Techniques for autonomous testing of head-of-train and/or end-of-train devices

• US 8,386,122 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Original Assignee: Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Inventors: Collins, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US12/777,354
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 701/31, 701/31.1
• US Class Current: 701/31.1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/08 Railway vehicles

Abstract

Embodiments of techniques for autonomous testing of head-of-train (HOT) and/or end-of-train (EOT) devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for autonomous testing of HOT and EOT devices may include the steps of: causing a first device to enter a self-test mode, said first device being either an HOT device or an EOT device mounted to a first railway vehicle; transmitting, from said first device, a test signal to elicit one or more response signals from at least one second device within a communication range of said first device, each of said at least one second device being either an HOT device or an EOT device different from said first device; detecting, by said first device, said one or more response signals, if any; and determining a first operating condition concerning said first device based at least in part on the detection of said one or more response signals.

Claims

1. A method for autonomous testing of head-of-train (HOT) or end-of-train (EOT) devices, the method comprising:

causing a first device to enter a self-test mode, said first device being either an HOT device or an EOT device mounted to a first railway vehicle;

transmitting, from said first device, a test signal to elicit one or more response signals from at least one second device within a communication range of said first device, each of said at least one second device being either an HOT device or an EOT device different from said first device, wherein said at least one second device is not previously paired to said first device;

detecting, by said first device, said one or more response signals, if any; and

determining a first operating condition concerning said first device based at least in part on the detection of said one or more response signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second device is mounted to at least one second railway vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

causing said first device to test itself against said at least one second device when said first railway vehicle and said at least one second railway vehicle are both in or near a railroad yard or a railway station.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second device is mounted in one or more fixed or mobile locations selected from a group consisting of:

(1) in or near a railroad yard, (2) in or near a railway station, and (3) along any portion of a railroad.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

causing said first device to test itself against said at least one second device when said first railway vehicle comes within a signaling range of said one or more fixed or mobile locations.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first device is an EOT device and it presents itself as an HOT device in transmitting said test signal.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second device comprises two or more EOT or HOT devices that are not previously paired with said first device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first device automatically enters said self-test mode based upon a predetermined schedule or a predetermined triggering condition.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first device enters said self-test mode after detecting said at least one second device within said communication range of said first device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting presence of said at least one second device within said communication range by sensing signals broadcasted by said at least one second device.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

compiling a list of said at least one second device detected within said communication range.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more response signals include data concerning said test signal as measured by said at least one second device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said measured data comprise one or more of the following parameters concerning said test signal:

(1) frequency, (2) frequency deviation, or (3) signal strength.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more response signals include data retrieved or derived from said test signal as received by said at least one second device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said data include at least a portion of a message content in said test signal as received by said at least one second device.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more response signals include location information of said at least one second device or said at least one second device broadcasts said location information.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

determining a distance between said first device and said at least one second device based on said location information.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

determining said first operating condition of said first device based at least in part on said distance.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

retransmitting, by said first device, at least some of signals transmitted by said at least one second device if said distance is at least a predetermined length, thereby causing said first device to serve as a signal repeater for said at least one second device.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

causing said at least one second device to retransmit at least some of signals transmitted by said first device if said distance is at least a predetermined length, thereby causing said at least one second device to serve as a signal repeater for said first device.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

measuring one or more parameters of said one or more response signals; and

determining a second operating condition of said at least one second device based on said measured one or more parameters and said distance.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

recording said second operating condition of said at least one second device to a storage medium or reporting or broadcasting said second operating condition via a communication interface.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recording said first operating condition of said first device to a storage medium or reporting or broadcasting said first operating condition via a communication interface.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second operating condition of said at least one second device based on the detection of said one or more response signals; and

recording said second operating condition of said at least one second device to a storage medium or reporting or broadcasting said second operating condition via a communication interface.

25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

causing a plurality of devices to self-test themselves in a same method as recited in claim 1; and

collecting operating conditions of said plurality of devices.

26. A system for autonomous testing of head-of-train (HOT) or end-of-train (EOT) devices, the system comprising:

a first device comprising a processor and a radio transceiver, said first device being either an HOT device or an EOT device mounted to a first railway vehicle;

at least one second device within a communication range of said first device, each of said at least one second device being either an HOT device or an EOT device different from and not previously paired to said first device;

said first device being configured to perform the following when in a self-test mode;

transmitting a test signal to elicit one or more response signals from said at least one second device,

detecting said one or more response signals, if any; and

determining a first operating condition concerning said first device based at least in part on the detection of said one or more response signals.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said at least one second device is mounted to at least one second railway vehicle.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said first device is configured to test itself against said at least one second device when said first railway vehicle and said at least one second railway vehicle are both in or near a railroad yard or a railway station.

29. The system according to claim 26, wherein said at least one second device is mounted in one or more fixed or mobile locations selected from a group consisting of:

(1) in or near a railroad yard, (2) in or near a railway station, and (3) along any portion of a railroad.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said first device is configured to test itself against said at least one second device when said first railway vehicle comes within a signaling range of said one or more fixed or mobile locations.

31. The method according to claim 26, wherein said first device is an EOT device and it presents itself as an HOT device in transmitting said test signal.

32. The system according to claim 26, wherein said at least one second device comprises two or more EOT or HOT devices that are not previously paired with said first device.

33. The system according to claim 26, wherein said first device is configured to automatically enter said self-test mode based upon a predetermined schedule or a predetermined triggering condition.

34. The system according to claim 26, wherein said first device is configured to enter said self-test mode after detecting said at least one second device within said communication range of said first device.

35. The system according to claim 26, wherein said first device is configured to detect presence of said at least one second device within said communication range by sensing signals broadcasted by said at least one second device.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said first device is configured to compile a list of said at least one second device detected within said communication range.

37. The system according to claim 26, wherein said one or more response signals include data concerning said test signal as measured by said at least one second device.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said measured data comprise one or more of the following parameters concerning said test signal:

(1) frequency, (2) frequency deviation, or (3) signal strength.

39. The system according to claim 26, wherein said one or more response signals include data retrieved or derived from said test signal as received by said at least one second device.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said data include at least a portion of a message content in said test signal as received by said at least one second device.

41. The system according to claim 26, wherein said one or more response signals include location information of said at least one second device or said at least one second device broadcasts said location information.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein said first device is further configured to determine a distance between said first device and said at least one second device based on said location information.

43. The system according to claim 42, wherein said first device is further configured to determine said first operating condition of said first device based at least in part on said distance.

44. The system according to claim 42, wherein said first device is further configured to retransmit at least some of signals transmitted by said at least one second device if said distance is at least a predetermined length, thereby causing said first device to serve as a signal repeater for said at least one second device.

45. The system according to claim 42, wherein said at least one second device is further configured to retransmit at least some of signals transmitted by said first device if said distance is at least a predetermined length, thereby causing said at least one second device to serve as a signal repeater for said first device.

46. The system according to claim 42, wherein said first device is further configured to:

measure one or more parameters of said one or more response signals; and

determine a second operating condition of said at least one second device based on said measured one or more parameters and said distance.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein said first device is further configured to record said second operating condition of said at least one second device to a storage medium or to report or broadcast said second operating condition via a communication interface.

48. The system according to claim 26, wherein said first device is further configured to record said first operating condition of said first device to a storage medium or to report or broadcast said first operating condition via a communication interface.

49. The system according to claim 26, wherein said first device is further configured to:

determine a second operating condition of said at least one second device based on the detection of said one or more response signals; and

record said second operating condition of said at least one second device to a storage medium or report or broadcast said second operating condition via a communication interface.

50. A computer readable medium storing computer readable code for autonomous testing of head-of-train (HOT) or end-of-train (EOT) devices, the computer readable medium comprising:

code for causing a first device to enter a self-test mode, said first device being either an HOT device or an EOT device mounted to a first railway vehicle;

code for transmitting, from said first device, a test signal to elicit one or more response signals from at least one second device within a communication range of said first device, each of said at least one second device being either an HOT device or an EOT device different from said first device, wherein said at least one second device is not previously paired to said first device;

code for detecting, by said first device, said one or more response signals, if any; and

code for determining a first operating condition concerning said first device based at least in part on the detection of said one or more response signals.