Automated track location identification using measured track data

A method for locating a vehicle along a railroad track during movement of the vehicle along a length of the railroad track which includes:

• first developing historical track data by sensing at least one type of track characteristic having an identifiable signature along the length of track to obtain a historical first set of track data for the length of track,
• concurrently sensing distance data along the length of track with said historical first set of track data,
• storing said historical first set of track data and said distance data as said historical track data,
• providing the historical track data to the vehicle to be moved along said length of track,
• moving said vehicle along the length of track and developing a real time set of track data by sensing the same type of track characteristic used to obtain said historical first set of track data,
• comparing the real time set of track data to the historical first set of track data during movement of the vehicle along the length of track to identify a data match between the real time track data and historical first set of track data, using the data match as a starting position, for the vehicle sensing real time distance data from the starting position and real time track data as the vehicle moves along the length of track, and continuing to continuously compare the real time data with the historical track data to obtain a continuing match between the two to indicate vehicle location.

A method for accurately locating a railroad vehicle subsequent to passage by the vehicle over a railroad switch capable of switching the vehicle between a first length of track and a second length of track spaced from said first length of track which both extend on opposite sides of said switch which includes

• sensing at least one type of track characteristic having an identifiable signature along said first length of track for a first distance on opposite sides of said switch to obtain a first set of track data for said first length of track,
• sensing at least one type of track characteristic having an identifiable signature along said second length of track for a second distance on opposite sides of said switch to obtain a second set of track data for said second length of track,
• storing said first and second sets of track data as historical first and second sets of track data,
• providing the historical sets of track data to the vehicle to be moved over said switch,
• moving said vehicle over the switch and sensing the same type of track characteristics along a length of track after the switch which were used to obtain said first and second sets of historical track data to obtain a real time set of track data, and
• during movement of the vehicle along the length of track after the switch, comparing the real time set of track data to one of said first and second sets of historical track data to find a first data match therebetween to indicate vehicle location.

A method for accurately locating a railroad vehicle subsequent to passage by the vehicle over a railroad switch capable of switching the vehicle between a first length of track and a second length of track spaced from said first length of track which both extend on opposite sides of said switch which includes:

• sensing at least one type of track characteristic having an identifiable signature along said first length of track for a first distance on opposite sides of said switch to obtain a first set of track data for said first length of track,
• sensing at least one type of track characteristic having an identifiable signature along said second length of track for a second distance on opposite sides of said switch to obtain a second set of track data for said second length of track,
• storing said first and second sets of track data as historical first and second sets of track data,
• providing the historical sets of track data to the vehicle to be moved over said switch,
• moving said vehicle over the switch and sensing the same type of track characteristics along a length of track after the switch which were used to obtain said first and second sets of historical track data to obtain a real time set of track data,
• during movement of the vehicle along the length of track after the switch, comparing the real time set of track data to one of said first and second sets of historical track data in an attempt to find a first data match therebetween indicative of vehicle location, and
• operating in the absence of the first data match to compare the real time set of track data to the remaining set of historical track data to find a second data match to indicate vehicle location.

A method for locating a vehicle along a railroad track during movement of the vehicle along a length of railroad track which includes:

• first developing historical track data by sensing at least one type of track characteristic having an identifiable signature along the length of track to obtain a historical first set of track data for the track,
• concurrently sensing distance data along the length of track with said historical first set of track data,
• storing said historical first set of track data and said distance data as said historical track data,
• providing the historical track data to the vehicle to be moved along said length of track,
• moving said vehicle along the length of track and developing a real time set of track data by sensing the same type of track characteristic used to obtain said historical first set of track data,
• comparing the real time set of track data to the historical first set of track data during movement of the vehicle along the length of track to identify a data match between the real time track data and the historical first set of track data indicative of a staring position for the vehicle, said comparison between the real time set of track data and the historical first set of track data including selecting a first block of said historical first set of track data derived from a first section of said length of track and subsequently correlating a first block of real time data derived from a second section of said length of track which is within and shorter than said first section of said length of track with said first block of historical data to search for said data match, selecting a second block of real time data from a third section of said length of track which is within and shorter than said first section of said length of track if a data match between said first block of said historical first set of track data and said first block of real time data is not found and correlating said second block of real time data with said first block of said historical first set of track data to search for said data match, using an identified data match as a starting position for the vehicle, and sensing real time distance data from the starting position and real time track data as the vehicle moves from the starting position along the length of track and continuously comparing the real time data with the historical track data to obtain a continuing match between the two to indicate vehicle location.

An apparatus for locating a vehicle moving along a length of track comprising:

• track sensing means mounted upon said vehicle for sensing at least one track characteristic as said vehicle moves along said length of track to provide real time data which is a function of said sensed track characteristic,
• distance sensing means mounted upon said vehicle for providing distance data indicative of the distance the vehicle has moved along the length of track,
• position means for providing a position signal defining a position window along the track within which said vehicle is located,
• and processor means for receiving said real time data, distance data and position signal and storing previously sensed historical track data for said length of track which is derived from said at least one track characteristic, said processor means for selecting a first block of historical track data for track extending across said position window and a second smaller block of real time data for a section of track within said position window and for comparing said second block to said first block to identify a data match indicative of the position of said vehicle along said length of track, the processor selecting selecting a third smaller block of real time data for a section of track extending from the data match position of the vehicle when a data match is identified and comparing said third block to said first block to identify a subsequent data match indicative of the position of said vehicle.