Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for determining a weather condition for an upcoming area through which a vehicle system will travel. The systems and methods also may include determining intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics related to the vehicle, the route, or the upcoming area and using this information to determine or change a braking initiation time for the vehicle system.

Abstract: A system includes a phase break input unit, one or more vehicle location detectors, and one or more processors. The phase break input unit is configured to obtain phase break location information indicating a location of a phase break along a route to be traversed by a vehicle. The one or more vehicle location detectors are configured to obtain vehicle location information indicating at least one of location of the vehicle or movement of the vehicle. The one or more processors are configured to determine an estimated arrival time of the vehicle at the phase break using the phase brake location information and the vehicle location information, and send a phase break control signal to a control system of the vehicle responsive to the estimated arrival time satisfying a threshold.

Abstract: A controller may be configured to receive one or more measured rotational speeds of a wheel of a vehicle. The controller may be configured to determine whether the one or more measured rotational speeds are unreliable relative to one or more previous rotational speeds of the wheel of the vehicle. The controller may be configured to calculate a replacement rotational speed of the wheel and use the replacement rotational speed of the wheel to control or restrict movement of the vehicle using or based on the replacement rotational speed in place of the one or more measured rotational speeds.

Abstract: Reports of traction-altering events between vehicle systems and surfaces of routes being traveled upon by the vehicle systems are received, and one or more areas of interest associated with increased likelihood of one or more additional traction-altering events are identified based on the reports that are received. Signals are communicated to one or more other vehicle systems to one or more of warn the one or more other vehicle systems of the traction-altering events or control movement of the one or more other vehicle systems to avoid the one or more additional traction-altering events.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically communicating an identification signal from a vehicle controller of a vehicle that may include receiving trip data from a dispatch controller based on the identification signal that is communicated. Software of the vehicle controller may be updated at a determined time based on the trip data that is received, and movement of the vehicle may be controlled based on movement allowance signals received by the vehicle controller and used by the software of the vehicle controller during the movement of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is permitted to enter into segments of one or more routes.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments described herein, a method is provided. The method includes receiving a request to assume control of a vehicle generated by a candidate operator via a first communication pathway. The method obtains a key from an onboard controller of the vehicle and communicates the key to the candidate operator via a second communication pathway that is different from the first communication pathway. The method determines the candidate operator to be a confirmed operator based at least in part on obtaining the key from the candidate operator via the first communication pathway.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments described herein, a method is provided. The method includes receiving a request to assume control of a vehicle generated by a candidate operator via a first communication pathway. The method obtains a key from an onboard controller of the vehicle and communicates the key to the candidate operator via a second communication pathway that is different from the first communication pathway. The method determines the candidate operator to be a confirmed operator based at least in part on obtaining the key from the candidate operator via the first communication pathway.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically communicating an identification signal from a vehicle controller of a vehicle that may include receiving trip data from a dispatch controller based on the identification signal that is communicated. Software of the vehicle controller may be updated at a determined time based on the trip data that is received, and movement of the vehicle may be controlled based on movement allowance signals received by the vehicle controller and used by the software of the vehicle controller during the movement of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is permitted to enter into segments of one or more routes.

Abstract: A system includes a phase break input unit, one or more vehicle location detectors, and one or more processors. The phase break input unit is configured to obtain phase break location information indicating a location of a phase break along a route to be traversed by a vehicle. The one or more vehicle location detectors are configured to obtain vehicle location information indicating at least one of location of the vehicle or movement of the vehicle. The one or more processors are configured to determine an estimated arrival time of the vehicle at the phase break using the phase brake location information and the vehicle location information, and send a phase break control signal to a control system of the vehicle responsive to the estimated arrival time satisfying a threshold.

Abstract: In a telecommunication controller (1), a messaging system allows real time communication between sub-systems such as a main controller (2) and line cards (3). Requesting application (5) create a proxy (12) which controls the function call via a middleware engine (11) in each of the sub-systems (2,3). A resource middleware engine (11) calls a server (13) which in turn controls performance of the function on the resource (10). The proxies (12) are transient. The servers (13) are static but may be easily added or deleted according to resource changes. Applications (5) and resources (10) are decoupled from the messaging system.