Passenger Information System(PIS) of Metro

The twentieth century's population explosion engenders a series of problems, such as traffic jam, environment pollution, energy crisis, etc. Currently, big cities around the world need to develop urban traffic system and relieve the pressure on already-busy roads. As a safe, comfortable, punctual, environmentally friendly and huge-capacity transportation tool, urban rail transit has been greatly developed. More and more cities have been devoted to building comfortable, convenient, efficient metro system.

Based on computer system and multi-media network technology, PIS of metro provides passengers with all kinds of service information via display terminals in stations or train compartments. The information range from notices for passengers, time tables, automatic station name announcement, weather forecast, real-time news, live matches, advertisements, to many other real-time multi-media information. When fire, earthquake or terrorist attack occurs, the system provides real-time information for emergency evacuation. After receiving and processing information from wireless data communication modules, vehicle-mounted devices display them via liquid crystal displays in stations or train compartments, guiding passengers to use the metro services safely and efficiently. 

System Characteristics

1. Convenient and economical, with wireless mobile communication between train compartments and control rooms.

2. Previously, the station name announcing of metro was achieved by the driver pressing a corresponding button. Mistakes often occur with the manual operation, whereas the wireless technology realizes the wireless automatic control.

3. Time of arrival and departure, automatic station name announcing, train enquiry, weather forecast and real-time news and many other information services can reflect the passenger-friendliness, promptness and efficiency of modern metro.

The PIS falls into three communication layers:

First layer: Central Control Unit
As the decision-making center for safety management authority, central control unit manages and regulates the whole system. When fire, earthquake or terrorist attack occurs, central control unit issues government notices, evacuation commands and other instructions to sub-station control centers.

Second layer: Sub-station Control Room
Sub-station Control Room can communicate with vehicle-mounted control unit on a wireless basis, passing the commands from Central Control Unit, as well as information including notices for passengers, weather forecast, time of departure and arrival, real-time news and advertisements. When a train arrives at a station, the wireless device in the station can communicate with the one on the train compartment, passing to it the station information. After receiving the information, wireless modules installed in the train compartment deliver them to passengers via broadcasting system on the train, preparing passengers for getting off the train.

Third layer: Display Terminals in Stations and Train Compartments
Wireless data communication modules are installed in the vehicle-mounted control unit, to receive various kinds of information from Sub-station Control Room and display the information via liquid crystal displays installed in each compartment. Notices for passengers, automatic station name announcements, time of arrival and other voice information are all achieved by vehicle-mounted control units.