Vehicle group monitoring
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining, on a first vehicle node located on a first vehicle, a first group system assigned to manage data corresponding to a group of associated vehicles including a plurality of vehicles, wherein the first group system is located apart from the first vehicle;
receiving, at the first vehicle node, first vehicle operating data from a plurality of sensors located on the first vehicle;
processing, on the first vehicle node, the operating data to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle;
managing, on the first vehicle node, network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes in the group of associated vehicles, wherein the managing includes maintaining and updating the network communication data based on current routing data for the first vehicle node to communicate with a first set of vehicle nodes and data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes in the group of associated vehicles received from at least one other vehicle node in the group of associated vehicles;
determining, on the first vehicle node, a most efficient communications route for communicating with the first group system according to the network communication data; and
transmitting, from the first vehicle node, the monitoring data for processing on the first group system using the most efficient communications route.
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Abstract
A solution for managing vehicles both individually and as a group of associated vehicles is provided. A vehicle node can be located on each vehicle in the group and obtain and process data from a plurality of sensors also located on the vehicle. The vehicle node can be configured to communicate, either directly or indirectly, with a group system assigned to the group using a wireless communications solution. The group system can acquire monitoring data for all of the group of associated vehicles, which can be used to manage the group of associated vehicles and/or one or more individual vehicles in the group. The group system can be located on a vehicle traveling as part of the group of associated vehicles or at a fixed location.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining, on a first vehicle node located on a first vehicle, a first group system assigned to manage data corresponding to a group of associated vehicles including a plurality of vehicles, wherein the first group system is located apart from the first vehicle; receiving, at the first vehicle node, first vehicle operating data from a plurality of sensors located on the first vehicle; processing, on the first vehicle node, the operating data to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; managing, on the first vehicle node, network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes in the group of associated vehicles, wherein the managing includes maintaining and updating the network communication data based on current routing data for the first vehicle node to communicate with a first set of vehicle nodes and data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes in the group of associated vehicles received from at least one other vehicle node in the group of associated vehicles; determining, on the first vehicle node, a most efficient communications route for communicating with the first group system according to the network communication data; and transmitting, from the first vehicle node, the monitoring data for processing on the first group system using the most efficient communications route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
a first vehicle including; a first vehicle node; and a plurality of sensors, wherein the first vehicle node is configured to perform a method including; determining a first group system corresponding to the first vehicle, wherein the first group system is located apart from the first vehicle; receiving operating data from the plurality of sensors; processing the operating data to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; managing network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes in communication with the first group system, wherein the managing includes maintaining and updating the network communication data based on current routing data for the first vehicle node to communicate with a first set of vehicle nodes and data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes in the plurality of vehicle nodes received from at least one other vehicle node in the plurality of vehicle nodes; determining a most efficient communications route for communicating with the first group system according to the network communication data; and transmitting the monitoring data for processing on the first group system using the most efficient communications route, wherein the first vehicle node has a communications range of less than one kilometer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a first group system including at least one computing device; and a consist including a plurality of managed rail vehicles, wherein each of the plurality of managed rail vehicles includes; a first vehicle node; and a plurality of sensors, wherein the first vehicle node is configured to perform a method including; receiving operating data from the plurality of sensors; processing the operating data to generate monitoring data for the corresponding rail vehicle; managing network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes in the plurality of managed rail vehicles, wherein the managing includes maintaining and updating the network communication data based on current routing data for the first vehicle node to communicate with a first set of vehicle nodes and data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes in the plurality of vehicle nodes received from at least one other vehicle node in the plurality of vehicle nodes; determining a most efficient communications route for communicating with the first group system according to the network communication data; and transmitting the monitoring data for processing on the first group system using the most efficient communications route, wherein the first group system is assigned to manage data corresponding to the plurality of managed rail vehicles and communications between the plurality of vehicle nodes in the consist and a set of monitoring systems. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification