Method and communication system for safe route control

Abstract

In a communication system and an associated method for the secured control of a route followed by a vehicle running in an approach area of a moving area, the moving area is preceded by a closing signaling provided on the ground and adapted for informing the vehicle to stop. A safety timing is determined by a ground control unit for ensuring that the vehicle stops before entering the moving area. In parallel with the closing signaling, an information request from the ground control unit is transmitted to a control safety unit. The onboard control safety unit or an associated evaluation module evaluates the braking capacity of the vehicle and encodes the same into information requested by the ground control unit and then fed back to the ground control unit. Depending on the information state, the ground control unit minimizes the safety timing or even cancels the same completely.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for safe control of a route traveled by a vehicle running on an approach area of a maneuvering area, the maneuvering area being preceded by a closing signal positioned on ground and adapted to instruct the vehicle to stop, which comprises the steps of:
 calculating a safety time delay via a control unit on the ground to guarantee that the vehicle stops before it crosses the maneuvering area;   in parallel with the closing signal, transmitting a request for information originating from the control unit on the ground to a safety control unit on-board the vehicle;   assessing, via the safety control unit, a braking capacity of the vehicle on a basis of an energy balance related to kinetics of the vehicle and a code in information required by the control unit on the ground is transmitted back to the control unit on the ground; and   depending on a status of the information required relating to the energy balance, the control unit on the ground minimizes the safety time delay.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein according to the status of the information required, the control unit on the ground cancels the safety time delay if the status ensures that the vehicle stops without crossing the maneuvering area. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein according to the status of the information required, the safety control unit on-board the vehicle retransmits a safety stoppage command accompanied by an operating domain to the control unit on the ground. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the control unit on the ground and the safety control unit on-board the vehicle communicate through an automatism on the ground which at least detects and commands movement of the vehicle on the approach area and which communicates by interfacing with signaling equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , which further comprises guiding the vehicle by at least one rail. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the safety control unit on-board the vehicle communicates with equipment on the ground by means of an aerial connection. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , which further comprises encoding the request for information and the information required using binary code. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , which further comprises forming the status as a binary signal. 
     
     
         18 . A communication system for a safe control of a route traveled by a vehicle running on an approach area of a maneuvering area, the maneuvering area is preceded by a closing signal positioned on ground and adapted to instruct the vehicle to stop, the communication system comprising:
 a control unit on the ground containing a safety time delay calculated to guarantee that the vehicle stops before crossing the maneuvering area;   a safety control unit on-board the vehicle, in parallel with the closing signal a request for information originating from said control unit on the ground is transmitted to said safety control unit on-board the vehicle, said safety control unit contains an evaluation module for evaluating a braking capacity of the vehicle on a basis of an energy balance related to kinetics of the vehicle;   a coding module;   an on-board decoding module for decoding the request for information which commands said coding module for required information by said control unit on the ground, then retransmits back to said control unit on the ground the required information; and   depending on a status of the required information relating to the energy balance, said control unit on the ground having a module for redefining the safety time delay, and aims at minimizing the safety time delay, or cancelling it.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , further comprising an automatism unit on the ground, said control unit on the ground and said safety control unit are connected by said automatism on the ground which at least detects and commands movement of the vehicle on the approach area and which communicates through an interface with signaling equipment.