System and method for automated establishment of a vehicle consist
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- transmitting a linking signal from a first lead propulsion unit of a vehicle consist to a remote propulsion unit of the vehicle consist, the linking signal including a first identity of the first lead propulsion unit, the remote propulsion unit and the first lead propulsion unit controllably linked with each other when the first identity of the first lead propulsion unit in the linking signal corresponds to a designated identity that is stored onboard the remote propulsion unit, the remote propulsion unit allowing the first lead propulsion unit to remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked;
transmitting a de-linking signal from the first lead propulsion unit to the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the de-linking signal including a replacement identity of a propulsion unit other than the first lead propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the first lead propulsion unit; and
transmitting a replacement linking signal from a second lead propulsion unit to the remote propulsion unit, the replacement linking signal including a second identity of the second lead propulsion unit, wherein the remote propulsion unit and the second lead propulsion unit are controllably linked when the second identity of the second lead propulsion unit corresponds to the replacement identity received at the remote propulsion unit, wherein the remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when the second lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controllably linking propulsion units in a vehicle consist includes transmitting a linking signal having an identity of a lead propulsion unit. A remote propulsion unit is remotely controlled by the lead unit when the identity matches a designated identity stored onboard the remote unit. A de-linking signal is transmitted from the lead unit when the lead unit is to be decoupled from the vehicle consist. The de-linking signal includes a replacement identity of a replacement propulsion unit. A replacement linking signal is transmitted from a second lead unit. The remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when replacement identity stored onboard the remote propulsion unit matches an identity that is communicated in the replacement linking signal.
10 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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transmitting a linking signal from a first lead propulsion unit of a vehicle consist to a remote propulsion unit of the vehicle consist, the linking signal including a first identity of the first lead propulsion unit, the remote propulsion unit and the first lead propulsion unit controllably linked with each other when the first identity of the first lead propulsion unit in the linking signal corresponds to a designated identity that is stored onboard the remote propulsion unit, the remote propulsion unit allowing the first lead propulsion unit to remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked; transmitting a de-linking signal from the first lead propulsion unit to the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the de-linking signal including a replacement identity of a propulsion unit other than the first lead propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the first lead propulsion unit; and transmitting a replacement linking signal from a second lead propulsion unit to the remote propulsion unit, the replacement linking signal including a second identity of the second lead propulsion unit, wherein the remote propulsion unit and the second lead propulsion unit are controllably linked when the second identity of the second lead propulsion unit corresponds to the replacement identity received at the remote propulsion unit, wherein the remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when the second lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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receiving a linking signal from a first lead propulsion unit of a vehicle consist at a remote propulsion unit of the vehicle consist, the linking signal including a first identity of the first lead propulsion unit; transmitting a first confirmation signal from the remote propulsion unit to the first lead propulsion unit to controllably link the remote propulsion unit with the first lead propulsion unit, the first confirmation signal transmitted when the first identity of the first lead propulsion unit in the linking signal corresponds to a designated identity that is stored onboard the remote propulsion unit, the remote propulsion unit allowing the first lead propulsion unit to remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked; receiving a de-linking signal from the first lead propulsion unit at the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the de-linking signal including a replacement identity of a propulsion unit other than the first lead propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the first lead propulsion unit; receiving a replacement linking signal from a second lead propulsion unit at the remote propulsion unit, the replacement linking signal including a second identity of the second lead propulsion unit; and transmitting a second confirmation signal from the remote propulsion unit to the second lead propulsion unit to controllably link the remote propulsion unit with the second lead propulsion unit, the second confirmation signal transmitted when the second identity of the second lead propulsion unit corresponds to the replacement identity in the de-linking signal that is received at the remote propulsion unit, wherein the remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when the second lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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in a vehicle consist having plural propulsion units configured to propel the vehicle consist, transmitting a linking signal from a lead propulsion unit of the propulsion units to a remote propulsion unit of the propulsion units, the linking signal including a first identity of the lead propulsion unit; controllably linking the remote propulsion unit with the lead propulsion unit when the first identity of the lead propulsion unit in the linking signal corresponds to a designated identity that is stored onboard the remote propulsion unit, the remote propulsion unit allowing the lead propulsion unit to remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit when the lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked; and transmitting a de-linking signal from the lead propulsion unit to the remote propulsion unit when the lead propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the de-linking signal including a replacement identity of a propulsion unit other than the lead propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the lead propulsion unit, wherein the replacement identity is transmitted to the remote propulsion unit to permit the remote propulsion unit to verify which of the propulsion units in the vehicle consist can remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a first communication interface configured to be disposed onboard a first lead propulsion unit of a vehicle consist, the first communication interface configured to transmit a linking signal from the first lead propulsion unit to a remote propulsion unit of the vehicle consist, the linking signal including a first identity of the first lead propulsion unit; a second communication interface configured to be disposed onboard the remote propulsion unit and to receive the linking signal from the first lead propulsion unit; a setup unit configured to be disposed onboard the remote propulsion unit and to direct the second communication interface to controllably link with the first communication interface of the first lead propulsion unit when the first identity of the first lead propulsion unit in the linking signal corresponds to a designated identity that is stored onboard the remote propulsion unit, the setup unit allowing the remote propulsion unit to be remotely controlled by the first lead propulsion unit when the first and second communication interfaces are controllably linked; wherein the first communication interface is configured to transmit a de-linking signal from the first lead propulsion unit to the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the de-linking signal including a replacement identity of a propulsion unit other than the first lead propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the first lead propulsion unit; and a third communication interface configured to be disposed onboard a second lead propulsion unit of the vehicle consist, the third communication interface configured to transmit a replacement linking signal to the remote propulsion unit that includes a second identity of the second lead propulsion unit, wherein the setup unit is configured to controllably link the remote propulsion unit with the second lead propulsion unit when the second identity of the second lead propulsion unit corresponds to the replacement identity in the de-linking signal that is received at the remote propulsion unit, the setup unit also configured to allow the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit when the second lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system comprising:
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a communication interface configured to be disposed onboard a remote propulsion unit of a vehicle consist, the communication interface configured to receive a linking signal from a first lead propulsion unit of the vehicle consist that includes a first identity of the first lead propulsion unit; and a setup unit configured to be disposed onboard the remote propulsion unit, the setup unit configured to controllably link the remote propulsion unit with the first lead propulsion unit when the first identity of the first lead propulsion unit in the linking signal corresponds to a designated identity that is stored onboard the remote propulsion unit, the setup unit allowing the first lead propulsion unit to remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked; wherein the communication interface is configured to receive a de-linking signal from the first lead propulsion unit when the first lead propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the de-linking signal including a replacement identity of a propulsion unit other than the first lead propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the first lead propulsion unit, the communication interface also configured to receive a replacement linking signal from a second lead propulsion unit at the remote propulsion unit, the replacement linking signal including a second identity of the second lead propulsion unit; wherein the setup unit is further configured to allow the remote propulsion unit to be controlled by the second lead propulsion unit when the second identity of the second lead propulsion unit corresponds to the replacement identity in the de-linking signal that is received at the remote propulsion unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A system comprising:
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a communication interface configured to be disposed onboard a lead propulsion unit of a vehicle consist having plural propulsion units configured to propel the vehicle consist, the communication interface configured to transmit a linking signal to a remote propulsion unit of the propulsion units, the linking signal including a first identity of the lead propulsion unit; a setup unit configured to be disposed onboard the remote propulsion unit and further configured to controllably link the remote propulsion unit with the lead propulsion unit when the first identity of the lead propulsion unit in the linking signal corresponds to a designated identity that is stored onboard the remote propulsion unit, the setup unit configured to allow the lead propulsion unit to remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit when the lead propulsion unit and the remote propulsion unit are controllably linked; and wherein the communication interface also is configured to transmit a de-linking signal to the remote propulsion unit when the lead propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the de-linking signal including a replacement identity of a propulsion unit other than the lead propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the lead propulsion unit, wherein the replacement identity is transmitted to the remote propulsion unit to permit the remote propulsion unit to verify which of the propulsion units in the vehicle consist can remotely control operations of the remote propulsion unit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A system comprising:
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a control unit comprising a first communication interface and a first setup unit operably coupled with the first communication interface, wherein the control unit is configured to be disposed onboard a first propulsion unit of a vehicle consist; wherein the control unit is configured to operate in at least a first mode of operation, a different, second mode of operation, and a different, third mode of operation; wherein the control unit is configured, when in the first mode of operation, to transmit a first linking signal to a second propulsion unit in the vehicle consist, the first linking signal including a first identity of the first propulsion unit for the first propulsion unit to control the second propulsion unit if the first identity corresponds to a first designated identity that is stored onboard the second propulsion unit; wherein the control unit is configured, when in the second mode of operation, to transmit a first de-linking signal to the second propulsion unit when the first propulsion unit is to be mechanically decoupled from the vehicle consist, the first de-linking signal including a first replacement identity of a third propulsion unit that is to be mechanically coupled to the vehicle consist to replace the first propulsion unit, for the third propulsion unit to control the second propulsion unit if a second identity received by the second propulsion unit from the third propulsion unit in a second linking signal matches the first replacement identity; and wherein the control unit is configured, when in the third mode of operation, to receive a third linking signal from the second propulsion unit, a second de-linking signal from the second propulsion unit, or a fourth linking signal from the third propulsion unit, and to allow the second propulsion unit to control the first propulsion unit if a third identity in the third linking signal corresponds to a second designated identity stored onboard the first propulsion unit, or to allow the third propulsion unit to control the first propulsion unit if a fourth identity in the fourth linking signal corresponds to a second replacement identity received in the second de-linking signal from the second propulsion unit.
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Specification