Method and apparatus to automatically generate a train manifest
First Claim
1. In a region that includes a moving train and at least one unconnected car, the moving train including a first car, the region being defined by points at which radio communication with the first car is possible, a method to determine membership of an unknown car in the moving train, the method comprising steps of:
- determining a first relative position of the unknown car relative to the first car at a first time by using a satellite navigation system;
determining a second relative position of the unknown car relative to the first car at a second time by using the satellite navigation system;
calculating a displacement distance from a difference between the first relative position and the second relative position; and
declaring the unknown car to be a member of the moving train when the displacement distance is substantially zero.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system located in a region to determine information about an unknown car relative to a moving train includes first and second satellite navigation receivers, first and second transceivers and first and second controllers. The moving train includes a first car, and the region includes the moving train and the unknown car. The region is defined by points at which radio communication with the first car is possible. The first satellite navigation receiver, located in the first car, provides first location data, and the second satellite navigation receiver, located in the unknown car, provides second location data. The first transceiver is located in the first car, and the second transceiver is located in the unknown car. The first controller, located in the first car, reads the first location data from the first satellite receiver at a first time and sends via the first transceiver a first request to the second transceiver at the first time. The second controller, located in the unknown car and responsive to the first request received via the second transceiver, reads the second location data from the second satellite receiver and sends via the second transceiver a first response to the first transceiver, the first response including the second location data, wherein the first controller receives via the first transceiver the response and calculates a first distance from a first difference between the first and second location data. Alternatively, the first controller polls the region for unknown cars. An unknown car responds with it identification number. The first controller has a Doppler receiver to determine whether the unknown and responding car is moving with respect to the first controller. From the Doppler indications of all responding cars, the first controller determines a train manifest, and then transmits the manifest and equipment status via satellite to a central station.
24 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. In a region that includes a moving train and at least one unconnected car, the moving train including a first car, the region being defined by points at which radio communication with the first car is possible, a method to determine membership of an unknown car in the moving train, the method comprising steps of:
-
determining a first relative position of the unknown car relative to the first car at a first time by using a satellite navigation system; determining a second relative position of the unknown car relative to the first car at a second time by using the satellite navigation system; calculating a displacement distance from a difference between the first relative position and the second relative position; and declaring the unknown car to be a member of the moving train when the displacement distance is substantially zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A system located in a region to determine information about an unknown car relative to a moving train, the moving train including a first car, the region including the moving train and the unknown car, the region being defined by points at which radio communication with the first car is possible, the system comprising:
-
means for determining a first relative position of the unknown car relative to the first car at a first time by using a satellite navigation system; means for determining a second relative position of the unknown car relative to the first car at a second time by using the satellite navigation system; means for calculating a displacement distance from a difference between the first relative position and the second relative position; and means for declaring the unknown car to be a member of the moving train when the displacement distance is substantially zero. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system located in a region to determine information about an unknown car relative to a moving train, the moving train including a first car, the region including the moving train and the unknown car, the region being defined by points at which radio communication with the first car possible, the system comprising:
-
a first satellite navigation receiver located in the first car to provide first location data; a second satellite navigation receiver located in the unknown car to provide second location data; first and second transceivers, the first transceiver being located in the first car, the second transceiver being located in the unknown car; a first controller located in the first car, the first controller reading the first location data from the first satellite receiver at a first time and sending via the first transceiver a first request to the second transceiver at the first time; a second controller located in the unknown car, the second controller responsive to the first request received via the second transceiver reading the second location data from the second satellite receiver and sending via the second transceiver a first response to the first transceiver, the first response including the second location data, wherein the first controller receives via the first transceiver the response and calculates a first distance from a first difference between the first and second location data. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
Specification