[Method and Apparatus for Assigning Addresses to Components in a Control System]

A method for transmitting a signal to a remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

• a)receiving a certain signal to be transmitted;
• b)providing a computer readable storage medium for storing a tag data element;
• c)receiving a data element indicative of a first identifier;
• d) storing in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the data element indicative of a first identifier;
• e)generating an output signal derived on the basis of the certain signal and on the basis of the tag data element;
• f)outputting the output signal.

A remote control system comprising:

• -a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of an action to be performed remotely, said transmitter including:
• a)a first input for receiving a certain signal to be transmitted, said signal transmitting unit being operative to transmit said signal;
• b)a computer readable storage medium suitable for storing a tag data element;
• c)a second input coupled to said computer readable storage medium for receiving a data element indicative of a first identifier, said signal transmitting unit being responsive to the reception of a certain data element to store in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the certain data element indicative of the first identifier;
• d)means for generating an output signal, said output signal being derived on the basis of the certain signal and on the basis of the tag data element;
• e)an output for outputting the output signal;
• -a remote receiver for sensing said output signal and for implementing locally an action in dependence upon a contents of the output signal.

A communication device suitable for use in a remote control system, said communication device comprising:

• a)a computer readable storage medium suitable for storing a tag data element;
• b)an input coupled to said computer readable storage medium for receiving a data element indicative of a first identifier, said signal communication device being responsive to the reception of a certain data element to store in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the certain data element indicative of the first identifier;
• c)a means for generating an output signal, said output signal being derived at least in part on the basis of the tag data element;
• d)an output for outputting the output signal.

A communication device suitable for use in a remote control system, said communication device comprising:

• a)means for storing a tag data element;
• b)means for receiving a data element indicative of an first identifier, said signal communication device being responsive to the reception of a certain data element to store in at least part of the tag data element an electronic representation of the certain data element indicative of the first identifier;
• c)means for generating an output signal, said output signal being derived at least in part on the basis of the tag data element;
• d)means for outputting the output signal.

A method for assigning addresses in a communication system, the communication system comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, said method comprising the step of:

• a)providing a receiver identifier uniquely characterizing the receiver unit;
• b)providing a transmitter identifier uniquely characterizing the transmitter unit;
• c)deriving a transmission address on the basis of the receiver identifier and the transmitter identifier;
• d)providing the receiver unit and the transmitter unit with the transmission address.

40)A transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive, said transmitter comprising:

• a)a data storage for holding an identifier of said transmitter;
• b)an interface in communication with said data storage, said interface being operative to establish a first communication link with an external entity for transmitting to the external entity data derived from the identifier of said transmitter via the first communication link;
• c)a signal transmitting unit in communication with said data storage, said signal transmitting unit being operative to transmit a signal over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link, the signal conveying:
• i)at least one command for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive;
• and
• ii)data derived from the identifier of said transmitter.

b 5)Ab slave controller for use in a locomotive having a controller module, said slave controller comprising:

• a)an interface for receiving an identifier of a transmitter via a first communication link;
• b)a data storage in communication with said interface, said data storage being suitable for storing the identifier of the transmitter and an identifier of said slave controller
• c)a signal receiver unit for receiving a signal from the transmitter over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link, the signal conveying a message including a command portion indicative of at least one command for causing at least one action to be performed by the locomotive, the message also including a tag portion including data derived from the identifier of the transmitter and data derived from the identifier of said slave controller;
• d)a logical processing unit in communication with said data storage and with said signal receiver unit, said logical processing unit being operative to:
• i)perform a validation procedure on the message including comparing the tag portion in the message with the identifier of the transmitter and the identifier of said slave controller in said data storage;
• ii)if the validation procedure validates the message, generate control signals directed to the controller module for causing the locomotive to perform the at least one action.

c 61Inc combination:

• a)a locomotive having a controller module;
• b)a slave controller mounted on board the locomotive;
• c)said slave controller comprising:
• i)an interface for receiving an identifier of a transmitter via a first communication link;
• ii)a data storage in communication with said interface, said data storage being suitable for storing the identifier of the transmitter and an identifier of said slave controller
• iii)a signal receiver unit for receiving a signal from the transmitter over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link, the signal conveying a message including a command portion and a tag portion, the command portion being indicative of at least one command for causing at least one action to be performed by said locomotive, the tag portion including data derived from the identifier of the transmitter and data derived from the identifier of said slave controller;
• iv)a logical processing unit in communication with said data storage and with said signal receiver unit, said logical processing unit being operative to:
• (1)perform a validation procedure on the message including comparing data in the tag portion in the message with the identifier of the transmitter and the identifier of said slave controller in said data storage;
• (2)if the validation procedure validates the message, generate control signals and directing the control signals to the controller module for causing said locomotive to perform the at least one action.

d 69)A dremote control system for a locomotive having a controller module, said remote control system comprising:

• a)a slave controller for mounting on-board the locomotive;
• b)a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal over a first communication link, the first communication link being an RF communication link, the wireless signal being indicative of at least one command for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive;
• c)said slave controller being responsive to the wireless signal to generate control signals for transmission to the controller module to implement the at least one command;
• d)said slave controller being operative to output over a second communication link, different from the first communication link, an identifier of said slave controller for transmission to said transmitter;
• e)the wireless signal including data derived from the identifier of said slave controller.

