Communication system and method for a rail vehicle consist
First Claim
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 power supply conductor that is disposed off-board the rail vehicle consist to a second, different rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist, wherein at least one rail vehicle of the rail vehicle consist receives direct electrical power from the power supply conductor;
monitoring the power supply conductor for second data; and
receiving the second data over the power supply conductor for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist includes transmitting first data at a first rail vehicle of the consist over a power supply conductor to a second, different rail vehicle in the consist, where at least one rail vehicle of the consist receives direct electrical power from the power supply conductor. The method also includes monitoring the power supply conductor for second data at the first rail vehicle and receiving the second data over the power supply conductor at the first rail vehicle for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle. In one aspect, the transmitting step comprises transmitting the first data over one or more of a catenary line or a third rail that supplies the electrical power.
360 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist, the method comprising:
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at a first rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist; transmitting first data over a power supply conductor that is disposed off-board the rail vehicle consist to a second, different rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist, wherein at least one rail vehicle of the rail vehicle consist receives direct electrical power from the power supply conductor; monitoring the power supply conductor for second data; and receiving the second data over the power supply conductor for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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 power supply conductor to a second, different rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist, wherein at least one rail vehicle of the rail vehicle consist receives direct electrical power from the power supply conductor; monitoring the power supply conductor for second data; receiving the second data over the power supply conductor for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle; and identifying a neutral section in the power supply conductor between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle that inhibits communication of the first data or second data between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (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 power supply conductor that is disposed off-board the rail vehicle consist and that supplies direct electrical power to at least one rail vehicle in the consist; and a transceiver unit coupled to the interface module and configured to at least one of transmit or receive data over the power supply conductor through the interface module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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 power supply conductor that supplies direct electrical power to at least one rail vehicle in the consist; a transceiver unit coupled to the interface module and configured to at least one of transmit or receive data over the power supply conductor through the interface module; and a monitoring module coupled to the interface module, the monitoring module configured to identify a neutral section in the power supply conductor that inhibits communication of the data over the power supply conductor. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. 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 power supply conductor that supplies direct electrical power to at least one rail vehicle in the consist; a transceiver unit coupled to the interface module, the transceiver unit configured to communicate data over the power supply conductor through the interface module; and a monitoring module coupled to the transceiver unit, the monitoring module configured to monitor the power supply conductor and determine a signal transmission characteristic of the power supply conductor, wherein the transceiver unit switches from communicating the data over the power supply conductor to communicating the data over an auxiliary communication pathway that extends across a neutral section of the power supply conductor based on the signal transmission characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification