Method and system for automatically locating end of train devices

• US 20050004722A1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Engineering, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Shockley, James Francis, Kane, Mark Edward, Mix, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0054 Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data

Abstract

An end of train unit includes a positioning system such as a GPS receiver and is configured to transmit a message including the EOT unit'"'"'s location when the EOT unit detects a loss of air pipe pressure and/or it is tipped over and/or a low battery condition is detected. In highly preferred embodiments, the EOT unit periodically re-transmits the message until an acknowledgment message is received. In some embodiments, information from the positioning system is used to create a signal as a substitute for a motion sensor. In other embodiments, information from the positioning system is used to determine the speed of the end of the train. End of train unit tracking is also performed.

Claims

14. A method for facilitating the location of an end of train unit comprising the steps of:

detecting a condition indicating that the end of train unit is to go out of service, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light;

obtaining location information from the positioning system; and

transmitting a message including the location information upon occurrence of the condition to a device off the train.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of repeating the transmitting step if a response to the message is not received.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition is an indication that the end of train unit has been tilted.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition is an indication that a battery voltage is below a threshold.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition is an indication that an air pressure in an air brake pipe of the train is below a threshold.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition is either an indication that air pressure in an air brake pipe on the train is below a threshold or an indication that the end of train unit has been tilted.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition comprises an indication that a battery voltage is below a threshold and an indication that the end of train unit has been tilted and an indication that an air pressure in an air brake pipe of the train is below a threshold.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition comprises concurrent indications that an air pressure in an air brake pipe of the train is below a threshold and that the end of train unit has been tilted.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of positions of the train from a positioning system; and

transmitting a message indicating whether or not the train is in motion based on the plurality of positions.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the message is transmitted to a head of the train.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the message is transmitted to a device off the train.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

calculating a speed of the train based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message indicating the speed.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the message is transmitted to a head of the train.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the message is transmitted to a device off the train.

28. A method for facilitating the tracking of an end of train unit comprising the steps of:

monitoring a pressure in an air brake pipe of a train on which the end of train unit is mounted, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light;

obtaining a position of the end of train unit from a positioning system; and

transmitting the position to a device located off the train when the pressure falls below a threshold.

29. A method for facilitating the tracking of an end of train unit comprising the steps of:

detecting when the end of train unit has been tilted, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light;

obtaining a position of the end of train unit from a positioning system; and

transmitting the position to a device located off the train when the end of train unit has been tilted.

30. A method for determining when an end of train is in motion comprising the steps of:

providing a positioning system on the end of the train, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light;

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining whether the train is in motion based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message indicating whether the train is in motion based on a result of the determining step.

31. A method for determining a speed of an end a train comprising the steps of:

providing a positioning system on the end of the train, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light;

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining a speed of the train based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message including the speed.

32. A method for facilitating the locating of an end of train unit comprising the steps of:

receiving a message originating from a source located off the train at the end of train unit, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light; and

transmitting a location of the end of train unit in response to the message.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the end of train unit comprises a global positioning system receiver and the location is based on information from the global positioning system receiver.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the message originating from the source off the train is received via a device at a head of a train and wherein the location of the end of train unit is transmitted from the end of train unit to the device at the head of the train and subsequently transmitted from the device at the head of the train to the device located off the train.

35. A method for facilitating the locating of an end of train unit comprising the steps of:

detecting at a head of train unit a message sent by an end of train unit, the message including the end of train unit'"'"'s location, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light; and

transmitting the end of train unit'"'"'s location from the head of train unit if no acknowledgment of the message is detected.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the head of train unit only performs the transmitting step if the message is being sent by the end of train unit upon a detection of a condition indicating that the end of train unit is to go out of service.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the head of train units transmits a message that is a duplicate of the message transmitted by the end of train unit.

38. A method for facilitating collection of end of train units comprising the steps of:

receiving a message including a location of an end of train unit, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light; and

transmitting a first message including the location of the end of train unit to an entity responsible for collecting the end of train device.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of transmitting a second message if an indication that the end of train device has been collected is not received.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the second message is transmitted to the same entity as the first message.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the second message includes the location of the end of train device.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of displaying a map including an indication as to the location of the end of train unit.

43. An end of train unit comprising:

an end-of-train marker light,

a processor;

a transmitter connected to the processor; and

a positioning system connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining whether the train is in motion based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message indicating whether the train is in motion based on a result of the determining step.

44. The end of train unit of claim 43, wherein the determining step is performed by obtaining a first position from the positioning system, obtaining a second position from the positioning system, calculating a difference between the first position and the second position, and comparing the distance to a threshold.

45. The end of train unit of claim 43, wherein the determining step is performed by calculating a speed of the train based on a plurality of positions reported by the positioning system and comparing the speed to a threshold.

46. An end of train unit comprising:

an end-of-train marker light;

a processor;

a transmitter connected to the processor; and

a positioning system connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

obtaining a plurality of positions from the positioning system;

determining a speed of the train based on the plurality of positions; and

transmitting a message including the speed with the transmitter.

47. An end of train unit comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver connected to the processor;

a power supply subsystem connected to the processor;

an end-of-train marker light connected to the power supply subsystem; and

a positioning system connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

receiving a message originating from a source located off the train with the transceiver; and

transmitting a location of the end of train unit in response to the message.

48. The end of train unit of claim 47, wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system receiver and the location is based on information from the global positioning system receiver.

49. The end of train unit of claim 47, wherein the message originating from the source off the train is received via a device at a head of a train, and wherein the location of the end of train unit is transmitted from the end of train unit to the device at the head of the train and subsequently transmitted from the device at the head of the train to the device located off the train.

50. The end of train unit of claim 49, wherein the message includes an address of the device located off the train.

51. A head of train unit comprising:

a processor; and

a first transceiver connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

detecting a message sent by an end of train unit, the end of train unit including an end-of-train marker light, the message including the end of train unit'"'"'s location; and

transmitting the end of train unit'"'"'s location from the head of train unit if no acknowledgment of the message is detected.

52. The head of train unit of claim 51, wherein the processor only performs the transmitting step if the message is being sent by the end of train unit upon a detection of a condition indicating that the end of train unit is to go out of service.

53. The head of train unit of claim 51, wherein the head of train units transmits a message that is a duplicate of the message transmitted by the end of train unit.

54. The head of train unit of claim 51, further comprising a second transceiver, wherein the message sent by the end of train unit is received using the first transceiver and the transmitting step is performed using the second transceiver.

55. The head of train unit of claim 51, wherein the message sent by the end of train unit is received using the first transceiver and the transmitting step is performed using the first transceiver.

56. An end of train unit tracking device comprising:

a processor;

a receiver connected to the processor;

a transmitter connected to the processor; and

a memory connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

receiving a message including a location of an end of train unit, the end of train unit including a end-of-train marker light; and

transmitting a first message including the location of the end of train unit to an entity responsible for collecting the end of train device.

57. The device of claim 56, wherein the processor is further configured to perform step of transmitting a second message upon a failure to receive an indication that the end of train device has been collected.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein the second message is transmitted to the same entity as the first message.

59. The device of claim 57, wherein the second message includes the location of the end of train device.

60. A device for aiding a person in locating an end of train unit, the device comprising:

a processor;

a database connected to the processor, the database including map data suitable for displaying a map;

a receiver connected to the processor; and

a display connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of

receiving a message including a location of an end of train unit, the end of train unit including a end-of-train marker light; and

displaying a map including an indication as to the location of the end of train unit on the display.

61-1. The end of train unit of claim 1, wherein the power supply subsystem comprises a battery.