System and Method for Transporting Wayside Data on a Rail Vehicle

Abstract

A system is provided for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle. The system includes a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, where the rail vehicle travels along the rail. The system includes a transceiver coupled to the wayside device to transmit and receive data relating to the operation of the wayside device. Additionally, the system includes a transceiver coupled to the rail vehicle in communication with the wayside device transceiver upon the rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of the wayside device. The rail vehicle transceiver transmits or receives the data based upon the communication with the wayside device transceiver. The rail vehicle transports the data between the wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of the rail vehicle prior to the communication with the wayside device transceiver. A method is also provided for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wayside devices, such as railroad signals, for example, are positioned adjacent to a railroad track, and serve distinct functions relating to a rail vehicle passing along the railroad track. It is important to ensure that these wayside devices are operating correctly, as if one fails to operate correctly, this may affect the proper operation of the rail vehicle or create a safety concern. There are several conventional systems which attempt to monitor the operation of these wayside devices. However, these conventional systems typically do not notify a remote monitoring center or a remote party until the wayside device has actually failed to operate correctly. The conventional systems may accomplish this in a number of ways, such as by sending a maintenance worker out to the wayside device periodically to check for failure of the wayside device, or by communicating a failure signal along a land line from the wayside device to the remote monitoring center, for example. Additionally, satellite communication may be utilized to communicate a failure condition of the wayside device.

Additionally, such conventional systems may communicate necessary software to wayside devices which utilize universal software, for example. These conventional systems may communicate a new software package to the wayside device, or communicate an updated software configuration of an existing software within the wayside device, for example.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a system capable of monitoring the operation of these wayside devices, both prior to and subsequent to a failure in the correct operation of the wayside device. Additionally, it would be advantageous to provide a system capable of utilizing a more cost effective means of communication for delivering information relating to the monitoring of these wayside devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle. The system includes a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, where the rail vehicle travels along the rail. The system further includes a transceiver coupled to the wayside device to transmit and receive data relating to the operation of the wayside device. Additionally, the system includes a transceiver coupled to the rail vehicle in communication with the wayside device transceiver upon the rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of the wayside device along the rail. The rail vehicle transceiver transmits or receives the data based upon the communication with the wayside device transceiver. The rail vehicle transports the data between the wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of the rail vehicle prior to the communication with the wayside device transceiver.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a communication system is provided for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle. The communication system includes a rail vehicle traveling along a rail, where the rail vehicle has a transceiver. The communication system further includes a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, where the wayside device has a transceiver in communication with the rail vehicle transceiver upon the rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of the wayside device along the rail. The rail vehicle transceiver transmits or receives the data based upon the communication with the wayside device transceiver. The rail vehicle transports the data between the wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of the rail vehicle prior to the communication with the wayside device transceiver.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for transporting wayside software data on a rail vehicle. The method includes positioning a wayside device adjacent to a rail, where the rail vehicle travels along the rail. The method further includes coupling a transceiver to the wayside device, where the transceiver transmits or receives software data relating to the operation of software within the wayside device. The method further includes coupling a transceiver to the rail vehicle in communication with the wayside device transceiver upon the rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of the wayside device along the rail. The method further includes configuring the rail vehicle transceiver to transmit or receive the software data based upon the communication with the wayside device transceiver. The method further includes transporting the software data between the wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of the rail vehicle prior to the communication with the wayside device transceiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the embodiments of the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a system for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments consistent with the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system 10 for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle 12, such as a train having a locomotive, for example. The system 10 includes a wayside device 14 positioned adjacent to a rail 16. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the wayside device 14 is a crossing signal positioned adjacent to the intersection of the rail 16 and a roadway 17, as appreciated by one of skill in the art, for example. In another exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, a wayside device 15 may be a railroad signal positioned adjacent to the rail 16, where the railroad signal includes a plurality of light signals 21 to indicate one of a number of upcoming conditions along the rail 16, for example. Although FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a crossing signal and railroad signal as two types of wayside devices, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention apply to any type of wayside device appreciated by one of skill in the art.

