Patent Publication Number: US-11654944-B2

Title: Operation status reproducing device, display device, and operation status reproducing method

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an operation status reproducing device that reproduces an operation status of a train, a display device, and an operation status reproducing method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a railway system, an operation status of a train is managed by a ground device installed on a ground side and an onboard device mounted on each train. The ground device generally monitors an operation status as an entire railway system and stores a monitored result. The onboard device generally monitors a state of various devices mounted on the train and contents of operation performed by an operator to store a monitored result. The monitored results stored in the ground device and the onboard device are used at the time of follow-up verification when abnormality occurs represented by train delay and car malfunction. This is also studied to be used for training operators. 
     Patent Literature 1 discloses an invention of recording data such as a picture of an operation status of an operator and the like, audio in an operator&#39;s room and announced contents in a train, and an operation result of the operator and binding data separately recorded to reproduce on a display device. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-47055 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     According to the invention disclosed in Patent Literature 1, it is possible to check the operation status when a specific event occurs by checking a picture displayed on the display device. However, it is required to check the operation status reproduced by binding all data separately recorded. Therefore, there is a problem that handled data is enormous and a capacity of a storage device that records the data becomes large. Also, when verifying the specific event, it is required that a worker check all the recorded pictures to search for an event to be verified, so that work efficiency is not excellent. 
     The present invention is achieved in view of above and an object thereof is to obtain an operation status reproducing device capable of efficiently performing verification of the operation status. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To solve the problem described above and achieve the object described above, the present invention is an operation status reproducing device that reproduces an operation status of a train based on onboard information managed by an onboard device mounted on each train of a railway system and ground information managed by a ground device that monitors an operation status of each train of the railway system. The operation status reproducing device includes: an onboard information obtaining unit that obtains the onboard information corresponding to date and time from the onboard device mounted on a designated train that is a train specified by a train number and the date and time externally designated; a specific event detecting unit that specifies time at which a specific event occurs by analyzing the onboard information obtained by the onboard information obtaining unit; a ground information obtaining unit that obtains the ground information in a certain period including the time at which the specific event occurs from the ground device; an external information obtaining unit that obtains external information including weather information in a certain period including the time at which the specific event occurs; and a reproduction image generating unit that generates a reproduction image illustrating a past operation status of the designated train based on the onboard information, the ground information, and the external information. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the operation status reproducing device according to the present invention, there is an effect of efficiently performing verification of an operation status. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation status reproducing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the operation status reproducing device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating an example of an information input screen. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating an example of a reproduction screen displayed on a display device of the operation status reproducing device. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a display example of a speed meter forming the reproduction screen. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating a display example of a train state forming the reproduction screen. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection screen of the reproduction information. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection screen of a specific event. 
         FIG.  9    is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of managing the reproduction information in the operation status reproducing device according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  10    is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation status reproducing device according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG.  11    is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration for realizing the operation status reproducing device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An operation status reproducing device, a display device, and an operation status reproducing method according to an embodiment of the present invention are hereinafter described in detail with reference to the drawings. Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited by the embodiment. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation status reproducing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. An operation status reproducing device  10  illustrated in  FIG.  1    is a device that reproduces a past operation status of a train. Meanwhile, in  FIG.  1   , a device from which various pieces of information used when the operation status reproducing device  10  reproduces an operation status of the train are obtained, specifically, an onboard device  30  mounted on the train, a ground device  50  installed on a ground, and a database  70  connected to a network  90  such as the Internet are also illustrated in addition to the operation status reproducing device  10 . The onboard device  30  monitors a state of each unit in the train when the train on which the same is mounted is in operation, generates information indicating a monitored result, and manages the same as onboard information. The ground device  50  monitors the operation status of each train forming a railway system, generates information indicating a monitored result of the operation status of each train, and manages the same as ground information. 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  includes an onboard information obtaining unit  11 , a specific event detecting unit  12 , a ground information obtaining unit  13 , an external information obtaining unit  14 , a display information reproducing unit  15 , a device operating information reproducing unit  16 , a ground information reproducing unit  17 , an external display information generating unit  18 , a timing control unit  19 , a display information synthesizing unit  20 , an audio generating unit  21 , a display device  22 , an audio output device  23 , a reproduction control unit  24 , a database  25 , and an input accepting unit  26 . The display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , the external display information generating unit  18 , the timing control unit  19 , and the display information synthesizing unit  20  form a reproduction image generating unit  29  and generates a reproduction image illustrating the past operation status of the train as an image to be displayed on the display device  22 . 
     The onboard information obtaining unit  11  obtains the onboard information from a database  31  of the onboard device  30 . The onboard information obtained by the onboard information obtaining unit  11  is information regarding past operation of the train on which the onboard device  30  is mounted and corresponds to operation start time, a travel line, a train type, a travel speed, a stopping station, arrival time, departure time, information on operation performed by an operator, information on an operating state of a device mounted on the train, a picture taken by a video camera installed in an operator&#39;s room and the like collected at the time of past operation. The device mounted on the train corresponds to a motor, a brake device, an air-conditioner device, an illumination device, a door opening/closing device, a display device and the like. The onboard information obtained by the onboard information obtaining unit  11  includes time information. The time information included in the onboard information is information on date and time at which the onboard information is recorded by the onboard device  30 , that is, information on the date and time at which the onboard information is recorded in the database  31 . Meanwhile, the onboard information is not limited to the information. Although one onboard device  30  is illustrated in  FIG.  1    for simplifying the description, there actually is a plurality of onboard devices  30 . As is to be separately described in detail, the onboard information obtaining unit  11  obtains the onboard information from the onboard device  30  mounted on a train designated by a user through the input accepting unit  26 . 
     The onboard device  30  illustrated in  FIG.  1    is herein described. The onboard device  30  includes the database  31  that manages the onboard information, an onboard information recording unit  32  that collects the information recorded in the database  31  as the onboard information from a device group  33  through an onboard information transmitting unit  36 , and a display information generating unit  34  that generates display information of an image displayed on a display device  35  and the like. The device group  33  is various types of devices mounted on the train. The display information generating unit  34  generates the display information based on the information obtained from the device group  33  through the onboard information transmitting unit  36 . Although not illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the onboard device  30  includes a communication device and may perform communication such as Internet Protocol (IP) communication with the ground device  50  and the operation status reproducing device  10 . 
     Returning to the description of the operation status reproducing device  10 , the specific event detecting unit  12  analyzes the onboard information obtained by the onboard information obtaining unit  11  and determines whether information when the specific event occurs is included in the onboard information. The specific event corresponds to occurrence of train delay, occurrence of car malfunction and the like, but the specific event is not limited thereto. When the specific event detecting unit  12  determines that the information when the specific event occurs is included in the obtained onboard information, the specific event detecting unit  12  instructs the ground information obtaining unit  13  to obtain the ground information in a period including specific event occurrence time being time at which the specific event occurs and instructs the external information obtaining unit  14  to obtain the external information for this period. The ground information and the external information are to be described later. The specific event detecting unit  12  also extracts the onboard information of the period including the specific event occurrence time out of the onboard information obtained by the onboard information obtaining unit  11  and outputs the same to the display information reproducing unit  15  and the device operating information reproducing unit  16 . When there is a plurality of pieces of information when the specific event occurs in the onboard information obtained by the onboard information obtaining unit  11 , the specific event detecting unit  12  instructs the ground information obtaining unit  13  to obtain the ground information of the period including the specific event occurrence time and instructs the external information obtaining unit  14  to obtain the external information for each specific event occurrence time. Similarly, when there is a plurality of pieces of information when the specific event occurs in the onboard information obtained by the onboard information obtaining unit  11 , the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information of the period including the specific event occurrence time and outputs the same to the display information reproducing unit  15  and the device operating information reproducing unit  16  for each specific event occurrence time. 
     The ground information obtaining unit  13  obtains the ground information from a database  51  of the ground device  50  to output to the ground information reproducing unit  17 . The ground information obtained by the ground information obtaining unit  13  is information regarding the train on which the onboard device  30  from which the onboard information obtaining unit  11  obtains the onboard information is mounted, that is, the train designated by the user out of the information managed by the database  51 . Information such as position information, operation information, a train number and the like of the train is managed by the database  51 , and the ground information obtaining unit  13  obtains the position information, the operation information and the like of the train as the ground information. The operation information to be obtained includes various pieces of information regarding the operation of the train designated by the user such as a type of the train designated by the user, a destination, a stopping station, estimated arrival time to each station, actual arrival time to each station, estimated departure time from each station, and actual departure time from each station. The ground information obtaining unit  13  obtains the ground information of a period designated by the specific event detecting unit  12 . The ground information obtained by the ground information obtaining unit  13  includes time information. Herein, the time information is the information of the date and time at which the ground information is recorded by the ground device  50 , that is, the date and time at which the ground information is recorded in the database  51 . 
     The external information obtaining unit  14  obtains information such as weather information and topical information from the database  70  as the external information and outputs the same to the external display information generating unit  18 . The external information obtaining unit  14  obtains the external information of the period designated by the specific event detecting unit  12 . The external information obtaining unit  14  also outputs time information indicating time of contents indicated by the external information, that is, the time information indicating the period designated by the specific event detecting unit  12  when outputting the external information. 
     The display information reproducing unit  15  generates an image or character information for reproducing the contents of the onboard information received from the specific event detecting unit  12  on the display device  22 . The image and the character information generated by the display information reproducing unit  15  are display information indicating contents similar to those of the image and the character displayed on the display device installed in the operator&#39;s room of the train, that is, the display device  35  of the onboard device  30 . The display information reproducing unit  15  associates the generated display information with time information to output to the timing control unit  19 . The time information is herein information of time at which the contents similar to the contents indicated by the generated display information are displayed on the display device  35  of the onboard device  30 , that is, the time information included in the onboard information used for generating the display information. 
     The device operating information reproducing unit  16  generates information for reproducing contents of operation executed on the device mounted on the train, that is, the various devices included in the device group  33  of the onboard device  30  by the display device  22  or the audio output device  23  based on the onboard information received from the specific event detecting unit  12 . The information generated by the device operating information reproducing unit  16  is an image, character information, or audio information. The image and the character information are operating information indicating the contents of the operation of a main controller, a brake, a door opening/closing device and the like. The audio information is information of audio output to the operator when the train is operated. The device operating information reproducing unit  16  associates the generated operating information and audio information with the time information included in the onboard information used when generating the operating information and the audio information to output to the timing control unit  19 . A process of the device operating information reproducing unit  16  to generate the audio information corresponds to a process executed as an audio reproducing unit. 
     The ground information reproducing unit  17  generates an image or character information for allowing the display device  22  to display the contents of the ground information received from the ground information obtaining unit  13 . The information generated by the ground information reproducing unit  17  is operation status reproduction information indicating the operation status of the train such as a travel position of the train, occurrence of delay and the like. The ground information reproducing unit  17  associates the generated information with the time information received from the ground information obtaining unit  13  together with the ground information used for generating the information to output to the timing control unit  19 . Meanwhile, the ground information reproducing unit  17  may generate the audio information indicating the contents of the ground information received from the ground information obtaining unit  13 . That is, the ground information reproducing unit  17  may generate the audio information in place of the character information, for example. 
     The external display information generating unit  18  generates an image or character information for allowing the display device  22  to display contents of the external information received from the external information obtaining unit  14  as external display information. The external display information generating unit  18  associates the generated external display information with the time information received together with the external information to output to the timing control unit  19 . Meanwhile, the external display information generating unit  18  may generate audio information indicating the contents of the external information received from the external information obtaining unit  14 . 
     The timing control unit  19  adjusts output timing of the image, the character information, and the audio information received from the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , and the external display information generating unit  18  such that the pieces of information with the same time information received are input to the display information synthesizing unit  20  or the audio generating unit  21  at the same timing. The timing control unit  19  outputs the image and the character information to the display information synthesizing unit  20  and outputs the audio information to the audio generating unit  21 . The timing control unit  19  also registers the image, the character information, the audio information, and the time information received from the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , and the external display information generating unit  18  to the database  25  as reproduction information. 
     The display information synthesizing unit  20  synthesizes the image and the character information received from the timing control unit  19  to generate a display image displayed on the display device  22  and outputs the same to the display device  22 . The display information synthesizing unit  20  also generates the display image by synthesizing the image and the character information when the image and the character information are input from the reproduction control unit  24  to be described later. The display image generated by the display information synthesizing unit  20  is the reproduction image illustrating the operation status of the train. 
     The audio generating unit  21  generates audio to be output from the audio output device  23  based on the audio information received from the timing control unit  19  and outputs the same to the audio output device  23 . The audio generating unit  21  also generates the audio when the audio information is input from the reproduction control unit  24  to be described later. The audio generated by the audio output device  23  is reproduction audio indicating the operation status of the train. 
     The display device  22  displays the reproduction image illustrating the operation status of the train generated by the display information synthesizing unit  20 . 
     The audio output device  23  is a speaker and the like and outputs the audio generated by the audio generating unit  21 . 
     The reproduction control unit  24  reads out the reproduction information designated by the user through the input accepting unit  26  from the database  25  and outputs the same to the display information synthesizing unit  20  and the audio generating unit  21 . 
     The database  25  being a storage unit that holds the reproduction information manages the reproduction information received from the timing control unit  19  and outputs the reproduction information requested by the reproduction control unit  24  to the reproduction control unit  24 . 
     The input accepting unit  26  formed of an input device represented by a mouse and a keyboard accepts various pieces of operation from the user and generates information indicating accepted contents to output to each unit of the operation status reproducing device  10 . 
     Next, entire operation of the operation status reproducing device  10  is described with reference to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the operation status reproducing device  10 . 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  first externally accepts designation of the train number of the train in which the operation status is to be reproduced and the date and time in which the operation status is to be reproduced and obtains the onboard information recorded at the designated date and time, that is, the period from the onboard device  30  of the designated train (step S 11 ). At this step S 11 , the operation status reproducing device  10  displays an information input screen  40  illustrated in  FIG.  3    on the display device  22  and stands by for an input from the user of required information, that is, the information of the train number and the date and time. 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  obtains the onboard information when a reproduction start button  44  is selected by click operation and the like after a train number  41 , date  42 , and time  43  are input through the input accepting unit  26 . That is, the operation status reproducing device  10  obtains the onboard information corresponding to the designated date from the onboard information held by the onboard device of the train specified by the train number and the date externally designated through the input accepting unit  26 . Specifically, the onboard information obtaining unit  11  generates a request signal including information of the train number, the date, and the time designated by the information input to the information input screen  40  and transmits the request signal to the onboard device  30  mounted on the train of the designated train number through a communication device not illustrated. As an example, the onboard information obtaining unit  11  generates a packet including the information of the date and time designated by the user, sets an address of the onboard device  30  mounted on the train of the train number designated by the user as a destination, and transmits the packet to the address. The operation status reproducing device  10  holds a table indicating a correspondence relationship between an IP address assigned to the onboard device  30  mounted on each train in which the operation status is to be reproduced and the train number. The correspondence relation between the IP address assigned to the onboard device  30  mounted on each train and the train number may be grasped from information managed by the ground device  50 , and the operation status reproducing device  10  obtains the information of the correspondence relationship between the IP address assigned to each onboard device  30  and the train number from the ground device  50  in advance. The ground device  50  manages an operation history of each train of the railway system and the information of the IP address assigned to the onboard device  30  mounted on each train. The operation history of the train is the information including information indicating when and with which train number each train is operated, and it is possible to know the IP address assigned to the onboard device  30  mounted on the train corresponding to a certain train number and certain date and time by checking the operation history of the train against the information of the IP address assigned to the onboard device  30  mounted on each train. 
     Meanwhile, it is not required that the operation status reproducing device  10  hold the table indicating the correspondence relationship between the IP address assigned to the onboard device  30  mounted on each train the operation status of which is to be reproduced and the train number. In this case, when the train number and the date and time are designated at step S 11 , the operation status reproducing device  10  notifies the ground device  50  of the designated train number and date and time and makes an inquiry about the IP address assigned to the onboard device  30  of the train specified by the notified train number and date and time. Then, the operation status reproducing device  10  generates the above-described packet addressed to the IP address notified from the ground device  50  and transmits the same to the onboard device  30 . 
     When the onboard device  30  receives the packet including the information of the date and time, the onboard device  30  transmits the onboard information corresponding to the received information of the date and time to the operation status reproducing device  10 . 
     When the onboard information obtaining unit  11  of the operation status reproducing device  10  receives the onboard information transmitted from the onboard device  30  through a communication device not illustrated, the onboard information obtaining unit  11  outputs the received onboard information to the specific event detecting unit  12 . 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  next analyzes the onboard information obtained at step S 11  (step S 12 ) and checks whether the specific event occurs (step S 13 ). The specific event corresponds to occurrence of train delay, occurrence of car malfunction, performance of specific operation by the operator and the like. The event corresponding to the specific event is determined in advance. At step S 12 , the specific event detecting unit  12  analyzes the onboard information to detect the occurrence of the specific event. 
     When the onboard information obtained at step S 11  does not indicate the occurrence of the specific event, that is, when the onboard information recorded in a situation in which the specific event occur is not included in the onboard information obtained at step S 11  (step S 13 : No), the operation status reproducing device  10  terminates the process. On the other hand, when the onboard information obtained at step S 11  indicates the occurrence of the specific event, that is, when the onboard information recorded in the situation in which the specific event occurs is included in the onboard information obtained at step S 11  (step S 13 : Yes), the operation status reproducing device  10  extracts the onboard information included in a period a certain time before and after occurrence time of the specific event detected at step S 13  from the onboard information obtained at step S 11  (step S 14 ). The process at step S 14  is performed by the specific event detecting unit  12 . At step S 14 , the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information included in the period a certain time before and after the occurrence time of the specific event detected at step S 13  from the onboard information received from the onboard information obtaining unit  11 . The specific event detecting unit  12  outputs the extracted onboard information to the display information reproducing unit  15  and the device operating information reproducing unit  16 . 
     An example of the operation corresponding to steps S 11  to S 14  heretofore described is herein described. The operation when “A1234” and “Sep. 1, 2016, from 7:00 to 8:00” are designated as the train number and the date and time, respectively, at step S 11 , and the specific event occurs on Sep. 1, 2016 at 7:24 in the train with the train number of A1234 is described. In this case, the onboard information obtaining unit  11  obtains the onboard information recorded on Sep. 1, 2016 from 7:00 to 8:00 from the onboard device of the train operated with the train number of A1234 on Sep. 1, 2016, and outputs the same to the specific event detecting unit  12  (step S 11 ). The specific event detecting unit  12  analyzes the onboard information received from the onboard information obtaining unit  11  (step S 12 ) and detects that the specific event occurs on Sep. 1, 2016 at 7:24 (step S 13 : Yes). Then, the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information in a certain time before and after the time (7:24) at which the specific event occurs (7:24), herein, the onboard information from 7:19 to 7:29 from the onboard information received from the onboard information obtaining unit  11  (step S 14 ) and outputs the same to the display information reproducing unit  15  and the device operating information reproducing unit  16 . Meanwhile, although an example of a case in which the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information for five minutes before and after the time at which the specific event occurs is herein illustrated, the example is not limited thereto. It is also possible to extract the onboard information for a period three minutes before and after the time at which the specific event occurs or a period from one minute before the time at which the specific event occurs to five minutes after that. That is, when the specific event detecting unit  12  detects the occurrence of the specific event, the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information in a certain period including the occurrence time of the specific event. 
     Also, the specific event detecting unit  12  might detect the occurrence of a plurality of specific events at step S 13 . When detecting the occurrence of a plurality of specific events, the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information in a certain period including the occurrence time of the specific event for each of the detected specific events. When the specific event detecting unit  12  receives the onboard information on Sep. 1, 2016 from 7:00 to 8:00 from the onboard information obtaining unit  11  and detects that the specific events occurs at 7:15 and 7:50, the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information in a certain period including 7:15 and the onboard information in a certain period including 7:50 from the onboard information received from the onboard information obtaining unit  11  and outputs the same to the display information reproducing unit  15  and the device operating information reproducing unit  16 . 
     Returning to the description with reference to  FIG.  2   , subsequent to step S 14 , the operation status reproducing device  10  obtains the ground information and the external information in a certain time before and after the occurrence time of the specific event detected at step S 13  (step S 15 ). At this step S 15 , the specific event detecting unit  12  first notifies the ground information obtaining unit  13  of the period of a certain time before and after the occurrence time of the specific event detected at step S 13  and the train number designated at step S 11 . The specific event detecting unit  12  also notifies the external information obtaining unit  14  of the period of a certain time before and after the occurrence time of the specific event detected at step S 13 . The period of which the specific event detecting unit  12  notifies the ground information obtaining unit  13  and the external information obtaining unit  14  is the same period as the period in which the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information at step S 14 . When the period in which the specific event detecting unit  12  extracts the onboard information at step S 14  is “from 7:19 to 7:29”, the specific event detecting unit  12  notifies the ground information obtaining unit  13  and the external information obtaining unit  14  of the period of “from 7:19 to 7:29”. Next, the ground information obtaining unit  13  obtains the ground information corresponding to the period and the train notified from the specific event detecting unit  12  from the ground device  50 . That is, the ground information obtaining unit  13  generates a request signal including the information of the period and the train number notified from the specific event detecting unit  12  and transmits the request signal to the ground device  50  through a communication device not illustrated. The ground information obtaining unit  13  holds the information of the IP address assigned to the ground device  50 . Also, the external information obtaining unit  14  obtains the external information corresponding to the period notified from the specific event detecting unit  12  from the database  70 . The external information obtaining unit  14  holds information of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the database  70 . The external information obtaining unit  14  obtains information of weather, temperature, humidity, a wind speed, a wind direction, rainfall, snowfall and the like of the period notified from the specific event detecting unit  12  when obtaining the weather information as the external information. The external information obtaining unit  14  outputs the obtained external information and time information to the external display information generating unit  18 . 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  next generates information for reproducing the onboard information, the ground information, and the external information obtained from the onboard device  30 , the ground device  50 , and the database  70 , respectively, by the display device  22  or the audio output device  23  (step S 16 ). At this step S 16 , the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , and the external display information generating unit  18  perform the process. The display information reproducing unit  15  generates the image or the character information for reproducing the contents of the onboard information received from the specific event detecting unit  12  on the display device  22 . The device operating information reproducing unit  16  generates the information for reproducing the contents of the operation performed by the operator on the device mounted on the train by the display device  22  or the audio output device  23  based on the onboard information received from the specific event detecting unit  12 . The ground information reproducing unit  17  generates the image or the character information for allowing the display device  22  to display the contents of the ground information received from the ground information obtaining unit  13 . The external display information generating unit  18  generates the image or the character information for allowing the display device  22  to display the contents of the external information received from the external information obtaining unit  14 . 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  next performs timing control of each piece of information generated at step S 16  and performs time matching (step S 17 ). At this step S 17 , the timing control unit  19  controls the output timing of the pieces of information input from the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , and the external display information generating unit  18  and outputs the pieces of information with which the same time is associated to the display information synthesizing unit  20  or the audio generating unit  21  at the same timing. Out of the information input from the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , and the external display information generating unit  18 , the timing control unit  19  outputs the image and the character information to the display information synthesizing unit  20  and outputs the audio information to the audio generating unit  21 . 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  next synthesizes the image and the character information out of the information on which the timing control is performed at step S 17  to display and outputs the audio (step S 18 ). At this step S 18 , the display information synthesizing unit  20  synthesizes each image and each character information input from the timing control unit  19 , generates the reproduction image of the operation status of the train designated at step S 11 , and allows the display device  22  to display the same. Also, the audio generating unit  21  reproduces the audio information input from the timing control unit  19 , generates the reproduction audio of the operation status of the train designated at step S 11 , and outputs the same from the audio output device  23 . 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating an example of a reproduction screen displayed on the display device  22  of the operation status reproducing device  10 . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the operation status reproducing device  10  displays a reproduction screen  60  including a picture  61  of a window of an operator&#39;s platform, that is, a picture taken by a video camera installed on the operator&#39;s platform, displays  62  and  63  reproducing contents displayed on an operator&#39;s platform indicator, a display  64  illustrating date and time and weather, and a display  65  illustrating the travel position, the train number, and the operation status of the train on the display device  22 . The display  62  is a display of a speed meter of contents as illustrated in  FIG.  5    and the display  63  is a display of a train status of contents as illustrated in  FIG.  6   . 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  also records the reproduction information (step S 19 ). At this step S 19 , the timing control unit  19  gathers the pieces of information input from the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , and the external display information generating unit  18  and registers the same as the reproduction information in the database  25 . The reproduction information is obtained by gathering each piece of information after the timing control is performed by the timing control unit  19 . That is, this is a file generated by gathering each image and each character information output from the timing control unit  19  to the display information synthesizing unit  20  and the audio information output from the timing control unit  19  to the audio generating unit  21 . The image, the character information, and the audio information recorded as the reproduction information are synchronized with one another. Meanwhile, order of steps S 18  and S 19  may be changed or they may be executed in parallel. 
     The reproduction information registered in the database  25  is read out by the reproduction control unit  24 , the image and the character information are synthesized by the display information synthesizing unit  20  to be output to the display device  22 , and the audio information is converted into the audio by the audio generating unit  21  to be output to the audio output device  23 . That is, the operation status reproducing device  10  has a function of holding the information used once in reproducing operation as the reproduction information and reproducing the same contents as the contents reproduced in the past by using the held reproduction information. As a result, there is no need of obtaining the onboard information, the ground information, and the external information anew when reproducing again the operation status of the same date and time and the same train, so that a processing load may be reduced and time required for the reproducing operation may be shortened. When a button  45  of “select from reproduced data” is pressed by the user in a state in which the information input screen  40  illustrated in  FIG.  3    is displayed on the display device  22 , the operation status reproducing device  10  activates the function of reproducing the same contents as the contents reproduced in the past. When the button  45  of “select from reproduced data” is pressed, the operation status reproducing device  10  displays a selection screen  80  illustrated in  FIG.  7    on the display device  22 . In the selection screen  80  illustrated in  FIG.  7   , a list of the operation statuses already reproduced in the past is displayed. When a determine button  82  is pressed in a state in which any one of check boxes displayed in an area  81  of the selection screen  80  is checked, the operation status reproducing device  10  reproduces the operation status of the train using the display device  22  and the audio output device based on the reproduction information managed by the database  25 . Specifically, when the reproduction control unit  24  receives information indicating that the determine button  82  is pressed from the input accepting unit  26 , the reproduction control unit  24  reads out the reproduction information associated with the check box checked when the determine button  82  is pressed from the database  25 , outputs the image and the character information included in the read out reproduction information to the display information synthesizing unit  20 , and outputs the audio information to the audio generating unit  21 . 
     Meanwhile, the reproduction control unit  24  and the database  25  are components for efficiently reproducing the operation status of the same contents when it is necessary to repeatedly reproduce the operation status of the same contents. Therefore, it is also possible to omit the reproduction control unit  24  and the database  25 . Even in a configuration in which the reproduction control unit  24  and the database  25  are omitted, it is possible to repeatedly reproduce the operation status of the same contents by designating the same train number and the same date and time. 
     It is also possible that the specific event in which the specific event detecting unit  12  determines the occurrence by analyzing the onboard information may be selected by the user from a plurality of types of specific events defined in advance. That is, the specific event detecting unit  12  may detect the specific event of the type designated by the user from a plurality of types of specific events. When the user is allowed to select the specific event detected by the specific event detecting unit  12  out of a plurality of types of specific events defined in advance, the operation status reproducing device  10  displays a selection screen of the specific event  86  illustrated in  FIG.  8    on the display device  22 . The user checks one or more of the check boxes illustrated in an area  87  and presses a determine button  88 , thereby designating the type of the specific event detected by the specific event detecting unit  12 . When the determine button  88  is pressed in a state in which one or more of the check boxes displayed in the area  87  of the selection screen of the specific event  86  is checked, the operation status reproducing device  10  sets the event associated with the check box checked at the time when the determine button  88  is pressed as the specific event detected by the specific event detecting unit  12 . Although delay, accident, car malfunction, equipment malfunction, and emergency stop are exemplified as events which may be set as the specific events detected by the specific event detecting unit  12  in  FIG.  8   , the events which may be set are not limited to such events. 
     As described above, upon externally receiving the designation of the train number and the date and time, the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the present embodiment obtains the onboard information of the period indicated by the designated date and time from the onboard device mounted on the train corresponding to the designated train number, checks whether the onboard information at the time when the specific event occurs is included in the obtained onboard information, obtains the ground information and the external information of a certain period including the occurrence time of the specific event when the onboard information when the specific event occurs is included, and reproduces the operation status of the train with the designated train number by the display device  22  and the audio output device  23  by using the obtained ground information and external information and the onboard information of a certain period including the occurrence time of the specific event out of the onboard information obtained from the onboard device. As a result, it is possible to check the operation status before and after the occurrence of the specific event in a short time, and efficiently perform verifying operation of the operation status. 
     Meanwhile, although the case of the configuration in which the operation status reproducing device  10  includes the display device  22  is described in the present embodiment, the display device  22  may be independent from the operation status reproducing device  10 . That is, the display device  22  may be made another device present outside the operation status reproducing device  10 . Similarly, the audio output device  23  may be made an external device of the operation status reproducing device  10 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  described in the first embodiment includes the database  25  that records the reproduction information. However, an amount of information recordable in the database  25  is limited, and when a large amount of reproduction information more than necessary is recordable, this leads to an increase in cost of the device. Therefore, in an operation status reproducing device according to a second embodiment, reproduction information satisfying a certain condition is automatically erased. 
     The operation status reproducing device according to the second embodiment is hereinafter described. Meanwhile, a part common to the part of the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the first embodiment is not described. A configuration of the operation status reproducing device according to the second embodiment is similar to the configuration of the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the first embodiment. The operation status reproducing device according to the second embodiment manages the reproduction information according to a flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  9   .  FIG.  9    is the flowchart illustrating an example of operation of managing the reproduction information in the operation status reproducing device according to the second embodiment. The operation status reproducing device according to the second embodiment is common to the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the first embodiment except operation illustrated in  FIG.  9   . 
     The operation status reproducing device  10  according to the present embodiment regularly or irregularly executes the operation illustrated in  FIG.  9   , and erases the reproduction information satisfying a certain condition. The operation status reproducing device  10  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG.  9    with a period set in advance such as every day and every week. Alternatively, the operation status reproducing device  10  executes the operation illustrated in  FIG.  9    when operation determined in advance is performed. The operation determined in advance may include starting operation, ending operation and the like of the operation status reproducing device  10 . Meanwhile, the operation status reproducing device  10  may execute the operation illustrated in  FIG.  9    when the operation determined in advance is performed while regularly executing the same. 
     The operation illustrated in  FIG.  9    is described. The operation illustrated in  FIG.  9    is operation executed by the reproduction control unit  24 . After starting the operation, the reproduction control unit  24  of the operation status reproducing device  10  obtains the number of pieces of reproduction information recorded in the database  25  (step S 21 ). That is, the reproduction control unit  24  accesses the database  25  and obtains the information on the number of pieces of reproduction information recorded in the database  25 . Next, the reproduction control unit  24  checks whether the obtained number is equal to or larger than a certain number (step S 22 ). When the obtained number is equal to or larger than the certain number (step S 22 : Yes), the reproduction control unit  24  erases the oldest reproduction information out of the pieces of reproduction information recorded in the database  25  from the database  25  (step S 23 ) and shifts to step S 24 . When the number obtained at step S 21  is smaller than the certain number (step S 22 : No), the reproduction control unit  24  shifts to step  24 . At step S 24 , the reproduction control unit  24  accesses the database  25  and searches for the reproduction information recorded prior to current date and time by a certain period or longer (step S 24 ). As a result of the search at step S 24 , when there is no relevant data, that is, the reproduction information recorded prior to the current date and time by the certain period or longer (step S 25 : No), the reproduction control unit  24  terminates the process. In contrast, when there is the relevant data (step S 25 : Yes), the reproduction control unit  24  erases the relevant data, that is, the reproduction information recorded prior to the current date and time by the certain period or longer from the database  25  (step S 26 ). 
     Meanwhile, although the reproduction control unit  24  performs the process of erasing the old reproduction information based on the number of pieces of reproduction information recorded in the database  25  at steps S 21  to S 23 , it is also possible to erase from the oldest reproduction information in order until a total size becomes smaller than a certain value when the total size of the reproduction information recorded in the database  25  is equal to or larger than the certain value. 
     In this manner, the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the second embodiment automatically erases a part of the reproduction information when a certain condition is satisfied, so that it is possible to suppress an increase in size of a memory required for realizing the database  25  that records the reproduction information. 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIG.  10    is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation status reproducing device according to a third embodiment. In  FIG.  10   , components similar to the components of the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the first embodiment (refer to  FIG.  1   ) are assigned with the same reference signs of the operation status reproducing device  10 . An operation status reproducing device  10   a  according to the third embodiment is obtained by deleting the display device  22  and the audio output device  23  from the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the first embodiment. Meanwhile, in  FIG.  10   , the input accepting unit  26 , the reproduction control unit  24 , and the database  25  are not illustrated. 
     The operation status reproducing device  10   a  according to the third embodiment is a portable device and is used while being mounted on a train, or is used in a state of always mounted on the train as is the case with an onboard device. Although a basic device configuration of the operation status reproducing device  10   a  is the same as that of the operation status reproducing device  10  according to the first embodiment, the operation status reproducing device  10   a  reproduces the operation status by using external display device and audio output device. Specifically, the operation status reproducing device  10   a  reproduces an operation status by using the display device  35  and an audio output device  37  forming the onboard device  30 . The operation status reproducing device  10   a  obtains ground information and external information by wireless transmission. 
     In this manner, the operation status reproducing device  10   a  according to the third embodiment reproduces the operation status by using the display device  35  and the audio output device  37  forming the onboard device  30 . As a result, the device may be made compact and may be made portable. Also, in a case of a train mounted device, it is possible to effectively utilize existing display device and audio output device, thereby realizing reduction in cost and a small size. 
     Next, a hardware configuration of the operation status reproducing device described in the first to third embodiments is described.  FIG.  11    is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration for realizing the operation status reproducing device. The operation status reproducing device described in the first to third embodiments is realized by a processor  101 , a memory  102 , a communication device  103 , an input device  104 , a display device  105 , and an audio output device  106 . 
     The processor  101  is a CPU (also referred to as a Central Processing Unit, a central processor, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and the like), a system Large Scale Integration (LSI) and the like. The memory  102  is a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a flash memory, an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), and an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM); a magnetic disc; an optical disc; a compact disc; a mini disc; a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and the like. 
     The communication device  103  includes a modem, a decoder, a wired interface, a wireless interface or the like, and performs wired communication or wireless communication. The input device  104  is a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel or the like. The display device  105  is a liquid crystal panel or the like, and the audio output device  106  is a speaker or the like. 
     The onboard information obtaining unit  11 , the specific event detecting unit  12 , the ground information obtaining unit  13 , the external information obtaining unit  14 , the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , the external display information generating unit  18 , the timing control unit  19 , the display information synthesizing unit  20 , and the audio generating unit  21  of the operation status reproducing devices  10  and  10   a  illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  10    are realized by the processor  101  and the memory  102  illustrated in  FIG.  11   . That is, a program for the processor  101  to operate as each of the onboard information obtaining unit  11 , the specific event detecting unit  12 , the ground information obtaining unit  13 , the external information obtaining unit  14 , the display information reproducing unit  15 , the device operating information reproducing unit  16 , the ground information reproducing unit  17 , the external display information generating unit  18 , the timing control unit  19 , the display information synthesizing unit  20 , and the audio generating unit  21  is stored in the memory  102 , and the processor  101  reads out the program stored in the memory  102  to execute, so that the above-described each unit is realized. The display device  22  illustrated in  FIG.  1    corresponds to the display device  105  illustrated in  FIG.  11   . The audio output device  23  illustrated in  FIG.  1    corresponds to the audio output device  106  illustrated in  FIG.  11   . The input accepting unit  26  illustrated in  FIG.  1    is realized by the input device  104  illustrated in  FIG.  11   . The reproduction control unit  24  and the database  25  illustrated in  FIG.  1    are realized by the processor  101  and the memory  102  illustrated in  FIG.  11   . That is, since the program for the processor  101  to operate as the reproduction control unit  24  and the database  25  is stored in the memory  102 , and the processor  101  reads out the program stored in the memory  102  to execute, the reproduction control unit  24  and the database  25  are realized. The reproduction information managed by the database  25  is written in the memory  102 . The communication device  103  is used when the onboard information obtaining unit  11 , the ground information obtaining unit  13 , and the external information obtaining unit  14  realized by the processor  101  and the memory  102  obtain the onboard information, the ground information, or the external information. 
     The configuration described in the above-described embodiments illustrates one example of the contents of the present invention and this may be combined with another known technology, and it is possible to omit or change a part thereof without departing from the gist of the present invention. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       10 ,  10   a  operation status reproducing device;  11  onboard information obtaining unit;  12  specific event detecting unit;  13  ground information obtaining unit;  14  external information obtaining unit;  15  display information reproducing unit;  16  device operating information reproducing unit;  17  ground information reproducing unit;  18  external display information generating unit;  19  timing control unit;  20  display information synthesizing unit;  21  audio generating unit;  22 ,  35 ,  105  display device;  23 ,  37 ,  106  audio output device;  24  reproduction control unit;  25 ,  31 ,  51 ,  70  database;  26  input accepting unit;  29  reproduction image generating unit;  30  onboard device;  32  onboard information recording unit;  33  device group;  34  display information generating unit;  36  onboard information transmitting unit;  40  information input screen;  50  ground device;  80  selection screen;  86  selection screen of specific event;  90  network.