# US 9,751,543 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 9,751,543 B2 - Document ID: US9751543B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/056,552 - Filed: 2016-02-29 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-03 - Assignees: Stc PLC - Applicants: STC, Inc. - Inventors: Brad Cross - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751543B2 ## 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 computer-implemented method for monitoring vehicle spacing within a traffic grid, the method comprising: using a computer server, identifying a plurality of vehicles within a traffic grid, each such identified vehicle having a published schedule of times for arrival of said vehicle at a plurality of stops within said traffic grid; using said computer server, establishing a pre-defined detection zone within said traffic grid, said pre-defined detection zone being associated with a first one of said vehicles in said plurality, said pre-defined detection zone being positioned in said traffic grid at a fixed position relative to said first one of said vehicles and at a moving position relative to said traffic grid itself; using said computer server, determining that a second of said vehicles in said plurality has entered said pre-defined detection zone associated with said first one of said vehicles; and upon said determining, using said computer server: calculating an estimated time of arrival for said first of said vehicles to arrive at a next stop in said published schedule for said first one of said vehicles and comparing said estimated time of arrival of said first of said vehicles against said scheduled time of arrival for said next stop of said first of said vehicles; calculating an estimated time of arrival for said second of said vehicles to arrive at a next stop in said published schedule for said second one of said vehicles and comparing said estimated time of arrival of said second of said vehicles against said scheduled time of arrival for said next stop of said second of said vehicles; and taking an action which will result in at least one of said first or said second of said vehicles arriving at said next stop closer to said scheduled time of arrival for said next stop than said estimated time of arrival. ### 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 said plurality of 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 said action includes overriding a traffic signal for said first of said vehicles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said action includes overriding a traffic signal for said second of said vehicles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said action includes overriding a traffic signal for said second of said vehicles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said action includes altering a speed of said first of said vehicles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said action includes altering a speed of said second of said vehicles. ### Claim 10 A system for monitoring vehicle spacing within a traffic grid, the system comprising: means for identifying a plurality of vehicles within a traffic grid, each such identified vehicle having a published schedule of times for arrival of said vehicle at a plurality of stops within said traffic grid; means for establishing a pre-defined detection zone within said traffic grid, said pre-defined detection zone being associated with a first one of said vehicles in said plurality, said pre-defined detection zone being positioned in said traffic grid at a fixed position relative to said first one of said vehicles and at a moving position relative to said traffic grid itself; means for determining that a second of said vehicles in said plurality has entered said pre-defined detection zone associated with said first one of said vehicles; and means for calculating an estimated time of arrival for said first of said vehicles to arrive at a next stop in said published schedule for said first one of said vehicles and comparing said estimated time of arrival of said first of said vehicles against said scheduled time of arrival for said next stop of said first of said vehicles; means for calculating an estimated time of arrival for said second of said vehicles to arrive at a next stop in said published schedule for said second one of said vehicles and comparing said estimated time of arrival of said second of said vehicles against said scheduled time of arrival for said next stop of said second of said vehicles; and means for taking an action which will result in at least one of said first or said second of said vehicles arriving at said next stop closer to said scheduled time of arrival for said next stop than said estimated time of arrival. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the parameters of the one or more pre-defined detection zones can be modified to account for changing monitoring and tracking needs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein information regarding pre-defined detection zone activity and progression of said plurality of vehicles within the traffic grid is displayed in real-time at centrally-located monitors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, 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 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said means for taking action overrides a traffic signal for said first of said vehicles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein said means for taking action overrides a traffic signal for said second of said vehicles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said means for taking action overrides a traffic signal for said second of said vehicles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said means for taking action alters a speed of said first of said vehicles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said means for taking action alters a speed of said second of said vehicles.