Software generating device

A plurality of apparatuses mounted on cars are monitored and controlled by control devices mounted on the cars. A display device capable of displaying apparatus information of the apparatuses is mounted on a driver's cab. A display screen of the display device is configured by arranging a plurality of display components by which apparatus information of each of the apparatuses can be displayed. A software generating device determines arrangement positions of the display components arranged on the display screen, automatically generates layout design data of the display screen, and automatically generates software for generating the display screen on the basis of the layout design data. The arrangement positions of the display components respectively representing the apparatuses when a number of apparatuses of the same type are monitored and controlled by one and the same control device are determined according to arrangement rule information that is exceptional rules.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a software generating device that automatically generates software for generating a display screen for railroad vehicle information.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a number of control devices communicatively connected to one another to respectively monitor and control a number of apparatuses have been mounted on a formation of a train. A display device for vehicle information display is provided in a driver's cab of the train. Monitoring and control information of the apparatuses monitored and controlled by the control devices is displayed on the display device.

Patent Literature 1 describes a railroad-vehicle managing device that automatically generates a display screen for railroad vehicle information by retaining, in advance, a group of image files composed on parts in units of a formation, a car, and an apparatus mounted on the car and combining a number of image files on the basis of a group of definition files describing screen display information in units of the formation, the car, and the apparatus.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

When software applied to the conventional display device, that is, software for generating a display screen for vehicle information is created by a user interface design tool, in general, a group of display components capable of displaying apparatus information is created in advance, layout design of the display screen for the vehicle information is performed by arranging and configuring a plurality of display components on the display screen of the user interface design tool, and information concerning the layout design is incorporated in the software.

However, according to such a screen generating method, because the display components are arranged and configured by manual work, positional deviation of a display component easily occurs and work efficiency is poor. Because an arrangement man-hour for the display components occurs for each system configuration of a train, a screen generation man-hour increases according to the number of system configurations of trains.

On the other hand, Patent Literature 1 describes the railroad-vehicle managing device that automatically generates a display screen for railroad vehicle information, but does not particularly describe a method of automatically generating a display screen when one and the same control device monitors and controls a plurality of apparatuses of the same type. When the screen generating method described in Patent Literature 1 is used, it is difficult to efficiently display, in one and the same screen, apparatus information concerning a plurality of the same type of apparatuses monitored and controlled by one and the same control device together with apparatus information of other apparatuses.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a software generating device capable of automatically generating software for generating a display screen for apparatus information collected by a distributed control system for a train, formed by a plurality of control devices that respectively monitor and control a number of apparatuses, including the case where one and the same control device monitors and controls a plurality of apparatuses of the same type.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a software generating device that automatically generates software for generating a display screen of a display device in a train in which control devices communicatively connected to one another are mounted on cars, a plurality of apparatuses mounted on the cars is monitored and controlled by the control devices, and the display device capable of displaying apparatus information of the apparatuses is mounted on a driver's cab, the software generating device comprising: a system-configuration-information storing unit to store system configuration information for giving an arrangement configuration of the control devices in a formation of the train; an apparatus-arrangement-information storing unit to store apparatus arrangement information for giving an apparatus type of a monitored and controlled object and the number of apparatuses of the apparatus type for each of the control devices; a display-component storing unit to store display components by which apparatus information of the apparatuses can be displayed on the display screen; a display-component-arrangement-information storing unit to store display component arrangement information for defining arrangement positions of a plurality of display components arranged on the display screen; an arrangement-rule-information storing unit to store arrangement rule information for giving exceptional rules, which are arrangement rules for display components, applied in addition to the display component arrangement information in determining, when a plurality of apparatuses of the same type is monitored and controlled by one and the same control device, arrangement positions of a plurality of display components respectively representing the apparatuses; a layout unit to select a plurality of display components constituting the display screen, determine arrangement positions of the display components on the display screen, and automatically generate layout design data of the display screen, on the basis of the system configuration information, the apparatus arrangement information, the display component arrangement information, and the arrangement rule information; and a software generating unit to automatically generate software for generating the display screen on the basis of the layout design data.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a software generating device capable of automatically generating software for generating a display screen for apparatus information collected by a distributed control system for a train, formed by a plurality of control devices that respectively monitor and control a number of apparatuses, the monitoring and control including monitoring and control of a plurality of apparatuses of the same type by the same control device, including the case where one and the same control device monitors and controls a plurality of apparatuses of the same type.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A software generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

Embodiment

FIG. 1is a diagram showing an example of a general system configuration for a formation of a train. As shown inFIG. 1, a train50is made up of N cars and is configured by cars of a first car to an N-th car. N is any natural number. In the example shown inFIG. 1, the first car is a leading car.

Control devices A communicatively connected to one another are mounted on the first car to the N-th car, respectively. The control devices A are train-information managing devices. Specifically, a control device A1is mounted on the first car, a control device A2is mounted on the second car, . . . , a control device A(N−1) is mounted on the (N−1)-th car, and a control device AN is mounted on the N-th car. In general, when i is any natural number satisfying 1≤i≤N, a control device Ai is mounted on an i-th car. Note that the control devices A1to AN are collectively referred to as the control devices A.

The control device Ai is communicatively connected to a number of apparatuses53-imounted on the i-th car, and monitors and controls the apparatuses53-i. In general, the apparatuses53-iinclude apparatuses of different types and the same type. A specific example of the apparatuses53-iis explained below. For example, examples of the apparatuses in the first car include a master controller, a door, an air conditioning control apparatus, and a brake. Note that apparatuses mounted on the train are collectively referred to as apparatuses53.

In the cars other than the leading car, the control device Ai receives state information from the apparatuses53-i, and transmits the state information to the control device A1. In the leading car, the control device A1receives the state information from the apparatuses53-1.

The control device A1transmits control commands respectively to the apparatuses53-iof the cars on the basis of the collected state information of the apparatuses53. In particular, in the cars other than the leading car, the control commands are transmitted to the apparatuses53-ivia the control devices Ai.

In this way, the control devices A1to AN configure a distributed control system of the train. The control device A1collects monitoring and control information of the apparatuses53. The monitoring and control information refers to monitoring information and control information. The monitoring information is state information of the apparatuses53. The control information is control command information to the apparatuses53. In the following explanation, the monitoring and control information of the apparatuses is simply referred to as “apparatus information”.

A display device51is provided in a not-shown driver's cab of the leading car. The display device51is connected to the control device A1, and receives apparatus information of the apparatuses53-iof the cars as input from the control device A1. The display device51can collect the apparatus information of the apparatuses53-iand display the apparatus information on a display screen. Information obtained by collecting the apparatus information of the apparatuses53-iis referred to as “vehicle information” as well. Note that, in a general configuration, the display device51is provided in the driver's cab, and also in general, another display device51is provided in a driver's cab of a rearmost car, for example.

FIG. 2is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the display device51. Apparatus information of doors is displayed in an upper part30aof a display screen30. Specifically, for each of cars of formation display representing ten cars, rectangular display components representing the doors are displayed side by side above and below a car display. That is, in the illustrated example, eight display components in total representing the doors are arranged; four display components are arranged above a car display and four display components are arranged below the car display. This represents that eight doors are provided in an actual car. The display component of each door can be displayed to distinguish whether the door is in a closed state or an open state, or broken.

In a lower part30bof the display screen30, apparatus information of a master controller, an air-conditioning control apparatus, a VVVF, a brake, and an SIV is displayed. The VVVF specifically represents a VVVF (Variable Voltage Variable Frequency) inverter, which controls a not-shown motor. The SIV (Static Inverter) is an auxiliary power supply. Although explained in detail later, a plurality of vertical lines are displayed to correspond to the control devices A or cars, and a plurality of horizontal lines are displayed to correspond to a plurality of types of the apparatuses, wherein display components representing the apparatuses can be arranged in intersections of the vertical lines and the horizontal lines. Display components of the master controller, the VVVF, and the SIV are displayed as circles. Display components of the air-conditioning control apparatus and the brake are displayed as rectangles. The display components of the master controller, the VVVF, and the SIV can be displayed to distinguish whether the apparatuses are normal, have owned apparatus information, or are abnormal. The display components of the air-conditioning control apparatus and the brake can be displayed to distinguish whether the apparatuses are normal or abnormal. In this case, when the apparatuses are normal and have the apparatus information, numerical values concerning the apparatus information can be specifically displayed.

A software generating device according to this embodiment is explained.FIG. 3is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of the software generating device according to this embodiment. A software generating device1is a device that automatically generates software for causing the display device51to display the display screen30as shown inFIG. 2. Note that the software generating device1can be realized by, for example, a computer.

As shown inFIG. 3, the software generating device1includes an input unit2, a layout unit3, a device-number setting unit4, a software generating unit5, an output unit6, a system-configuration-information storing unit7, an apparatus-arrangement-information storing unit8, a display-component storing unit9, a display-component-arrangement-information storing unit10, an arrangement-rule-information storing unit11, and a software storing unit12.

The input unit2can receive input data. The input unit2is, for example, an input device that reads input data from a storage medium, a keyboard, and a mouse. The storage medium is, for example, a CD-ROM or a DVD disk.

The system-configuration-information storing unit7has stored therein system configuration information. The system configuration information is information for giving an arrangement configuration of the control devices A in the formation of the train.FIG. 4is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration information.FIG. 4indicates that the train has a ten-car formation formed by coupling a six-car formation and a four-car formation, that a control device (1), a control device (2), . . . , a control device (6) are mounted in order in cars of the six-car formation in the former half, and that a control device (7), a control device (8), . . . , and a control device (10) are mounted in order in cars of the four-car formation in the latter half. That is,FIG. 4indicates that a system configuration of each of the “six-car formation” and the “four-car formation” is a partial configuration of a system configuration of the “ten-car formation”. Numbers in the parentheses immediately following the control devices are serial numbers added to the control devices A from the leading car side toward the rearmost car side. In the following explanation, the serial numbers added to the control devices are referred to as “control device numbers”. For example, the control device (2) has a control device number of 2. The control device numbers are identification information for specifying the control devices A. In correspondence withFIG. 1, the control device (1), the control device (2), . . . , and the control device (10) are respectively equal to the control device A1, the control device A2, . . . , and the control device A10. The control device number of the control device Ai mounted on the i-th car is i.

Note that the system configuration information only has to be at least information for giving an arrangement configuration of the control devices A in the formation. For example, when a train has a ten-car formation, the system configuration information only has to include at least information for giving an arrangement configuration of the control devices A in the ten-car formation. Further, the system configuration information can include information concerning a system configuration for a formation pattern divisible into detailed sub-information pieces as shown inFIG. 4, or concerning formation units constituting a formation.

The apparatus-arrangement-information storing unit8stores apparatus arrangement information. The apparatus arrangement information gives information concerning types of apparatuses to be monitored and controlled and the number of apparatuses of the apparatus type for each of the control devices A.FIG. 5is a diagram showing an example of the apparatus arrangement information. InFIG. 5, names of the apparatuses to be monitored and controlled and the numbers of the apparatuses are given as table information for each control device number mentioned above.

As shown inFIG. 5, for example, the control device (1) has monitored and controlled objects of eight doors, one master controller, two air-conditioning control apparatuses, and one brake. Note that all of these several apparatuses monitored and controlled by the control device (1) are mounted on the first car. Besides, the control device (2) to the control device (10) can be explained in the same manner.

As shown inFIG. 5, each of the control devices (1) to (10) monitors and controls a plurality of doors that are apparatuses of the same type, specifically, eight doors. Each of the control devices (1), (3), (5), (7), and (9) monitors and controls a plurality of air-conditioning control apparatuses that are apparatuses of the same type, specifically, two air-conditioning control apparatuses. Further, each of the control devices (2), (4), and (8) monitors and controls a plurality of VVVFs that are apparatuses of the same type, specifically, two VVVFs. In this way, this embodiment includes an apparatus arrangement in which a number of apparatuses of the same type are monitored and controlled by one and the same control device.

The display-component storing unit9has stored therein display components capable of displaying apparatus information of the apparatuses53on the display screen30. The display components are components capable of displaying the apparatuses53and displaying apparatus information of the apparatuses53on the display screen30. Display data for displaying the display components is stored as display components in the display-component storing unit9. A group of display components is stored in the display-component storing unit9.FIG. 6is an illustration showing an example of the display component group. InFIG. 6, there are illustrated display components respectively meaning a door, a master controller, an air-conditioning control apparatus, a VVVF, a brake, and an SIV. These display components are equal to the display components shown inFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, for example, apparatus information can be displayed on the display component of the brake.

FIG. 7is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the display screen is automatically generated using the display component group. That is, the display device51operating on the basis of software generated by the software generating device1arranges the display components on the display screen30when automatically generating the display screen30. InFIG. 7, as inFIG. 2, display components of the doors are displayed side by side in the upper part30aof the display screen30, and display components of the mater controllers, the air-conditioning control apparatuses, the VVVFs, the brakes, and the SIVs are displayed in the lower part30bof the display screen30.

InFIG. 8(a), there are given correspondence relations between control device numbers and X coordinates. The X coordinate is a first coordinate set on the display screen30. The control device number corresponds to a car on which the control device is mounted. Therefore, a value of the X coordinate represents a position of the car on the display screen30or a position of the control device mounted on that car on the same. A number of display components arranged in positions of the same value of the X coordinate are intended to display the apparatuses53monitored and controlled by one and the same control device A. For example, the display components of the doors, the master controller, the air-conditioning control apparatuses, and the brake monitored and controlled by the control device (1) are arranged in positions where a value of the X coordinate is 10 on the display screen30.

InFIG. 8(b), there are given correspondence relations between apparatus names and Y coordinates. The Y coordinate is a second coordinate set on the display screen30and is orthogonal to the X coordinate. Note that a position can be defined by an oblique coordinate system rather than an orthogonal coordinate system. The display components of the apparatuses53are arranged in positions having values of the Y coordinates given to correspond to the apparatus types. For example, the display component of the SIV is arranged in a position where a value of the Y coordinate is 10 on the display screen30.

In this way, arrangement positions of the display components in an X-coordinate axis direction are given by values of the X coordinate corresponding to the control device numbers of the control devices A that control the apparatuses53represented by the display components or corresponding to the display components. Arrangement positions of the display components in a Y-coordinate axis direction are given by values of the Y coordinate corresponding to apparatus types of the apparatuses53represented by the display components or corresponding to the display components. Note that, in the following explanation, a value of the X coordinate or the Y coordinate of the display component given by the display component arrangement information is also referred to as a defined position. The defined position is defined concerning a predetermined position, for example, a center position of the display component.

The arrangement-rule-information storing unit11stores arrangement rule information. The arrangement rule information gives arrangement rules for the display components for respectively displaying a number of apparatuses53when the apparatuses53are pf the same type and monitored and controlled by one and the same control device A. Specifically, the arrangement rule information gives exceptional rules to be applied, which are arrangement rules for the display components, applied in addition to the display component arrangement information when arrangement positions of the display components respectively representing the apparatuses53are determined in the case where the apparatuses53of the same apparatus type are monitored and controlled by one and the same control device A.

FIG. 9is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement rule information. InFIG. 9(a), there is shown an example of arrangement rule information11aof the display component of the door. That is, when there are a plurality of doors monitored and controlled by one and the same control device A, concerning a “n<5”-th display component, the Y coordinate can be set the same as a defined position and the X coordinate can be set to a position obtained by adding, for example, 2.5×(n−3) to the defined position. Concerning a “n≥5”-th display component, the Y coordinate can be set to a position obtained by adding, for example, 20 to the defined position and the X coordinate can be set to a position obtained by adding, for example, 2.5×(n−3) to the defined position. In the above explanation, n is a number given to the display components representing the doors. Note that, in this case, the defined position of the X coordinate defines a position at the left end of the display components and the defined position of the Y coordinate defines a position of the center of the display components. A width of the display component in the X direction of the door is set to 2.5.

For example, since the control device (1) monitors and controls eight doors, display components of the eight doors are supposed to be arranged on the display screen30. In this case, first to fourth display components are respectively arranged in positions where the Y coordinate is 60 and the X coordinate is 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5. Fifth to eighth display components are respectively arranged in positions where the Y coordinate is 80 and the X coordinate is 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5. In short, the arrangement positions of the display components are shifted from one another and the entire display components are respectively displayed such that all of the eight display components are displayed. In the arrangement rules for the display components of the doors, the arrangement positions of the doors are displaced from the defined position in the X-coordinate axis direction or the Y-coordinate axis direction, or in both of the directions.

InFIG. 9(b), there is shown an example of arrangement rule information11bfor the display components of the air-conditioning control apparatuses or the VVVFs. That is, when there are two air-conditioning control apparatuses or VVVFs monitored and controlled by one and the same control device A, concerning a first display component, both of the Y coordinate and the X coordinate are the same as the defined positions. Concerning a second display component, the Y coordinate is the same as the defined position and the X coordinate is the same as a defined position having (the control device number+1). In this case, both of the defined positions of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate are positions of the center of the display components.

