General Electric Company

Eagle Technology, LLC

Transportation IP Holdings, LLC

Ge Global Sourcing LLC

Gb Global Sourcing LLC

Gary William Mason

Maurice Stanley Hutchins

Mark E Smith

Robert C Palanti

William C Adams, Jr

Derek Kevin Woo

Brian Joseph McManus

Glen Paul Peltonen

Daniel Joseph Rush

Joseph Mario Nazareth

Stephen Don Smith

A long range navigation system may include radio frequency (RF) transmitter stations at fixed geographical locations, each having an RF transmitter and an RF modulator coupled to the RF transmitter, and configured to generate a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) RF signal being spectrally shaped so that 99% of power from the RF transmitter is within the frequency range of 90-110 KHz. Movable RF receiver units each include an RF receiver and a demodulator coupled to the RF receiver configured to demodulate the DSSS RF signal to determine a position of the movable RF receiver unit.

Long range navigation system having direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) RF signal

An enhanced LOng RAnge Navigation (eLORAN) system may include a plurality of eLORAN transmitter stations, and at least one eLORAN receiver device. The eLORAN receiver device may include an eLORAN receive antenna, an eLORAN receiver coupled to the eLORAN receive antenna, and a controller coupled to the eLORAN receiver. The controller may be configured to cooperate with the eLORAN transmitter stations to determine an eLORAN receiver position and receiver clock error corrected from additional secondary factor (ASF) data, the ASF data based upon different geographical positions and different times for each different geographical position.

Enhanced LORAN (eLORAN) system having corrected additional secondary factor (ASF) data

A method includes wirelessly receiving, at a lead remote control (RC) communication device onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system, a request signal from an operator control unit (OCU). The method also includes communicating a reconfiguration signal from a lead communication device of the lead vehicle to a remote communication device disposed onboard a first displaced vehicle responsive to receipt of the request signal. Further, the method includes, responsive to receiving the reconfiguration signal, reconfiguring an RC communication device onboard the first displaced vehicle to switch from a first state where the RC communication device onboard the first displaced vehicle receives a control signal from the OCU for remotely controlling operation of the first displaced vehicle to a different, second state where the RC communication device onboard the first displaced vehicle repeats the control signal to the lead RC communication device of the lead vehicle.

Vehicle communication system

A vehicle communication system includes a lead communication device wirelessly communicating command messages to remote communication devices onboard a vehicle system during a messaging cycle. The lead device receives reply messages from the remote devices during the messaging cycle in response to the command messages. The lead device receives a status signal from at least one of the remote devices during a guard interval that follows completion of the messaging cycle. The lead device communicates the command message and receives the reply messages using analog modulation or digital modulation. The lead communication device also receives the status signal using the other of the analog modulation or the digital modulation. The command messages, the reply messages, and the status signal are communicated using a designated frequency channel.

Vehicle communication system using incompatible modulation techniques

An enhanced LOng RAnge Navigation (eLORAN) system may include a plurality of eLORAN stations, each having an eLORAN antenna and an eLORAN transmitter that may transmit data over an eLORAN data channel and may transmit a series of eLORAN navigation RF pulses. An eLORAN control station may generate station specific eLORAN data and non-station specific eLORAN data, divide the non-station specific eLORAN data into non-specific eLORAN data subsets, and cause each eLORAN station to transmit the station specific eLORAN data and a corresponding non-station specific eLORAN data subset over the eLORAN data channel in a manner to optimize data throughput.

Enhanced loran (eLORAN) system having divided non-station specific eLORAN data

A locomotive communication system includes a lead communication device wirelessly communicating command messages to remote communication devices onboard a rail vehicle system during a messaging cycle. The lead device receives reply messages from the remote devices during the messaging cycle in response to the command messages. The lead device receives a status signal from at least one of the remote devices during a guard interval that follows completion of the messaging cycle. The lead device communicates the command message and receives the reply messages using analog modulation or digital modulation. The lead communication device also receives the status signal using the other of the analog modulation or the digital modulation. The command messages, the reply messages, and the status signal are communicated using a designated frequency channel.

A communication system includes a first communication device disposed onboard a displaced vehicle. The first communication device communicates with a second communication device onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system for the lead vehicle to remotely control operation of the vehicle system. The first communication device receives a reconfiguration signal from the second communication device. A remote control (RC) communication device is disposed onboard the first displaced vehicle. The RC communication device wirelessly receives a control signal from an operator control unit (OCU) for the OCU to remotely control the first displaced vehicle. A communication controller reconfigures the RC communication device to repeat the control signal from the OCU responsive to the first communication device of the first displaced vehicle receiving the reconfiguration signal from the second communication device of the lead vehicle or another reconfiguration signal from an off-board or on-board location.

A method for recording operating information of a railroad train () comprising a lead locomotive (), a remote locomotive (A), and a trailing locomotive (). The method comprises recording the operating information of at least one of the railroad train () and/or a distributed power communications system onboard the railroad train (), determining a location of the lead locomotive (), and including the location in a record of the operating information.

Method and system for using location information in conjunction with recorded operating information for a railroad train

A communication apparatus includes an operation module configured for communication with a wireless message repeater, e.g., a rail vehicle distributed power message repeater. The wireless message repeater is of the type having an antenna system, a receiver for receiving an incoming message, and a transmitter for transmitting a repeat message of the incoming message. The operation module is further configured to assess operation of the message repeater by comparing a feedback signal to the incoming message. The feedback signal may comprise part of a signal energy of the transmitted repeat message as received by the receiver. Alternatively or additionally, the operation module is further configured to assess operation of the message repeater by comparing at least one signal power associated with the transmitted repeat message to at least one threshold.

Apparatus and method for repeating communication messages in rail vehicle system

A method for remotely administering a fault detected on an unmanned powered system that is controlled through a lead powered system, the method including detecting an operational fault on an unmanned powered system, communicating information about the fault to the lead powered system, through a wireless communication protocol operable with a wireless communication system, and communicating a reset message to the unmanned powered system to reset the fault detected. A system and computer software code, stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor, are also disclosed for remotely handling a fault detected on an unmanned powered system that is controlled through a lead powered system.

Method, system, and computer software code for wireless remote fault handling on a remote distributed power powered system

A method is provided for operating a distributed power repeater for a train system. The method includes: (a) monitoring all radio traffic on a wireless communications channel used by the repeater to relay distributed power commands between a plurality of transmitters and receivers disposed on a plurality of trains for distributed power control of the trains; (b) determining the level of channel loading on the communications channel; (c) comparing the channel loading to a predetermined limit; (d) if the channel loading is less than the predetermined limit, relaying messages over the wireless communications channel at a first activity level; and (e) if the channel loading exceeds the predetermined limit, relaying messages over the wireless communications channel at a second activity level less than the first activity level.

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Rockledge, FL, United States of America

Gary William Mason