Integrated railroad system
First Claim
1. In a railroad system wherein a plurality of trains is operated over multiple interconnected tracks, a traffic-control system comprising the following combination of components:
- (a) means for assigning a travel schedule to each of a plurality of said trains and for storing said schedule in a computer memory;
(b) means for determining each train'"'"'s position as the train progresses along said tracks;
(c) means for comparing said train'"'"'s position with said travel schedule assigned thereto to produce a compliance indicator indicative of a schedule variation for the train;
(d) means for calculating, when said schedule variation exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold, an alternative travel schedule for each of said plurality of trains as necessary to maintain predetermined operating parameters within the system; and
(e) means for automatically changing said travel schedule of each train in the computer memory to conform prospectively with said alternative travel schedule.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A railroad traffic control system that links each locomotive to a control center for communicating data and control signals. Using on-board computers, GPS and two-way communication hardware, rolling stock continuously communicate position, vital sign data, and other information for recording in a data base and for integration in a comprehensive computerized control system. The data base includes train schedules for real time display on train monitors. The current position of each train is compared to its planned schedule online to provide immediate information to the dispatcher to determine whether a corrective action is necessary. When a train'"'"'s deviation from its planned schedule exceeds a predetermined parameter, the system automatically calculates alternative schedules for all trains in the system according to preselected operational constraints as necessary to minimize the effect of the deviation.
125 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a railroad system wherein a plurality of trains is operated over multiple interconnected tracks, a traffic-control system comprising the following combination of components:
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(a) means for assigning a travel schedule to each of a plurality of said trains and for storing said schedule in a computer memory;
(b) means for determining each train'"'"'s position as the train progresses along said tracks;
(c) means for comparing said train'"'"'s position with said travel schedule assigned thereto to produce a compliance indicator indicative of a schedule variation for the train;
(d) means for calculating, when said schedule variation exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold, an alternative travel schedule for each of said plurality of trains as necessary to maintain predetermined operating parameters within the system; and
(e) means for automatically changing said travel schedule of each train in the computer memory to conform prospectively with said alternative travel schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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17. A method for controlling traffic in a railroad system wherein a plurality of trains is operated over multiple interconnected tracks, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) assigning a travel schedule to each of a plurality of said trains and storing said schedule in a memory of an electronic processor;
(b) determining each train'"'"'s position as the train progresses along said tracks and storing the position in said memory;
(c) utilizing said electronic processor for comparing said train'"'"'s position with said travel schedule assigned thereto and for producing a compliance indicator indicative of a schedule variation for the train;
(d) utilizing said electronic processor for calculating, when said schedule variation exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold, an alternative travel schedule for each of said plurality of trains as necessary to maintain predetermined operating parameters within the system; and
(e) automatically changing said travel schedule of each train in the memory of the electronic processor to conform prospectively with said alternative travel schedule. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification