METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR WIRELESS REMOTE FAULT HANDLING ON A REMOTE DISTRIBUTED POWER POWERED SYSTEM

• US 20100235017A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peltonen, Glen Paul, Mason, Gary, Nazareth, Joseph Mario
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0018 Communication with or on the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance

Abstract

A method for remotely administering a fault detected on an unmanned powered system that is controlled through a lead powered system, the method including detecting an operational fault on an unmanned powered system, communicating information about the fault to the lead powered system, through a wireless communication protocol operable with a wireless communication system, and communicating a reset message to the unmanned powered system to reset the fault detected. A system and computer software code, stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor, are also disclosed for remotely handling a fault detected on an unmanned powered system that is controlled through a lead powered system.

Claims

1. A method for remotely administering a fault detected on an unmanned powered system that is controlled through a lead powered system, the method comprising:

detecting an operational fault on an unmanned powered system;

communicating information about the fault to the lead powered system, through a wireless communication protocol operable with a wireless communication system; and

communicating a reset message to the unmanned powered system to reset the detected operational fault, through the wireless communication protocol operable with the wireless communication system.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising notifying an operator on the lead powered system about the operational fault.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein notifying the operator comprises visually notifying the operator, audibly notifying the operator, and/or notifying the operator through physical contact.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating a reset protocol comprises initiating communication of the reset protocol by an operator on the lead powered system or a fault control device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a reset protocol based on the operational fault detected.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises an off-highway vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, a transportation vehicle, a stationary power plant, a marine vessel, and/or a rail vehicle.

7. A system for remotely administering a fault detected on an unmanned remote powered system that is controlled through a lead powered system, the system comprising:

a first processor, that is a part of a lead powered system, configured to detect an operational fault of the lead powered system and/or produce a wireless fault reset message operable with a wireless protocol to correct an operational fault on a remote powered system;

a second processor, that is a part of the remote powered system, configured to detect an operational fault of the remote powered system, create a wireless fault message operable with the wireless protocol, and reset the operational fault of the remote powered system upon receipt of the wireless fault reset message; and

a wireless communication system for transmitting and/or receiving the fault message and/or the fault reset message communicated with the wireless protocol between the first processor and the second processor.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a third processor to provide for delivery of the fault message and/or the fault reset message from the first processor or the second processor to the wireless communication system.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the third processor provides for a serial interface connection between the first processor or the second processor and the wireless communication system.

10. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a notification device to notify an operator on the lead powered system when the wireless fault message is received, wherein the notification device provides information to the operator visually, audibly, and/or through physical touch.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein when the wireless fault message is received from the remote powered system, the first processor develops the fault reset message without operator intervention.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein when the wireless fault message is received from the remote powered system, the first processor develops the fault reset message and reports the fault reset message to an operator on the lead powered system for the operator to determine when and/or whether to send the fault reset message to the remote powered system.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless protocol is operable to communicate a remote status message, a fault present flag, a fault code byte, a fault reset flag, an acknowledge byte present flag, and/or a fault acknowledge byte as part of the fault message and/or fault reset message.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein the powered system comprises an off-highway vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, a transportation vehicle, a stationary power plant, a marine vessel, and/or a rail vehicle.

15. A computer software code stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor for remotely administering a fault detected on an unmanned powered system that is operating with at least a lead powered system, the computer software code comprising:

a computer software module for detecting an operational fault on an unmanned powered system, when executed with the processor;

a computer software module for initiating communication of information about the operational fault to the lead powered system, through a wireless communication protocol operable with a wireless communication system, when executed with the processor; and

a computer software module for initiating communication of a reset message to the unmanned powered system to reset the detected operational fault, through the wireless communication protocol operable with the wireless communication system, when executed with the processor.

16. The computer software code according to claim 15, farther comprising a computer software module for initiating notification to an operator about the operational fault.

17. The computer software code according to claim 15, further comprising a computer software module for determining the reset message based on the operational fault detected.

18. The computer software code according to claim 15, wherein the powered system comprises an off-highway vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, a transportation vehicle, a stationary power plant, a marine vessel, and/or a rail vehicle.

19. A fault administration system for powered systems, comprising:

a wireless communication system linking a first powered system with an unmanned, second powered system, said second powered system being controlled through the first powered system; and

a fault processor on the second powered system, said fault processor being configured to communicate a fault message to the first powered system, wherein the fault message relates to a detected operational fault of the second powered system, and said fault processor being further configured to initiate corrective action regarding the detected operational fault subsequent to receiving a fault reset message from the first powered system.

20. A fault administration system for a train, comprising:

a distributed power communication system wirelessly linking a first locomotive in the train with a second locomotive in the train, said second locomotive being unmanned; and

a fault processor on the second locomotive, said fault processor being configured to communicate a fault message to the first locomotive, wherein the fault message relates to a detected operational fault of the second locomotive, and said fault processor being further configured to initiate corrective action regarding the detected operational fault subsequent to receiving a fault reset message from the first locomotive;

wherein the fault message and the fault reset message are configured according to a communication protocol for wireless transmission over the distributed power communication system in a message format different than a format of distributed power messages transmitted over the distributed power communication system for distributed power control of the first and second locomotives.