×

Apparatus and method for tracking reporting and recording equipment inventory on a locomotive

  • US 5,786,998 A
  • Filed: 05/22/1995
  • Issued: 07/28/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An apparatus for tracking, reporting and recording equipment inventory on a railroad field unit equipped with a mobile communications package (MCP) operatively connected to on-board intelligent devices and operative to transmit and receive information to and from at least one remote base communications unit, the intelligent devices operatively connected in a local communications network, said apparatus comprising;

  • processing means operative to broadcast a Query for Health Report to on-board intelligent devices and receive Health Report messages from on-board intelligent devices, wherein said Query for Health Report comprises a request for equipment identification information and said Health Report messages comprise the requested equipment identification information;

    equipment identification information storage means in information transmission connection with said processing means, said storage means operative to receive and store equipment identification information received by said processing means via said Health Report messages;

    polling means operatively connected to said processing means for periodically initiating broadcasting of said Query for Health Report to on-board intelligent devices on a railroad field unit;

    temporary information storage means in information transmission connection with said processing means for initially receiving and storing recently received equipment identification information from a locomotive via Health Report messages received in response to said Query for Health Report;

    comparing means in said processing means for comparing equipment identification information in said temporary information storage means to equipment identification information in said equipment identification information storage means for a particular field unit to determine additions and deletions of intelligent equipment on the field unit; and

    reporting and notifying means in information transmission connection with said processing means for reporting intelligent devices on-board a field unit and for notifying an operator of a change of intelligent devices on a field unit.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×