Vehicle Consist Network Management via Lead Trail Designation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for network communications in vehicle consists, such as trains, lack reliability and efficiency in establishing and managing data networks between locomotives, leading to potential communication failures and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and system that designates a network lead vehicle to control data network operations and manage network data, with subordinate network trail vehicles, allowing for efficient data routing, service management, and high-availability networking across multiple channels, while resolving IP address conflicts through address reassignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing network communication systems are used in vehicle consists, then basic data transmission between locomotives is achieved, but communication reliability and efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vehicle consist network into hierarchical levels: a lead vehicle that manages network configuration and routing, intermediate vehicles that relay communications, and trail vehicles that receive commands. This segmentation distributes network management functions across multiple vehicles rather than requiring centralized control, improving reliability while managing complexity through defined roles and responsibilities for each segment of the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring network parameters, routing tables, and communication protocols in each vehicle before they join the consist. The lead vehicle performs preliminary network setup and validation before activating full communications. This ensures that when vehicles are coupled, the network is already prepared for reliable operation, reducing runtime complexity and improving communication stability.
2Reliability
If redundant electronic equipment is provided on each locomotive, then reliability is improved through failover capabilities, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges electronic equipment resources across multiple vehicles in the consist by creating a virtualized network where computing, storage, and communication resources are shared. Instead of requiring full redundant equipment on each locomotive, the system combines available resources from the lead vehicle, intermediate vehicles, and trail vehicles into a unified pool that provides failover capabilities for the entire consist, reducing per-vehicle complexity while maintaining overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing electronic equipment that can perform multiple functions depending on its role in the network. The same hardware platform can serve as a routing node, a communication endpoint, or a resource provider, rather than requiring specialized redundant equipment for each function. This multi-functionality reduces the total amount of equipment needed while maintaining reliability through flexible resource allocation and failover.
3Reliability
If dedicated network cables are run between locomotives, then communication reliability is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing MU cable bus serve multiple functions: it continues to provide traditional control and power communication while simultaneously carrying network data traffic. By implementing Ethernet over the existing MU cable infrastructure, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated network cables, reducing installation complexity while maintaining reliable data transmission through protocol-level error handling and redundancy built into the Ethernet standard.
4Ease of manufacture
If Ethernet over MU cable bus is used for communications, then installation complexity is reduced by using existing infrastructure, but communication efficiency and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary components such as Ethernet switches and protocol translators that are coupled to the MU cable bus to mediate between the existing control infrastructure and the new data network requirements. These intermediaries provide signal conditioning, error correction, and protocol conversion that ensure reliable Ethernet communications over the MU cable medium, bridging the gap between the legacy infrastructure and modern networking requirements without compromising reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for communications in a vehicle consist (e.g., for managing network services among a plurality of networked locomotives or other vehicles in the consist) includes monitoring a first available device of a first locomotive (or other first vehicle) in the consist to determine an operational status of the first available device, and maintaining information of the operational status of the first available device in a database.