AEI RAIL NETWORK BUILDER
Contents
1. Rail Network Builder SIGNAL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS AEI RAIL NETWORK BUILDER User Manual 24 February 2000 E AEI Rail System Network Builder Signal Computer Consultants Telephone 412 655 1884 File Edi View Find Help c projects ferromex ferromex lay Undo Save 2 Nogales 1 Ferrocarril Mexicano Pi f amp Ferrocarril Mexicano Guaymas AS E SER x 9 y 1 Area 2 Name Nogales Norte 9 Right X 11 Top Y 0 Bottom Y 2 Copyright 2000 Signal Computer Consultants All rights reserved 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS Signal Computer Consultants P O Box 18445 Pittsburgh PA 15236 Tel 888 872 4612 toll free US and Canada only Tel 412 655 1884 Fax 412 655 1893 E mail signal signalcc com Web Page www aeitag com 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder 4 2 4 4 2 5 4 2 6 4 2 7 4 2 8 5 1 5 2 5 3 COMPUTER CONSULTANTS el Table of Contents INSTALLATION 1 Foaing thes lt 1 Starting the Program 1 SYSTEM OVERVIEW 1 BUILDING THE RAIL NETWORK LAYOUT e EE du M 3 Drawing Track Switch and Reader Symbols on the Layout 4 Clearing Symbols from the Layout 4 LENKIN eee epe 5 Track Switch Reader and2. 25 Errar ard Warning Message Srana tete tan eut d pe ARR nee 26 ERROR 212 Switch XX Switch has MISSING LINKS sseecssseeseessseeecessneseessseeessnsecessnseeessnssseessneeeeseeessnnecesnneeeessnneeesnneeeessnee 26 ERROR Reader XX Reader is missing left link seen ntttntnnttttennnttttnnntttnnntttttnnnit e6 ERROR 301 Reader XX Reader is missing right link sssseeeenennttnnntttnnnttnnnnntttnnnnttttnnnet 26 WARNING 100 Track XX Track is not associated with a reader eB WARNING 200 Switch XX Switch is not associated with a reader sette 26 WARNING 400 Yard XX Yard is not linked with anything 0 eeessssesessseessesssseecessseeeesnseessnnseeessnsteessnneeesnneeessnatecesnneeeessnee 26 WARNING 500 Area XX Does not have name assign one was created 27 WARNING 501 Area XX Area name in conflict with name entered by Reader 27 MISCELLANEOUS FUNCTIONS 7 Finding Devices and APBSS s ult ERU NR N a HEBR Hoc 27 Viewing Reader Names Track Segment Number and Switch Numbers sees 28 Printing 28 TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND UPDATES eese nennenntnnttettentnnttnttnnttnn tenti tnnt tentes ttnn ten ttot ttn tte testen testen e8 SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONG iine it 29 ii 24 February 2000
3. Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 4 2 7 WARNING 500 Area Does not have name assign was created A tracking area name should be entered in the reader information display see Paragraph 3 5 of only one of the reader s that surround the area The tracking area name will be used to describe a vehicle s location after reader in the area has read one of its tags If the user does enter a name the Railroad Network Builder will create a name based on the names or the surrounding readers 4 2 8 WARNING 501 Area XX Area name in conflict with name entered by Reader XX A tracking area name should be entered in the reader information display see Paragraph 3 5 of one of the reader s that surround the area If two or more of the surrounding readers have given a name to a particular tracking area and these names are in conflict with one another this message will appear The user should have only one reader name the area or insure that all readers in the area use the same name 5 MISCELLANEOUS FUNCTIONS 5 1 Finding Devices and Areas To find a track segment switch reader or tracking area click the Find menu item at the top of the screen This causes a secondary menu to appear from which you can select the type of device or the tracking area you want to find Figure 28 shows the results of selecting the Find Area menu item Find Information x Find area
4. Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS el List of Figures Figure T Hardware Configuration teer remettre po re FOI Eee esee dei Heer pert ite teer eie es 2 Figure 2 Rail Network Layout Display tec tete tie res eid negate iP erbe pere pp abere 3 Figure 3 File Menu inii te dedu ore eet OR e reU petrus 4 Pigure 4 Drawing Tools p unte RO nutre de o e dons bases i eH e e pr een 5 Figure 5 Linkages ter Ig trai Pipe 6 Figure 6 Track Numbering Examples utei tir e LR TREE e E pP Een 7 Figure 7 Reader inka ces an 7 Figure 8 Track datei to eia etd re Fr i Eg ten e RR HR ee pr es 8 Figure 9 Vertical Track Exception ere dte e te t epit ree E Per ee erepti e a p ges 8 Figure 10 AEI Reader Information isiin 2 ntes er teret ree EE ri Gr en eter p n 9 Figure T TS Track Information ie e e YR Ee EHE RC UR ERE T TER DF OP SEHEN TUR 12 Figure 12 Switch Information 13 Fipure 13 Yard Information Roter e Ge ete mee ette ette Dedi epe t re etos Pets 14 Tracking Area temo eee eco eredi a 15 Figure 15 Device Status Line ione E e Ge eee iet He e Rete Dedi e pees REP HEP OR ent 16 Figure 16 Tracking Area Status Line desired i Ee ceret e PES Ret 16 Figure 17 Selected Group of Grid Squares eie eere che eer ei E ee ett 17 Figure TS Insert
5. reader site has stored trains that have not been sent to the servers If the reader has stored tag information for trains that the server has not received the server will request that the train data be sent The user specifies in this field how often the servers will check the train information stored in the designated reader the device type and device number of the device linked to the left of the AEl reader The user cannot change these fields the device type and device number of the device linked to the right of the reader The user cannot change these fields 10 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder Area Left Area Name Area Right Area Name Left Area is North West Right Area is North West Special Comments 3 6 Track Information COMPUTER CONSULTANTS eT the number of the tracking area associated with the track segment linked to the left of the reader The user cannot change this field the name for the tracking area associated with the track segment linked to the left of the reader The user specifies the 2O character area name by using this dialog Only one reader should define a given area s name even though multiple readers may be linked to tracks in the tracking area If two readers assign different names to the same area a warning message will be generated when the track file is created A good rule is that only the Nort
6. No Name 00 Mexcali Norte 01 Hermosillo E mpal 02 Nogales Norte 03 Aguascalientes 04 Benjamin Hill 05 Hermosillo Benja 06 Nogales 07 Nogales Nacozari 08 Empalme Sufragio 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 09 Chihuahua Sufrag 010 Mazatlan Tepic E Sortby number C Sort by name Figure 28 Find Tracking Area To locate a particular tracking area click on the tracking area name as shown in Figure 28 and the mouse pointer will jump to the location of the tracking area on the screen 27 24 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 5 2 Viewing AEI Reader Names Track Segment Number and Switch Numbers reader names track segment numbers and switch numbers can appear the layout display To display any of these items click the View menu at the top of the screen and then select the appropriate menu item in the secondary display 5 3 Printing Layout Display To print the layout display select the File menu and then Print from the secondary menu 6 TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND UPDATES For technical support or more information on the maintenance agreement contact Signal Computer Consultants at Signal Computer Consultants Box 18445 Pittsburgh 15236 Tel 888 872 4612 toll free US and Canada only or 412 655 1884 Fax 412 655 1893 E mail signal signalcc com Web Page www aeitag com 28 24 February 2000 Rail Networ
7. and clicking the left mouse button Figure 18 will then be displayed Insert Bitmap x Bitmap Descriptions Original Width i50 3 Current Width 150 Height 63 Placein Background Foreground Bitmap Maintenance Figure 18 Inserting a Bitmap A list of available bitmaps appears in the Bitmap Description list box on the left hand side of the display Each layout file maintains its own unique list of available bitmaps A new layout file will not have any bitmaps until the user adds a bitmap to the file by use of the Bitmap Maintenance function This function can be called by clicking the Bitmap Maintenance button on this screen This display shows the bitmap s original width and height in pixels The user can change the size of the bitmap that is displayed on the network layout by changing the number of pixels in the Current Width and Height fields The user can make the displayed bitmap larger or smaller than the original Bitmaps can be displayed either in the background or foreground f in the background all track road and vehicle symbols will be displayed on top of the background bitmaps If the user 18 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS specifies the bitmap to be the foreground the bitmap will be written top of the track road and vehicle symbols Foreground bitmaps also are written on top of background bitmaps and background user text areas see P
8. 13 1 Adding Text Areas The user adds text by clicking on the Text button in the vertical tool bar pointing the cursor at the location in the layout display grid where the text is to be placed and then clicking the left mouse button Figure 22 will then be displayed Text Input Figure 22 Inserting Text 21 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS To add text the user types the text the Text box on the left hand side of the screen system creates a text box that is sized for the amount of text the user entered for the given font and font size The user can specify whether the text is to be left center or right justified by clicking the appropriate button Left Text Center Text or Right Text The user can also specify whether the text box will have a border around it by checking the Border box If the user wants to change the text s font font size or font style the user will click the Font button and the standard Font dialog will appear To change the text color the user clicks the Color button and the standard Color dialog will appear see Figure 83 The user then clicks on one of the color boxes for the color he or she wants to use for the text iia ES m m Figure 23 Color Dialog Text areas can be displayed in the background or foreground If in the background all track road and vehicle symbols will be displayed on top of the background text a
9. and the last a yard symbol To add one of these symbols to the layout click the button of the desired symbol The button will turn gray and the cursor will change shape representing the symbol selected The symbol is placed at the desired grid location by moving the cursor to the grid square and clicking the left mouse button The same symbol can be added to many grid squares by pointing to the squares and clicking the mouse button 3 3 Clearing Symbols from the Layout There are many ways to clear a symbol from a grid square These all start by placing the cursor on the grid square to be cleared Once on the grid square press the Delete key press the Backspace key which causes the cursor to move to the next grid square to the left double click the left mouse button click the right mouse button to cause a pop up menu to appear and choose the Delete Grid Square menu item If a mistake is made clicking Undo in the top toolbar will return the layout to the configuration prior to the last change 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS D uem EM AEI Rail System Netw File Edit View Find c projects ferromex ferr Mexicali Yard Symbol Tex Insert Modify Text Figure 4 Drawing Tools rH IA Insert Modify Bitmap 3 4 Linking There are four basic building devices for creating a rail network These are tracks switches readers
10. in the Bitmap Description field on the left hand side of the display and provide the bitmap s file name including its path To help the user find the bitmap file the user can click the Browse File Name button which causes the standard Open File dialog to appear Once a valid bitmap file name is selected the bitmap s graphics will appear in the lower right hand box The graphics shown will not be the actual size of the bitmap but will be sized to fit into this box The user will receive an error message if the bitmap is not valid or is greater than 60 000 bits To add the bitmap to the layout file click the Add button Once added the description the user entered for the bitmap will appear in the Bitmap Description list box on the left hand side of the display To remove or change a bitmap in the layout file select the bitmap description in the Bitmap Description list box by pointing the cursor at it and clicking the left mouse button The user can then remove it by clicking the Remove button or change the description or file name by clicking the Change button 20 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNAL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS Bitmap Maintenance Figure 21 Bitmap Maintenance 3 13 User Text Areas The user can add text to the layout display The user specifies the font font size and color of the text The user may generate a number of text areas see Paragraph 7 for the maximum number of text areas 3
11. it to the readers by the Servers See the AEI Rail Network Server User s Manual for information about entering the server s incoming number into the system the telephone number including any necessary prefixes of a second computer system that the reader can dial when it has new tag data to send If this field is left blank no number will be dialed the telephone number including any necessary pre fixes of a third computer system that the reader can dial when it has new tag data to send f this field is left blank no number will be dialed 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder Interchange point Interchange is left Interchange is right Time offset from interchange Time offset to interchange Interchanging railroad Milepost Yard entrance Yard is left Yard is right Check time Update Time Left Device Right Device COMPUTER CONSULTANTS el this field is checked if the reader is associated with an interchange with another railroad if selected the interchange point is located on the track segment linked to the left of the reader if selected the interchange point is located on the track segment linked to the right of the AEI reader a constant that represents the time in minutes it takes to travel the distance if any between the reader and an associated point where cars are interchanged with another railroad This constant is always added
12. operations will immediately delete the bitmap from the display The last operation click the right mouse button will cause a secondary menu to appear see Figure 20 Click the Delete Bitmap menu item to delete the bitmap 19 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 104 100 Delete bitmap COMPUTER CONS WLTANTS COMPUTEA CONSU Properties Duplicate Figure 20 Deleting a Bitmap 3 12 2 3 Changing Bitmaps To change a selected bitmap right click the mouse and choose the Properties menu item shown in Figure 20 Figure 18 will then appear Follow the instructions in Paragraph 3 12 1 Adding Bitmaps to change the displayed bitmap s graphics or size 3 12 2 4 Duplicating Bitmaps To duplicate a selected bitmap right click the mouse and then choose the Duplicate menu item shown in Figure 20 Another bitmap with the same characteristics as the selected bitmap will appear below and to the right of the selected bitmap 3 12 3 Bitmap Maintenance Each layout file maintains its own list of available bitmaps The user adds removes or changes this list through the Bitmap Maintenance function To display this function select the Configure Bitmap Maintenance item under the Setup menu or click the Bitmap Maintenance button in the Insert Bitmap dialog see Figure 18 Figure 21 will then appear To add a bitmap the user must enter a description of the bitmap
13. right normal position this field will be blank The user cannot change these fields Area the number of the tracking area in which the switch is located Area name the name of the tracking area in which the switch is located 13 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder 3 8 Yard Information COMPUTER CONSULTANTS m Information about each yard can be displayed To see information about a particular yard place the mouse pointer on the yard symbol and click the right mouse button This causes a pop up menu to be displayed Selecting the Properties item from the pop up menu causes the dialog in Figure 13 to appear I 2 1 Norte 3 ogales 9 ete 20 Nogales Orienteo Nogales Sur Ferroca Mexicali Hermosillo Norte Hermosillo Sur 5 5 5 1 Norte alme Chihuah 3 12 12 a Empalme Sur Yard Information x gt Yard number Yard name 1 Device Links pe tack dm none YARD hoe none none none Area po name Nogales Nacozar Comments Figure 13 Yard Information Figure 13 shows the data fields associated with the yard symbol The following describes each of the fields Yard number Yard name Device links Area Area name the number assigned to the yard by the program The user cannot change this field 20 character name assigned to the switch by the use
14. type a setup if you placed the disk into Drive A or b setup if you placed the disk into Drive B Follow the instructions in the Setup program to complete the installation When Rail Network Builder is installed the Setup program will create an Rail Network System folder and an Rail Network Builder program icon 1 2 Starting the Program To start the program click the Start button point to Program and then to the Rail Network System folder and click on the Rail Network Builder program After starting the program the network layout display appears see Figure 2 2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW Rail Network Builder creates a database that defines a railroad s reader network to the Rail Network Server and the AEI Rail Network Tracker The Rail Network Server is a program that runs on one or more dedicated computers that collect AEI tag information from wayside readers The tag information is automatically sent from the Readers to the computers running the Rail Network Server program over dial up telephone connections whenever a train passes reader site The computers running the AEI Rail Network Server program also periodically dial up the readers to insure that they are operating correctly and to obtain tag information that has not already been received For the remainder of this document the computers running the Rail Network Server program will be refe
15. will appear When the left mouse button is released the selected squares will become light blue 16 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS nd uthound 100 utbound 1lt Inbound 100 Inbound 100 101 100 BERESEaRS 101 100 AAR S ngussn pium Coo 103 100 5001 1 Emm ae E002 1 X E005 1 Ri F COMPUTER CONSYLTANTS Ld E004 1 Figure 17 Selected Group of Grid Squares 3 11 1 Clearing a Selected Group of Grid Squares To clear all of the squares in this group place the cursor on any square in the group and perform one of the following e press the Delete key e double click the left mouse button or e click the right button to cause a pop up menu to appear and choose the Delete grid squares menu item If a mistake is made clicking Undo in the top toolbar will return the layout to the configuration prior to the last change 3 11 2 Moving a Selected Group Of Grid Squares To move the selected group to another location on the grid place the cursor on any grid square in the selected group hold the left mouse down and drag the group to another location A blue rectangle equal to the size of the selected group will appear and move with the cursor When the left mouse button is released the selected group will move to the new location but will not change any symbols underneath the selected group until the group of squares in deselecte
16. Any time a symbol is added deleted or moved the program will automatically update the linkages Generally two track symbols that are linked together will not have different numbers There is an exception to this rule when vertical track symbols are used Figure 9 shows an example of a track Track 8 linking to two other tracks x 9 46 Figure 9 Vertical Track Exception 3 5 AEI Reader Information The system requires a considerable amount of information to be entered for each reader site To enter this information place the mouse pointer on the reader and click the right mouse button This causes a pop up menu to be displayed Selecting the Properties item from the pop up menu causes the dialog in Figure 10 to be displayed Figure 10 shows the data fields associated with each reader The following describes each of the fields Reader Number the number assigned to the reader by the program The user cannot change this Name 20 character name assigned to the reader by the user Site ID 7 character site identification name assigned to the reader by the user Telephone the telephone number the servers will use to call this reader site All access control and long distances prefixes must be included when this number is entered by the user Password a 20 character password that allows the servers to access the reader site Currently Southern Technology
