System and method for building and managing a train consist using a phase array powered wireless gateway

A method of determining a relative location of a plurality of railcars by a phased array powered wireless gateway (“PWG”) comprising a microprocessor, a phased array and a phase detector in communication with the phased array, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of received signals transmitted by two or more railcar-based communications management units (“CMUs”), wherein each of the two or more railcar-based CMUs is disposed on a respective railcar of a plurality of railcars;
• detecting, by the phase detector, vector information associated with the plurality of signals received from the one or more railcar-based CMUs;
• determining, by the microprocessor with a fixed position in a geographic area, a direction of propagation of electromagnetic radiation emitted by each said railcar-based CMU;
• and
• determining, by the microprocessor, a location of each railcar-based CMU and an order of railcars in a train consist based on the directions of propagation which were previously determined.

A system for managing train consists in a railyard, comprising:

• one or more locomotive based powered wireless gateways (“PWGs”);
• two or more railcar-based communications management units (“CMUs”);
• and
• a phased array powered wireless gateway (“PWG”) device comprising:
• a phased array configured to receive a plurality of received signals transmitted by two or more railcar-based communications management units (“CMUs”), and wherein each of said railcar-based CMU is disposed on a respective railcar of a plurality of railcars;
• a phase detector in communication with the phased array and configured to detect vector information from the plurality of received signals;
• and
• a microprocessor that has a fixed position in a geographic area, is in communication with the phased array and the phase detector, and is configured to determine a location of each railcar-based CMU and to detect a direction of propagation of electromagnetic radiation emitted from each said railcar-based CMU and determine an order of railcars in a train consist based on the directions of propagation which were detected.