IP Library Granted Patent US 8,976,678
Granted Patent B2
US 8,976,678 · App. 13/690,095 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Multiple line communications for locomotive consist

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,976,678
App. No.
13/690,095
Granted
Mar 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling data communication within a locomotive consist is disclosed. The method may include monitoring an effect of a first interference generated by a first pair of wires on a second pair of wires during a communication. The method may also include monitoring an effect of a second interference generated by the second pair of wires on the first pair of wires during the communication. The method may further include dividing data packets to he sent from the first access point to the second access point such that a first subset of the data packets are designated for the first pair of wires and a second subset of the data packets are designated for the second pair of wires and modifying the first subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the first interference.

Claims (50)

1. A system for communicating data in a locomotive consist, comprising:

one or more memories storing one or more instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:

monitor an effect of a first interference generated by a first pair of wires on a second pair of wires during communication between a first access point and a second access point;

monitor an effect of a second interference generated by the second pair of wires on the first pair of wires during the communication between the first access point and the second access point;

monitor one or more characteristics of the communication between the first access point and the second access point;

divide data packets to be sent from the first access point to the second access point such that a first subset of the data packets are designated for the first pair of wires and a second subset of the data packets are designated for the second pair of wires; and

modify the first subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the first interference, wherein the modifying includes dynamically generating a new transmission spectrum based on the one or more monitored characteristics.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to modify the second subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the second interference.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to send the modified first subset of the data packets on the first pair of wires and the modified second subset of the data packets on the second pair of wires.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first interference and the second interference include crosstalk between the pairs of wires.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first pair of wires includes a first wire and a second wire and the second pair of wires includes a third wire and the second wire such that the second wire is shared among the first pair of wires and the second pair of wires.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

monitor the effect of the first interference by monitoring the interference generated by the first wire and the second wire on the third wire, and

monitor the effect of the second interference on a second pair of wires by monitoring the interference generated by the second wire and the third wire on the first wire.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first pair of wires includes a first wire and a second wire and the second pair of wires includes a third wire and a fourth wire that are different than the first wire and the second wire.

8. The system of claim 3 , wherein modifying the first subset of the data packets and the second subset of the data packets includes encoding the first subset of the data packets and the second subset of the data packets based on the first interference and the second interference.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive the modified first data packets and the modified second data packets at the second access point; and

decode the modified first data packets and the modified second data packets at the second access point.

10. A method for controlling data communication within a locomotive consist, the method comprising:

monitoring an effect of a first interference generated by a first pair of wires on a second pair of wires during communication between a first access point and a second access point;

monitoring an effect of a second interference generated by the second pair of wires on the first pair of wires during the communication between the first access point and the second access point;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the communication between the first access point and the second access point;

dividing data packets to be sent from the first access point to the second access point such that a first subset of the data packets are designated for the first pair of wires and a second subset of the data packets are designated for the second pair of wires; and

modifying the first subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the first interference, wherein the modifying includes dynamically generating a new transmission spectrum based on the one or more monitored characteristics.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including modifying the second subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the second interference.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including sending the modified first subset of the data packets on the first pair of wires and the modified second subset of the data packets on the second pair of wires.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first interference and the second interference include crosstalk between the pairs of wires.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first pair of wires includes a first wire and a second wire and the second pair of wires includes a third wire and the second wire such that the second wire is shared among the first pair of wires and the second pair of wires.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein:

monitoring the effect of the first interference includes monitoring the interference generated by the first wire and the second wire on the third wire, and

monitoring the effect of the second interference includes monitoring the interference generated by the second wire and the third wire on the first wire.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first pair of wires includes a first wire and a second wire and the second pair of wires includes a third wire and a fourth wire that are different than the first wire and the second wire.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein modifying the first subset of the data packets and the second subset of the data packets includes encoding the first subset of the data packets and the second set of data packets based on the effect of the first interference and the second interference.

18. The method of claim 17 , further including:

receiving the modified first data packets and the modified second data packets at the second access point; and

decoding the modified first data packets and the modified second data packets at the second access point.

19. A locomotive consist, comprising:

a plurality of locomotives;

a communications network; and

a plurality of access points disposed within locomotives of the locomotive consist and communicatively coupled to the communications network, wherein a first access point of the plurality of access points is configured to:

monitor an effect of a first interference generated by a first pair of wires on a second pair of wires during communication between the first access point and a second access point;

monitor an effect of a second interference generated by the second pair of wires on the first pair of wires during the communication between the first access point and the second access point;

monitor one or more characteristics of the communication between the first access point and the second access point;

divide data packets to be sent from the first access point to the second access point such that a first subset of the data packets are designated for the first pair of wires and a second subset of the data packets are designated for the second pair of wires; and

modify the first subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the first interference, wherein the modifying includes dynamically generating a new transmission spectrum based on the one or more monitored characteristics.

20. The locomotive consist of claim 19 , wherein the first access point is further configured to:

send the modified first subset of the data packets on the first pair of wires and the modified second subset of the data packets on the second pair of wires; and

modify the second subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the second interference.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
Reel/Frame 071564/0142 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2022
From: BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 058648/0967 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 046528/0691 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST REEL 037108 FRAME 0926 Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BENCHMARK ELECTRONIC, INC.; SECURE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.; TACTICAL MICRO, INC.
Reel/Frame 046703/0343 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2018
From: SECURE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
To: BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045854/0334 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2015
From: BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC., AS PLEDGOR; SECURE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS PLEDGOR; TACTICAL MICRO, INC., AS PLEDGOR
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037108/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2012
From: LUECKE, JAMES ROBERT; RUDOLPH, WAYNE
To: ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIESEL, INC.; SECURE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 029382/0473 →