Railroad telemetry and control systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An End of Train (EOT) and Head of Train (HOT) railroad telemetry system comprising:
- first means at a HOT unit for automatically detecting whether an EOT unit attached to the rear of a train is a one-way or two-way device; and
second means at the HOT unit for detecting the particular code format transmitted by the EOT unit, wherein said first means comprises;
polling means at the HOT unit for polling the EOT unit;
receiving means at the HOT unit for receiving a response from the EOT unit when polled; and
detection means at the HOT unit responsive to the receiving means for deciding, based on receiving or not receiving a response from said EOT unit, whether said EOT unit is a one-way or two-way device.
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Abstract
Improvements relating to railroad telemetry and control system address problems in compatibility between HOT and EOT units, implement an automatic UDE location procedure, and automate calibration of EOT units. An improved two way protocol that allows EOT units having different code formats to be used with a HOT unit. A method is implemented by a HOT unit, cooperating with an EOT unit, for locating a fault which causes a UDE brake operation. An automatic calibration procedure for the EOT unit that does not require the operator to have access to the electronic circuitry.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An End of Train (EOT) and Head of Train (HOT) railroad telemetry system comprising:
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first means at a HOT unit for automatically detecting whether an EOT unit attached to the rear of a train is a one-way or two-way device; and second means at the HOT unit for detecting the particular code format transmitted by the EOT unit, wherein said first means comprises; polling means at the HOT unit for polling the EOT unit; receiving means at the HOT unit for receiving a response from the EOT unit when polled; and detection means at the HOT unit responsive to the receiving means for deciding, based on receiving or not receiving a response from said EOT unit, whether said EOT unit is a one-way or two-way device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication protocol method used in End of Train (EOT) and Head of Train (HOT) railroad telemetry comprising the steps of:
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the HOT unit polling said EOT unit; the HOT unit waiting to receive a response from said EOT unit when polled; the HOT unit deciding, based on receiving or not receiving a response from said EOT unit, whether said EOT unit is a one-way or two-way device, thereby automatically detecting whether an EOT unit is attached to the rear of a train is a one-way or two-way device; and detecting by the HOT unit the particular code format transmitted by the EOT unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An End of Train (EOT) unit for use with a Head of Train (HOT) unit in a railroad telemetry system wherein the HOT unit may be either a one-way or two-way communication device, said EOT unit being a two-way communication device and comprising:
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receiving means for receiving polling transmissions from a two-way HOT unit; timing means for determining whether a polling transmission is received from the HOT unit within a predetermined period of time; and detection means responsive to said receiving means and said timing means for automatically establishing whether the HOT unit with which the EOT is in communication is a one-way or a two-way device.
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17. A procedure implemented in an End of Train (HOT) unit for use with a Head of Train (HOT) unit in a railroad telemetry system wherein the HOT unit may be either a one-way or two-way communication device, said EOT unit being a two-way communication device and said procedure comprising the steps of:
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on power up, waiting a predetermined period of time to receive a polling transmission from a two-way HOT unit; and determining that the HOT unit is a two-way device if a polling transmission is received within said predetermined period of time, but if a polling transmission is not received within said predetermined period of time, determining that the HOT unit is a one-way device; and using a first communication protocol for transmitting data to the HOT device if the HOT device is determined to be a two-way device and using a second communication protocol if the HOT device is determined to be a one-way device.
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Specification