Method and system for ensuring that a train does not pass an improperly configured device
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A system for controlling a train, the system comprising:
- a control unit; and
a transceiver, the transceiver being located on the train and being in communication with the control unit;
wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps oftransmitting an interrogation message to a configurable device near the train;
listening for a response from the configurable device, the response including a configuration of the configurable device and an identifier of the device;
allowing the train to continue if a response with a correct configuration is received within a period of time; and
stopping the train otherwise;
wherein the control unit is further configured to perform the step of confirming that the identifier received in the response corresponds to the device to which the interrogation message was directed.
6 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A train control system includes a positioning system and consults a database to determine when the train is approaching a configurable device such as a switch or grade crossing gate. The system continuously interrogates the device to determine its status as the train approaches the device, and forces an engineer/conductor to acknowledge any detected malfunction. The train is forced to come to a complete stop before proceeding past the device or may be slowed down to a speed that will allow the engineer/conductor to visually determine whether it is safe to proceed past the device if the engineer/conductor acknowledges a message warning of the malfunction and will stop the train if the engineer/conductor fails to acknowledge the warning message.
159 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A system for controlling a train, the system comprising:
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a control unit; and a transceiver, the transceiver being located on the train and being in communication with the control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of transmitting an interrogation message to a configurable device near the train; listening for a response from the configurable device, the response including a configuration of the configurable device and an identifier of the device; allowing the train to continue if a response with a correct configuration is received within a period of time; and stopping the train otherwise; wherein the control unit is further configured to perform the step of confirming that the identifier received in the response corresponds to the device to which the interrogation message was directed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling a train comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an interrogation message from the train to a configurable device near the train; listening for a response from the configurable device, the response including a configuration of the configurable device and an identifier of the configurable device; confirming that the identifier received in the response corresponds to the configurable device to which the interrogation message was directed; allowing the train to continue if a response with a correct configuration is received; and stopping the train otherwise. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for controlling a train, the system comprising:
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a control unit; and a transceiver, the transceiver being located on the train and being in communication with the control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of transmitting an interrogation message to a configurable device near the train; listening for a response from the configurable device, the response including a configuration of the configurable device and an identifier associated with the configurable device; allowing the train to continue if a response with a correct configuration is received; if no response is received or if a response with an incorrect configuration is received, activating a warning device to provide a warning to a train operator; stopping the train if an acknowledgment of the warning is not received or if a speed of the train is not reduced within a period of time; and if an acknowledgment of the warning is received within the period of time, maintaining the speed until the device has been passed or a verification that passing the device is acceptable has been received; wherein the control unit is further configured to perform the step of confirming that identifier received in the response corresponds to the device to which the interrogation message was directed. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for controlling a train comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an interrogation message from the train to a configurable device near the train; listening for a response from the configurable device, the response including a configuration of the configurable device and an identifier of the configurable device; allowing the train to continue if a response with a correct configuration is received and the identifier received in the response corresponds to the device to which the interrogation message was directed. if a response with a correct configuration and an identifier corresponding to the configurable device to which the interrogation message was directed is not received, or if no response is received; activating a warning device to provide a warning; stopping the train if an acknowledgment of the warning is not received or if a speed of the train is not reduced within a period of time; and if an acknowledgment of the warning is received within the period of time, maintaining the speed until the device has been passed or a verification that passing the configurable device is acceptable has been received. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method for controlling a train comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a position of a train from a positioning system; determining a location and an identifier of a next configurable device that will be passed by the train from a database; sending an interrogation message including the identifier of the next configurable device; waiting a period of time based in part on a speed and a weight of the train and a grade of a section of track between the train and the device; listening for a response during the period of time; if the response is received, comparing an identifier included in the response to the identifier of the next configurable device; stopping the train if a response from the device indicates that the device is not properly configured or if a response is not received within the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A computerized method for controlling a train comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a position of a train from a positioning system; determining a location and identifier of a next configurable device that will be passed by the train from a database; sending an interrogation message including the identifier of the next configurable device; waiting a first period of time based in part on a speed and a weight of the train and a grade of a section of track between the train and the device; listening for a response during the first period of time; if the response is received, comparing an identifier included in the response to the identifier of the next configurable device; providing a warning to an operator if a response from the device indicates that the device is not properly configured or if a response is not received within the first period of time; stopping the train if the operator does not acknowledge the warning and slow the train to a reduced speed within a second period of time; and if the warning is acknowledged and the reduced speed is achieved within the second period of time, maintaining the reduced speed until the operator verifies that the device is configured properly or until the train has passed the device. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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Specification