METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCATING END OF TRAIN DEVICES

• US 20060184290A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Engineering, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: KANE, Mark Edward, MIX, John D., SHOCKLEY, James Francis
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data

Abstract

An end of train unit includes a positioning system such as a GPS receiver and is configured to transmit a message including the EOT unit'"'"'s location when the EOT unit detects a loss of air pipe pressure and/or it is tipped over and/or a low battery condition is detected. In highly preferred embodiments, the EOT unit periodically re-transmits the message until an acknowledgment message is received. In some embodiments, information from the positioning system is used to create a signal as a substitute for a motion sensor. In other embodiments, information from the positioning system is used to determine the speed of the end of the train. End of train unit tracking is also performed.

Claims

1. A method for determining when an end of train is in motion comprising the steps of:

providing an end of train unit with a positioning system on the end of the train, the end of train unit including an end of train marker light;

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining whether the train is in motion based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message to a device located at a head of this train, the message indicating whether the train is in motion based on a result of the determining step.

2. A method for determining a speed of an end a train comprising the steps of:

providing an end of train unit with a positioning system on the end of the train, the end of train unit including an end of train marker light;

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining a speed of the train based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message including the speed to a device at a head of the train.

3. A method for facilitating the locating of an end of train unit comprising the steps of:

receiving a first message, originating from an end of train unit monitoring station located off the train, at the end of train unit; and

transmitting a second message including a location of the end of train unit in response to the message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the end of train unit comprises a global positioning system receiver and the location is based on information from the global positioning system receiver.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the message originating from the source off the train is received via a long range communication systems.

6. A method for facilitating collection of end of train units comprising the steps of:

receiving a message including a location of an end of train unit at an end of train unit monitoring station located off of a train; and

transmitting a first message including the location of the end of train unit to an entity responsible for collecting the end of train device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of transmitting a second message if an indication that the end of train device has been collected is not received.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second message is transmitted to the same entity as the first message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second message includes the location of the end of train device.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying a map including an indication as to the location of the end of train unit.

11. An end of train unit comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter connected to the processor; and

a positioning system connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining whether the train is in motion based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message indicating whether the train is in motion based on a result of the determining step.

12. The end of train unit of claim 11, wherein the determining step is performed by obtaining a first position from the positioning system, obtaining a second position from the positioning system, calculating a difference between the first position and the second position, and comparing the distance to a threshold.

13. The end of train unit of claim 11, wherein the determining step is performed by calculating a speed of the train based on a plurality of positions reported by the positioning system and comparing the speed to a threshold.

14. An end of train unit comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter connected to the processor; and

a positioning system connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining a speed of the train based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message including the speed with the transmitter.

15. An end of train unit comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver connected to the processor; and

a positioning system connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

receiving a message originating from a source located off the train with the transceiver; and

transmitting a location of the end of train unit in response to the message.

16. The end of train unit of claim 15, wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system receiver and the location is based on information from the global positioning system receiver.

17. The end of train unit of claim 15, wherein the message includes an address of the end of train unit.