System and method for scheduling and train control
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a railway having a plurality of trains for movement along predetermined track layout, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a movement plan by which the trains move along the layout using a constraint based analysis based upon strategic schedule constraints and an optimization of the costs of the movement plan, said determining comprising an evaluation of the effects of physical track parameters on the movement of the trains, including(i) determining a schedule using statistical data relating to train movement; and
(ii) refining the schedule using simulation of the motion of the trains by advancing the time and position of the trains along the track layout as a function of the track parameters;
(b) communicating the determined movement plan to the trains;
(c) determining train throttle and brake settings of a respective train for implementing the plan; and
(d) controlling said trains to move along the layout in accordance with said determined movement plan with said settings.
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Abstract
A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system.
72 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of operating a railway having a plurality of trains for movement along predetermined track layout, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a movement plan by which the trains move along the layout using a constraint based analysis based upon strategic schedule constraints and an optimization of the costs of the movement plan, said determining comprising an evaluation of the effects of physical track parameters on the movement of the trains, including (i) determining a schedule using statistical data relating to train movement; and (ii) refining the schedule using simulation of the motion of the trains by advancing the time and position of the trains along the track layout as a function of the track parameters; (b) communicating the determined movement plan to the trains; (c) determining train throttle and brake settings of a respective train for implementing the plan; and (d) controlling said trains to move along the layout in accordance with said determined movement plan with said settings.
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2. A method of operating a railway having a plurality of trains for movement along predetermined track layout, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a movement plan by which the trains move along the layout, said determining comprising an evaluation of the effects of physical track parameters on the movement of the trains, including (i) determining time intervals associated with the activities necessary to train movement; (ii) grouping the time intervals into relatively large groups for optimizing train movement; and (iii) regrouping the time intervals into relatively smaller groups for optimizing train movement, if optimizing is unattainable using said large groups of time intervals; and (b) controlling said trains to move along the layout in accordance with said determined movement plan, wherein said movement plan is determined by the use of different levels of abstraction of a physical model by advancing the time and position of the trains along the track layout to either resolve any conflicts in an associated schedule or indicate the conflicts. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification