System and method for wireless remote control of locomotives
First Claim
1. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives on a single wireless communications channel comprising:
- a locomotive control unit including a timing means, a computer, a radio transmitter and a radio receiver on-board of each of said plurality of locomotives for controlling one or more locomotive functions including speed control, brake control and direction of travel; and
a primary control unit and a secondary control unit associated with each locomotive control unit;
wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common clock;
wherein each locomotive control unit transmits a polling message to its respective control units and receives a responsive transmission from each of its respective control units over said single wireless communications channel within a time slot; and
wherein the responsive transmission of said primary control unit contains more data bits than the responsive transmission from said secondary control unit.
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0 Petitions
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.
88 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives on a single wireless communications channel comprising:
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a locomotive control unit including a timing means, a computer, a radio transmitter and a radio receiver on-board of each of said plurality of locomotives for controlling one or more locomotive functions including speed control, brake control and direction of travel; and a primary control unit and a secondary control unit associated with each locomotive control unit; wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common clock; wherein each locomotive control unit transmits a polling message to its respective control units and receives a responsive transmission from each of its respective control units over said single wireless communications channel within a time slot; and wherein the responsive transmission of said primary control unit contains more data bits than the responsive transmission from said secondary control unit.
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2. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives on a single wireless communications channel comprising:
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a locomotive control unit including a timing means, a computer, a radio transmitter and a radio receiver on-board of each of said plurality of locomotives for controlling one or more locomotive functions including speed control, brake control and direction of travel; and a control unit associated with each locomotive control unit; wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common clock; wherein each locomotive control unit transmits a polling message to its respective control unit and receives a responsive transmission therefrom over said single wireless communications channel within a time slot; and wherein each locomotive control unit includes a shutdown timer to shutdown its respective locomotive if said shutdown timer is not reset by receipt of a given frequency of polling message responses from its associated control unit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives on a single wireless communications channel comprising:
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a locomotive control unit including a timing means, a computer, a radio transmitter and a radio receiver on-board of each of said plurality of locomotives for controlling one or more locomotive functions including speed control, brake control and direction of travel; and a control unit associated with each locomotive control unit; wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common clock; wherein each locomotive control unit transmits a polling message to its respective control unit and receives a responsive transmission therefrom over said single wireless communications channel within a time slot; and wherein each control unit includes an alarm timer to initiate an alarm emitted by said control unit if said alarm timer is not reset by receipt of a given frequency of said polling messages from its respective locomotive control unit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives on a single wireless communications channel comprising:
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a locomotive control unit including a timing means, a computer, a radio transmitter and a radio receiver on-board of each of said plurality of locomotives for controlling one or more locomotive functions including speed control, brake control and direction of travel; and a primary control unit and a secondary control unit associated with each locomotive control unit; wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common clock; wherein each locomotive control unit transmits a polling message to its respective control units and receives a responsive transmission from each of its respective control units over said single wireless communications channel within a time slot; and wherein each locomotive control unit includes a primary shutdown timer and a secondary shutdown timer to shutdown its respective locomotive if either of said primary or secondary shutdown timers is not reset by receipt of a given frequency of polling message responses from said locomotive control unit'"'"'s respective primary and secondary control units, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives on a single wireless communications channel comprising:
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a locomotive control unit including a timing means, a computer, a radio transmitter and a radio receiver on-board of each of said plurality of locomotives for controlling one or more locomotive functions including speed control, brake control and direction of travel; and a primary control unit and a secondary control unit associated with each locomotive control unit; wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common clock; wherein each locomotive control unit transmits a polling message to its respective control units and receives a responsive transmission from each of its respective control units over said single wireless communications channel within a time slot; and wherein said polling message includes a reset bit which is set to a high state when said locomotive control unit receives a given frequency of polling message responses from each of said primary and secondary control units. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of locomotives on a single wireless communications channel comprising:
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a locomotive control unit including a timing means, a computer, a radio transmitter and a radio receiver on-hoard of each of said plurality of locomotives for controlling one or more locomotive functions including speed control, brake control and direction of travel; and a primary control unit and a secondary control unit associated with each locomotive control unit; wherein each timing means is synchronized by a common clock; wherein each locomotive control unit transmits a polling message to its respective control units and receives a responsive transmission from each of its respective control units over said single wireless communications channel within a time slot; wherein each time slot is divided into a plurality of time slices; wherein each primary control unit and each secondary control unit is assigned a predetermined time slice for responding to said polling message from its associated locomotive control unit; and wherein an order of the time slices assigned to the primary and secondary control units associated with each locomotive control unit does not change after a transfer of primary command authority between said control units.
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Specification