Method and system for monitoring rail operations and transport of commodities via rail

1. A method for monitoring rail operations, comprising the steps of:

positioning a first monitoring device as a first node, said first monitoring device including a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from trains in range of the first monitoring device;

positioning a second monitoring device as a second node, said second monitoring device including a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from trains in range of the second monitoring device;

using the radio receiver of each of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device to receive radio signals;

demodulating each received radio signal into a data stream;

decoding the data stream to find an identification number, which identifies that a particular train is in range of the first node or the second node;

recording a presence of the particular train in range of the first node or the second node at a given time; and

reporting information about movement of the particular train relative to or between the first node and the second node to an interested party.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first node is associated with a terminal for loading or unloading a commodity.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the second node is associated with another terminal for loading or unloading the commodity.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , and further comprising the step of estimating a volume of the commodity loaded onto or unloaded from the particular train at the terminal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , and further comprising the step of reporting information about the volume of the commodity loaded onto or unloaded from the particular train to an interested party.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the step of estimating the volume of the commodity loaded onto or unloaded from the particular train is based on a time period that the particular train was present at the terminal.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the time period that the particular train was present at the terminal is determined from an analysis of the received radio signals to identify an arrival time and a departure time for the particular train with respect to the terminal.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radio receiver of each of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device is configured to receive radio signals from a distributed power system for a train.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radio receiver of each of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device is configured to receive radio signals from an end-of-train protocol for communications between a rear car and a locomotive cab of a train.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radio receiver of each of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device is configured to receive radio signals from an advanced train control system for monitoring sections of track and reporting locations of trains.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radio receiver of each of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device is configured to receive radio signals from a positive train control system for a train.

12. A method for monitoring rail operations, comprising the steps of:

positioning a first monitoring device as a first node, said first monitoring device including a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from an existing communications system for trains in range of the first monitoring device, wherein the existing communications system monitored by the first monitoring device is one of the following: (i) a radio communication link of a distributed power system for a train; (ii) an end-of-train protocol for communications between a rear car and a locomotive cab of a train; (iii) an advanced train control system for communications between track monitoring locations and a train; or (iv) a communications link of a positive train control system for a train;

positioning a second monitoring device as a second node, said second monitoring device including a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from an existing communications system for trains in range of the second monitoring device, wherein the existing communications system monitored by the second monitoring device is one of the following: (i) a radio communication link of a distributed power system for a train; (ii) an end-of-train protocol for communications between a rear car and a locomotive cab of a train; (iii) an advanced train control system for communications between track monitoring locations and a train; or (iv) a communications link of a positive train control system for a train;

using the radio receiver of each of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device to receive radio signals;

demodulating each received radio signal into a data stream;

decoding the data stream to find an identification number, which identifies that a particular train is in range of the first node or at the second node; and

recording a presence of the particular train in range of the first node or the second node at a given time.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , and further comprising the step of reporting information about movement of the particular train relative to or between the first node and the second node to an interested party.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first node is associated with a terminal for loading or unloading a commodity.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the second node is associated with another terminal for loading or unloading the commodity.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 , and further comprising the step of estimating a volume of the commodity loaded onto or unloaded from the particular train at the terminal.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , and further comprising the step of reporting information about the volume of the commodity loaded onto or unloaded from the particular train to an interested party.

18. A system for monitoring rail operations, comprising:

a first monitoring device positioned at a first node associated with a terminal for loading or unloading a commodity, said first monitoring device including a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from trains in range of the first monitoring device;

a second monitoring device positioned at a second node associated with another terminal for loading or unloading the commodity, said second monitoring device including a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from trains in range of the second monitoring device; and

a computer in communication with the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device, such that radio signals received by the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are communicated to the computer, and the computer then (a) demodulates each received radio signal into a data stream, (b) decodes the data stream to find an identification number, which identifies that a particular train is in range of the first node or the second node; and (c) records a presence of the particular train in range of the first node or the second node at a given time.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 , and further comprising a transceiver in communication with the computer for receiving and reporting information about movement of the particular train relative to or between the first node and the second node to an interested party.