17. Yard Numbering 6 Linking Devices senes 7 etie etes baee e be E 8 TrackiinformatioN m D 11 SWiteh INTOM OT ccrte REDEUNT RR RE RENE RR nt rtispel iiie bsc 18 Yard et c 14 TRACKING ARGOS EE 15 Device Status Ing s RD cuc ul 15 Selecting a Group OF Gnld OQquar escono ttti 18 Clearing a Selected Group of Grid Squares seen tentent tetto tiitettostttttessittttosa 17 Moving a Selected Group Of Grid Squares esent tentent 17 Bitmaps User Generated Graphics eese 18 Adding Bitrnaps s Modifying Bitmaps Moving Bitmaps Deleting Bitmaps Chargibig BETIS Bitmap Maintenance User Text Areas Adding Text ARGOS e s oe aot Moving Text Areas Deleting Text Areas Changing Text Areas Duplicating Text Background and Foreground General Rules essent CREATING THE TRACK 24 ro RR eee a
18. ack segment or switch adjacent to reader on the left but it does not align with the reader then the user must change the grid drawing so it will align or delete the reader 4 2 3 ERROR 301 Reader XX Reader is missing right link Each reader must have its left and right sides linked to a track segment or switch If there is not a track segment or switch adjacent to the reader on the right the user must create this link by using the appropriate drawing tools If there is a track segment or switch adjacent to reader on the right but it does not align with the reader the user must change the grid drawing so it will align or delete the reader 4 2 4 WARNING 100 Track XX Track is not associated with a reader Vehicles cannot be tracked if located on track segments that are not in a tracking area To be in a tracking area a track segment must be indirectly linked with an reader The linkage can be from the track segment to other devices that are linked to a reader 4 2 5 WARNING 200 Switch XX Switch is not associated with a reader Vehicles cannot be tracked through a switch if the switch is not in a tracking area To be in a tracking area a switch must be indirectly linked with an reader The linkage can be from the switch to other devices that are linked to a reader 4 2 6 WARNING 400 Yard XX Yard is not linked with anything A yard should have at least one link to a track segment or switch 26 24 February 2000
19. ale Reverse left device Track fi Reverse right device none Normal left device Track Normal right device Track a Area name Benjamin Hill Figure 12 Switch Information Figure 12 shows the data fields associated with the switch symbol The following describes each of the fields Switch number the number assigned to the switch by the program The user cannot change this field Switch name 20 character name assigned to the switch the user Reverse left device the device type and device number of the device linked to the left of the switch when the switch is in the reverse position If the switch does not have a left reverse position this field will be blank The user cannot change these fields Reverse right device the device type and device number of the device linked to the right of the switch when the switch is in the reverse position If the switch does not have a right reverse position this field will be blank The user cannot change these fields Normal left device the device type and device number of the device linked to the left of the switch when the switch is in the normal position If the switch does not have a left normal position this field will be blank The user cannot change these fields Normal right device the device type and device number of the device linked to the right of the switch when the switch is in the normal position If the switch does not have a
20. ali s reader s information display in the Right Area Name field see Figure 10 Mexicali Norte Area Mexicali E Nogales Norte Nogales Oriente a Nogales Sur Ht Benjamin Hill Area BEST Mexican Hermosillo Norte Hermosillo Area Hermosillo Sur Chi Figure 14 Tracking Area The Mexicali Norte tracking area above the Mexicali reader site is associated with only one reader Because the North end top of the tracking area is an interchange point with another railroad this area was also named in the Mexicali reader s information display see Figure 10 3 10 Device Status Line At the bottom of the layout display is a device status line see Figure 15 This contains the gird position of the mouse which is updated as the mouse pointer is moved around the layout display and information about a device to which the mouse may be pointing 15 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS Escalor E sufr gio Sur Device information line Grid position Naranja Torreon Taller g Norte N g Pars gt x 10y 1 Reader 2 Left Trk 6 Right Trk 4 Name Hermosillo Norte North Left Left Area 4 Right Area 5 Site ID HRMSLON Tel 0162565522 Figure 15 Device Status Line In the example shown in Figure 15 the mouse pointer was pointing
21. ame Beniamin Hill Cancel Help 21 28 Hermosillo Norte Figure 11 Track Information Figure 11 shows the data fields associated with each track segment The following describes each of the fields Track number Name Left Device Right Device Area Area name 3 7 Switch Information the number assigned to the track segment by the program The user cannot change this a 20 character name assigned to the track segment the user the device type and device number of the device linked to the left of the track segment The user cannot change these fields the device type and device number of the device linked to the right of the track segment The user cannot change these fields the number of the tracking area in which the track segment is located the name of the tracking area in which the track segment is located Information about each switch can be displayed To see the information for a particular switch place the mouse pointer on the switch symbol and click the right mouse button This causes a pop up menu to be displayed Selecting the Properties item from the pop up menu causes the dialog in Figure 12 to appear 12 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS co 0 2 Mexicali Nogale BEIGE ir Eg 2 Mexicali _ suene Switch number 0 Switch name a Nog
22. and yards All of these devices must be linked together to create a rail network Rail Network Builder automatically makes these linkages However certain drawing rules must be followed for the proper linkages to be created The most basic rule is that symbols such as track and switch symbols must align with each other for them to link See Figure 5 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS al Computer Consultants Telephon Track and switch symbols align and will link with each other Track and switch symbols do not align and will not link with each other Figure 5 Linkages 3 4 1 Track Switch Reader and Yard Numbering Each time a new track switch reader or yard is added to the layout the AEI Rail Network Builder program automatically assigns a number to it The numbering starts with and no two tracks for example can have the same number Numbers are only unique for each device type therefore there can be a Track a Switch and Reader Each switch and reader symbol added to the layout will be assigned a number different from other devices of its type This is not true for track symbols that align with each other Track symbols that align with each other will usually be given the same track number to form a single track segment Figure 6 shows several examples of numbering of track symbols The track numbers appear next to the symbo
23. aragraph 3 14 for more information Figure 19 shows the effect of adding a foreground bitmap to the layout display This bitmap is displayed in its original size 102 100 2103 100 5001 1 104 100 E002 1 Boos 1 COMPUTER CONSULTANTS mi L e COMPUTER CONSULTANTS E004 1 Figure 19 Foreground Bitmap 3 12 2 Modifying Bitmaps Bitmaps already displayed can be easily moved deleted resized or duplicated To perform any of these operations the displayed bitmap must first be selected To select a particular bitmap first click the bitmap symbol on the left hand side of the display and then point to the bitmap to be modified The cursor will change in shape from the bitmap symbol to an arrow 3 12 2 1 Moving Bitmaps To move an existing bitmap select it by pointing to the bitmap then hold down the left mouse button which will cause a blue rectangle to appear around the bitmap While holding down the left mouse button drag the bitmap to another position on the screen If the bitmap is dragged near the edge of the screen the screen will automatically scroll in the direction of the cursor movement Helease the left mouse when the bitmap has been positioned in the desired location Deleting Bitmaps The operation of deleting a bitmap begins with selecting the bitmap Then press the Delete key double click the left mouse button or click the right mouse button The first two
24. case the file name is ferromex lay The program can handle multiple layout files To create a new file open or save an existing layout file select the File menu item and the secondary menu in Figure 3 will appear Once changes to the layout file are completed the Create Network Track File item is selected to create the track file The track file contains the database used by the Rail Network Server and AEI Rail Network Tracker programs Until this file is created and is updated in the servers and the computer running the AEI Rail Network Tracker program the changes made to the layout file will not take effect Prior to creating the track file the Rail Network Builder will check the layout for errors More information on this can be found in Paragraph 4 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS m Rail System Network Builde File Edit View Find Help New Track Layout File Open Track Layout File Save Track Layout File Save Track Layout File Create Network Track File Print Setup Print Track Layout Diagram Exit 1 Figure 3 File Menu 3 2 Drawing Track Switch and Reader Symbols on the Layout It is quite easy to draw the network layout The buttons at the left of the screen see Figure 4 represent the various drawing symbols The first 12 symbols are track symbols the next twelve are switch symbols the next is an reader symbol
25. ch ISA card with 8 modems ISA card with 8 modems Computer A Computer B Active Active Computer A Computer B Failed Failed Watchdog Timer Computer Controller Reader Server Laser printer EJ Ethernet Hub AEI Reader Server AEI Train Car Tracking Computer Figure 1 Hardware Configuration 3 BUILDING THE RAIL NETWORK LAYOUT When the Rail Network Builder is started the first screen to appear is the Rail Network Display see Figure 2 The first time the program is run the initial display will show a new network layout with all of the grids blank 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS E AEI System Network Builder Signal Computer Consultants Telephone 412 655 1884 File View Find Help eprojectsMerromesMerromex lay Undc Save a Ferrocarril Mexicano Pic Ferrocarril m ae Mexicano s Es rj NV Jimenez 4 a _ _ v _ _ _ __ i 00 3 2 L3 x 27 y 38 Figure 2 AEI Rail Network Layout Display 3 1 Files The Rail Network Builder program creates two files These are the layout file lay and the track trk Located below the File menu in Figure 2 is the name of the layout file currently being displayed In this
26. d This feature allows the user to move the selected group again without affecting the grid squares it overlaid Once the group is deselected the symbols the group overlaid will be replaced by the symbols in the group Again the Undo button can always be used to return the display to its configuration prior to the last action To deselect a group place the cursor on any grid square outside of the selected group and click the left mouse button 17 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 3 12 Bitmaps User Generated Graphics The users can add their own graphics to the AEI Rail Network Layout display These graphics are in the form of bitmaps which can be copied from a variety of sources such as Clip Art packages or generated by the user using software such as Paint These bitmaps may represent the user company s logo or physical items at the user s facility such as buildings roads rivers etc All bitmap files have a file extension of bmp The system limits a single bitmap size to 60 000 bytes and the number of colors to 16 The user may generate a number of bitmaps see Paragraph 7 for the maximum number of bitmaps Any bitmap can be used many times and resized when inserted in the layout display 3 12 1 Adding Bitmaps The user adds bitmaps by clicking the bitmap symbol button on the left hand side of the screen moving the cursor to the intended location in the layout display grid
27. hern or Western most reader should assign the area name the number of the tracking area associated with the track linked to the right of the reader The user cannot change this field the name for the tracking area associated with the track segment linked to the right of the reader For further information see the description for the preceding Area Name readers report tag directions as either North South West East This button is used to define which of the two linked tracking areas is the North or West of the reader If selected the left tracking area is North or West of the reader selected the right tracking area is North or West of the reader text comments about the reader site which are entered by the user Users of the Rail Network Server and Rail Network Tracker programs can view these comments Information about a particular track segment can be displayed by placing the mouse pointer on any track symbol in the segment and clicking the right mouse button This will cause a pop up menu to appear Selecting the Properties item from the pop up menu causes the dialog in Figure 11 to be displayed 11 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS m 0 0 Mexicali 2 26 H Track Information x Track number Ten Track name Left device Reader Ho Right device Switch rj p Area IN Area n
28. ing a Bitmap iate Ree eU ch D pte ED EE E tetas RAE ERE e 18 Figure 19 Foreground Bitmap iae eec mee eee P e ence Dedi e HER e OR Pets 19 Figure 20 Deleting a Bitmap Pe eee EO ec rede pet een te EP els 20 Figure 2 Bitmap Maintenance 2 aee che e e RU Rp ee eee Det pee d e ep cape iE m uet 21 Figure 22 Inserting Text o eere eat eee iret eter aeree ede e ed eben never eS epe edes erae ee TIR RE ENDS 21 Figure 23 Color Dialog tam tee ede eee er tette tete d d te oc loe cd ee EDU ines 22 Figure 24 Foresround Text Area seo a ied deseas ee e sd chav aee VENE o 22 Figure 25 Deleting Text Area dame rd ete Festi 23 Figure 20 Create Network Track File ne reader Peste e oe iita te e t REDE EROR ve 24 Figure 27 Error Message Window iet e tha aed ete ve ER 25 Figure 28 Find Tracking Area eed Fe a rettet Beet evi d Eo oe dta te e e EAD 27 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS el 1 INSTALLATION 1 1 Loading the Program Rail Network Builder is a 32 bit Windows program that will run on systems running Windows 95 Windows 98 or Windows 3 51 or later It will not run under Windows 3 1 The Rail Network Builder program comes on a single 3 5 diskette To install the program insert the diskette into your drive and click the Start and then the Run buttons In the Open box
29. k Builder 7 SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS Maximum Number of Track Segments Maximum Number of Readers Maximum Number of Switches Maximum Number of Yards Maximum Number of Tracking Areas Maximum Network Layout Horizontal Grid Size Maximum Network Layout Vertical Grid Size Maximum Individual Bitmaps per Layout file Maximum Bitmap Insertions per Layout File Maximum Text Areas per Layout File Maximum Number of Layout Files 29 200 100 250 100 100 500 500 100 200 100 Unlimited COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS This Page is Blank 30 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder reader See reader Server 1 Tracking 1 area See tracking areas background bitmap 18 rules 24 text area 22 bitmap add 18 changing 20 delete 19 duplicate 20 maintenance 20 maximum 29 modify 19 move 19 resize 20 Bitmap Maintenance Function 20 bitmaps 18 color text 22 device numbering See layout device numbering device status line 15 error checking 25 error message window 25 error messages 26 file creating track file 24 layout 3 track 3 finding devices 27 finding tracking areas 27 foreground bitmap 18 rules 24 text area 22 graphics See bitmaps hardware configuration 1 installation 1 layout building 2 deleting a group of grid squares 17 deleting symbols 4 COMPUTER CONSULTANTS el Index device numbe
30. l Any time track symbols do not align with each other as seen with the right most symbol for Track Segment O and left most for Track Segment 1 a new number is assigned A new track number 15 also assigned if an reader or switch symbol is inserted between two or three adjacent track symbols 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS nd Figure 6 Track Numbering Examples 3 4 2 Linking Devices Hail Network Builder automatically links devices together Tracks readers have links to the left and right and switches have left right and reverse links In Figure 7 the mouse pointer was placed on the reader symbol which caused a portion of the reader s status to be displayed at the bottom of the screen The status line for Reader O shows that it is linked to the left to Track 3 and to the right to Track 4 10 33 Reader 0 Left Trk 3 Right Trk 4 North Right Left Area 0 Right Area 1 Site Figure 7 Reader Linkages In Figure 8 the mouse pointer was placed on Track 4 which caused its status line to be displayed Track A s status line shows that it is linked to the left to Reader and to the right to Switch 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 13 33 Track 4 Reader 0 Right Sw 0 Area 1 Figure 8 Track Linkages
31. ned in the desired location 3 13 2 2 Deleting Text Areas The operation of deleting a text area begins with selecting the area to be deleted Then press the Delete key double click the left mouse button or click the right mouse button The first two operations will immediately delete the text area from the display The last operation click the right mouse button will cause a secondary menu to appear see Figure 25 Click the Delete Text menu item to delete the text Yard Example Delete text Properties A001 01 5001 1 Duplicate 4 002 1 E002 1 Figure 25 Deleting a Text Area 3 13 2 3 Changing Text Areas To change a selected text area right click the mouse and then choose the Properties menu item shown in Figure 25 Figure 22 will then appear Follow the instructions in Paragraph 3 13 1 to change the text area s data font font size font style or color 3 13 2 4 Duplicating Text Areas To duplicate a selected text area right click the mouse and then choose the Duplicate menu item shown in Figure 25 Another text area with the same characteristics as the selected text area will appear below and to the right of the selected text area 23 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS m 3 14 Background and Foreground General Rules The system was designed to provide the user with maximum flexibility in deciding how graphics and text are displayed Part of this fle
32. ociated with a reader WARNING 100 Track 115 Track is not associated with a reader ERROR 300 Reader 60 Reader is missing left link ERROR 301 Reader 60 Reader is missing right link Pie WARNING 400 Yard 1 Yard is not linked with anything L WARHIHG 501 Area 5 Area name in conflict with Readers 3 s name f WARNING 501 Area 6 Area name in conflict with Readers 4 s name WARNING 501 Area 9 Area name in conflict with Readers 53 s name WARNING 501 Area 12 Area name in conflict with Readers 54 s name WARNING 501 Area 29 Area name in conflict with Readers 19 s name Figure 27 Error Message Window The Error Message Window shows up to 50 warning and error messages The warning messages are in red and the error messages are in blue Each error and warning message is assigned a unique number for easy reference Each also identifies the associated device or area that created the message The user can quickly locate the device or area by placing the mouse pointer on the line containing the message and double clicking the left mouse button This will cause the Error Message Window to be minimized and the grid squares of the problem device or the devices in the problem area to be highlighted in blue The easiest way to locate and correct problems is to use the Prev Error and Next Error buttons in the tool bar at the top of the screen To see the next message in the list the user can click the Next Error button
33. r unlike other devices yards can be linked to as many as eight devices There is one link for each of the eight grid squares surrounding the grid square that contains the yard symbol The eight fields in the display represent each of these surrounding grid squares in their positions relative to the grid square containing the yard The user cannot change these fields the number of the tracking area in which the yard is located the name of the tracking area in which the yard is located 14 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS a Comments the user can add text comments about the yard to this area Users of the Rail Network Server and Rail Network Tracker programs can view these comments 3 9 Tracking Areas One of the more important functions this program performs in defining tracking areas When an Reader site reports rail vehicle passing the site the vehicle is reported as being in a particular tracking area That tracking area will remain the vehicle s reported location until an Reader site reports it moving into another tracking area Reader locations therefore define the boundaries of tracking areas In Figure 14 the Benjamin Hill tracking area is defined as all track segments and switches located below the Mexicali reader below the Nogales reader and above the Hermosillo Norte reader The name Benjamin Hill was entered into the Mexic
34. reas If the user specifies the text area to be in the foreground the text area will be written on top of the track road and vehicle symbols Foreground text areas also are written on top of background bitmaps and background user text areas see Paragraph 3 14 for more information Figure 24 shows the effect of adding a foreground text area to the network layout COMPUTER CONSULTANTS iL L LULLLULULAO ULUUNIGGCSCULAKLLLOAGSLLI Figure 24 Foreground Text Area 3 13 2 Modifying Text Text areas displayed on the layout display can be easily moved deleted changed or duplicated To perform any of these operations the text area must first be selected To select a particular text area first click on the Text button in the vertical tool bar and then point to the text area that you 22 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS want to modify As soon as you point a text area the cursor will change in shape from the Text symbol to an arrow 3 13 2 1 Moving Text Areas To move a text area point to the text area then hold down the left mouse button which will cause a blue rectangle to appear around the text area While holding the left button down drag the text area to another position on the screen If the text area is dragged near the edge of the screen the screen will automatically scroll in the direction of the cursor movement Release the left mouse button when the text area is positio
35. ring 6 drawing symbols 4 linking devices 5 7 moving a selected group of squares 17 printing 28 selecting a group of grid squares 16 layout file See file layout Layout file data 29 linking devices See layout linking devices printing layout display 28 reader information 8 maximum number 29 starting the program 1 switch information 12 maximum number 29 Technical Support 28 text area 21 add 21 background and foreground 22 changing 23 color 22 deleting 23 duplicating 23 font font size font style 22 maximum 29 modifying 22 moving 23 track information 11 maximum number 29 track file track See file track tracking areas description 15 maximum number 29 naming 11 viewing device numbers 28 reader names 28 yard information 14 maximum number 29 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder SIGNOL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 24 February 2000
36. rred to simply as the servers or servers The server or servers pass the tag information to another computer that runs the AEI Rail Network Tracker a program that graphically represents and records vehicle movements based on the information received from the servers Figure 1 shows the hardware configuration of the system The Rail Network Builder is used to draw map of the railroad network This map shows the location of tracks switches and readers It also defines how these various items interrelate to each other One of the more important functions this program performs is defining tracking areas When an reader site reports a rail vehicle passing the site the vehicle s location is reported as being in a particular tracking area That tracking area will remain its reported location until another reader site reports it moving into another tracking area AEI reader locations therefore define the boundaries of tracking areas The Rail Network Builder is also used to define the attributes of each Reader These attributes include the reader s name site identification and telephone number 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder Seven Telephone Lines in One Group 5 Telephone Telephone Line Telepho ne Telephone COMPUTER CONSULTANTS aT Telephone Seven Telephone Lines Telephone Lines Seven Telephone Lines Automatic Gang Swit
37. rted changes made by AEI Hail Network Builder program will not take effect To create a track file select the Create Network Track File menu item under the File menu See Figure 26 File Edit View Find Help New Track Layout File Open Track Layout File Save Track Layout File Save Track Layout File As Create Network Track File Print Setup Print Track Layout Diagram Exit 1 Figure 26 Create Network Track File 24 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 4 1 Error Checking Rail Network Builder will check the layout before creating the track file If it does not find any errors it will create the track file which will have the same name as the layout file but with a trk file extension the program detects potential problems but not critical errors the user will be given the option to correct the potential problems or to create the track file If either the user decides not to create the track file because of potential problems or there are critical errors an Error Message Window will appear see Figure 27 Prev Error and Next Error buttons used to make the previous or next message the current message Device associated with the current message Error Message Window OF x There are 2 errors and there are 8 warnings The maximum number of errors displayed is 50 100 Track 114 Track is not ass
