specified.
Thus, the central device 20 shares the internal signals,5
which have been obtained by the calculation, inside the
train information management apparatus 10. For example,
the central device 20 transmits, via the network 40, the
pieces of state information of the on-board devices 50 to
the display device 30. The central device 20 may transmit,10
via the network 40, the pieces of state information of the
on-board devices 50 to another central device 20. Note
that the train information management apparatus 10 includes
two central devices 20 in the example of FIG. 1, the
central devices 20 may perform the same operation, or one15
of the central devices 20 may perform main processing in
the train information management apparatus 10 and the other
of the central devices 20 may operate for backup.
[0013] As will be described later, the display device 30
includes a display unit for displaying the states of the20
on-board devices 50 to a train driver and the like, and
displays the state information of the on-board devices 50
and the like acquired from the central devices 20 via the
network 40.
[0014] The network 40 is an in-train network in which25
the devices are connected to each other inside the train
information management apparatus 10. Additionally, the on-
board devices 50 are connected to the network 40. The
network 40 is, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark),
but is not limited thereto.30
[0015] The on-board devices 50 such as the BCU 51, the
DOOR 52, and the ATC 53 are connected to the network 40.
The on-board devices 50 transmit, via the network 40, the
9
state information indicating their operation states and the
like to the central devices 20. Additionally, the on-board
devices 50 each perform processing based on the command
information acquired from the central devices 20 via the
network 40, thus implementing control for the train 2 by5
the train information management apparatus 10. Hereinafter,
when the BCU 51, the DOOR 52, and the ATC 53 are not
distinguished from one another, they will be described as
the on-board devices 50.
[0016] The train information management assistance10
apparatus 60 is an apparatus used for designing the system
of the train information management apparatus 10. The
train information management assistance apparatus 60
generates packet definition information 103 in which the
storage positions for the internal signals in the packet15
100 are defined, for the packet 100 that stores the
internal signals used by the train information management
apparatus 10 to be installed in the train 2. Specifically,
the train information management assistance apparatus 60
receives an input of internal signal definition information20
101 and on-board device installation information 102 that
are defined by a designer of the train information
management apparatus 10, and outputs the packet definition
information 103. Here, a description will be given of the
internal signal definition information 101, the on-board25
device installation information 102, and the packet
definition information 103. FIG. 2 is a diagram
illustrating an example of the internal signal definition
information 101 that is input to the train information
management assistance apparatus 60 according to the first30
embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of
the on-board device installation information 102 that is
input to the train information management assistance
10
apparatus 60 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is
a diagram illustrating an example of the packet definition
information 103 that is output from the train information
management assistance apparatus 60 according to the first
embodiment.5
[0017] The internal signal definition information 101 is
information in which the internal signals, which are the
signals for use inside the train information management
apparatus 10 to be installed in the train 2, are defined in
association with the on-board devices 50 installed in the10
train 2, by the designer of the train information
management apparatus 10. The internal signal definition
information 101 is information in which, for each of signal
names of the internal signals, the on-board device 50
associated with a corresponding one of the internal signals15
and the number of bits in the packet 100 used for the
corresponding internal signal are defined. The example of
FIG. 2 indicates that an internal signal having a signal
name ASP is associated with the BCU 51, and the number of
bits of one internal signal is 8 bits. The number of bits20
is the number of bits used for one internal signal in the
packet 100, and represents the length of the internal
signal. The example of FIG. 2 also indicates that an
internal signal having a signal name DOOR_STATUS_OPEN is
associated with the DOOR 52, and the number of bits of one25
internal signal is 1 bit. The example of FIG. 2 also
indicates that an internal signal having a signal name
ATC_STATUS is associated with the ATC 53, and the number of
bits of one internal signal is 8 bits. The association of
the internal signals with the on-board devices 50 indicates30
that the internal signals that are the internal signals of
the train information management apparatus 10 and
associated with the on-board devices 50 present as many as
11
the number of the on-board devices 50 installed in the
train 2.
[0018] For example, the internal signal having the
signal name DOOR_STATUS_OPEN is associated with the DOOR 52,
and as indicated by the on-board device installation5
information 102, four DOORs 52 are installed in each car of
the train 2. Additionally, in the train 2, the on-board
devices 50 are distinguished from one another based on on-
board device names of the on-board devices 50, a car number
of a car in which the on-board devices 50 are installed,10
and an in-car number in the car. Thus, there are 12 types
of internal signals each having the signal name
DOOR_STATUS_OPEN, such as a first DOOR 52 of a first car of
the train 2, a second DOOR 52 of the first car of the train
2, a third DOOR 52 of the first car of the train 2, a15
fourth DOOR 52 of the first car of the train 2, ..., and a
fourth DOOR 52 of the third car of the train 2. Each of
the internal signals can be identified by identifying the
signal name and which one of plurality of the on-board
devices 50 corresponds to the internal signal, as shown in20
the example of the signal name DOOR_STATUS_OPEN and the
third DOOR 52 of the first car.
[0019] The on-board device installation information 102
is information in which the number of on-board devices 50
installed in each car of the train 2 is defined. In the25
on-board device installation information 102, which and how
many of the on-board devices 50 are installed in each car
of the train 2 are defined. The example of FIG. 3
indicates that, in the train 2, one BCU 51 is installed in
the first car, one BCU 51 is installed in the second car,30
and one BCU 51 is installed in the third car. The example
of FIG. 3 also indicates that, in the train 2, four DOORs
52 are installed in the first car, four DOORs 52 are
12
installed in the second car, and four DOORs 52 are
installed in the third car. The example of FIG. 3 also
indicates that, in the train 2, one ATC 53 is installed in
the first car, one ATC 53 is installed in the third car,
and no ATC 53 is installed in the second car.5
[0020] The packet definition information 103 is
information for identifying the positions of the internal
signals associated with the on-board devices 50, inside the
packet 100 transmitted and received inside the train
information management apparatus 10. The packet definition10
information 103 indicates to which text position and which
bit position the internal signal associated with each on-
board device 50 is allocated, in the packet 100. For
example, the packet definition information 103 indicates
that the internal signals having the signal name ASP that15
are associated with the BCU 51 are allocated to an area
ranging from a bit position 0 of a text number 0 of the
packet 100 to a bit position 7 of a text number 2 of the
packet 100. Additionally, inside the area for the internal
signals, the individual internal signals are arranged in a20
sequential order from the internal signal corresponding to
the on-board device 50 of the first car of the train 2. In
this case, the packet definition information 103 indicates
that the internal signal having the signal name ASP with
respect to the BCU 51 of the first car is allocated to an25
area ranging from the bit position 0 to the bit position 7
of the text number 0 of the packet 100, the internal signal
having the signal name ASP with respect to the BCU 51 of
the second car is allocated to an area ranging from the bit
position 0 to the bit position 7 of the text number 1 of30
the packet 100, and the internal signal having the signal
name ASP with respect to the BCU 51 of the third car is
allocated to an area ranging from the bit position 0 to the
13
bit position 7 of the text number 2 of the packet 100. As
described above, when the information for distinguishing
the internal signals from each other is given, the storage
positions of the internal signals in the packet 100 are
uniquely identified.5
[0021] A description will be given of the configuration
and operation of the train information management
assistance apparatus 60. FIG. 5 is a block diagram
illustrating a configuration example of the train
information management assistance apparatus 60 according to10
the first embodiment. The train information management
assistance apparatus 60 includes an acquisition unit 61, a
generation unit 62, and an output unit 63.
[0022] The acquisition unit 61 acquires the internal
signal definition information 101 and the on-board device15
installation information 102.
[0023] The generation unit 62 generates the packet
definition information 103, based on the internal signal
definition information 101 and the on-board device
installation information 102. Specifically, the generation20
unit 62 selects one internal signal from the internal
signal definition information 101, and acquires, from the
on-board device installation information 102, how many on-
board devices 50 associated with a selected signal that is
the selected internal signal are installed in the train 2.25
The generation unit 62 identifies an area used for the
selected signal in the packet 100, based on the number of
bits of the selected signal and the number of installed on-
board devices 50. The generation unit 62 repeatedly
performs processing of identifying the area for the number30
of internal signals defined in the internal signal
definition information 101, thus generating the packet
definition information 103.
14
[0024] The output unit 63 outputs the packet definition
information 103 generated by the generation unit 62 to the
central devices 20, the display device 30, and the like
that are included in the train information management
apparatus 10. A method according to which the output unit5
63 outputs the packet definition information 103 to the
central devices 20 and the display device 30 is not
particularly limited. The packet definition information
103 may be output via communication such as wireless
communication or wired communication, or may be output via10
a storage medium or the like. Note that, although in the
example of FIG. 1 the train information management
assistance apparatus 60 is connected to the central device
20 of the train information management apparatus 10, it is
sufficient that the train information management assistance15
apparatus 60 is connected to the central device 20 when the
packet definition information 103 is output. During the
operation of the train 2, the train information management
assistance apparatus 60 is not necessarily connected to the
central device 20 of the train information management20
apparatus 10.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of the train information management assistance apparatus 60
according to the first embodiment.
[0026] In the train information management assistance25
apparatus 60, the generation unit 62 initializes a start
position to allocate the internal signals in the packet 100.
Specifically, the generation unit 62 sets a packet number
to 0 and a start bit position to 0 (step S101).
[0027] The acquisition unit 61 acquires internal signal30
definition information 101 from the designer or the like of
the train information management apparatus 10, and outputs
the internal signal definition information 101 to the
15
generation unit 62. The generation unit 62 selects one
internal signal from the internal signal definition
information 101 (step S102). Thus, the generation unit 62
acquires information indicating the signal name of the
selected internal signal, the on-board device 50 associated5
with the selected internal signal, and the number of bits
of the internal signal. For example, in the example of FIG.
2, the generation unit 62 acquires information indicating
the internal signal having the signal name ASP, the BCU 51
as the on-board device 50 associated with the internal10
signal, and the number of bits of the internal signal being
8 bits.
[0028] The acquisition unit 61 acquires on-board device
installation information 102 from the designer or the like
of the train information management apparatus 10, and15
outputs the on-board device installation information 102 to
the generation unit 62. The generation unit 62 acquires,
from the on-board device installation information 102, how
many on-board devices 50 associated with the selected
internal signal are installed in the train 2, that is, the20
number of installed on-board devices 50 (step S103). For
example, in the example of FIG. 3, the generation unit 62
acquires the information indicating that the number of BCUs
51, which are associated with the internal signal having
the signal name ASP, installed in the train 2 is three.25
[0029] The generation unit 62 multiplies the number of
bits of the selected internal signal by the number of
installed on-board devices 50 to calculate a bit size of an
area in the packet 100 used for the selected internal
signal. With the start bit position as a starting point,30
the generation unit 62 determines an area corresponding to
the calculated bit size as a packet position in the packet
100 used for the selected internal signal (step S104). For
16
example, in the examples of FIGS. 2 to 4, the packet
position in the packet 100 used for the selected internal
signal can be expressed, with respect to the internal
signal having the signal name ASP, as the area ranging from
the bit position 0 of the text number 0 of the packet 1005
of the packet number 0 to the bit position 7 of the text
number 2 of the packet 100 of the packet number 0. Note
that, in the packet 100, each bit position can also be
expressed by a serial number of the bit position starting
from the bit position 0 of the text number 0. For example,10
the bit position 7 of the text number 2 can be expressed as
a bit position 23 as the serial number of the bit position
starting from the bit position 0 of the text number 0.
Such an expression method is an effective expression method
in performing various calculations in the generation unit15
62 and the like.
[0030] If an end bit position of the area in which the
bit size calculated with the start bit position as the
starting point is provided exceeds the bit position
specified by the packet size of the packet 100 of the20
current packet number, the generation unit 62 increments
the packet number that is used for identifying the packet
100, from the bit position that exceeds the packet size.
The packet size of the packet 100 is, for example, 1400
bytes, but is not limited thereto. Note that, 1 byte is25
equal to 8 bits. That is, in the example of FIG. 4, 1 byte
is equivalent to an area corresponding to one text number.
[0031] When there is an internal signal that has not
been selected from the internal signal definition
information 101 (step S105: No), the generation unit 6230
updates the start bit position (step S106). Specifically,
the generation unit 62 sets a bit position next to the
above-described end bit position as a start bit position of
17
the internal signal to be selected next. For example, in
FIG. 4, since the end bit position of the internal signal
having the signal name ASP is the bit position 7 of the
text number 2 of the packet number 0, the generation unit
62 updates the start bit position to the bit position 0 of5
the text number 3 of the packet number 0, for the internal
signal having the signal name DOOR_STATUS_OPEN to be
selected next. Note that, when the updated start bit
position exceeds the bit position specified by the packet
size of the packet 100 of the current packet number, the10
generation unit 62 performs increments the packet number
that is used for identifying the packet 100.
[0032] As described above, the generation unit 62 sets a
bit position of a bit disposed next to a last bit of an
area of a first selected signal in the packet 100, as a bit15
position of a first bit of an area of a second selected
signal to be selected next to the first selected signal in
the packet 100.
[0033] The generation unit 62 repeats the above
operation until all the internal signals have been selected20
from the internal signal definition information 101.
Specifically, in the example of FIG. 2, the generation unit
62 selects the internal signal in the order of the internal
signal having the signal name DOOR_STATUS_OPEN and next the
internal signal having the signal name ATC_STATUS. When25
all the internal signals have been selected from the
internal signal definition information 101 (step S105: Yes),
the generation unit 62 generates packet definition
information 103, based on the packet positions determined
for all the selected internal signals (step S107). The30
generation unit 62 outputs, via the output unit 63, the
packet definition information 103 to the central devices 20
and the display device 30 that are included in the train
18
information management apparatus 10 (step S108). Note that,
the generation unit 62 may output, together with the packet
definition information 103, the internal signal definition
information 101 and the on-board device installation
information 102 to the central devices 20 and the display5
device 30.
[0034] Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the train
information management assistance apparatus 60 can provide,
in the packet 100, an area for three BCUs 51 corresponding
to the number of BCUs 51 installed in the train 2, for the10
internal signals having the signal name ASP. The train
information management assistance apparatus 60 can also
provide, on the packet 100, an area for 12 DOORs 52
corresponding to the number of DOORs 52 installed in the
train 2, for the internal signals having the signal name15
DOOR_STATUS_OPEN. The train information management
assistance apparatus 60 can also provide, on the packet 100,
an area for two ATCs 53 corresponding to the number of ATCs
53 installed in the train 2, for the internal signals
having the signal name ATC_STATUS.20
[0035] Here, as a comparative example, a method of
designating internal signals using packet numbers will be
described. Specifically, the internal signals having the
signal name ASP will be described as an example. The
internal signals having the signal name ASP present as many25
as the number of installed BCUs 51 as in the present
embodiment. In the method of designating the internal
signals using the packet numbers, it is necessary to
distinguish the internal signals from each other by
assigning a number after the signal name to indicate each30
of the internal signals having the signal name ASP, and
designate the packet number of the packet in which each of
the internal signals is stored. An example is as follows:
19
“signal name = ASP1, packet number = packet 1”, “signal
name = ASP2, packet number = packet 1”, “signal name = ASP3,
packet number = packet 1”, and the like. Note that, the
packet number may be a packet name. In such a case, when
the bit positions in the packet in which the internal5
signals are stored are changed in accordance with, for
example, a change in the composition of the train 2, or
when the number of internal signals is changed in
accordance with, for example, a specification change, the
information for identifying the internal signals needs to10
be changed. The internal signals are referred to in
various processing, and all of such processing needs to be
changed, which needs man-hours and is likely to cause error.
Additionally, even for internal signals of the same type,
individual signal names need to be designated in order to15
identify positions of the internal signals in the packet,
which makes it difficult to simplify the description of
repetitive processing.
[0036] On the other hand, the present embodiment enables
the identification of the internal signals by designating20
the signal names, the car numbers of the cars in which the
on-board devices 50 associated with the signal names are
installed, and the in-car number. Note that, it is also
possible to designate serial numbers of the on-board
devices 50 in the train 2 instead of the car numbers and25
the in-car numbers. An example is as follows: “signal name
= ASP, serial number of BCU 51 = 0”, “signal name = ASP,
serial number of BCU 51 = 1”, “signal name = ASP, serial
number of BCU 51 = 2”, and the like. In the present
embodiment, no error is involved because the internal30
signals can be designated as described above, thus making
it unnecessary to designate the packet number of the packet
100 in which the internal signals are stored. Additionally,
20
in the present embodiment, for the internal signals of the
same type, the on-board devices 50 associated with the
internal signals can be designated by the serial numbers of
the on-board devices 50, thus making it possible to
simplify the description of repetitive processing.5
[0037] Next, a description will be given of a
configuration of each of the central devices 20 that are
included in the train information management apparatus 10
and use the packet definition information 103 generated by
the train information management assistance apparatus 60.10
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
example of the central device 20 according to the first
embodiment. The central device 20 includes a communication
unit 21, a storage unit 22, a control unit 23, a packet
definition information storage unit 24, and a signal15
storage position identifying unit 25.
[0038] The communication unit 21 receives, from each of
the on-board devices 50 installed in the train 2, state
information indicating an operation state of the on-board
device 50 together with identification information that can20
identify the installation position of the on-board device
50 in the train 2. The communication unit 21 transmits
command information generated by the control unit 23 to
each of the on-board devices 50. Additionally, the
communication unit 21 transmits and receives the packet 10025
to transmit and receive internal signals to and from
another central device 20. The communication unit 21
transmits the packet 100 to output the internal signals to
the display device 30.
[0039] The storage unit 22 stores the packet 10030
transmitted and received by the communication unit 21, the
state information and the identification information
received by the communication unit 21, the command
21
information to be transmitted from the communication unit
21, and the like.
[0040] The control unit 23 calculates the pieces of
command information, the internal signals, and the like
that are signals output to the on-board devices 50, based5
on the pieces of state information, the internal signals,
and the like of the on-board devices 50 connected to the
train information management apparatus 10. The internal
signal may be a specific numerical value or may be selected
from specified values. Additionally, the control unit 2310
notifies the signal storage position identifying unit 25 of
the information indicating the type of each of the on-board
devices 50, and of the identification information of each
of the on-board devices 50 transmitted together with the
state information from the on-board device 50. Note that,15
when the identification information of the on-board device
50 includes the information indicating the type of the on-
board device 50, it is sufficient that the control unit 23
notifies the signal storage position identifying unit 25 of
only the identification information of the on-board device20
50. The control unit 23 stores the internal signals in the
positions identified by the signal storage position
identifying unit 25 to generate the packet 100, and
controls to transmit the packet 100 from the communication
unit 21 to the devices included in the train information25
management apparatus 10 via the storage unit 22.
[0041] The packet definition information storage unit 24
stores the packet definition information 103 generated by
the train information management assistance apparatus 60.
[0042] The signal storage position identifying unit 2530
identifies, based on the packet definition information 103
and the pieces of identification information of the on-
board devices 50, positions where the pieces of state
22
information is stored in the packet 100 as the internal
signals that are signals for use inside the train
information management apparatus 10. Specifically, the
signal storage position identifying unit 25 identifies the
storage positions of the internal signals in the packet 100,5
based on the names of the on-board devices 50, the signal
names of the internal signals, the serial numbers of the
on-board devices 50 in the train 2, and the like. The
signal storage position identifying unit 25 acquires the
storage position of the designated internal signal in the10
packet 100 in accordance with the calculation formula of
Formula (1) below.
[0043] Storage position of internal signal=start bit
position + number of bits × (serial number of on-board
device 50 − 1) ... (1).15
[0044] When the serial number of the on-board device 50
is 1, the storage position of the internal signal is the
start bit position. The signal storage position
identifying unit 25 acquires the start bit position based
on the start position of the internal signal in the packet20
definition information 103, and acquires the number of bits
from the internal signal definition information 101. The
signal storage position identifying unit 25 acquires the
serial numbers of the on-board devices 50 in accordance
with the number of on-board devices 50 that is counted from25
the lead car of the train 2 based on the on-board device
installation information 102. The central device 20 may
acquire the on-board device installation information 102
from the train information management assistance apparatus
60 or from the designer or the like of the train30
information management apparatus 10. For example, when the
car number of the train 2 is G and the in-car number is N,
the signal storage position identifying unit 25 can
23
calculate the serial number of the on-board device 50 in
accordance with Formula (2).
[0045] Serial number of on-board device 50 = total
number of installed on-board devices 50 from first car to
G-1 car + N ... (2).5
[0046] When G is 1, the serial number of the on-board
device 50 is N. Note that, when the central device 20
receives the packet 100 from another central device 20, the
signal storage position identifying unit 25 can identify,
based on the packet definition information 103, the signal10
names of the internal signals, the serial numbers of the
on-board devices 50 in the train 2 for the on-board devices
50 corresponding to the internal signals, and the like,
from the positions of the internal signals stored in the
packet 100.15
[0047] A description will be given of an operation in
which the central device 20 receives the state information
from each of the on-board devices 50 and transmits the
packet 100 using the packet definition information 103.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in which20
the central device 20 of the train information management
apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment transmits
the packet 100. In the central device 20, the
communication unit 21 receives the state information from
each of the on-board devices 50 (step S201). The25
communication unit 21 stores the pieces of state
information of the on-board devices 50 in the storage unit
22. The control unit 23 reads the pieces of state
information of the on-board devices 50 from the storage
unit 22, and calculates internal signals in accordance with30
specified processing (step S202). The control unit 23
acquires, from the pieces of state information of the on-
board devices 50, on-board device names of the on-board
24
devices 50, serial numbers of the on-board devices 50 in
the train 2, and the like, and notifies the signal storage
position identifying unit 25 of the acquired information.
Upon acquiring the information such as the on-board device
names of the on-board devices 50 and the serial numbers of5
the on-board devices 50 in the train 2 from the control
unit 23, the signal storage position identifying unit 25
identifies the storage positions of the internal signals
that correspond to the on-board devices 50, in the packet
100, based on the packet definition information 103 stored10
in the packet definition information storage unit 24 (step
S203). The signal storage position identifying unit 25
notifies the control unit 23 of the identified storage
positions of the internal signals. The control unit 23
generates the packet 100 in which the internal signals15
whose values are obtained by the calculation are stored in
the storage positions acquired from the signal storage
position identifying unit 25 (step S204). The control unit
23 stores the generated packet 100 in the storage unit 22.
The communication unit 21 reads the packet 100 from the20
storage unit 22 and transmits the packet 100 to another
central device 20, the display device 30, and the like
inside the train information management apparatus 10 (step
S205).
[0048] Next, a description will be given of a25
configuration of the display device 30 that is included in
the train information management apparatus 10, uses the
packet definition information 103 generated by the train
information management assistance apparatus 60, and
receives the packet 100 from the central device 20. FIG. 930
is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of
the display device 30 according to the first embodiment.
The display device 30 includes a communication unit 31, a
25
storage unit 32, a control unit 33, a packet definition
information storage unit 34, a signal storage position
identifying unit 35, and a display unit 36.
