System and method for wireless remote control of locomotives
First Claim
1. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives via first and second half duplex wireless channels comprising:
- a plurality of controllers, one for installation on-board of each of the locomotives, wherein each controller comprises a transmitter, a receiver a GPS receiver and a timing means, and wherein each of said plurality of controller periodically receives coordinates of the geographic position of its respective locomotive from its respective GPS receiver,a plurality of control units, each comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein each of said control units is associated with one of said controllers for transmitting and receiving signals for controlling one of said locomotives,wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common source and wherein each controller is assigned a time slot for sending a polling message to said associated control unit and receiving a responsive transmission therefrom;
a plurality of repeaters, wherein each of said plurality of repeaters has an address code and comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor, wherein each of said repeaters receives a signal from one of said controllers and control units on said second half duplex wireless channel; and
wherein each of said controllers uses said coordinates as a basis for choosing the address code of one of said plurality of repeaters to include in its polling signal to be sent over said second half duplex wireless channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for remotely controlling an increased number of subsystems having an onboard locomotive control unit (LCU) and two associated operator control units (OCUs) on a single wireless channel. A time slot is assigned to each subsystem for making two-way transmissions to control the locomotive. A signal from an external timing source synchronizes each subsystem to minimize interference between transmissions from different subsystems. Time slots are assigned manually or automatically over a wireless network or by the LCU after monitoring the channel. The LCU automatically selects the direct or repeater transmission path depending upon whether or not it receives polling message responses from its associated OCUs. A GPS receiver in each subsystem receives the synchronization signal and provides geographic positioning data so the LCU can determine when to execute predefined, position-based commands. The secondary OCU may be turned off and rejoined to the subsystem without ceasing operation.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives via first and second half duplex wireless channels comprising:
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a plurality of controllers, one for installation on-board of each of the locomotives, wherein each controller comprises a transmitter, a receiver a GPS receiver and a timing means, and wherein each of said plurality of controller periodically receives coordinates of the geographic position of its respective locomotive from its respective GPS receiver, a plurality of control units, each comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein each of said control units is associated with one of said controllers for transmitting and receiving signals for controlling one of said locomotives, wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common source and wherein each controller is assigned a time slot for sending a polling message to said associated control unit and receiving a responsive transmission therefrom; a plurality of repeaters, wherein each of said plurality of repeaters has an address code and comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor, wherein each of said repeaters receives a signal from one of said controllers and control units on said second half duplex wireless channel; and
wherein each of said controllers uses said coordinates as a basis for choosing the address code of one of said plurality of repeaters to include in its polling signal to be sent over said second half duplex wireless channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives within a geographic zone via first and second half duplex wireless channels comprising:
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a plurality of controllers each comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a memory containing coordinates of said geographic zone and a plurality of sub-zones within said geographic zone, wherein each of said controllers is for installation on one of said locomotives; a GPS receiver operably connected to each controller, wherein each of said plurality of controllers periodically receives coordinates of the geographic position of its respective locomotive from its respective GPS receiver; a plurality of control units each comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein each of said control units is associated with one of said controllers for transmitting signals thereto and receiving signals therefrom; a plurality of repeaters located within said geographic zone, wherein each of said repeaters has an address code and comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a microprocessor wherein each of said repeaters is capable of receiving signals from said controllers and control units on said second half duplex wireless channel but only re-transmits on said first half duplex wireless channel those signals containing its respective address code, and wherein each of said controllers uses said coordinates as a basis for choosing the address code of one of said plurality of repeaters to include in its polling signal to be sent over said second half duplex wireless channel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives within a geographic zone via first and second half duplex wireless channels comprising:
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a plurality of subsystems each comprising; a controller, for mounting on-board said locomotive, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, GPS receiver and a timing means, wherein said controller periodically receives coordinates of the geographic position of its respective locomotive from its GPS receiver; a control unit comprising a receiver and a transmitter associated with said controller for receiving a polling signal from said controller and for transmitting a responsive signal containing operating commands to said controller; wherein said timing means is synchronized by a common clock and wherein said controller is assigned a time slot for sending said polling signal to its associated control unit receiving said responsive signal; and a plurality of repeaters wherein each repeater has a unique address and receives signals from said controllers and control units on said second half duplex wireless channel and wherein each of said controller uses said coordinates as a basis for choosing the address code of one of said plurality of repeaters to include in its polling signal to be sent over said second half duplex wireless channel. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification