General Electric Company

Transportation IP Holdings, LLC

Ge Global Sourcing LLC

Brian William Schroeck

Eugene Andrew Smith

Robert James Foy

Steven Andrew Kellner

Jared Klineman Cooper

David Michael Peltz

Wolfgang Daum

Joseph Forrest Noffsinger

Mark Bradshaw Kraeling

Todd William Goodermuth

James Glen Corry

Keith Gilbertson

Joseph Mario Nazareth

Brian Joseph McManus

Daniel Joseph Rush

Frank Richard Wawrzyniak

Maurice Stanley Hutchins

Jeffrey Donald Kernwein

David Allen Eldredge

Ralph Caswell Haddock, Iii

Robert Bremmer

John William Brand

Robert C Palanti

William Chester Neeley

Paul Connolly

Scott Alan Schoenly

Dibyajyoti Pati

Kristopher Ryan Smith

Latha Belagumba Narasegowda

Armin H Pfoh

Christopher Louis Rekucki

Praful Babuji Vihol

Jeff Harris

Scot Stewart

Srinand Sridhara Murthy

Velmurugan Veilumuthu

Santhanakrishnan Rajendran

Ralph C Haddock

A system and method includes a first control system having one or more processors onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system that includes the lead vehicle and a remote vehicle. The second control system automatically restricts movement of the vehicle system based on a location of the vehicle system. The processors detect a signal instance of an operator actuating an input device, and communicate a vehicle information request message to the second control system. The second control system communicates a list of vehicle identifiers, that includes a vehicle identifier associated with the remote vehicle, to the processors. The processors communicate a wireless linking message, including a request to establish a communication link, to the remote vehicle based on the vehicle identifier associated with the remote vehicle.

System and method of establishing a communication link between lead and remote vehicles of a consist

Systems and methods for correlating wireless communication performance with vehicle system configurations determine wireless message characteristics of wireless messages communicated with vehicles in vehicle systems and locations along a route where the wireless message characteristics were determined. The wireless message characteristics and the locations can be determined during movement of the vehicle systems along a route. Relative positions of the vehicles in the vehicle systems is obtained, and a signal propagation profile is determined based on the wireless message characteristics, the locations where the wireless message characteristics were determined, and the relative positions of the vehicles. The signal propagation profile can represent relationships between the wireless message characteristics, the relative positions of the vehicles, and the locations along the route. This profile can be used to control movement and/or communication of other rail vehicle systems, to generate trip plans for other vehicle systems, to diagnose communication faults, and the like.

Communication system and method for correlating wireless communication performance with vehicle system configurations

A vehicle communication system includes a wireless communication device and a controller that controls operation of the wireless communication device. The controller directs the wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and operating in an onboard communication mode. The wireless communication device communicates a remote data signal with an off-board location while the wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode and the wireless communication device communicates a local data signal between vehicles of the vehicle system while the wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode.

Vehicle data communication system

A system includes one or more processors, a communication device, and a positive train control (PTC) system. The one or more processors and communication device are onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system that includes the lead vehicle and a first remote vehicle. The PTC system is configured to restrict movement of the vehicle system based on a location of the vehicle system. The PTC system communicates a list of vehicle identifiers to the one or more processors. The communication device communicates a wireless linking message, which includes a vehicle identifier associated with the first remote vehicle, to the first remote vehicle. The communication device establishes a communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle responsive to receipt of the wireless linking message at the first remote vehicle. The one or more processors remotely control movement of the first remote vehicle via the communication link.

Vehicle communication system

A locomotive communication system includes a wireless communication device and a controller that controls operation of the wireless communication device. The controller directs the wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and operating in an onboard communication mode. The wireless communication device communicates a remote data signal with an off-board location while the wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode and the wireless communication device communicates a local data signal between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system while the wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode.

A communication system and method for communicatively linking vehicles in a vehicle consist determine a vehicle identifier for a first remote vehicle included in a vehicle consist formed from a lead vehicle and at least the first remote vehicle. The system and method communicate a wireless linking message addressed to the vehicle identifier from the lead vehicle to the first remote vehicle, and establish a communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle responsive to receipt of the wireless linking message at the first remote vehicle. The communication link is established such that movement of the first remote vehicle is remotely controlled from the lead vehicle via the communication link. The communication link is established without an operator entering the first remote vehicle.

Systems and methods for correlating wireless communication performance with vehicle system configurations determine wireless message characteristics of wireless messages communicated with vehicles in vehicle systems and locations along a route where the wireless message characteristics were determined. The wireless message characteristics and the locations can be determined during movement of the vehicle systems along a route. Consist configuration information about the one or more vehicle systems is obtained, and a signal propagation profile is determined based on the wireless message characteristics, the locations where the wireless message characteristics were determined, and the consist configuration information. The signal propagation profile can represent one or more relationships between the wireless message characteristics, the consist configuration information, and the locations along the route. This profile can be used to control movement and/or communication of other vehicle systems, to generate trip plans for other vehicle systems, to diagnose communication faults, and the like.

A communication system includes a first wireless communication device disposed onboard a vehicle system having two or more propulsion-generating vehicles that are mechanically interconnected with each other. The communication system also includes a controller configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle system and operatively connected with the first wireless communication device in order to control operations of the device. The controller is configured to direct the first wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and an onboard communication mode. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode, the device is configured to receive remote data signals from a location that is disposed off-board of the vehicle system. When the first wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode, the device is configured to communicate local data signals between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system.

Methods and systems for data communications

Communication methods and systems wirelessly communicate onboard messages between communication devices onboard the same vehicle. The communication devices can wirelessly communicate with other communication devices onboard other vehicles in a vehicle system for remote control of the vehicles. Receipt of the onboard messages at the communication devices is determined, and operative states of the communication devices are determined based at least in part on the receipt of the onboard messages at the communication devices. Determining these operative states in this manner can allow for an operator to identify communication faults with the communication devices prior to departing the vehicle.

System and method for testing communication in a vehicle system

A communication system and method receive, at an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system formed from a lead vehicle and one or more remote vehicles, trip data that represents one or more characteristics of an upcoming trip of the vehicle system along a route. A selected portion of the trip data is communicated from the energy management system to a distributed power system also disposed onboard the vehicle system. The selected portion includes identifying information and one or more orientations of the one or more remote vehicles. Using the distributed power system, communication links between the lead vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles are established using the identifying information and the one or more orientations.

Communication system and method of a vehicle consist

A wireless communication device of a vehicle system includes one or more antennas configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of the vehicle system, a first modem configured to be disposed onboard the first vehicle and to communicate a first wireless signal to one or more of a second vehicle of the vehicle system or an off-board device using the one or more antennas, and a second modem configured to be disposed onboard the first vehicle and to communicate a second wireless signal to the one or more of the second vehicle or the off-board device using the one or more antennas. The first modem is configured to communicate the first wireless signal via a first type of wireless communication link and the second modem is configured to communicate the second wireless signal via a different, second type of wireless communication link.

A system includes first and second control modules, an energy management module, and an arbitration module. The first and second control modules are on-board first and second powered vehicles coupled by at least a third vehicle in a vehicle consist. The first control module forms control signals to coordinate tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist. The energy management module is on-board the second powered vehicle and is communicatively coupled with the second control module. The energy management module forms control signals that are transmitted by the second control module to control the tractive efforts provided by the first powered vehicle and the second powered vehicle based on a trip profile associated with a trip of the vehicle consist. The arbitration module is communicatively coupled with the first and second control modules. The arbitration module determines which of the control modules controls the tractive efforts provided by the vehicle consist.

System and method for controlling a vehicle consist

A system includes a first propulsion subsystem and a second propulsion subsystem. The first propulsion subsystem is operable to provide electrical energy to a first communication device when operating in an ON mode. The second propulsion subsystem is operable to provide electrical energy to a second communication device when operating in the ON mode. The first propulsion subsystem and the second propulsion subsystem are controllable in a mode of operation where if one of the first propulsion subsystem or the second propulsion subsystem is controlled to be in an OFF mode, the other of the first propulsion subsystem and the second propulsion subsystem provides electrical energy to the respective first communication device or the second communication device.

System and method for vehicle control

Systems and methods for remotely controlling a rail vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a remote operator control system includes a communication link to send and receive rail vehicle information, an operator interface, and a controller. The controller is configured to send, through the communication link, a request to establish communication with a positive train control system on-board a selected rail vehicle based on an operating condition. In response to receiving confirmation of communication with the positive train control system, the control is configured to receive positive train control information for the selected rail vehicle through the communication link, and display the positive train control information for the selected rail vehicle on the operator interface.

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Melbourne, FL, United States of America

Brian William Schroeck