Apparatus for Locating a Mobile Railway Asset

Abstract

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for locating a mobile railway asset is provided that includes a power source, GNSS circuitry configured to utilize electrical power from the power source to receive GNSS data, and a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the GNSS circuitry. The controller has a power saving mode wherein the controller inhibits the GNSS circuitry from receiving GNSS data and a standard accuracy mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a first time period. The controller has a higher accuracy mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a second time period longer than the first time period, and subsequently across multiple instances, in order to collect more GNSS data that can be qualified, filtered, sorted, and averaged to produce a more accurate result.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a sensing apparatus for a mobile railway asset, the method comprising:
 at the sensing apparatus:
 inhibiting, via a controller of the sensing apparatus, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) circuitry of the sensing apparatus from receiving GNSS data from satellites of a GNSS to conserve stored energy of a limited power source of the sensing apparatus; 
 permitting, via the controller of the sensing apparatus, the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a first time period; 
 wirelessly transmitting data indicative of a location of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the GNSS data received during the first time period from communication circuitry of the sensing apparatus; 
 in response to a determination of a mobile railway asset event, the controller of the sensing apparatus permitting the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a second time period longer than the first time period; and 
 wirelessly transmitting data indicative of a location of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the GNSS data received during the second time period from communication circuitry of the sensing apparatus. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining, via a controller of the sensing apparatus, the mobile railway asset event based upon data received from at least one of a sensor and the GNSS circuitry. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining, via a controller of the sensing apparatus, the mobile railway asset event in response to at least one sensor detecting a change in at least one parameter of the mobile railway asset. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of:
 a temperature sensor; 
 a reed switch; 
 a pressure transducer; 
 a strain gauge; 
 a hall effect sensor; 
 a temperature sensor; 
 a limit switch; 
 an accelerometer; 
 a piezo-electric sensor; 
 a microphone; 
 an inductive-type sensor; and 
 a load cell. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving, via the communication circuitry of the sensing apparatus, a request for a location of the mobile railway asset from an external device; and
 determining, via a controller of the sensing apparatus, the mobile railway asset event in response to the communication circuitry receiving the request from the external device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a location of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the GNSS data received during the first time period; and 
 determining the mobile railway asset event in response to the mobile railway asset location being within a predetermined area. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  the method further comprising:
 receiving, via the communication circuitry of the sensing apparatus, sensor data from a wireless sensor node mounted to the mobile railway asset; and 
 wherein wirelessly transmitting data indicative of the location of the mobile railway asset includes wirelessly transmitting the data indicating of the location of the mobile railway asset to a powered wireless gateway of a locomotive. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a location of the mobile railway asset by utilizing less than all of the GNSS data received during the second time period. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein permitting the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for the second time period includes permitting the GNSS circuitry to receive a first portion of the GNSS data in a first portion of the second time period and permitting the GNSS circuitry to receive a second portion of the GNSS data in a second portion of the second time period after the first portion, the method further including:
 determining a location of the mobile railway asset utilizing the second portion of the GNSS data but not the first portion of the GNSS data. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein determining the location of the mobile railway asset utilizing the second portion of the GNSS data includes:
 categorizing an accuracy of the GNSS data of the second portion of the GNSS data; and 
 determining the location of the mobile railway asset utilizing GNSS data having a higher categorization of accuracy than a threshold categorization of accuracy. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 categorizing the accuracy of the GNSS data received during the second time period; and 
 setting the duration of the second time period based at least in part on the categorized accuracy of the GNSS data received during the second time period. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein inhibiting the GNSS circuitry of the apparatus from receiving GNSS data includes preventing energization of the GNSS circuitry and permitting the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for the first and second time periods includes energizing the GNSS circuitry using electrical energy from the limited power source. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at the sensing apparatus:
 receiving GNSS current location error data from a stationary gateway; and 
 determining a location of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the GNSS data received during the first time period and the GNSS current location error data. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . A stationary gateway for facilitating monitoring of the location of a mobile railway asset in a railway connected facility, the stationary gateway comprising:
 a GNSS receiver configured to receive GNSS data from satellites of a GNSS;   a communication interface operable to communicate with a GNSS-enabled device of a mobile railway asset, the communication interface configured to facilitate communication between the GNSS-enabled device and a remote computer over a network;   a processor operably coupled to the GNSS receiver and the communication interface, the processor configured to:
 perform a self-survey using the GNSS data from the GNSS receiver; 
 determine a self-surveyed location of the stationary gateway; 
 determine a current location of the stationary gateway using current GNSS data received by the GNSS receiver, the current location of the stationary gateway being less accurate than the self-surveyed location; 
 determine current location error data by comparing the current location of the stationary gateway to the self-surveyed location of the stationary gateway; and 
 communicate the current location error data to the GNSS-enabled device to facilitate the GNSS-enabled device determining a location of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on current location error data from the stationary gateway. 
   
     
     
         15 . The stationary gateway of  claim 14  wherein the current location error data includes information identifying the satellites used by the stationary gateway to calculate the current location error data. 
     
     
         16 . The stationary gateway of  claim 14  wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate information indicative of the location of the mobile railway asset from the GNSS-enabled device to an external device. 
     
     
         17 . A method for facilitating monitoring of the location of a mobile railway asset in a railway connected facility, the system comprising:
 receiving, at a GNSS receiver of a stationary gateway, GNSS data from satellites of the GNSS;   performing a self-survey using the gateway GNSS data;   determining a self-surveyed location of the stationary gateway;   determining a current location of the stationary gateway using GNSS data received by the GNSS receiver, the current location of the stationary gateway being less accurate than the self-surveyed location;   determine current location error data by comparing the current location of the stationary gateway to the self-surveyed location of the stationary gateway; and   communicating, via a communication interface of the stationary gateway, the current location error data to the GNSS-enabled device to facilitate the GNSS-enabled device determining a location of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the current location error data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising facilitating, via the communication interface of the stationary gateway, a communication between the GNSS-enabled device and a remote computer over a network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the current location error data includes information identifying the satellites used by the stationary gateway to calculate the current location error data. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for monitoring the location of a mobile railway asset, the apparatus comprising:
 a limited power source;   GNSS circuitry configured to utilize electrical power from the limited power source to receive GNSS data from the satellites of a GNSS;   communication circuitry configured to wirelessly receive current location error data from a stationary gateway, the current location error data determined by comparing current location data of the stationary gateway to a self-surveyed location of the stationary gateway; and   a controller operatively connected to the GNSS circuitry and the communication circuitry, the controller having:
 a power saving mode wherein the controller inhibits the GNSS circuitry from receiving GNSS data; and 
 a location mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data; and 
   the controller configured to determine a location of the mobile railway asset based at last in part on the received GNSS data and the current location error data from the stationary gateway.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the communication circuitry is configured to communicate with a remote computer via the stationary gateway and a network. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the controller is configured to enter the location mode and permit the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data in response to a determination of a mobile railway asset event. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising at least one sensor operatively coupled to the controller and configured to detect a change of at least one parameter of the mobile railway asset; and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine the mobile railway asset event in response to the change of the at least one parameter of the mobile railway asset. 
 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the current location error data includes information identifying GNSS satellites used by the stationary gateway to calculate the current location error data; and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine the location of the mobile railway asset based at last in part on the received GNSS data and the current location error data from the stationary gateway calculated using satellites visible to both the GNSS receiver and the stationary gateway. 
 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the controller of the GNSS-enabled device is configured to cause the communication circuitry to communicate information indicative of the location of the mobile railway asset to an external device. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising a housing configured to be mounted to the mobile railway asset, the housing containing the limited power source, GNSS circuitry, communication circuitry, and the controller. 
     
     
         27 . A method for monitoring the location of a mobile railway asset using a GNSS-enabled device, the GNSS-enabled device having a controller with a power saving mode wherein the controller inhibits GNSS circuitry of the GNSS-enabled device from receiving GNSS data and a location mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data, the method comprising:
 at the GNSS-enabled device:
 receiving GNSS data from satellites of a GNSS; 
 receiving current location error data from a stationary gateway, the current location error data determined by comparing current location data of the stationary gateway to a self-surveyed location of the stationary gateway; and 
 determining a location of the mobile railway asset based at last in part on the received GNSS data and the current location error data from the stationary gateway. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising communicating, via communication circuitry of the GNSS-enabled device, with a remote computer via the stationary gateway and a network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising causing the controller to enter the location mode and permit the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data in response to a determination of a mobile railway asset event. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein causing the controller to enter the location mode and permit the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data in response to the determination of a mobile railway asset event includes determining the mobile railway asset event in response to at least one sensor connected to the controller detecting a change in at least one parameter of the mobile railway asset. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the current location error data includes information identifying GNSS satellites used by the stationary gateway to calculate the current location error data; and
 wherein determining the location of the mobile railway asset based at last in part on the received GNSS data and the current location error data from the stationary gateway includes determining the location of the mobile railway asset based at last in part on the received GNSS data and the current location error data from the stationary gateway calculated using satellites visible to both the GNSS receiver and the stationary gateway. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising communicating, via communication circuitry of the GNSS-enabled device and the stationary gateway, information indicative of the location of the mobile railway asset to an external device.