A Novel Railway Signal Control System Based on the Internet Technology and an Assurance Technology

We have developed a novel railway signal control system that works as a distributed system. It consists of a central control unit (called LC) and terminal devices (called FC) that are distributed at the railroad wayside and operate signal devices. The Internet technologies and optical LAN technologies have been used as communication methods between the LC and the FCs. The FC is a distributed terminal device that has its own processor and placed at the railroad wayside to control the field signal devices. The LC is a centralized computer device that has software arranged by the function of the field devices. An optical network system and multiple communication paths between the LC and the FCs realize robust transmissions. Moreover, the assure performance of controls and transmissions have been investigated, and the autonomous distributed signal control system is also discussed as the next steps of the system.