Method and system for automated fault reporting
View Patent ↗An automated fault reporting system for a train includes a controller that gathers information concerning malfunctioning wayside status devices and automatically reports the information to an appropriate party. In one embodiment, the control module uses a positioning system and a database including device locations in order to determine when the train is near a device. If no status information is received from the device as the train approaches, or the status information indicates a problem, the train is allowed to continue at a reduced speed to allow the operator to visually confirm that it is safe to proceed. If an area monitored by the device has been passed, or if the operator indicates that there is no problem, or the device fails to respond, the controller records and reports the malfunction.
1. A system for reporting faults, the system comprising:
a controller; and
a receiver, the receiver being located on a train and being in communication with the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to perform the steps of
determining that the train is near a wayside status device;
listening for status information from the wayside status device;
reporting a wayside status device failure if no status information is received from the wayside status device;
if status information is received and the status information indicates a problem, allowing the train to proceed at a speed sufficiently slow to allow an operator to visually determine that proceeding is safe until the operator indicates that the status information is incorrect or until the train passes an area monitored by the wayside status device; and
reporting a fault in the status information if the operator indicates that the status information is incorrect or the train passes the area monitored by the wayside status device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wayside status device is a grade crossing gate.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wayside status device is a switch.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wayside status device is a broken rail detection circuit.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wayside status device is a track occupancy circuit.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wayside status device is an avalanche detection circuit.
7. The system of claim 1 , where in the wayside status device is a bridge alignment circuit.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to perform the step of transmitting an interrogation signal to the wayside status device.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the interrogation signal includes an identification number of the wayside status device.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to perform the step of reporting a fault by transmitting a fault message to a central authority.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a display device connected to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the step of displaying the fault to the operator before performing the step of transmitting the fault message.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an input device connected to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the step of accepting via the input device an indication from an operator that it is permissible to send the fault message before performing the step of transmitting the fault message.
13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a printer connected to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the step of reporting the fault by printing a fault message using the printer.
14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage device connected to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the step of reporting the fault by storing a fault message on the storage device.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the storage device includes a removable storage medium.
16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a positioning system connected to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the step of determining a position of the train using the positioning system.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a database connected to the controller, the database including location information pertaining to the wayside status device, wherein the controller is configured to perform the step of determining when the train is near a wayside status device using the position determined from the positioning system and the location information pertaining to the wayside status device.
18. An automated method for reporting faults on a train comprising the steps of:
determining that the train is near a wayside status device;
listening for status information from the wayside status device;
reporting a wayside status device failure if no status information is received from the wayside status device;
if status information is received and the status information indicates a problem, allowing the train to proceed at a speed sufficiently slow to allow an operator to visually determine that proceeding is safe until the operator indicates that the status information is incorrect or until the train passes an area monitored by the wayside status device; and
reporting a fault in the status information if the operator indicates that the status information is incorrect or the train passes the area monitored by the wayside status device;
wherein the determining, listening, allowing, and both reporting steps are performed by a control device.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wayside status device is a grade crossing gate.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wayside status device is a switch.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wayside status device is a broken rail detection circuit.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wayside status device is a track occupancy circuit.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wayside status device is an avalanche detection circuit.
24. The method of claim 18 , where in the wayside status device is a bridge alignment circuit.
25. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of transmitting an interrogation signal to the wayside status device.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the interrogation signal includes an identification number of the wayside status device.
27. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of reporting a fault is performed by transmitting a fault message to a central authority.
28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising the step of displaying the fault to the operator before performing the step of transmitting the fault message.
29. The method of claim 27 , further comprising the step of accepting an indication from an operator that it is permissible to send the fault message before performing the step of transmitting the fault message.
30. The method of claim 29 , further comprising the step of reporting the fault by printing a fault message using the printer.
31. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of reporting the fault is performed by storing a fault message on the storage device.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the storage device includes a removable storage medium.
33. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of determining a position of the train using a positioning system.
34. The method of claim 33 , further comprising the step of determining when the train is near a wayside status device using the position determined from the positioning system and the location information pertaining to the wayside status device obtained from a database of location information.
35. An automated method for reporting faults comprising the steps of:
determining that a train is approaching a wayside status device;
receiving status information from the wayside status device; and
if status information is received and indicates that there is a problem, allowing the train to proceed past an area associated with the wayside status device at a speed sufficiently slow to allow an operator to determine that it is safe for the train to proceed and reporting a fault in the status information if the train passes the area or the operator indicates that the status information is incorrect;
wherein the determining, receiving, allowing and reporting steps are performed by a control device.
36. A system for reporting wayside status device faults comprising:
a receiver;
a transmitter; and
a control unit connected to the receiver and the transmitter, the control unit being configured to perform the steps of
listening for status information from a wayside status device with the receiver;
transmitting via the transmitter a message indicating a failure of the wayside status device to transmit status information if no status information is received from the wayside status device;
transmitting via the transmitter a message indicating an unsafe condition if status information received from the wayside status device correctly indicates an unsafe condition;
transmitting via the transmitter a message indicating that the wayside status device is incorrectly transmitting status information if status information received from the wayside status device incorrectly indicates an unsafe condition.