Tools for railway traffic control

Abstract

Tools (such as system, apparatus, methodology, etc.) may be provided to control traffic over a railway track section, and more particularly, when a railway worker is working on or near the track section. Move particularly, when traffic over the track section is to be blocked, a block is placed to prevent trains from traversing the track section. Further, a release code is generated and sent to an electronic contact address of the railway worker. Traffic through the track section is blocked until the release code is entered in a user terminal. The block is removed from the track section when the release code is received by the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A centralized railway control system comprising:
 a rail personnel contact database registering, for each railway personnel, an electronic contact address of the railway personnel; and 
 a railway traffic control apparatus configured for centralized control of traffic of a centrally controllable railway network including plural railways and a plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, for controlling access to railway tracks, said railway traffic control apparatus comprising a processor, a non-transitory medium storing one or more programs of executable instructions, and a network interface through which the railway traffic control apparatus communicates via a network with a user terminal, 
 wherein execution of said one or more programs of executable instructions configures the railway traffic control apparatus comprising the processor to include:
 a block placing part to place a block on one or more specified track sections in any of said plural railways constituting said railway network that is managed by centralized control operation from the railway traffic control apparatus, the railway traffic control apparatus controlling, by said centralized control operation, one or more interlocks amongst the plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, to block railway traffic to the specified track sections and thereby to permit a railway field worker to enter the track sections while blocking railway traffic to said track sections; 
 a code generation part to generate a removal code, retrieve the electronic contact address of the railway field worker from the rail personnel contact database, and transmit the removal code to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker; and 
 a block removal part to remove only upon entry of the removal code by said centralized control operation from the railway control apparatus, the block placed by the block placing part on said one or more track sections. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The centralized railway control system of  claim 1 , wherein the railway traffic control apparatus further comprises: a RTC railway traffic controller (RTC) user interface to permit a user to specify said one or more track sections to be blocked, specify an instruction to the centralized railway control system to block the railway traffic to the specified track sections, and specify identifying information of the railway field worker to be performing work in the specified track sections. 
     
     
       3. The centralized railway control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a railway control database registering block identifying information, including block limits identifying the one or more blocked track sections, along with the removal code for removing the block of the track sections. 
 
     
     
       4. The centralized railway control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a railway control database registering (a) identification of the user who specified the instruction to block the track sections and (b) block identifying information, including block limits identifying the one or more blocked track sections, notes specifying reasons for the block, and date and time at which the block was placed. 
 
     
     
       5. The centralized railway control system of  claim 1 , wherein upon placement by the block placing part of the block of railway traffic to said one or more specified track sections, the code generation part transmits the removal code to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker, and the block of railway traffic to said one or more specified track sections remains in place in the centralized railway control system until the entry of the removal code in the centralized railway control system to cause the block removal part to remove the block on said one or more track sections. 
     
     
       6. The centralized railway control system of  claim 1 , wherein the railway traffic control apparatus further comprises:
 a block removal user interface to permit a user to enter the removal code to cause the block removal part to remove the block on said one or more track sections, 
 wherein the block of railway traffic to said one or more specified track sections remains in place in the centralized railway control system until the entry of the removal code through the block removal user interface. 
 
     
     
       7. The centralized railway control system of  claim 6 , wherein the block removal user interface further requires, in addition to the entry of the removal code, the user to specify that confirmation that the track sections have been cleared has been obtained from the railway field worker associated with the block, before the block removal user interface permits the removal code to be transmitted to the block removal pail, and
 the centralized railway control system further comprises a railway control database registering (a) block identifying information identifying the one or more blocked track sections, date and time at which the block was placed and identifying information the railway field worker associated with the block, and (b) block removal information identifying date and time at which the block was removed and identifying the user who entered the removal code and specified that confirmation that the track sections have been cleared was obtained from the railway field worker associated with the block. 
 
     
     
       8. The centralized railway control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a voice processing part configured to receive a voice message and extract the removal code from the voice message.   
     
     
       9. The centralized railway control system of  claim 1 , wherein the code generation part transmits an electronic message to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker, and the electronic message transmitted to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker includes the removal code and includes an embedded link for activating a return transmission of the removal code to the block removal part of the centralized railway control system. 
     
     
       10. A railway traffic control apparatus configured for centralized control of traffic of a centrally controllable railway network including plural railways and a plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, for controlling access to railway tracks, said railway traffic control apparatus comprising:
 a block placing part to place a block on one or more selected specified track sections in any of said plural railways constituting said railway network that is managed by centralized control operation from the railway traffic control apparatus, the railway traffic control apparatus controlling, by said centralized control operation, one or more interlocks amongst the plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, to block railway traffic to the specified track sections and thereby to permit a railway field worker to enter the track sections while blocking railway traffic to said track sections; 
 a code generation part to generate a removal code, determine an electronic contact address of the railway field worker by accessing a rail personnel contact database registering, for each railway personnel, electronic contact information of the railway personnel, and transmit the removal code to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker; and 
 a block removal part to remove only upon entry of the removal code by said centralized control operation from the railway traffic control apparatus, the block placed by the block placing part on said one or more track sections for the railway field worker. 
 
     
     
       11. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising: a RTC railway traffic controller (RTC) user interface to permit a user to specify said one or more track sections to be blocked, specify an instruction to the centralized railway traffic control system apparatus to block the railway traffic to the specified track sections, and specify identifying information of the railway field worker to be performing work in the specified track sections. 
     
     
       12. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein block identifying information, including block limits identifying the one or more blocked track sections, is registered in a railway control database, along with the removal code for removing the block of the track sections. 
     
     
       13. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein block identifying information, including block limits identifying the one or more blocked track sections, notes specifying reasons for the block, and date and time at which the block was placed, are registered in a railway control database, along with identification of the user who specified the instruction to block the track sections. 
     
     
       14. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein upon placement by the block placing part of the block of railway traffic to said one or more specified track sections, the code generation code part transmits the removal code to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker, and the block of railway traffic to said one or more specified track sections remains in place in the centralized railway traffic control system apparatus until the entry of the removal code in the centralized railway traffic control system apparatus to cause the block removal part to remove the block on said one or more track sections. 
     
     
       15. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising: a block removal user interface to permit a user to enter the removal code to cause the block removal part to remove the block on said one or more specified track sections, wherein the block of railway traffic to said one or more specified track sections remains in place in the centralized railway traffic control system apparatus until the entry of the removal code through the block removal user interface. 
     
     
       16. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the block removal user interface further requires, in addition to the entry of the removal code, the user to specify that confirmation that the track sections have been cleared has been obtained from the railway field worker associated with the block, before the block removal user interface permits the removal code to be transmitted to the block removal part, and
 block identifying information identifying the one or more blocked track sections, date and time at which the block was placed and identifying information the railway field worker associated with the block is registered in a railway control database, along with block removal information identifying date and time at which the block was removed and identifying the user who entered the removal code and specified that confirmation that the track sections have been cleared was obtained from the railway field worker associated with the block. 
 
     
     
       17. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a voice processing part configured to receive a voice message and extract the removal code from the voice message.   
     
     
       18. The railway traffic control apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the code generation part transmits an electronic message to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker, and the electronic message transmitted to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker includes the removal code and includes an embedded link for activating a return transmission of the removal code to the block removal part of the centralized railway traffic control system apparatus. 
     
     
       19. A method for controlling railway access using a railway traffic control apparatus of a centralized railway control system to control access to railway tracks configured for centralized control of traffic of a centrally controllable railway network including plural railways and a plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, the method comprising:
 providing a user interface on a user terminal of the railway traffic control apparatus, including a block placing part to place a block on one or more specified track sections in any of said plural railways constituting said railway network that is managed by centralized control operation from the railway traffic control apparatus, the railway traffic control apparatus controlling, by said centralized control operation, one or more interlocks amongst the plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, to block railway traffic to the specified track sections and thereby to permit a railway field worker to enter the track sections while blocking railway traffic to said track sections; 
 generating a removal code, determining an electronic contact address of the railway field worker by accessing a rail personnel contact database registering, for each railway personnel, electronic contact information of the railway personnel, and transmitting the removal code to the electronic contact address of the railway field worker; and 
 permitting the block to said one or more track sections to be removed only upon entry of the removal code in the centralized railway control system by said centralized control operation from the railway traffic control apparatus. 
 
     
     
       20. A railway traffic control apparatus configured for centralized control of traffic of a centrally controllable railway network including plural railways and a plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, the railway traffic control apparatus comprising a processor and configured to:
 place a block on one or more sections of railway track in any of said plural railways constituting said railway network that is managed by centralized control operation from the railway traffic control apparatus, the railway traffic control apparatus controlling, by said centralized control operation, one or more interlocks amongst the plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, to prevent trains from traversing the one or more sections of railway track;   generate a secret release code associated with the blocked one or more sections of railway track;   transmit the secret release code to a user terminal via a network;   receive the secret release code via the network; and   responsive to receiving the secret release code from the terminal, remove the block from the one or more sections of railway track.   
     
     
       21. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 20, wherein the block is placed via an interlocking signal prohibiting trains from traversing the one or more sections of railway track. 
     
     
       22. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 20, wherein the railway traffic control apparatus is configured to place the block by causing one or more of the plurality of railway traffic interlocks to display a STOP signal. 
     
     
       23. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 20, wherein only the railway traffic control apparatus and the user terminal receive the secret release code generated by the railway traffic control apparatus. 
     
     
       24. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 20, wherein the railway traffic control apparatus is further configured to:
 store the secret release code in a memory of the railway traffic control apparatus.   
     
     
       25. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 20, wherein the railway traffic control apparatus is further configured to:
 generate and store block removal information in response to removing the block from the one or more sections of railway track.   
     
     
       26. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 25, wherein the block removal information comprises a date and time when the block was removed and identification information of a user who entered the secret removal code. 
     
     
       27. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 20, wherein the railway traffic control apparatus is configured to transmit the secret release code to the user terminal by transmitting a message to the user terminal, the message comprising one or more embedded links. 
     
     
       28. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 27, wherein the railway traffic control apparatus is configured to receive the secret release code transmitted via the network in response to selection of at least one of the one or more embedded links in the message, on the user terminal. 
     
     
       29. The railway traffic control apparatus of claim 27, wherein the message comprises a text message or an email. 
     
     
       30. A method for controlling railway access using a railway traffic control apparatus configured for centralized control of traffic of a centrally controllable railway network including plural railways and a plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, the method comprising:
 placing a block on one or more sections of railway track in any of said plural railways constituting said railway network that is managed by centralized control operation from the railway traffic control apparatus, the railway traffic control apparatus controlling, by said centralized control operation, one or more interlocks amongst the plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, to prevent trains from traversing the one or more sections of railway track;   generating a secret release code associated with the blocked one or more sections of railway track;   transmitting the secret release code to a user terminal via a network;   receiving the secret release code via the network; and   responsive to receiving the secret release code from the terminal, removing the block from the one or more sections of railway track.   
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, wherein the block is placed via an interlocking signal prohibiting trains from traversing the one or more sections of railway track. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 30, wherein the railway traffic control apparatus is configured to place the block by causing one or more of the plurality of railway traffic interlocks to display a STOP signal. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 30, wherein only the railway traffic control apparatus and the user terminal receive the secret release code generated by the railway traffic control apparatus. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
 storing the secret release code in a memory of the railway traffic control apparatus.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
 generating and storing block removal information in response to removing the block from the one or more sections of railway track.   
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, wherein the block removal information comprises a date and time when the block was removed and identification information of a user who entered the secret removal code. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 30, wherein transmitting the secret release code comprises transmitting a message to the user terminal, the message comprising one or more embedded links. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, wherein the secret release code is transmitted via the network in response to selection of at least one of the one or more embedded links in the message, on the user terminal, and is received by the railway traffic control apparatus. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 37, wherein the message comprises a text message or an email. 
     
     
       40. A system comprising:
 a railway control apparatus comprising a processor and a memory device, the railway control apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of railway traffic interlocks and a user terminal via a network and to perform centralized control of traffic of a centrally controllable railway network including plural railways and the plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network, wherein the processor is configured by execution of computer program instructions to cause the railway control apparatus to:   receive a selection of track sections to block in any of said plural railways constituting said railway network that is managed by centralized control operation from the railway control apparatus, wherein each selected track section corresponds to one or more railway traffic interlocks amongst the plurality of railway traffic interlocks dispersed in said plural railways constituting said railway network;   responsive to receiving the selection, generate a secret code associated with the selected track sections;   responsive to generating the secret code, save the secret code in the memory device;   associate the secret code with a remote user of the user terminal;   transmit a block signal to the corresponding one or more railway traffic interlocks to place a block on the selected track sections; and   transmit the secret code to the remote user of the user terminal.   
     
     
       41. The system of claim 40, wherein the processor configured by execution of computer program instructions additionally causes the railway control apparatus to:
 receive the secret code from the user terminal via the network;   verify the secret code by comparing the secret code received from the user terminal with the secret code stored in the memory device;   receive an instruction to remove the block from the selected track sections, after verifying the secret code; and   responsive to the instruction to remove the block received after verifying the secret code, transmit a block removal signal to the corresponding railway traffic interlocks.