[0049] The communication unit 31 receives the packet 100
from the central device 20.5
[0050] The storage unit 32 stores the packet 100
received by the communication unit 31.
[0051] The control unit 33 notifies the signal storage
position identifying unit 35 of the position information on
the internal signals stored in the packet 100. The control10
unit 33 controls the display unit 36 to display the state
information of each of the on-board devices 50, based on an
arrangement of the on-board devices 50 in the train 2
corresponding to the internal signals identified by the
signal storage position identifying unit 35.15
[0052] The packet definition information storage unit 34
stores the packet definition information 103 generated by
the train information management assistance apparatus 60.
[0053] The signal storage position identifying unit 35
identifies, based on the packet definition information 10320
and the position information on the internal signals stored
in the packet 100, an arrangement of the on-board devices
50 installed in the train 2 and corresponding to the
internal signals. Specifically, the signal storage
position identifying unit 35 identifies the signal names of25
the internal signals, the on-board devices 50 corresponding
to the internal signals, the serial numbers of the on-board
devices 50 in the train 2 for the on-board devices 50, and
the like. At this time, the signal storage position
identifying unit 35 uses the on-board device installation30
information 102, and the display device 30 may acquire the
on-board device installation information 102 from the train
information management assistance apparatus 60 or from the
26
designer or the like of the train information management
apparatus 10.
[0054] The display unit 36 is installed in a cab or the
like of the train 2, and displays state information and the
like of the on-board device 50 to a train driver or the5
like of the train 2. The display unit 36 performs, under
the control of the control unit 33, display or the like
based on the internal signals stored in the packet 100.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of display on
the display device 30 according to the first embodiment.10
Upon acquiring the information related to the bit positions
of the internal signals stored in the packet 100 from the
control unit 33, the signal storage position identifying
unit 35 identifies, for the internal signals, the signal
names of the internal signals, the serial numbers of the15
on-board devices 50 in the train 2 for the on-board devices
50 corresponding to the internal signals, and the like,
based on the packet definition information 103. On the
basis of the information acquired from the signal storage
position identifying unit 35, that is, the signal names of20
the internal signals and the serial numbers of the on-board
devices 50 in the train 2 for the on-board devices 50
corresponding to the internal signals, the control unit 33
controls the display unit 36 to perform display for the on-
board devices 50 in accordance with the internal signals.25
FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which information
indicating whether the DOOR 52 of the train 2 is open is
linked to a display element indicating a door on the screen
of the display unit 36, and the internal signal having the
signal name DOOR_STATUS_OPEN is associated with the display30
element. The display unit 36 includes the display elements
indicating doors as many as the number of DOORs 52 defined
in the on-board device installation information 102 in
27
order to perform display on the screen as illustrated in
FIG. 10. The DOORs 52 can be distinguished from each other
by the car number and the in-car number in the train 2.
Since the car number and in-car number of each DOOR 52 in
the train 2 are associated with the car number and in-car5
number for designating the internal signal having the
signal name DOOR_STATUS_OPEN in the packet 100, it is
possible to simply associate the internal signals in the
packet 100 with the display elements of the display unit 36.
[0055] A description will be given of an operation in10
which the display device 30 receives the packet 100 from
the central device 20 and performs display processing on
the display unit 36 using the packet definition information
103. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in
which the display device 30 of the train information15
management apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment
receives the packet 100 and performs display processing.
In the display device 30, the communication unit 31
receives the packet 100 from the central device 20 (step
S301). The communication unit 31 stores the packet 100 in20
the storage unit 32. The control unit 33 reads the packet
100 from the storage unit 32 and reads the internal signals
from the packet 100 (step S302). The control unit 33
notifies the signal storage position identifying unit 35 of
the information on the bit positions in the packet 100 in25
which the internal signals are stored. Upon acquiring the
information of the bit positions in the packet 100 from the
control unit 33, the signal storage position identifying
unit 35 identifies the signal names of the internal signals
corresponding to the bit positions in the packet 100 and30
the serial numbers of the on-board devices 50 in the train
2, based on the packet definition information 103 stored in
the packet definition information storage unit 34 (step
28
S303). The signal storage position identifying unit 35
notifies the control unit 33 of the identified signal names
of the internal signals and the identified serial numbers
of the on-board devices 50 in the train 2. Note that, as
described above, the car number and the in-car number may5
be used instead of the serial numbers. The control unit 33
determines display elements that are display targets
included in the display unit 36, based on the signal names
of the internal signals and the serial numbers of the on-
board devices 50 in the train 2, which have been acquired10
from the signal storage position identifying unit 35, and
determines display content in accordance with the internal
signals (step S304). The display unit 36 performs display
processing for the display elements determined by the
control unit 33, in accordance with the internal signals15
determined by the control unit 33 (step S305).
[0056] Next, a description will be given of a hardware
configuration of the train information management
assistance apparatus 60 according to the first embodiment.
In the train information management assistance apparatus 60,20
the acquisition unit 61 is an interface that receives data.
The output unit 63 is an interface that outputs data. The
generation unit 62 is implemented by processing circuitry.
The processing circuitry may include a memory that stores a
program and a processor that executes the program stored in25
the memory, or may include dedicated hardware. The
processing circuitry is also referred to as control
circuitry.
[0057] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
configuration of processing circuitry 90 when the30
processing circuitry that implements the generation unit 62
of the train information management assistance apparatus 60
according to the first embodiment is implemented by a
29
processor 91 and a memory 92. The processing circuitry 90
illustrated in FIG. 12 is control circuitry, and includes
the processor 91 and the memory 92. When the processing
circuitry 90 includes the processor 91 and the memory 92,
each function of the processing circuitry 90 is implemented5
by software, firmware, or a combination of software and
firmware. The software or the firmware is described as a
program and stored in the memory 92. In the processing
circuitry 90, the processor 91 reads and executes the
program stored in the memory 92 to implement functions.10
That is, the processing circuitry 90 includes the memory 92
for storing a program with which processing of the train
information management assistance apparatus 60 is executed
as a result. It can also be said that this program is a
program for causing the train information management15
assistance apparatus 60 to execute functions implemented by
the processing circuitry 90. This program may be provided
by a storage medium storing the program or may be provided
through other means such as a communication medium.
