1
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
TRAIN MONITORING DEVICE, GENERATION DEVICE, AND EVENT
DETECTION DEFINITION GENERATION METHOD
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
5 [0001] The present invention relates to a train
monitoring device that monitors the status of a device
installed in a train, and relates to a generation device
and an event detection definition generation method.
10 Background
[0002] There is conventionally a monitoring device that
obtains, from various types of devices installed in a train,
a signal indicating the status of each device, and
determines whether the device or its operation is anomalous
15 on the basis of the obtained signal. The monitoring device
issues an alarm when determining that the device or its
operation is anomalous. Such a technique as described
above is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
20 Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2012-205332
25 Summary
Technical Problem
[0004] A monitoring device monitors many types of
devices, and also monitors devices of the same type that
are present across a plurality of vehicles. As trains have
30 become more advanced, the number of types of devices to be
monitored has increased, and accordingly the monitoring
device has an increased number of functions. This
complicates a program to be executed for monitoring, and
3
increases the program size. As a result, there is a
problem that maintainability of the monitoring device is
degraded.
[0005] The present invention has been achieved to solve
5 the above problems, and an object of the present invention
is to provide a train monitoring device that monitors the
status of a device installed in a train and that makes it
possible to improve maintainability of the train monitoring
device.
10
Solution to Problem
[0006] In order to solve the above problems and achieve
the object, a train monitoring device according to the
present invention monitors a status of a device installed
15 in a train. The train monitoring device includes: an
obtaining unit to obtain, from the device, device status
information indicating a status of a device; a monitoring
unit including an event detection definition, and an event
detection program to interpret the event detection
20 definition and check whether an event has occurred, the
event detection definition being generated by using a
device location definition in which a location of the
device in the train is defined, a vehicle configuration
definition in which formation of the train is defined, and
25 a detection definition template in which a condition
indicating that the device is in an anomalous status is
defined, where when the event detection program monitors a
status of the device on a basis of the device status
information, a first program included in the event
30 detection program interprets and executes an intermediate
language representation included in the event detection
definition, and a second program included in the event
detection program determines whether an event has occurred
4
by using area information and storage information about a
memory having stored therein a value that indicates whether
an event has occurred, the area information and the storage
information being included in the event detection
5 definition; and an output unit to output an alarm
indicating that the device is an anomalous status when the
monitoring unit detects an anomaly in the device.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
10 [0007] The present invention has an effect where it is
possible to improve maintainability of a train monitoring
device.
Brief Description of Drawings
15 [0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train monitoring device, devices, and a
display device installed in a train.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a generation device.
20 FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
device location definition obtained by an obtaining unit in
the generation device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
vehicle configuration definition obtained by the obtaining
25 unit in the generation device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train obtained from the device location
definition and the vehicle configuration definition.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
30 detection definition template obtained by the obtaining
unit in the generation device.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the outline of a
process of generating an event detection definition by a
5
generation unit in the generation device by using the
device location definition, the vehicle configuration
definition, and the detection definition template.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in a case
5 where the generation unit in the generation device
generates all the event detection definitions obtained from
the device location definition, the vehicle configuration
definition, and the detection definition template in the
form of intermediate language representation.
10 FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
intermediate language representation in the event detection
definition generated by the generation unit in the
generation device by using the device location definition,
the vehicle configuration definition, and the detection
15 definition template.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of area
storage information in the event detection definition
generated by the generation unit in the generation device
by using the device location definition, the vehicle
20 configuration definition, and the detection definition
template.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an
area, where device status information is stored, in a
storage unit included in the train monitoring device.
25 FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process of
generating an event detection definition by the generation
unit in the generation device.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of
generating an individual event detection definition by the
30 generation unit in the generation device.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a
configuration example of the train monitoring device.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
6
processing circuitry included in the generation device in a
case where the processing circuitry is configured by a
processor and a memory.
5 Description of Embodiments
[0009] A train monitoring device, a generation device,
and an event detection definition generation method
according to embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail below with reference to the
10 accompanying drawings. The present invention is not
limited to the embodiments.
[0010] Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train monitoring device 30 according to an
15 embodiment of the present invention and installed in a
train 10, devices 20a, 20b, ···, and 20n to be monitored,
and a display device 40 to display a result of the
monitoring by the train monitoring device 30. The train 10
includes the devices 20a, 20b, ···, and 20n, the train
20 monitoring device 30, the display device 40, and a
communication network 50.
