TRAINLINE NETWORK ACCESS POINT FOR PARALLEL COMMUNICATION

• US 20150057848A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benchmark Electronics Incorporated, Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated), Secure Foundation Systems
• Inventors: FANARA, Mark Alan, HABERMEHL, Neil Keith
• Granted Patent: US 9,688,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/12 Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0036 Conductor-based, e.g. using CAN-Bus, train-line or optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling

Abstract

A trainline network access point connected to an intra-consist electrical cable of a consist has a network data signal path, a first communication module, a second communication module, and a network switch. The network switch is connected to the first communication module and the second communication module and configured to selectively connect the network data signal path to the first communication module and the second communication module. The first communication module has a first processor configured to receive first network data via the network data signal path, modulate the first network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable, and transmit the first modulated network data over the intra-consist electrical cable. The second communication module includes a second processor configured to receive second network data via the network data signal path, modulate the second network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable, and transmit the second modulated network data over the intra-consist electrical cable.

Claims

1. A trainline network access point connected to an intra-consist electrical cable of a consist, the trainline network access point comprising:

a network data signal path;

a first communication module;

a second communication module;

a network switch connected to the first communication module and the second communication module and configured to selectively connect the network data signal path to the first communication module and the second communication module;

wherein the first communication module comprises a first processor, the first processor configured to;

receive first network data via the network data signal path,

modulate the first network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable, and

transmit the first modulated network data over the intra-consist electrical cable, and

wherein the second communication module comprises a second processor, the second processor configured to;

receive second network data via the network data signal path,

modulate the second network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable, and

transmit the second modulated network data over the intra-consist electrical cable.

2. The trainline network access point of claim 1, wherein the first network data is modulated using a first group of frequencies, and the second network data is modulated using a second group of frequencies.

3. The trainline network access point of claim 2, wherein the first group of frequencies is defined in a first amplitude map and the second group of frequencies is defined in a second amplitude map.

4. The trainline network access point of claim 3, wherein the first group of frequencies is interleaved with the second group of frequencies.

5. The trainline network access point of claim 1, wherein the first communication module and the second communication module respectively transmit the modulated first network data and the modulated second network data over one pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable.

6. The trainline network access point of claim 1, wherein the first communication module transmits the modulated first network data over a first pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable and the second communication module transmits the modulated second network data over a second pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable.

7. The trainline network access point of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further configured to encrypt the first network data and the second processor is further configured to encrypt the second network data.

8. The trainline network access point of claim 1 wherein the first network data and the second network data are the same.

9. The trainline network access point of claim 8 wherein the network switch is configured to copy the first network data to create the second network data.

10. A method of transmitting data over an intra-consist electrical cable using a trainline network access point having a first communication module, a second communication module, and a network switch, the method comprising:

receiving first network data;

receiving second network data;

selectively sending the first network data to the first communication module using the network switch;

modulating, with the first communication module, the first network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable;

transmitting the modulated first network data over the intra-consist electrical cable;

selectively sending the second network data to the second communication module using the network switch;

modulating, with the second communication module, the second network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable; and

transmitting the modulated second network data over the intra-consist electrical cable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first network data is modulated using a first group of frequencies, and the second network data is modulated using a second group of frequencies.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first group of frequencies is defined in a first amplitude map and the second group of frequencies is defined in a second amplitude map.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first group of frequencies is interleaved with the second group of frequencies.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the modulated first network data and the modulated second network data are transmitted over one pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the modulated first network data is transmitted over a first pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable and the modulated second network data is transmitted over a second pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable.

16. The method of claim 10, further including:

encrypting the first network data with a first encryption key; and

,

encrypting the second network data with a second encryption key.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the first network data and the second network data are the same.

18. The method of claim 10 further including copying the first network data to create the second network data.

19. A locomotive consist comprising:

a locomotive;

an intra-consist electrical cable;

a trainline network access point disposed within the locomotive and connected to the intra-consist electrical cable and including;

a network data signal path;

a first communication module;

a second communication module;

a network switch connected to the first communication module and the second communication module and configured to selectively connect the network data signal path to the first communication module and the second communication module;

wherein the first communication module comprises a first processor, the first processor configured to;

receive first network data via the network data signal path,

determine a first frequencies from a first amplitude map,

modulate the first network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable using one of the first frequencies, and

transmit the modulated first network data over the intra-consist electrical cable;

wherein the second communication module comprises a second processor, the second processor configured to;

receive second network data via the network data signal path,

determine a second frequencies from a second amplitude map,

modulate the second network data for transmission over the intra-consist electrical cable using a one of the second frequencies, and

transmit the modulated second network data over the intra-consist electrical cable.

20. The locomotive consist of claim 19 wherein the first communication module transmits the modulated first network data over a first pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable and the second communication module transmits the modulated second network data over a second pair of wires of the intra-consist electrical cable.