System, method, and computer software code for distributing and managing data for use by a plurality of subsystems on a locomotive

• US 8,914,169 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Goodermuth, Todd, Hooker, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, SARA J
• Application Number:
  US13/655,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20130041547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/20, 718/1, 718/100, 718/102, 718/103, 726/2, 726/6, 726/26, 726/30
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0018 Communication with or on the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0063 Multiple on-board control systems, e.g. "2 out of 3"-systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/00 Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/16 Implementing security features at a particular protocol layer

Abstract

A communication system for controlling sharing of data across a plurality of subsystems on a locomotive, the communication system including an open defined interface unit configured so that a plurality of applications may access locomotive control system data in a common defined manner with predictable results.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a control manager unit configured to be disposed onboard a rail vehicle and to receive control input comprising at least one of application data or command requests from a plurality of applications and process the control input to provide at least a portion of the control input to a control system of the rail vehicle configured for use in operating the rail vehicle, the control manager unit configured to selectively determine which portions of the control input received from the plurality of applications are provided to the control system;

a private interface configured to communicably couple the control manager unit to the control system of the rail vehicle, the private interface configured to limit communication with the control system via a connection protocol, wherein the connection protocol is configured to prevent direct communication between the control manager unit and an application that does not use the connection protocol; and

an open interface configured to communicably couple the control manager unit and the plurality of applications.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the control manager unit comprises a closed loop control system that further comprises the control system and at least one of the applications.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the closed loop control system is configured to provide autonomous operation of the rail vehicle.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the control manager unit is configured to receive command requests from the plurality of applications and determine which of the command requests is provided to the control system for use in operating the rail vehicle, wherein the command requests request the control system to act upon one or more commands.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the control manager unit is configured to determine which of the command requests is provided to the control system for use in operating the rail vehicle based on at least one of when the command requests are received, a timeliness of the command requests, a priority hierarchy among types of different command requests, or a relationship between one of the command requests and at least one of a current operational mode of the rail vehicle or other command requests received at least one of before or after said one of the command requests.