U.S. patent application number 15/632710 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-19 for virtual railroad crossing alert.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michael C. Ryan. Invention is credited to Michael C. Ryan.
Application Number | 20170297595 15/632710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56565349 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170297595 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ryan; Michael C. |
October 19, 2017 |
VIRTUAL RAILROAD CROSSING ALERT
Abstract
System and method for a virtual crossing alert system that
provides a notification, an alert, or a command to an alert
receiving system depending on the spatial relationships of actors
within a specified area.
Inventors: |
Ryan; Michael C.;
(Mitchellvile, IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ryan; Michael C. |
Mitchellvile |
IA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56565349 |
Appl. No.: |
15/632710 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14856556 |
Sep 17, 2015 |
9688297 |
|
|
15632710 |
|
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|
62050958 |
Sep 16, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61L 29/24 20130101;
B61L 15/0027 20130101; B61L 15/009 20130101; B61L 21/10 20130101;
B61L 2205/04 20130101; B61L 25/025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B61L 29/24 20060101
B61L029/24; B61L 15/00 20060101 B61L015/00; B61L 15/00 20060101
B61L015/00; B61L 21/10 20060101 B61L021/10; B61L 25/02 20060101
B61L025/02 |
Claims
1. A virtual crossing system comprising: one or more networks; a
railroad information system, a positioning and mapping system, an
alert receiving system, and an integration system wherein the
integration system receives train information from the railroad
system over the one or more networks and constructs a first digital
zone around the train, wherein the integration system receives
location information from the alert receiving system over the one
or more networks and constructs a second digital zone around the
alert receiving device, and wherein the integration system issues
at least one of an alert, a notification, and a command depending
on (i) when the first digital zone intersects the second digital
zone or (ii) when the first digital zone is expected to intersect
the second digital zone, according to defined parameters.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority
to and the benefit of, U.S. application Ser. No. 14/856,556, (U.S.
Pat. No. 9,688,297), which claims priority to and the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/050,958, the contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention is generally related to transportation
safety. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a
system and method for facilitating a warning and alert system at
railroad, or other similar, crossing.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Railroads must contend with enormous liability related to
their various railroad crossings around the clock, every day of the
year. Railroads have the right of way of travel. Anyone must yield
to rail traffic when approaching a railroad crossing. However,
railroad crossings remain dangerous. As of 2009, there were 136,041
railroad crossing in the United States. Of that number, over 60,000
had gates, lights, bells and other equipment that must have power
provide to them for operation and subsequently maintained. In 2009,
431 people were killed at railroad crossings while 343 were injured
on railroad right of ways.
[0004] Typically to provide a safer crossing, one solution is to
provide more crossing gates, alarms, bells, control circuitry, etc.
to more crossings. However, with each more and more installations,
costs become prohibitive to maintain the needed equipment.
[0005] What is needed is a solution that increases safety of
crossings, and therefore, railroad networks but at a fraction of
the cost in installation and maintenance.
SUMMARY
[0006] While the way in which the present invention addresses the
disadvantages of the prior art will be discussed in greater detail
below, in general, the present invention for systems and methods
improving safety at railroad crossings. The systems and methods
provide a warning and alert system by constructing digital zones
around various actors within a specified area.
[0007] A virtual crossing system comprises one or more networks, a
railroad information system, a positioning and mapping system, an
alert receiving system, and an integration system wherein the
integration system receives train information from the railroad
system over the one or more networks and constructs a first digital
zone around the train wherein the integration system receives
location information from the alert receiving system over the one
or more networks and constructs a second digital zone around the
alert receiving device, and wherein the integration system issues
at least one of an alert, a notification, and a command depending
on (i) when the first digital zone intersects the second digital
zone or (ii) when the first digital zone is expected to intersect
the second digital zone, according to defined parameters.
[0008] A method of constructing zones around various actors within
a virtual crossing system comprises: for actors within a specified
area, receiving at a specially programmed computer, train
information from a railroad information system, receiving at the
computer, positioning and mapping information, and receiving, at
the computer, alert receiving device information. The specially
programmed computer digitally constructs zones around each actor in
the specified area. When one or more zones intersect, the specially
programmed computer issues an alert, a notification, or a command
based one or more parameters. An alert receiving device receives
the alert, notification, or command and executes an audio, visual,
or vibratory action.
[0009] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other
features of the present invention will become more fully apparent
from the following description and appended claims, or may be
learned by the practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited
and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained,
a more particular description of the invention briefly described
above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments
thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments
of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be
limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and
explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary virtual crossing alert
system of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary integration system
architecture.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary digital zone constructed in
front and back of a moving train. FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary
display of information within a mobile display of the virtual
crossing system. FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary operation and
display of information in an exemplary walking embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 4A illustrates operation of the virtual crossing system
in an exemplary train crossing embodiment when safe to cross. FIG.
4B illustrates operation of the virtual crossing system in an
exemplary train crossing embodiment when not safe to cross.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Various embodiments of the invention are described in detail
below. While specific implementations involving various hardware
and software components (e.g., smart phones, tablet and portable
computers) are described, it should be understood that the
description here is merely illustrative and not intended to limit
the scope of the various aspects of the invention. A person skilled
in the relevant art will recognize that other components and
configurations may be easily used or substituted than those that
are described here without parting from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
[0016] For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking,
application development and other functional aspects of the systems
(and components of the individual operating components of the
systems) may not be described in detail. The connecting lines shown
in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary
functional relationships and/or physical couplings between various
elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional
functional relationships or physical connections may be present in
a practical system.
[0017] The invention may be described in terms of functional block
components, optional selections and various processing steps. It
should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized
by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to
perform the specified functions. For example, the invention may
employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory
elements, processing elements, logic elements, audio and/or visual
elements, input/output elements, wired or wireless communication
techniques, and the like, which may carry out a variety of
functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other
control devices.
[0018] Similarly, the software elements of the invention may be
implemented with any programming, scripting language or web service
protocols such as C, C++, C#, Java, COBOL, assembler, and the like.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the software and
hardware elements may be implemented with an operating system such
as Microsoft Windows.RTM., UNIX, Apple OS X, MacOS, Linux, Android
and the like.
[0019] As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art,
the system may be embodied as a customization of an existing
system, an add-on product, upgraded software, a stand alone system,
a distributed system, a method, a data processing system, a device
for data processing, and/or a computer program product.
Accordingly, the system may take the form of an entirely software
embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment
combining aspects of both software and hardware. Furthermore, the
system may take the form of a computer program product on a
computer-readable storage medium have computer-readable program
code means embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable
computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, including hard
disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices,
and/or the like.
[0020] The computer program instructions may be loaded onto a
general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other
programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such
that the instructions execute on the computer or other programmable
data processing apparatus create means for implementing the
functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer
program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other
programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of
operational steps to be performed on the computer or other
programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process
such that instructions which execute on the computer or other
programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions
specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary virtual crossing alert
system 100 of the present invention. In its embodiments, a virtual
crossing alert system comprises a railroad information system 110,
a position acquisition system and mapping system 120, an
integration system 130, and an alert receiving system 140.
Depending on the embodiment, a virtual crossing alert system may
optionally include a traffic information system 150 and/or a
weather information system 160. Depending on the physical
configuration, these systems may use a variety of methods to
communicate with each other. For example, in some embodiments, the
systems may communicate over one or more networks using protocols
suited to the particular system and communication. As used herein,
the term "network" shall include any electronic communications
means which incorporates both hardware and software components.
Communication among the systems may be accomplished through any
suitable communication channels, such as, for example, a telephone
network, a telecommunication network (e.g., including 3G, 4G
standards), fiber optic based network, a radio based network, an
extranet, an intranet, Internet, portable computer device, personal
digital assistant, smartphone device, online communications,
satellite communications, off-line communications, wireless
communications, transponder communications, infrared
communications, a broadcast network, microwave communications, WiFi
communications, Bluetooth, local area network, wide area network,
networked or linked devices, keyboard, mouse and/or any suitable
communication or data input modality. In some embodiments, part of
one system may be integrated with another system. For example, the
positioning system and the mapping system may be integrated into a
single system to perform both functions. As another example,
positioning information may be received from both the railroad
information system and a separate positioning system and be
integrated in the mapping system. In other embodiments, one or more
of the systems are contained within a single physical unit and
appropriately coupled through various integrated circuit
components.
[0022] The railroad information system 110 includes any hardware
and/or software suitably configured to monitor and provide train
information to the virtual crossing alert system. The railroad
information system 110 monitors and train movement through a
particular system of trains and track and collects various
information regarding such movement. For example, such systems may
monitor and collect attributes such as location, direction, speed,
and consist size of trains, operator information, location of
repair crews and service vehicles, speed restrictions of tracks,
condition of tracks, status and condition of wayside signals. One
such exemplary system known in the railway industry is the Positive
Train Control System. While there are other systems for monitoring
train movement and information well known in the art, theses system
will not be described in further detail. Any system that monitors
train movements, track conditions, and wayside signal status and
conditions and collects and provides such information to another
system are within the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0023] The position acquisition and mapping system 120 includes any
hardware and/or software suitably configured to acquire the
identification and location information of the various actors
within the virtual crossing system, such alert receiving devices
140, trains, and vehicles and translate this information, so that
mapping information regarding the locations of the various actors
within the virtual crossing alert system can be produced and
accessible to the virtual crossing alert system. For example,
Global Positioning Systems (GPS), cellular, radio, Wi-Fi, digital
compasses, quantum position, railroad systems and other similar
technologies may be used to ascertain the location and
identification of the actors in the system. These systems will not
be described in detail, but any system that can acquire positioning
of objects such trains, tracks, vehicles, and alert receiving
devices are within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0024] Mapping technology such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, digital
maps, CAD/GIS (geographic information system) and the like acquires
the data from the position acquisition system and translates the
data into a map that can monitor and track the various actors
relative to each other within the mapped location. In some
embodiments, the map would result in a visual representation sent
to a display for consumption by a person. In other embodiments, the
"map" is a digital representation of a particular area that
monitors relative positions within the area of interest. These
systems will not be described in detail, but any system that can
obtain positioning information for multiple actors within an area
of interest and can map such information is within the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0025] An alert receiving system 140 includes any hardware and/or
software suitably configured to receive information from the other
subsystems within the virtual crossing alert system and provide a
notification, a display, or a command to another device based such
information received. Exemplary devices are smart phones, cell
phones, vehicle electronic control modules (ECM), laptops, tablets,
watches, electronic activity trackers (e.g., Fitbit) and the like.
These systems will not be described in detail, but any system that
receives alert information and provides a notification, a display,
or a command to another device based on the information is within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0026] An integration system 130 includes any hardware and/or
software suitably configured to receive and send information to the
other subsystems with the virtual crossing alert system. In an
exemplary embodiment, the integration system is cloud-based. The
integration system acts as the information integration and analysis
hub of the virtual crossing system. The system may employ one or
more applications implementing the features of the system
configured to work together on one or more specially-programmed
computers. The system may communicate with other subsystems via a
network, whether wired or wireless, depending on the particular
needs of a subsystem. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary integration
system architecture. The integration system 201 communicates with
various railroad information systems 202-205 to retrieve
information regarding the various trains and other actors monitored
by those systems. The integration system 201 communicates with
various clients 206-210 to receive and transmit location
information and zone information for the various actors within the
virtual crossing system. The integration system also interfaces
with a train management system 211 (e.g., PTC) to retrieve needed
information or issued commands to the system. The integration
system may also be distributed amongst the subsystem to accomplish
the goals of the system. For example, part of the features or
functions (described below) may occur at the integration system and
a smart phone.
[0027] In its embodiments, the integration system 130 constructs
digital representations of areas or "zones" around one or more
actors monitored by system including trains and devices of the
alert receiving system 140. The digital construction of the zones
facilitates the actuation of an alert, notification, or command to
the receiving device. An alert may take many forms, for example, an
audible sound, a visual indicator, or a control command. Depending
on the specific application, any number of zones may be digitally
created around any number of actors within the system. When these
zones interact, various alerts, notifications, or commands may be
sent to the alert receiving system 140. FIG. 3 illustrates a zone
constructed in front and back of a moving train. In this exemplary
embodiment, the position of the train is communicated to a wayside
server 301 and to wayside interface 302. The railroad information
server, in this case, a PTC interface, communicates the train's
information (e.g., location and speed) to the railroad's network
operations center 303. This information is received by the
integration system 330 and communicated to an alert receiving
system 340 through one or more networks 304. A similar zone is
constructed around an alert receiving device. The size of the
zones, in the case of the train or the alert receiving device, may
be influenced by ground speed (train and device), weather
conditions, local topography and the like.
[0028] The integration system 330 ascertains the location of a
particular alert receiving device 340. The integration system may
continually poll the particular device for its position information
or the device may send position information to the server (e.g.,
location, speed, or route). The time between requests, either by
the server or the device, can be preset or determined according to
the particular application. The integration server receives the
current position information of the alert receiving device and
correlates this information with the position information of nearby
trains.
[0029] Depending on the positional relationship of the digitally
constructed zones of the two actors (i.e., train and device), one
or more alerts, notifications, or command may be sent at various
times during the this monitoring relationship. For example, if the
zones are intersecting and a collision is imminent, the integration
system may send a comment to the alert receiving device. This
command may cause the device to provide an audio or visual alert,
e.g., to vibrate or sound an alert or to show a "collision icon" on
a display. The types of alerts, notifications, and command will
depend on the particular application of the system. For example, in
an application where the alert receiving device is an ECM, the
integration system may send a command to the ECM to brake the
vehicle. In an application where the alert receiving device is a
smart phone being held by a user (e.g., taking a walk), the
integration system may send a command that cause the smartphone to
vibrate. In some embodiments, the integration system 130 may also
issue commands to the railroad information system 110 so the system
may issue a brake command to the train. In other embodiments, the
train may be configured with an alert receiving device so that
operation of the train can remain local to the train.
[0030] In another embodiment, the alert receiving device requests
and receives position information from the integration system. In
this embodiment, the alert receiving device is specially programmed
with features of the integration system to perform the zone
position analysis. Whether the integration system requests
information from the alert receiving device, or vice versa, will
depend on the particular application and the capabilities of both
the specially programmed hardware of the two systems (e.g.,
processor speed, bandwidth available). In some embodiments, the
system may "switch" between both modes depending on the conditions
at either system.
[0031] The zones constructed around the various actors within the
system will have varying characteristics depending on the
application and the actor. Many factors can influence the size of
the zones such as speed, location, size and/or weight of the actor,
environmental conditions (e.g., weather), topography, track
conditions, road conditions and the like. For example, a zone
constructed around a train moving through a populated area may be
larger than if the train is in the country (i.e., zone size
dependent upon location of the actor). A zone constructed around an
alert device used by a person walking will be smaller than if that
person is in a car (or the alert device is attached to the car).
Depending on the application, the zones be static or dynamic.
[0032] FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary display of information
within a mobile display of the virtual crossing system. Multiple
crossings within a specified area 320a-c are displayed along with
their status based on the interaction of the zones of the actors
within the area. As indicated, the expected time of arrival at each
crossing can be estimated and displayed based on the current route
321 information of the alert receiving device.
[0033] FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary operation and display of
information in an exemplary walking embodiment. Similar to FIG. 3A,
a crossing 360 is identified in the display (of a mobile device,
such as a smart phone or a tablet). When a user equipped with an
alert receiving device (e.g., an application on the smart phone or
tablet) is approaching a railroad crossing, an alert or
notification may be issued during various stages on the walk 361.
In this embodiment, a user indicates a route on the alert receiving
device (via manual input or voice entry). The user's current
location is then ascertained and mapped on the display 362. Because
a railroad crossing is within the specified area (in this
embodiment, determined by the display), the alert receiving system
is made aware of the railroad crossing and its constructed zone.
Based on parameters such as walking speed and route, the device may
display various information such as speed, railroad crossing
arrival time, and if the crossing is able to be crossed 363. Any
number of characteristics may be displayed depending on the
application, such as speed, travel time, estimated arrival,
crossing status, alert status, weather conditions, traffic
conditions, train or crossing characteristics and the like.
[0034] FIG. 4A-4C illustrates the operation of the virtual crossing
system in an exemplary train crossing embodiment. In FIG. 4A, a
zone is constructed around a fixed area, e.g., the train crossing.
At 1,500 feet from the track crossing 401, the alert receiving
device is receiving a "Clear Passage" notification 402 because
there is no other actor within the distance (or expected to be
within that distance) of the alert receiving device. FIG. 6B
illustrates the expected arrival of a train, which is traveling at
62 mph, at the crossing. At 1,354 feet from the track crossing 403,
the alert receiving device, which is traveling at 46 mph, is issued
a "Caution" 404 and "Stop Don't Enter" 405 notification.
[0035] In this instance the oncoming train's zone and the alert
receiving device's zone are interacting to create the
notifications.
[0036] Additionally, visual and audio alerts may be utilized at the
railroad crossing that are actuated by the integration system or
the alert receiving system. For example, the crossings may employ
audible sound generators 410 or flashing warning lights 411 that
are actuated according to parameters set by the integration or
alert receiving systems. A "Wi-Fi" 412 hotspot may be employed at
the crossing to assist in bettering wireless coverage in needed
areas.
[0037] Also, FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate how a display of some of the
information available within the virtual crossing system, e.g., in
a vehicle display or smart phone. In an exemplary embodiment,
animated icons represent locations where the integration system
interfaces with a vehicle's ECM. In this case, the integration
system also issues command to the display and the ECM. For example,
the integration system may take over control of the vehicle through
its ECM and may slow the vehicle down or stop it completely
depending on the crossing's conditions. Icon alerts 406 can also be
employed that correlate to parameters used by the system to alert
or notify the alert receiving systems at particular distances from
intersecting (or possibly intersecting) zones of other actors
within the system.
[0038] As stated above, an optional system is a traffic information
system 150 that includes any hardware and/or software suitably
configured to provide road traffic information to the alert
receiving system. The traffic information system provides local
traffic information to the integration system so that traffic
conditions may be integrated into creating zones around various
actors.
[0039] As stated above, an optional system is a weather information
system 160 that includes any hardware and/or software suitably
configured to provide current weather information to the alert
receiving system 160. The weather information system provides local
weather information to the integration system so that traffic
conditions may be integrated into creating zones around various
actors.
[0040] A method of constructing zones around various actors within
a virtual crossing system. The method includes the steps of: for
actors within a specified area, receiving at a specially programmed
computer, train information from a railroad information system,
receiving at the computer, positioning and mapping information, and
receiving, at the computer, alert receiving device information. The
specially programmed computer digitally constructs zones around
each actor in the specified area. When one or more zones intersect,
the specially programmed computer issues an alert, a notification,
or a command based one or more parameters. An alert receiving
device receives the alert, notification, or command and executes an
audio, visual, or vibratory action.
[0041] Although the above description may contain specific details,
they should not be construed as limiting the claims in any way.
Other configurations of the described embodiments of the invention
are part of the scope of this invention. The descriptions and
embodiments are not intended to be an exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Accordingly, the appended
claims and their legal equivalents should only define the
invention, rather than any specific examples given.
* * * * *