Apparatus and method for repeating communication messages in rail vehicle system
First Claim
1. A communication apparatus comprising:
- an off-board wireless message repeater configured to be positioned proximate to a vehicle route, the message repeater having an antenna system, a transmitter, and a receiver, the transmitter and receiver operably coupled to the antenna system, the receiver configured to receive an incoming message from a vehicle traveling along the route and the transmitter configured to transmit a repeat message of the incoming message to the vehicle; and
an operation module configured to communicate with the message repeater, wherein;
the operation module is configured to generate an alert signal if a message or other information content of a feedback signal does not match a message or other information content of the incoming message, the feedback signal comprising part of a signal enemy of the transmitted repeat message as received by the receiver; and
the operation module is configured to generate the alert signal if a measured forward power associated with the transmitted repeat message is below a first threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication apparatus includes an operation module configured for communication with a wireless message repeater, e.g., a rail vehicle distributed power message repeater. The wireless message repeater is of the type having an antenna system, a receiver for receiving an incoming message, and a transmitter for transmitting a repeat message of the incoming message. The operation module is further configured to assess operation of the message repeater by comparing a feedback signal to the incoming message. The feedback signal may comprise part of a signal energy of the transmitted repeat message as received by the receiver. Alternatively or additionally, the operation module is further configured to assess operation of the message repeater by comparing at least one signal power associated with the transmitted repeat message to at least one threshold.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus comprising:
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an off-board wireless message repeater configured to be positioned proximate to a vehicle route, the message repeater having an antenna system, a transmitter, and a receiver, the transmitter and receiver operably coupled to the antenna system, the receiver configured to receive an incoming message from a vehicle traveling along the route and the transmitter configured to transmit a repeat message of the incoming message to the vehicle; and an operation module configured to communicate with the message repeater, wherein; the operation module is configured to generate an alert signal if a message or other information content of a feedback signal does not match a message or other information content of the incoming message, the feedback signal comprising part of a signal enemy of the transmitted repeat message as received by the receiver; and the operation module is configured to generate the alert signal if a measured forward power associated with the transmitted repeat message is below a first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communication method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a receiver, an incoming message from a vehicle; transmitting, from a transmitter, a repeat message of the incoming message to the vehicle; measuring a signal power associated with the transmitted repeat message; receiving, at the receiver, a first feedback signal comprising part of a signal energy of the transmitted repeat message; generating an alert signal if the first feedback signal does not match the incoming message according to first designated criteria; and generating the alert signal based on a comparison of the signal power to a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A communication apparatus comprising:
an operation module configured to communicate with an off-board wireless message repeater having a transmitter operably coupled to an antenna system and a receiver operably coupled to the antenna system, wherein; the operation module is configured to generate an alert signal if a message or other information content of a feedback signal does not match a message or other information content of an incoming message received by the message repeater receiver from a vehicle traveling along a route by which the messaue repeater is proximately positioned, the feedback signal comprising part of a signal energy of a transmitted repeat message of the incoming message as transmitted by the transmitter and received by the receiver; and the operation module is configured to generate the alert signal if a measured forward power associated with the transmitted repeat message is below a first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication apparatus comprising:
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an off-board wireless message repeater configured to be positioned proximate to a vehicle route, the message repeater having an antenna system, a transmitter, a power monitoring sub-system, and a receiver, the transmitter and receiver operably coupled to the antenna system, wherein;
the receiver is configured to receive a wireless incoming message from a vehicle traveling along the route;
responsive to the incoming message that is received, the transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless repeat message of the incoming message to the vehicle;
subsequent to the wireless repeat message being transmitted by the transmitter, the receiver is configured to receive a feedback signal comprising part of a signal energy of the wireless repeat message that is transmitted by the transmitter; and
the power monitoring sub-system is configured to measure a forward power associated with the repeat message transmitted by the transmitter; andan operation module configured to communicate with the message repeater, wherein; the operation module is configured to compare a message or other information content of the feedback signal received by the receiver to a message or other information content of the incoming message received by the receiver; the operation module is configured to generate an alert signal if the message or other information content of the feedback signal received by the receiver does not match the message or other information content of the incoming message received by the receiver; and the operation module is configured to generate the alert signal if the measured forward power associated with the transmitted repeat message is below a first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification