System and method for dispatching by exception

• US 20090143927A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Roney, Christopher P., Smith, Brian, Philp, Joseph Wesley, Wills, Mitchell Scott, Maceo, Joanne, Julich, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/12 Preparing schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/14 Following schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the movement of plural trains over a rail network, where the rail network is divided into at least one control area with a dispatcher assigned to manage the movement of trains in a control area by predicting the occurrence of events along the network based on the movement plan and prompting the dispatcher to provide information or take specified actions relating to the predicted events.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the movement of plural trains over a network of tracks using a network wide computer-based movement planner which creates a movement plan for planning the movement of the trains traveling over the network, the network having at least one control area, with a dispatcher being assigned to manage the movement of trains for a control area in accordance with the movement plan, comprising:

(a) predicting the occurrence of events along the network based on the movement plan; and

(b) prompting the respective dispatcher to take specific actions as a function of the predicted events.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said prompting includes requesting the dispatcher to provide information relating to the predicted event.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising updating the movement plan as a function of the information provided by the dispatcher.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said prompting comprises:

(i) generating a task list of activities to be performed by the dispatcher as a function of the predicted occurrence of events; and

(ii) monitoring the completion of the activities specified on the task list by the dispatcher.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said prompting is a function of non-compliance of actual events with the predicted events.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said predicting includes accessing historical performance information to predict future compliance with movement plan.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said accessing comprises accessing information relating to configuration of work locations for trains performing specific types of activities.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said predicting includes determining train performance as a function of train characteristics.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said prompting includes displaying indicia of track location for predicted occurrences as a function of time.

4-6. -6. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

12-14. -14. (canceled)

16-17. -17. (canceled)

19-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method of controlling the movement of plural trains over a network of tracks using a network wide computer-based movement planner which creates a movement plan for planning the movement of the trains traveling over the network, the network having at least one control area with a dispatcher being assigned to manage the movement of trains for a control area in accordance with the movement plan, comprising:

(a) generating a task list of activities to be performed by the respective dispatcher as a function of the movement plan;

(b) monitoring the execution of the activities specified on the task list by the dispatcher; and

(c) prompting the dispatcher to provide information relating to the execution of activities identified on the task list.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising updating the network-wide movement plan as a function of the execution of the activities by the dispatcher.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said generating further comprises:

(i) monitoring the movement of trains through the control area, and

(ii) prompting a desired activity of the dispatcher as a function of the movement of the trains.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said generating comprises:

(i) receiving movement reports regarding the trains in the control area, and

(ii) prompting a desired activity by the dispatcher on the basis of the non-receipt of a movement report.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein said prompting includes transmitting forms to the dispatcher that are required to be submitted as a function of the movement of the trains.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein said prompting comprises notifying the dispatcher to assign a helper locomotive.

29-31. -31. (canceled)

33. A method of controlling the movement of plural trains over a network of tracks using a network wide computer-based movement planner which creates a movement plan for planning the movement of the trains traveling over the network, the network having at least one control area with a dispatcher being assigned to manage the movement of trains for a control area in accordance with the movement plan, comprising:

(a) monitoring the movement of trains in accordance with the movement plan;

(b) identifying incidents of non-conformance with the movement plan; and

(c) alerting the respective dispatcher of an identified incident.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said monitoring includes receiving periodic movement reports from the train and wherein said identifying includes determining non-receipt of an expected movement report.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said alerting includes the step of prompting the dispatcher to provide information related to the identified incident.

38. The method of claim 33 further comprising informing dispatchers of other control areas of the identified incident.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein said alerting includes communicating information relating to an identified incident for at least one train of a linked activity.

36-37. -37. (canceled)

40-55. -55. (canceled)