Remote monitoring of rail line wayside equipment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- circuitry generating information indicative of an operating status of rail line wayside equipment;
a first communications link for communicating the information from a wayside equipment location to a railroad locomotive; and
a second communications link for communicating the information from the railroad locomotive to a location remote from the wayside equipment location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system (130) for monitoring rail line wayside equipment (132). The system includes circuitry (147) for generating information regarding an operating status of the wayside equipment. The information is communicated to a plurality of user locations, such as via a first communications link (164) that transmits the information to a passing locomotive (145) and a second communications link (166) that transmits the information to locations remote from the wayside equipment. The second communications link may utilize an existing locomotive diagnostic communications pathway to a data center, from where information is uploaded to the Internet (150).
76 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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circuitry generating information indicative of an operating status of rail line wayside equipment;
a first communications link for communicating the information from a wayside equipment location to a railroad locomotive; and
a second communications link for communicating the information from the railroad locomotive to a location remote from the wayside equipment location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a sensor generating a signal responsive to an operating status of equipment located at a railroad track wayside location, with the equipment operating in response to passage of a railroad locomotive adjacent to the equipment;
circuitry responsive to the signal for generating information representing the operating status of the equipment;
a communications link for communicating the information to a database remote from the wayside location via the railroad locomotive; and
a data processor associated with the database for processing the information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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circuitry for activating an annunciator at a railroad grade crossing location in response to the approach of a railroad train;
a sensor for generating a signal responsive to the operation of the annunciator;
circuitry responsive to the signal for generating information representing an operating status of the annunciator;
a first communications link for communicating the information from the grade crossing location to the train;
a second communications link for communicating the information from the train to a location remote from the grade crossing location;
a database for receiving and storing the information; and
a data processor associated with the database for processing the information. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of monitoring the operation of railroad wayside equipment, the method comprising:
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sensing a condition of equipment located at a railroad track wayside location;
generating information responsive to the condition indicative of an operating status of the equipment;
transmitting the information to a locomotive operating on the railroad track; and
transmitting the information from the locomotive to a location remote from the wayside location. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method comprising:
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sensing the operation of an annuciator for railroad grade crossing equipment at a grade crossing location in response to a railroad locomotive passing the grade crossing location;
generating information responsive to the sensed operation and indicative of an operating status of the annuciator;
transmitting the information from the grade crossing location to the railroad locomotive; and
transmitting the information from the railroad locomotive to a location remote from the grade crossing location.
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Specification