Transportation

Transportation

Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. JumboSwitch Railroad Applications
  3. Light Rail
  4. Heavy Rail
  5. Intelligent Transport Systems
The JumboSwitch is ideal for transportation and traffic control networks, especially as either a multi-featured high capacity Switch or integrated Ethernet, Voice and Data communications solution. It is particularly ideal for upgrading existing legacy networks and offering a low cost, more efficient alternative to traditional SONET/SDH backbones.

For example, because the JumboSwitch enables legacy serial communications to co-exist harmoniously on the same platform with more advanced technologies including Ethernet and VoIP, it can economically support serial/Ethernet traffic control signals, VoIP and IP cameras over one network. Moreover, JumboSwitch provides a future-proof platform that enables users to upgrade their old legacy systems immediately or over several years.

Until recently, SONET/SDH was the backbone network system of choice for many transportation applications because of perceived advantages over IP-based systems. The reality is that the JumboSwitch has become a better and cheaper alternative to SONET/SDH for transportation systems. SONET/SDH, although reliable and well understood, is voice-centric, less flexible, difficult to scale, and not optimized for packet data transmission.

In contrast, the JumboSwitch brings all of the benefits of modern Industrial Ethernet Technology. It provides the bandwidth, management and extensive features necessary to meet the exacting demands of today’s traffic control and transportation networks. Most important, the JumboSwitch is a much less expensive and much less complex alternative than SONET/SDH.

JumboSwitch Railroad Applications

Because of scalability, bandwidth utilization efficiency and significant cost advantages, Ethernet is rapidly replacing legacy TDM based SONET/SDH networks as the de facto technology of choice across a wide spectrum of railroad applications.

TC Comm’s Industrial Gigabit Ethernet Modular Switch, the JumboSwitch, offers a unique blend of popular Ethernet and legacy interfaces to provide an integrated, cost-effective and ruggedized set of solutions for railroads and their migration to Positive Train Control (PTC).

JumboSwitch Features & Benefits:

  • Compatible with all popular Ethernet IP devices, traffic controllers, video encoders and emergency phones
  • Supports IGMP, VLAN and extensive security features
  • Centralized Management System (TCView®) including remote software downloads and live operating temperature for each interface card
  • Dynamic bandwidth allocation enables 100’s of live video streams
  • Industrial Hardened (Exceeds NEMA TS-2)
  • Self-Healing topology, including RSTP, with fault recovery of less than 38 msec.
  • Long reach optics over single mode fiber extends the distance between JumboSwitch nodes to over 100Km
  • Real Time Serial Server for legacy traffic controllers

Light Rail

In light rail reliable communications for Network Operation Centers-to-Station (NOC) and Station-to-Station applications are critical to help ensure passenger safety and convenience. The JumboSwitch can be deployed in wayside cabinets as a reliable communications backbone for:

  • Public address systems
  • Ticket vending machines
  • Video surveillance and security systems
  • SCADA
  • Emergency Phones
Figure 1: Typical train station application using JumboSwitch in a rail-side cabinet

Heavy Rail

The significant trend for heavy rail systems currently is the migration to Positive Train Control (PTC) as mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA). The essence of PTC is that the train receives information about its location and where it is allowed to safely travel, also known as movement authorities. Equipment on board the train then enforces this, preventing unsafe movement.

In a PTC implementation while final Communication between the base stations and the train is provided by wireless radio systems, the back office must communicate with base stations via a highly reliable backbone network. The JumboSwitch Industrial Gigabit Ethernet platform supports a unique blend of features to offer the reliability of SONET/SDH with the plug-and-play simplicity of Ethernet:

Case Study: Commuter Train in Southern California

The network design for this train control application called for ruggedized platforms with highest degree of availability while maintaining compatibility and interoperability with existing IT routers. Another key requirement for this project was to utilize the existing lay-out of fiber optics infrastructure in order to minimize additional costs.

As shows in the diagram below, the backbone networks use diverse paths to achieve 99.999% reliability. Further, redundant links to each switch provided by a combination of ring and mesh topologies on the JumboSwitch offer added “last-mile” reliability for end node connectivity such as CP and PTC equipment.

Backhaul connectivity to the back office is provided by two separate redundant technologies including SONET and MPLS to achieve the ultimate reliability for the project.

Figure 2: Typical JumboSwitch Back Office Backbone Application
  • Smart hot-swappable modular architecture to minimize down time
  • Long haul fiber optics – to accommodate inter-base station communication
  • Recovery in less than 50ms – for mission critical reliability
  • Multi-Service – Unique hybrid single box solution offers complete integration and significant saving in Opex and Capex.
  • Industrial hardened (Exceeds NEMA TS-2)
  • Centralized Management System (TCView®) including remote software downloads and live operating temperature for each interface card
  • Investment Protection with 10GigE Migration

Intelligent Transport Systems

To reduce congestion, and enhance traveler safety, DOTs are deploying new Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) that include roadside devices as well as central office control systems. The JumboSwitch GigE platform provides a highly reliable network that can seamlessly support voice, video, and data for ITS applications on a single multi-service modular platform.

As depicted the diagram below, the JumboSwitch network supports a large selection of ITS multi-media applications providing communication between the control center, roadside devices and travelers on the highway. Some of the key ITS applications targeted for migration to the next generation Ethernet/IP network include:

  • Variable Message Signs
  • Video Surveillance
  • Freeway Management
  • Traffic Signal Controllers
  • Automated Toll Collection
  • Emergency Management
  • Emergency Phones
  • Public address
  • Loop Sensors
  • Weight Detectors
  • Traveler Information
  • Traffic Incident Management

These applications require different bandwidth, QoS, and delay (jitter) tolerances. Equipped with the latest advances in layer-2 functionality including IEEE802.1Q (VLAN), 802.1p (Priorities), and rate limiting capability, the JumboSwitch Industrially hardened platform is uniquely qualified to support these ITS applications.