[0011] The train 10 is a target train for the train
monitoring device 30 to monitor the status of each of the
devices 20a, 20b, ···, and 20n. It is allowable that the
25 train 10 is constituted by a plurality of vehicles, or may
cover a case where the train 10 is a single-vehicle train.
[0012] The devices 20a, 20b, ···, and 20n are installed
in the train 10 and are, for example, a DCU (Door Control
Unit) and a CU (Control Unit). The train 10 has a
30 plurality of devices of the same type installed therein.
The devices 20a, 20b, ···, and 20n, when not distinguished
from each other, are sometimes referred collectively to as
"device 20". While in FIG. 1, the train 10 has n devices
7
20 installed therein merely as an example, the number of
devices 20 installed in the train 10 is not limited to n.
[0013] The train monitoring device 30 monitors the
status of the device 20 installed in the train 10.
5 Specifically, the train monitoring device 30 obtains, from
each device 20, device status information indicating the
status of the device 20, and monitors the status of the
device 20 on the basis of the obtained device status
information. The device status information includes
10 different details depending on the type of the device 20.
The device status information may also include information
on a plurality of attributes indicating the status of the
device 20, that is, include attribute values. For example,
in a case where the device 20 is a DCU, the device status
15 information includes information indicating whether the
doors are opened or closed, and the attribute value can be
represented by 1-bit of information, "0" or "1". In a case
where the device 20 is a device that includes a motor, the
device status information includes information on the basis
20 of a rotational speed of the motor. In a case where the
device 20 is a device that generates heat, it is allowable
that the device status information includes information on
a temperature detected by a temperature sensor incorporated
in the device 20 or installed outside the device 20. The
25 attribute value is not limited to 1-bit of information, "0"
or "1", but may be information representing a numerical
value, a character string, or other types of data. When
the train monitoring device 30 detects an anomaly in the
device 20, the train monitoring device 30 outputs an alarm
30 indicating the anomaly in the device 20.
[0014] The display device 40 displays an alarm or the
like indicating an anomaly in the device 20 detected by the
train monitoring device 30. It is allowable that the train
8
10 includes a device to output an alarm sound in place of
the display device 40, or includes a device to output an
alarm sound along with the display device 40.
[0015] The communication network 50 is installed in the
5 train 10 and is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network).
[0016] The train monitoring device 30 monitors the
status of the device 20 by executing an event detection
program that runs by loading an event detection definition.
The event detection definition is data describing a
10 condition for determining whether the device 20 is in an
anomalous status.
[0017] Descriptions are made on the configuration and
the operation of a generation device that generates an
event detection definition. The event detection definition
15 is loaded as data into an event detection program to be
executed by the train monitoring device 30. FIG. 2 is a
block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a
generation device 100 according to the present embodiment.
The generation device 100 includes an obtaining unit 101
20 and a generation unit 102.
[0018] The obtaining unit 101 obtains a device location
definition 201 in which the location of the device 20 in
the train 10 is defined, a vehicle configuration definition
202 in which formation of the train 10 is defined, and a
25 detection definition template 203 in which a condition,
indicating that the device 20 is in an anomalous status or
in a status in which an alarm needs to be output, is
defined.
[0019] The generation unit 102 uses the device location
30 definition 201, the vehicle configuration definition 202,
and the detection definition template 203 to generate an
event detection definition 404 to be executed by the train
monitoring device 30 for monitoring the status of the
9
device 20 installed in the train 10.
[0020] In the train monitoring device 30, an event
detection program 301 runs by loading data that is the
event detection definition 404. Information on the train
5 configuration and installed devices, and specific
processing details for an event detection are not directly
embedded in the event detection program 301 itself. The
event detection program 301 is designed to read such data
as described above from outside of the program to perform
10 processing. In a case where there is a change in the train
configuration or where the installed devices are changed,
or in a case where a change is made in the detection
process, the event detection definition 404 is replaced
corresponding to the change. The generation device 100
15 generates the event detection definition 404.
