# US 2014/0156121 A1 · Remote update in locomotive distributed control systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156121 A1 - Document ID: US20140156121A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,254 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. - Applicants: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Patrick Deitz; James Fredrick Wiemeyer; Dale Alexander Brown; Lawrence Stanley Przybylski; Wayne Allen Rudolph - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156121A1 ## CPC - B61C 17/12: Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units (control from points outside the train B61L3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05) - B61C: LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS (vehicles in general B60; frames or bogies B61F; special railroad equipment for locomotives B61J, B61K) ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a distributed control system for a locomotive. The distributed system may include a network and a plurality of electronic modules distributed within a locomotive. The plurality of electronic modules are communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture and implementing distributed control of the locomotive. A first electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules may include a first configurable controller and a memory that stores a configuration file received via the network. The first configurable controller may be reconfigurable based on the configuration file stored in the memory. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A distributed control system for a locomotive, comprising: a network disposed within the locomotive; a plurality of electronic modules distributed within the locomotive, communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture, and implementing distributed control of the locomotive, wherein a first electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules comprises a first configurable controller and a memory that stores a configuration file received via the network, and the first configurable controller is reconfigurable based on the configuration file stored in the memory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first configurable controller is configured to reconfigure itself based on the configuration file. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first configurable controller includes a second configurable controller, and the first configurable controller is configured by the second configurable controller based on the configuration file stored in the memory. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic module further includes a programmable controller in communication with the first configurable controller and the memory, and the first configurable controller is configured by the programmable controller based on the configuration file stored in the memory. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the network is an Ethernet based network, and the first electronic module includes an Ethernet switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first configurable controller is a field programmable gate array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the first configurable controller is configured based on the configuration file when a reconfiguration instruction is received. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the configuration file is transmitted from a server disposed outside the locomotive. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the configuration file is transmitted from a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules in the locomotive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein an internal circuitry of the first configurable controller is internally reconnectable in different configurations to implement at least one of a plurality of control functions associated with the distributed control of the locomotive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the memory is included in the first configurable controller. ### Claim 12 A method for controlling a locomotive, the method comprising: receiving, by a processor in an electronic module of a plurality of electronic modules, a configuration file via a network, the plurality of electronic modules being distributed within the locomotive and communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture, and the electronic module comprising a first configurable controller that is reconfigurable to implement distributed control of the locomotive; storing, by the processor, the configuration file in a memory in the electronic module; and configuring, by the processor, the first configurable controller by using the configuration file. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the processor is included in the first configurable controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the processor is included in a second configurable controller which is included in the electronic module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the processor is included in a programmable controller which is included in the electronic module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the network is an Ethernet based network, and the electronic module includes an Ethernet switch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further including receiving, by the processor, an instruction to configure the first configurable controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration file is transmitted from a server disposed outside the locomotive. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration file is transmitted from another electronic module in the locomotive. ### Claim 20 A consist, comprising: a plurality of locomotives, each locomotive comprising: a network disposed within the locomotive; a plurality of electronic modules distributed within the locomotive, communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture and implementing distributed control of the locomotive, wherein a first electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules comprises a first configurable controller and a memory that stores a configuration file received via the network, and the first configurable controller is reconfigurable based on the configuration file stored in the memory.