US 2019/0054942 A1 · METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DECENTRALIZED TRAIN CONTROL

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for decentralized train control. A decentralized train system may include a plurality of wayside control units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each of which being configured for use in a particular train. Each wayside control unit may obtain information corresponding to each train that passes within its communication range, and provide obtained train-related information to each train-mounted unit passing within its communication range. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive train-related information from each wayside control unit that comes within its communication range, process the received train-related information, assess based on the processing of the train-related information conditions relating to operation of train within the railway network, and when at least one condition meets one or more particular criteria, perform or cause performing one or more responsive actions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for providing decentralized control operations in a railway network, the system comprises:

a plurality of wayside control units, configured for placement on or near tracks in the railway network;
and
one or more train-mounted units, wherein each train-mounted unit is incorporated into a particular train;
wherein:
each wayside control unit is configured to:
obtain information corresponding to each train that passes within communication range of the wayside control unit;
and
provide obtained train-related information to each train-mounted unit that passes within communication range of the wayside control unit;
and
each train-mounted unit is configured to:
receive train-related information from each wayside control unit that comes within communication range of the train-mounted unit;
process the received train-related information;
assess based on the processing of the train-related information one or more conditions relating to operation of train within the railway network;
and
when at least one condition meets one or more particular criteria, perform or cause performing one or more responsive actions.

12 more elements

A train-mounted device, configured for use within a train to support a decentralized train control system, the train-mounted device comprising:

a housing for enclosing components of the train-mounted device;
a communication component, comprising one or more antennas, configured for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals;
one or more input/output (I/O) components, for receiving input from an operator of the train and/or for providing output to the operator of the train;
and
one or more circuits operable to:
process signals and data, and
perform one or more functions relating to operations of the train-mounted device within the decentralized train control system;
wherein the train-mounted device is configured to, during operation of the train within a railway network managed using the decentralized train control system:
receive train-related information from one or more wayside control units in the decentralized train control system, when coming within communication range of the train-mounted device;
process the received train-related information;
assess based on the processing of the train-related information one or more conditions relating to operation of the train within the railway network;
and
when at least one condition meets one or more particular criteria, perform or cause performing one or more responsive actions.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and systems for decentralized train control

Life of this patent

Methods and systems for decentralized train control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20