Abstract: A method for data exchange with a mobile asset wherein the communication link quality at the location of the mobile asset is measured at the time of the data transfer. The packet size for the data transfer is selected in response to the communication link quality. The current communication link quality measurement may be used alone or in combination with historical communication link quality data for selecting the data packet size. Communication link quality may be determined repeatedly and the packet size reset accordingly in response to changes in the link quality. A difference between the current communication link quality and historical link quality data may trigger appropriate corrective action, such as identifying the source of intentional or unintentional jamming.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for re-synchronizing a communications link between an on-board monitor located aboard a vehicle and a remote site. The occurrence of certain events may render the establishment of a communication link between the on-board monitor and the remote monitoring and diagnostics center impossible. To avoid this problem, after a successful download of information to the remote site, the on-board monitor starts a timer. When the timer expires, and if the on-board monitor has not received a call or successfully downloaded information to the remote site since the timer was started, the on-board monitor attempts to call the remote site for providing certain re-synchronization information thereto. The remote site thereafter uses this re-synchronization information to establish communications with the on-board monitor.

Abstract: A locomotive communication system for communicating between a locomotive and a fixed site. A communication system commissioning process is utilized to ensure that the locomotive phone number and locomotive road number are paired at the fixed site so that data downloaded from the locomotive, in response to a call from the fixed site using the locomotive phone number will be identified with the correct locomotive road number.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying and transmitting time critical or high priority files from an on-board monitor aboard a vehicle. During operation of the vehicle, the on-board monitor collects and stores operational parametric information in the form of data files. The data files are transmitted to a remote site on a periodic basis or in response to certain predetermined conditions above the vehicle. To reduce the latency and delay times with transmitting the high priority files, those files are merged and transmitted before the transmission of relatively lower priority data files.

Abstract: A method for data exchange with a mobile asset wherein the communication link quality at the location of the mobile asset is measured at the time of the data transfer. The packet size for the data transfer is selected in response to the communication link quality. The current communication link quality measurement may be used alone or in combination with historical communication link quality data for selecting the data packet size. Communication link quality may be determined repeatedly and the packet size reset accordingly in response to changes in the link quality. A difference between the current communication link quality and historical link quality data may trigger appropriate corrective action, such as identifying the source of intentional or unintentional jamming.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying and transmitting time critical or high priority files from an on-board monitor aboard a vehicle. During operation of the vehicle, the on-board monitor collects and stores operational parametric information in the form of data files. The data files are transmitted to a remote site on a periodic basis or in response to certain predetermined conditions above the vehicle. To reduce the latency and delay times with transmitting the high priority files, those files are merged and transmitted before the transmission of relatively lower priority data files.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying and transmitting time critical or high priority files from an on-board monitor aboard a vehicle. During operation of the vehicle, the on-board monitor collects and stores operational parametric information in the form of data files. The data files are transmitted to a remote site on a periodic basis or in response to certain predetermined conditions above the vehicle. To reduce the latency and delay times with transmitting the high priority files, those files are merged and transmitted before the transmission of relatively lower priority data files.