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| Summary / Description | Slides from a presentation by Steve Ditmeyer, National Defense University that talks about the future of railroad system. Throughout the slides, it is evident that the model he discussed resembles very closely to the system discussed in the application, with the exception that most sensors in the model are on the track rather than the train. |
| Type of Prior Art | Online Publication |
| URL | http://siteresources.worldbank.... |
| Author/Creator | Steve Ditmeyer |
| Title | Vision For The Future |
| Publication Date | March 31, 2006 |
| Publisher | World Bank Transport Forum 2006 |
| Directions to Document Location | |
| Additional Information | |
| Notes | |
Excerpt Use integrateddigital data communications, sensors, and computers on railways to: –Improve both safety and security –Raise effective capacity –Improve asset utilization –Improve customer satisfaction –Measure and control costs –Reduce energy consumption and emissions –Increase economic viability and profits –“Manage the unexpected” |
A system for providing at least one of train information and track characterization information for use in train performance, the system comprising:
a. a first element to determine at least one of a location of a train on a track segment and a time from a beginning of the trip;
b. a track characterization element to provide track segment information;
c. a sensor for measuring an operating condition of at least one of the locomotives in the train;
d. a database for storing at least one of track segment information and the operating condition of at least one of the locomotives; and
e. a processor to correlate information from the first element, the track characterization element, the sensor, and the database, so that the database may be used for creating a trip plan that optimizes train performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.
| Relevance | The system describes by claim 1 resembles closely to the network-centric railroading model described in the slides. |
The system according to claim 3, wherein the communications element provides at least one of the track segment information and operating conditions of at least one of the locomotives to a remote site, and wherein at the remote site the track segment information is used to create a trip plan for other trains traversing the track segment.
| Relevance | In the model described in the slides, all the information from the sensor are also transmitted and gathered for the intelligent railroad system which will also handles the scheduling. |
A system for operating a train during a trip along a track segment, the train comprising one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the system comprising:
a. a first element to determine at least one of a location of the train on the track segment and a time from a beginning of the trip;
b. a track characterization element to provide track segment information;
c. a sensor for measuring an operating condition of at least one of the locomotives;
d. a database for storing at least one of track segment information and the operating condition of at least one of the locomotives; and
e. a processor operable to receive information from at least one of the first element, the sensor, the track characterization element, and the database for creating a trip plan that optimizes locomotive performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.
| Relevance | The system describes by claim 1 resembles closely to the network-centric railroading model described in the slides. |
The system according to claim 7, wherein during the trip the track characterization element provides at least one of updated track segment information and updated train information to the database.
| Relevance | In the model described in the slides, track information from the sensor are also transmitted and gathered for the intelligent railroad system. |
The system according to claim 13, wherein the communications element provides at least one of the track segment information and operating conditions of at least one of the locomotives to a remote site, and wherein at the remote site the track segment information is used to create a trip plan for other trains traversing the track segment.
| Relevance | In the model described in the slides, all the information from the sensor are also transmitted and gathered for the intelligent railroad system which will also handles the scheduling. |
A method for operating a train during a trip along a track segment, the train comprising one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the method comprising:
a. determining a location of the train on a track or a time from a beginning of the trip;
b. determining track segment information;
c. storing the track segment information;
d. determining at least one operating condition of at least one of the locomotives; and
e. creating a trip plan responsive to at least one the location of the train, the track segment information, and at least one operating condition to optimize locomotive performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.
| Relevance | The system describes by claim 1 resembles closely to the network-centric railroading model described in the slides. |
A computer software code for operating a train having a computer processor, the code for operating the train during a trip along a track segment, the train comprising one or more locomotive consists with each locomotive consist comprising one or more locomotives, the software code comprising:
a. a software module for determining track segment information;
b. a software module for storing the track segment information;
c. a software module for determining at least one operating condition of one of the locomotives; and
d. a software module for creating a trip plan responsive to at least one of the location of the train, the track segment information and at least one operating condition to optimize locomotive performance in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the train.
| Relevance | The system described also has a very similar on-board computer which has controls over the operation of the train. |
The computer software code according to claim 25, further comprising a software code module for controlling the train according to the trip plan.
| Relevance | The system described also has a very similar on-board computer which has controls over the operation of the train. |
The computer software code according to claim 25, further comprising a software code module for informing a train operator of the trip plan, wherein the operator can control the train according to the trip plan.
| Relevance | The system described also has a very similar on-board computer which has controls over the operation of the train. |
United States