Method and apparatus for assigning addresses to components in a control system

A device for use in a remote control system for a locomotive, the remote control system having a transmitter and a slave controller for mounting on board the locomotive, said device comprising:

• a first interface for communication with the transmitter for receiving an identifier of the transmitter;
• a second interface for communication with the slave controller for receiving an identifier of the slave controller;
• one of said first and second interfaces communicating with the respective transmitter or receiver via a wireless communication link;
• a data storage in communication with said first and second interfaces for storing the identifier of the transmitter and the identifier of the slave controller;
• said data storage being operative to:
• output the identifier of the slave controller for transmission to the transmitter via said first interface;
• output the identifier of the transmitter for transmission to the slave controller via said second interface.

In combination:

• a) a transmitter for remotely controlling a locomotive in which is mounted a slave controller, said transmitter comprising:
• i) an interface for receiving an identifier of the slave controller via a first communication link, the first communication link being a wireless link;
• ii) a data storage in communication with said interface for storing the identifier of the slave controller received via said first communication link, the data storage of said transmitter being further operative to store an identifier of said transmitter;
• iii) a signal transmitting unit for transmitting a signal over a second communication link, the second communication link being a wireless RF communication link, the signal being indicative of at least one command for causing an action to be performed by the locomotive, the signal conveying information derived from the identifier of the slave controller received via the first communication link;
• b) a device having a data storage for holding the identifier of the slave controller, said device being operative to communicate with said transmitter via the first communication link and said interface to transmit the identifier of the slave controller to said transmitter, wherein said transmitter is operative to release the identifier of said transmitter for transmission to said device via said interface and the first communication link.

In combination:

• a) a slave controller for mounting on-board a locomotive having a controller module, said slave controller having;
• i) an interface for receiving an identifier of a transmitter via a first communication link, the first communication link being a wireless communication link;
• ii) a data storage in communication with said interface for storing the identifier of the transmitter, the data storage of said slave controller being further operative to store an identifier of said slave controller;
• iii) a signal receiver unit for receiving a signal from the transmitter over a second communication link, the second communication link being a wireless 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;
• b) a device having a data storage for holding the identifier of the transmitter, said device operative to communicate with said slave controller to transmit the identifier of the transmitter to said slave controller, wherein the data storage of said slave controller is operative to release the identifier of said slave controller for transmission to said device.

A method for performing synchronization between a transmitter and a slave controller of a remote control system for a locomotive, said method comprising:

• a) communicating with the transmitter for receiving an identifier of the transmitter;
• b) storing the received identifier of the transmitter in a data storage;
• c) communicating with the slave controller for receiving an identifier of the slave controller;
• d) storing the received identifier of the slave controller in the data storage;
• e) outputting the identifier of the slave controller from the data storage for transmission to the transmitter;
• f) outputting the identifier of the transmitter from the data storage for transmission to the slave controller;
• g) wherein the communicating with one of the transmitter and the slave controller is effected over a wireless communication link.