Method and system for data collection and analysis
First Claim
1. A method of testing through a common user interface a respective system on-board each of a plurality of mobile assets undergoing maintenance services, the method comprising:
- arranging in the common user interface a diagnostics processor to control and command testing and diagnostics for the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services;
communicatively coupling the diagnostics processor to at least one of the plurality of mobile assets by way of a connector cable when the plurality of mobile assets is undergoing the maintenance services;
establishing electrical communication between the mobile assets for communicating electronic signals during the testing;
operatively controlling during the testing at least one of the respective systems on-board the plurality of mobile assets to simulate at least one operational condition in response to command instructions programmed in the processor, wherein the command instructions are configured to acquire operating parameter data indicative of an ability of said at least one of the respective systems to perform the simulated operational condition;
communicating an electronic signal from the common user interface to the plurality of mobile assets instructing a respective on-board computer of each mobile asset to engage a loading sequence;
communicating an electronic signal from the common user interface to the plurality of mobile assets instructing a respective engine of each mobile asset to execute a testing sequence; and
communicating through the common user interface operating parameter data associated with the respective systems from each of the plurality of mobile assets to a database engine, wherein said common user interface enables a user to contemporaneously test the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services without the user having to separately access each of said mobile assets to perform the testing in connection with the maintenance services one mobile asset at a time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented system and method of contemporaneously testing a respective system on-board each of a plurality of locomotives with a common user interface where the locomotives are in electrical communication with one another for transmitting electronic signals among the locomotives. An electronic signal may be transmitted to the plurality of locomotives instructing a respective on-board computer of each locomotive to synchronously engage a self-load sequence. An electronic signal may be transmitted to the plurality of locomotives instructing a respective engine of each locomotive to execute a testing sequence. Operating parameter data associated with the respective systems may be downloaded from each of the plurality of locomotives through the common user interface to a database engine to determine whether the downloaded operating parameter data is within acceptable operating limits.
90 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of testing through a common user interface a respective system on-board each of a plurality of mobile assets undergoing maintenance services, the method comprising:
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arranging in the common user interface a diagnostics processor to control and command testing and diagnostics for the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services; communicatively coupling the diagnostics processor to at least one of the plurality of mobile assets by way of a connector cable when the plurality of mobile assets is undergoing the maintenance services; establishing electrical communication between the mobile assets for communicating electronic signals during the testing; operatively controlling during the testing at least one of the respective systems on-board the plurality of mobile assets to simulate at least one operational condition in response to command instructions programmed in the processor, wherein the command instructions are configured to acquire operating parameter data indicative of an ability of said at least one of the respective systems to perform the simulated operational condition; communicating an electronic signal from the common user interface to the plurality of mobile assets instructing a respective on-board computer of each mobile asset to engage a loading sequence; communicating an electronic signal from the common user interface to the plurality of mobile assets instructing a respective engine of each mobile asset to execute a testing sequence; and communicating through the common user interface operating parameter data associated with the respective systems from each of the plurality of mobile assets to a database engine, wherein said common user interface enables a user to contemporaneously test the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services without the user having to separately access each of said mobile assets to perform the testing in connection with the maintenance services one mobile asset at a time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for testing a plurality of mobile assets undergoing maintenance services, the method comprising:
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establishing electrical communication between the mobile assets for communicating electronic signals during the testing; communicatively coupling a microprocessor and a multiple-unit control driver to at least one of the plurality of mobile assets by way of a connector cable when the plurality of mobile assets is undergoing the maintenance services; configuring the microprocessor and multiple-unit control driver to control and command testing and diagnostics for the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services; communicating a control instruction from the microprocessor to the multiple-unit control driver, the control instruction programmed to execute a testing sequence associated with the plurality of mobile assets, wherein the testing sequence is configured to simulate at least one operational condition; communicating an electronic signal from the multiple-unit control driver to a first one of the plurality of mobile assets, the electronic signal indicative of the control instruction; communicating the electronic signal from the first one of the plurality of mobile assets to the remaining ones of the plurality of mobile assets; acquiring operating parameter data from each of the plurality of mobile assets in response to the testing sequence, the operating parameter data indicative of operating characteristics of at least one respective system on-board each of the plurality of mobile assets regarding the simulated operational condition; storing the acquired operating parameter data in a database engine loaded on a microprocessor; and operatively coupling the microprocessor with the multiple-unit control driver to form a common user interface that enables a user to contemporaneously test the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services without the user having to separately test each of said mobile assets to perform the testing in connection with the maintenance services one mobile asset at a time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for testing respective on-board systems of a plurality of mobile assets undergoing maintenance services, the system comprising:
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a communications link for establishing electrical communication between the mobile assets for communicating electronic signals during the testing; a microprocessor comprising a control processing module programmed with executable code for communicating electronic signals indicative of control instructions for implementing a mobile asset testing sequence associated with at least one of the respective on-board systems of the plurality of mobile assets, wherein the testing sequence is configured to simulate at least one operational condition in response to the control instructions, wherein the control instructions are configured to acquire operating parameter data at least indicative of an ability of said at least one of the respective systems to perform the simulated operational condition; a multiple-unit control driver for communicating control signals to the plurality of mobile assets in response to receipt of the control instructions from the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor and the multiple-unit control driver constitute a command and control diagnostics processor communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of mobile assets by way of a connector cable when the plurality of mobile assets is undergoing the maintenance services; and a database engine for storing a plurality of respective operating parameter data associated with the on-board systems undergoing the testing sequence communicated from respective ones of the plurality of mobile assets to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor in combination with the multiple-unit control driver constitute a common user interface that enables a user to contemporaneously test the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services without the user having to separately test each of said mobile assets to perform the testing in connection with the maintenance services one mobile asset at a time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of testing through a common user interface a respective system on-board each of a plurality of mobile assets undergoing maintenance services, the method comprising:
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arranging in the common user interface a diagnostics processor to control and command testing and diagnostics for the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services; coupling the diagnostics processor to provide local communication with the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services, the diagnostics processor configured to control and command testing and diagnostics of the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services; establishing electrical communication between the mobile assets for communicating electronic signals during the testing; operatively controlling during the testing at least one of the respective systems on-board the plurality of mobile assets to perform at least one simulated operational condition in response to control instructions programmed in the processor, wherein the control instructions are configured to acquire operating parameter data at least indicative of an ability of said at least one of the respective systems to perform the simulated operational condition; communicating an electronic signal from the common user interface to the plurality of mobile assets instructing a respective on-board computer of each mobile asset to engage a loading sequence; communicating an electronic signal from the common user interface to the plurality of mobile assets instructing a respective engine of each mobile asset to execute a testing sequence; and communicating through the common user interface operating parameter data associated with the respective systems from each of the plurality of mobile assets to a database engine, wherein said common user interface enables a user to contemporaneously test the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services without the user having to separately access each of said mobile assets to perform the testing in connection with the maintenance services one mobile asset at a time. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A system for testing respective on-board systems of a plurality of mobile assets undergoing maintenance services, the system comprising:
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a communications link for establishing electrical communication between the mobile assets for communicating electronic signals during the testing; a microprocessor comprising a control processing module programmed with executable code for communicating electronic signals indicative of control instructions for implementing a mobile asset testing sequence associated with the respective on-board systems of the plurality of mobile assets, wherein the testing sequence is configured to simulate at least one operational condition in response to the control instructions, wherein the control instructions are configured to acquire operating parameter data at least indicative of an ability of said at least one of the respective systems to perform the simulated operational condition; a multiple-unit control driver for communicating control signals to the plurality of mobile assets in response to receipt of the control instructions from the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor and the multiple-unit control driver constitute a command and control diagnostics processor coupled by way of a local communication link with the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services; and a database engine for storing a plurality of respective operating parameter data associated with the on-board systems undergoing the testing sequence communicated from respective ones of the plurality of mobile assets to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor in combination with the multiple-unit control driver constitute a common user interface that enables a user to contemporaneously test the plurality of mobile assets undergoing the maintenance services without the user having to separately test each of said mobile assets to perform the testing in connection with the maintenance services one mobile asset at a time. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification