AU2009251096B2 - Rail Transport System - Google Patents
Rail Transport System Download PDFInfo
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- AU2009251096B2 AU2009251096B2 AU2009251096A AU2009251096A AU2009251096B2 AU 2009251096 B2 AU2009251096 B2 AU 2009251096B2 AU 2009251096 A AU2009251096 A AU 2009251096A AU 2009251096 A AU2009251096 A AU 2009251096A AU 2009251096 B2 AU2009251096 B2 AU 2009251096B2
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
- B61L15/00—Indicators provided on the vehicle or vehicle train for signalling purposes ; On-board control or communication systems
- B61L15/0018—Communication with or on the vehicle or vehicle train
- B61L15/0027—Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
- B61L27/00—Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
- B61L27/70—Details of trackside communication
Abstract
-21 A heavy haul rail transport system 10 comprises a rail network 12 and one or more rail vehicles such as a consist 14c, a first hi-rail 14h1, a second hi-rail 5 14h2, a light engine or loco 14Le and a track machine 14t. Each of the rail vehicles 14 is provided with a radio transceiver having a unique address. The heavy haul rail transport system 10 also comprises an addressable communication system 16 which enables communication with and between the rail vehicles 14. The addressable communication system 16 comprises a 10 wayside data radio network 20 having a plurality of base stations 22 distributed along the rail network 12. Each of the base stations 22 is also provided with a unique address. C-44 C-4c Nt 4 (-44
Description
AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant (s): Technological Resources Pty. Limited Invention Title: Rail Transport System The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2 RAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEM Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a rail transport system such as, but not limited to, a heavy haul rail transport system, having a plurality of rail vehicles in which information can be communicated to or between the rail vehicles. Background of the Invention 10 Rail transport systems may be used for transporting people, goods, or bulk commodities between two or more geographic locations. A heavy haul rail transport system may transport bulk commodities such as iron ore or coal. The rail vehicles used in the heavy haul system, to either transport the commodities, 15 or maintain and service the system, include locos, wagons, and track vehicles such as hi rails and other track machines. In order to provide information to the rail vehicles including information to operators of the vehicles the heavy haul rail transport system will ordinarily 20 incorporate a communication system. One example of such a communication system is a voice radio system enabling communication between: individual locos in a common consist; locos in different consists; separate rail vehicles; and, train controllers and rail vehicles or wayside equipment. 25 Summary of the Invention A first aspect of the invention provides a rail transport system comprising: a rail network; two or more rail vehicles that travel on the rail network; and, 30 an addressable communications system enabling communication: between a control centre and each rail vehicle; and, between two or more of the rail vehicles, and wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique address within the addressable communications system. 35 In this aspect the addressable communication system may comprise a wayside data radio network having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein each base station is provided with a unique address to -3 facilitate routing of a communication through the base stations. A second aspect of the invention may provide a rail transport system comprising: 5 a rail network; one or more rail vehicles that travel on the rail network, each rail vehicle provided with a unique address; and, an addressable communications system enabling communication with each rail vehicle wherein the addressable communications system comprises a 10 wayside data radio network having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein each base station is provided with a unique address to facilitate routing of a communication with the one or more rail vehicles through the base stations. 15 When the rail transport system comprises two or more rail vehicles, the addressable communications system may be operable to facilitate communications between the two or more rail vehicles. When the two or more rail vehicles are coupled together in a common consist, 20 the addressable communications system may facilitate intra consist communications via only one or more of the base stations. The base stations may be arranged to provide automatic handover of communications between a rail vehicle and a first base station and that rail 25 vehicle and an adjacent base station as that rail vehicle travels between the first and the adjacent base stations. The data radio network may be arranged to provide duplicate coverage of the rail network. 30 The base stations may comprise main base stations and a plurality of infill base stations wherein the infill base stations are distributed along the rail network to provide radio coverage which overlaps with one or more sequentially adjacent main base stations, and wherein the infill base stations are configured to 35 maintain communications in the addressable communications system in the event of a failure of one or more main base stations to provide communication with a rail vehicle.
-4 The addressable communications system may comprise a TCP/IP communications system and wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique IP address. Additionally each base station may be provided with a unique IP 5 address. Each radio base station may be configured to act as a router to enable routing of a communication between two communicating parties over the addressable communications system with minimal latency to provide real time or near real 10 time communications between the parties. Moreover each base station is provided with a router table provided with the address of the other base stations and rail vehicles and wherein the base station is configured to update its router table with address information to facilitate communications with minimal latency. The updating of information includes logging the address of a rail 15 vehicle in the router table for a base station when that rail vehicle is in communications range with that base station. In this way the base stations can route a communication through a route comprising one or more base stations which produces the shortest point to point communication delivery time. 20 The rail transport system may further comprise a backbone communications network providing communications between a control centre and the base stations of the data radio network. The backbone communications network may be configured to provide multiple 25 communications paths between the control centre and at least one of the radio base stations. In one embodiment the rail transport system may be a heavy haul transport system. 30 The heavy haul transport system may comprise at least one consists that travel along the rail network, wherein at least one of the consists comprises at least one of the rail vehicles and a plurality of wagons, wherein the consist has a length of at least 500 meters. 35 -5 The addressable communications system may be configured to deliver a communication to a rail vehicle within a first time period less than 5 seconds from a time of transmission. 5 The addressable communications system may be configured to deliver a communication to rail vehicle within a first time period and the rail vehicle may be operated to come to a stop in the event that it loses communications with the addressable communications system for a second time period wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period. 10 The addressable communications system may be operable to enable operating commands to be communicated to one or more of the rail vehicles. One or more of the rail vehicles may be provided with onboard equipment 15 receptive to the operating commands, and wherein the onboard equipment can be operated in real time or near real time via the operating commands received via the addressable communications system. The wayside data radio system may utilize a lower or smaller bandwidth than 20 the backbone communications network. The rail transport system may comprise a protocol translation system which reduces bandwidth requirements for signals to be communicated between the base stations and the rail vehicles. 25 The translation system may comprise a plurality of translation subsystems or interfaces at respective ends of communication channels provided by the addressable communications network, each subsystem or interface enabling translation of signal to be transmitted on, or a signal received via, the 30 addressable communications system. Each rail vehicle may be provided with an onboard translation subsystem or interface. 35 The rail transport system may comprise respective geographic positioning devices fitted to one or more of the rail vehicles wherein the addressable -6 communications systems transmits data relating to the position of the rail vehicles fitted with the geographic positioning devices. The addressable communications system may provide transmission of voice 5 and data between the rail vehicles and other users connected by the addressable communications system. The rail vehicles may comprise any combination of one or more locos, and track vehicles including hi-rails and track machines. 10 A third aspect of the invention provides a method of operating a heavy haul rail transport system having two or more rail vehicles able to travel along a rail network, the method comprising: providing an addressable communications system within the heavy haul 15 rail transport system wherein each rail vehicle is with a unique address enabling communication between: a control centre and each rail vehicle or, two or more of the rail vehicles; and, communicating with at least one of the rail vehicles via the addressable communications system. 20 In this aspect providing the addressable communications system may comprise providing a wayside data radio network having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein each base station is provided with a unique address to facilitate routing of a communication through the base 25 stations. A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of operating a heavy haul rail transport system having one or more rail vehicles able to travel along a rail network, the method comprising: 30 providing an addressable communications system within the heavy haul rail transport system wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique address enabling communication with each rail vehicle and wherein the addressable communications system comprises a wayside data radio network having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein 35 each base station is provided with a unique address to facilitate routing of a communication with the one or more rail vehicles through the base stations; and, -7 communicating with at least one of the rail vehicles via the addressable communications system. The addressable communications system may enable communications 5 between the two or more rail vehicles. The method may comprise coupling the two or more rail vehicles together in a common consist and operating the addressable communications system to facilitate intra consist communications via only one or more of the base 10 stations. The addressable communications system may be operated in a manner wherein the base stations provide automatic handover of communications between a rail vehicle and a first base station and that rail vehicle and an 15 adjacent base station as that rail vehicle travels between the first and the adjacent base stations. The method may comprise constructing the data radio network to provide duplicate coverage of the rail network. 20 Constructing the data radio network to provide duplicate coverage base stations may comprise providing the base stations as a plurality of main base stations and a plurality of infill base stations wherein main base station provide overlapping coverage between mutually adjacent main base stations, and the 25 infill base stations are distributed along the rail network to provide radio coverage which overlaps with one or more sequentially adjacent main base stations, and wherein the infill base stations operate to maintain communications in the addressable communications system in the event of a failure of one or more main base stations. 30 The addressable communications system may be provided as a TCP/IP communications system and wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique IP address. 35 The addressable communications system may be operated to deliver a communication to a rail vehicle within a first time period less than 5 seconds.
-8 The addressable communications system may be operated to deliver a communication to rail vehicle within a first time period and the rail vehicle is operated to come to a stop in the vent that it loses communications with the addressable communications system for a second time period wherein the 5 second time period is greater than the first time period. The method may comprise applying a bandwidth reduction protocol to signals transmitted on the addressable communications network. 10 The method may comprise translating the bandwidth reduced signal upon reception. Brief Description of the Drawings 15 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the heavy haul rail transport system in accordance with the present invention; 20 Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an addressable communication system incorporated in the rail transport system shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of intra consist communications over the 25 communications system shown in Figure 2. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the heavy haul rail transport system 10 30 comprising a rail network 12 and one or more rail vehicles. By way of example only, the rail vehicles may comprise any of a consist 14c (having at least one loco), a first hi-rail 14h1, a second hi-rail 14h2, a track machine 14t, and a light engine or loco 14Le. Hereinafter the rail vehicles are referred to in general as "rail vehicles 14". Each of the rail vehicles 14 is provided with a unique address 35 on an addressable communications system 16. More particularly, each of the rail vehicles 14 is provided with a radio transceiver having a unique address on the addressable communications system 16. Thus the address of the radio -9 transceiver in effect identifies the particular rail vehicle 14. The heavy haul rail transport system 10 also comprises an addressable communication system 16 which enables communication with and between the rail vehicles 14. This communication may be between different vehicles, for example between the 5 consist 14c and the hi-rail 14h1; between the rail vehicles 14 and a train control centre (TCC) 18 which may, for example monitor the state of the rail network 12 and the vehicles 14; and between locos in the same consist. In an example of the latter communications, the consist 14c comprises: head end lead loco Li; trailing head end locos L2 and [3; a plurality of wagons W; and banker locos 10 B1, B2 and B3. The addressable communication system 16 enables communication between for example the head end lead loco Li and the banker lead loco R1. The information communicated by the addressable communication system 15 between the rail vehicles 14 and the TCC 18 may include, but is not limited to, position data of the rail vehicles 14, alarm status of the rail vehicles 14, direction and speed of travel of the vehicles 14, and for the hi-rails 14h1 and 14h2, position of their respective hi-rail gears. To enable the transmission of position data of the rail vehicles 14, the system 10 may incorporate geographic 20 position device, such as a GPS unit for each of the rail vehicles 14. This enables position data to be transmitted by the communication system 16. Figure 2 illustrates that an embodiment of the addressable communication system 16 comprises a wayside data radio network 20 having a plurality of 25 base stations 22a - 22c (referred to in general as "base station(s) 22") distributed along the rail network 12. Each of the base stations 22 is provided with a unique address on the addressable communications system 16. In one embodiment, the data radio network 20 may communicate directly with the TCC 18. However in an alternate embodiment, a back bone network 24 may be 30 interposed between the data radio network 20 and the TCC 18. The back bone network 24 may comprise microwave, optical fibre, copper cable or coaxial cable transmission media or a combination thereof. The base stations 22 are located relative to each other, to enable or facilitate 35 line of sight radio communications with the one or more other base stations 22. Moreover the base stations are distributed along the track to enable communications between (a) a rail vehicle 14 and the TCC 18; (b) two separate - 10 rail vehicles 14 via only one or more of the base stations, that is bypassing the TCC 18, (which may be termed "inter consist communications"); or (c) two rail vehicles in the same consist, via only one or more base stations 22, that is bypassing the TCC 18, (which may be termed as "intra consist 5 communications"). The provision of the base stations enables a message or data to be communicated between two rail vehicles or a rail vehicle and the TCC 18 which may not be in line of sight of each, other via one or base stations 22. 10 An example of communication (a) above is shown in Figure 2 with a communication between the TCC 18 and the consist 14c via the backbone 24 and base station 22a. An example of communication (b) is shown as a communication between the consist 14c and the hi-rail 14hi. Here there is no line of sight between the two vehicles due to an intervening hill H (which is 15 provided with a tunnel). The respective vehicles can communication directly via the base stations 22b and 22c which are in line of sight of each other, and with the base station 22b in line of sight of consist 14c, and the base station 22c in line of sight of hi-rail 14hi. 20 Figure 3 depicts two examples of communication (c) above between the head end lead loco LI and banker lead loco B1 in a common consist 14c. In the first example, communications between the locos LI and B1 is along communication paths Pla and Pib by the common base station 22a. However depending on the location of the consist 14c along the rail track relative to the 25 base stations 22a and 22b, and relative signal strengths between the communicating radios in the locos LI and B1 and the base stations 22, in a second example, messages may be communicated between the locos LI and B1 along a path comprising path P2a between loco LI and base station 22b, path P2s between base station 22b and base station 22a, and path Pib 30 between the base station 22a and the banker lead B1. Each of the base stations is provided with a unique address and configured to act as a router. This enables a communication between or with the rail vehicles 14 to be routed through the base stations 22 in a manner to maximise the 35 likelihood of the communication being received (i.e. to route around a failed or congested base station) and to minimise latency and thus provide real time or near real time communications. To this end the base stations may be -11 configured in accordance with standard router protocols and methods of operation. For example the base stations are provided with routing tables which are used to determine where a data packet in a communication to a rail vehicle 14 should be routed to reach the specified address of that rail vehicle. The 5 tables typically will include the: address of the base stations 24; address of the rail vehicles in communications range; and rules/priorities for handling communications traffic. The tables may be updated with address information relating to congested or failed base stations, and with the address of the next base station to which communications for a rail vehicle was handed over.. The 10 rail vehicle address may be transferred from one base station to another as part of a handover protocol between base stations as a rail vehicle moves along a track leaving the communications range of one base station and into communications range with another bases station. The updating of router tables assists to minimise network latency. 15 In one embodiment each base station may be provided with two transceivers, each operating at two frequencies to provide space diversity, and associated antennas to enable communications at the two different frequencies. The base stations are operated with one of the transceivers being active to provide 20 communication and the other transceiver on hot standby. Automatic switching equipment provided at each base station enables automatic change over, if and when required, between the active transceiver and the hot standby backup. Thus in this embodiment, each base station is a dual redundant radio base station. 25 In addition to the base stations 22, the system 16 may incorporate a plurality of infill base stations 22i distributed along the rail network 12 to provide duplicate radio coverage to ensure that if one of the base stations 22 were to fail, communications to areas normally provided by the failed base station 22 would 30 be provided by one or more of the surrounding infill base stations 22i. Modelling indicates that the provision of the infill base stations 22i provides a substantial increase in system reliability reducing, in one rail network 12, a cumulative theoretical communications outage of 110 hours per year to approximately 2.3 hours per year. Each infill base station 22i is also provided 35 with a unique address and can act as a router in the same manner as a "regular" base station 22. The infill stations may be located in area prone to signal fading or loss for example due to changes in atmospheric conditions or -12 as a result of geographic/geological conditions. In one example an infill station may be located in a region where signal level of a near base station is known to drop below a threshold level (e.g. below .95 dBm) from time to time. 5 In the heavy haul rail transport system 10, locomotives travelling along the rail network 12 may be configured to automatically stop in the event of a loss of communication with the communication system 16 for a predetermined outage time, for example 45 or 60 or 75 secs. 10 The communications system 16 is also configured to provide an automatic handover between adjacent base stations 22 as a rail vehicle 14 travels along the rail network 12. The handover occurs within a relatively short period for example 2 - 3 seconds, or at least, within a time period less than the predetermined outage time period. Further, the communications system 16 15 provides real time or substantial real time communications between communicating components of the rail transport system 10. This enables for example substantially real time tracking of the location of the rail vehicles 14 at the TCC 18. 20 The communication system 16 may comprise a TCP/IP communication system enabling the use of conventional TCP/IP communications protocols between connected entities in the communication system 16. Thus, for example, each of the base stations 22, the infill base stations 22i, radios on the rail vehicles 14, and communication sites within the back bone network 24 will each be provided 25 with a unique IP address. This further enables the use of standard Ethernet interfaces/ports between communicating components of the communication system 16.. The communication system 16 may incorporate a web based network management system 26 allowing remote monitoring, configuration and management of the base stations 22 and the radio transceivers on the rail 30 vehicles 14. The network management system 26 also allows for real time system monitoring, diagnosis of faults and trending of system performance. Typically, the back bone communication network 24 will have a substantially larger bandwidth available for communications than the radio network 20. This 35 rises from the inherent bandwidth of copper and/or fibre optic transmission media. Accordingly communication protocols utilised in such systems are ordinarily of little concern due to the high available bandwidth. In contrast - 13 however in a radio system, there are substantial limitations of bandwidth. In order to minimise latency and provide maximum usable data rate the communication system 16 incorporates translation protocol to remove unrequired bits normally used in TCP/IP communication systems. For example, 5 a dynamic multiplex protocol (DMP) may be used to provide protocol translation between end to end connected users of the communication system 16. Use of the DMP, or similar translation protocol enables the data radio network 20 to provide communication rates in excess of 40kbits/s and indeed rates up to and exceeding 64kbits/s. 10 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above described embodiment of the heavy haul rail transport system 10 enables end to end (TCP/IP) connectivity between connected users in the system 10. The system 10 also provides the ability to transmit as data, information that is currently 15 transmitted verbally over voice radio and repeated back. This may reduce human error, as well as reduces congestion on voice radio channels. Further, as the data radio network 20 is a distributed topology there is no single control centre and thus no central point of failure. Data may be easily encrypted utilising conventional encryption protocols to provide increased security and 20 safety of track operations. Further, use of standard communication protocols (TCP/IP) and interfaces (Ethernet) will allow office shelf equipment to be interfaced into the system 10 and operated without any special modifications. The communication system may also enable addressable communications with wagons and carriages in a consist. This may be particularly applicable when 25 the carriages are passenger carriages. Indeed communications is also enabled and facilitated by the present system with individual addressable mobile radio handsets carried by persons on a rail vehicle. Modifications and variations in the above described embodiment of the present 30 invention that would be obvious to persons of ordinary skill in the art are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the above description and the appended claims.
Claims (46)
1. A rail transport system comprising: a rail network; 5 two or more rail vehicles that travel on the rail network; and, an addressable communications system enabling communication: between a control centre and each rail vehicle; and, between two or more of the rail vehicles, and wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique address within the addressable communications system. 10
2. The rail transport system according to claim 1 wherein the addressable communications system comprises a wayside data radio network having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein each base station is provided with a unique address to facilitate routing of a 15 communication through the base stations.
3. A rail transport system comprising: a rail network; one or more rail vehicles that travel on the rail network, each rail vehicle 20 provided with a unique address; and, an addressable communications system enabling communication with each rail vehicle wherein the addressable communications system comprises a wayside data radio network having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein each base station is provided with a unique address to 25 facilitate routing of a communication with the one or more rail vehicles through the base stations.
4. The rail transport system according to claim 3 comprising two or more rail vehicles, wherein the addressable communications system is operable to 30 facilitate communications between the two or more rail vehicles.
5. The rail transport system according to claim 1 or 4 wherein the two or more rail vehicles are coupled together in a common consist whereby the addressable communications system facilitates intra consist communications 35 via only one or more of the base stations. - 15
6. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 2 - 5 wherein the base stations are arranged to provide automatic handover of communications between a rail vehicle and a first base station and that rail vehicle and an adjacent base station as that rail vehicle travels between the 5 first and the adjacent base stations.
7. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 2 - 6 wherein data radio network is arranged to provide duplicate coverage of the rail network. 10
8. The rail transport system according to claim 7 wherein base stations comprise main base stations and a plurality of infill base stations wherein the infill base stations are distributed along the rail network to provide radio coverage which overlaps with one or more sequentially adjacent main base stations, and wherein the infill base stations are configured to maintain 15 communications in the addressable communications system in the event of a failure of one or more main base stations to provide communication with a rail vehicle.
9. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 8 wherein 20 the addressable communications system comprises a TCP/IP communications system and wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique IP address.
10. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 2 - 8 wherein the addressable communications system comprises a TCP/IP communications 25 system and wherein each rail vehicle and each base station is provided with a unique IP address.
11. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 2 - 10 wherein each radio base station is configured to act as a router to enable routing of a 30 communication between two communicating parties over the addressable communications system with minimal latency to provide real time or near real time communications between the parties.
12. The rail transport system according to claim 11 wherein each base 35 station is provided with a router table provided with the address of the other base stations and the rail vehicles in communications range of that base station -16 and wherein the base station is configured to update its router table with address information to facilitate communications with minimal latency.
13. The rail transport system according to claim 12 wherein the updating of 5 information includes logging the address of a rail vehicle in the router table for a base station when that rail vehicle moves into communications range with that base station.
14. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 3 - 10 further 10 comprising a backbone communications network providing communications between a control centre and the data radio network.
15. The rail transport system according to claim 2 further comprising a backbone communications network providing communications between the 15 control centre and the data radio network.
16. The rail transport system according to claim 14 or 15 wherein the backbone communications network is configured to provide multiple communications paths between the control centre and at least one of the radio 20 base stations.
17. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 16 wherein the rail transport system is a heavy haul transport system. 25
18. The rail transport system according to claim 17 wherein the heavy haul transport system comprises at least one consist that travel along the rail network, wherein at least one of the consists comprises at least one of the rail vehicles and a plurality of wagons, wherein the consist has a length of at least 500 meters. 30
19. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 18 wherein the addressable communications system delivers a communication to a rail vehicle within a first time period less than 5 seconds. 35
20. The rail transport system according to claim 1 - 19 wherein the addressable communications system delivers a communication to rail vehicle within a first time period and the rail vehicle is operated to come to a stop in the - 17 event that it loses communications with the addressable communications system for a second time period wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period. 5
21. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 20 wherein the addressable communications system is operable to enable operating commands to be communicated to one or more of the rail vehicles.
22. The rail transport system according to claim 21 wherein one or more of 10 the rail vehicles is provided with onboard equipment receptive to the operating commands, and wherein the onboard equipment operates in real time or near real time via the operating commands received via the addressable communications system. 15
23. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 14 - 22 wherein the wayside data radio network utilizes a lower bandwidth than the backbone communications network.
24. The rail transport system according to claim 23 comprising a protocol 20 translation system which reduces bandwidth requirements for signals to be communicated by the addressable communications system.
25. The rail transport system according to claim 24 wherein the translation system comprises a plurality of translation subsystems at respective ends of 25 communication channels provided by the addressable communications network, each subsystem enabling translation of a signal to be transmitted on, or a signal received via, the addressable communications system.
26. The rail transport system according to claim 24 wherein each rail vehicle 30 is provided with an onboard translation subsystem.
27. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 26 comprising respective geographic positioning devices fitted to one or more of the rail vehicles wherein the addressable communications systems transmits 35 data relating to the position of the rail vehicles fitted with the geographic positioning devices. -18
28. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 27 wherein the addressable communications system provides transmission of voice and data between the rail vehicles and other users connected by the addressable communications system. 5
29. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 28 wherein the rail vehicles comprise locos.
30. The rail transport system according to any one of claims 1 - 29 wherein 10 the rail vehicles comprise at least one track vehicle.
31. The rail transport system according to claim 30 wherein the at least one track vehicle comprises a hi-rail. 15
32. A method of operating a heavy haul rail transport system having two or more rail vehicles able to travel along a rail network, the method comprising: providing an addressable communications system within the heavy haul rail transport system wherein each rail vehicle is with a unique address enabling communication between: a control centre and each rail vehicle or, two or more 20 of the rail vehicles; and, communicating with at least one of the rail vehicles via the addressable communications system.
33. The method according to claim 32 wherein providing the addressable 25 communications system comprises providing a wayside data radio network having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein each base station is provided with a unique address
34. A method of operating a heavy haul rail transport system having one or 30 more rail vehicles able to travel along a rail network, the method comprising: providing an addressable communications system within the heavy haul rail transport system wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique address enabling communication with each rail vehicle and wherein the addressable communications system comprises a wayside data radio network 35 having a plurality of base stations distributed along the rail network wherein each base station is provided with a unique address to facilitate routing of a - 19 communication with the one or more rail vehicles through the base stations; and, communicating with at least one of the rail vehicles via the addressable communications system. 5
35. The method according to claim 34 wherein the addressable communications system enables communications between two or more of the rail vehicles. 10
36. The method according to claim 32 or 34 comprising coupling two or more of the rail vehicles together in a common consist and operating the addressable communications system to facilitate intra consist communications.
