Patents by Inventor Ann K. Grimm

Ann K. Grimm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240317284
    Abstract: A control system and method includes obtaining information associated with a vehicle system that includes one or more vehicles that are configured to move along a route. The vehicle system information is applied to a trip simulation to determine how the vehicle system is expected operate while the vehicle system moves along the route. The trip simulation includes one or more anticipated operating conditions of the vehicle system and/or anticipated route conditions the vehicle system is expected to be exposed to as the vehicle system moves along the route. It is determined whether the vehicle system will be able to stop at one or more locations along the route based on the application of the vehicle system information to the trip simulation. An alert is communicated responsive to determining that the vehicle system will be unable to stop at the one or more locations along the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: James A. Oswald, Alan Tentinger, Alex Young, Phillip A. Burgart, Ann K. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20240223895
    Abstract: A vehicle monitoring device includes a camera or other optical sensor configured to be disposed at a trailing end of a first vehicle system. The camera or other optical sensor is configured to output one or more images or video of a field of view behind the first vehicle system. The monitoring device also includes a controller configured to receive output from one or more sensors and to activate the camera or other optical sensor to output the one or more images or video based on the output from the one or more sensors. The output from the one or more sensors indicates one or more of a change in movement of the first vehicle system, a temperature, an acoustic sound, or movement of a second vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Carl L. Haas, Padam D. Swar, Danial Rice, Christopher Claussen, Joseph W. Gorman, James A. Oswald, Ann K. Grimm, Kevin Angel, James Trainor, Phillip A. Burgart, Kendrick W. Gawne, Robert Hoffman, Tim Gibson, Brian Kurz
  • Patent number: 11958512
    Abstract: A vehicle monitoring device includes a camera or other optical sensor configured to be disposed at a trailing end of a first vehicle system. The camera or other optical sensor is configured to output one or more images or video of a field of view behind the first vehicle system. The monitoring device also includes a controller configured to receive output from one or more sensors and to activate the camera or other optical sensor to output the one or more images or video based on the output from the one or more sensors. The output from the one or more sensors indicates one or more of a change in movement of the first vehicle system, a temperature, an acoustic sound, or movement of a second vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl L. Haas, Padam D. Swar, Danial Rice, Christopher Claussen, Joseph W. Gorman, James A. Oswald, Ann K. Grimm, Kevin Angel, James Trainor, Phillip A. Burgart, Kendrick W. Gawne, Robert Hoffman, Tim Gibson, Brian Kurz
  • Patent number: 11953338
    Abstract: A remote initialization system and method for a vehicle system receive trip data for an upcoming trip at an off-board device. Using the off-board device, the trip data is communicated to the different back-office systems, and one or more of mandatory directives or software configuration requirements are received at the off-board device from the different back-office systems. An initialization data set that includes at least some of the trip data and at least some of the one or more of the mandatory directives or the software configuration requirements is communicated from the off-board device to an onboard controller of the vehicle system. The initialization data set is configured to be used by the onboard controller to control movement of the vehicle system in the different sets of the routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Janmejay Tripathy, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ann K. Grimm, Phillip A. Burgart
  • Publication number: 20240109564
    Abstract: A method is provided that can include activating at least two wireless communication channels in parallel, between a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver. Each of the at least two wireless communication channels can operate at a different radio carrier frequency, and the first wireless transceiver may be part of a first vehicle. The method can also include transmitting, by the first wireless transceiver, common information in parallel on the at least two wireless communication channels to the second wireless transceiver and deactivating the at least two wireless communication channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Padam Dhoj Swar, Carl L. Haas, Danial Rice, Rebecca W. Dreasher, Adam Hausmann, Matthew Steven Vrba, Edward J. Kuchar, James Lucas, Andrew Ryan Staats, Jerrid D. Chapman, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Janmejay Tripathy, Stephen Craven, Tania Lindsley, Derek K. Woo, Ann K. Grimm, Scott Sollars, Phillip A. Burgart, James Allen Oswald, Shannon K. Struttmann, Stuart J. Barr, Keith Smith, Francois P. Pretorius, Craig K. Green, Kendrick Gawne, Irwin Morris, Joseph W. Gorman, Srivallidevi Muthusami, Mahesh Babu Natarajan, Jeremiah Dirnberger, Adam Franco
  • Patent number: 11932296
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for determining ancillary subdivision/districts may include obtaining track data associated with one or more railroads operating one or more subdivisions/districts over which the train may travel, determining an ancillary subdivision/district of the one or more subdivisions/districts that are not included in the track data by any of the one or more railroads, receiving track data for the railroad associated with the ancillary subdivision/district, and communicating with one or more wayside interface units in the ancillary subdivision/district based on the track data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ann K. Grimm, Rebecca W. Dreasher
  • Patent number: 11871234
