System and method for terminal capacity management
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of determining capacity of a rail terminal, the method comprising:
- accessing a dataset comprising a plurality of train traffic records associated with a rail terminal, said dataset being stored in at least one database;
indexing, by at least one computer processor, said plurality of train traffic records into periodic intervals;
assigning, by the at least one computer processor, unique index values to each periodic interval;
assigning, by the at least one computer processor, dwell occupancy definitions to each of said train traffic records, said dwell occupancy definitions comprising occupancy limits that a block of railcars have occupied the railway terminal;
creating, by the at least one computer processor, occupancy indexes for each of said train traffic records based on said dwell occupancy definitions, thereby dividing each occupancy definition into occupancy intervals;
assigning, by the at least one computer processor, dwell occupancy values to each occupancy index based on said dwell occupancy definitions and said dataset; and
determining, by the at least one computer processor, a capacity demand of said rail terminal based on said dwell occupancy values.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining rail terminal capacity needs. In one embodiment, terminal railcar inventory is determined periodically throughout a specific time interval based on terminal traffic data. Train traffic data is accessed and indexed into discrete time periods, such as daily and hourly intervals. Dwell occupancy indexes are created with periodic intervals, and assigned dwell occupancy values based on said dwell occupancy definitions and traffic data. The railcar inventory of the train terminal at any particular time may then be determined by cross-tabulating the occupancy dwell values, and applying business rules. The number and size of tracks needed to accommodate a rail terminal may be determined by assigning blocks of railcars to terminal tracks. Using the railcar inventory, a list of railcar blocks, railcar block sizes, railcar block classifications, and track classifications is created. After specifying switch parameters, the list of railcar blocks is evaluated based on the list of railcar block sizes and the list of railcar block classifications. The list of railcar blocks is then assigned to the terminal tracks, based on the list of railcar block classifications, the list of track classifications, and the switching parameters. After assigning the blocks to tracks, a final list of tracks that have been assigned blocks is generated.
21 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of determining capacity of a rail terminal, the method comprising:
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accessing a dataset comprising a plurality of train traffic records associated with a rail terminal, said dataset being stored in at least one database; indexing, by at least one computer processor, said plurality of train traffic records into periodic intervals; assigning, by the at least one computer processor, unique index values to each periodic interval; assigning, by the at least one computer processor, dwell occupancy definitions to each of said train traffic records, said dwell occupancy definitions comprising occupancy limits that a block of railcars have occupied the railway terminal; creating, by the at least one computer processor, occupancy indexes for each of said train traffic records based on said dwell occupancy definitions, thereby dividing each occupancy definition into occupancy intervals; assigning, by the at least one computer processor, dwell occupancy values to each occupancy index based on said dwell occupancy definitions and said dataset; and determining, by the at least one computer processor, a capacity demand of said rail terminal based on said dwell occupancy values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for determining hourly terminal capacity, the system comprising:
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at least one database for storing a dataset comprising a plurality of train traffic records associated with a rail terminal; and a processing engine; wherein said processing engine executes instructions to perform the steps of; accessing, by at least one computer processor, said train traffic record dataset associated with a rail terminal; indexing, by the at least one computer processor, said plurality of train traffic records into periodic intervals; assigning, by the at least one computer processor, unique index values to each periodic interval; assigning, by the at least one computer processor, dwell occupancy definitions to each of said train traffic records, said dwell occupancy definitions comprising occupancy limits that a block of railcars have occupied the railway terminal; creating, by the at least one computer processor, occupancy indexes for each of said train traffic records based on said dwell occupancy definitions, thereby dividing each occupancy definition into occupancy intervals; assigning, by the at least one computer processor, dwell occupancy values to each occupancy index based on said dwell occupancy definitions and said dataset; and determining, by the at least one computer processor, a capacity demand of said rail terminal based on said dwell occupancy values. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer-implemented method of estimating a number classification tracks required within a rail terminal having a plurality of tracks, the method comprising:
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creating, by at least one computer processor, a list of railcar blocks; establishing, by the at least one computer processor, a list of railcar block sizes based on said list of railcar blocks; establishing, by the at least one computer processor, a list of railcar block classifications based on said list of railcar blocks; establishing, by the at least one computer processor, a list of track classifications based on said list of railcar blocks and said plurality of tracks; specifying, by the at least one computer processor, switch parameters; evaluating, by the at least one computer processor, said list of railcar blocks based on said list of railcar block sizes and said list of railcar block classifications; calculating, by the at least one computer processor, initial track estimates; assigning, by the at least one computer processor, said list of railcar blocks to said plurality of tracks based on said list of railcar block classifications, said list of track classifications, and said switch parameters; and generating, by the at least one computer processor, a list of tracks based on said step of assigning. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for assigning railcar blocks to a plurality of rail terminal tracks, the system comprising:
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a dataset engine that provides a list of railcar blocks; a classification engine that classifies said railcar blocks according and said plurality of rail terminal tracks; a switching parameter engine, said switching parameter engine specifying switching parameters and generating a list of classified blocks according to said switching parameters; and an assignment engine that assigns each block on said list of classified blocks to a classified track. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification