Method and system for communicating data with vehicles
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a trip request message from a vehicle during travel of the vehicle in a defined pre-load zone along a route, the pre-load zone being associated with reliable communication of vehicles traveling through the pre-load zone, the vehicle configured to complete travel through the pre-load zone prior to reaching a starting location of a trip along the route, the pre-load zone being separated from the starting location of the trip along the route by a communication dead zone that is associated with unreliable communication of vehicles traveling through the communication dead zone, the trip request message identifying the pre-load zone; and
sending a trip response message to the vehicle responsive to receiving the trip request message, the trip response message being sent such that the vehicle receives the trip response message prior to the vehicle completing travel through the pre-load zone and entering the communication dead zone, the trip response message including trip data specific to the trip that starts at the starting location outside of the pre-load zone.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes defining a pre-load zone that has reliable communication along a route. The pre-load zone is associated with a trip of a vehicle traveling along the route. A starting location of the trip is located outside of the pre-load zone. The vehicle is configured to enter the pre-load zone and exit the pre-load zone prior to reaching the starting location of the trip. The method includes receiving a trip request message that identifies the pre-load zone from the vehicle after the vehicle enters the pre-load zone and prior to the vehicle exiting the pre-load zone. The method also includes sending a trip response message to the vehicle that the vehicle receives prior to exiting the pre-load zone. The trip response message includes trip data specific to the trip that is selected based on the association between the pre-load zone and the trip.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a trip request message from a vehicle during travel of the vehicle in a defined pre-load zone along a route, the pre-load zone being associated with reliable communication of vehicles traveling through the pre-load zone, the vehicle configured to complete travel through the pre-load zone prior to reaching a starting location of a trip along the route, the pre-load zone being separated from the starting location of the trip along the route by a communication dead zone that is associated with unreliable communication of vehicles traveling through the communication dead zone, the trip request message identifying the pre-load zone; and sending a trip response message to the vehicle responsive to receiving the trip request message, the trip response message being sent such that the vehicle receives the trip response message prior to the vehicle completing travel through the pre-load zone and entering the communication dead zone, the trip response message including trip data specific to the trip that starts at the starting location outside of the pre-load zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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determining that a vehicle traveling on a route enters a pre-load zone, the pre-load zone defining an area of the route between at least two boundaries that is associated with reliable communication, the pre-load zone lying outside a communication dead zone that is associated with unreliable communication, the communication dead zone being disposed between the pre-load zone and a starting location for a trip of the vehicle along the route such that the vehicle traveling toward the starting location traverses through the pre-load zone prior to traversing through the communication dead zone; sending a trip request message to an off-board system from the vehicle after the vehicle enters the pre-load zone and before the vehicle enters the communication dead zone; receiving a trip response message at the vehicle from the off-board system before the vehicle enters the communication dead zone, the trip response message including trip data specific to the trip that starts at the starting location; storing the trip data on a memory device disposed on the vehicle; and upon receiving a trip initialization request, retrieving the trip data from the memory device and controlling movements of the vehicle beyond the starting location of the trip based on the trip data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a communication system configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle traveling on a route that has a defined pre-load zone associated with reliable communication and a defined communication dead zone associated with unreliable communication, the communication dead zone being adjacent to the pre-load zone and disposed between the pre-load zone and a starting location for a trip of the vehicle along the route, the communication system configured to send a trip request message to an off-board system after the vehicle enters the pre-load zone and before the vehicle enters the communication dead zone, the trip request message identifying the pre-load zone, the communication system further configured to receive a trip response message from the off-board system before the vehicle enters the communication dead zone, the trip response message being responsive to the trip request message and including trip data specific to the trip that starts at the starting location, the trip being identified based on the identification of the pre-load zone in the trip request message; a memory device configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle, the memory device configured to store the trip data received from the off-board system; and an energy management system configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle, the energy management system configured to retrieve the trip data from the memory device and control movement of the vehicle, based on the trip data, after the vehicle reaches the starting location of the trip. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification