Dual-protocol locomotive control system and method
AssigneeWabtec Railway Electronics, Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Colbert, Gil Pascal, Clive B. Wright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An intra-train communication system includes a locomotive control unit (LCU) establishes a communications link between a lead unit and a remote unit which operate using different protocols and/or in different frequency bands. To accomplish this objective, the LCU automatically detects the type of lead unit and remote unit installed on the train. If the types are not the same, the LCU resolves any serial link protocol and arming differences that might exist in a manner virtually transparent to train operators. As a result, data is communicated between the lead and remote units in a way which requires less operator intervention and no software changes to the control computer of the head unit.
Claims16
A method for establishing a communication link between a first unit and a second unit of a train, said method comprising:
- providing a cab control unit in a lead locomotive, said cab control unit operating in accordance with a first protocol;
- attaching an end-of-train unit to a trailing car of the train, said end-of-train unit operating in accordance with a second protocol;
- automatically detecting in a locomotive control unit that the cab control unit is a type operating in said first protocol;
- automatically detecting in the locomotive control unit that the end-of-train unit is a type operating in said second protocol;
- and
- automatically performing protocol conversions required to communicate information between the end-of-train unit and the cab control unit.
A locomotive control unit for enabling a first train unit to communicate with a second train unit, comprising
- means for automatically detecting a protocol in which the first train unit operates;
- means for automatically detecting a protocol in which the second train unit operates;
- and
- performing protocol conversions required to communicate information between the first train unit and the second train unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.