Remote locomotive control
First Claim
1. A locomotive control system comprising:
- a global positioning module positioned on-board a locomotive and configured to receive a time reference signal output by satellite;
an on-board controller positioned on-board the locomotive, the on-board controller coupled to the global positioning module and responsive to the time reference signal for outputting a first polling signal at a time determined as a function of the time reference signal; and
a first remote controller responsive to the first polling signal for outputting a first control signal during a first time interval, the on-board controller responsive to the first control signal during the first time interval for controlling one or more functions of the locomotives wherein the function(s) of the locomotive being controlled by the first control signal include at least one of emergency shutdown, tilt/man-down, horn, bell, speed select, direction and brake level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A locomotive control system includes an on-board controller responsive to a time signal received from a remote source for outputting a first polling signal at a time determined with reference to the time signal. A first remote controller is responsive to the polling signal for outputting a first control signal during a first interval of time. The on-board controller is responsive to the first control signal for controlling one or more functions of the locomotive. The locomotive control system can also include a second remote controller responsive to a second polling signal output by the on-board controller at a time after the first interval of time determined with reference to the time reference signal for outputting a second control signal during a second interval of time. The on-board controller is also responsive to the second control signal for controlling one or more functions of the locomotive.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A locomotive control system comprising:
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a global positioning module positioned on-board a locomotive and configured to receive a time reference signal output by satellite; an on-board controller positioned on-board the locomotive, the on-board controller coupled to the global positioning module and responsive to the time reference signal for outputting a first polling signal at a time determined as a function of the time reference signal; and a first remote controller responsive to the first polling signal for outputting a first control signal during a first time interval, the on-board controller responsive to the first control signal during the first time interval for controlling one or more functions of the locomotives wherein the function(s) of the locomotive being controlled by the first control signal include at least one of emergency shutdown, tilt/man-down, horn, bell, speed select, direction and brake level.
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2. A locomotive control system comprising:
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a global positioning module positioned on-board a locomotive and configured to receive a time reference signal output by satellite; an on-board controller positioned on-board the locomotive, the on-board controller coupled to the global positioning module and responsive to the time reference signal for outputting a first polling signal at a time determined as a function of the time reference signal; a first remote controller responsive to the first polling signal for outputting a first control signal during a first time interval, the on-board controller responsive to the first control signal during the first time interval for controlling one or more functions of the locomotive; and a second remote controller responsive to a second polling signal output by the on-board controller after the first time interval at a time determined as a function of the time reference signal for outputting a second control signal during a second time interval, wherein the on-board controller is responsive to the second control signal during the second time interval for controlling one or more functions of the locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A locomotive control method comprising:
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(a) outputting a first polling signal from a locomotive at a first time determined with reference to a signal output by a satellite which is received by the locomotive; (b) in response to the first polling signal, outputting a first control signal from a first location during a first interval of time; (c) receiving the first control signal during the first interval of time; and (d) controlling one or more functions of the locomotive as a function of the received first control signal, wherein the function(s) of the locomotive being controlled by the first control signal include at least one of emergency shutdown, tilt/man-down, horn, bell, speed select, direction and brake level.
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9. A locomotive control method comprising:
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(a) outputting a first polling signal from a locomotive at a first time determined with reference to a signal output by a satellite which is received by the locomotive; (b) in response to the first polling signal, outputting a first control signal from a first location during a first interval of time; (c) receiving the first control signal during the first interval of time; (d) controlling one or more functions of the locomotive as a function of the received first control signal; (e) after the first interval of time, outputting a second polling signal from the locomotive at a second time determined with reference to the signal output by a satellite; (f) in response to the second polling signal, outputting a second control signal from a second location during a second interval of time; (g) receiving the second control signal during the second interval of time; and (h) controlling one or more functions of the locomotive as a function of the received second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A locomotive control system comprising:
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an on-board controller positioned on a locomotive and responsive to a time signal received wirelessly from a remote source for outputting a first wireless polling signal at a time determined with reference to the time signal; and a first remote controller responsive to the polling signal for outputting a first control signal during a first interval of time, wherein the on-board controller is responsive to the first control signal output during the first interval of time for controlling one or more functions of a locomotive, wherein the function(s) of the locomotive being controlled by the first control signal include at least one of emergency shutdown, tilt/man-down, horn, bell, speed select, direction and brake level.
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14. A locomotive control system comprising:
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an on-board controller positioned on a locomotive and responsive to a time signal received wirelessly from a remote source for outputting a first wireless polling signal at a time determined with reference to the time signal; a first remote controller responsive to the polling signal for outputting a first control signal during a first interval of time, wherein the on-board controller is responsive to the first control signal output during the first interval of time for controlling one or more functions of a locomotive; and a second remote controller responsive to a second polling signal output by the on-board controller at a time after the first interval of time determined with reference to the time signal for outputting a second control signal during a second interval of time, wherein the on-board controller is responsive to the second control signal during the second interval of time for controlling one or more functions of the locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification