Communication system and method for a rail vehicle consist
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist, the method comprising:
- at a first rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist;
transmitting first data over a running rail to a second, different rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist, wherein the running rail guides and supports the rail vehicles of the rail vehicle consist as the rail vehicles travel along the running rail;
monitoring, using one or more processors, the running rail for second data; and
receiving the second data over the running rail for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle.
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Abstract
A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist includes transmitting, at a first rail vehicle in the consist, first data over a running rail to a second, different rail vehicle in the consist, where the running rail guides and supports the rail vehicles of the consist as the rail vehicles travel along the running rail. The method also includes monitoring the running rail for second data and receiving the second data over the running rail for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle.
154 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist, the method comprising:
at a first rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist; transmitting first data over a running rail to a second, different rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist, wherein the running rail guides and supports the rail vehicles of the rail vehicle consist as the rail vehicles travel along the running rail; monitoring, using one or more processors, the running rail for second data; and receiving the second data over the running rail for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A communication system for a rail vehicle in a rail vehicle consist, the system comprising:
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an interface module configured to be electrically coupled to a running rail that guides and supports the rail vehicle in the consist as the consist travels along the running rail; and a transceiver unit coupled to the interface module and configured to at least one of transmit data to or receive data from another, different rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist over the running rail through the interface module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A communication system for a rail vehicle in a rail vehicle consist, the system comprising:
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an interface module configured to be electrically coupled to a running rail that guides and supports the rail vehicle as the consist travels along the running rail; a transceiver unit coupled to the interface module, the transceiver unit configured to communicate data over the running rail through the interface module; and a monitoring module coupled to the transceiver unit, the monitoring module configured to monitor the running rail and determine a signal transmission characteristic of the running rail, wherein the transceiver unit switches from communicating the data over the running rail to communicating the data over an auxiliary communication pathway that extends across a neutral section of the running rail based on the signal transmission characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification