SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-TIER AUTOMATIC TRANSIT SYSTEM UPDATING
First Claim
1. A system for updating at least one train of a transit system comprising:
- at least one train position determining device, configured to determine a position of a train having one or more cars and to output one or more train position signals;
at least one intra-train communications system, communicatively connected to the at least one position determining device, and further comprising at least one master terminal, wherein the master terminal is configured to receive and store one or more packages of information originating from a master control station, receive the one or more train position signals from the at least one train position determining device, and present one or more messages to one or more users of the train, wherein the messages are obtained from the one or more packages of information; and
at least one inter-train communications system device, in communication with the master terminal, wherein the inter-train communications system device is configured to receive and communicate the one or more train position signals to a master control station, receive the one or more packages of information from the master control station and communicate the one or more packages of information to the master terminal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are provided for updating one or more components of a transit system. A wireless communications connection is established between each train in a transit system with at least one master control station. Each car in a train is communicatively connected using a train'"'"'s consists and/or a local area network, which may include a wireless network. Positional information regarding each train may be communicated to the master control station and packages of information responsive to present or future scheduling, messaging, operating or other needs may be communicated to system components. Such packages may include, for example, scheduling updates and updated public address messages and may be designated for one or more terminals in one or more train cars, or otherwise. A master terminal may be configured to control intra-train communications and inter-train communications and positional reporting of a train to the master control station.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A system for updating at least one train of a transit system comprising:
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at least one train position determining device, configured to determine a position of a train having one or more cars and to output one or more train position signals; at least one intra-train communications system, communicatively connected to the at least one position determining device, and further comprising at least one master terminal, wherein the master terminal is configured to receive and store one or more packages of information originating from a master control station, receive the one or more train position signals from the at least one train position determining device, and present one or more messages to one or more users of the train, wherein the messages are obtained from the one or more packages of information; and at least one inter-train communications system device, in communication with the master terminal, wherein the inter-train communications system device is configured to receive and communicate the one or more train position signals to a master control station, receive the one or more packages of information from the master control station and communicate the one or more packages of information to the master terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for updating information utilized by at least one of a master terminal and a satellite terminal positioned in a car of a train comprising:
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receiving, by a master terminal, a package of information generated and communicated by a master control station, wherein the package of information is relevant to at least one or more cars of a train; storing the package of information in a database accessible by the master terminal; upon a rebooting of the master terminal, installing and executing the package, wherein the installation and execution of the package includes determining whether any element of the package is designated for at least one satellite terminal of the train; and when an element of the package is designated for at least one satellite terminal of the train, serving those elements of the package designated for the at least one satellite terminal to each of the at least one satellite terminals so designated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for establishing communications between one or more cars of a consist comprising:
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establishing a first identifier associated with a first terminal located in a first car of a consist; establishing an electrical communications connection between the first terminal and a second terminal located in a second car of the consist; communicating, using the electrical communications connection, a wireless network identifier from the first terminal to the second terminal; and accepting, at the first terminal, a request from the second terminal to establish a wireless communications link between the first terminal and the second terminal using one or more wireless network signal characteristics associated with the wireless network identifier; whereby upon acceptance of the request from the second terminal by the first terminal a wireless communications connection is established between the first terminal and the second terminal. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system for establishing intra-train communications between two or more cars of a train comprising:
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a first terminal in a first car of a train, wherein the first terminal is associated with a unique identifier; a second terminal in a second car of the train; a first wired communications link between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a wireless communications link between the first terminal and the second terminal; wherein the wireless communications link between the first terminal and the second terminal is established based upon a communication of the unique identifier from the first terminal to the second terminal using the first wired communications link. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A first terminal for use in a train consist comprising:
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a first communications port configured for use in establishing an electrical communications signal connection between the first terminal and a second terminal; a second communications port configured for use in establishing a wireless communications signal connection between the first terminal and the second terminal; a data storage device, configured to store one or more operational parameters associated with the wireless communications signal connection; and a processor configured to output for communication to the second terminal through the first communications port, at least one of the one or more operational parameters associated with the wireless communications signal connection. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification