Automatic serialization of an array of wireless nodes based on coupled oscillator model
First Claim
1. A linking process for establishing a sequence of linked nodes at a head-node of an array of nodes, each of said nodes being equipped with a wireless communication device of limited range, the linking process comprising the steps of:
- transmitting packets including a unique identification from each of said nodes, each said communication device modeling a phase-variable oscillator i such that when phase θ
i =1, the ith oscillator "fires", transmitting the packet, and θ
i jumps back to zero and, on receiving a packet, changes phase according to a phase-response curve, thereby setting up a wave pattern of transmission of packets;
updating a local map at each node based on received packets from adjacent nodes;
periodically transmitting from each node a current local map; and
compiling, at the head node, a network map of the sequence of the nodes in the network from the local maps received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A linking process allows a head-end unit (HEU) of a railroad train to determine the sequence of cars in the train using wireless links between nodes on the cars, and requires no physical connection between the nodes or cars. Each car in the train is equipped with a wireless communication device which models an oscillator i. Each oscillator is phase-variable, the phase θi linearly increasing from 0 to 1 such that, when the ith oscillator "fires", transmitting a packet, and phase θi then jumps back to zero. When a car receives the transmission of another car, it changes the phase of its oscillator according to a phase-response curve function, setting up a wave pattern of transmission from nodes, from one end of the train to the other end. The wave pattern, along with protocol logic, enables each car to determine the sequence in which cars are arranged in its vicinity. The protocol logic also enables each car to forward or relay this "local map" from all cars to the HEU, allowing the HEU to construct the entire train map which is the sequence of cars in the train. The compiled train map is compared with consist information and the operator is notified of any discrepancy.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A linking process for establishing a sequence of linked nodes at a head-node of an array of nodes, each of said nodes being equipped with a wireless communication device of limited range, the linking process comprising the steps of:
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transmitting packets including a unique identification from each of said nodes, each said communication device modeling a phase-variable oscillator i such that when phase θ
i =1, the ith oscillator "fires", transmitting the packet, and θ
i jumps back to zero and, on receiving a packet, changes phase according to a phase-response curve, thereby setting up a wave pattern of transmission of packets;updating a local map at each node based on received packets from adjacent nodes; periodically transmitting from each node a current local map; and compiling, at the head node, a network map of the sequence of the nodes in the network from the local maps received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A linking process for establishing a sequence of cars in a train in which a locomotive is equipped with a head end unit (HEU) and each car in the train is equipped with a receiver and a transmitter as part of an electro-pneumatic braking system using wireless links of limited range to convey information up and down the train, the linking process comprising the steps of:
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transmitting packets including a unique identification from each of said cars, each said transmitter modeling a phase-variable oscillator i such that when θ
i =1, the ith oscillator "fires", transmitting the packet, and θ
i jumps back to zero and, on receiving a packet, changes phase according to a phase-response curve, thereby setting up a wave pattern of transmission of packets;updating a local map at each car based on received packets from adjacent cars; periodically transmitting from each car a current local map; and compiling, at the HEU, a train map of the sequence of the cars in the train from the local maps received. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining the serial location of cars in a train equipped with wireless communication devices having a limited range allowing communication with its K-nearest-neighbors (K≧
- 1), comprising the steps of;
modeling transmitters of the wireless communication devices as coupled oscillators, each of said oscillators being of variable phase θ
which increases linearly from 0 to 1 such that, when θ
=1, the oscillator "fires";establishing a wave pattern of transmissions by the communication devices, each of said transmissions including a unique identification of the respective associated communication device; and building at each communication device on a respective one of said cars a local map of the respective car relative to K-nearest-neighbors of the respective car. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- 1), comprising the steps of;
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14. Apparatus for determining serial location of cars in a train, comprising:
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wireless communication devices attached to each car in the train, the wireless communication devices having a limited range allowing communication with its K-nearest-neighbors (K≧
1), transmitters of the wireless communication devices being modeled as coupled oscillators, each of said oscillators being of variable phase θ
which increases linearly from 0 to 1 such that, when θ
=1, the oscillator "fires"; anda head end unit (HEU) mounted in a lead locomotiveof said train and adapted to initialize a linking process, the wireless communication devices being adapted to respond to the initializing of the linking process by setting up a wave pattern of transmissions by the communication devices, each respective communication device being adapted to generate a local map of its K-nearest-neighbors, said HEU being adapted to thereafter poll the communication devices and construct a map of the train based on the local maps at each of the cars. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A linking process for establishing a sequence of linked nodes at a head-node of an array of nodes, each of said nodes being equipped with a wireless communication device having a range that extends to less than all of the nodes of said array, the linking process comprising the steps of:
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transmitting packets including a unique identification from each of said nodes, each said communication device modeling a phase-variable oscillator i such that when phase θ
i =1, the ith oscillator "fires", transmitting the packet, and θ
i jumps back to zero and, on receiving a packet, changes phase according to a phase-response curve, thereby setting up a wave pattern of transmission of packets;updating a local map at each node based on received packets from adjacent nodes; periodically transmitting from each node a current local map; and compiling, at the head node, a network map of the sequence of the nodes in the network from the local maps received.
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Specification