The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
May. 22, 1995
Michael J Neeson, Omaha, NE (US);
Edward L Furman, Omaha, NE (US);
Automated Monitoring and Control International, Inc., Omaha, NE (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for tracking reporting and recording equipment inventory on a locomotive equipped with a mobile communications package (MCP) operatively connected to on-board intelligent devices and operative to transmit and receive information to and from at least one remote base communications unit, the intelligent devices operatively connected in a local communication network, the apparatus including a processing device operative to broadcast a Query for Health Report to on-board intelligent devices and receive Health Reports Messages from on-board intelligent devices, wherein the Query for Health Report is a request for equipment identification information and the Health Report Messages are the requested equipment identification information. A database in information transmission connection with the processing device is operative to receive and store equipment identification information. A polling device periodically initiates Queries for Health Reports to the on-board intelligent devices, and the updated Health Reports are stored in a temporary information storage database. The equipment identification information in the first database is compared to the most recent equipment identification information stored in the temporary database by a comparison device which determines changes in devices on the locomotive. Finally, reporting and notifying devices in information transmission connection with the processing device report equipment on-board the locomotive and notify an operator of a change of equipment on a locomotive.