Attached logic module technique for control and maintenance in a distributed and networked control system

• US 6,275,739 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ireland, Anthony John
• Original Assignee: Ireland, Anthony John
• Inventors: Ireland, Anthony John
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Paul
• Application Number:
  US09/170,577
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 700/7, 700/19, 700/24, 700/27, 701/19, 701/20, 105/1.5
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/00 Model railways propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track A63H18/00

Abstract

A local area network based control system for model railroad layout control that may be readily modified, upgraded, dynamically reconfigured or expanded with minimum physical or functional interruption to the operation of the model railroad layout. This allows for the expansion and improvements to the layout control system to be effected with least effort, time and risk of failure.

Claims

1. A method for control in a model railroad layout using digital command control signal voltages using automated synchronization of adjacent gap isolated main track section and separate track section employing unrelated control voltages comprising at least:

(a) providing a means to generate and conduct unique main track section control voltages to said main track section;

(b) providing a means to generate unique track control voltages for said separate track section;

(c) providing an automated control sub-unit comprising at least;

(i) providing a means for obtaining samples of said unique main track section control voltages and said unique separate track section control voltages,

(ii) providing a means for selecting between said samples of unique main track section control voltages and said samples of unique separate track section control voltages and conducting the selected voltage to said separate track section

(iii) providing a means for detecting when model wheels cross between the gap isolating said main track section and said separate track section

(iv) providing a means for deciding, when model wheels are crossing said gap between said main track section and said separate track section, that the control voltage selected to be conducted to said separate track section will be approximately equal to the value of the voltage sample obtained from said unique main track section

(v) providing a means for deciding, when model wheels have completed crossing from said main track section across said gap into said separate track section, that the control voltage selected to be conducted to said separate track section will be approximately equal to said sample of the unique separate track section control voltage which will;

allow the passage of wheeled units crossing said gap between said main track section and said separate track section to occur with minimum disruption to said main track section by synchronizing the voltages at each side of the gaps while allowing the two track areas to have completely unrelated and not simply reversed polarity control voltages when it is decided that passage is not occurring.

2. The method for control in a model railroad layout using digital command control signal voltages using automated synchronization of adjacent gap isolated main track section and separate track section employing unrelated control voltages of claim 1, further including:

providing a means of alternating said sample of main track section voltage and said sample of separate track section voltage conducted to the separate track section;

alternated in such a manner as to effectively allow the control of models in the separate track section which have crossed said gap between main track section and separate track section and continue to be controlled by the main track section voltage.

3. A method of maintenance of a distributed network model railroad control system, comprising:

(a) providing a local area network, without centralized mediation;

(b) providing a plurality of sub units connected to said local area network, said plurality of sub units providing a control structure for said distributed network model railroad control system;

(c) providing a local area network command syntax means for said plurality of sub units;

(d) independently configuring said distributed network model railroad control system with said plurality of sub units using said local area network command syntax means;

(e) providing a message decoding means for said plurality of sub units;

said message decoding means providing bi-directional data transfer capability, distributed decentralized multiple access control and for said plurality of sub units to send messages and commands and configuration information to any other connected sub unit and to receive said messages and commands and configuration information from said any other connected sub unit connected to said local area network;

(f) providing a control logic means for said plurality of sub units, said control logic means functioning autonomously without centralized mediation on said distributed network model railroad control system,

whereby said plurality of sub units independently configure said distributed network model railroad control system and provide maintenance of said distributed network model railroad control system without centralized mediation over said local area network.

4. A method of maintenance and control which allows addition of at least one new type of functionality to a model railroad control system based on a distributed network through addition of at least one attached logic module added to said distributed network, comprising:

(a) providing said at least one attached logic module,

(b) providing a connecting means between said model railroad control system based on a distributed network and to said at least one attached logic module,

(c) providing a network command syntax means that allows for addition of said at least one new type of functionality by adding at least one new message type and associated commands via said at least one attached logic module to implement said at least one new type of functionality on said model railroad control system based on a distributed network,

(d) said step of providing said at least one attached logic module further comprising;

(i) providing a network communication means for communicating between said at least one attached logic module and said model railroad control system based on a distributed network,

(ii) providing a message decoding means for said at least one attached logic module to have bidirectional data transfer capability, distributed decentralized multiple access control and having the ability for said at least one attached logic module to send messages and commands and configuration information to any other connected attached logic module and to receive said messages and commands and configuration information from said any other connected attached logic module without centralized mediation,

(iii) providing a control logic means for said at least one attached logic module to function autonomously without centralized mediation on said model railroad control system based on distributed network techniques,

(iv) providing an autonomous configuration means for said at least one attached logic module to add said at least one new message type and associated commands to implement addition of said at least one new type of functionality to a model railroad control system based on the distributed network,

whereby application of said at least one attached logic module to said model railroad control system based on a distributed network will enable an end-user to add new functionality automatically to said model railroad control system based on a distributed network.

5. A method of maintenance and control which allows modification of at least one type of functionality to a model railroad control system based on a distributed network through addition of at least one attached logic module added to said distributed network, comprising:

(a) providing said at least one attached logic module,

(b) providing a connecting means between said model railroad control system based on a distributed network and said at least one attached logic module,

(c) providing a network command syntax means that allows for said modification of at least one type of functionality to said model railroad control system based on a distributed network,

(d) said step of providing said at least one attached logic module further comprising;

(i) providing a network communication means for communicating between said at least one attached logic module and said model railroad control system based on a distributed network,

(ii) providing a message decoding means for said at least one attached logic module to have bi-directional data transfer capability, distributed decentralized multiple access control and having an ability for said at least one attached logic module to send messages and commands and configuration information to any other connected attached logic module and to receive said messages and commands and configuration information from said any other connected attached logic module without centralized mediation,

(iii) providing a control logic means for said at least one attached logic module to function autonomously without centralized mediation on said model railroad control system based on distributed network techniques,

(iv) providing an autonomous configuration means for said at least one attached logic module to change said configuration information in said any other connected attached logic module to make said modification of at least one type of functionality to a model railroad control system based on the distributed network,

whereby application of said at least one attached logic module to said model railroad control system based on a distributed network will automatically enable said modification of at least one type of functionality to said model railroad control system based on a distributed network by an end-user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the modification of at least one type of functionality is route control on said model railroad control system based on a distributed network.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the modification of at least one type of functionality is signal control on said model railroad control system based on a distributed network.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the modification of at least one type of functionality is locomotive address alias control on said model railroad control system based on a distributed network.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of providing said at least one attached logic module further includes adding a write protection means to said at least one attached logic module for preventing distributed network modifications, thereby providing operational security following said autonomous configuration.