IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,665,882
Granted Patent B2
US 12,665,882 · App. 18/345,109 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Gateway and method for operating a gateway

Inventors: Klaus Theuerkauf (Magdeburg, DE); Christian Reusch (Hannover, DE); Florian Neumann (Vechelde, DE); Jasper Hagenbuck (Braunschweig, DE)
Assignee: Siemens Mobiloty GmbH
H04L63/029H04L12/66H04L63/0884H04N7/035H04W76/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,665,882
App. No.
18/345,109
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gateway for connection to a closed network of a railroad technical system has a network adapter for establishing a network connection to an external network. A video signal adapter can establish a video signal connection to the railroad technical system, and/or a device signal adapter can establish a device signal connection to the railroad technical system. At least one conversion facility is connected to both the network adapter and the video signal transmitter and/or the device signal adapter and converts the video or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system into external network data. The gateway thus provides particularly secure access to the closed network of the railroad technical system. There is also described a method for operating a gateway for connection to a closed network of a railroad technical system.

Claims (40)

1 . A gateway for connection to a closed network of a railroad technical system, the gateway comprising:

a network adapter for establishing a network connection to a network that is external to the network of the railroad technical system;

at least one signal adapter selected from the group consisting of:

a video signal adapter for establishing a video signal connection to the railroad technical system; and

a device signal adapter for establishing a device signal connection to the railroad technical system; and

a conversion facility connected to both said network adapter and said at least one signal adapter, said conversion facility being configured to convert at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system into external network data;

said conversion facility being configured to create a protocol break between the external network and the closed network of the railway system, so that there is no direct connection between the external network and the closed network of the railway system; and

said conversion facility having at least one microprocessor, said microprocessor being configured to convert data formats of said at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data.

2 . The gateway according to claim 1 , wherein said conversion facility is also embodied to convert external network data into video signal connection data or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system.

3 . The gateway according to claim 2 , further comprising at least one key-operated switch configured to enable said conversion facility for converting external network data into video signal connection data and/or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system to be activated.

4 . The gateway according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one authentication facility configured to authenticate access on the part of said network adapter.

5 . The gateway according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one audit log facility configured to record access actions on the part of said network adapter.

6 . The gateway according to claim 1 , wherein the gateway is embodied as at least partially movable in a housing.

7 . The gateway according to claim 1 , which comprises:

at least one first part to be connected to a user and at least one second part to be connected to the railroad technical system for establishing a signal connection by at least one of the device signal connection or the video signal connection; and

wherein said at least one first part and said at least one second part are connected to one another by way of a network connection and are arranged remotely from one another.

8 . The gateway according to claim 7 , wherein the network connection between said first and second parts is a radio connection.

9 . The gateway according to claim 8 , wherein the network connection is a long term evolution connection.

10 . A method for operating a gateway for connection to a closed network of a railroad technical system, the method comprising:

providing a gateway for connection to a closed network of a railroad technical system, the gateway having:

a network adapter for establishing a network connection to a network that is external to the network of the railroad technical system,

at least one signal adapter selected from the group consisting of:

a video signal adapter for establishing a video signal connection to the railroad technical system, and

a device signal adapter for establishing a device signal connection to the railroad technical system, and

a conversion facility connected to both said network adapter and said at least one signal adapter, said conversion facility being configured to convert at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system into external network data, and the conversion facility having at least one microprocessor; and

creating, via the conversion facility, a protocol break between the external network and the closed network of the railway system, so that there is no direct connection between the external network and the closed network of the railway system; and

receiving and converting at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system into external network data, converting data formats of the at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data via the at least one microprocessor.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , which comprises also converting external network data into at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , which comprises authenticating access of the network adapter.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , which comprises recording access activity on the part of the network adapter.

14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions for performing a method for operating a gateway for connection to a closed network of a railroad technical system, wherein the gateway has:

a network adapter for establishing a network connection to a network that is external to the network of the railroad technical system,

at least one signal adapter selected from the group consisting of:

a video signal adapter for establishing a video signal connection to the railroad technical system, and

a device signal adapter for establishing a device signal connection to the railroad technical system, and

a conversion facility connected to both said network adapter and said at least one signal adapter, said conversion facility being configured to convert at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system into external network data and the conversion facility having at least one microprocessor; and

the method comprising:

receiving and converting at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data of the railroad technical system into external network data, converting data formats of the at least one of video signal connection data or device signal connection data via the at least one microprocessor; and

creating, via the conversion facility, a protocol break between the external network and the closed network of the railway system, so that there is no direct connection between the external network and the closed network of the railway system.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein the program instructions are stored and/or loaded into a computer.