[0021] Descriptions are made on a process of generating
the event detection program 301 by the generation device
100 using the device location definition 201, the vehicle
configuration definition 202, and the detection definition
20 template 203. First, the device location definition 201,
the vehicle configuration definition 202, and the detection
definition template 203, which are obtained by the
generation device 100, are described.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of
25 the device location definition 201 obtained by the
obtaining unit 101 in the generation device 100 according
to the present embodiment. The device location definition
201 shows a device installed in each type of vehicle
constituting the train 10, and shows the number of devices
30 installed in the vehicle. In an example of the device
location definition 201 illustrated in FIG. 3, two DCUs are
installed in a vehicle of type A.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of
10
the vehicle configuration definition 202 obtained by the
obtaining unit 101 in the generation device 100 according
to the present embodiment. The vehicle configuration
definition 202 shows the formation of the train 10, that is,
5 the arrangement of the vehicles constituting the train 10.
In an example of the vehicle configuration definition 202
illustrated in FIG. 4, the train 10 is of a two-vehicle
formation in which the vehicle of a first car is a vehicle
of type A and the vehicle of a second car is a vehicle of
10 type A.
[0024] The configuration of the train 10 obtained from
the device location definition 201 illustrated in FIG. 3
and the vehicle configuration definition 202 illustrated in
FIG. 4 is described below. FIG. 5 is a diagram
15 illustrating a configuration example of the train 10
obtained from the device location definition 201 and the
vehicle configuration definition 202 according to the
present embodiment. In the example of the train 10
illustrated in FIG. 5, the first car is a vehicle of type A
20 and has two DCUs installed therein as the device 20, while
the second car is a vehicle of type A and has two DCUs
installed therein as the device 20. That is, FIG. 5 shows
that the train 10 has four DCUs installed therein as the
device 20.
25 [0025] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of
the detection definition template 203 obtained by the
obtaining unit 101 in the generation device 100 according
to the present embodiment. A condition for detecting an
anomaly in the device 20 during monitoring performed on the
30 device 20 is defined in the detection definition template
203. In FIG. 6, "DEVICE TYPE" indicates the type of the
device 20 to be monitored. "EVENT NUMBER" indicates the
type of an event in each device 20. Each event indicates
11
monitoring details for detecting an anomaly in the device
20, that is, indicates an event having occurred in the
device 20. "FILTER" is an item to specify the object
affected by the event indicated by the event number. In
5 this example, "CAR NUMBER" and "DEVICE NUMBER" are set in
the item "FILTER". The car number indicates a number
assigned to a vehicle installed with the device 20 to be
monitored in the train 10. The device number indicates a
number assigned to the device 20 for identifying the device
10 20 to be monitored. "CONDITIONAL EXPRESSION" indicates a
condition that specifies the status in which a device is
detected as anomalous. "DEFINITION LEVEL" indicates the
object affected by the event indicated by the event number.
FIG. 6 shows that the object affected by the event is the
15 device 20, a vehicle constituting the train 10, or the
formation of the train 10. In addition to these items, it
is allowable to include an item "LOGICAL INFORMATION" that
represents whether each event is positive logic or negative
logic.
20 [0026] In FIG. 6, the conditional expression indicated
by an event number 1 is a monomial and means a simple
conditional expression in which a detection condition is
satisfied by determining whether the attribute value is
true or false for a determination value. This conditional
25 expression indicated by the event number 1 is a simple
conditional expression 1 illustrated in FIG. 6. The simple
conditional expression includes a conditional expression
that may become a monomial when the conditional expression
is expanded. The symbol "" appearing in "CAR NUMBER" and
30 "DEVICE NUMBER" in FIG. 6 means being applicable to all.
In FIG. 6, a conditional expressions indicated by an event
number 2 and the event number 3 mean a complex conditional
expression made up of a conditional expression other than
12
the simple conditional expression, that is, made up of a
conditional expression that cannot be represented by a
simple conditional expression. These conditional
expressions indicated by the event number 2 and the event
5 number 3 are complex conditional expressions 1 to 3
illustrated in FIG. 6. Examples of the complex conditional
expressions include a conditional expression made up of an
AND function, an IF statement, or a FOR statement.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the outline of
10 the process of generating the event detection definition
404 by the generation unit 102 in the generation device 100
according to the present embodiment by using the device
location definition 201, the vehicle configuration
definition 202, and the detection definition template 203.
15 The generation unit 102 executes a generation program 401
to generate the event detection definition 404, and obtains
data from the device location definition 201, the vehicle
configuration definition 202, and the detection definition
template 203 to separately generate a program description
20 402 and area storage information 406. The generation unit
102 uses a program language tool 403 such as a compiler or
a linker to generate an intermediate language
representation 405 from the program description 402.
