Locomotive wireless video recorder and recording system

Abstract

A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images relating to events of interest in a vicinity of the locomotive and transmitting the images to a location off-board of the locomotive, the system comprising: an audio/video system with a camera mounted on the locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive, the camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired; and data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with the camera for storing the imaging data. The system also includes a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with the data storage for identifying and retrieving selected imaging data of interest from the data storage. Optionally the system may further include a wireless communication system on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor for transmitting signals associated with the selected imaging data of interest to a location off-board of the locomotive and receiving commands and information from off board the locomotive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images relating to events of interest in a vicinity of the locomotive and transmitting the images to a location off-board of the locomotive, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on the locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive, said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data;    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said data storage for identifying and retrieving selected imaging data of interest from said data storage; and    a wireless communication transmitter on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor for transmitting signals associated with said selected imaging data of interest to a location off-board of the locomotive,    wherein images relating to an event of interest are communicated to the off-board location.    
     
     
         2 . The video recorder system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of operation of said camera, storing of said imaging data, and said transmitting of said imaging data is initiated by a parameter indicative of the occurrence of an event, to provide said imaging data to said off-board location on a near real time basis to said event of interest.  
     
     
         3 . The video recorder system of  claim 2  wherein said parameter comprises at least one of: activation of a locomotive horn, activation of pneumatic brakes, activation of dynamic braking, change of load on locomotive engine, change of an engine throttle setting, and change of an engine speed.  
     
     
         4 . The video recorder system of  claim 1  further including a wireless communication receiver on-board the locomotive in communication with said transmitter at a location off-board of the locomotive said receiver receiving signals from said transmitter at said location off-board to direct operation a wireless communication transmitter on-board the locomotive.  
     
     
         5 . The video recorder system of  claim 1  wherein said off-board location is a data center remote from the locomotive.  
     
     
         6 . The video recorder system of  claim 1  wherein said camera is an infrared camera.  
     
     
         7 . The video recorder system of  claim 1  further comprising a microphone for monitoring sound associated with the events of interest and transmitting audio data to said data storage device, wherein said processor correlates said audio data with said imaging data associated therewith.  
     
     
         8 . The video recorder system of  claim 1  wherein said imaging data acquired, identified and retrieved is displayed on the locomotive.  
     
     
         9 . The video recorder system of  claim 1  wherein the locomotive has a primary electrical power supply and the video recorder system comprises an auxiliary electrical power supply that is separate and independent in its operation from said primary power supply, with said auxiliary electrical power supply providing electrical power to said camera, said processor, said data storage and said wireless communication transmitter.  
     
     
         10 . The video recorder system of  claim 9  wherein the auxiliary power supply provides electrical power to at least one of said processor, said wireless communication transmitter.  
     
     
         11 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images relating to events of interest in a vicinity of the locomotive while being controlled from a location off-board of the locomotive, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on the locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data;    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera said data storage for controlling operation thereof; and    a wireless communication receiver on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor and a transmitter at a location off-board of the locomotive said receiver receiving signals from said transmitter at said location off-board to direct operation of said camera and storage of said imaging data in said data storage,    wherein images relating to an event of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive, which are of interest at said location off-board are acquired and captured in said data storage upon direction therefrom.    
     
     
         12 . The video recorder system of  claim 11  wherein said location off-board transmits signals for changing a configuration of the video recorder system on-board the locomotive.  
     
     
         13 . The video recorder system of  claim 12  wherein said configuration comprises at least one of camera zoom, camera angle, camera focus, lighting effects, image resolution, frequency of imaging signal, data storage parameters, and data storage location.  
     
     
         14 . The video recorder system of  claim 11  wherein the locomotive has a primary electrical power supply and the video recorder system comprises an auxiliary electrical power supply that is separate and independent in its operation from said primary power supply, with said auxiliary electrical power supply providing electrical power to said camera and said data storage.  
     
     
         15 . The video recorder system of  claim 14  wherein the auxiliary power supply provides electrical power to at least one of said processor, said wireless communication transmitter.  
     
     
         16 . The video recorder system of claim  111  further comprising a microphone for monitoring sound associated with the events of interest and transmitting audio data to said data storage device, wherein said processor correlates said audio data with said imaging data associated therewith.  
     
     
         17 . The video recorder system of  claim 11  wherein said location off-board is a data center remote from the locomotive.  
     
     
         18 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for transmitting images relating to events of interest in a vicinity of the locomotive while being controlled from a location off-board of the locomotive, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on the locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data;    a wireless communication transmitter on-board the locomotive for transmitting imaging data to a location off-board of the locomotive;    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said wireless communication transmitter, and said data storage for controlling their operation;    a wireless communication receiver on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor and a transmitter off-board of the locomotive, said receiver receiving signals from said location off-board to access said imaging data stored in said data storage and transmit said imaging data to said location off-board; and    wherein images relating to an event of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive, which are of interest at said location off-board of the locomotive are transmitted to said location off-board upon direction therefrom.    
     
     
         19 . The video recorder system of  claim 18  wherein said transmitter off-board transmits signals for changing a configuration of said wireless communication transmitter on-board.  
     
     
         20 . The video recorder system of  claim 19  wherein said configuration comprises at least one of transmission protocol, transmission channel, transmission timer and data packet size.  
     
     
         21 . The video recorder system of  claim 20  further comprising a microphone for monitoring sound associated with the events of interest and transmitting audio data to said data storage device, wherein said processor correlates said audio data with said imaging data associated therewith.  
     
     
         22 . The video recorder system of  claim 18  further including said camera in communication with said processor for direction and selection of images relating to an event of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive.  
     
     
         23 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images relating to events of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive and a time of occurrence such images and events, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on a locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data;    a wireless receiver on-board the locomotive receiving signals indicative of a chronological date and time, constituting time tag data, at a time of transmission of the signals; and    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said wireless communication receiver, and said data storage to correlate time tag data with said imaging data,    wherein said time tag data are correlated with associated image data of said event of interest.    
     
     
         24 . The video recorder system of  claim 23  wherein said signals indicative of a chronological date and time are provided by a GPS satellite.  
     
     
         25 . The video recorder system of  claim 24  further comprising a wireless communication transmitter on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor for transmitting said imaging data and time tag data associated therewith to a location off-board of the locomotive.  
     
     
         26 . The video recorder system of  claim 25  wherein said processor activates said wireless communication transmitter to transmit said imaging data and time tag data at instances based on said imaging data and time tag data received from said GPS satellite.  
     
     
         27 . The video recorder system of  claim 23  further comprising a microphone for monitoring sound associated with the events of interest and transmitting audio data to said data storage device, wherein said processor correlates said audio data with said imaging data associated therewith.  
     
     
         28 . The video recorder system of  claim 23  further including said camera in communication with said processor for direction and selection of images relating to an event of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive and a time of occurrence such images and events.  
     
     
         29 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images relating to events of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive and a location of such events, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on a locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data;    a global positioning system wireless receiver on-board the locomotive receiving signals indicative of a location of the locomotive; and    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said global positioning system wireless receiver, and said data storage to correlate location data with associated imaging data;    wherein location data indicative of a location of the locomotive at which an event of interest occurred are associated with imaging data therefrom.    
     
     
         30 . The video recorder system of  claim 29  wherein said processor activates said data storage to record said imaging data when the locomotive travels to a predetermined location.  
     
     
         31 . The video recorder system of  claim 29  further including said camera in communication with said processor for direction and selection of images relating to an event of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive and a time of occurrence such images and events.  
     
     
         32 . The video recorder system of  claim 29  further comprising a wireless communication transmitter on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor for transmitting signals indicative of said imaging data to a location off-board, with said processor activating said wireless communication transmitter when the locomotive travels to a predetermined location.  
     
     
         33 . The video recorder system of  claim 29  wherein said processor activates said camera to image selected imaging data when the locomotive travels to a predetermined location.  
     
     
         34 . The video recorder system of  claim 33  further comprising a track map database including wayside site location information, with said processor being in communication with said track map database and locating the locomotive relative to a wayside site of interest and activating said camera to image and said data storage to record said imaging data when the locomotive is in a vicinity of a site of interest.  
     
     
         35 . The video recorder system of  claim 34  wherein the camera acquires said imaging data relative to operation of wayside equipment at said site of interest.  
     
     
         36 . The video recorder system of  claim 34  wherein said camera acquires said imaging data relative to non-railway objects at said site of interest.  
     
     
         37 . The video recorder system of  claim 29  further comprising a microphone for monitoring sound associated with the events of interest and transmitting audio data to said data storage device, wherein said processor correlates said audio data with said imaging data associated therewith.  
     
     
         38 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images and a plurality of sets of locomotive operating parameter data relating to an event of interest in a vicinity of the locomotive, with said event being one of a plurality of types of events and said parameter data being organized in different sets of data, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on the locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive, said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    a plurality of sensors disposed on-board the locomotive for monitoring a plurality of operating parameters of the locomotive, generating operating parameter data indicative of such parameters and transmitting such operating parameter data;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data, said data storage in communication with said plurality of sensors for storing said operating parameter data;    a database identifying a type of event of said plurality of types of events and a set of parameter data of relevance to a selected type of event respectively; and    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said data storage, and said database; and    wherein said processor associates a selected set of parameter data of relevance to a selected set of imaging data for said event.    
     
     
         39 . The video recorder system of  claim 38  wherein said set of locomotive operating parameter data comprise at least one of: locomotive speed data, pneumatic braking data, dynamic braking data, engine throttle notch setting data, wheel slip data, engine load data, fuel level data, and track curvature detection data.  
     
     
         40 . The video recorder system of  claim 38  further comprising a wireless receiver on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor for receiving signals from a location off-board of the locomotive for reconfiguring said data base to associate said types of events and said sets of locomotive operating parameter data differently.  
     
