Train Communication Status Determination via Message Source Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed power systems for railroads, there is a lack of effective means to determine the overall quality of radio communication among locomotives, leading to potential overreactions by operators due to communication losses and no clear method to assess the communication status across the train consist.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that transmits command messages with message source indicators and counters, allowing remote locomotives to respond and the lead locomotive to assess communication status and quality of service based on response messages, using message source indicators and counters to differentiate direct and indirect receipt of commands, and generate train-wide communication status and quality of service indications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If radio communication is used for distributed power control among locomotives, then control coordination between lead and remote locomotives is achieved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to environmental factors and physical obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where remote locomotives send response messages back to the lead locomotive to confirm receipt of command messages. The lead locomotive monitors whether response messages are received within expected timeframes and uses this feedback to determine communication status. This allows the system to detect communication issues and trigger appropriate operator alerts only when necessary, resolving the contradiction by providing adaptability through monitoring while maintaining reliability through selective alerting based on actual communication failures.
2Reliability
If traditional communication monitoring is used, then communication losses are detected, but operator overreaction occurs due to lack of overall communication quality assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional communication status determination system that performs multiple functions: monitoring individual communication links, assessing overall communication quality, tracking message source indicators, and providing differentiated alerts. The lead locomotive's on-board computer aggregates communication data from multiple remote locomotives and generates comprehensive communication status information. This universal system resolves the contradiction by providing detailed loss detection capability while preventing operator overreaction through contextualized quality assessment that distinguishes between localized and systemic communication issues.
3Measurement precision
If message source indicators and counters are implemented, then communication status determination precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds informational dimensions to the communication protocol by incorporating message source indicators and counters into message data structures. Each message includes fields indicating its source (lead locomotive or remote locomotive) and counter values tracking message exchanges. This dimensional enrichment of data allows precise determination of communication status without requiring complex hardware modifications, resolving the contradiction by achieving measurement precision through software-based dimensional data enhancement rather than complex device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a computer-implemented method for determining a communication status in a train consist operating in a distributed power system, the train consist including a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives. The method includes, for each remote locomotive of the plurality of remote locomotives that receives the command message directly from the lead locomotive, setting the message source indicator of the remote locomotive to a first state representative of a direct receipt of the command message, incrementing the message source counter for each response message received by the remote locomotive from other remote locomotives in which the respective message source indicator is set to the first state, generating a response message including a value of the message source indicator and a value of the message source counter, and transmitting the response message. A system and computer program product are also disclosed.