[0058] It can also be said that the program is a program20
for causing the train information management assistance
apparatus 60 to execute: a first step of, by the
acquisition unit 61, acquiring the internal signal
definition information 101 and the on-board device
installation information 102, the internal signal25
definition information 101 being information in which an
internal signal that is a signal for use inside the train
information management apparatus 10 to be installed in the
train 2 is defined in association with the on-board device
50 installed in the train 2, the on-board device30
installation information 102 being information in which the
number of on-board device 50 installed in each car of the
train 2 is defined; and a second step of, by the generation
30
unit 62, generating, based on the internal signal
definition information 101 and the on-board device
installation information 102, the packet definition
information 103 for identifying the position of the
internal signal associated with the on-board devices 50,5
inside the packet 100 transmitted and received inside the
train information management apparatus 10.
[0059] Here, the processor 91 is, for example, a Central
Processing Unit (CPU), a processing unit, an arithmetic
unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a Digital Signal10
Processor (DSP), or the like. Additionally, 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,15
registered trademark), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an
optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a Digital
Versatile Disc (DVD), or the like.
[0060] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
configuration of processing circuitry 93 when the20
processing circuitry that implements the generation unit 62
of the train information management assistance apparatus 60
according to the first embodiment is constituted by
dedicated hardware. The processing circuitry 93
illustrated in FIG. 13 corresponds to, for example, a25
single circuit, a combined circuit, a programmed processor,
a parallel-programmed processor, an Application Specific
Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array
(FPGA), or a combination thereof. Some functions of the
processing circuitry 93 may be implemented by dedicated30
hardware, and the other functions may be implemented by
software or firmware. In this manner, the processing
circuitry 93 can implement the above-described functions
31
using dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a
combination thereof.
[0061] The central device 20 has a similar hardware
configuration. In the central device 20, the communication
unit 21 is an interface capable of transmitting and5
receiving the packet 100 and the like. The storage unit 22
and the packet definition information storage unit 24 are
memories. The control unit 23 and the signal storage
position identifying unit 25 are implemented by processing
circuitry. The processing circuitry may include a memory10
that stores a program and a processor that executes the
program stored in the memory, or may include dedicated
hardware. The processing circuitry is also referred to as
control circuitry.
[0062] The display device 30 also has a similar hardware15
configuration. In the display device 30, the communication
unit 31 is an interface capable of receiving the packet 100
and the like. The storage unit 32 and the packet
definition information storage unit 34 are memories. The
display unit 36 is a display such as a Liquid Crystal20
Display (LCD). The control unit 33 and the signal storage
position identifying unit 35 are implemented by processing
circuitry. The processing circuitry may include a memory
that stores a program and a processor that executes the
program stored in the memory, or may include dedicated25
hardware. The processing circuitry is also referred to as
control circuitry.
[0063] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, the train information management assistance
apparatus 60 generates the packet definition information30
103 in which the storage positions of the internal signals,
for use in the central device 20 and the display device 30,
on the packet 100 are defined, at the time of designing the
32
train information management apparatus 10 by using the
internal signal definition information 101 and the on-board
device installation information 102. As a result, the
train information management assistance apparatus 60 can
reduce the amount of the man-hours required for definitions5
such as the definition of the number of the on-board
devices 50 by the designer of the train information
management apparatus 10, and the definition on the packet
100, and can prevent or reduce an increase in time for
designing due to the error in description of calculation10
processing. Additionally, the train information management
assistance apparatus 60 can reduce the man-hours required
to design by improving design reusability between different
car systems. As described above, the train information
management assistance apparatus 60 can assist in designing15
signals for use in the train information management
apparatus 10 while reducing the man-hours of the designer
of the train information management apparatus 10 and the
occurrence of the error.
[0064] Second Embodiment.20
In the first embodiment, in the packet definition
information 103 generated by the train information
management assistance apparatus 60, as illustrated in FIG.
4, the areas corresponding to the internal signals having
the different signal names are sometimes included in the25
same text number. That is, areas corresponding to internal
signals having multiple signal names are sometimes included
in a unit of 1 byte. In the second embodiment, a case will
be described in which the train information management
assistance apparatus 60 determines the areas corresponding30
to the internal signals having the different signal names
such that the areas corresponding to the internal signals
having the different signal names are not included in the
33
same text number, that is, in accordance with a byte
boundary.
[0065] In the second embodiment, the configurations of
the train information management assistance apparatus 60
and the like are similar to the configurations in the first5
embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an
operation of the train information management assistance
apparatus 60 according to the second embodiment. The
flowchart illustrated in FIG. 14 differs from the flowchart
in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 in an10
operation in step S111. When not all the internal signals
have been selected from the internal signal definition
information 101 (step S105: No), the generation unit 62
updates the text number and updates the start bit position
(step S111). FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example15
of the packet definition information 103 output from the
train information management assistance apparatus 60
according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG.
15, in the train information management assistance
apparatus 60, when updating the start bit position of the20
internal signal in the packet 100, the generation unit 62
updates the start bit position such that the start bit
position is aligned with the 8-bit boundary. The
generation unit 62 determines the areas corresponding to
the internal signals having the different signal names such25
that the areas corresponding to the internal signals having
the different signal names are not included in the areas
having the same text number, that is, in accordance with
the byte boundary. Note that, similarly to the first
embodiment, when the updated start bit position exceeds the30
bit position specified by the packet size of the packet 100
of the current packet number, the generation unit 62
performs processing of incrementing the packet number for
34
identifying the packet 100.
[0066] As described above, when the packet 100 is
delimited in units of 8 bits as 1 byte, the generation unit
62 sets the bit position of the first bit of the byte
disposed next to the byte to which the last bit of the area5
of the first selected signal belongs in the packet 100, as
the bit position of the first bit of the area of the second
selected signal to be selected next to the first selected
signal in the packet 100.
[0067] In the packet definition information 103 of the10
second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, unlike the packet
definition information 103 of the first embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 4, the start bit position of the
internal signal having the signal name ATC_STATUS is
changed from the bit position 4 of the text number 4 to the15
bit position 0 of the text number 5. In the first
embodiment, the central device 20 and the display device 30
using the packet definition information 103 illustrated in
FIG. 4 need to perform calculation processing by a byte
access method and a bitwise operation in order to access20
internal signals. On the other hand, in the second
embodiment, since the central device 20 and the display
device 30 that use the packet definition information 103
illustrated in FIG. 15 can access the internal signals only
by the byte access method, the processing amount at the25
time of execution can be reduced. In the second embodiment,
only the start bit position of each internal signal in the
packet 100 is changed, and the operations of the signal
storage position identifying unit 25 of the central device
20 and the signal storage position identifying unit 35 of30
the display device 30 are similar to the operations thereof
in the first embodiment.
[0068] Note that, in the present embodiment, the start
35
bit position of each internal signal is aligned in a unit
of 1 byte. That is, the area including the area
corresponding to each internal signal and a backup area is
aligned in units of multiples of 8 bits. However, the
present embodiment is not limited thereto. The start bit5
position of each internal signal may be aligned in units of
2 bytes or 4 bytes. That is, the area including the area
corresponding to each internal signal and the backup area
may be aligned in units of multiples of 16 bits or in units
of multiples of 32 bits.10
[0069] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, the train information management assistance
apparatus 60 generates the packet definition information
103 such that the start bit position of each internal
signal is in a unit of 1 byte, that is, the area including15
the area corresponding to each internal signal and the
backup area is in units of multiples of 8 bits. This can
reduce the processing amount required for the central
device 20 and the display device 30 to access the internal
signals.20
[0070] Third Embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the start bit position is
changed for every internal signal in accordance with the
byte boundary. However, the train information management
assistance apparatus 60 may perform the operation of the25
second embodiment when the internal signal whose number of
bits indicated by the internal signal definition
information 101 is an integral multiple of 8 bits, and may
perform the operation of the first embodiment in other
cases, for example.30
[0071] That is, when the packet 100 is delimited in
units of 8 bits as 1 byte, if the number of bits of the
second selected signal selected after the first selected
36
signal is an integral multiple of 8 bits, the generation
unit 62 sets the bit position of the first bit of the byte
disposed next to the byte to which the last bit of the area
of the first selected signal belongs in the packet 100, as
the bit position of the first bit of the area of the second5
selected signal in the packet 100. Additionally, when the
packet 100 is delimited in units of 8 bits as 1 byte, if
the number of bits of the second selected signal is other
than an integral multiple of 8 bits, the generation unit 62
sets the bit position of the bit disposed next to the last10
bit of the area of the first selected signal in the packet
100, as the bit position of the first bit of the area of
the second selected signal in the packet 100. Since the
generation unit 62 has acquired the information of the
internal signal definition information 101, the generation15
unit 62 can determine whether to perform the operation
described in the first embodiment or the operation
described in the second embodiment, based on, for example,
the number of bits of an internal signal to be selected
next.20
[0072] As a result, the effect of reducing the
processing amount required for the central device 20 and
the display device 30 to access the internal signals is
reduced as compared with the second embodiment. However,
the backup area, which is illustrated in FIG. 15, provided25
in the packet 100 can be reduced and the size of the packet
100 can be reduced as compared with the second embodiment.
[0073] The configurations described in the above
embodiments are illustrative only and may be combined with
the other known techniques, the embodiments may be combined30
with each other, and part of each of the configurations may
be omitted or modified without departing from the gist.
37
Reference Signs List
[0074] 1 train information management system; 2 train;
10 train information management apparatus; 20 central
device; 21, 31 communication unit; 22, 32 storage unit;
23, 33 control unit; 24, 34 packet definition information5
storage unit; 25, 35 signal storage position identifying
unit; 30 display device; 36 display unit; 40 network; 50
on-board device; 51 BCU; 52 DOOR; 53 ATC; 60 train
information management assistance apparatus; 61
acquisition unit; 62 generation unit; 63 output unit; 10010
packet; 101 internal signal definition information; 102
on-board device installation information; 103 packet
definition information.
38
WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1] A train information management assistance
apparatus comprising:
an acquisition unit to acquire internal signal
definition information and on-board device installation5
information, the internal signal definition information
being information in which an internal signal that is a
signal for use inside a train information management
apparatus to be installed in a train is defined in
association with an on-board device installed in the train,10
the on-board device installation information being
information in which a number of the on-board device
installed in each car of the train is defined; and
a generation unit to generate, based on the internal
signal definition information and the on-board device15
installation information, packet definition information for
identifying a position of the internal signal associated
with the on-board device within a packet transmitted and
received inside the train information management apparatus.
20
[Claim 2] The train information management assistance
apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the internal signal definition information is
information in which, for each signal name of the internal
signal, the on-board device associated with the internal25
signal and a number of bits in the packet used for the
corresponding internal signal are defined.
[Claim 3] The train information management assistance
apparatus according to claim 2, wherein30
the generation unit selects one internal signal from
the internal signal definition information, and acquires,
from the on-board device installation information, a number
39
of the on-board device associated with a selected signal
that is the internal signal selected is installed in the
train, identifies an area used for the selected signal in
the packet, based on a number of bits of the selected
signal and the number of on-board device installed, and5
repeatedly performs processing of identifying the area
corresponding to a number of the internal signal defined in
the internal signal definition information, thus generating
the packet definition information.
10
[Claim 4] The train information management assistance
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the generation unit sets a bit position of a bit
disposed next to a last bit of an area of a first selected
signal in the packet, as a bit position of a first bit of15
an area of a second selected signal to be selected next to
the first selected signal in the packet.
[Claim 5] The train information management assistance
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein20
the packet is delimited in units of 8 bits as 1 byte,
and
the generation unit sets a bit position of a first bit
of a byte disposed next to a byte to which a last bit of an
area of a first selected signal belongs in the packet, as a25
bit position of a first bit of an area of a second selected
signal to be selected next to the first selected signal in
the packet.
[Claim 6] The train information management assistance30
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the packet is delimited in units of 8 bits as 1 byte,
and
40
the generation unit
sets, when a number of bits of a second selected
signal selected after a first selected signal is an
integral multiple of 8 bits, a bit position of a first bit
of a byte disposed next to a byte to which a last bit of an5
area of the first selected signal belongs in the packet, as
a bit position of a first bit of an area of the second
selected signal in the packet, and
sets, when the number of bits of the second selected
signal is other than the integral multiple of 8 bits, a bit10
position of a bit disposed next to the last bit of the area
of the first selected signal in the packet, as the bit
position of the first bit of the area of the second
selected signal in the packet.
15
[Claim 7] A central device that is included in a train
information management apparatus to be installed in a train
and uses the packet definition information generated by the
train information management assistance apparatus according
to any one of claims 1 to 6, the central device comprising:20
a communication unit to receive, from an on-board
device installed in the train, state information indicating
an operation state of the on-board device together with
identification information capable of identifying an
installation position of the on-board device in the train;25
a packet definition information storage unit to store
the packet definition information;
a signal storage position identifying unit to identify,
based on the packet definition information and the
identification information, a position where the state30
information is stored in the packet as an internal signal
that is a signal for use inside the train information
management apparatus; and
41
a control unit to perform control to store the
internal signal in the position identified by the signal
storage position identifying unit to generate the packet,
and to transmit the packet from the communication unit to a
device included in the train information management5
apparatus.
[Claim 8] A display device that is included in a train
information management apparatus to be installed in a train,
uses the packet definition information generated by the10
train information management assistance apparatus according
to any one of claims 1 to 6, and receives a packet from the
central device according to claim 7, the display device
comprising:
a communication unit to receive the packet from the15
central device;
a packet definition information storage unit to store
the packet definition information;
a signal storage position identifying unit to identify,
based on the packet definition information and position20
information on a position of an internal signal stored in
the packet, a placement in the train of the on-board device
installed in the train that corresponds to the internal
signal;
a display unit to display state information of the on-25
board device; and
a control unit to perform control to cause the display
unit to display the state information of the on-board
device, based on the placement in the train of the on-board
device corresponding to the internal signal, the placement30
being identified by the signal storage position identifying
unit.
42
[Claim 9] A train information management system comprising:
the train information management assistance apparatus
according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
the central device according to claim 7; and
the display device according to claim 8.5
[Claim 10] A train information management assistance
method to be used in a train information management
assistance apparatus, the train information management
assistance method comprising:10
a first step of, by an acquisition unit, acquiring
internal signal definition information and on-board device
installation information, the internal signal definition
information being information in which an internal signal
that is a signal for use inside a train information15
management apparatus to be installed in a train is defined
in association with an on-board device installed in the
train, the on-board device installation information being
information in which a number of the on-board device
installed in each car of the train is defined; and20
a second step of, by a generation unit, generating,
based on the internal signal definition information and the
on-board device installation information, packet definition
information for identifying a position of the internal
signal associated with the on-board device, within a packet25
transmitted and received inside the train information
management apparatus.
[Claim 11] The train information management assistance
method according to claim 10, wherein30
the internal signal definition information is
information in which, for each signal name of the internal
signal, the on-board device associated with the internal
43
signal and a number of bits in the packet used for the
internal signal are defined.
[Claim 12] The train information management assistance
method according to claim 11, wherein5
the second step includes, by the generation unit,
selecting one internal signal from the internal signal
definition information, and acquiring, from the on-board
device installation information, a number of on-board
device associated with a selected signal that is the10
internal signal selected installed in the train,
identifying an area used for the selected signal in the
packet based on a number of bits of the selected signal and
a number of on-board device installed, and repeatedly
performing processing of identifying the area corresponding15
to a number of the internal signal defined in the internal
signal definition information, thus generating the packet
definition information.
[Claim 13] The train information management assistance20
method according to claim 12, wherein
the second step includes, by the generation unit,
setting a bit position of a bit disposed next to a last bit
of an area of a first selected signal in the packet, as a
bit position of a first bit of an area of a second selected25
signal to be selected next to the first selected signal in
the packet.
[Claim 14] The train information management assistance
method according to claim 12, wherein30
the packet is delimited in units of 8 bits as 1 byte,
and
the second step includes, by the generation unit,
44
setting a bit position of a first bit of a byte disposed
next to a byte to which a last bit of an area of a first
selected signal belongs in the packet, as a bit position of
a first bit of an area of a second selected signal to be
selected next to the first selected signal in the packet.5
[Claim 15] The train information management assistance
method according to claim 12, wherein
the packet is delimited in units of 8 bits as 1 byte,
and10
the second step includes, by the generation unit,
setting, when a number of bits of a second selected
signal selected after a first selected signal is an
integral multiple of 8 bits, a bit position of a first bit
of a byte disposed next to a byte to which a last bit of an15
area of the first selected signal belongs in the packet, as
a bit position of a first bit of an area of the second
selected signal in the packet, and
setting, when the number of bits of the second
selected signal is other than the integral multiple of 820
bits, a bit position of a bit disposed next to the last bit
of the area of the first selected signal in the packet, as
the bit position of the first bit of the area of the second
selected signal in the packet.
25
[Claim 16] A train information management assistance
program causing a computer to execute the train information
45
management assistance method according to any one of claims
10 to 15.