Train crossing safety system

Abstract

Systems and/or methods for reducing problems associated with the train/railroad systems are provided. In certain example embodiments, a system and/or method is provided wherein a sensor monitors a particular area (e.g. a train/railroad crossing, a tunnel entrance or exit, etc.) and transmits data (e.g. an image and/or video) to a train as it approaches the monitored area (e.g. when it is within a predetermined distance of the monitored area). In certain example embodiments, the sensor may be enclosed within a housing to prevent damage thereto. A display within the train may indicate whether or not there is a problem at the particular monitored area (e.g. a blockage at a crossing, a cave-in at a tunnel, etc.). Multiple images corresponding to multiple areas may be displayed, and may be ordered, for example, to the train. The conductor of the train may take appropriate action to avoid accidents and/or to reduce the impact of inevitable accidents (e.g., by stopping the train or reducing speed).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A train safety system for a train, comprising:
 processing circuitry including a processor;   a transceiver; and   a display;   wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cooperate with the transceiver and the display to control the train safety system to at least selectively display condition data received by the transceiver from a plurality of sensor systems, the sensor systems being disposed at different monitored areas;   wherein the condition data is selectively displayed on the display based on a location of the train relative to the monitored areas, when the train is to reach the monitored areas, and/or a determination that there likely is a problem associated with a given monitored area, such that condition data for at least some monitored areas is not displayed on the display; and   wherein the monitored areas are associated with one or more of: a crossing where a train track intersects with a road for vehicles, a bridge, and a tunnel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the monitored areas is associated with a tunnel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the monitored areas is associated with a bridge. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition data for at least some of the monitored areas includes an optical video and/or still image thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the sensors systems include plural types of sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition data is selectively displayed on the display such that the condition data for those monitored areas beyond a predetermined threshold distance from the train is not displayed on the display. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition data is selectively displayed on the display such that the condition data for those monitored areas more than a predetermined threshold length of time away from the train is not displayed on the display. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to develop and determine one or more suggested mitigation plans in the event that the condition data associated with a given monitored area suggests that there is a problem with that monitored area. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the sensor systems are controlled to gather and transmit respective condition data at a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition data further comprises a date and/or time associated with when the condition data was gathered, and an identifier for identifying the monitored area from which the condition data was gathered. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to request condition data from two or more of the sensor systems based on a location of the train relative to, and/or an estimated time of arrival at, the monitored areas associated with said two or more sensor systems. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein condition data is relayed from the monitored areas to the train via a central safety station. 
     
     
         13 . A method for reducing problems associated with a railroad system, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a train, condition data gathered via sensor systems disposed at respective monitored areas, said condition data comprising an optical video and/or still image of the monitored areas;   for each said monitored area:
 determining whether the train is within a predetermined range of the respective monitored area, 
 in response to a determination that the train is within the predetermined range of the respective monitored area, displaying on a display for a conductor of the train the condition data associated with the respective monitored area, and 
 in response to a determination that the train is not within the predetermined range of the respective monitored area, filtering out the condition data associated with the respective monitored area such that the condition data associated with the respective monitored area is not displayed on the display; and 
   determining whether condition data is to be displayed for two or more of said monitored areas; and   in response to a determination that condition data is to be displayed for two or more of said monitored areas, displaying on the display for the conductor of the train the condition data associated with the two or more said monitored areas in an ordered manner such that the condition data to be displayed is ordered based on a location of the train relative to the two or more said monitored areas and/or when the train is to reach the two or more said monitored areas.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein condition data is gathered at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the condition data further comprises a date and/or time associated with when the video and/or image of the monitored areas was gathered, and an identifier for identifying the monitored areas. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined range is specified as a distance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined range is specified as a length of time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the monitored areas is associated with a bridge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least some of the sensor systems include plural types of sensors. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the condition data is received by the train from the sensor systems via a central facility after having been processed by the central facility.