WO2009022999A1

WO2009022999A1 - Integrated system for digital selective calling and for maritime electronic navigational cartography

Info

Publication number: WO2009022999A1
Application number: PCT/UA2007/000073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Shishkin; Vitaliy Mykhaylovych Koshevyy; Volodymyr Sergiyovych Zaichko
Original assignee: Odessa National Maritime Academy
Priority date: 2007-08-13
Filing date: 2007-12-03
Publication date: 2009-02-19
Also published as: UA90497C2; DE112007003617T5; DE202007019327U1

Abstract

The inventive integrated system for digital selective calling (DSC) and for maritime electronic navigational cartography relates to radio communication engineering and can be used in shipborne equipment for calling ship and cost stations in the ultrasonic band (USB) with the aid of DSC with the view of subsequently establishing radio-telephone communications. Said system comprises a transmitter receiver, a DSC unit, an automated identification system unit (AIS), an electronic cartographic navigation information system unit and a bidirectional interface unit. The two-way data exchange between the DSC unit and the electronic cartographic navigation information system unit makes it possible to display the received calls on the monitor of the electronic cartographic navigation information system in the context of a current navigation situation. The invention makes it possible to increase the rapidity of taking decisions during complicated maneuvering, thereby improving safety of navigation and simultaneously alleviating the professional burden on a navigator.

Description

INTEGRATED DIGITAL ELECTION CALLING SYSTEM AND MARINE ELECTRON NAVIGATION

CARTOGRAPHY

The invention relates to radio communications technology and can be used in ship equipment to call ship and coast stations in the ultrashort wave (VHF) range using digital selective calling (DSC) in order to establish a subsequent radiotelephone exchange.

The number of known devices for digital selective calling, which is currently used on ships for radio communications. In this direction, the maritime telecommunications system for DSC for US patent Ns 4491966 dated January 1, 1985 (Maritime Telemno mmímiсatiop Sustеm, Morert et al., Ipt. Sl.Z H04B 7/00, H04Q 7/00) is known. The system contains a DSC unit, radio transmitters and radio receivers of VHF and shortwave (KB) bands. With the help of this system it is possible to call ship and coast stations using DSC. The disadvantage of the device according to the specified patent are limited functionality, in particular the lack of binding the called / calling vessel to the current navigation environment.

Also known is a VHF radio set with a digital selective call, which contains a transceiver and a digital selective call unit. Such a VHF radio installation in accordance with the requirements of the International Convention of the LAS Convention (Life of Life at Sea) should be installed on all sea vessels. This device allows you to create a digital sequence in the format that is defined in the Recommendation of the International Telecommunication Union ITU-R M.493 (Digital Specially-powered Call Server System for Mobile Internet Service). A VHF radio installation with DSC is given, for example, in the book: Ship Radio: A Handbook on the Organization and Radio GMDSS equipment / V.Yu.Reznikov, Yu.M.Ustinov, A.A.Durov and others. Under the general ed. Yu.M. Ustinov. - SPb .: Shipbuilding, 2002, her. 192-195.

The disadvantage of this device is the limitation of functionality, in particular, the lack of binding of the called / calling vessel to the current navigation environment.

On the other hand, an electronic map navigation system according to the invention of the United States of America N ° Ш878 dated October 3, 2000 is known (Елесрописс ааrt Assistеd Nаvigаtiop Sеstеm, Greer et al, Ipt. C1.7 GOlS 5/02). The system contains a GPS receiver (Global Mobile Satellite), a navigation input, an operator input, a human-machine interface that is connected to a GPS receiver, a navigation input, an operator input and a display, a marine map database server, a connected human-interface and database of nautical charts. The system allows you to display the surrounding navigation situation on the display with reference to electronic navigation maps. The operator using such a system has the ability to monitor the navigation situation on the display in addition to visual observation. However, in the given system there is no DSC equipment in general, and therefore the operator does not have the principal possibility to form and receive DSC calls.

The closest to the invention is a device for digital selective calling with increased efficiency according to the patent of Ukraine N ° 78762 of April 25, 2007, IPC indices (8th ed.) H04Q 7/32, B63B 49/00. The device contains a transceiver, a digital selective call unit, an automatic identification system device, an electronic chart navigation information system device connected to an automatic identification system device, and a control unit connected by its input to an electronic map navigation information system and output to a keyboard bus module digital selective calling. The specified device allows the watch attendant from the operator’s seat cartographic navigation information system (ECDIS) to form a digital selective call and send it via the transceiver. The device allows the watch attendant to be relieved of the routine operation of manual call formation, replacing this operation with the “click” keypad on the ECDIS monitor and thereby reducing the time spent on organizing communications. This device combines the advantages of call selectivity, provided by DSC, with the speed of establishing a radiotelephone communication, commensurate in time with direct access to VHF radio on the air.

However, this device does not have the technical ability to transfer information from the TID unit to an ECDIS device and therefore does not allow displaying digital selective calls received from other ship and coast stations on an ECDIS monitor. In the indicated device, the received call is displayed only in the form of alphanumeric data on the mini-display of the DSC unit without linking them to the current navigation situation. Therefore, the watch officer does not have the ability to quickly compare the location of the calling vessel with the navigation situation, which is especially important in conditions of constrained navigation. The watch officer, who is currently working behind the ECDIS monitor, will not be able to quickly respond to it or will completely skip this call in case of a tense navigation situation. To receive a DSC and respond to it, the watch officer must manually review the contents of the received call on the DSC unit. This distracts him from monitoring the navigation situation and ultimately leads to a decrease in the safety of navigation.

The basis of the invention is the task of creating a system that allows extending the functionality of known DSC devices, which ultimately contributes to improving the safety of navigation while reducing the occupational load on the watch of the watch. This goal is achieved by the fact that the device containing the transceiver, the DSC unit, the automatic identification system (AIS) device and the ECDIS device, is inserted a bidirectional interface unit connected between the DSC unit and the ECDIS device.

Expansion of functionality is achieved by the fact that due to the introduction of a new unit and connections, two-way information communication is technically provided between the DSC unit and the ECDIS device. This allows you to display received calls on the ECDIS monitor with reference to the specific ship (coast) station and the current navigation situation. This also creates the possibility of duplication of control of all functions of the DSC from the position of the ECDIS operator, and with the help of more simple actions. The watch officer from the workplace with ECDIS has the ability to perform all the functions of receiving and forming DSC, without being distracted from monitoring the navigation situation. Received calls are immediately attached to a specific station on the ECDIS monitor. Therefore, the watch attendant has the opportunity to assess the navigation situation immediately after receiving the call, waiting for the full speech report on VHF radio. Thereby, an increase in the efficiency of both the radio communication establishment process and decision making on ship maneuvering is achieved, which is especially important in conditions of constrained navigation.

The figure shows the block diagram of the proposed system with the following symbols: 1 - VHF radio installation with DSC; 2 - transceiver; 3 - DSC block; 4 - AIS device; 5 - ECDIS device; 6 is a bidirectional interface unit. Staff radio and navigation equipment installed on ships is circled in dotted lines.

A bidirectional interface block is inserted into the device containing the transceiver, the DSC unit, the AIS device and the ECDIS device, which is connected between the DSC unit and the ECDIS device.

The system works in this way. The ECDIS monitor displays ship and coast stations, which are identified by AIS.

The automatic identification system operates in the VHF band on dedicated channels and performs automatic continuous exchange of static, dynamic and cruise ship data in time-sharing mode. AIS equipment should be installed on all ships of 300 gross tonnage and more tons registered for international flights.

All stations equipped with AIS equipment continuously and automatically transmit their 9-page identifier, coordinates, course and other parameters of the vessel in the UHF range on special AIS channels. Other vessels receive signals from other AIS stations within VHF communications, so that all stations equipped with AIS are displayed on the ECDIS device monitor with the ability to view parameters for each displayed vessel. The operator of the "click" manipulator mouse for the selected vessel can view all available information on it. The ECDIS device is performed on the basis of a personal computer with the appropriate electronic mapping software.

The DSC unit and the ECDIS device are connected to each other through a bidirectional interface unit that provides two-way information exchange between them.

If it is necessary to call the station of the maritime mobile service, the operator makes a “click” with the manipulator a mouse according to the image of the desired station - a seagoing vessel, or a coast station. In this case, an information sequence arrives at the DSC block, corresponding to the content of the desired call. The operator selects the content of the call or enters from the ECDIS monitor. Further DSC is transmitted through the transceiver.

In a digital selective call, a certain amount of data is transmitted via digital codes. These data include: 9-digit digital identifier of the ship or coast station, coordinated Nata, the number of the working radiotelephone channel, call priority, and other data. In the VHF band, the DSC is made on the 70th channel specially allocated for this purpose in order to inform you of the desired subsequent communication via the radiotelephone. In the case of receiving a call on the DSC unit of the receiving station, an audible and visual alarm is triggered. Installation of DSC equipment is mandatory for all ships that make international flights.

When receiving a call on the DSC block, an alarm is triggered. At the same time, the received call through the bidirectional interface block is sent to the ECDIS device and displayed on its monitor as a dynamic mark tied to the ship or coast station that made the call. In this case, the operator can immediately assess the navigation situation with reference to the calling vessel. By clicking the mouse on the marked vessel, the operator from the ECDIS command site has the opportunity to view the detailed composition of the received call, without being distracted from observing the navigation situation on the ECDIS monitor.

Thus, the device allows the operator to form and receive DSC, while behind the ECDIS monitor, and the called / calling vessel is tied to a specific navigation environment, which creates a holistic view of the navigation situation of the watch officer.

Bidirectional communication through the bidirectional interface block also provides duplication of all the operational functions of the DSC from the position of the ECDIS operator. At the same time all the regular functions of the DSC and ECDIS equipment are stored in full. If necessary, the watch attendant can manually form or view the composition of the DSC directly on the DSC unit. Therefore, the proposed system does not impair the operational requirements for DSC equipment in the global maritime distress communication system and to ensure the safety of navigation (GMDSS). Thus, the proposed system allows the following functionalities to be implemented to enhance the safety of navigation:

1) automate manual operations of forming and viewing DSC;

2) to ensure duplication of all functions of the DSC unit from the position of the ECDIS operator;

3) “bind” the vessel that made the call, or who needs to be called to the current navigation environment, which is especially important for operational decision-making in a complex navigation environment in conditions of dangerous maneuvering;

4) to avoid some mistakes and misses of the operator during the formation of DSC, subject to additional appropriate software, which will lead to a decrease in the number of cases of violation of radio communication rules.

It should be emphasized that the connection of the DSC unit with the ECDIS device through the interface unit in no way limits the regular functions of the DSC unit and the ECDIS device.

The interface unit can technically be made in the form of an integrated microcircuit, which will provide bidirectional data exchange between the DSC unit and the ECDIS device. Structurally, this chip can be located in the DSC unit, and communication with the ECDIS device is carried out through a standard bi-directional serial interface.

Claims

CLAIM

Integrated system of digital selective calling and marine electronic navigation cartography, containing a transceiver, digital selective calling unit, automatic identification system, electronic cartographic information system, characterized in that a bi-directional interface unit is inserted between the digital selective call unit and the electronic cartographic device navigation information system.

8 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)