Tools For Railway Traffic Control
Patent No. USRE49115 (titled "Tools For Railway Traffic Control") was filed by Railware Inc on Dec 10, 2019.
What is this patent about?
’115 is related to the field of railway traffic control systems, specifically addressing the safety of railway workers who are working on or near railroad tracks. Current railway systems rely on interlock signals, centralized traffic control (CTC), and automatic train control (ATC) to manage train movements. However, accidents still occur, highlighting the need for additional safety measures to protect railway workers from being struck by trains.
The underlying idea behind ’115 is to introduce an additional layer of safety by allowing a railway traffic controller to place a temporary block on a section of track when workers are present. This block prevents trains from entering the section. A removal code is then generated and sent to the worker. The block can only be removed when the worker enters the removal code into the system, ensuring that the track is clear before train traffic resumes.
The claims of ’115 focus on a centralized railway control system that includes a rail personnel contact database and a railway traffic control apparatus. The apparatus is configured with a block placing part , a code generation part , and a block removal part . The block placing part blocks railway traffic to specified track sections. The code generation part generates and transmits a removal code to the railway field worker. The block removal part removes the block only upon entry of the correct removal code.
In practice, the system allows a train dispatcher to specify a track section to be blocked and identify the worker who will be present. The system then automatically generates a unique removal code and sends it to the worker's electronic contact address (e.g., smartphone). The worker, upon completing their work and ensuring the track is clear, enters the removal code into a user interface (e.g., a mobile app or web page), which then removes the block and allows train traffic to resume.
This approach differs from existing systems by providing a direct mechanism for railway workers to control access to the tracks they are working on. Instead of relying solely on centralized control and automated systems, ’115 incorporates a worker-verified release mechanism. This ensures that the track is safe before the block is removed, reducing the risk of accidents caused by miscommunication or human error.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’115 was filed, railway systems commonly relied on centralized traffic control (CTC) systems for monitoring and operating trains. At a time when interlock signals were typically controlled electronically, safety systems such as automatic train control (ATC) were increasingly integrated to prevent accidents. These ATC systems often required constant communication between onboard train control systems and offboard control equipment, with the offboard equipment generating movement authorities and providing information to the onboard systems.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art fails to teach a computer-implemented railway control apparatus that receives a track section selection, transmits a block signal to an associated interlock, generates a secret code for the selected track section, and transmits the secret code to a remote user terminal. The approved claims also depend from this novel apparatus.
Claims
This patent includes 36 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 10, 19, 20, 30, and 31. The independent claims are generally directed to systems, apparatuses, and methods for controlling railway track access using a removal code transmitted to a railway field worker. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the features and functionalities described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
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Date
Description
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USRE49115
- Application Number
- US16709126
- Filing Date
- Dec 10, 2019
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Oct 21, 2034
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents