Method and apparatus for scheduling maintenance of way
First Claim
1. In a railroad system in which plural trains are moved along a network of railway tracks under control of a dispatcher assisted by a scheduling computer prepared movement plan that assigns resources to activities and considers the cost of each activity and assigned resources in scheduling the movement of trains over the tracks, the method of scheduling maintenance of way for the railway tracks comprising:
- (a) identifying maintenance of way activities desired to be performed;
(b) evaluating the costs for performing the maintenance of way;
(c) evaluating the costs for not performing the maintenance of way;
(d) evaluating the impact of maintenance of way on train movement; and
(e) planning the movement of the trains as a function of the maintenance and train movement costs.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system, and is particularly useful in optimizing the value of trains moved against the penalty for postponement of maintenance of the right of way.
25 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. In a railroad system in which plural trains are moved along a network of railway tracks under control of a dispatcher assisted by a scheduling computer prepared movement plan that assigns resources to activities and considers the cost of each activity and assigned resources in scheduling the movement of trains over the tracks, the method of scheduling maintenance of way for the railway tracks comprising:
-
(a) identifying maintenance of way activities desired to be performed;
(b) evaluating the costs for performing the maintenance of way;
(c) evaluating the costs for not performing the maintenance of way;
(d) evaluating the impact of maintenance of way on train movement; and
(e) planning the movement of the trains as a function of the maintenance and train movement costs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification