System and Method for Acquiring Position of Rolling Stock

Abstract

A system to determine a location of rolling stock, the system including a transmitting device proximate a surface on which a rolling stock rides upon, a signal comprising at least one of location data and unique identification data of the transmitting device that is emitted from the transmitting device only when the rolling stock is proximate the transmitting device, and a receiving device that receives the signal.

1 . A system to determine a location of rolling stock, the system comprising:
 a. a transmitting device proximate a surface on which a rolling stock rides upon;   b. a signal comprising at least one of location data and unique identification data of the transmitting device that is emitted from the transmitting device when the rolling stock is proximate the transmitting device; and   c. a receiving device that receives the signal.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the receiving device is located at least one of on the rolling stock and at a stationary position proximate the transmitting device. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the location data comprises at least one of milepost data and unique position data within a known space. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  comprises a plurality of transmitting devices formed in a network. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the network, signal, and receiving device are used to determine at least one of velocity, acceleration, direction and length of rolling stock. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein a malfunctioning transmitting device within the network is detectable by other transmitting devices in the network. 
   
   
       7 . A system for determining a location of a train, the system comprising:
 a. a sensor proximate a railroad rail;   b. a transmitting device in communication with the sensor;   c. a signal comprising at least one of location data and unique identification data of the transmitting device which is emitted from the transmitting device when the sensor is activated; and   d. a receiving device that receives the signal.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the sensor comprises an electric pulse generator membrane beneath the railroad rail. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the membrane activates the transmitting device when compressive force is applied to the rail proximate the membrane. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the membrane activates the transmitting device with at least one of an electrical pulse and a wireless signal. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the location data comprises at least one of milestone position data and unique rail yard position data. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the receiving device is located at least one of on the train and at a stationary wayside location. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 7  wherein a plurality of a sensors and transmitting devices form a network. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the network is used to determine at least one of velocity, acceleration, direction and length of the train. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 4  wherein a malfunctioning transmitting device within the network is detectable by other transmitting devices in the network. 
   
   
       16 . A method for autonomously determining a location of a moving vehicle, the system comprising:
 a. activating a transmitting device that transmits a signal when the vehicle is proximate the transmitting device;   b. upon activating the transmitting device, emitting the signal that comprises at least one of location data and unique identification data of the transmitting device; and   c. receiving the signal so as to determine where the moving vehicle is located.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein receiving the signal comprises at least one of receiving the signal on the vehicle and receiving the signal at a receiving device proximate the transmitting device. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein emitting a signal comprises radiating an encoded milepost data. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprises activating the transmitting device with a sensor when the moving vehicles is proximate transmitting device that in turns activates the transmitting device with at least one of an electrical pulse and a wireless signal. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprises forming a network with a plurality of transmitting devices. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein forming the network further comprises determining at least one of velocity, acceleration, direction and a length of moving vehicle using the network. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprises determining a malfunctioning transmitting device within the network with other transmitting devices in the network.