The rail vehicle 12 travels along the rail 16. A controller 19 of the wayside device 14 is coupled to the wayside device 14, and is in communication with the wayside device 14 to transmit and receive data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14. Such data may include diagnostic data, operational data, statistical data, and/or data indicating a failure condition of the wayside device, for example. The controller 19 may control the operation of the wayside device 14 through the transmission and reception of data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14. A transceiver 18 connected to the controller 19 is coupled to the wayside device 14 through the controller 19, and thus is capable of transmitting and receiving data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14. Additionally, a transceiver 20 is coupled to the top 21 of the rail vehicle 12 in communication with the wayside device transceiver 18 upon the rail vehicle 12 passing within a proximate distance 22 of the wayside device 14 along the rail 16. When the transceiver 18 and transceiver 20 are in communication, the rail vehicle transceiver 20 either transmits the data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14, which is in-turn received by the transceiver 18 coupled to the wayside device 14, or the rail vehicle transceiver 20 receives the data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14, which was transmitted by the transceiver 18 coupled to the wayside device 14. Although the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates a wayside device 14 having a transceiver 18 positioned on a controller positioned adjacent to the wayside device 14, the transceiver 18 may be directly positioned on the wayside device 14, for example. Although the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates a transceiver 20 positioned on the top 21 of the rail vehicle 12, many but not all locomotives are already equipped with the necessary equipment, such as the transceiver 20, to perform the wireless communication of data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, several locomotives may pass by a single wayside device during a day, and thus even if locomotive #1 fails to properly communicate with the wayside device to receive the data relating to the operation of the wayside device, locomotive #2,3,etc. can effectively communicate with the wayside device. Thus, there is no necessity to upgrade every locomotive which travels by the wayside devices to be capable of communicating with the wayside devices and transmit/receive data relating to the operation of the wayside devices, as several locomotives which travel by the wayside devices may be so upgraded. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a single locomotive may pass by several wayside devices over a pre-existing route 26, and thus even if locomotive #1 fails to properly communicate with wayside device #1 along the pre-existing route to receive data relating to the operation of wayside device #1, that locomotive #1 can succeed in communicating with wayside #2,3,etc. along the pre-existing route to receive data relating to the operation of wayside #2,3,etc, for example.

As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the rail vehicle 12 transports the data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14 between the wayside device 14 and a secondary location, such as a railroad operating center 24, along a pre-existing route 26 of the rail vehicle 12. The pre-existing route 26 of the rail vehicle 12 was predetermined prior to the communication between the rail vehicle transceiver 20 and the wayside device transceiver 18 adjacent to the wayside device 14. Thus, the rail vehicle 12 effectively acts as a transport medium for the data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14, between the wayside device 14 and the railroad operation center 24, along its pre-existing route 26, and the rail vehicle 12 behaves no differently based on whether there is or is not communication between the rail vehicle transceiver 20 and the wayside device transceiver 18. A number of different facilities may be positioned at the secondary location, such as the previously mentioned railroad operation center 24, or a monitoring center, both of which may receive the data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14, and analyze the data in order to assess the performance of the wayside device 14 and/or determine the onset of any possible failure in the operation of the wayside device 14, for example. Additionally, a yard or service shop 25 may be positioned at or adjacent to the secondary location, and the rail vehicle 12 may receive or transmit the data respectively from or to the yard service shop 25 upon arriving at the secondary location, for example.

In an exemplary embodiment, the rail vehicle transceiver 20 may obtain the data from the railroad operation center 24 at the secondary location, and in-turn transport the data to the wayside device 14, after which the data may be transmitted from the rail vehicle transceiver 20 to the wayside device transceiver 18. For example, such data which is transported from the railroad operation center 24 to the wayside device 14 may include configuration data to configure the wayside device 14, as discussed in greater detail below. Alternatively, the rail vehicle transceiver 20 may obtain the data at the wayside device 14 from the wayside device transceiver 18 and transport the data to the railroad operation center 24 at the secondary location, after which the data may be transmitted to one of the railroad operation center 24 or monitoring center, for example, as discussed above. For example, such data which is transported from the wayside device 14 to the railroad operation center 24 may include data indicating a failure condition of the wayside device 14. As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the system 10 may include rail vehicles 12,13 having a plurality of respective transceivers 20,23 for transmitting or receiving the data relating to the operation of the wayside device 14.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication between the wayside device transceiver 18 and the rail vehicle transceiver 20 may be a wireless form of communication. Examples of such modes of wireless communication include IEEE 802.11, for example. Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment, the communication between the wayside device transceiver 18 and the rail vehicle transceiver 20 may be a wired form of communication. Examples of such modes of wired communication include Ethernet, RS-422, or ANSI/TIA/EIA-422-B, for example.

As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the system 10 further includes a processor 32 positioned on the rail vehicle 12. The processor 32 is coupled to the rail vehicle transceiver 20, and has a programmable memory 34 for the rail vehicle transceiver 20 to transport the data of a selective wayside device 14 among a plurality of wayside devices 14,15 along the pre-existing route 26 of the rail vehicle 12. Although FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate two wayside devices 14,15 along the pre-existing route 26, more than two wayside devices may be positioned along the pre-existing route 26 adjacent to the rail 16. Thus, in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3, the programmable memory 34 may be programmed (typically at the beginning of a route, such as at the railroad operation center 24 at the secondary location, for example) to transmit or receive the data respectively to or from the wayside device transceiver 18 of the selective wayside device 14, but to not transmit or receive the data respectively to or from the wayside device transceiver 27 of the wayside device 15 (FIG. 3) when the rail vehicle 12 passes within the proximate distance 22 of the wayside device 15. The programming of the programmable memory 34 may be based on a desire to monitor the performance of a particular group of wayside devices among the plurality of wayside devices along the pre-existing route 26, or to only receive data respectively from wayside devices which have reached a failure condition, for example. The programmable memory 34 stores whether, for each selective wayside device 14, the rail vehicle transceiver 20 is to transmit the data to the wayside device transceiver 18 or the rail vehicle transceiver 20 is to receive the data from the wayside device transceiver 18. For example, the programmable memory 34 may be programmed so that the rail vehicle 12 transports data from a failed wayside device 14 among the plurality of wayside devices 14,15 along the pre-existing route 26, for example. Upon the railroad operation center 24 receiving the data indicating the failed wayside device 14, the railroad operation center 24 may arrange for repairs and/or maintenance of the wayside device 14, in addition to safety precautions, such as rescheduling the routes of trains passing in the vicinity of the failed wayside device 14, for example.

As further illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, upon the rail vehicle transceiver 20 having received data from the wayside device transceiver 18, the rail vehicle transceiver 20 stores the data in a memory 36 of the processor 32 during the transport of the data between the wayside device 14 and the secondary location, such as the railroad operation center 24. As discussed above, a railroad operation center 24 may be positioned at the secondary location, and a transceiver 40 is coupled to the railroad operation center 24, which is in communication with the rail vehicle transceiver 20 when the rail vehicle 12 passes within a proximate distance of the railroad operation center 24. The data is retrieved from the processor 32 and transmitted from the rail vehicle transceiver 20 to the railroad operation center transceiver 40. In an exemplary embodiment, the railroad operation center 24 evaluates the diagnostic data, operational data, statistical data, and/or data indicating a failure condition of the wayside device, to analyze the data and/or to determine an onset of failure of the wayside device 14. The railroad operation center 24 may communicate the results of its analysis with several outside parties, including the railroad, a dispatch unit, a maintenance unit and/or the manufacturer of the wayside device 14, for example. In an exemplary embodiment, the railroad operation center transceiver 40 transmits the data of the wayside device 14 to the rail vehicle transceiver 20, and the data is stored in the memory 36. The rail vehicle 12 then transports the data to the wayside device 14 along the rail 16 on the pre-existing route 26 and subsequently transmits the data from the memory 36 to the rail vehicle transceiver 20 to the wayside device transceiver 18. For example, such data which is transported from the railroad operation center 24 to the wayside device 14 may be configuration data which is utilized to re-configure the wayside device 14, such as new timing data for when the crossing signal should rise/fall, for example, or configuration software data for the software used to operate the wayside device 14, for example.

As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the system 10 includes a plurality of rail vehicles 12,13 having a plurality of transceivers 20,23, and the processor 32 of the rail vehicle 12 is coupled to the plurality of transceivers 20,23. Upon one 20 of the transceivers 20,23 transmitting or receiving the data from the wayside device transceiver 18, the processor 32 deactivates the remaining 23 transceiver of the plurality of transceivers 20,23 from communicating with the wayside device transceiver 18.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method 100 for transporting wayside software data on a rail vehicle 12. The method 100 begins at 101 by positioning 102 a wayside device 14 adjacent to a rail 16, where the rail vehicle 12 travels along the rail 16. The method 100 further includes coupling 104 a transceiver 18 to the wayside device 14, where the transceiver 18 transmits or receives software data relating to the operation of software within the wayside device 14. The method 100 further includes coupling 106 a transceiver 20 to the rail vehicle 12 in communication with the wayside device transceiver 18 upon the rail vehicle 12 passing within a proximate distance 22 of the wayside device 14 along the rail 16. The method 100 further includes configuring 108 the rail vehicle transceiver 20 to transmit or receive the software data based upon the communication with the wayside device transceiver 18. The method 100 further includes transporting 110 the software data between the wayside device 14 and a railroad operation center 24 at a secondary location along a pre-existing route 26 of the rail vehicle 12 prior to the communication with the wayside device transceiver 18, before ending at 111.

This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments of the invention. The patentable scope of the embodiments of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A system for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle, comprising:

a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, said rail vehicle configured to travel along said rail;

a transceiver coupled to said wayside device configured to transmit and receive data relating to the operation of said wayside device; and

a transceiver coupled to said rail vehicle in communication with said wayside device transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said wayside device along said rail, said rail vehicle transceiver is configured to one of transmit and receive said data based upon said communication with said wayside device transceiver;

said rail vehicle is configured to transport said data between said wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of said rail vehicle determined prior to said communication with said wayside device transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the rail vehicle is a train having a plurality of locomotives.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wireless communication.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wired communication.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a processor positioned on said rail vehicle, said processor coupled to said rail vehicle transceiver; said processor having a programmable memory for said rail vehicle transceiver to transport said data of at least one selective wayside device among a plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route of said rail vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said data is at least one of diagnostic data, operational data and statistical data relating to the operation of said wayside device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein for said at least one selective wayside device, said programmable memory includes one of said rail vehicle transceiver to transmit said data to said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver to receive said data from said wayside device transceiver.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein upon said rail vehicle transceiver receiving data from said wayside device transceiver, said rail vehicle transceiver is configured to store said data in a memory of said processor during said transport of said data between said wayside device and said secondary location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a monitoring center is positioned at said secondary location, a transceiver is coupled to said monitoring center; said monitoring center transceiver is in communication with said rail vehicle transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said monitoring center.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said data is retrieved from said processor and transmitted from said rail vehicle transceiver to said monitoring center transceiver.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said monitoring center is configured to evaluate said at least one of diagnostic data, operational data and statistical data relating to the operation of said wayside device to determine an onset of failure of said wayside device.

12. The system of claim 9, said monitoring center transceiver is configured to transmit said data of said wayside device to said rail vehicle transceiver, said data is stored in said memory, said rail vehicle is configured to transport said data to said wayside device along said pre-existing route and transmit said data from said memory to said rail vehicle transceiver and to said wayside device transceiver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said data is configuration data of said wayside device.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein said programmable memory is programmed such that said rail vehicle is configured to transport data from at least one failed wayside device among said plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein said rail vehicle includes a plurality of transceivers, said processor being coupled to said plurality of transceivers; upon one of said transceivers transmitting or receiving said data from said wayside device transceiver, said processor is configured to deactivate the remaining of said transceivers from communicating with said wayside device transceiver.

16. A communication system for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle, comprising:

a rail vehicle traveling along a rail, said rail vehicle having a transceiver;

a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, said wayside device having a transceiver in communication with said rail vehicle transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said wayside device along said rail;

said rail vehicle transceiver is configured to one of transmit and receive said data based upon said communication with said wayside device transceiver, said rail vehicle is further configured to transport said data between said wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of said rail vehicle determined prior to said communication with said wayside device transceiver.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the rail vehicle is a train having a plurality of locomotives.

18. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wired communication.

19. The communication system of claim 18, further comprising:

a processor positioned on said rail vehicle, said processor coupled to said rail vehicle transceiver; said processor having a programmable memory for said rail vehicle transceiver to transport said data of at least one selective wayside device among a plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route of said rail vehicle.

20. A method for transporting wayside software data on a rail vehicle, comprising:

positioning a wayside device adjacent to a rail, said rail vehicle configured to travel along said rail;

coupling a transceiver to said wayside device, said transceiver being configured to transmit and receive software data relating to the operation of software within said wayside device;

coupling a transceiver to said rail vehicle in communication with said wayside device transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said wayside device along said rail;

configuring said rail vehicle transceiver to one of transmit and receive said software data based upon said communication with said wayside device transceiver; and

transporting said software data between said wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of said rail vehicle determined prior to said communication with said wayside device transceiver.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the rail vehicle is a train having a plurality of locomotives.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wired communication.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a processor on said rail vehicle, said processor coupled to said rail vehicle transceiver; said processor having a programmable memory for said transporting said software data between at least one selective wayside device among a plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route of said rail vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

programming said programmable memory such that said rail vehicle is configured to transport said software data from at least one failed wayside device among said plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route.