System and Method for Transporting Wayside Data on a Rail Vehicle

Abstract

A system is provided for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle. The system includes a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, where the rail vehicle travels along the rail. The system includes a transceiver coupled to the wayside device to transmit and receive data relating to the operation of the wayside device. Additionally, the system includes a transceiver coupled to the rail vehicle in communication with the wayside device transceiver upon the rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of the wayside device. The rail vehicle transceiver transmits or receives the data based upon the communication with the wayside device transceiver. The rail vehicle transports the data between the wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of the rail vehicle prior to the communication with the wayside device transceiver. A method is also provided for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle.

1 . A system for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle, comprising:
 a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, said rail vehicle configured to travel along said rail;   a transceiver coupled to said wayside device configured to transmit and receive data relating to the operation of said wayside device; and   a transceiver coupled to said rail vehicle in communication with said wayside device transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said wayside device along said rail, said rail vehicle transceiver is configured to one of transmit and receive said data based upon said communication with said wayside device transceiver;   said rail vehicle is configured to transport said data between said wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of said rail vehicle determined prior to said communication with said wayside device transceiver.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail vehicle is a train having a plurality of locomotives. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wireless communication. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wired communication. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a processor positioned on said rail vehicle, said processor coupled to said rail vehicle transceiver; said processor having a programmable memory for said rail vehicle transceiver to transport said data of at least one selective wayside device among a plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route of said rail vehicle.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said data is at least one of diagnostic data, operational data and statistical data relating to the operation of said wayside device. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein for said at least one selective wayside device, said programmable memory includes one of said rail vehicle transceiver to transmit said data to said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver to receive said data from said wayside device transceiver. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein upon said rail vehicle transceiver receiving data from said wayside device transceiver, said rail vehicle transceiver is configured to store said data in a memory of said processor during said transport of said data between said wayside device and said secondary location. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a monitoring center is positioned at said secondary location, a transceiver is coupled to said monitoring center; said monitoring center transceiver is in communication with said rail vehicle transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said monitoring center. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said data is retrieved from said processor and transmitted from said rail vehicle transceiver to said monitoring center transceiver. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said monitoring center is configured to evaluate said at least one of diagnostic data, operational data and statistical data relating to the operation of said wayside device to determine an onset of failure of said wayside device. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , said monitoring center transceiver is configured to transmit said data of said wayside device to said rail vehicle transceiver, said data is stored in said memory, said rail vehicle is configured to transport said data to said wayside device along said pre-existing route and transmit said data from said memory to said rail vehicle transceiver and to said wayside device transceiver. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said data is configuration data of said wayside device. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said programmable memory is programmed such that said rail vehicle is configured to transport data from at least one failed wayside device among said plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said rail vehicle includes a plurality of transceivers, said processor being coupled to said plurality of transceivers; upon one of said transceivers transmitting or receiving said data from said wayside device transceiver, said processor is configured to deactivate the remaining of said transceivers from communicating with said wayside device transceiver. 
   
   
       16 . A communication system for transporting wayside data on a rail vehicle, comprising:
 a rail vehicle traveling along a rail, said rail vehicle having a transceiver;   a wayside device positioned adjacent to a rail, said wayside device having a transceiver in communication with said rail vehicle transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said wayside device along said rail;   said rail vehicle transceiver is configured to one of transmit and receive said data based upon said communication with said wayside device transceiver, said rail vehicle is further configured to transport said data between said wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of said rail vehicle determined prior to said communication with said wayside device transceiver.   
   
   
       17 . The communication system of  claim 16 , wherein the rail vehicle is a train having a plurality of locomotives. 
   
   
       18 . The communication system of  claim 17 , wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wired communication. 
   
   
       19 . The communication system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a processor positioned on said rail vehicle, said processor coupled to said rail vehicle transceiver; said processor having a programmable memory for said rail vehicle transceiver to transport said data of at least one selective wayside device among a plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route of said rail vehicle.   
   
   
       20 . A method for transporting wayside software data on a rail vehicle, comprising:
 positioning a wayside device adjacent to a rail, said rail vehicle configured to travel along said rail;   coupling a transceiver to said wayside device, said transceiver being configured to transmit and receive software data relating to the operation of software within said wayside device;   coupling a transceiver to said rail vehicle in communication with said wayside device transceiver upon said rail vehicle passing within a proximate distance of said wayside device along said rail;   configuring said rail vehicle transceiver to one of transmit and receive said software data based upon said communication with said wayside device transceiver; and   transporting said software data between said wayside device and a secondary location along a pre-existing route of said rail vehicle determined prior to said communication with said wayside device transceiver.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the rail vehicle is a train having a plurality of locomotives. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the communication between said wayside device transceiver and said rail vehicle transceiver is a wired communication. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 providing a processor on said rail vehicle, said processor coupled to said rail vehicle transceiver; said processor having a programmable memory for said transporting said software data between at least one selective wayside device among a plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route of said rail vehicle.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 programming said programmable memory such that said rail vehicle is configured to transport said software data from at least one failed wayside device among said plurality of wayside devices along said pre-existing route.