System, method, and computer software code for providing an auxiliary communication path when a primary communication path is unavailable

• US 9,419,816 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Noffsinger, Joseph Forrest, Daum, Wolfgang, Kraeling, Mark Bradshaw, Lawry, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Fanghwa
• Application Number:
  US12/212,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20100029209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,890 Days
• Field of Search: 398/5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40189 by using a plurality of bus systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40293 the transportation system being a train
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

A method for communicating on a train that has at least two locomotives, the method including determining when a primary communication path ceases to be available for a specific subsystem of the train, identifying at least one auxiliary communication path to transmit information for the specific subsystem, configuring a message for the specific subsystem which complies with a message format of the at least one auxiliary communication path, and transmitting the message on the at least one auxiliary communication path. A system and a computer software code are further disclosed for providing a communication system for a powered system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of a vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identifying a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformatting the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem;

transmitting the message in the second format on the second communication path; and

transitioning back to the first communication path for communication of a subsequent message for the first subsystem when the first communication path is again available for communication of the subsequent message.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the second communication path by evaluating which of plural auxiliary communication paths provides a transmission rate that is greater than a designated transmission rate of the second subsystem.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second communication path comprises at least one of a wired path, a path that communicates using audio signals, a path that communicates using infrared signals, a path that communicates using ultraviolet signals, a path that communicates using vibrations, a path that communicates using thermal signals, or a path that communicates using visible light.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein reformatting the message further comprises restructuring the message to be compliant with a bandwidth capacity of the second communication path.

5. A method comprising:

determining when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of a vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identifying a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformatting the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem, and wherein reformatting the message further comprises removing information from the message so that the message is compliant with the second format of the second communication path; and

transmitting the message in the second format on the second communication path.

6. A computer software code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and configured for execution with a processor designated for carrying out communications onboard a vehicle, the computer software code comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct the processor to:

determine when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of the vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identify a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem;

transmit the message in the second format on the second communication path; and

transition back to the first communication path for communication of a subsequent message for the first subsystem when the first communication path is again available for communication of the subsequent message.

7. The computer software code according to claim 6, wherein the one or more computer software modules are configured to direct the processor to determine the second communication path by evaluating which of plural auxiliary communication paths provides a transmission rate that is greater than a designated transmission rate of the second subsystem.

8. A communication system comprising:

a first communication path utilized by a first subsystem of a vehicle to communicate a message to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

a different, second communication path utilized by a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem; and

a processor configured to;

determine when the first communication path is unavailable for communication of the message for the first subsystem and to determine the second communication path for communication of the message,

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem, and

determine when the first communication path is again available for communication of a subsequent message and to transition back to the first communication path for communication of the subsequent message.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the second communication path by evaluating which of plural auxiliary communication paths provides a transmission rate that is greater than a designated transmission rate of the second subsystem.

10. A method comprising:

determining when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of a vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identifying a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformatting the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem; and

transmitting the message in the second format on the second communication path, wherein the first subsystem is different from the second subsystem in that the first subsystem and the second subsystem perform different operations for control of the vehicle.

11. A method comprising:

determining when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of a vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identifying a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformatting the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem; and

transmitting the message in the second format on the second communication path; and

transmitting the message in the second format on the second communication path, wherein reformatting the message includes reducing a size of the message.

12. A method comprising:

determining when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of a vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identifying a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformatting the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein reformatting the message includes removing designated information from the message that is used by the first subsystem to perform the operations for control of the vehicle but is not used by the second subsystem to perform the operations for control of the vehicle, and wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem; and

transmitting the message in the second format on the second communication path.

13. A computer software code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and configured for execution with a processor designated for carrying out communications onboard a vehicle, the computer software code comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct the processor to:

determine when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of the vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identify a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem, wherein the first subsystem is different from the second subsystem in that the first subsystem and the second subsystem perform different operations for control of the vehicle;

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem; and

transmit the message in the second format on the second communication path.

14. A computer software code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and configured for execution with a processor designated for carrying out communications onboard a vehicle, the computer software code comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct the processor to:

determine when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of the vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identify a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem;

transmit the message in the second format on the second communication path; and

remove information from the message so that the message is compliant with the second format of the second communication path.

15. A computer software code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and configured for execution with a processor designated for carrying out communications onboard a vehicle, the computer software code comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct the processor to:

determine when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of the vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identify a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem;

transmit the message in the second format on the second communication path; and

direct the processor to reformat the message by reducing a size of the message.

16. A computer software code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and configured for execution with a processor designated for carrying out communications onboard a vehicle, the computer software code comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct the processor to:

determine when a first communication path ceases to be available for communication of a message used by a first subsystem of the vehicle to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

identify a different, second communication path of a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem;

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem;

transmit the message in the second format on the second communication path; and

reformat the message by removing designated information from the message that is used by the first subsystem to perform the operations for control of the vehicle but is not used by the second subsystem to perform the operations for control of the vehicle.

17. A communication system comprising:

a first communication path utilized by a first subsystem of a vehicle to communicate a message to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

a different, second communication path utilized by a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem, wherein the first subsystem is different from the second subsystem in that the first subsystem and the second subsystem perform different operations for control of the vehicle; and

a processor configured to determine when the first communication path is unavailable for communication of the message for the first subsystem and to determine the second communication path for communication of the message;

wherein the processor is further configured to reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem.

18. A communication system comprising:

a first communication path utilized by a first subsystem of a vehicle to communicate a message to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

a different, second communication path utilized by a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem; and

a processor configured to;

determine when the first communication path is unavailable for communication of the message for the first subsystem and to determine the second communication path for communication of the message,

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem, and

remove information from the message so that the message is compliant with the second format of the second communication path.

19. A communication system comprising:

a first communication path utilized by a first subsystem of a vehicle to communicate a message to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

a different, second communication path utilized by a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem; and

a processor configured to;

determine when the first communication path is unavailable for communication of the message for the first subsystem and to determine the second communication path for communication of the message;

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem; and

reformat the message by reducing a size of the message.

20. A communication system comprising:

a first communication path utilized by a first subsystem of a vehicle to communicate a message to control one or more operations of the vehicle;

a different, second communication path utilized by a different, second subsystem of the vehicle, the first communication path and the second communication path being different from each other in that the first communication path uses a first message format to communicate information for the first subsystem and the second communication path uses a different, second communication format to communicate information for the second subsystem; and

a processor configured to

determine when the first communication path is unavailable for communication of the message for the first subsystem and to determine the second communication path for communication of the message;

reformat the message from the first format of the first communication path and the first subsystem to the second format of the second communication path and the second subsystem, wherein the first format of the first subsystem is incompatible with the second format of the second subsystem; and

reformat the message by removing designated information from the message that is used by the first subsystem to perform the operations for control of the vehicle but is not used by the second subsystem to perform the operations for control of the vehicle.