[0028] Two programs are incorporated in the event
25 detection program 301 to be executed by the train
monitoring device 30. A first program 302 is an
intermediate-language interpretive-execution module. A
second program 303 is an arithmetic module. The
intermediate-language interpretive-execution module is a
30 program to read, interpret, and execute data that is the
intermediate language representation 405. The arithmetic
module is a program to read area information such as a
memory address and a memory size, and storage information
13
such as a 4-byte integer or a 1-byte integer, described in
the area storage information 406, then to obtain a value in
the memory by using the read area information and storage
information, and to detect occurrence of an event on the
5 basis of the obtained value.
[0029] An example of the event detection definition 404
in a case where data of the event detection definition 404
is all generated in the form of the intermediate language
representation 405 is illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a
10 diagram illustrating an example of the event detection
definition 404 in a case where the generation unit 102 in
the generation device 100 according to the present
embodiment generates all the event detection definitions
404, obtained from the device location definition 201, the
15 vehicle configuration definition 202, and the detection
definition template 203, in the form of the intermediate
language representation 405. As illustrated in FIG. 8,
event detection determination for DCUs is conducted by
executing an event check function. The event check
20 function is expanded into seven event functions
corresponding to the detection definition template 203. In
FIG. 8, four event functions are generated for the event
number 1, two event functions are generated for the event
number 2, and one event function is generated for the event
25 number 3.
[0030] In contrast to the event detection definition 404
in the form of the intermediate language representation 405
illustrated as an example in FIG. 8, such a simple
conditional expression as indicated by the event number 1
30 is achieved by inputting location information and
determination item data to the arithmetic module
implemented by using a native code for a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) that implements a monitoring unit included
14
in the train monitoring device 30. FIG. 9 is a diagram
illustrating an example of the intermediate language
representation 405 in the event detection definition 404
generated by the generation unit 102 in the generation
5 device 100 according to the present embodiment by using the
device location definition 201, the vehicle configuration
definition 202, and the detection definition template 203.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the area
storage information 406 in the event detection definition
10 404 generated by the generation unit 102 in the generation
device 100 according to the present embodiment by using the
device location definition 201, the vehicle configuration
definition 202, and the detection definition template 203.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the generation unit 102 generates
15 a portion of the event detection definition 404 indicated
by the event number 2 and the event number 3 as the
intermediate language representation 405. As illustrated
in FIG. 10, the generation unit 102 generates a portion of
the event detection definition 404 indicated by the event
20 number 1 as the area storage information 406. In FIG. 10,
"DEVICE TYPE" and "EVENT NUMBER" are obtained from the
detection definition template 203. FIG. 10 illustrates an
example of the area storage information 406. It is
allowable that the area storage information 406 includes an
25 item of information obtained from the details of the
conditional expression indicated by the event number 1 in
the detection definition template 203, for example, an item
"LOGICAL INFORMATION" that represents whether the event is
positive logic or negative logic, or an item "CONDITIONAL
30 EXPRESSION". "BIT POSITION" and "BIT WIDTH" indicates
information on a storage area for device status information
in a memory that implements a storage unit included in the
train monitoring device 30.
15
[0031] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of
the area, where device status information is stored, in a
storage unit 34 included in the train monitoring device 30
according to the present embodiment. The train monitoring
5 device 30 obtains device status information from the device
20 that is DCUs 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, and 2-2 through the
communication network 50, and stores the obtained device
status information in predetermined storage areas in the
storage unit 34. In an example in FIG. 11, the train
10 monitoring device 30 stores device status information
obtained from the DCU 1-1 in a device-status-information
storage area 1-1 in the storage unit 34, stores device
status information obtained from the DCU 1-2 in a devicestatus-information storage area 1-2 in the storage unit 34,
15 stores device status information obtained from the DCU 2-1
in a device-status-information storage area 2-1 in the
storage unit 34, and stores device status information
obtained from the DCU 2-2 in a device-status-information
storage area 2-2 in the storage unit 34. The train
20 monitoring device 30 stores the device status information
on the devices 20 of the same type with the same layout in
the storage unit 34. The storage unit 34 stores the same
attribute value of the devices 20 of the same type at the
same position from the leading end of the area for each
25 individual device. Due to this storage, a determination
item for the attribute value of the device 20 can be shared
among the devices 20 of the same type, and can be
represented by a single item definition as illustrated in
the example in FIG. 10.
30 [0032] In a case where the train monitoring device 30
monitors the status of each device 20 installed in the
train 10, most of the detection conditions are simple
detection conditions. For this reason, in the generation
16
unit 102, most of the event detections defined by the
detection definition template 203 are translated into the
area storage information 406, and only the remaining
complex event detection definitions are translated into the
5 intermediate language representation 405.
[0033] The generation unit 102 configured to generate
the event detection definition 404 generates the event
detection definition 404 in the form of the area storage
information 406 for an event detection that can be
10 represented by only area information and storage
information. After having generated the program
description 402, the generation unit 102 translates the
program description 402 for an event detection, which
cannot be processed by the area information and the storage
15 information, into the intermediate language representation
405 by using the program language tool 403.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the generation unit 102
generates the program description 402 for a portion of the
detection definition template 203 indicated by the event
20 number 2 and the event number 3, and translates the program
description 402 into the form of the intermediate language
representation 405 by using the program language tool 403.
The generation unit 102 generates the area storage
information 406 for a portion of the detection definition
25 template 203 indicated by the event number 1, as
illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0035] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the process
of generating the event detection definition 404 by the
generation unit 102 in the generation device 100 according
30 to the present embodiment. The generation unit 102 obtains
the device location definition 201 and the vehicle
configuration definition 202 through the obtaining unit 101
(Step S101). The generation unit 102 also obtains the
17
detection definition template 203 through the obtaining
unit 101 (Step S102). The generation unit 102 checks
whether an event described in the detection definition
template 203 has not undergone a process of generating an
5 individual event detection definition, that is, whether
there is an unprocessed event (Step S103). The individual
event detection definition refers to data obtained by the
generation unit 102 by performing a generation process in
the generation program 401 on a single event defined in the
10 detection definition template 203 by using the device
location definition 201, the vehicle configuration
definition 202, and the detection definition template 203.
The event detection definition 404 made up of individual
event detection definitions is generated in the form of the
15 intermediate language representation 405 or in the form of
the area storage information 406 as described above. When
there is an unprocessed event (YES at Step S103), the
generation unit 102 generates an individual event detection
definition by using the unprocessed event (Step S104).
20 After the process at Step S104, the generation unit 102
returns to the process at Step S103. When there is not an
unprocessed event (NO at Step S103), the generation unit
102 ends the process of generating the event detection
definition 404.
25 [0036] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the process
of generating an individual event detection definition by
the generation unit 102 in the generation device 100
according to the present embodiment. The flowchart
illustrated in FIG. 13 illustrates the details of the
30 process at Step S104 in the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
12. The generation unit 102 checks whether the definition
level of the unprocessed event indicates "device" (Step
S201). When the definition level of the unprocessed event
18
indicates "device" (YES at Step S201), the generation unit
102 checks whether a conditional expression of the
unprocessed event obtained from the detection definition
template 203 is a simple conditional expression, that is, a
5 monomial (Step S202). It is allowable that the generation
unit 102 additionally performs a process of expanding the
conditional expression during the determination to check
whether the conditional expression is a monomial.
[0037] When the conditional expression of the
10 unprocessed event is a simple conditional expression (YES
at Step S202), the generation unit 102 generates the event
detection definition 404 of this unprocessed event in a
form to be executed by the second program 303, that is, in
the form of the area storage information 406 (Step S203).
15 When the conditional expression of the unprocessed event is
not a simple conditional expression (NO at Step S202), the
generation unit 102 generates the event detection
definition 404 of this unprocessed event in a form to be
executed by the first program 302, that is, in the form of
20 the intermediate language representation 405 (Step S204).
In this manner, the generation unit 102 generates the event
detection definition 404 in the form of the area storage
information 406 for a conditional expression made up of a
monomial in the detection definition template 203, while
25 generating the event detection definition 404 in the form
of the intermediate language representation 405 for a
condition that is not applicable to the condition for
generating the event detection definition 404.
[0038] When the definition level of the unprocessed
30 event does not indicate "device", that is, when the
definition level of the unprocessed event indicates
"vehicle" or "formation" (NO at Step S201), the generation
unit 102 generates the event detection definition 404 of
19
this unprocessed event in a form to be executed by the
first program 302, that is, in the form of the intermediate
language representation 405 (Step S204). In this manner,
when the condition for the device 20 is defined in units of
5 the train 10 or a vehicle constituting the train 10 in the
detection definition template 203, the generation unit 102
generates the event detection definition 404 in the form of
the intermediate language representation 405 for the
condition defined in units of the train 10 or the vehicle.
10 [0039] In this manner, the generation unit 102
determines whether to generate the event detection
definition 404 of each individual event described in the
detection definition template 203 either in the form of the
intermediate language representation 405 or in the form of
15 the area storage information 406. The event detection
definition 404 generated by the generation unit 102
includes the intermediate language representation 405 that
is processable for the first program 302 included in the
event detection program 301. The event detection
20 definition 404 generated by the generation unit 102
includes the area storage information 406 that is
interpretable for the second program 303 included in the
event detection program 301. The area storage information
406 is area information and storage information on a memory
25 having stored therein a value that indicates whether an
event has occurred.
[0040] Next, descriptions are made on the configuration
of the train monitoring device 30 that monitors the status
of the device 20 installed in the train 10 by using the
30 event detection definition 404 generated by the generation
unit 102. FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a
configuration example of the train monitoring device 30
according to the present embodiment. The train monitoring
20
device 30 includes an obtaining unit 31, a monitoring unit
32, an output unit 33, and the storage unit 34.
[0041] The obtaining unit 31 obtains, from the device 20,
device status information indicating the status of the
5 device 20. The obtaining unit 31 stores the obtained
device status information in a predetermined area of the
storage unit 34.
[0042] The monitoring unit 32 is implemented by the
event detection program 301 loading and executing data in
10 the event detection definition 404. The monitoring unit 32
monitors the status of the device 20 on the basis of the
device status information. Specifically, in the monitoring
unit 32, the first program 302 executes the intermediate
language representation 405 included in the event detection
15 definition 404, and the second program 303 executes the
area storage information 406 included in the event
detection definition 404. That is, the monitoring unit 32
includes the event detection definition 404, and the event
detection program 301 to interpret the event detection
20 definition 404 and check whether an event has occurred. In
the monitoring unit 32, when the event detection program
301 monitors the status of a device on the basis of device
status information, the first program 302 included in the
event detection program 301 interprets and executes the
25 intermediate language representation 405 included in the
event detection definition 404. The second program 303
included in the event detection program 301 determines
whether an event has occurred by using the area storage
information 406 included in the event detection definition
30 404. The area storage information 406 is area information
and storage information about a memory having stored
therein a value that indicates whether an event has
occurred.
21
[0043] When the monitoring unit 32 detects an anomaly in
the device 20, the output unit 33 outputs an alarm
indicating that this device 20 is in an anomalous status to
the display device 40. It is allowable that the output
5 unit 33 outputs a monitoring result in the monitoring unit
32 and an alarm to a recording device (not illustrated).
Due to this output, the train 10 can hold therein the alarm
indicating an anomaly detected by the train monitoring
device 30, and a history of the monitoring result in the
10 train monitoring device 30.
[0044] The obtaining unit 31 stores the obtained device
status information in the storage unit 34 in an area
predetermined individually for the device status
information. Due to this storage, the monitoring unit 32
15 can monitor the status of the device 20 by referring to the
device status information stored in the predetermined area
of the storage unit 34.
[0045] Next, a hardware configuration of the generation
device 100 is described. In the generation device 100, the
20 obtaining unit 101 is an input interface capable of
receiving the device location definition 201, the vehicle
configuration definition 202, and the detection definition
template 203. The generation unit 102 is implemented by a
processing circuitry. It is allowable that the processing
25 circuitry is either dedicated hardware, or a memory and a
processor that executes programs stored in the memory.
[0046] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of
the processing circuitry included in the generation device
100 according to the present embodiment in a case where the
30 processing circuitry is configured by a processor and a
memory. In a case where the processing circuitry is
configured by a processor 91 and a memory 92, the functions
of the processing circuitry of the generation device 100
22
are implemented in software, firmware, or a combination of
the software and the firmware. The software or the
firmware is described as a program and stored in the memory
92. In the processing circuitry, the processor 91 reads
5 and executes the program stored in the memory 92 to thereby
implement each of the functions. That is, the processing
circuitry includes the memory 92 that stores therein
programs that eventually execute the processing of the
generation device 100. These programs are also regarded as
10 causing a computer to execute the procedure and the method
of the generation device 100.
[0047] The processor 91 may be a device such as a CPU, a
processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor,
a microcomputer, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). A
15 nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM
(Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash
memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), and an
EEPROM® (Electrically EPROM), or a device such as a
magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact
20 disk, a MiniDisk, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)
corresponds to the memory 92, for example.
[0048] The event detection program 301 is designed to
read the event detection definition 404 so as to perform an
event detection process. However, it is allowable that the
25 generation program 401 generates the program description
402 and the area storage information 406 itself as a source
program description of the event detection program 301, and
the event detection program 301 translates the generated
program description into a native code for a CPU to operate.
30 In this case, although the advantage of solely replacing
data to make a change in the detection specifications is
lost, the step of interpreting and executing an
intermediate language representation can be omitted, so
23
that execution performance in the detection process
improves.
[0049] Next, a hardware configuration of the train
monitoring device 30 is described. In the train monitoring
5 device 30, the obtaining unit 31 is an input interface
capable of receiving device status information. The output
unit 33 is an output interface to output an alarm and a
monitoring result. The storage unit 34 is implemented by a
memory. The monitoring unit 32 is implemented by a
10 processing circuitry. It is allowable that the processing
circuitry is configured by a processor and a memory as
illustrated in FIG. 15, similarly to that in the generation
device 100.
[0050] As described above, according to the present
15 embodiment, the train monitoring device 30 interprets and
executes the event detection definition 404 generated by
the generation device 100 by using the device location
definition 201, the vehicle configuration definition 202,
and the detection definition template 203. When a change
20 is made in the vehicle configuration, the train
configuration, and the event detection specifications, then
corresponding to the change, the train monitoring device 30
makes a change in the device location definition 201, the
vehicle configuration definition 202, and the detection
25 definition template 203. When a certain train monitoring
device 30 is created, the device location definition 201,
the vehicle configuration definition 202, and the detection
definition template 203 are prepared corresponding to the
certain train monitoring device 30. This does not involve
30 making a change in the event detection program 301, and
therefore reduces the amount of work required.
[0051] When the train monitoring device 30 monitors the
status of the device 20 on the basis of device status
24
information, the first program 302 included in the event
detection program 301 interprets and executes the
intermediate language representation 405, and the second
program 303 included in the event detection program 301
5 interprets and executes the area storage information 406.
[0052] In general, the intermediate language
representation 405 has a complex structure since the
intermediate language representation 405 is designed to
handle various types of data including program descriptions
10 of repetitive processing, branch processing, and other
processing, as well as integers, real numbers, and
character strings. When a process of interpreting and
executing the intermediate language representation 405 is
compared to a process of acquiring a stored integer value
15 by only using the area storage information 406 that is area
information and storage information, the intermediate
language representation 405 can represent a complex process,
although the intermediate language representation 405
becomes a more complex program. A considerable amount of
20 time and effort is required to execute such a complex
program. Thus, execution performance of a monitoring
device is degraded. In the present embodiment, most of
event definitions can be represented in the form of the
area storage information 406. While the intermediate
25 language representation 405 is used for some complex
process definitions, most of the definitions are handled in
the form of the area storage information 406 and thus can
be implemented by a simple process. This can save time and
effort required for the execution. When a change has been
30 made in the device location and the vehicle configuration
in the train 10, and in the event detection definitions,
then corresponding to the change, the train monitoring
device 30 that monitors the status of the device 20 only
25
needs to make a change in the device location definition
201, the vehicle configuration definition 202, and the
detection definition template 203 without the need for
making a change in the event detection program 301
5 incorporated in the train monitoring device 30. Therefore,
the train monitoring device 30 makes it possible to reduce
the amount of work required for maintenance for a change in
the device location and the vehicle configuration in the
train 10 and for a change in the event detection
10 definitions. This results in improvement in the
maintainability of the train monitoring device 30. The
train monitoring device 30 can also minimize a reduction in
the processing speed by handling most of the definitions in
the form of the area storage information 406.
15 [0053] The configurations described in the above
embodiments are only examples of the content of the present
invention. The configurations can be combined with other
well-known techniques, and part of each of the
configurations can be omitted or modified without departing
20 from the scope of the present invention.
Reference Signs List
[0054] 10 train, 20a to 20n device, 30 train
monitoring device, 31, 101 obtaining unit, 32 monitoring
25 unit, 33 output unit, 34 storage unit, 40 display device,
50 communication network, 100 generation device, 102
generation unit, 201 device location definition, 202
vehicle configuration definition, 203 detection definition
template, 301 event detection program, 302 first program,
30 303 second program, 401 generation program, 402 program
description, 403 program language tool, 404 event
detection definition, 405 intermediate language
representation, 406 area storage information.
