Object based railroad transportation network management system and method

US 5,836,529 A
Filed: 10/31/1995
Issued: 11/17/1998
Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1995
Status: Expired due to Fees

First Claim

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1. A computer-implemented method for management of an object-based railroad transportation network, comprising the steps of:

collecting a set of real-time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for mobile transports and fixed transports within the transportation network; and

generating a map characterizing relationships between the transports based on said characteristics;

wherein the step of collecting comprises the steps ofdetecting one of the mobile transports passing by a wayside occupancy detector and responsively generating a unique transport detector signal;

translating the unique transport detector signal into a mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and

accepting entry of a fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate corresponding to the location of one of the fixed transports; and

wherein the step of generating a map comprises the steps ofpositioning a mobile transport icon on one of the maps at the mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and

positioning a fixed transport icon on one of the maps at the fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate.

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Abstract

The system of the present invention preferably comprises a set of wayside occupancy detectors, an output device, a memory and a processing unit. Each wayside occupancy detector preferably generates a set of transport detection signals in response to detecting a set of mobile transports. The output device is used for displaying information. The memory, has a transport object comprising program instructions for automatically retrieving the set of transport detection signals and for automatically collecting a set of information related to operation of the transportation network. The memory also has a service object comprising program instructions for generating graphical representations of transport locations, transport status statistics, and transport performance statistics upon the output device corresponding to both the set of mobile transports and a set of fixed transports. The processing unit executes the program instructions stored in the memory and is coupled to the set of wayside occupancy detectors, the output device and the memory. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of monitoring a set of real time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for the set of transports within the transportation network and generating an output display characterizing relationships between the set of transports based on the information collected in the monitoring step.

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19 Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for management of an object-based railroad transportation network, comprising the steps of:
- collecting a set of real-time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for mobile transports and fixed transports within the transportation network; and
  
  generating a map characterizing relationships between the transports based on said characteristics;
  
  wherein the step of collecting comprises the steps ofdetecting one of the mobile transports passing by a wayside occupancy detector and responsively generating a unique transport detector signal;
  
  translating the unique transport detector signal into a mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and
  
  accepting entry of a fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate corresponding to the location of one of the fixed transports; and
  
  wherein the step of generating a map comprises the steps ofpositioning a mobile transport icon on one of the maps at the mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and
  
  positioning a fixed transport icon on one of the maps at the fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate.
- View Dependent Claims (2)
- - 2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the positioning steps comprises placing a consist attribute proximate to the transport icon.

3. A computer-implemented method for management of an object-based railroad transportation network, comprising the steps of:
- collecting a set of real-time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for mobile transports and fixed transports within the transportation network;
  
  generating a map characterizing relationships between the transports based on said characteristics;
  
  selecting transportation network boundaries; and
  
  determining a transportation network layout within the transportation network boundaries;
  
  wherein the generating step uses the transportation network boundaries to limit the maps and the reports.

4. A computer-implemented system for management of an object-based railroad transportation network, comprising:
- means for collecting a set of real-time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for mobile transports and fixed transports within the transportation network; and
  
  means for generating a map characterizing relationships between the transports based on said characteristics;
  
  wherein the means for collecting comprisesmeans for detecting one of the mobile transports passing by a wayside occupancy detector and responsively generating a unique transport detector signal;
  
  means for translating the unique transport detector signal into a mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and
  
  means for accepting entry of a fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate corresponding to the location of one of the fixed transports; and
  
  wherein the means for generating a map comprisesmeans for positioning a mobile transport icon on one of the maps at the mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and
  
  means for positioning a fixed transport icon on one of the maps at the fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate.

5. A computer-implemented system for management of an object-based railroad transportation network, comprising:
- means for collecting a set of real-time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for mobile transports and fixed transports within the transportation network;
  
  means for generating a map characterizing relationships between the transports based on said characteristics;
  
  means for selecting transportation network boundaries; and
  
  means for determining a transportation network layout within the transportation network boundaries;
  
  wherein the means for generating uses the transportation network boundaries to limit the maps and the reports.

