Railroad communication system
First Claim
1. A railroad communication system for controlling operation of a locomotive by at least two different locomotive control units, with the communication system comprising:
- a first locomotive control unit, mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive, the first locomotive control unit comprising a first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem capable of communicating with a first remote control unit at a first frequency band of about 450 MHz band for controlling operation of the locomotive;
a second locomotive control unit, mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive, the second locomotive control unit comprising a second radio transmitter and receiver subsystem capable of communicating with a second remote control unit at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band and selected to avoid interference with the first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for communication with the locomotive;
a first processor, operably connected to the first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for responding to the first remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the first remote control unit;
a second processor, operably connected to the second radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for responding to the second remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the second remote control unit; and
whereby operation of the locomotive can be selectively controlled by one of the remote control units without causing interference with communications with the other locomotive control unit or other locomotives, with the locomotive responding to only the selected remote control unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved railroad communication system configurable to comply with newly proposed FRA regulations and further configurable to addresses the concern of communications conflicts is provided. The railroad communication system includes a first radio communication system operating in a first frequency band of about 450 MHz band for communication with a locomotive. The system further includes a second radio communication system operating in a second frequency band selected to be different from the first frequency so as to avoid interference with the first radio communication system for communication with the locomotive. A processor on the locomotive enables the locomotive to selectively respond to the designated control signals so that operation of the locomotive will respond only to the appropriate control signals.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A railroad communication system for controlling operation of a locomotive by at least two different locomotive control units, with the communication system comprising:
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a first locomotive control unit, mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive, the first locomotive control unit comprising a first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem capable of communicating with a first remote control unit at a first frequency band of about 450 MHz band for controlling operation of the locomotive;
a second locomotive control unit, mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive, the second locomotive control unit comprising a second radio transmitter and receiver subsystem capable of communicating with a second remote control unit at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band and selected to avoid interference with the first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for communication with the locomotive;
a first processor, operably connected to the first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for responding to the first remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the first remote control unit;
a second processor, operably connected to the second radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for responding to the second remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the second remote control unit; and
whereby operation of the locomotive can be selectively controlled by one of the remote control units without causing interference with communications with the other locomotive control unit or other locomotives, with the locomotive responding to only the selected remote control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A railroad communication system comprising:
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a first radio communication system for communicating control signals to control the operation of a locomotive in a train operating at a first power level and in a first frequency band of about 450 MHz band for communication with a locomotive; and
a second radio communication system for communicating control signals to control the operation of a locomotive in a train operating at a second power level lower than the first and in a second frequency band different from first band selected to avoid interference with the first radio communication system for communication with the locomotive, and wherein the second frequency band and power level thereof are each chosen to be free from regulatory approval.
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20. A method for controlling operation of a locomotive by at least two different locomotive control units comprising:
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providing a first locomotive control unit mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive;
configuring the first locomotive control unit to communicate by way of a first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem with a first remote control unit at a first frequency band of about 450 MHz band for controlling operation of the locomotive;
providing a second locomotive control unit mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive;
configuring the second locomotive control unit to communicate by way of a second radio transmitter and receiver subsystem with the second remote control unit at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band and selected to avoid interference with the first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for communication with the locomotive;
operating the first locomotive control unit in response to the first remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the first remote control unit;
operating the second locomotive control unit in response to the second remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the second remote control unit; and
selectively controlling operation of the locomotive without causing interference with communications with other locomotive control units or other locomotives, with the locomotive responding to only the selected remote control unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification