Diagnostic System for a Rail Vehicle

Abstract

A visual diagnostic system for a rail vehicle having multiple assets is disclosed. The visual diagnostic system may have a data interface configured to receive a message from a wayside unit. The message may indicate that at least one of the multiple assets is experiencing an issue. The data interface may also be configured to receive geo-information and configuration-information. The system further includes a controller configured to determine, from the geo-information and the configuration-information, a geographic location of each of the multiple assets. The controller is further configured to determine, from the received message and the determined geographic location of each of the multiple assets, which of the multiple assets is experiencing the issue. The controller is further configured to render for display in a user interface a visual representation of the rail vehicle with an identification of the at least one of the multiple assets experiencing the issue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A visual diagnostic system for a rail vehicle having multiple assets, comprising:
 a data interface configured to:
 receive a message from a wayside unit, wherein the message indicates that at least one of the multiple assets is experiencing an issue; 
 receive geo-information associated with a geographic location of the rail vehicle; and 
 receive configuration-information associated with an arrangement of the multiple assets in the rail vehicle; and 
   a controller in communication with the data interface, the controller being configured to:
 determine, from the gee-information and the configuration-information, a geographic location of each of the multiple assets 
 determine, from the received message and the determined geographic location of each of the multiple assets, which of the multiple assets is experiencing the issue; and 
 render for display in a user interface a visual representation of the rail vehicle with an identification of the at least one of the multiple assets experiencing the issue. 
   
     
     
         2 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the message indicates that a dimension of the at least one of the multiple assets extends beyond a predetermined value. 
     
     
         3 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the message indicates that the at least one of the multiple assets is dragging an article below the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the data interface is further configured to receive the geo-information from multiple sources, and the controller is further configured to combine the geo-information from the multiple sources when determining the geographic location of each of the multiple assets. 
     
     
         5 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the data interface is further configured to receive the geo-information from at least one of: a Global Positioning System (GPS) located on the rail vehicle, an Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) system, an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, and a video monitoring system. 
     
     
         6 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the data interface is configured to receive the configuration-information from multiple sources, and the controller is further configured to combine the configuration-information from the multiple sources when determining the geographic location of each asset of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the data interface is configured to receive the configuration-information from at least one of: an electronically controlled pneumatic (EPP braking system, a train scheduling system, an Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) system, and a video monitoring system. 
     
     
         8 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is located on-board the rail vehicle, and the user interface is displayed on an on-hoard screen. 
     
     
         9 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is located at a remote location, and the user interface is displayed on a mobile terminal device. 
     
     
         10 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the message includes a timestamp associated with the issue;   the geo-information includes timestamps of signals with data about the geographic location of the rail vehicle; and   the controller is further configured to determine which of the multiple assets experienced the issue using the timestamp associated with the issue and the timestamps of the signals.   
     
     
         11 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes geo-information associated with the wayside unit. 
     
     
         12 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the identification of the at least one asset includes information about a type of the issue. 
     
     
         13 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the identification of the at least one asset includes one or more details about the at least one of the multiple assets. 
     
     
         14 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the data interface is further configured to receive a plurality of messages from a plurality of wayside units; and   the controller is further configured to render for display in the user interface identification of at least two of the multiple assets experiencing different issues.   
     
     
         15 . The visual diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to render for display in the user interface prognostic information associated with a selected asset of the multiple assets. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing visual information on a rail vehicle having multiple assets, comprising:
 receiving a message from a wayside unit indicating that at least one of the multiple assets has experienced an issue;   receiving geo-information associated with a geographic location of the rail vehicle;   receiving configuration-information associated with an arrangement of the multiple assets in the rail vehicle;   determining, from the geo-information and the configuration-information, a geographic location of each of the multiple assets;   determining, from the received message and the determined geographic location of each of the multiple assets, which of the multiple assets is experiencing the issue; and   rendering for display in a user interface a visual representation of the rail vehicle with an identification of the at least one of the multiple assets experiencing the issue.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the message indicates that a dimension of the at least one of the multiple assets extends beyond a predetermined value. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the message indicates that the at least one of the multiple assets is dragging an article below the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the message includes geo-information associated with wayside unit. 
     
     
         20 . A computer programmable medium having executable instructions stored thereon for completing a method of providing visual information on a rail vehicle having multiple assets, the method comprising:
 receiving a message from a wayside unit indicating that at least one of the multiple assets has experienced an issue;   receiving geo-information associated with a geographic location of the rail vehicle;   receiving configuration-information associated with an arrangement of the multiple assets in the rail vehicle;   determining, from the geo-information and the configuration-information, a geographic location of each of the multiple assets;   determining, from the received message and the determined geographic location of each of the multiple assets, which of the multiple assets is experiencing the issue; and   rendering for display in a user interface a visual representation of the rail vehicle with an identification of the at least one of the multiple assets experiencing the issue.