# US 8,783,626 B2 · Light rail vehicle monitoring and stop bar overrun system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,626 B2 - Document ID: US8783626B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/566,643 - Filed: 2012-08-03 - Published: 2013-02-28 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-03 - Assignees: Stc PLC - Applicants: Brad Cross - Inventors: Brad Cross - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783626B2 ## CPC - B61L 23/14: automatically operated - B61L 15/0027: {Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R} - B61L 15/0072: {On-board train data handling} - B61L 25/02: Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains - B61L 25/025: {Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates} - B61L 27/10: Operations, e.g. scheduling or time tables - B61L 27/40: Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data - G08G 1/127: to a central station {; Indicators in a central station} - B61L 2201/00: Control methods - B61L 2205/02: Global system for mobile communication - railways [GSM-R] - B61L 2205/04: Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] - B61L: GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B) - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract A satellite positioning location based control and monitoring system for light rail transit systems which enables transit personnel to track vehicle positions, progress and non-vital signals as light rail vehicles travel through their routes while eliminating the capital and maintenance costs associated with embedded light rail transit monitoring systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring vehicle positions, progress and non-vital signals within a traffic grid, the method comprising: having one or more vehicles within a traffic grid, each vehicle having a published schedule; establishing one or more pre-defined detection zones within the traffic grid, each of the pre-defined detection zones having its own parameters and monitoring purpose; and determining when the one or more vehicles within the traffic grid have violated the parameters of the one or more pre-defined detection zones. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters of the one or more pre-defined detection zones can be modified to account for changing monitoring and tracking needs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding pre-defined detection zone activity and progression of the one or more vehicles within the traffic grid is displayed in real-time at centrally-located monitors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding traffic flow patterns and violations of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is reported and stored in a detailed log. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is an advanced detection zone, wherein the advanced detection zone is located prior to a stop on a vehicle's route and, upon identifying a vehicle entering the advanced detection zone, a notification announcement is triggered. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a stop bar overrun zone, wherein the stop bar overrun zone is located after a designated stop point on the vehicle's route and, upon identifying a vehicle entering the stop bar overrun zone at an improper time, the vehicle's violation is recorded. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a gate-closure zone, wherein the gate closure zone is located prior to an intersection with a gate on a vehicle's route and, upon identifying a vehicle entering the gate-closure zone, an instructional signal is sent to the upcoming gate to either open or close the gate prior to the vehicle's arrival. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a speed-governing zone, wherein the speed of a vehicle entering the speed-governing zone is detected and, if the speed is above a certain pre-defined velocity parameter, an instructional signal is sent to the operator of the vehicle to slow down the speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein when the speed of the vehicle is above the certain pre-defined velocity parameter when entering the speed-governing zone, a speed governor is activated to decrease the vehicle's speed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pre-defined detection zones is a switch-track zone, wherein when the vehicle enters the zone an instructional signal is sent to switch an upcoming track on the vehicle's route. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters of each of the pre-defined detection zones are chosen from the group consisting of: zone width, zone length, required vehicle speed and allowable heading variance. ### Claim 12 A method for establishing a plurality of pre-defined detection zones within a traffic grid, the method consisting of: recording a mass transit vehicle's route within a traffic grid with general systems manager software; opening the recorded mass transit vehicle's route with the general systems manager software at a central control center; selecting starting and ending points for one or more pre-defined detection zones on the mass transit vehicle's route within the traffic grid; assigning parameters for each of the selected pre-defined detection zones on the mass transit vehicle's route within the traffic grid; and assigning appropriate corrective actions for when a mass transit vehicle fails to meet the assigned parameters for each of the selected pre-defined detection zones on the mass transit vehicle's route within the traffic grid. ### Claim 13 A system for monitoring when a vehicle overruns a stop bar at an intersection within a traffic grid, the system comprising: a pre-defined detection zone located in a traffic grid after a stop bar at an intersection; wherein if a mass transit vehicle is detected within the pre-defined detection zone located in the traffic grid after the stop bar at an intersection when the stop bar is engaged, the system will determine that a violation has occurred; wherein when the system determines that a violation has occurred an alert will be sent through a network to a central control system; and wherein the central control system will record a log of the violation, the log including information chosen from the group consisting of: date of occurrence, time of occurrence, vehicle identification number, stop bar signal state, speed and global satellite positioning strength. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the system is configured to recognize and adapt to an inherent latency in the calculation and transfer of signals in the system.