Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110099413 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCOMOTIVE INTER-CONSIST EQUIPMENT SPARING AND REDUNDANCY - In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform. | 04-28-2011 |
20120019058 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RAIL VEHICLE POWER DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT - A rail vehicle system and a method for managing distribution of power in the rail vehicle system are provided. | 01-26-2012 |
20120089537 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RAIL VEHICLE RECONFIGURATION - Methods and systems are provided for controlling a locomotive (or other rail vehicle) owned by a first entity when borrowed and operated by a second entity. The locomotive includes an operating control system having a first mode and a second, different mode of operation, the first mode including settings configured for the first entity, the second mode including settings configured for a second, different entity. The method includes enabling the first mode and disabling the second mode of the operating control system when the locomotive is operated by the first entity, and enabling the second mode and disabling the first mode of the operating control system when the locomotive is operated by the second entity. | 04-12-2012 |
20120126065 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING RAIL VEHICLES - Systems and methods for remotely controlling a rail vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a remote operator control system includes a communication link to send and receive rail vehicle information, an operator interface, and a controller. The controller is configured to send, through the communication link, a request to establish communication with a positive train control system on-board a selected rail vehicle based on an operating condition. In response to receiving confirmation of communication with the positive train control system, the control is configured to receive positive train control information for the selected rail vehicle through the communication link, and display the positive train control information for the selected rail vehicle on the operator interface. | 05-24-2012 |
20120158910 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA PROCESSING - Methods and systems are provided for processing data generated in a vehicle group. One example embodiment comprises evaluating one or more quality parameters of a first data set generated at a first vehicle in the vehicle group by a first data capture device, and based on the evaluation, off-boarding the first data set for storage purposes. Based on a link quality of a communication system of the vehicle group, the first data set may be off-boarded to a second vehicle in the vehicle group or to a remote storage device. In one example, if the quality parameter of the first data set is higher, the data may be stored on a second vehicle, while if the quality parameter of the first data set is lower, a second data set generated at the second vehicle by a second data capture device may be stored on the second vehicle. | 06-21-2012 |
20130151032 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system including a router transceiver unit that is configured to be disposed on-board a vehicle system. The vehicle system may have at least a source vehicle and a separate linked vehicle that are mechanically linked with each other to travel together along a route and are communicatively linked with each other through a system network of the vehicle system. The router transceiver unit is configured to be communicatively coupled to a requesting operational component of the source vehicle and the system network. The router transceiver unit is also configured to receive a local data packet from the requesting operational component that is directed toward a target operational component of the linked vehicle. The router transceiver unit includes an encapsulation module that is configured to transform the local data packet into an in-tunnel data packet, wherein the local and in-tunnel data packets have different packet formats. | 06-13-2013 |
20130249280 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE POWER DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT - A rail vehicle system and a method for managing distribution of power in the rail vehicle system are provided. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261842 | VEHICLE CONSIST CONFIGURATION CONTROL - A method includes obtaining data relating to operation of a first vehicle in a vehicle consist that includes the first vehicle and a second vehicle communicatively coupled with each other by a communication channel. The first vehicle includes a first electronic component performing functions for the first vehicle using the first data. The method also includes communicating the first data over the communication channel from the first vehicle to a second electronic component disposed onboard the second vehicle responsive to the first electronic component being unable to perform the one or more functions for the first vehicle using the first data. The method further includes performing the functions of the first electronic component with the second electronic component using the first data that is received from the first vehicle. | 10-03-2013 |
20140058623 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATIONS IN A VEHICLE CONSIST - A method includes determining a state of operational devices in a second group coupled with a second router onboard a second vehicular unit of a vehicle consist, registering an operational device in the second group based on the determined state, and transmitting a data message from an operational device in a first group of operational devices to the second router via a first router and a communication pathway of the vehicle consist. The first group is coupled with the first router onboard a first vehicular unit. The operational devices in the first and second groups perform functions of the respective first vehicular unit and second vehicular unit. The first and second routers are connected with each other by the communication pathway. The method also includes communicating the data message to the at least one of the operational devices in the second group that are registered with the second router. | 02-27-2014 |
20140059534 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT - A method includes receiving, at a data hub onboard an asset, a new configuration file, a service program, and a software update of a software application of the asset from a remote location. The data hub includes a current configuration file that indicates a current configuration state of the software application. The new configuration file indicates an updated configuration state of the software application with the software update. The service program includes work instructions for applying the updated configuration state to the software application. The method includes displaying the current configuration file and the new configuration file onboard the asset using the data hub. The method also includes updating the software application with the updated configuration state according to the work instructions of the service program using the data hub. | 02-27-2014 |
20140121953 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system includes a first communication module and a second communication module. The first communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle consist, and the second communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle consist. The first and second communication modules are communicatively coupled by first and second communication paths. The first and second communication modules are configured to communicate first information over the first communication path and second information over the second communication path. At least a portion of the first information includes a first command corresponding to a first operation of at least one of the first or second vehicles. At least a portion of the second information includes a second command corresponding to the first operation. | 05-01-2014 |
20140129060 | System And Method For Vehicle Communication, Vehicle Control, And/Or Route Inspection - In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform. | 05-08-2014 |
20140129061 | DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A communication system for a vehicle consist may include a control module that interfaces with router transceiver units coupled to a cable bus, and can communicate network data between vehicles having a transceiver unit over a cable bus. | 05-08-2014 |
20140197281 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ORDER OF VEHICLES - A system includes a first communication module and a first ordering determination module. The first communication module is configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle consist and to communicate individual messages that are targeted for communication with respective individual second vehicles of the vehicle consist. The first ordering determination module is configured to be disposed onboard the first vehicle of the vehicle consist, and to determine an order of the first vehicle and one or more of the second vehicles in the consist using message characteristic information. The message characteristic information corresponds to a transmission characteristic of the individual messages. | 07-17-2014 |
20140222971 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA PROCESSING - Methods and systems are provided for processing data generated in a vehicle group. One example embodiment comprises selectively off-boarding a data set generated at a first vehicle in the vehicle group for storage purposes, the first data set off-boarded to one or more of a second vehicle in the vehicle group and a remote storage device. | 08-07-2014 |
20150045993 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE COMMUNICATION, VEHICLE CONTROL, AND/OR ROUTE INSPECTION - In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform. | 02-12-2015 |
20150073622 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA IN A VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system includes a router transceiver unit that is configured to be disposed on-board a vehicle system. The vehicle system may have at least a source vehicle and a separate linked vehicle that are communicatively linked with each other through a system network of the vehicle system. The router transceiver unit is configured to be communicatively coupled to a requesting operational component of the source vehicle and the system network. The router transceiver unit is also configured to receive a local data packet from the requesting operational component that is directed toward a target operational component of the linked vehicle. The router transceiver unit includes an encapsulation module that is configured to transform the local data packet into an in-tunnel data packet, wherein the local and in-tunnel data packets have different packet formats. | 03-12-2015 |