26
We Claim:
1. A train monitoring device that monitors a status of a
device installed in a train, the train monitoring device
5 comprising:
an obtaining unit to obtain, from the device, device
status information indicating a status of a device;
a monitoring unit including an event detection
definition, and an event detection program to interpret the
10 event detection definition and check whether an event has
occurred, the event detection definition being generated by
using a device location definition in which a location of
the device in the train is defined, a vehicle configuration
definition in which formation of the train is defined, and
15 a detection definition template in which a condition
indicating that the device is in an anomalous status is
defined, where when the event detection program monitors a
status of the device on a basis of the device status
information, a first program included in the event
20 detection program interprets and executes an intermediate
language representation included in the event detection
definition, and a second program included in the event
detection program determines whether an event has occurred
by using area information and storage information about a
25 memory having stored therein a value that indicates whether
an event has occurred, the area information and the storage
information being included in the event detection
definition; and
an output unit to output an alarm indicating that the
30 device is an anomalous status when the monitoring unit
detects an anomaly in the device.
2. The train monitoring device according to claim 1,
27
comprising a storage unit to store the device status
information in an area predetermined individually for the
device status information, wherein
the monitoring unit monitors a status of the device by
5 referring to the device status information stored in the
storage unit.
3. A generation device that generates an event detection
definition to be used in an event detection program to be
10 executed by a train monitoring device that monitors a
status of a device installed in a train, the generation
device comprising:
an obtaining unit to obtain a device location
definition in which a location of the device in the train
15 is defined, a vehicle configuration definition in which
formation of the train is defined, and a detection
definition template in which a condition indicating that
the device is in an anomalous status is defined; and
a generation unit to generate the event detection
20 definition by using the device location definition, the
vehicle configuration definition, and the detection
definition template, wherein
the event detection definition includes an
intermediate language representation processable for a
25 first program included in the event detection program, and
includes area information and storage information on a
memory having stored therein a value that indicates whether
an event has occurred, the area information and the storage
information being interpretable for a second program
30 included in the event detection program.
4. The generation device according to claim 3, wherein
the generation unit generates the event detection
28
definition in a form of the area information and the
storage information on the memory for a condition that is a
monomial in the detection definition template, and
generates the event detection definition in a form of the
5 intermediate language representation for a condition that
is not applicable to the condition for generating the event
detection definition in a form of the area information and
the storage information on the memory.
10 5. The generation device according to claim 3, wherein
when the condition for the device is defined in units of
the train or a vehicle constituting the train in the
detection definition template, the generation unit
generates the event detection definition in a form of the
15 intermediate language representation for the condition
defined in units of the train or the vehicle.
6. An event detection definition generation method for a
generation device that generates an event detection
20 definition to be used in an event detection program to be
executed by a train monitoring device that monitors a
status of a device installed in a train, the event
detection definition generation method comprising:
an obtaining step of, by an obtaining unit, obtaining
25 a device location definition in which a location of the
device in the train is defined, a vehicle configuration
definition in which formation of the train is defined, and
a detection definition template in which a condition
indicating that the device is in an anomalous status is
30 defined; and
a generating step of generating the event detection
definition by a generation unit using the device location
definition, the vehicle configuration definition, and the
29
detection definition template, wherein
the event detection definition includes an
intermediate language representation processable for a
first program included in the event detection program, and
5 includes area information and storage information on a
memory having stored therein a value that indicates whether
an event has occurred, the area information and the storage
information being interpretable for a second program
included in the event detection program.
10
7. The event detection definition generation method
according to claim 6, wherein at the generating step, the
generation unit generates the event detection definition in
a form of the area information and the storage information
15 on the memory for a condition that is a monomial in the
detection definition template, and generates the event
detection definition in a form of the intermediate language
representation for a condition that is not applicable to
the condition for generating the event detection definition
20 in a form of the area information and the storage
information on the memory.
8. The event detection definition generation method
according to claim 6, wherein at the generating step, when
25 the condition for the device is defined in units of the
train or a vehicle constituting the train in the detection
definition template, the generation unit generates the
event detection definition in a form of the intermediate
language representation for the condition defined in units
30
30
of the train or the vehicle.