Method and apparatus for an interlocking control device

An electronic signal interlocking system that controls signal equipment at a plurality of locations, comprising:

• a plurality of control devices, each of which includes a communication module, a processor module with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program, and an interface module to interface the device to at least one of a signal head, an automatic train stop, a switch machine and a train detection apparatus,
• a data communication network to interconnect said control devices,
• a computer program segment at a control device that at a given time is capable of performing a plurality of functions to provide at least one of monitoring the operational state of associated signal equipment, and controlling the operation of said associated signal equipment.

A method for dynamic reconfiguration of a train separation function in a device that controls a signal, wherein said train separation function establishes a condition for the signal to display a clear aspect, and is based on the statuses of a plurality of train detection blocks, comprising the following steps:

• receiving a reconfiguration request from at least one of a central control location, and a signal control device, and
• modifying said condition for the signal to display a clear aspect by adding at least one train detection block to the train separation function.

A signal control device that interfaces with a signal unit, which includes at least one of a plurality of signal aspects, an automatic train stop mechanism, and a train detection block apparatus, comprising:

• a data communication module to exchange data with at least one of another signal control device, a CBTC zone controller, an automatic train supervision server, and a programmable logic controller,
• an interface module to interface the device with associated signal equipment, and
• a processor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to provide at least one of monitoring the operational state of associated signal equipment, and controlling the operation of associated signal equipment.

A signal control device that interfaces with a wayside signal with a plurality of signal aspects, and an automatic train stop mechanism, comprising:

• a data communication module to exchange data with at least one of another signal control device, a solid state interlocking control device, a programmable logic controller, and a zone controller, wherein the data exchanged includes at least one of status information of associated signal equipment, and data to control associated signal equipment,
• an interface module to interface the device with associated signal equipment, and
• a processor that employs said control data to control the operation of associated signal equipment.

An electronic signal interlocking system that controls signal equipment at a plurality of signal locations, comprising:

• a plurality of electronic signal devices, each of which interfaces with signal equipment at a signal location, wherein said signal equipment includes a signal head that has a plurality of aspects and an automatic train stop, wherein an electronic signal device performs a plurality of functions, and wherein an electronic signal device includes a communication module, a processor module with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program that controls the operation of the electronic signal device, an interface module to activate said plurality of aspects, an interface module for activating said automatic train stop, and an interface module for monitoring the position of said automatic train stop, and
• a data communication network to interconnect an electronic signal device with at least one of another electronic signal device, a solid state interlocking control device, and a programmable logic controller.

An electronic signal interlocking system for controlling signal equipment at a plurality of locations, comprising:

• a plurality of control devices, each of which includes a communication module, a processor module, and an interface module to interface the control device with signal equipment,
• a data communication network interconnecting said control devices,
• wherein the control device can both independently or simultaneously control a plurality of functions of the signal equipment.