Train traffic advisor system and method thereof

• US 8,838,301 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ent Services Development Corporation LP (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Makkinejad, Babak
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US13/456,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/117, 246/3, 246/473.1, 246/293
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/24 Means for warning road traffic that a gate is closed or closing, or that rail traffic is approaching, e.g. for visible or audible warning
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/246 Signals or brake- or lighting devices mounted on the road vehicle and controlled from the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/32 Timing, e.g. advance warning of approaching train

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for providing train traffic advice. According to one embodiment, train status information associated with at least one train is received at a data center hosting a train traffic advisor application. Train crossing location data is stored in a database and retrieved by the train traffic advisor application. Based on the received train status information and the train crossing location data, train traffic information associated with the at least one train is calculated. Subscribing devices are identified by the train traffic advisor application, and the train traffic information is communicated to at least one of the identified subscribing devices.

Claims

1. A method for train traffic advising including a data center and network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a train traffic advisor application hosted by the data center, train status information associated with at least one train;

receiving, at the data center, a number of subscribers'"'"' travel information from a number of subscribing devices associated with the subscribers'"'"' vehicles, the travel information comprising a location, speed, and direction of a vehicle associated with the subscriber;

retrieving, via the train advisor application, train crossing location data stored in a database;

calculating, via the train advisor application, train traffic information associated with the at least one train based on the received train status information and the stored train crossing location data;

identifying, via the train advisor application, a number of the subscribing devices registered to receive information from the train advisor application; and

communicating, via the train advisor application, the train traffic information to at least one of the subscribing devices associated with a subscriber'"'"'s vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the train status information includes the length of the train, the speed of the strain, and current position of the train.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step of calculating the railroad crossing information further comprises:

determining, via the train advisor application, a train arrival time and train clearance time associated with at least one railroad crossing based on the length of the train, the speed of the train, and the current position of the train.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

broadcasting the calculated train arrival time and train clearance time to the plurality of subscribing devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the train arrival time and the train clearance time are broadcast publically over a short-range radio channel.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the train arrival time and train clearance time are retrieved via an on-board vehicle navigation system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, via the train traffic advisor application, for notification to the subscriber device if a train is determined to cross a path of the subscriber vehicle based on the subscriber travel information and the railroad crossing information associated with the train.

8. A train traffic advising system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of subscribing devices;

a data center coupled to the network and including a train traffic advisor application and a database for storing train crossing location data; and

at least one train having an on-board train processing unit configured to collect train status information including a length of the train, a location of the train, and an average speed of the train, wherein the train processing unit is further configured to transmit the train information over the network to the data center;

wherein the train traffic advisor module is configured to calculate railroad crossing information based on the train status information and the stored train crossing location data,

wherein the data center receives subscriber travel information from a plurality of subscriber devices associated with a number or subscribers'"'"' vehicles;

the travel information comprising the location, speed, and direction of the subscribers'"'"' vehicles; and

wherein the railroad crossing information is communicated externally over the network to the at least one identified subscriber device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the train status information includes the length of the train, the speed of the strain, and current position of the train.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a train arrival time and train clearance time associated with at least one railroad crossing is calculated based on the length of the train, the speed of the train, and the current position of the train.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the calculated train arrival time and train clearance time are broadcast to the plurality of subscribing devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the train arrival time and the train clearance time are broadcast publically over a short-range radio channel.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the train arrival time and train clearance time are retrieved via an on-board vehicle navigation system.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the data center provides a notification to the subscriber vehicle if at least one train is determined to cross a path of the subscriber vehicle based on the subscriber travel information and the railroad crossing information associated with the at least one train.

15. A method for train traffic advising including a data center and network, the method comprising:

a train and an on-board data collection unit for said train for;

collecting train status information including the length of the train, the location of the train, and an average speed of the train; and

transmitting the train status information over a network;

a train traffic advising application for;

receiving train status information from the train data collection unit;

retrieving stored train crossing location data from a database;

calculating a train arrival time and train clearance time based on the received train status information and the train crossing location data; and

broadcasting the calculated train arrival time and train clearance time to at least one external system or device;

receiving subscriber travel information including the location, speed, and direction of a subscriber vehicle; and

providing for notification to the subscriber vehicle if a train is determined to cross a path of the subscriber vehicle based on the subscriber travel information and the railroad crossing information associated with at least one train.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

broadcasting the calculated train arrival time and train clearance time to the plurality of subscribing devices.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the train arrival time and the train clearance time are broadcast publically over a short-range radio channel.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the train arrival time and train clearance time are retrieved via an on-board vehicle navigation system.