Configuration of a remote data collection and communication system

• US 6,633,784 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lovelace, John Howard II, Pander, James E., Cook, Thomas George
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/620,003
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/65-66, 700/286, 700/13, 700/14, 700/12, 700/19, 700/20, 701/33-35, 701/19, 701/29, 701/24, 701/117, 701/102, 246/62, 246/72, 246/122.R, 246/167.R, 246/176, 246/177, 246/182.R, 246/182.B, 246/182.C, 246/186, 246/3-4, 246/14
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/02 Global system for mobile communication - railways [GSM-R]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/125 using short-range radio transmission

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modifying configuration information used to control an on-board monitor located aboard a locomotive. Under the control of a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, the on-board monitor periodically collects information from the locomotive and transmits it to the remote monitoring and diagnostic center. When it is desired to change some aspect associated with the data collection process (including the period during which the data is collected, the types of data collected, etc.), it is necessary to change the configuration file that controls the on-board monitor. The configuration file is changed at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center and then transmitted to the on-board monitor.

Claims

1. For use with a railroad locomotive comprising a plurality of operational systems monitored by an on-board monitor for collecting operational information from the operational systems in functional dependence on configuration information supplied to the on-board monitor by a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, wherein the operational information is transmitted to and analyzed at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center for assessing the operational performance of the locomotive, a method for controlling the on-board monitor comprising the steps of:

establishing a communications link between the on-board monitor and the remote monitoring and diagnostic center;

transmitting the operational information from the on-board monitor to the remote monitoring and diagnostic center over the communications link;

modifying on-board monitor configuration information in data storage at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center in response to the operational performance of the locomotive;

storing the modified configuration information at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center;

at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center, determining whether there is modified configuration information for the on-board monitor; and

in response to determining if there is modified configuration information transmitting the modified configuration information to the on-board monitor from the remote monitoring and diagnostic center, such that the on-board monitor thereafter collects operational information in functional dependence on the modified configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of modifying occurs in response to changes in the operational characteristics of the locomotive.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the on-board monitor collects environmental information and the modifying of the configuration information occurs in response to a change in the environment in which the locomotive is operating.

4. For use with a railroad locomotive comprising a plurality of operational systems monitored by an on-board monitor for collecting operational information from the operational systems in functional dependence on configuration information supplied to the on-board monitor by a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, wherein the operational information is analyzed at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center for assessing the operational performance of the locomotive, an apparatus for controlling the on-board monitor, comprising

a configuration modifier for modifying the on-board monitor configuration information at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center in response to the operational performance of the locomotive;

a storage device for storing the modified configuration information;

a first transmitter for transmitting a unique identification signal and operational information from the on-board monitor to the remote monitoring and diagnostic center;

a first receiver for receiving the unique identification signal and the operational information at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center,

a second receiver at the on-board monitor;

a second transmitter in communication with the storage device for transmitting modified configuration information from the remote monitoring and diagnostic center to said second receiver, and

wherein said modified configuration information thereafter controls operation of the onboard monitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the configuration modifier is responsive to changes in the operational characteristics of the locomotive.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the on-board monitor collects environmental information and the configuration modifier is responsive to a change in the environment in which the locomotive is operating.

7. For use with a railroad locomotive comprising a plurality of operational systems monitored by an on-board monitor for collecting operational information from the operational systems in functional dependence on configuration information supplied to the onboard monitor by a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, where the operational information is transmitted to and analyzed at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center for assessing the operational performance of the locomotive, apparatus for controlling the on-board monitor comprising:

a configuration modifier for modifying the on-board monitor configuration information at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center in response to the operational performance of the locomotive;

a storage device for storing the modified configuration information;

a first transmitter for transmitting a unique identification sisal from the on-board monitor to the remote monitoring and diagnostic center;

a remote monitoring and diagnostic center receiver for receiving the unique identification signal at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center and for activating a remote monitoring and diagnostic center transmitter in response thereto, with the remote monitoring and diagnostic center transmitter being in communication with the storage device for transmitting modified configuration information;

said remote monitoring and diagnostic center transmitter for calling the on-board monitor by transmitting a call signal thereto, in response to the unique identification signal;

an on-board monitor receiver at the on-board monitor for receiving the call signal and for activating an on-board monitor transmitter in response thereto;

said on-board monitor transmitter for transmitting operational information to the remote monitoring and diagnostic center receiver, and

following transmission of the operational information, said remote monitoring and diagnostic center transmitter transmitting modified configuration information to said on-board monitor receiver.