METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTION AND NOTIFICATION OF BLOCKED RAIL CROSSINGS

• US 20150066255A1
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Island Radar Company
• Original Assignee: The Island Radar Company
• Inventors: Hilleary, Thomas N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,376,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/00 Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/30 Supervision, e.g. monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A blocked rail crossing detection and notification system is described. The system includes a processing device, a communications interface communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable for facilitating communications between the processing device and at least one external device, and at least one vehicle detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing. The at least one vehicle detection mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable to provide signals to the processing device indicative of the presence or non-presence of a vehicle within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks. The processing device is further programmed to communicate the presence or non-presence of a vehicle along with supporting correlative visual data within the defined area to the at least one external device via the communications interface.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of identifying a blocked rail crossing, the method implemented with a blocked crossing detection and notification system including a processing device, a communications interface communicatively coupled to said processing device and operable for facilitating communications between said processing device and at least one external device, and at least detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing, said at least one detection mechanism communicatively coupled to said processing device, said method comprising:

continuously operating the at least one detection system with the processing device;

automatically assessing, based on continuous operation of the at least one detection system with the processing device, a real time presence or absence of a blockage within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks; and

continuously delivering, with the processor based device, information regarding the assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location, whereby a railroad organization receiving the assessed presence or absence of the potential blockage at the external location may analyze an assessed blockage in real time and execute a commensurate response.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein continuously delivering information regarding the assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location comprises:

communicating a real time presence of a blockage within the defined area surrounding an intersection of the roadway and one or more railroad tracks whenever the blockage is assessed; and

communicating a real time absence of a blockage within the defined area surrounding the intersection of the roadway and one or more railroad tracks whenever the absence of a blockage is assessed.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein continuously delivering information regarding the assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location comprises communicating data relating to one of the assessed presence or the assessed absence of a potential blockage to a railroad dispatch center.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein continuously delivering information regarding the assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location comprises communicating data relating to the assessed presence or absence of a potential blockage to a locomotive approaching the intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein continuously delivering information regarding the assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location comprises communicating data relating to the assessed presence or absence of a potential blockage to railroad personnel.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one detection mechanism includes multiple and different detection mechanisms operating in a different manner, and the method further comprises:

continuously operating the multiple and different detection mechanisms with the processing device;

individually assessing, with the processor based device, a presence or absence of a potential blockage within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks based on operation of each of the multiple and different detection mechanisms; and

determining, with the processor based device, a false blocked crossing event based on the individual assessments of the presence or absence of a potential blockage.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein continuously delivering information regarding the assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location comprises delivering the information over a communication network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein delivering the information over the communication network comprises delivering the information over one of a long range or short range radio communication network.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein delivering the information over the communication network comprises delivering the information over one of a cellular communication network, a telephone network, a satellite transmission network, an Internet transmission network, or a data transmission network.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein delivering the information over a communication network comprises generating one of a synthesized voice message alert, a text message to a mobile device, a web services session, a radio message, and a facsimile.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein delivering the information over a communication network comprises wirelessly transmitting the information.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein wirelessly transmitting the information comprises communicating the information over a Positive Train Control (PCT) infrastructure.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein delivering the information over a communication network comprises delivering at least one of an alert, an image, or a video relating to a candidate obstruction.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating an alert to a locomotive approaching the crossing to reduce speed to avoid a possible collision when an real time presence of a blockage is automatically assessed.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein automatically assessing, based on continuous operation of the at least one detection system, a real time presence or absence of a potential blockage within the defined area surrounding the intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks comprises automatically assessing, a real time presence or absence of a vehicle within a defined area surrounding the intersection of the roadway and one or more railroad tracks

36. The method of claim 21, wherein continuously operating the at least one detection system comprises continuously operating at least one radar detection system

37. The method of claim 21, wherein the rail grade crossing includes at least one status and control signal for warning roadway vehicles of an impending train, and the method comprising monitoring the status and control signal to avoid a false blocked crossing detection event.

38. A method of identifying a blocked rail crossing, the method implemented with a blocked crossing detection and notification system including a processing device, a communications interface operable for facilitating communications between said processing device and at least one external device, and at least one detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing, wherein the at least one detection mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processing device, the blocked crossing detection and notification system configured to continuously operate the at least one detection system with the processing device and automatically assess, based on continuous operation of the at least one detection system, a real time presence or absence of a blockage within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks;

said method comprising;

delivering information, with the processor based device and a communications network, regarding the automatically assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location, whereby a railroad organization receiving the assessed presence or absence of the potential blockage at the external location may analyze an assessed blockage in real time and execute a commensurate response.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein delivering information comprises generating an alert to a locomotive approaching the crossing to reduce speed to avoid a possible collision.

40. A method of identifying a blocked rail crossing, the method implemented with a blocked crossing detection and notification system including a processing device, a communications interface operable for facilitating communications between said processing device and at least one external device, and at least one detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing, wherein the at least one detection mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processing device, the blocked crossing detection and notification system configured to continuously operate the at least one detection system with the processing device;

said method comprising;

automatically assessing, based on continuous operation of the blocked crossing detection and notification system, a real time presence or absence of a blockage within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising delivering information, with the processor based device and a communications network, regarding the automatically assessed real time presence or absence of a blockage to the external location, whereby a railroad organization receiving the assessed presence or absence of the potential blockage at the external location may analyze an assessed blockage in real time and execute a commensurate response.