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided that includes obtaining a first secret and a first public key, and obtaining a second secret a second public key. The method may also include authenticating the first public key of the first vehicle based on a first private key associated with the first vehicle, and authenticating the second public key of the second vehicle based on a second private key associated with the second vehicle. The method may also include preventing a man-in-the-middle attack, by securing at least one of a first vehicle-to-central office communication, a central office-to-first vehicle communication, or a first vehicle-to-second vehicle, wherein the first vehicle-to-central office communication and the central office-to-first vehicle communication are authenticated based on a determined private key associated with a respective first vehicle on-board computer, and sending a message, with the central office server, to a vehicle associated with a conditional movement authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca W. Dreasher, Adam Hausmann, Matthew Steven Vrba, Edward J. Kuchar, James Lucas, Andrew Ryan Staats, Jerrid D. Chapman, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Janmejay Tripathy, Stephen Craven, Tania Lindsley, Derek K. Woo, Ann K. Grimm, Scott Sollars, Phillip A. Burgart, James Allen Oswald, Shannon K. Struttmann, Stuart J. Barr, Keith Smith, Francois P. Pretorius, Craig K. Green, Kendrick Gawne, Irwin Morris, Joseph W. Gorman
  • Patent number: 11511782
    Abstract: A control system includes a first vehicle controller configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle system moving along route segments and to receive a conditional movement authority that has a condition to be met before the first vehicle system can travel into a designated route segment of the route segments. The first vehicle controller is configured to communicate with a separate, second vehicle system to determine a state of the second vehicle system. The first vehicle controller is configured to determine whether the state of the second vehicle system satisfies the condition of the conditional movement authority. The first vehicle controller also is configured to permit movement of the first vehicle system into the designated route segment responsive to determining that the state of the second vehicle system satisfies the condition of the conditional movement authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rebecca W. Dreasher, Ann K. Grimm, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Francois Pretorius
  • Publication number: 20220355781
    Abstract: A method may include detecting a first pressure and a second pressure of a fluid in a brake pipe of a vehicle system that includes a plurality of vehicles and extends from a lead vehicle to an end vehicle. The first pressure may be measured in the lead vehicle and the second pressure may be measured in the end vehicle. The method may further include determining a pressure differential signature between the first pressure and the second pressure and evaluating the pressure differential signature with a machine learning model to determine whether a blockage or a leak exists in the brake pipe. A system may include one or more processors configured to detect a first pressure and a second pressure of a fluid in a brake pipe. The one or more processors may be further configured to determine a pressure differential signature between the first pressure and the second pressure and evaluate the pressure differential signature with a machine learning model to determine whether a blockage exists in the brake pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: James A. Oswald, Ann K. Grimm, Kevin Angel, James Trainor, Phillip A. Burgart, Kendrick W. Gawne
  • Patent number: 11427238
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for determining ancillary subdivision/districts may include obtaining route data associated with one or more vehicle network operators operating one or more subdivisions/districts over which the vehicle group may travel, determining an ancillary subdivision/district of the one or more subdivisions/districts that are not included in the route data by any of the one or more vehicle network operators, receiving route data for the vehicle network operator associated with the ancillary subdivision/district, and communicating with one or more wayside interface units in the ancillary subdivision/district based on the route data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ann K. Grimm, Rebecca W. Dreasher
  • Patent number: 11318970
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a movement sensor configured to output information indicative of movement of a vehicle system and a controller configured to determine whether the vehicle system has stopped moving based on the information that is output from the movement sensor. The controller is configured to increment a counter based on a length of time that the vehicle system has remained stopped. The controller is configured to control operation of the vehicle system based on the counter that is incremented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Angel, Ann K. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20220082400
    Abstract: A remote initialization system and method for a vehicle system receive trip data for an upcoming trip at an off-board device. Using the off-board device, the trip data is communicated to the different back-office systems, and one or more of mandatory directives or software configuration requirements are received at the off-board device from the different back-office systems. An initialization data set that includes at least some of the trip data and at least some of the one or more of the mandatory directives or the software configuration requirements is communicated from the off-board device to an onboard controller of the vehicle system. The initialization data set is configured to be used by the onboard controller to control movement of the vehicle system in the different sets of the routes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Janmejay Tripathy, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ann K. Grimm, Phillip A. Burgart
  • Patent number: 11254337
    Abstract: A system for determining a location of a rail vehicle based on a radio frequency (RF) signal includes at least one processor programmed or configured to receive an RF signal transmitted by at least one radio transmitter device, where the RF signal includes location data associated with the location of the at least one radio transmitter device, determine a location of the at least one radio transmitter device based on the location data associated with the location of the at least one radio transmitter included in the RF signal, and determine a location of a rail vehicle based on the location of the at least one radio transmitter device. A method and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Craven, Ann K. Grimm, Matthew Steven Vrba
  • Publication number: 20220032978
    Abstract: A vehicle monitoring device includes a camera or other optical sensor configured to be disposed at a trailing end of a first vehicle system. The camera or other optical sensor is configured to output one or more images or video of a field of view behind the first vehicle system. The monitoring device also includes a controller configured to receive output from one or more sensors and to activate the camera or other optical sensor to output the one or more images or video based on the output from the one or more sensors. The output from the one or more sensors indicates one or more of a change in movement of the first vehicle system, a temperature, an acoustic sound, or movement of a second vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Carl L. Haas, Padam D. Swar, Danial Rice, Christopher Claussen, Joseph W. Gorman, James A. Oswald, Ann K. Grimm, Kevin Angel, James Trainor, Phillip A. Burgart, Kendrick W. Gawne, Robert Hoffman, Tim Gibson, Brian Kurz
  • Publication number: 20220038906
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided that includes obtaining a first secret and a first public key, and obtaining a second secret a second public key. The method may also include authenticating the first public key of the first vehicle based on a first private key associated with the first vehicle, and authenticating the second public key of the second vehicle based on a second private key associated with the second vehicle. The method may also include preventing a man-in-the-middle attack, by securing at least one of a first vehicle-to-central office communication, a central office-to-first vehicle communication, or a first vehicle-to-second vehicle, wherein the first vehicle-to-central office communication and the central office-to-first vehicle communication are authenticated based on a determined private key associated with a respective first vehicle on-board computer, and sending a message, with the central office server, to a vehicle associated with a conditional movement authority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Rebecca W. Dreasher, Adam Hausmann, Matthew Steven Vrba, Edward J. Kuchar, James Lucas, Andrew Ryan Staats, Jerrid D. Chapman, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Janmejay Tripathy, Stephen Craven, Tania Lindsley, Derek K. Woo, Ann K. Grimm, Scott Sollars, Phillip A. Burgart, James Allen Oswald, Shannon K. Struttmann, Stuart J. Barr, Keith Smith, Francois P. Pretorius, Craig K. Green, Kendrick Gawne, Irwin Morris, Joseph W. Gorman
  • Publication number: 20200198677
    Abstract: A control system includes a first vehicle controller configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle system moving along route segments and to receive a conditional movement authority that has a condition to be met before the first vehicle system can travel into a designated route segment of the route segments. The first vehicle controller is configured to communicate with a separate, second vehicle system to determine a state of the second vehicle system. The first vehicle controller is configured to determine whether the state of the second vehicle system satisfies the condition of the conditional movement authority. The first vehicle controller also is configured to permit movement of the first vehicle system into the designated route segment responsive to determining that the state of the second vehicle system satisfies the condition of the conditional movement authority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Rebecca W. Dreasher, Ann K. Grimm, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Francois Pretorius
  • Publication number: 20200189629
    Abstract: A system for determining a location of a rail vehicle based on a radio frequency (RF) signal includes at least one processor programmed or configured to receive an RF signal transmitted by at least one radio transmitter device, where the RF signal includes location data associated with the location of the at least one radio transmitter device, determine a location of the at least one radio transmitter device based on the location data associated with the location of the at least one radio transmitter included in the RF signal, and determine a location of a rail vehicle based on the location of the at least one radio transmitter device. A method and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Craven, Ann K. Grimm, Matthew Steven Vrba
  • Publication number: 20200039546
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a movement sensor configured to output information indicative of movement of a vehicle system and a controller configured to determine whether the vehicle system has stopped moving based on the information that is output from the movement sensor. The controller is configured to increment a counter based on a length of time that the vehicle system has remained stopped. The controller is configured to control operation of the vehicle system based on the counter that is incremented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin J. Angel, Ann K. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20190389498
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for determining ancillary subdivision/districts may include obtaining route data associated with one or more vehicle network operators operating one or more subdivisions/districts over which the vehicle group may travel, determining an ancillary subdivision/district of the one or more subdivisions/districts that are not included in the route data by any of the one or more vehicle network operators, receiving route data for the vehicle network operator associated with the ancillary subdivision/district, and communicating with one or more wayside interface units in the ancillary subdivision/district based on the route data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ann K. Grimm, Rebecca W. Dreasher
  • Publication number: 20190389499
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for determining ancillary subdivision/districts may include obtaining track data associated with one or more railroads operating one or more subdivisions/districts over which the train may travel, determining an ancillary subdivision/district of the one or more subdivisions/districts that are not included in the track data by any of the one or more railroads, receiving track data for the railroad associated with the ancillary subdivision/district, and communicating with one or more wayside interface units in the ancillary subdivision/district based on the track data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ann K. Grimm, Rebecca W. Dreasher