Intelligent communications, command, and control system for a land-based vehicle

• US 6,862,502 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peltz, David M., Smith, Eugene A., Kellner, Steven Andrew, Foy, Robert James, Kraeling, Mark, Peltonen, Glen Paul, Delaruelle, Dale Henry, Bryant, Robert Francis, Johnson, Don Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/215,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/2, 701/1, 701/20, 246/187.C, 246/186, 707/104.1, 702/183, 702/113, 702/180, 700/65
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2201/02 Fuzzy control
• 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 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/023 Determination of driving direction of vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/028 Determination of vehicle position and orientation within a train consist, e.g. serialisation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/70 Details of trackside communication
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/125 using short-range radio transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/227 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Method and communication system for a railroad train having at least one locomotive for automatically adjusting the communication system to provide effective communication of command data to control operation of the locomotive are provided. The system includes a transceiver on the locomotive. The system further includes at least one transceiver remote from the locomotive. A database may be provided for storing data relative to a plurality of communication schemes available to the communication system. A first monitor may be used for sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications between the transceivers when the transceivers are operating under a first one of the available communication schemes and generating data indicative of communications quality. A processor in communication with the monitor and the database may be configured to select a second communication scheme when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication scheme is not satisfactory to ensure that the command data will be reliably communicated with respect to the locomotive.

Claims

1. A communication system for a railroad train comprising at least one locomotive for automatically adjusting the communication system to provide effective communication of command data for control of the operation of the locomotive, the system comprising:

a transceiver on the locomotive;

at least one transceiver remote from the locomotive, the transceiver constituting part of a communication system;

a database storing data relative to a plurality of communication schemes available to the communication system;

a first monitor for sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications between the transceivers when the transceivers are operating under a first one of the available communication schemes and generating data indicative of communications quality; and

a processor in communication with the monitor and the database for selecting at least a second communication scheme when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication scheme is not satisfactory to ensure that the command data will be reliably communicated with respect to the locomotive.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of predetermined choices for selecting each available communications scheme.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the processor for selecting the second communications scheme is configured to evaluate the communications quality of the first communication scheme.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the processor for selecting the second communications scheme is configured to evaluate the communications quality of the first communications scheme relative to the communications quality of the second communications scheme.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the processor for selecting the second communications scheme includes data for evaluating the communications quality of the second communications scheme.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein, in the event the second communications scheme is unable to provide satisfactory communication quality, the processor is further configured to select another communications scheme likely to provide satisfactory communications quality.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of a plurality of distinct communication protocols available to the communication system, and the processor further includes a module for selecting a first communication protocol from the plurality of distinct communication protocols based on the likelihood of the first protocol to provide satisfactory communication quality.

8. The communication system of claim 7 wherein the protocol-selecting module is further configured to select a second communication protocol when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication protocol is not satisfactory.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of a plurality of distinct frequencies available to the communication system, and the processor further includes a module for selecting a first one of the available frequencies based on the likelihood of the first frequency to provide satisfactory communication quality.

10. The communication system of claim 9 wherein the frequency-selecting module is further configured to select a second one of the available frequencies when the quality of the communications provided by the first frequency is not satisfactory.

11. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of multiple communication devices distributed throughout the train, and the processor includes a module for selecting a first communication device from the multiple communication devices distributed throughout the train, wherein said selection is based on determining which respective communication device is likely to provide satisfactory communication quality.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the device-selecting module is further configured to select a second one of the multiple communication devices when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication device is not satisfactory.

13. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of a plurality of distinct message configurations, and the processor includes a module for selecting a first one of the plurality of distinct message configurations based on the likelihood of the first message configuration to ensure reception of the command data throughout the train.

14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the module for selecting the message configuration is further configured to select a second one of the message configurations when the quality of the communications provided by the first message configuration is not satisfactory.

15. The communication system of claim 14 wherein the message configuration is selected from the group consisting of message data rate, message reply, message repetition, and message encryption.

16. The communication system of claim 13 wherein each message includes code configured to communicate to each transceiver a communication scheme to switch to in the event of sudden communication loss.

17. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of a plurality of distinct types of data communicable by the communication system, and the processor includes a module for selecting a first type of data to be communicated by the communication system, the first type of data being selected from the plurality of distinct types of data based on the likelihood of the first type of data in being satisfactorily communicated by the communication system.

18. The communication system of claim 17 wherein the module for selecting the data type to be transmitted is further configured to select a second type of data when the quality of the communications obtained by the first type of data is not satisfactory.

19. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of a plurality of distinct types of data sources available to the communication system, and the processor includes a module for selecting a first one of the distinct types of data sources based on the likelihood of the first type of data source to obtain satisfactory communication quality.

20. The communication system of claim 19 wherein the module for selecting the type of data source is further configured to select a second type of data source when the quality of the communications obtained by the first type of data source is not satisfactory.

21. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the database includes data indicative of a plurality of distinct types of data targets available to the communication system, and the processor includes a module for selecting a first one of the distinct types of data targets based on the likelihood of the first type of data target to obtain satisfactory communication quality.

22. The communication system of claim 21 wherein the module for selecting the type of data target is further configured to select a second type of data target when the quality of the communications obtained by the first type of data target is not satisfactory.

23. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring an environmental condition in the vicinity of the train, and wherein the database for storing data relative to the plurality of communication schemes associates the communication schemes with environmental conditions of the train, with the processor being configured to access said database for determining whether to change to a more appropriate communications scheme in view of the monitored environmental conditions.

24. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring an operational condition in the vicinity of the train, and wherein the database for storing data relative to the plurality of communication schemes associates the communication schemes with operational conditions of the train, with the processor being configured to access said database for determining whether to change to a more appropriate communications scheme in view of the monitored operational conditions.

25. A communication method for a railroad train comprising at least one locomotive for automatically adjusting a communication system to provide effective communication of command data for control of the operation of the train, the method comprising:

providing a transceiver on a locomotive and at least one transceiver remote from the locomotive, the transceiver constituting part of a communications system;

directing command data via the communication system;

storing in a database data indicative of a plurality of communication schemes available to the communication system;

sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications sent via the communications system;

generating data indicative of communications quality; and

selecting a second communication scheme when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication scheme is not satisfactory to ensure that the command data will be reliably communicated with respect to the locomotive.

26. The communication method of claim 25 further including in the database data indicative of predetermined choices for selecting each available communications scheme.

27. The communication method of claim 25 wherein the selecting of the second communications scheme comprises evaluating the communications quality of the first communication scheme.

28. The communication method of claim 25 wherein the selecting of the second communications scheme comprises evaluating the communications quality of the first communications scheme relative to the communications quality of the second communications scheme.

29. The communication system of claim 25 wherein the selecting of the second communications scheme comprises evaluating the communications quality of the second communications scheme.

30. The communication method of claim 25 wherein, in the event the second communications scheme is unable to provide satisfactory communication quality, selecting another communications scheme likely to provide satisfactory communications quality.

31. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative of a plurality of distinct communication protocols available to the communication system, and selecting a first communication protocol from the plurality of distinct communication protocols based on the likelihood of the first protocol to provide satisfactory communication quality.

32. The communication method of claim 31 further comprising selecting a second communication protocol when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication protocol is not satisfactory.

33. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative data indicative of a plurality of distinct frequencies available to the communication system, and selecting a first one of the available frequencies based on the likelihood of the first frequency to provide satisfactory communication quality.

34. The communication method of claim 33 further comprising selecting a second one of the available frequencies when the quality of the communications provided by the first frequency is not satisfactory.

35. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative of multiple communication devices distributed throughout the train, and selecting a first communication device from the multiple communication devices distributed throughout the train, wherein said selection is based on determining which respective communication device is likely to provide satisfactory communication quality.

36. The communication method of claim 35 further comprising selecting a second one of the multiple communication devices when the quality of the communications provided by the first communication device is not satisfactory.

37. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative of a plurality of distinct message-repeating techniques, and selecting a first one of the plurality of distinct message-repeating techniques based on the likelihood of the first message-repeating technique to ensure reception of the command data.

38. The communication method of claim 37 further comprising selecting a second one of the message-repeating techniques when the quality of the communications provided by the first message-repeating techniques is not satisfactory.

39. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative of a plurality of distinct message-reply techniques available to the transceivers, and selecting a first one of the plurality of distinct message-reply techniques based on the likelihood of the first message-reply technique to ensure reception of the command data.

40. The communication method of claim 39 further comprising selecting a second one of the message-reply techniques when the quality of the communications provided by the first message-reply technique is not satisfactory.

41. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative of a plurality of distinct types of data communicable by the communication system, and selecting a first type of data to be communicated by the transceivers, the first type of data being selected from the plurality of distinct types of data based on the likelihood of the first type of data in being satisfactorily communicated by the communication system.

42. The communication method of claim 41 further comprising selecting a second type of data when the quality of the communications obtained by the first type of data is not satisfactory.

43. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative of a plurality of distinct types of data sources available to the communication system, and selecting a first one of the distinct types of data sources based on the likelihood of the first type of data source to obtain satisfactory communication quality by the communication system.

44. The communication method of claim 43 further comprising selecting a second type of data source when the quality of the communications obtained by the first type of data source is not satisfactory.

45. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising storing data indicative of a plurality of distinct types of data targets available to the communication system, and selecting a first one of the distinct types of data targets based on the likelihood of the first type of data target to obtain satisfactory communication quality by the communication system.

46. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising monitoring an environmental condition in the vicinity of the train, and wherein the database for storing data relative to the plurality of communication schemes associates the communication schemes with environmental conditions of the train, the processor being configured to access said database for determining whether to change to a more appropriate communications scheme in view of the monitored environmental conditions.

47. The communication method of claim 25 further comprising monitoring an operational condition in the vicinity of the train, and wherein the database for storing data relative to the plurality of communication schemes associates the communication schemes with operational conditions of the train, the processor being configured to access said database for determining whether to change to a more appropriate communications scheme in view of the monitored operational conditions.

48. A communication system for a vehicle for selecting a preferred communication scheme for providing reliable data communication to the vehicle, the system comprising:

a first transceiver on the vehicle;

a second transceiver remote from the first transceiver in communication with the first transceiver;

a first monitor for sensing a parameter in the communication system that affects the quality of the communication between the transceivers;

a first database of communication schemes available to the transceivers;

a second database relating the parameter sensed by the monitor to anticipated levels of communication quality for each communication scheme; and

a processor in communication with the monitor, first database and second database for selecting a preferred communication scheme to provide a satisfactory level of communication quality for the parameter sensed by the monitor, and for communicating the preferred communication scheme to at least one of the transceivers.

49. The communication system of claim 48 wherein the processor prioritizes the available communications schemes based on their anticipated levels of communication quality for the parameter sensed by the monitor.

50. The communication system of claim 48 wherein the parameter sensed by the monitor is selected from the group consisting of environmental and operational conditions of the vehicle.

51. The communication system of claim 48 wherein the processor is configured to provide substantially uninterrupted communication between the transceivers when transitioning from any one of the available communication schemes to another one of the communication schemes.

52. The communication system of claim 48 further comprising a second monitor for sensing a parameter indicative of the quality of the communications between the transceivers when the transceivers are operating under a first one of the available communication schemes and generating data indicative of communications quality.

53. The communication system of claim 52 wherein the processor prioritizes the available communications schemes based on their actual levels of communication quality relative to the anticipated levels of communication quality for the parameter sensed by the first monitor.

54. The communication system of claim 50 further comprising a third database for storing data relative to the plurality of communication schemes associating the communication schemes with conditions of the vehicle, the processor configured to access said database for determining whether to change to a more appropriate communications scheme in view of the conditions.

55. An intelligent communication, command and control system for a railroad train comprising at least one locomotive, the system comprising:

a communication system configured to provide a plurality of communication schemes for communicating command data usable for controlling operation of the train;

control equipment configured to provide a plurality of control modes responsive to command data communicated via the communication system;

a database storing data for associating the plurality of communication schemes with the plurality of control modes based on the data communication requirements of each respective control mode; and

a processor coupled to the database configured to match a communication scheme with a control mode for reliable control of the operation of the train in response to the command data communicated via the communication system.

56. The control system of claim 55 wherein in the event the selected communication scheme cannot reliably communicate the command data for any selected control mode, the processor being further configured to select a second control mode whose data communication requirements are likely to be met by a presently available communication scheme.

57. The control system of claim 55 wherein in the event the selected communication scheme cannot reliably communicate the command data for any selected control mode, the processor being further configured to select a second communication scheme likely to meet the communication requirements of a presently related selected mode.

58. The control system of claim 55 wherein the communication equipment comprises a first transceiver on the at least one locomotive, and a second transceiver remote from the first transceiver in communication with the first transceiver.

59. The control system of claim 58 further comprising a first monitor for sensing a parameter in the communication equipment that affects the quality of the communication between the transceivers.

60. The control system of claim 55 wherein the processor prioritizes the available communications schemes based on their anticipated levels of communication quality for the parameter sensed by the monitor, and further based on the data communication requirements of the presently selected control mode.

61. The control system of claim 55 wherein said database further includes data for relating each communication scheme to environmental and/or operational conditions of the train, the processor configured to access said database for determining whether to change to a more appropriate communications scheme in view of at least one of the following criteria:

said conditions, the communication quality being presently provided by the communication scheme, and the data communication requirements of the presently selected control mode.