6. A computer-useable medium having embodied therein computer-readable program code for causing a computer to manage an object-based railroad transportation network by performing steps comprising:
- collecting a set of real-time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for mobile transports and fixed transports within the transportation network; and
  
  generating a map characterizing relationships between the transports based on said characteristics;
  
  wherein the program code for performing the step of collecting comprises program code for performing the steps of;
  
  detecting one of the mobile transports passing by a wayside occupancy detector and responsively generating a unique transport detector signal;
  
  translating the unique transport detector signal into a mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and
  
  accepting entry of a fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate corresponding to the location of one of the fixed transports; and
  
  wherein the step of generating a map comprises the steps ofpositioning a mobile transport icon on one of the maps at the mobile transport latitude/longitude coordinate; and
  
  positioning a fixed transport icon on one of the maps at the fixed transport latitude/longitude coordinate.

7. A computer-useable medium having embodied therein computer-readable program code for causing a computer to manage an object-based railroad transportation network by performing steps comprising:
- collecting a set of real-time identification, position, interconnection and display characteristics for mobile transports and fixed transports within the transportation network;
  
  generating a map characterizing relationships between the transports based on said characteristics;
  
  selecting transportation network boundaries; and
  
  determining a transportation network layout within the transportation network boundaries;
  
  wherein the generating step uses the transportation network boundaries to limit the map.

8. A computer-implemented system for managing a transportation network, comprising:
- detectors for generating detector signals in response to a presence of transports;
  
  a memory coupled to the detectors and containingtransport objects including program instructions for generating transport object data in response to the detector signals; and
  
  service objects including program instructions for graphically organizing and reporting on the transport object data;
  
  a processor coupled to the memory and to the detectors, for executing program instructions contained in the memory;
  
  wherein the detectors comprise wayside occupancy detectors geographically distributed throughout the transportation network, each generating a unique transport detector signal;
  
  a database, containing transportation network operational data, coupled to the processor;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports having variable geographic locations and fixed transports having non-variable geographic locations;
  
  wherein one of the transport objects assigns a first sub-set of the operational data and the unique transport detector signal to one of the mobile transports; and
  
  assigns a second sub-set of the operational data to one of the fixed transports; and
  
  wherein one of the service objects generates transport location maps, transport status statistics, and transport performance statistics; and
  
  field location computers, for storing in the operational data of the database one from a group consisting of incident reports, local jobs and yard jobs.

9. A computer-implemented system for managing a transportation network, comprising:
- detectors for generating detector signals in response to a presence of transports;
  
  a memory coupled to the detectors and containingtransport objects including program instructions for generating transport object data in response to the detector signals; and
  
  service objects including program instructions for graphically organizing and reporting on the transport object data;
  
  a processor coupled to the memory and to the detectors, for executing program instructions contained in the memory;
  
  wherein the detectors comprise wayside occupancy detectors geographically distributed throughout the transportation network, each generating a unique transport detector signal;
  
  a database, containing transportation network operational data, coupled to the processor;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports having variable geographic locations and fixed transports having non-variable geographic locations;
  
  wherein one of the transport objects assigns a first sub-set of the operational data and the unique transport detector signal to one of the mobile transports; and
  
  assigns a second sub-set of the operational data to one of the fixed transports; and
  
  wherein one of the service objects generates transport location maps, transport status statistics, and transport performance statistics; and
  
  a customer service center computer, for storing in the operational data of the database one from a group consisting of work orders and transport alert criteria.

10. A computer-implemented system for managing a transportation network, comprising:
- detectors for generating detector signals in response to a presence of transports;
  
  a memory coupled to the detectors and containingtransport objects including program instructions for generating transport object data in response to the detector signals; and
  
  service objects including program instructions for graphically organizing and reporting on the transport object data;
  
  a processor coupled to the memory and to the detectors, for executing program instructions contained in the memory;
  
  wherein the detectors comprise wayside occupancy detectors geographically distributed throughout the transportation network, each generating a unique transport detector signal;
  
  a database, containing transportation network operational data, coupled to the processor;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports having variable geographic locations and fixed transports having non-variable geographic locations;
  
  wherein one of the transport objects assigns a first sub-set of the operational data and the unique transport detector signal to one of the mobile transports; and
  
  assigns a second sub-set of the operational data to one of the fixed transports; and
  
  wherein one of the service objects generates transport location maps, transport status statistics, and transport performance statistics; and
  
  an operations center computer, for storing in the operational data of the database one from a group consisting of equipment inventories, slow orders, curfews, power assignments, power plan, train plan and physical plant data.

11. A computer-implemented method for object based management of a railroad transportation network including transports, comprising the steps of:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  defining warning criteria for one of the transports; and
  
  activating an alert signal if the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the warning criteria of the one of the transports;
  
  wherein the step of defining warning criteria comprises the steps of;
  
  selecting, from an attributes data field, a data item describing one of the transports;
  
  specifying expected values for the data item; and
  
  defining the warning criteria for the one of the transports to be when the acquired real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports is outside the specified expected values.

12. A computer-implemented method for object based management of a railroad transportation network including transports, comprising the steps of:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria; and
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports and fixed transports and wherein the step of acquiring comprises retrieving, from a computer-aided dispatching system computer, a latitude and a longitude data item representing a location of one of the mobile transports.

13. A computer-implemented method for object based management of a railroad transportation network including transports, comprising the steps of:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria; and
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports and fixed transports and wherein the step of acquiring comprises retrieving, from field location computers, a latitude and a longitude data item representing the location of one of the fixed transports.

14. A computer-implemented method for object based management of a railroad transportation network including transports, comprising the steps of:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria; and
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports and fixed transports and wherein the step of acquiring comprises retrieving, from the field location computers, an incident report, a local job and a yard job data item.

15. A computer-implemented method for object based management of a railroad transportation network including transports, comprising the steps of:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria; and
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports and fixed transports and wherein the step of acquiring comprises retrieving, from a customer service center computer, a work order and a defined alert data item.

16. A computer-implemented method for object based management of a railroad transportation network including transports, comprising the steps of:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria; and
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  wherein the transports include mobile transports and fixed transports and wherein the step of acquiring comprises retrieving, from an operations center computer, an equipment inventory, a slow order, a curfew, a power assignment, a power plan, a train plan and a physical plant data item.

17. A computer-implemented method for object based management of a railroad transportation network including transports, comprising the steps of:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria; and
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  wherein the step of acquiring comprises;
  
  one step from a group consisting ofretrieving, from a computer-aided dispatching system computer, a latitude and a longitude data item representing a location of a mobile transport;
  
  retrieving, from a set of field location computers, a latitude and a longitude data item representing the location of a fixed transport;
  
  retrieving, from the set of field location computers, an incident report, a local job and a yard job data item;
  
  retrieving, from a customer service center computer, a work order and a defined alert data item; and
  
  retrieving, from an operations center computer, an equipment inventory, a slow order, a curfew, a power assignment, a power plan, a train plan and a physical plant data item; and
  
  wherein the step of generating comprises using the data items retrieved from the computer-aided dispatching system, the set of field locations, the customer service center and the operations center computers to generate one from the group consisting of the report and the map.

18. A computer-implemented system for managing a transportation network including transports, comprising:
- means for defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  means for acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  means for generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  means for generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  means for defining warning criteria for one of the transports; and
  
  means for activating an alert signal if the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the warning criteria of the one of the transports;
  
  wherein the means for defining warning criteria comprises;
  
  means for selecting, from an attributes data field, a data item describing one of the transports;
  
  means for specifying expected values for the data item; and
  
  means for defining the warning criteria for the one of the transports to be when the acquired real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports is outside the specified expected values.

19. A computer-useable medium having embodied therein computer-readable program code for causing a computer to manage an object-based railroad transportation network including transports by performing steps comprising:
- defining boundary criteria for one of the transports;
  
  acquiring real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports;
  
  generating a report representing a real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  generating a map, representing the real-time status and performance of the one of the transports when the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the defined boundary criteria;
  
  defining warning criteria for one of the transports; and
  
  activating an alert signal if the acquired real-time status and performance data conforms to the warning criteria of the one of the transports;
  
  wherein the step of defining warning criteria comprises the steps of;
  
  selecting, from an attributes data field, a data item describing one of the transports;
  
  specifying expected values for the data item; and
  
  defining the warning criteria for the one of the transports to be when the acquired real-time status and performance data for the one of the transports is outside the specified expected values.

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Current Assignee
CSX Technology Incorporated (CSX Corporation)
Original Assignee
CSX Technology Incorporated (CSX Corporation)
Inventors
Gibbs, Marshall A.
Primary Examiner(s)
MORANO IV, SAMUEL J

Application Number

US08/550,881
Time in Patent Office

1,113 Days
Field of Search

246/3, 246/122 R, 246/123, 246/124, 246/132, 246/167 R, 246/169 R, 246/176, 364/424.01, 364/424.02, 364/424.04, 364/436
US Class Current

246/122.00R
CPC Class Codes

B61L 27/14 Following schedules

Object based railroad transportation network management system and method

First Claim

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Abstract

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Object based railroad transportation network management system and method

First Claim

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Abstract

86 Citations

19 Claims

Specification

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