System and method for locating a guided vehicle on a railway network

Abstract

A method and system locate an unlocated guided vehicle moving on a track of a railway network. The system contains a positioning system installed on-board the unlocated guided vehicle. The positioning system acquires first position information which provides information about a first position occupied by the unlocated guided vehicle. A control system contains a register for registering each located guided vehicle of the railway network via an identifier assigned to the located guided vehicle, and for monitoring its current position and its current direction of travel. The control system is further configured for determining a current position and a current travel direction of the unlocated guided vehicle, and registers in the register the unlocated guided vehicle as a newly located guided vehicle on the railway network. The positioning system uses the first position information for determining the current position and current travel direction of the unlocated guided vehicle.

1 . A system for locating an unlocated guided vehicle moving on a track of a railway network, the system comprising:
 a positioning system configured for installation on-board the unlocated guided vehicle, said positioning system configured for acquiring first position information providing information about a first position occupied by the unlocated guided vehicle on the railway network;   a control system containing a register for registering each located guided vehicle of the railway network via an identifier assigned to the located guided vehicle, and for monitoring a current position and a current direction of travel of the located guided vehicle, said control system further configured for determining a current position and a current travel direction of the unlocated guided vehicle, and for registering in said register the unlocated guided vehicle as a newly located guided vehicle on the railway network; and   said positioning system configured for acquiring the first position information directly from the located guided vehicle moving on a neighboring track with respect to the track and called hereinafter a first neighboring guided vehicle, said positioning system further configured for using the first position information for determining the current position and the current travel direction of the unlocated guided vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said control system is further configured for assigning an identifier to the newly located guided vehicle; and   said positioning system is configured for automatically emitting the identifier at least when the newly located guided vehicle crosses or passes another said unlocated guided vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said positioning system is configured for acquiring the first position information from the first neighboring guided vehicle when they pass or cross each other, and for registering a first neighboring time, at which the first position information has been acquired from the first neighboring guided vehicle, the first position information containing a first neighboring identifier of the first neighboring guided vehicle, said positioning system further configured for acquiring track identification information configured for enabling an identification, by said control system, of the track on of the unlocated guided vehicle is currently moving, said positioning system further configured for acquiring travel direction information configured for enabling a determination, by said control system, of the current travel direction of the unlocated guided vehicle on the track, said positioning system further configured for determining the first position from the first neighboring time, the identifier of the first neighboring guided vehicle, and the track identification data. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said control system is configured for using the first neighboring identifier for identifying the first neighboring guided vehicle in said register and finding its first neighboring position at the first neighboring time, wherein the first neighboring position is used by said control system for assigning to the first position a position on the track identified by the track identification data and located within an area defined around the first neighboring position. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said first positioning system having a camera system; and   the track identification information and/or the travel direction information is/are comprised in the first position information, or acquired from a balise, or from a driver of the unlocated guided vehicle, or from said camera system of said positioning system.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a first neighboring positioning system configured for being installed on-board the first neighboring guided vehicle and configured for emitting the first neighboring identifier when the first neighboring guided vehicle passes or crosses the unlocated guided vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein, for acquiring the travel direction information, said positioning system is configured for acquiring second position information configured for providing information about a second position occupied by the unlocated guided vehicle on the railway network. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein, in a case of acquiring the second position information, said control system is configured for assigning to a current position, a position, from among the first position and the second position comprised in the second position information, which is reached a latest by the unlocated guided vehicle, and for defining a current travel direction as the direction followed by the unlocated guided vehicle when moving towards the current position. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said positioning system is configured for acquiring the second position information directly from another located guided vehicle, called hereafter a SN guided vehicle, moving on a same or another neighboring track with respect to the track on which the unlocated guided vehicle is currently moving. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said positioning system is configured for acquiring the second position information from the SN guided vehicle when they pass or cross each other, and for registering a SN time, at which the second position information has been acquired from the SN guided vehicle, the second position information comprising an SN identifier of the SN guided vehicle, wherein said control system is configured for using the SN identifier and the track identification information for determining the second position of the unlocated guided vehicle occupied at the SN time on the track, and for using the first position and the second position for determining the current position and the current travel direction. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising another positioning system, called a SN positioning system, configured for installing on-board the SN guided vehicle and configured for emitting the SN identifier when the SN guided vehicle passes or crosses the unlocated guided vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . A method for locating an unlocated guided vehicle moving on a track of a railway network, which comprises the steps of:
 acquiring, by a positioning system, first position information configured for providing information about a first position occupied by the unlocated guided vehicle on the railway network;   sending, by the positioning system, the first position information to a control system configured for registering located guided vehicles in a register, wherein, for each located guided vehicle, a current position, a current travel direction, and an identifier are registered in the register;   determining, by the control system a current position of the unlocated guided vehicle on the railway network and a current travel direction;   registering, by the control system and in the register, the unlocated guided vehicle as a newly located guided vehicle; and   acquiring the first position information directly from the located guided vehicle, hereafter a first neighboring guided vehicle, moving on a neighboring track with respect to the track, and using the first position information for determining the current position and the current travel direction of the unlocated guided vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , which further comprises:
 acquiring the first position information from the first neighboring guided vehicle when they pass or cross each other, and for registering a first neighboring time, at which the first position information has been acquired from the first neighboring guided vehicle, the first position information containing a first neighboring identifier of the first neighboring guided vehicle;   acquiring track identification information configured for enabling an identification of the track on which the unlocated guided vehicle is currently moving; and   acquiring travel direction information configured for enabling a determination of the current travel direction of the unlocated guided vehicle on the track, the positioning system being configured for determining the first position from the FN time, the identifier of the FN guided vehicle, and the track identification data.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , which further comprises using the first neighboring identifier for identifying the first neighboring guided vehicle in the register of the control system and finding a first neighboring position at the first neighboring time, wherein the first neighboring position is used by the control system for assigning to the first position a position on the track identified by the track identification data and located within an area defined around the first neighboring position. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein for acquiring the travel direction information, acquiring second position information configured for providing information about a second position occupied by the unlocated guided vehicle on the railway network.