Since the control device (1) monitors and controls the two air-conditioning control apparatuses, display components of the two air-conditioning control apparatuses are arranged on the display screen30to correspond thereto. In this case, concerning a first display component, the Y coordinate is 40 and the X coordinate is 10. That is, an arrangement position of the display component of the first air-conditioning control apparatus is the defined position given by the display component arrangement information shown inFIG. 8. Concerning a second display component, the Y coordinate is 40 and the X coordinate is the defined position of the control device (2), that is, 20. In short, the second display component is placed to be shifted from the first display component, specifically, placed in the defined position of the X coordinate in the case of the control device having the control device number larger than the control device number of the control device (1) by one so as not to overlap the first and second display components with each other and for the one display component not to hide the other.

Since the control device (2) monitors and controls the two VVVFs, display components of the two VVVFs are arranged on the display screen30to correspond thereto. In this case, concerning a first display component, the Y coordinate is 30 and the X coordinate is 20. That is, an arrangement position of the display component of the first VVVF is the defined position given by the display component arrangement information shown inFIG. 8. Concerning a second display component, the Y coordinate is 30 and the X coordinate is the defined position of the control device (3), that is,30. In short, the second display component is arranged to be shifted from the first display component, specifically, arranged in the defined position of the X coordinate in the case of the control device having the control device number larger than the control device number of the control device (2) by one so as not to overlap the first and second display components with each other and for the one display component not to hide the other.

In this way, in the display component arrangement information, the arrangement positions of the display components arranged on the display screen30are defined by the X and Y coordinates orthogonal to each other set on the display screen30. The positions in the X-coordinate axis direction of the display components are defined, for each of the control devices A that control the apparatuses53represented by the display components, in the order of the car numbers of the cars on which the apparatuses53and the control devices A are mounted. Further, the positions in the Y-axis coordinate axis direction of the display components are defined for each of the apparatus types of apparatuses represented by the display components. Additionally, in the arrangement rule information, when the apparatuses53of the same type are monitored and controlled by one and the same control device A, arrangement positions of the display components are given such that the arrangement positions of the display components are different from one another on the basis of the arrangement positions defined by the display component arrangement information concerning the apparatus types of the apparatuses53.

FIG. 10is an illustration showing a display screen on which the display components are arranged according to the display component arrangement information shown inFIG. 8and the arrangement rule information shown inFIG. 9.

Each of the control devices (1), (3), (5), (7), and (9) controls two air-conditioning control apparatuses. That is, two air-conditioning control apparatuses are mounted on one car of cars adjacent to each other, and an air-conditioning control apparatus is not mounted on the other car of the adjacent cars. Specifically, two air-conditioning control apparatuses are mounted on a car having an odd car number, but no air-conditioning control apparatus is mounted on a car having an even car number.

According to the arrangement rule information shown inFIG. 9, an arrangement position of a display component representing one air-conditioning control apparatus of two air-conditioning control apparatuses monitored and controlled by one and the same control device is given by an arrangement position defined by the display component arrangement information. An arrangement position of a display component representing the other air-conditioning control apparatus is given by an arrangement position defined by the display component arrangement information in the Y-coordinate axis direction. That is, a value of the Y coordinate of the display component representing the other air-conditioning control apparatus is equal to a value of the Y coordinate of the display component representing the one air-conditioning control apparatus. Further, the arrangement position of the display component representing the other air-conditioning control apparatus is given by an arrangement position defined by the display component arrangement information concerning the control device having the (control device number+1) in the X-coordinate axis direction. That is, a value of the X coordinate of the display component representing the other air-conditioning control apparatus is equal to a value of the X coordinate defined by the display component arrangement information concerning a control device mounted on the adjacent car having a car number larger than a car number of the one car by one or an apparatus of a monitored and controlled object of the control device.

That is, the other air-conditioning control apparatus is displayed on the display screen30as if the other air-conditioning control apparatus is controlled by the control device having the (control device number+1) and mounted on the car having the car number larger than the car number of the one car by one. Such display is allowed because an air-conditioning control apparatus is not mounted on the car having the even car number.

InFIG. 10, each of display components P1, P3, and P5of the air-conditioning control apparatus is a first display component, and is placed in a position of the X coordinate corresponding to a car on which the air-conditioning control apparatus is actually mounted or a control device by which the air-conditioning control apparatus is actually controlled. On the other hand, each of the display components P2, P4, and P6of the air-conditioning control apparatus is a second display component, and is placed in a position of the X coordinate corresponding to a car resting on the right of the car on which the air-conditioning control apparatus is actually mounted or a control device mounted on the car resting on the right. As explained above, such arrangement of the display components of the air-conditioning control apparatuses is based on the premise that two air-conditioning control apparatuses are mounted for every two cars.

One air conditioner (not shown in the figure), which is a controlled object of the air-conditioning control apparatus, is mounted on each of the adjacent cars. Therefore, even if two air-conditioning control apparatuses are displayed on the display screen30as if the two air-conditioning control apparatuses are mounted on cars on which two air conditioners (not shown in the figure), which are the controlled objects, are respectively mounted, the display does not cause misunderstanding of a person viewing the display screen30.

Each of the control devices (2), (4), and (8) controls two VVVFs. That is, two VVVFs are mounted on a car having a car number2,4, or8. VVVFs are not mounted on the other cars.

According to the arrangement rule information shown inFIG. 9, an arrangement position of a display component representing one VVVF of the two VVVFs monitored and controlled by one and the same control device is given by an arrangement position defined by the display component arrangement information. An arrangement position of a display component representing the other VVVF is given by an arrangement position defined by the display component arrangement information in the Y-coordinate axis direction. That is, a value of the Y coordinate of the display component representing the other VVVF is equal to a value of the Y coordinate of the display component representing the one VVVF. Further, the arrangement position of the display component representing the other VVVF is given by an arrangement position defined by the display component arrangement information concerning the control device having the (control device number+1) in the X-coordinate axis direction. That is, a value of the X coordinate of the display component representing the other VVVF is equal to a value of the X coordinate defined by the display component arrangement information concerning a control device mounted on an adjacent car having a car number larger than a car number of a car by one or an apparatus that is a monitored and controlled object of the control device.

Therefore, the other VVVF is displayed on the display screen30as if the other VVVF is controlled by the control device having the (control device number+1) and mounted on a car having a car number larger than a car number of a car, on which the VVVFs are mounted, by one. Such display is allowed because the VVVFs are mounted on only one car of the adjacent cars.

InFIG. 10, each of the display components Q1and Q3of the VVVFs is a first display component, and is placed in a position of the X coordinate corresponding to a car on which the VVVFs are actually mounted or a control device by which the VVVFs are actually controlled. On the other hand, each of the display components Q2and Q4of the VVVFs is a second display component, and is placed in a position of the X coordinate corresponding to a car resting on the right of the car on which the VVVFs are actually mounted or a control device mounted on the car resting on the right.

One motor (not shown in the figure), which is a controlled object of the VVVFs, is mounted on each of the adjacent cars. Therefore, even if two VVVFs are displayed on the display screen30as if the two VVVFs are mounted on cars on which two motors (not shown in the figure), which are the controlled objects, are respectively mounted, the display does not cause misunderstanding of the person viewing the display screen30.

InFIG. 10, display components of eight doors are displayed for each of the cars or each of the control devices in accordance with the display component arrangement information shown inFIG. 8and the arrangement rule information shown inFIG. 9.

Note that the arrangement rules shown inFIG. 9are of one example. Like arrangement rules can be applied to other apparatuses and/or the arrangement rules can be changed according to a configuration of car-mounted apparatuses.

The system configuration information, the apparatus arrangement information, the display components, the display component arrangement information, and the arrangement rule information are input data inputted to the software generating device1via the input unit2, and are stored in advance in the system-configuration-information storing unit7, the apparatus-arrangement-information storing unit8, the display-component storing unit9, the display-component-arrangement-information storing unit10, and the arrangement-rule-information storing unit11.

On the basis of the system configuration information, the apparatus arrangement information, the display component arrangement information, and the arrangement rule information, the layout unit3selects a plurality of display components constituting the display screen30, determines attribute data including arrangement positions of the display components on the display screen30, and automatically generates layout design data of the display screen30including the attribute data of the display components. Note that the layout design data can include data for displaying the vertical lines and the horizontal lines connecting the display components as shown inFIG. 10and data for displaying the cars as shown inFIG. 2. In general, sizes and colors of the display components can be set. Therefore, the attribute data can include information concerning the sizes and the colors other than the arrangement position information.

The device-number setting unit4associates control device numbers of the control devices A that control the apparatuses53represented by the display components arranged on the display screen30or corresponding to the display components with the display components, and creates correspondence data for making links between the display components and the control device numbers. Specifically, the device-number setting unit4creates the correspondence data using the apparatus arrangement information shown inFIG. 5.

The software generating unit5automatically generates software for generating the display screen30used in the display device51on the basis of the layout design data and the correspondence data. The software generating unit5can be realized using existing application software for generating software for generating a display screen. The software generating unit5generates software described in, for example, the C language, and stores the software in the software storing unit12. The software is outputted via the output unit6and installed in the display device51.

The output unit6is, for example, an output device that outputs output data to a storage medium, a display unit, and a printer. The storage medium is, for example, a CD-ROM or a DVD disk.

FIG. 12is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the software generating device1. The layout unit3, the device-number setting unit4, and the software generating unit5are realized by a CPU15ashown inFIG. 12. The system-configuration-information storing unit7, the apparatus-arrangement-information storing unit8, the display-component storing unit9, the display-component-arrangement-information storing unit10, the arrangement-rule-information storing unit11, and the software storing unit12are realized by a memory15b. The input unit2and the output unit6realized using an input/output interface15cofFIG. 2.

Operation in this embodiment is explained. The layout unit3selects a plurality of display components constituting the display screen30from the display-component storing unit9on the basis of the system configuration information and the apparatus arrangement information, determines arrangement positions of the display components on the display screen30on the basis of the apparatus arrangement information, the display component arrangement information, and the arrangement rule information, and automatically generates layout design data of the display screen30including arrangement position data of the display components. Note that the display components constituting the display screen30are selected for each of display screens30.

Specifically, referring to the system configuration information, the layout unit3recognizes that the train is in the ten-car formation having the six-car formation and the four-car formation coupled together, and that one control device is mounted on each of the cars of the ten-car formation. Further, the layout unit3can specify apparatus types of apparatuses monitored and controlled by the control devices and the number of the apparatuses referring to the apparatus arrangement information. Consequently, the layout unit3can select a plurality of display components corresponding to the apparatuses53, which are the monitored and controlled objects, from the display-component storing unit9. Further, the layout unit3can determine arrangement positions on the display screen30of the selected display components on the basis of the apparatus arrangement information, the display component arrangement information, and the arrangement rule information. In this case, the layout unit3refers to the apparatus arrangement information, and when there is one apparatus53of the same type controlled by the same control device A, the layout unit3determines an arrangement position of the apparatus53on the basis of the display component arrangement information. On the other hand, the layout unit3refers to the apparatus arrangement information, and when there are a number of apparatuses53of the same type controlled by the same control device A, the layout unit3determines arrangement positions of the apparatuses53on the basis of the display component arrangement information and the arrangement rule information.

For example, each of the control devices A monitors and controls eight doors. Accordingly, the layout unit3determines arrangement positions of display components representing the doors on the basis of the display component arrangement information and the arrangement rule information (FIGS. 9 and 10).

Each of the control devices (1), (3), (5), (7), and (9) monitors and controls two air-conditioning control apparatuses. Accordingly, the layout unit3determines arrangement positions of display components representing the air-conditioning control apparatuses on the basis of the display component arrangement information and the arrangement rule information (FIGS. 9 and 10).

Similarly, each of the control devices (2), (4), and (8) monitors and controls two VVVFs. Accordingly, the layout unit3determines arrangement positions of display components representing the VVVFs on the basis of the display component arrangement information and the arrangement rule information (FIGS. 9 and 10).

In this way, the layout unit3determines the attribute data including the arrangement positions of the display components on the display screen30, automatically generates the layout design data of the display screen30including the attribute data of the display components, and outputs the layout design data to the device-number setting unit4.

Then, the device-number setting unit4creates the correspondence data for associating or linking control device numbers of the control devices A, which controls the apparatuses53represented by the display components arranged on the display screen30, with the display components. The correspondence data are used in displaying apparatus information on the display components. That is, the correspondence data are incorporated in the software. When displaying the apparatus information on the display components, the display device51refers to the correspondence data and the display device51acquires the apparatus information from the control devices A having the control device numbers corresponding to the display components, so as to display the apparatus information on the display components.

Then, the software generating unit5automatically generates software for generating the display screen30on the basis of the layout design data and the correspondence data. In this case, when the display device51displays the display screen30, the software generating unit5generates software to display the display screen30using the layout design data. That is, the software generating unit5reflects the layout design data on the software. For example, when a drawing function of the display components is incorporated in the software and the attribute data of the display components are passed to an argument of the drawing function, the software generating unit5extracts the attribute data of the display components to be drawn, from the layout design data, and sets the extracted attribute data in the argument of the drawing function.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, on the basis of the system configuration information, the apparatus arrangement information, the display component arrangement information, and the arrangement rule information, the display components constituting the display screen30are selected from the display-component storing unit9, the arrangement positions of the display components on the display screen30are determined, and the layout design data of the display screen30are automatically generated. By doing so, it is possible to reduce man-hours in generating the software. In particular, even when a system configuration, apparatus arrangement, or display content is changed, it is possible to automatically generate the layout design data accordingly by changing the system configuration information, the apparatus arrangement information, the display component arrangement information, and the arrangement rule information. Therefore, it is unnecessary to undergo a process for manually rearranging and configuring the display components as in the past, and at the same time it is possible to reduce screen generation man-hours and achieve improvement of efficiency of screen generation work. For example, even when a new formation is configured by coupling two formations, it is possible to efficiently create the display screen30for the new formation.

According to this embodiment, not only when one and the same control device monitors and controls one apparatus of the same type but also when one and the same control device monitors and controls a plurality of apparatuses of the same type, it is possible to automatically generate software for generating the display screen30that displays the apparatus information.

In particular, on the display screen30shown inFIG. 2orFIG. 10, when one and the same control device monitors and controls the plural apparatuses of the same type, for the display components representing the doors, the arrangement positions are shifted in the X-coordinate axis direction, the Y-coordinate axis direction, or both of the directions with respect to the defined position given by the display component arrangement information, thereby to display the plural display components without overlapping the components with one another.

Concerning the air-conditioning control apparatus or the VVVF, an apparatus of the same type is not mounted on the adjacent car. For this reason, the first display component is placed in the defined position given by the display component arrangement information, while the second display component is placed in the position of the X coordinate corresponding to the adjacent car on which the apparatus of the same type is not mounted. In this way, it is possible to efficiently place the second display component by virtue of making use of a circumstance in which the apparatus of the same type is not mounted on the car adjacent to the first one. Moreover, since the controlled object of the air-conditioning control apparatus or the VVVF is mounted on the adjacent car on which the apparatus of the same type is not mounted, it is reasonable to place the second display component in the position of the X coordinate corresponding to the adjacent car.

Note that, in the illustrated example inFIG. 2orFIG. 10, one brake is mounted on each of the cars. However, two brakes are mounted thereon depending on a car. In this case, a first display component representing one brake of the two brakes can be placed in the defined position, while a second display component representing the other brake of the two brakes can be placed in a position same as the position of the first display component in the X-coordinate axis direction, and between the display component of the SIV or the VVVF and the first display component. That is, the second display component is displaced in the Y-coordinate axis direction and arranged. In this case, the two display components representing the two brakes are reduced in size to prevent the two display components from overlapping display components of other apparatus types.

In this embodiment, the correspondence data for associating the display components arranged on the display screen30with the control device numbers are created by the device-number setting unit4. By so doing, it is unnecessary to manually set the control device numbers in the display components on the display screen of the user interface design tool as in the past, thereby making it possible to prevent a setting error. Note that, a configuration in which the device-number setting unit4is not provided is also possible.

FIG. 11is an illustration showing another configuration example of the display screen30. As shown inFIG. 11, two display components representing two air-conditioning control apparatuses monitored and controlled by one and the same control device are displayed to partially overlap each other. Similarly, two display components representing two VVVFs monitored and controlled by one and the same control device are displayed to partially overlap each other. Note that the arrangement rule information is given such that the display shown inFIG. 11is realized. Even in such a display method, by generating software to make it possible to select, on the display screen30, which of the two display components overlapping each other is placed in the front, the two display components are, arranged in the defined positions while any of the display components can be visually recognized according to necessity.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As explained above, the present invention is useful for a software generating device that automatically generates software for generating a display screen for railroad vehicle information.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST