Method and apparatus to automatically generate a train manifest

Abstract

A system located in a region to determine information about an unknown car relative to a moving train includes first and second satellite navigation receivers, first and second transceivers and first and second controllers. The moving train includes a first car, and the region includes the moving train and the unknown car. The region is defined by points at which radio communication with the first car is possible. The first satellite navigation receiver, located in the first car, provides first location data, and the second satellite navigation receiver, located in the unknown car, provides second location data. The first transceiver is located in the first car, and the second transceiver is located in the unknown car. The first controller, located in the first car, reads the first location data from the first satellite receiver at a first time and sends via the first transceiver a first request to the second transceiver at the first time. The second controller, located in the unknown car and responsive to the first request received via the second transceiver, reads the second location data from the second satellite receiver and sends via the second transceiver a first response to the first transceiver, the first response including the second location data, wherein the first controller receives via the first transceiver the response and calculates a first distance from a first difference between the first and second location data. Alternatively, the first controller polls the region for unknown cars. An unknown car responds with it identification number. The first controller has a Doppler receiver to determine whether the unknown and responding car is moving with respect to the first controller. From the Doppler indications of all responding cars, the first controller determines a train manifest, and then transmits the manifest and equipment status via satellite to a central station.