38. s reader sites do not support password protection Owner a eO character name of the owner of the reader site 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS a I AEI Reader Information xi Mexicali reader number SitelD Telephone 01 65434617 Password Owner Ferromex Dial out 1 prefix o1 Dial out 112 Dial out 113 Interchange point Interchange is left Interchange is right Yard entrance Time offset from interchange 30 Time offset to interchange 30 Interchanging railroad Union Pacific Milepost Check every feo minutes Update every 120 minutes Left device Right device oy Left area fo Name MexcaiNote Rightarea 4 Name Benjamin Hil Left area is North w est C Right area is North West rr Special comments e X Yard is left Yard is right 5116 ee Cut Dial out 1 prefix Dial out 2 Dial out 3 Figure 10 Reader Information the user enters in this field the area code country code and any other necessary pre fixes that may be necessary to dial out to the server in the event the server is not in the same area code as the reader The Rail Network Server program accesses this prefix from the track file that is created by the Rail Network Builder program includes it with the server s basic telephone number and automatically sends
39. to Reader 2 therefore some on the information found in the reader s information display see Figure 10 for Reader 2 is shown on this line The device status line will show information about track segments switches readers and yards when the mouse pointer is placed on these devices It will show information about a tracking area if the mouse pointer is located on a grid square somewhere in the tracking area but not on a device In Figure 16 for example the 11 14 Area 4 Benjamin Hill Left 3 Right 11 Top Y 3 Bottom Y 17 Figure 16 Tracking Area Status Line Ie s Anche Mort LeftX RightX TopY and BottomY are the grid square limits of the tracking area 3 11 Selecting a Group of Grid Squares To make it easier to configure the rail network layout the user can select several grid squares which can then be moved or cleared as an intact group The left most top button in the left hand tool bar is used to select a group of squares When this button is clicked the cursor will turn to cross hairs when it is moved over the grid To select a group of grid squares place the cursor in the grid square just above and to the left of the top left most square to be selected hold down the left mouse button and drag the cursor to the grid square just below and to the right of the group to be selected While dragging the cursor a blue rectangle which encompasses the selected squares
40. to the tag read time to calculate the time of interchange for vehicles arriving from another railroad It will normally be a negative number so that the tag read time 15 actually decremented to calculate the interchange time Only in instances where the vehicles arriving from another railroad pass the associated reader prior to the interchange will the constant be a positive number this field serves the same function as the previous field for vehicles departing to another railroad and will normally be positive number Only in instances where the vehicles departing to another railroad pass the associated reader subsequent to the interchange will the constant be a negative number 20 character name of the interchanging railroad 10 character milepost designation for the reader the Rail Network System is designed to work with the Rail and Road Terminal Manager This check box indicates if the reader is associated with a yard entrance if selected the yard entrance is located on the track linked to the left of the reader if selected the yard entrance is located on the track linked to the right of the reader the servers periodically dial out to the reader sites to check if they are operating correctly The user specifies in this field how often the servers will check the designated reader site the servers periodically dial out to the reader sites to check if the
41. which will cause the next message to appear in an area immediately above the grid and the grid squares of the problem device or the devices in the problem area to be highlighted in blue The Prev Error button performs the same function for the previous message in the Error Message Window 25 24 February 2000 Rail Network Builder COMPUTER CONSULTANTS eel Any time the user clicks one of the drawing tool symbols to correct a problem the problem devices will no longer be highlighted 4 2 Error and Warning Messages The following is a list of the error and warning messages 4 2 1 ERROR 212 Switch XX Switch has missing links Each switch must have its normal left and right ends and its reverse end linked to a track segment switch or reader If there are no track segments switches or readers adjacent to the endpoints of the three switch positions the user must create them by using the appropriate drawing tools If there are track segments switches or readers adjacent to all three end points of the switch but they do not align with the switch the user must change the grid drawing so that they will align or delete the switch 4 2 2 ERROR 300 Reader XX Reader is missing left link Each reader must have its left and right sides linked to a track segment or switch If there is not a track segment or switch adjacent to the reader on the left the user must create this link by using the appropriate drawing tools If there is a tr
42. xibility allows the user to designate which objects will be placed on top of other objects when objects overlap each other The user controls this by designating which bitmaps and text areas are in the displays background or foreground The system controls the display overlap by writing the background objects first then the device symbols and finally the foreground objects The following is the order in which various objects are written to the screen Background Bitmaps Background Text Areas Track Switch Reader and Yard Symbols Foreground Bitmaps Foreground Text Areas If the user has several bitmaps in the background and these bitmaps overlap the bitmap that was last selected by the user click the bitmap symbol on the left side of the display point to the bitmap to select and click the left mouse button will be the bitmap that will be placed on top of the other background bitmaps The same rule applies to two foreground bitmaps or two text areas that are either both in the background or foreground 4 CREATING THE TRACK FILE Once the layout is completed a track file trk must be created The Rail Network Server and Network Tracker programs use the information in the track file to determine how to communicate with the readers and track vehicle movements Until the track file is created transferred to the computers running the AEI Server and AEI Rail Network Tracker programs and these programs are re sta
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