37. The method according to any one of claims 33 - 36 comprising operating 15 the addressable communications system wherein the base stations provide automatic handover of communications between a rail vehicle and a first base station and that rail vehicle and an adjacent base station as that rail vehicle travels between the first and the adjacent base stations. 20
38. The method according to any one of claims 33 - 37 comprising constructing the data radio network to provide duplicate coverage of the rail network.
39. The method according to claim 38 wherein constructing the data radio 25 network to provide duplicate coverage base stations comprises providing the base stations as a plurality of main base stations and a plurality of infill base stations wherein main base station provide overlapping coverage between mutually adjacent main base stations, and the infill base stations are distributed along the rail network to provide radio coverage which overlaps with one or 30 more sequentially adjacent main base stations, and wherein the infill base stations operate to maintain communications in the addressable communications system in the event of a failure of one or more main base stations. 35
40. The method according to any one of claims 32 - 39 wherein the addressable communications system is provided as a TCP/IP communications system and wherein each rail vehicle is provided with a unique IP address. - 20
41. The method according to any one of claims 32 - 39 wherein the addressable communications system delivers a communication to a rail vehicle within a first time period less than 5 seconds. 5
42. The method according to any one of claims 32 - 39 wherein the addressable communications system delivers a communication to rail vehicle within a first time period and the rail vehicle is operated to come to a stop in the vent that it loses communications with the addressable communications system 10 for a second time period wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period.
43. The method according to any one of claims 32 - 42 comprising applying a bandwidth reduction protocol to signals transmitted on the addressable 15 communications network to provide bandwidth reduced signals.
44. The method according to claim 43 comprising translating the bandwidth reduced signal upon reception. 20
45. A rail transport system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
46. A method of operating a rail transport system, the method substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying 25 drawings.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2009251096A AU2009251096B2 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2009-12-22 | Rail Transport System |
| AU2015200259A AU2015200259A1 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2015-01-20 | Rail Transport System |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2008906572 | 2008-12-22 | ||
| AU2008906572A AU2008906572A0 (en) | 2008-12-22 | Heavy Haul Rail Transport System | |
| AU2009251096A AU2009251096B2 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2009-12-22 | Rail Transport System |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2015200259A Division AU2015200259A1 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2015-01-20 | Rail Transport System |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| AU2009251096A1 AU2009251096A1 (en) | 2010-07-08 |
| AU2009251096B2 true AU2009251096B2 (en) | 2014-11-27 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2009251096A Active AU2009251096B2 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2009-12-22 | Rail Transport System |
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| Country | Link |
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| AU (1) | AU2009251096B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITUB20160294A1 (en) * | 2016-01-29 | 2017-07-29 | Comesvil Spa | Radio communication apparatus and system for a railway infrastructure |
| CN109795526B (en) * | 2017-11-17 | 2023-09-26 | 通号通信信息集团上海有限公司 | Vehicle-mounted station redundancy hot backup system and method based on vehicle-mounted network |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5548835A (en) * | 1993-12-06 | 1996-08-20 | Nec Corporation | Train radio communication system |
| EP0970868A1 (en) * | 1997-03-19 | 2000-01-12 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and system for controlling train by radio |
| US20050208924A1 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2005-09-22 | Shigeo Ohaku | System for enabling a high-speed moving vehicle to communicate with base stations |
-
2009
- 2009-12-22 AU AU2009251096A patent/AU2009251096B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5548835A (en) * | 1993-12-06 | 1996-08-20 | Nec Corporation | Train radio communication system |
| EP0970868A1 (en) * | 1997-03-19 | 2000-01-12 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and system for controlling train by radio |
| US20050208924A1 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2005-09-22 | Shigeo Ohaku | System for enabling a high-speed moving vehicle to communicate with base stations |
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|---|---|
| AU2009251096A1 (en) | 2010-07-08 |
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