     
         41 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images and sets of environmental parameter data relating to an event of interest in a vicinity of the locomotive, with said event being one of a plurality of types of events and the environmental data being organized in different sets of data, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on a locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive, said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    a plurality of sensors disposed on-board the locomotive for monitoring a plurality of the environmental parameters occurring in the vicinity of the locomotive, said plurality of sensors generating environmental data indicative of such environmental parameters and transmitting such environmental data;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data, said data storage in communication with said plurality of sensors for storing said environmental data;    a database identifying a of type of event of said plurality of types of events and a set of environmental parameter data of relevance to a selected type of event; and    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said data storage, said plurality of sensors, and said data base; and    said processor associating a selected set of environmental parameter data of relevance to a selected set of imaging data for said event.    
     
     
         42 . The video recorder system of  claim 41  wherein said set of environmental parameter data comprises at least one of: data generated at a camera at a side of the locomotive, a camera on a railcar moved by the locomotive, a smoke detector and a microphone.  
     
     
         43 . The video recorder system of  claim 41  wherein said environmental parameter data relevance is comprises at least one of: weather condition data, track condition data, track topography data, elevation data, locomotive direction data and locomotive heading data.  
     
     
         44 . The video recorder system of  claim 41  further comprising a wireless receiver on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor for receiving signals from a location off-board of the locomotive for reconfiguring said data base to associate said types of events and said sets of environmental parameter data differently.  
     
     
         45 . A video recorder system carried on-board a railroad locomotive for recording images and sets of video recorder system operating parameter data relating to a health of the video recorder system, the system comprising: 
 a camera mounted on a locomotive for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive and for transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    a plurality of sensors for monitoring a plurality of operating parameters of the video recorder system, said plurality of sensors generating operating parameter data indicative of said operating parameters and transmitting such operating parameter data;    data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera for storing said imaging data, said data storage in communication with said plurality sensors for storing said operating parameter data;    a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said data storage, said plurality of sensors to identify and retrieve relevant system operating parameter data, wherein operating parameter data indicative of the health of the system are recorded.    
     
     
         46 . The video recorder system of  claim 45  further comprising a wireless communication transmitter on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor for transmitting data indicative of the health of the video recorder system to a location off-board of the locomotive.  
     
     
         47 . The video recorder system of  claim 45  wherein said operating parameter data comprises: data indicative of a loss of electrical power to the system, loss of camera functionality, loss of imaging data, time of system failure, location of system failure, processor failure, and data storage failure.  
     
     
         48 . A method of video and data recording with a video recorder system for recording images relating to events of interest in a vicinity of locomotive and transmitting the images to a location off-board of the locomotive, the method comprising: 
 imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive with a camera mounted on the locomotive, said camera transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired;    storing said imaging data in data storage on-board the locomotive in communication with said camera;    identifying and retrieving selected imaging data of interest from said data storage with a processor on-board the locomotive in communication with said data storage; and    transmitting signals associated with said selected imaging data of interest to a location off-board of the locomotive with a wireless communication transmitter onboard the locomotive in communication with said processor.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  further including receiving signals from a transmitter at said location off-board to direct operation of said camera and storage of said imaging data in said data storage with a wireless communication receiver onboard the locomotive in communication with said processor and a transmitter at a location off-board of the locomotive said receiver, 
 wherein images relating to an event of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive, which are of interest at said location off-board are acquired and captured in said data storage upon direction therefrom.  
 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48  further including receiving signals with a wireless communication receiver on-board the locomotive in communication with said processor and a transmitter off-board of the locomotive to access said imaging data stored in said data storage and transmitting said imaging data to said location off-board; and 
 wherein images relating to an event of interest in the vicinity of the locomotive, which are of interest at said location off-board of the locomotive are transmitted to said location off-board upon direction therefrom.  
 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48  further including receiving signals indicative of a chronological date and time, constituting time tag data, at a time of transmission of the signals with a wireless receiver on-board the locomotive; and 
 wherein said time tag data are correlated with associated image data of said event of interest.  
 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48  further including determining a location said locomotive with a global positioning system on-board the locomotive; and 
 wherein location data indicative of a location of the locomotive at which an event of interest occurred are associated with imaging data therefrom.  
 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48  further including: 
 monitoring a plurality of operating parameters of the locomotive;  
 generating operating parameter data indicative of such parameters;  
 identifying a type of event of a plurality of types of events and a set of parameter data of relevance to a selected type of event respectively; and  
 associating a selected set of parameter data of relevance to a selected set of imaging data for said event.  
 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48  further including: 
 monitoring a plurality of environmental parameters of and in the vicinity the locomotive;  
 generating environmental parameter data indicative of such parameters;  
 identifying a type of event of a plurality of types of events and a set of environmental parameter data of relevance to a selected type of event respectively; and  
 associating a selected set of environmental parameter data of relevance to a selected set of imaging data for said event.  
 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48  further including: 
 monitoring a plurality of operating parameters of said video recorder system;  
 generating operating parameter data indicative of such parameters; and  
 identifying and retrieving relevant operating parameter data, wherein operating parameter data indicative of the health of the system are recorded.