Patents by Inventor Joel Kickbusch

Joel Kickbusch 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).

  • Patent number: 9235991
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first schedule for a first vehicle to travel in a transportation network. The first schedule includes a first arrival time of the first vehicle at a scheduled location. The method also includes receiving a first trip plan for the first vehicle from an energy management system. The first trip plan is based on the first schedule and designates at least one of tractive efforts or braking efforts to be provided by the first vehicle to reduce at least one of an amount of energy consumed by the first vehicle or an amount of emissions generated by the first vehicle when the first vehicle travels through the transportation network to the scheduled location. The method further includes determining whether to modify the first schedule to avoid interfering with movement of one or more other vehicles by examining the trip plan for the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Mason Samuels, Paul Houpt, Joel Kickbusch, Mahir Telatar, David Eldredge, Mitchell Scott Wills, Ramu Chandra
  • Patent number: 8818584
    Abstract: A system includes an interface module, a simulation module, and a resolution module. The interface module determines a captured state of vehicles traveling in a transportation network according to associated schedules and a proposed modification to the schedules. The captured state represents locations of the vehicles in the transportation network at a selected time. The simulation module simulates movement of the vehicles according to the proposed modification to the schedules. The movement of the vehicles is simulated from the selected time of the captured state of the vehicles. The resolution module determines potential ramifications from the movement of the vehicles that is simulated. The potential ramifications are representative of a simulated change in travel of the vehicles due to the proposed modification. The resolution module is further configured to use the potential ramifications for use in determining whether to implement the proposed modification in actual travel of the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joel Kickbusch
  • Publication number: 20140136025
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first schedule for a first vehicle to travel in a transportation network. The first schedule includes a first arrival time of the first vehicle at a scheduled location. The method also includes receiving a first trip plan for the first vehicle from an energy management system. The first trip plan is based on the first schedule and designates at least one of tractive efforts or braking efforts to be provided by the first vehicle to reduce at least one of an amount of energy consumed by the first vehicle or an amount of emissions generated by the first vehicle when the first vehicle travels through the transportation network to the scheduled location. The method further includes determining whether to modify the first schedule to avoid interfering with movement of one or more other vehicles by examining the trip plan for the first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Mason Samuels, Paul Houpt, Joel Kickbusch, Mahir Telatar, David Eldredge, Mitchell Scott Wills, Ramu Chandra
  • Patent number: 8655518
    Abstract: A system includes a scheduling module and a resolution module. The scheduling module determines plural initial schedules for plural different vehicles to concurrently travel in a transportation network. The initial schedules include locations and times for the vehicles to travel. The resolution module modifies at least one of the initial schedules to one or more modified schedules based on an anomaly in at least one of the vehicles or the routes that prevents one or more of the vehicles from traveling in the transportation network according to the initial schedules. The scheduling module communicates the modified schedules to the vehicles so that energy management systems disposed on the vehicles modify travel of the vehicles according to the modified schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jared Cooper, Joseph Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Mason Samuels, Paul Houpt, Joel Kickbusch, Mahir Telatar, David Eldredge, Mitchell Scott Wills, Ramu Chandra
  • Patent number: 8589057
    Abstract: A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system. Alternative routes through congested areas are automatically selected using congestion prediction metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joel Kickbusch, Joseph Wesley Philp, Mitchell Scott Wills
  • Patent number: 8498762
    Abstract: A method of planning the movement of plural trains over a train network utilizing route protection for the route immediately ahead of a train to avoid undesirable changes to the planned route of the train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mitchell Scott Wills, Joanne Maceo, Randall Markley, Joel Kickbusch, Erdem Telatar
  • Publication number: 20130158742
    Abstract: A system includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a scheduling system that determines schedules for plural vehicles to travel in a transportation network and with a control system that forms a trip plan for a first vehicle of the plural vehicles comprising operational settings for controlling movement of the first vehicle during a trip in the transportation network. The communication unit is configured to convey information between the scheduling system and the control system such that the scheduling system coordinates the schedules of the vehicles to maintain a throughput parameter of the transportation network and the control system forms the trip plan that reduces at least one of an amount of fuel consumed or an amount of emissions generated by the first vehicle during the trip according to the schedule associated with the first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Jared Cooper, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Joseph Noffsinger, Mason Samuels, Joel Kickbusch, Mahir Telatar
  • Publication number: 20130151133
    Abstract: A method includes determining an operational parameter of a first vehicle traveling with a plurality of vehicles in a transportation network and/or a route in the transportation network, identifying a failure condition of the first vehicle and/or the route based on the operational parameter, obtaining plural different sets of remedial actions that dictate operations to be taken based on the failure condition, simulating travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network based on implementation of the different sets of remedial actions, determining potential consequences on travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network when the different sets of remedial actions are implemented in the travel that is simulated, and, responsive to the potential consequences, receiving a selection of at least one of the different sets of remedial actions to be implemented in actual travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Joel Kickbusch
  • Publication number: 20130144670
    Abstract: A system includes first and second allocation units that allocate resources in a network according to respective first and second selected allocations for driving the resources toward a respective first or second goal conditions. At least one of the first or second allocation unit is configured to generate and provide feedback data to the other of the first or second allocation unit. The feedback data represents a difference between an actual allocation of the one or more resources and the corresponding first or second selected allocation. At least one of the first or second allocation unit is configured to change the corresponding first or second selected allocation to change how the resources are allocated in the network based on the feedback data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Joel Kickbusch
  • Publication number: 20130144467
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first schedule for a first vehicle to travel in a transportation network. The first schedule includes a first arrival time of the first vehicle at a scheduled location. The method also includes receiving a first trip plan for the first vehicle from an energy management system. The first trip plan is based on the first schedule and designates at least one of tractive efforts or braking efforts to be provided by the first vehicle to reduce at least one of an amount of energy consumed by the first vehicle or an amount of emissions generated by the first vehicle when the first vehicle travels through the transportation network to the scheduled location. The method further includes determining whether to modify the first schedule to avoid interfering with movement of one or more other vehicles by examining the trip plan for the first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Joel Kickbusch, Jared Cooper, Joseph Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Mason Samuels, Paul Houpt, Mahir Telatar, David Eldredge, Mitchell Scott Wills, Ramu Chandra
  • Publication number: 20130144466
    Abstract: A system includes a scheduling module and a resolution module. The scheduling module determines plural initial schedules for plural different vehicles to concurrently travel in a transportation network. The initial schedules include locations and times for the vehicles to travel. The resolution module modifies at least one of the initial schedules to one or more modified schedules based on an anomaly in at least one of the vehicles or the routes that prevents one or more of the vehicles from traveling in the transportation network according to the initial schedules. The scheduling module communicates the modified schedules to the vehicles so that energy management systems disposed on the vehicles modify travel of the vehicles according to the modified schedules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Jared Cooper, Joseph Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Mason Samuels, Paul Houpt, Joel Kickbusch, Mahir Telatar, David Eldredge, Mitchell Scott Wills, Ramu Chandra
  • Publication number: 20130144517
    Abstract: A system includes an interface module, a simulation module, and a resolution module. The interface module determines a captured state of vehicles traveling in a transportation network according to associated schedules and a proposed modification to the schedules. The captured state represents locations of the vehicles in the transportation network at a selected time. The simulation module simulates movement of the vehicles according to the proposed modification to the schedules. The movement of the vehicles is simulated from the selected time of the captured state of the vehicles. The resolution module determines potential ramifications from the movement of the vehicles that is simulated. The potential ramifications are representative of a simulated change in travel of the vehicles due to the proposed modification. The resolution module is further configured to use the potential ramifications for use in determining whether to implement the proposed modification in actual travel of the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Joel Kickbusch
  • Publication number: 20130116916
    Abstract: A method includes determining candidate schedules for plural vehicles traveling in a transportation network comprising and identifying a gridlock area in the transportation network by simulating travel of the vehicles according to the candidate schedules. The gridlock area includes a geographic subset of the transportation network during a time window having at least a predetermined number of failed candidate schedules that result in a decrease of a throughput parameter. The throughput parameter represents flow of travel of the vehicles in the transportation network. The method also includes determining an alternate schedule that differs from the candidate schedule for one or more of the plural vehicles (e.g., a first vehicle of the plural vehicles) that is traveling through the gridlock area. The alternate schedule dictates travel of the one or more of the plural vehicles (e.g., the first vehicle) without decreasing the throughput parameter of the transportation network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Joel Kickbusch
  • Publication number: 20110035138
    Abstract: A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system. Alternative routes through congested areas are automatically selected using congestion prediction metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Joel Kickbusch, Joseph Wesley Philp, Mitchell Scott Wills
  • Patent number: 7734383
    Abstract: A method of planning the movement of plural trains through a rail network using a database of dynamic planning attributes reflecting the current conditions of the train and rail network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Wesley Philp, Mitchell Scott Wills, Joanne Maceo, Joel Kickbusch, Randall Markley
  • Patent number: 7725249
    Abstract: A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system. Deadlock is avoided by controlling the entry of trains into congested areas, and may be automatically implemented by the use of traffic flow analysis algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joel Kickbusch, Randall Markley, Mitchell Scott Wills, Joseph Wesley Philp
  • Publication number: 20070260367
    Abstract: A method of planning the movement of plural trains over a train network utilizing route protection for the route immediately ahead of a train to avoid undesirable changes to the planned route of the train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Mitchell Wills, Joanne Maceo, Randall Markley, Joel Kickbusch, Erdem Telatar
  • Publication number: 20070260369
    Abstract: A method of planning the movement of plural trains through a rail network using a database of dynamic planning attributes reflecting the current conditions of the train and rail network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph Philp, Mitchell Wills, Joanne Maceo, Joel Kickbusch, Randall Markley
  • Publication number: 20060212187
    Abstract: A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system, and is particularly useful in managing the unpredictable movement of local industry trains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Mitchell Wills, Joseph Philp, Joanne Maceo, Joel Kickbusch
  • Publication number: 20060212188
    Abstract: A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system. Alternative routes through congested areas are automatically selected using congestion prediction metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Joel Kickbusch, Joseph Philp, Mitchell Wills