Locomotive control system and method
First Claim
1. A method of managing operation of a locomotive that moves between at least two operating areas, said locomotive having at least two profiles of operation, said locomotive traveling along a path comprised of at least two operating areas, each operating area having at least one location profile associated therewith, with the location profile of one operating area being different from that of a second area, said method comprising:
- monitoring a location of the locomotive to determine its operating area; and
controlling an operation of the locomotive as a function of the determined operation area and the associated location profile, said location profile being selected from the group comprising a security profile and an emissions profile, wherein said security profile includes a restriction on an operation of the locomotive based on its position relative to a security control area, and wherein said emissions profile includes a restriction on an operation of the locomotive based on its position relative to an emission control area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention includes a system and method for managing an operation of a locomotive as a function of a location of the locomotive. The system comprises a location unit for determining the location of the locomotive and a control unit for controlling an operation of the locomotive as a function of the determined location. In another embodiment, the invention includes a system and method for receiving a security authorization input from an operator of the locomotive, comparing the received operator security authorization input to a security authorization parameter, and restricting an operation of the locomotive when the received operator security authorization input does not match the security authorization parameter. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a system and method of sending a control command from a remote system, receiving the control command at the locomotive, and controlling an operation of the locomotive responsive to the received control command. In still another embodiment, the invention includes a system and method for controlling an operation of the locomotive as a function of the location of the locomotive, a monitored emission parameter and an emission characteristic.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of managing operation of a locomotive that moves between at least two operating areas, said locomotive having at least two profiles of operation, said locomotive traveling along a path comprised of at least two operating areas, each operating area having at least one location profile associated therewith, with the location profile of one operating area being different from that of a second area, said method comprising:
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monitoring a location of the locomotive to determine its operating area; and
controlling an operation of the locomotive as a function of the determined operation area and the associated location profile, said location profile being selected from the group comprising a security profile and an emissions profile, wherein said security profile includes a restriction on an operation of the locomotive based on its position relative to a security control area, and wherein said emissions profile includes a restriction on an operation of the locomotive based on its position relative to an emission control area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of secure operation of a locomotive as a function of a location of the locomotive and a security parameter of the locomotive, the method comprising:
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determining the location of the locomotive;
determining the security parameter for the locomotive as a function of the determined location of the locomotive;
receiving a security authorization input from an operator of the locomotive;
determining a control parameter as a function of the location of the locomotive and the comparison of the received security authorization input from the operator and the determined security parameter; and
controlling an operation of the locomotive responsive to the control parameter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of controlling emissions resulting from operation of a locomotive as a function of a location of the locomotive and an emission characteristic of the locomotive, the method comprising:
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determining the location of the locomotive;
determining the emission characteristic for the locomotive as a function of the determined location of the locomotive;
monitoring an emission parameter of the locomotive;
determining a control parameter as a function of the location of the locomotive and as a function of the monitored emission parameter and the determined emission characteristic; and
controlling an operation of the locomotive responsive to the control parameter.
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26. A security system for secure operation of a railroad locomotive as a function of a location of the locomotive, the system comprising:
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a location unit determining the location of the locomotive;
a memory storing two or more operating profiles of the locomotive, a geographically defined operating area, and a security authorization parameter, and computer instructions;
an authorization input device for receiving a security authorization input from an operator of the locomotive;
a processor executing the computer instructions stored in the memory, determining the operating profile of the locomotive as a function of the location of the locomotive as compared to the operating area stored in memory, and comparing the received operator security authorization input to the security authorization parameter, the processor generating a signal indicative of security alert when the received operator security authorization input does not match the security authorization parameter. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system for secure operation of a locomotive as a function of a location of the locomotive and a security parameter of the locomotive, the system comprising:
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a control unit controlling an operation of the locomotive responsive to a control parameter;
a location unit determining the location of the locomotive;
a communication unit transmitting the determined location of the locomotive and receiving the control parameter;
a communication interface receiving the transmitted location of the locomotive and transmitting the control parameter to the locomotive; and
a processor determining the security parameter and determining the control parameter as a function of the location of the locomotive and the determined security parameter. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A system for controlling engine emission resulting from operation of a locomotive as a function of a location of the locomotive, the system comprising:
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a location unit determining the location of the locomotive;
a monitor unit monitoring an emission parameter of the locomotive;
a processor determining an emission characteristic of the locomotive as a function of the location of the locomotive, and determining a control command as a function of the monitored emission parameter and the emission characteristic; and
a control unit controlling an operation of the locomotive responsive to the received control parameter.
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Specification