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US 10,501,102 B2Granted
Positive train control system and apparatus employing RFID devices
AssigneeAvante International Technology, Inc.
InventorsKevin Kwong-Tai Chung, Albert Han-Ping Chung, Yulin Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A positive train control system and method comprises a plurality of RFID devices embedded in a track way and having data representing location stored therein, and an RFID reader/detector mounted on a train for reading the location data from the embedded RFID devices. The location data is processed on the train and/or at a central facility for determining whether the train location and/or time is consistent with a train routing order. Messages, alerts and/or warnings may be generated for an alert device and/or for automated response, e.g., via a train control system.
Claims61
A method for positive train control of a train movable on a track way comprising:
- embedding in the track way or having embedded in the track way a plurality of RFID devices, the RFID devices being embedded below grade in the track way at least at boundaries between blocks of the track way, and each embedded RFID device having stored therein data including a unique identifier, location data including the geographic location on the track way whereat the embedded RFID device is embedded, or both the unique identifier and the location data, wherein the unique identifier is associated with the geographic location along the track way whereat the embedded RFID device is embedded;
- providing or obtaining a positive train control unit for mounting on a train operating on the track way wherein each train has a unique train identifier and is authorized to operate in accordance with a train routing order, the positive train control unit performing the steps of:
- detecting and reading the unique identifier and/or the location data stored in ones of the RFID devices embedded in the track way when the train is proximate each particular one of the embedded RFID devices;
- transmitting the unique identifier and/or the location data received from the embedded RFID devices and a unique train identifier, and/or determining from the location data and/or from the unique identifier received from the embedded RFID devices whether the train is at a geographic location consistent with a train routing order for that train, or both;
- and
- providing or obtaining a central facility performing the steps of:
- receiving transmissions including location data and unique train identifiers from one or more trains operating on the track way and transmitting to the one or more trains operating on the track way;
- processing the received data to determine whether each of the one or more trains is operating at a location and at a time consistent with a respective train routing order for that train;
- generating a message, alert and/or warning for a particular train when the location and/or time for the particular train is not consistent with the train routing order for the particular train and transmitting the message, alert and/or warning to the particular train;
- the particular train receiving the message, alert and/or warning transmitted by the central facility and responding to the message, alert and/or warning for the particular train by providing the message, alert and/or warning in human perceivable form via an operator alert device.
7 more elements
A positive train control system for a train movable on a track way comprising:
- a plurality of RFID devices embedded in the track way below grade, the RFID devices being embedded at least at boundaries between blocks of the track way, and each said embedded RFID device having stored therein data including a unique identifier, location data including the geographic location on the track way whereat said embedded RFID device is embedded, or both the unique identifier and the location data, wherein the unique identifier is associated with the geographic location on the track way whereat said embedded RFID device is embedded;
- a positive train control unit mounted on a train operating on the track way wherein each train has a unique train identifier and is authorized to operate in accordance with a train routing order, said positive train control unit including:
- an RFID reader/detector mounted on the train, said RFID reader/detector including an antenna mounted in a location on the train for detecting and reading the unique identifier and location data stored in ones of said RFID devices embedded in the track way when the train is proximate each particular one of said embedded RFID devices;
- a communication device for transmitting and/or receiving data;
- a processor on the train for determining from the unique identifier and/or from the location data received from the embedded RFID devices whether the train is at a geographic location consistent with a train routing order for that train, or for causing the unique identifier and/or the location data received from the embedded RFID devices to be transmitted by said communication device, or both;
- an operator alert device coupled to said processor for providing messages, alerts and warnings in a human perceivable form;
- and
- a central facility including:
- a central facility communication system for receiving transmissions from one or more trains operating on the track way and for transmitting to the one or more trains operating on the track way;
- one or more servers for receiving unique identifiers, location data and unique train identifiers received by the central facility communication system in transmissions from the one or more trains operating on the track way, and for processing the received data to determine whether each of the one or more trains is operating at a location and at a time consistent with a respective train routing order for that train;
- wherein said one or more servers generate a message, alert and/or warning for a particular train when the location and/or time for the particular train is not consistent with the train routing order for the particular train and wherein said central facility communication system transmits the message, alert and/or warning to the particular train;
- wherein the communication device on the particular train receives the message, alert and/or warning for the particular train transmitted by said central facility communication system and said processor on the particular train responds to the message, alert and/or warning for the particular train by providing the message, alert and/or warning in human perceivable form via said operator alert device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.