84)A remote control system for a locomotive having a controller module, said remote control system comprising:

• a)a slave controller for mounting on-board the locomotive;
• b)a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal over a first communication link, the first communication link being an RF communication link, the wireless signal being indicative of at least one command for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive;
• c)said slave controller being responsive to the wireless signal to generate control signals for transmission to the controller module to implement the at least one command;
• d)said slave controller being operative to receive over a second communication link, different from the first communication link, an identifier of said transmitter;
• e)the wireless signal including data derived from the identifier of said transmitter.

1 06)A method for remotely controlling a locomotive in which is provided a controller module, comprising:

• a)mounting on board the locomotive a slave controller;
• b)interfacing the slave controller with the controller module;
• c)communicating to the slave controller over a first communication link an identifier of a remote portable transmitter;
• d)storing in a data storage in the slave controller the identifier of the remote portable transmitter;
• e)storing in the data storage an identifier of the slave controller;
• f)transmitting from the remote portable transmitter a wireless signal over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link, the wireless signal conveying a message including:
• i)a command portion indicative of at least one command for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive;
• and
• ii)a tag portion;
• g)receiving the wireless signal at the slave controller;
• h)performing a validation procedure at the slave controller by comparing data in the tag portion of the message in the received wireless signal with the identifier of the remote portable transmitter and the identifier of the slave controller in the data storage;
• i)if the validation procedure validates the message in the received wireless signal, generating control signals and directing the control signals to the controller module for causing the locomotive to perform the at least one action.

1 07)A device for synchronizing addresses in a communication control system, the communication control system including a first component having a memory storing a first identifier and a second component having a memory storing a second identifier, said device comprising:

• a)a port for establishing a communication link with the first component and for establishing a communication link with the second component;
• b)a memory unit;
• c)a processing unit operatively coupled to said port and said memory unit, said processing unit being suitable for:
• i)establishing a communication link through said port with the first component for acquiring the first identifier from the first component;
• ii)storing the first identifier in said memory unit;
• iii)establishing a communication link through said port with the second component for transmitting the first identifier stored in said memory unit to the second component, such as to allow the second component to hold the first identifier and the second identifier in a storage unit at the second component.

1 22)A computer readable storage medium including a program element suitable for execution by a computing apparatus for synchronizing addresses in a communication control system, the communication control system having a first component associated to a first identifier and a second component associated to a second identifier, the computing apparatus comprising:

• a)a memory unit;
• b)a processing unit in an operative relationship with said memory unit, said processing unit being suitable for:
• i)implementing a port for establishing a communication link with the first component and a communication link with the second component;
• ii)establishing a communication link through said port with the first component for acquiring the first identifier from the first component;
• iii)storing the first identifier in said memory unit;
• iv)establishing a communication link through the port with the second component for transmitting the first identifier stored in said memory unit to the second component, thereby allowing the second component to hold the first identifier and the second identifier in a storage unit at the second component.

1 30)A communication control system comprising:

• a)a first component having a memory storing a first identifier;
• b)a second component having a memory storing a second identifier;
• c)a device for synchronizing addresses between said first component and said second component, said device comprising:
• i)a port for establishing a communication link with said first component and a communication link with said second component;
• ii)a memory unit;
• iii)a processing unit operatively coupled to said port and said memory unit, said processing unit being suitable for:
• (1)establishing a communication link through said port with said first component for acquiring the first identifier from the first component;
• (2)storing the first identifier in said memory unit;
• (3)establishing a communication link through said port with said second component for transmitting the first identifier stored in said memory unit to said second component, such as to allow said second component to hold the first identifier and the second identifier in a storage unit at said second component;
• d)said second component being operative for generating an address on the basis of the first identifier and the second identifier.

1 45)A transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive, said transmitter comprising:

• a)a data storage for holding an identifier of said transmitter;
• b)an interface in communication with said data storage, said interface being operative to establish a first communication link with an external entity for transmitting to the external entity data derived from the identifier of said transmitter via the first communication link;
• c)a signal transmitting unit in communication with said data storage, said signal transmitting unit being operative to transmit a modulated signal over a second communication link different from the first communication link, the second communication link being an RF communication link, the modulated signal conveying:
• i)at least one command for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive;
• and
• ii)data derived from the identifier of said transmitter;
• d)said signal transmitting unit including modulator releasing the modulated signal.