Data conversion system and method for converting data that is distributed in a vehicle

• US 8,510,026 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Desanzo, David Joseph, Schroeck, David, Goodermuth, Todd, Mudiam, Veni, Joseph, Matthew, Madhavan, Sethu, Torres, Enrique David
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, JELANI A
• Application Number:
  US13/311,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/21, 701/20, 701/22, 701/23, 701/24, 701/36, 701/42, 701/49, 701/31.5, 701/32.7, 701/522, 701/520, 710/8, 712/28, 726/26
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A data conversion system for a vehicle includes an interface gateway device that is configured to be communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module and a client module. The data acquisition module obtains a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle and communicates the value to the interface gateway device in a first message provided in a first format. The interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message and to communicate the second message to the client module. The client module uses the second message to perform a function for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A data conversion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interface gateway device configured to be communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module and a client module, the data acquisition module obtaining a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle and communicating the value to the interface gateway device in a first message provided in a first format;

wherein the interface gateway device is configured to, using one or more processors, convert the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message and to communicate the second message to the client module, for the client module to use the second message to perform a function for the vehicle;

wherein the interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message by at least one of applying a multiplier or divisor to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

applying a bias to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

converting a first data parameter identification in the first message into a different, second data parameter identification that is communicated in the second message;

moving a decimal point to change the value of the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

or extracting a subset of data included in the first message such that the extracted subset is communicated in the second message instead of all of the data in the first message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the client module uses data included in the second message to control at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first format and the second format is a closed format and the other of the first format and the second format is an open format, the closed format having rules of syntax that are not publicly available and the open format having rules of syntax that are publicly available.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface gateway device is configured to download conversion information from at least one of an on-board source or an off-board source that is used to convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface gateway device, the data acquisition module, and the client module are disposed onboard the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is one vehicle that is configured to be interconnected to other vehicles in a vehicle consist.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the value is a first value, the first value being a measurement of the data parameter, the second message including the first value or a converted value that is indicative of the measurement and that is converted from the first value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second formats have different rules of syntax.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the value in the first message includes a numerical value, the interface gateway device configured to change the numerical value in the first message to a different numerical value in the second message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the value is a measurement obtained from at least one of a propulsion subsystem or a braking subsystem of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the measurement is a measurement of the braking subsystem of the vehicle, the measurement identifying at least one of an air pressure of a corresponding air brake, an air pressure of a corresponding brake reservoir, current from a corresponding regenerative brake, a setting of the corresponding air brake, or a setting of the corresponding regenerative brake.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the measurement is a measurement of the propulsion subsystem of the vehicle, the measurement identifying at least one of horsepower generated by a traction motor;

wheel slippage of a wheel connected to the traction motor;

a temperature measurement of at least one of a bearing, the wheel, or axle interconnected with the traction motor;

or a throttle or notch setting.

12. A data conversion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interface gateway device configured to be communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module and a client module, the interface gateway device configured to receive a first message provided in a first format from the data acquisition module, the first message including a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle;

wherein the interface gateway device is configured to, using one or more processors, convert the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message and to communicate the second message to the client module for use in performing a function for the vehicle, the value of the data parameter including a numerical value, the interface gateway device configured to change the numerical value of the data parameter in the first message to a different numerical value in the second message;

wherein the interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message by at least one of applying a multiplier or divisor to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

applying a bias to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

converting a first data parameter identification in the first message into a different, second data parameter identification that is communicated in the second message;

moving a decimal point to change the value of the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

or extracting a subset of data included in the first message such that the extracted subset is communicated in the second message instead of all of the data in the first message.

13. A data conversion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interface gateway device configured to receive, from a data acquisition module, a data parameter in a first message having a first format and to convert the first message to a second message having a second format, the data parameter related to operation of the vehicle, wherein the interface gateway device is configured to, using one or more processors, convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message by at least one of applying a multiplier or divisor to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

applying a bias to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

converting a first data parameter identification in the first message into a different, second data parameter identification that is communicated in the second message;

moving a decimal point to change the value of the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

or extracting a subset of data included in the first message such that the extracted subset is communicated in the second message instead of all of the data in the first message;

a first client module configured to be communicatively coupled with the interface gateway device and one or more second client modules;

wherein the first client module is configured to receive the second message and publish the data parameter for communication of the data parameter to the one or more second client modules for use in performing a function for the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first message has a closed format and the second message has an open format.

15. A method for converting data for a single vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle in a first message from a data acquisition module, the first message provided in a first format;

converting, using one or more processors, the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message; and

communicating the second message to a client module, for the client module to use the second message to perform a function for the vehicle, wherein each of the data acquisition module and the client module is located onboard the vehicle;

wherein converting the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message includes at least one of applying a multiplier or divisor to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

applying a bias to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

converting a first data parameter identification in the first message into a different, second data parameter identification that is communicated in the second message;

moving a decimal point to change the value of the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

or extracting a subset of data included in the first message such that the extracted subset is communicated in the second message instead of all of the data in the first message.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising using data included in the second message to control at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the first format and the second format is a closed format and the other of the first format and the second format is an open format, the closed format having rules of syntax that are not publicly available and the open format having rules of syntax that are publicly available.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising downloading conversion information from at least one of an on-board source or an off-board source that is used to convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein converting the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message is executed by an interface gateway device that is communicatively coupled to the data acquisition module and the client module and is located onboard the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the vehicle that includes the data acquisition module, the interface gateway device, and at least one of the client modules is one vehicle that is configured to be interconnected to other vehicles in a vehicle consist.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is a receiving vehicle, the method further comprising communicating the first message from a remote vehicle that is interconnected with the receiving vehicle.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the value in the first message includes a numerical value, and wherein converting the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message includes changing the numerical value in the first message to a different numerical value in the second message.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the value is a measurement obtained from at least one of a propulsion subsystem or a braking subsystem of the vehicle.

24. A method for converting data for a single vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at an interface gateway device, a data parameter in a first message having a closed format, the data parameter related to operation of the vehicle;

converting, using one or more processors, the closed format of the first message into a different, open format to form a second message, the closed format having rules of syntax that are not publicly available and the open format having rules of syntax that are publicly available;

wherein converting the closed format of the first message into the open format of the second message also includes at least one of applying a multiplier or divisor to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

applying a bias to change the value in the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

converting a first data parameter identification in the first message into a different, second data parameter identification that is communicated in the second message;

moving a decimal point to change the value of the first message to a converted value that is communicated in the second message;

or extracting a subset of data included in the first message such that the extracted subset is communicated in the second message instead of all of the data in the first message; and

publishing the data parameter for communication to one or more client modules to use the data parameter for a function of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle is one vehicle that is configured to be interconnected to other vehicles in a vehicle consist.