PROTOTYPE AND TEST ENVIRONMENT FOR ATCS DATA COMMUNICATIONS

Advanced Train Control Systems (ATCS) are distributed command, control, and communications systems that also provide an infrastructure usable for train control and numerous ancillary applications. A crucial stage in ATCS development is the verification of the logic that allows applications to access this infrastructure. The communications protocols used to connect applications in different physical components are described in ATCS Specification 200, which represents the protocols as finite state machines using CCITT Recommendation Z.101 notation. These state machine representations are converted into a statechart representation in a computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool. This tool simulates the protocol operations and generates an ADA prototype of the protocols. The communications between applications within a physical ATCS component are not standardized. For prototyping purposes, however, these communications have been modeled as a software bus. The software bus allows applications to communicate with the prototype of the protocol stack, providing an integrated environment in which the interactions of applications, the protocols, and the bus may all be examined and monitored. The prototype code generated by the CASE tool is supplemented by ADA code developed to simulate events that would occur within the interactions of the communications protocol. The interdependency of the software bus, the CASE-generated ADA code, and the programmer-developed ADA code provides an environment for meaningful prototyping and testing of the access logic, as well as the communications protocols. Instances of this prototype may be connected through a network emulator for use in further testing and prototyping the ATCS communications architecture.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1991/1314/1314-011.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PROTOTYPE+AND+TEST+ENVIRONMENT+FOR+ATCS+DATA+COMMUNICATIONS&author=D.+Colburn&publication_year=1991
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309051517
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1314, Advanced Train Control Systems 1991: Proceedings of a Symposium, June 17-19, 1991, Denver, Colorado. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Colburn, Dorothy A
• Conference:
  • First International Symposium of Advanced Train Control
  • Location: Denver Colorado
  • Date: 1991-6-17 to 1991-6-19
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 63-68
• Monograph Title: Advanced Train Control Systems 1991. Proceedings of a Symposium
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1314
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic train control; Communications; Data communications; Logic (Mathematics); Positive train control; Prototypes; Software; Specifications; Testing
• Old TRIS Terms: Logic
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00621429
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309051517
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 30 1992 12:00AM