System for telecommunicating vehicle operation data between a ground station and a remote data processing station

• US 3,938,092 A
• Filed: 09/06/1974
• Issued: 02/10/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark IV Transportation Products Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vapor Corporated
• Inventors: Callahan, Bernard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/503,725
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149 R, 340/147 R, 340/150, 346/33 M, 346/33 D, 360/8, 360/19, 360/12
• US Class Current: 379/93.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0875 using magnetic data carriers

Abstract

A tape recorder module vehicle operation data, on-board. The module is removed from the vehicle and data is played back at a ground station. A telecommunication link exists with a remote data processing system for processing the played back data.

Claims

1. A vehicle data recorder-playback system comprising:

a portable tape recorder module for recording and playing back vehicle engineering operation data, the module including;

a. a self-contained magnetic tape,

b. magnetic tape head means contacting the tape for reading data in and out of the tape,

c. means for driving the tape across the head means,

a ground station including;

d. playing back means removably connected with the module for controlling data playback,

e. connector means located on the module and the playing back means for facilitating insertion and removal of the module from the playing back means, and

f. means connected to the output of the playing back means for communicating played back data to a remote data processing station.

2. The subject matter set forth in claim 1 wherein the communicating means comprises a telecommunication data terminal connected to a first end of phone lines.

3. The subject matter set forth in claim 2 together with a modem connected at a second end of the phone lines for reconstructing the played back data.

4. The subject matter set forth in claim 3 together with a computer connected to the modem output for processing the reconstructed data.