Abstract: A method of changing between two operator stations in a cab of a locomotive for controlling the brakes of the locomotive and of a train of railway cars connected to the locomotive. The stations each have at least one brake handle and an associated selector switch, with each of the switches being electrically connected to a brake control computer. The method includes stopping the train if the train is in motion and placing the brake valve handles of the stations in a position to apply the brakes at full service. One of the operator stations is selected as an active station for braking the train while the other station is selected to be inactive. Signals are directed from the selector switches at the operator stations to the computer, the signals indicating which of the two stations is active and inactive. The computer is provided with the software that accepts a valid transition to the station selected by the operator as the active station.

Abstract: In a locomotive throttle controller having a digital central processor unit and an output driver mechanism for supplying signals to trainlines which control the locomotive engine throttle setting, reverser, and dynamic braking and for sending feedback signals indicative of actual voltages applied to said trainlines back to said central processor unit, of at least one locomotive, an improvement comprises a digital interface through which external digital equipment can communicate with the central processor unit and devices for communicating via the digital interface between the external digital equipment and the central processor unit such that the external digital equipment may be used to control the at least one locomotive.

Abstract: A railway vehicle brake system tester for performing at least one test procedure on an electronically controlled railway vehicle brake system disposed on a railway vehicle without requiring removal of such electronically controlled brake system from such railway vehicle which includes a mounting member for mounting a number of predetermined components of such railway brake system tester thereon. A microprocessor unit is disposed on such mounting member and is connected to receive and communicate information required for performing such at least one test procedure. Another device is disposed on such mounting member and is connected for receiving preselected outputs from such brake system and is connected to communicate such preselected outputs to such microprocessor and is connected to receive preselected inputs from the microprocessor and is connected to communicate such preselected inputs to such brake system.

Abstract: A protocol is provided for bi-directional communication of control signals between a host unit and a slave unit. The protocol is particularly adapted to the control of a locomotive from a remote host computer.The protocol provides for transmission of digital signals indicative of control commands from the host computer to the slave computer, and simultaneous transmission of digital signals indicative of diagnostic information from the slave computer to the host computer.Information is transmitted in the form of data packets, and means are provided, in the receiving computer, for detecting corruption of transmission, or loss of transmission, and for providing a safe response to either of such conditions.

Abstract: An electrically controlled railway locomotive throttle controller including a power source connected to a central processing unit disposed on such locomotive. An encoder device is disposed on such locomotive for providing at least one electrical signal to such central processing unit. This at least one electrical signal being at least one of a signal indicative of a throttle position, a signal indicative of dynamic braking and a signal indicative of a reverser. A digital control device is disposed on such locomotive and is connected to receive a signal from such central processing unit to provide a digital control signal that controls the voltage being applied to a trainline. An analog control device is also disposed on such locomotive and is connected to receive a signal from such central processing unit to provide an analog control signal that controls a dynamic brake reference voltage being applied to such trainline.

Abstract: A method of diagnostic testing and taking appropriate corrective action on an electronically controlled throttle controller which includes scanning inputs from at least one of the throttle handles and a remote host. Communicating information from such throttle handles and/or remote host to a diagnostic testing device. Performing a check of such information fed to such diagnostic testing device to determine if the system is functioning properly and/or if corrective action is required. Taking appropriate corrective action if such corrective action is indicated. Calculating trainline outputs to be used when at least one of such appropriate corrective action is completed and/or it has been determined that such system is functioning properly. Communicating such trainline outputs calculated to such trainline. Communicating a feedback of such trainline outputs being communicated to a diagnostic testing device and reading such feedback of such trainline outputs.

Abstract: Method of operating an electronically controlled throttle controller between two modes of operation, including a transition between modes, includes powering up an electronics package and determining if a short term power out, a long term power out or a loss of CPU control in either short term or long term has occurred. The position of throttle, dynamic brake and reverser handles is compared with a previous mode of operation to determine current mode of operation. If it is determined that the throttle controller is in handle mode, the output signal to the trainlines is adjusted according to handle positions. Outputs of throttle, dynamic brake and reverser handles are set in the home position if an RMU command is received. A predetermined delay is imposed when outputs of the throttle, dynamic brake and reverser handles are in home position after positioning by an operator of the locomotive and before exiting a handle mode and entering an RMU mode of operation.

Abstract: Differences between both the code and documentation of a revised generation of software and a previous generation are compared by a digital computer with the intended revisions stored in a release file. When all discrepancies have been eliminated, and for the original generation of the software, actual impacts in the form of the locations in the program where one routine is called by another and where common statements and public variables are used, are compared with expected impacts stored in the release file. When all actual impacts have been identified, the revised software, or the original version in the case of newly created software, is stored in a library with the code and documentation paired, and with each revision of each unit identified for later retrieval and reconstruction of any software generation.

Abstract: A computer program is verified, unit by unit, by automatically instrumentating the code and generating a test driver program which executes all branches of an instrumented code unit. The code is instrumented by operating processors to standardize the code format and to insert executable tracer statements into each block of reformatted code between control statements. A pseudocode having only control statements and tables identifying valid linkages between blocks of code are generated by another processor for use by a verifier in selecting values of input variables and expected outputs for test cases which execute each block of code in the selected unit. Another processor generates the test driver program from the test cases and a software test specification identifying the test cases and expected results. The test driver program and instrumented code unit are compiled and linked to repeatively execute the instrumented code unit to implement all the test cases.