Train crossing safety system

• US 8,888,051 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: A2Mk LLC, Jerunazargabr LLC, lo Limited Partnership Lllp, Patents Innovations LLC, Seastheday, LLC
• Original Assignee: Seastheday, LLC
• Inventors: Mardirossian, Aris
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCARRY JR, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/526,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20080073466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,976 Days
• Field of Search: 246/23, 246/24, 246/111, 246/114.R, 246/115
• US Class Current: 246/111
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/30 Supervision, e.g. monitoring arrangements

Abstract

Systems and/or methods for reducing problems associated with the train/railroad systems are provided. In certain example embodiments, a system and/or method is provided wherein a sensor monitors a particular area (e.g. a train/railroad crossing, a tunnel entrance or exit, etc.) and transmits data (e.g. an image and/or video) to a train as it approaches the monitored area (e.g. when it is within a predetermined distance of the monitored area). In certain example embodiments, the sensor may be enclosed within a housing to prevent damage thereto. A display within the train may indicate whether or not there is a problem at the particular monitored area (e.g. a blockage at a crossing, a cave-in at a tunnel, etc.). Multiple images corresponding to multiple areas may be displayed, and may be ordered, for example, to the train. The conductor of the train may take appropriate action to avoid accidents and/or to reduce the impact of inevitable accidents (e.g., by stopping the train or reducing speed).

Claims

1. A system for reducing problems associated with a railroad system, comprising:

a sensor system comprising a plurality of sensors, the sensor system being operable to gather condition data related to a plurality of monitored areas, each sensor being associated with one said monitored area and at least one said monitored area comprising a crossing where a train track intersects with a road for vehicles, said condition data comprising an optical video or an image of the monitored areas, and a temperature of the monitored areas;

wherein the optical video or the image, and the temperature are obtained via separate and independent sensors of the sensor system such that the sensor used to obtain the temperature is not used to obtain the optical video or image, and vice versa,

wherein each sensor has an associated first communicator configured to communicate with one or more second communicator(s), each second communicator being located on a train;

wherein each train includes a display operable to display said condition data received by the second communicator associated with the train; and

wherein a processor is operable to filter condition data based on a location of the train relative to the monitored areas and/or a determination of when the train is scheduled to reach the monitored areas, so that the display is caused to display only a partial subset of the received condition data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor is operable to gather condition data at predetermined time intervals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition data further comprises a date and/or time associated with when the condition data was gathered, and an identifier for identifying the monitored area from which the condition data was gathered.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each train further includes a unit operable to determine a location and/or speed at which the train is traveling.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the unit comprises a GPS unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a processor is operable to order condition data received from two or more sensors based on a location of the train relative to the monitored areas and/or a determination of when the train is scheduled to reach the monitored areas.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a second display located proximate to one said monitored area is operable to display a time at which a train will arrive at that monitored area, a length of time during which the train will be passing through that monitored area, and/or a countdown until the train will arrive at that monitored area.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each first communicator and each second communicator is a wireless communicator.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central safety station operable to communicate with each first communicator and each second communicator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the central safety station is configured to relay condition data to a second communicator from a first communicator based on a location of the train relative to the monitored areas and/or a determination of when the train is scheduled to reach the monitored areas.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display one or more suggested mitigation plans in the event that the condition data suggests that there is a problem with the monitored areas.

12. A method for reducing problems associated with a railroad system, the method comprising:

gathering, via a plurality of sensors provided to a sensor system, condition data for a plurality of monitored areas, said condition data comprising an optical video or an image of the monitored areas, and a temperature of the monitored areas;

sending the condition data to any trains within a receiving range; and

when a train is within a receiving range of the condition data, causing the condition data to be received by the train and causing the condition data to be displayed on the train based on predetermined criteria, the condition data gathered from two or more sensors and being displayed in an ordered manner based on a location of the train relative to the monitored areas and/or a determination of when the train is scheduled to reach the monitored areas;

wherein the optical video or the image, and the temperature are obtained via separate and independent sensors of the sensor system such that the sensor used to obtain the temperature is not used to obtain the optical video or image, and vice versa.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein condition data is gathered at predetermined intervals.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the condition data comprises a video and/or an image of the monitored areas, a date and/or time associated with when the video and/or image of the monitored areas was gathered, and an identifier for identifying the monitored areas.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a location and/or speed at which the train is traveling.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the condition data is filtered based on a location of the train relative to the monitored areas and/or a determination of when the train is scheduled to reach the monitored areas such that only a partial subset of received condition data is displayed.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the display of a time at which a train will arrive, a length of time during which the train will be passing through, and/or a countdown until the train will arrive, at a location proximate to the monitored areas.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending all condition data to a central safety station, the central safety station being operable to determine whether the condition data should be send to a train based on the predetermined condition.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing one or more suggested mitigation plans to be displayed on the train in the event that the condition data suggests that there is a problem with the monitored areas.