General Electric Company

Alstom Transport Technologies

Jeffrey Keith Baker

Jeffrey Michael Fries

Wolfgang Daum

Joseph Forrest Noffsinger

Tom Otsubo

William David Shields

Aric Albert Weingartner

Michael W Steffen, Ii

Craig Alan Stull

Gregory Hann

Jesse Herlocker

Gerald Douglas Rose

Phillip A Danner

Jerome Beshoner

A system includes a detection module, a control module, an input module, and a determination module. The detection module is configured to obtain information from one or more detectors corresponding to a condition of a transportation network. The control module is configured to issue control messages using the information obtained. The input module is configured to receive a request for the control module to enter a test mode corresponding to an alteration of at least one of an input or an output of the control module from an operational mode. The determination module is configured to determine if an authorization condition corresponding to a physical state of one or more functional activity module of the transportation network is satisfied. The control module is transferred to the test mode if the authorization condition is satisfied and maintained in the operational mode if the authorization condition is not satisfied.

Systems and methods for maintaining interlockings of transportation networks

A system includes a determination module and a communication module. The determination module is configured to be located onboard a first vehicle configured to travel along a first route including a crossing corresponding to an intersection of the first route with a second route. The determination module is configured to be communicatively coupled with a remote crossing module. The determination module is configured to determine, based on a speed of the first vehicle, timing information corresponding to a time at which the first vehicle will travel proximate to the crossing on the first route. The communication module is configured to transmit the timing information to the remote crossing module. The timing information includes a reference time configured as an absolute time corresponding to a time for impeding travel of a second vehicle along the second route through the crossing.

Systems and methods for providing constant warning time at crossings

Systems and methods for controlling a rail vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a rail vehicle system includes a first version of a travel database including travel information, a communication link to receive a second version of the travel database, and a controller configured to, in response to the second version of the travel database including changes to the travel information that meet predefined override criteria, control operation of the rail vehicle system based on the first version of the travel database; and in response to the changes to the travel information not meeting the predefined override criteria, adjust operation of the rail vehicle system to operate based on the second version of the travel database.

Systems and methods for communications based rail vehicle control

A portable computer system and method of operating a vehicle using the portable computer system in a communication-based train control (CBTC) system territory is provided. The portable computer system includes a sensor and a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the sensor and to the CBTC system, wherein the portable computer system configured to be removably coupled to the vehicle. The method includes verifying that the vehicle is operating with one of a non-operational CBTC computer system and a non-CBTC computer system, and removably coupling a portable computer system including at least one sensor and a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the sensor to the vehicle such that the transceiver is coupled in communication with the CBTC system.

System and method to provide communication-based train control system capabilities

Growing community of inventors

Overland Park, KS, United States of America

Jeffrey Keith Baker