# US 11,310,626 B2 · Network communications for vehicle group monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,626 B2 - Document ID: US11310626B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/149,966 - Filed: 2018-10-02 - Published: 2019-01-31 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-17 - Assignees: International Electronic Machines Corp. - Applicants: International Electronic Machines Corporation - Inventors: Zahid F. Mian; Bruce P. McKenney; Robert W. Foss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310626B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - B61L 15/0027: {Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R} - B61L 15/0072: {On-board train data handling} - B61L 15/0081: {On-board diagnosis or maintenance} - B61L 25/028: {Determination of vehicle position and orientation within a train consist, e.g. serialisation} - G06Q 10/063: Operations research, analysis or management - H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information - H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] - H04W 4/42: for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft - H04W 4/48: for in-vehicle communication - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - B61L: GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A solution for managing vehicles both individually and as a group of associated vehicles is provided. A vehicle node can be located on each vehicle in the group and obtain and process data from a plurality of sensors also located on the vehicle. The vehicle node can be configured to communicate, either directly or indirectly, with a group system assigned to the group using a wireless communications solution. The group system can acquire monitoring data for all of the group of associated vehicles, which can be used to manage the group of associated vehicles and/or one or more individual vehicles in the group. The group system can be located on a vehicle traveling as part of the group of associated vehicles or at a fixed location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: managing, by a processor of a first vehicle node located on a first vehicle, network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes stored in a storage component of the first vehicle node, each of the plurality of vehicle nodes being located on a different vehicle, wherein the network communication data includes data defining communications links between vehicle nodes and between at least one vehicle node and a first group system corresponding to the first vehicle node, wherein the managing includes maintaining and updating the network communication data based on current routing data for the first vehicle node to communicate with a first set of vehicle nodes and data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes, wherein the data defining at least one communications link defines an indirect communications link between two of the plurality of vehicle nodes or between a vehicle node and the first group system; processing, by the processor of the first vehicle node, operating data relating to the first vehicle to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; and transmitting, by the transceiver of the first vehicle node, the monitoring data for processing on the first group system, wherein the transmitting uses a communications route for communicating with the first group system identified using the data defining the communications links in the network communication data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by at least one of the transceiver or a second transceiver of the first vehicle node, a request for the operating data relating to the first vehicle for processing by a sensor node located on the first vehicle; and receiving, by the at least one of the transceiver or the second transceiver, a response to the request from the sensor node. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first group system is located on a second vehicle distinct from the first vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the second vehicle is physically connected to the first vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transceiver has a communications range of less than one kilometer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting includes the processor dynamically selecting one of a plurality of possible intermediate vehicle nodes using the network communication data, wherein the selection is based on at least one of: range and direction analysis data or a network cost calculation, for each of the plurality of possible intermediate vehicle nodes, wherein the transmitting includes the transceiver transmitting the monitoring data to the selected intermediate vehicle node for forwarding to the first group system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the transceiver, a request for the monitoring data generated by the first group system, wherein the transmitting is in response to the receiving. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, by the processor, at least one error condition based on the processing, wherein the transmitting is in response to the identifying. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, on the vehicle node: the processor determining that the first group system is no longer accessible; the processor periodically attempting to reestablish communications with the first group system for a reestablishment time period; and the processor searching for a new group system in response to failing reestablish communications with the first group system during the reestablishment time period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, on the vehicle node: the transceiver receiving a directive reassigning the vehicle node to a second group system; the processor establishing communications with the second group system in response to the directive; and the processor halting communications with the first group system in response to the establishing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the managing further includes: the processor generating and storing range and direction analysis data corresponding to the plurality of vehicles in the storage component; and the processor using the range and direction analysis data to identify a set of possible intermediate vehicle nodes for communicating with the first group system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communications route is a most efficient communications route for communicating with the first group system according to the network communication data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes includes data acquired from a current routing table broadcast by another vehicle node. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a first vehicle including: a first vehicle node including a processor, a storage component, and a transceiver, wherein the first vehicle node is configured to communicate with a first group system by: the processor managing network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes stored in the storage component, each of the plurality of vehicle nodes being located on a different vehicle, wherein the network communication data includes data defining communications links between vehicle nodes and between at least one vehicle node and the first group system, wherein the managing includes maintaining and updating the network communication data based on current routing data for the first vehicle node to communicate with a first set of vehicle nodes and data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes, wherein the data defining at least one communications link defines an indirect communications link between two of the plurality of vehicle nodes or between a vehicle node and the first group system; the processor processing operating data relating to the first vehicle to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; and the transceiver transmitting the monitoring data for processing on the first group system, wherein the transmitting uses a communications route for communicating with the first group system identified using the data defining the communications links in the network communication data, and wherein the transceiver has a communications range of less than one kilometer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first vehicle belongs to a group of associated vehicles including a plurality of vehicles, and wherein the first group system is assigned to manage data corresponding to the plurality of vehicles while the group of associated vehicles is traveling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising: a second vehicle including a second vehicle node, wherein the second vehicle is traveling in the group of associated vehicles; and the first group system, wherein the first group system is configured to manage communications between each vehicle node in the group of associated vehicles and a set of monitoring systems. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first group system is located on one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second vehicles are physically connected, and wherein at least one of the first or second vehicle does not include an onboard control or navigation system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first vehicle further includes a set of sensors for providing the operating data for processing by the vehicle node, wherein the set of sensors includes at least one sensor node including a transceiver configured to communicate with the vehicle node using a wireless communications solution. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor node further includes a power generating source capable of generating sufficient power required to operate the at least one sensor while the vehicle is in motion, and wherein the vehicle node includes a renewable power generating component. ### Claim 21 A system comprising: a first group system including at least one computing device; and a plurality of managed vehicles, wherein each of the plurality of managed vehicles includes: a vehicle node including a processor, a storage component, and a transceiver, wherein the vehicle node is configured to communicate with a first group system by: the processor managing network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes stored in the storage component, each of the plurality of vehicle nodes being located on a different vehicle of the plurality of managed vehicles, wherein the network communication data includes data defining communications links between vehicle nodes and between at least one vehicle node and the first group system, wherein the managing includes maintaining and updating the network communication data based on current routing data for the vehicle node to communicate with a first set of vehicle nodes and data identifying current routing for communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes, wherein the data defining at least one communications link defines an indirect communications link between two of the plurality of vehicle nodes or between a vehicle node and the first group system; the processor processing operating data relating to the first vehicle to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; and the transceiver transmitting the monitoring data for processing on the first group system, wherein the transmitting uses a communications route for communicating with the first group system identified using the network communication data. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the first group system is located on a vehicle not part of the plurality of managed vehicles.