Model railroad control and display system

Abstract

A software tool and an electronic interface facilitate model railroaders in initiating, monitoring and directing the path trains (i.e. engine and rail cars) will traverse on the model layout. The software tool and an electronic interface are connected to one of the I/O ports of a computer. The display presented on the computer monitor will mimic the model railroad layout depicting each track turnout with a red or green path The green path depicts the selected path through the turnout while the red path is the deselected path. With all turnouts displayed simultaneously the condition of the layout relative to train movement can be seen at once by following the green paths. To change the path through a turnout, the user places the cursor on the representation of the turnout on the computer display and performs a left mouse button click. The software will recognize the particular turnout selected and cause a momentary actuating signal to be sent to the tracks turnout motor through the electronic interface. The software will rewrite the red/green legs of the display to maintain the agreement of the display with the physical layout turnout.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.