Method and apparatus for assigning addresses to components in a control system

• US 20020152008A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CANAC Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CANAC Incorporated
• Inventors: Horst, Folkert, Szklar, Oleh, Brousseau, Andre, Ethier, Luc
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/127 for remote control of locomotives remote control of locomotives within a train consist B61C17/12

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for remotely controlling device, more particularly to a system and method for controlling locomotives in a railway environment using radio frequency signals. This invention makes use of a remote operator programming unit (OPP) to set address information in the transmitter unit via a communication channel such as an infrared link. The use of the operator programming unit allows eliminating the need to open the casing of the transmitter during programming thereby reducing the probability of damaging the electrical components of the transmitter. The invention also allows assigning a unique address to a transmitter/receiver pair in a remote control system. The invention further provides an apparatus for remotely programming a transmitter unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting a signal to a remote receiver, said apparatus comprising:

a) a first input for receiving a certain signal to be transmitted, said signal transmitting unit being operative to transmit said signal;

b) a computer readable storage medium suitable for storing a tag data element;

c) a second input coupled to said computer readable storage medium for receiving a data element indicative of a first identifier, said signal transmitting unit being responsive to the reception of a certain data element to store in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the certain data element indicative of the first identifier;

d) means for generating an output signal, said output signal being derived on the basis of the certain signal and on the basis of the tag data element;

e) an output for outputting the output signal.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second input comprises an interface suitable for wireless data communication.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said interface suitable for wireless data communication is an infrared interface.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first identifier is the receiver serial number.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said tag data element comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, said certain data element indicative of a first identifier being stored in said first portion, said second portion containing a data element indicative of a second identifier, said second identifier being derived on the basis of an identifier associated to said apparatus.

6. A method for transmitting a signal to a remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a certain signal to be transmitted;

b) providing a computer readable storage medium for storing a tag data element;

c) receiving a data element indicative of a first identifier;

d) storing in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the data element indicative of a first identifier;

e) generating an output signal derived on the basis of the certain signal and on the basis of the tag data element;

f) outputting the output signal.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, further providing the step of providing an interface suitable for wireless data communication for receiving the a data element indicative of an first identifier.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said interface suitable for wireless data communication is an infrared interface.

9. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said certain data element indicative of a first identifier is associated to the remote receiver.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said first identifier is the receiver serial number.

11. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said tag data element comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, said certain data element indicative of a first identifier being stored in said first portion, said second portion containing a data element indicative of a second identifier, said second identifier being derived on the basis of a certain identifier associated to a certain component of a communication system.

13. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said second input comprises an interface suitable for wireless data communication.

14. A system as defined in claim 12, further comprising a programming unit, said programming unit being suitable to transmit to the second input of said transmitter a data element indicative of a first identifier.

15. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein said interface suitable for wireless data communication is an infrared interface.

16. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein said certain data element indicative of a first identifier is associated to the remote receiver.

17. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein said first identifier is the receiver serial number.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said tag data element comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, said certain data element indicative of a first identifier being stored in said first portion, said second portion containing a data element indicative of a second identifier, said second identifier being associated to said transmitter.

20. A communication device as defined in claim 19, wherein said tag data element comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, said certain data element indicative of a first identifier being stored in said first portion, said second portion containing a data element indicative of a second identifier, said second identifier being derived on the basis of an identifier associated to said communication device.

12. A remote control system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of an action to be performed remotely, said transmitter including;

a) a first input for receiving a certain signal to be transmitted, said signal transmitting unit being operative to transmit said signal;

b) a computer readable storage medium suitable for storing a tag data element;

c) a second input coupled to said computer readable storage medium for receiving a data element indicative of a first identifier, said signal transmitting unit being responsive to the reception of a certain data element to store in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the certain data element indicative of the first identifier;

d) means for generating an output signal, said output signal being derived on the basis of the certain signal and on the basis of the tag data element;

e) an output for outputting the output signal;

a remote receiver for sensing said output signal and for implementing locally an action in dependence upon a contents of the output signal.

19. A communication device suitable for use in a remote control system, said communication device comprising:

a) a computer readable storage medium suitable for storing a tag data element;

b) an input coupled to said computer readable storage medium for receiving a data element indicative of a first identifier, said signal communication device being responsive to the reception of a certain data element to store in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the certain data element indicative of the first identifier;

c) a means for generating an output signal, said output signal being derived at least in part on the basis of the tag data element;

d) an output for outputting the output signal.

21. A communication device suitable for use in a remote control system, said communication device comprising:

a) means for storing a tag data element;

b) means for receiving a data element indicative of an first identifier, said signal communication device being responsive to the reception of a certain data element to store in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the certain data element indicative of the first identifier;

c) means for generating an output signal, said output signal being derived at least in part on the basis of the tag data element;

d) means for outputting the output signal.

22. A communication device as defined in claim 21, wherein said tag data element comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, said certain data element indicative of a first identifier being stored in said first portion, said second portion containing a data element indicative of a second identifier, said second identifier being derived on the basis of an identifier associated to said communication device.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein said receiver identifier is the receiver serial number.

25. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein said transmitter identifier is the transmitter serial number.

23. A method for assigning addresses in a communication system, the communication system comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, said method comprising the step of:

providing a receiver identifier uniquely characterizing the receiver unit;

providing a transmitter identifier uniquely characterizing the transmitter unit;

deriving a transmission address on the basis of the receiver identifier and the transmitter identifier;

providing the receiver unit and the transmitter unit with the transmission address.