Display Software

[Richard5608]

Does anybody know the software used in station departure screens in the uk

 

[louis97]

The station departure screens are generally not run stand alone, they are operated as part of a bigger Customer Information System across a whole network of the train operator. Some of these systems are created by Atos and Amey, although not limited to just them. (Just the first names that came to my head)

 

[edwin_m]

Occasionally you see Windows messages on the flat LCD screens when they have crashed or are in the process of booting up. I don't know if other operating systems are used, maybe it's only ever Windows that crashes?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Windows CE perhaps running customised software?

 

[brianthegiant]

The screens on the MML are all maintained by Thales, don't know about other routes.

Most of the ones I have seen have an RJ45 network connector into a wall socket and not a video/vga type connector. Therefore they must operate with some degree of intelligence ie have some sort of processor and at least some sort of operating system / firmware/software running on it.

As to whether they 'push' or 'pull' the data, maybe someone else can explain?

 

[dosxuk]

Most of the ones I have seen have an RJ45 network connector into a wall socket and not a video/vga type connector. Therefore they must operate with some degree of intelligence ie have some sort of processor and at least some sort of operating system / firmware/software running on it.

Or they're sending VGA or DVI or HDMI signals over the cat5 cabling.

RJ45's are used for a LOT more than network data these days.

 

[rdeez]

Or they're sending VGA or DVI or HDMI signals over the cat5 cabling.

RJ45's are used for a LOT more than network data these days.

A distinct possibility. One of the advantages of TV over CAT5 compared to VGA, HDMI, SCART etc is the cable length that can be used without degradation in quality - which is 30m+ for CAT5 compared to just a few metres for the others.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A distinct possibility. One of the advantages of TV over CAT5 compared to VGA, HDMI, SCART etc is the cable length that can be used without degradation in quality - which is 30m+ for CAT5 compared to just a few metres for the others.

I'm pretty sure they are PC based, probably Windows XP. I don't know what the software itself is - these days it wouldn't surprise me if it was a Web browser.

Neil

 

[Thisisajm]

There is a large display in the ticket office at Eastleigh which is usually on screensaver. Don't actually know what it shows because of that.

 

[rdeez]

I'm pretty sure they are PC based, probably Windows XP. I don't know what the software itself is - these days it wouldn't surprise me if it was a Web browser.

Neil

Unlikely to be anything more modern than that in most places! I once had a 'tour' of the various systems in the station manager's office at a WCML station - which had about four computers, various monitors all of which with the exception of the car park monitoring one were pretty much ancient...when I asked if he could show me where my train was, by the time he'd managed to login and get the program up, I had to run as it was already arriving at the platform...!

 

[infobleep]

I believe they use Windows XP which is out of support. The government paid Microsoft some money for support to continue in Local Government until April 2015. I wonder if rail companies would do anything similar.

Of course the screens may be so locked down it doesn't matter.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Of course the screens may be so locked down it doesn't matter.

The great majority of them will be on a network with no Internet access. Though it wouldn't surprise me if screens in ancillary locations, e.g. the ones you get in station bars etc that are in different parts of the building, were actually connected via the Internet.

Neil

 

[Becca]

I know that the large majority of screens (LED Matrix /LCD) that I see seem to be made by Infotec.

Looking through the stats they appear to have embedded computers with a link back to a central controller in a rack somewhere.

 

[dosxuk]

I believe they use Windows XP which is out of support. The government paid Microsoft some money for support to continue in Local Government until April 2015. I wonder if rail companies would do anything similar.

More likely to use XP Embedded, which is still supported, than normal Windows XP. For standalone use, the embedded versions work out much cheaper.

 

[RailAleFan]

these days it wouldn't surprise me if it was a Web browser.

Why would you do anything different these days!

http://www.railalefan.co.uk/live-departures/cis.php?info=2&crs=RUG

 

[infobleep]

More likely to use XP Embedded, which is still supported, than normal Windows XP. For standalone use, the embedded versions work out much cheaper.

Never heard of that until now. Fascinating that they should still support it whilst trying to get everyone off Windows XP.

 

[dgl]

Never heard of that until now. Fascinating that they should still support it whilst trying to get everyone off Windows XP.

you can much more easily sell a new pc to someone thatn a mangement contract, for buisnesses it's the other way round

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I believe they use Windows XP which is out of support. The government paid Microsoft some money for support to continue in Local Government until April 2015. I wonder if rail companies would do anything similar.

Yep, a couple of times when I've seen Windows error messages on the screens, it's been an XP desktop. I guessed from those that those particular screens are running full-screen apps that display the train information, hence if anything goes wrong with the app, you see the Windows desktop instead.

 

[infobleep]

you can much more easily sell a new pc to someone thatn a mangement contract, for buisnesses it's the other way round

However many large businesses have been using Windows XP professional and Microsoft no longer support them, with some exceptions where people have paid Microsoft more money to continue the support. Even that though is ending next April. So I'm surprised support for Windows XP embedded is still around. It must end at some point though.

 

[dosxuk]

However many large businesses have been using Windows XP professional and Microsoft no longer support them, with some exceptions where people have paid Microsoft more money to continue the support. Even that though is ending next April. So I'm surprised support for Windows XP embedded is still around. It must end at some point though.

End users don't buy XP Embedded. It's only licensed for sale as part of a product (like a display screen). Microsoft have to offer extended lifetimes on these embedded versions because the hardware they run on is expected to last. XP Embedded is currently supported until 12/Jan/2016. The current version, Windows Embedded 8.1, is going to be supported until at least 2023.

Embedded versions aren't licensable on desktop PCs, and are designed to be modular, they can even have the entire desktop GUI removed. They also don't have the same update cycle as consumer Windows, so while the OS is still supported, that doesn't mean it will necessarily still be getting monthly security updates.

 

[sor]

Never heard of that until now. Fascinating that they should still support it whilst trying to get everyone off Windows XP.

XP Embedded will be running on hardware that is obscenely expensive to throw out and buy new - and the much smaller user base also helps (there's less of a risk that a bug or security hole needs fixing, and it should be thoroughly tested by the device manufacturer before it gets given to customers).

(think cash machines / expensive medical equipment / high end diagnostic tools)

There's a slightly different variant called POSReady (aimed at point of sale devices like tills) which actually does install and run much like full-fat XP does, and is what some of the stubborn XP users have "upgraded" to as it has full support until 2019.

Given that the Avantix devices run on ancient hardware and an operating system that was discontinued probably a decade ago, the railway is no stranger to out of date software... (and some of the station information systems, like those used at larger FGW stations, ran on Windows 95 until replacement a couple of years ago)

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Voyagers use (or at least to use) Windows CE (there's a clip on youtube showing the starting up of a Voyager and you can see the Windows CE logo on the TMS screen whilst it boots

 

[Hyphen]

Voyagers use (or at least to use) Windows CE (there's a clip on youtube showing the starting up of a Voyager and you can see the Windows CE logo on the TMS screen whilst it boots

An ATW driver tells me this is also true of 175s.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Most platforms/ stations don't run a particular operating system.

As a telecoms engineer, most of the time we specify Infotec displays and they are usually connected via CAT5e cabling to an IPH2 or 3 which is then ultimately connected to a Ethernet switch which is then connected to a BT Line Circuit. All displays have a specified IP address which is specified by ATOS they also provide a two character identification e.g A2. This can be seen only when the display is starting up.

Thanks,
Ross

 

[infobleep]

Most platforms/ stations don't run a particular operating system.

As a telecoms engineer, most of the time we specify Infotec displays and they are usually connected via CAT5e cabling to an IPH2 or 3 which is then ultimately connected to a Ethernet switch which is then connected to a BT Line Circuit. All displays have a specified IP address which is specified by ATOS they also provide a two character identification e.g A2. This can be seen only when the display is starting up.

Thanks,
Ross

I would like to photograph a display starting up but I've never been quick enough. It's one time when I remember thus wouldn't be possible without the Internet. For several months it use to happen semi regularly at Harrow and Wealdstone when I was travelling that way.

 

[WelshBluebird]

There have been a couple of times I have seen the displays showing the ip address, presumably because of something not working right. Im going to assume (or more hope) that there is enough security in place which means someone knowing the IP address won't be an issue.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

There have been a couple of times I have seen the displays showing the ip address, presumably because of something not working right. Im going to assume (or more hope) that there is enough security in place which means someone knowing the IP address won't be an issue.

I would hope that the network they use will be locked down so that only devices that are supposed to access it can, probably by mac addresses

An ATW driver tells me this is also true of 175s.

Might also possibly apply then to the 180s and 458s

 

[Emyr]

IP addresses are not always unique; there are ranges reserved for non-public networks. Home routers, for example, mostly use the 192.168.x.x range.

 

[AM9]

IP addresses are not always unique; there are ranges reserved for non-public networks. Home routers, for example, mostly use the 192.168.x.x range.

I would imagine that a system as large as an ATOC one would have an IP address in the class A range, i.e. 10.n.n.n giving over 16 million addresses.

 

[infobleep]

I would imagine that a system as large as an ATOC one would have an IP address in the class A range, i.e. 10.n.n.n giving over 16 million addresses.

I fairly certain knowing the address wouldn't make a difference. However I'm sure if some staff saw someone photograph an IP they might eh concerned as they probably don't have so much IT knowledge.