Method for acquisition and display of signaling equipment status

Abstract

A systems and method is provided for collecting, storing, and analyzing the status and operation of a railroad grade level crossing, and generating reports and alarms in response to status and current or predicted failures. The system includes a telemetry unit positioned at a railroad grade crossing, a data collector, and report generation engines.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring a grade level crossing, comprising:
 a telemetry unit, the telemetry unit having a processor in communication with one or more inputs and one or more control outputs, wherein the one or more inputs receive signals representative of a status of the grade level crossing, and the one or more control outputs operate one or more safety features of the grade level crossing;   a data collector in digital communication with the telemetry unit via a communications channel, wherein the data collector receives and stores data records representative of an operation of the grade level crossing;   a report processing engine in digital communication with the data collector, wherein the report processing engine is configured to analyze the data records and generate a report on the operation of the grade level crossing.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the report includes a recent failure alarm. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the report includes a failure prediction report. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the report includes an adjacent crossing activation warning. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the report includes a corroboration of a reported failure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the report includes an unobserved failure report. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the report includes a crossing out of service warning. 
     
     
         8 . A method of monitoring one or more grade level crossings, comprising the steps of:
 providing a telemetry unit, the telemetry unit having a processor in communication with one or more inputs and one or more control outputs, receiving at the one or more inputs signals representative of a status of the grade level crossing, and the one or more control outputs operating one or more safety features of the grade level crossing;   providing a data collector in digital communication with the telemetry unit via a communications channel, receiving and storing at the data collector data records representative of an operation of the grade level crossing;   providing a report processing engine in digital communication with the data collector;   analyzing at the report processing engine the data records representative of an operation of the grade level crossing;   generating a report on the operation of the grade level crossing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the report includes a recent failure alarm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the report includes a failure prediction report. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the report includes an adjacent crossing activation warning. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the report includes a corroboration of a reported failure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the report includes an unobserved failure report. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the report includes a crossing out of service warning.