BR102015028250B1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

METHOD AND SYSTEM. These are methods and systems that wirelessly communicate integrated messages between communication devices (204) on board the same vehicle (104, 106). The communication devices (204) may communicate wirelessly with other communication devices (204) on board other vehicles (104, 106) in a vehicle system (104, 106) to remotely control the vehicles (104, 106). . The reception of messages integrated into the communication devices (204) is determined, and the operating states of the communication devices (204) are determined based, at least in part, on the reception of the messages integrated into the communication devices (204). Determining these operating states in this manner may allow an operator to identify communication failures with the communication devices (204) before starting the vehicle (104, 106).

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[001] The embodiments of the present invention described in this document relate to communications between vehicles in a vehicular system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Some known vehicular systems include several vehicles that generate tractive effort for propulsion of the vehicular systems along a route. For example, trains can have several locomotives coupled together to propel the train along a track. Locomotives can communicate with each other in order to coordinate traction efforts and/or braking efforts provided by the locomotives. As an example, locomotives may be provided in a distributed power (DP) arrangement with one locomotive designated as a driving locomotive and other locomotives designated as remote locomotives. The driving locomotive can direct the traction and braking efforts provided by remote locomotives during a vehicular system route.

[003] Some known vehicular systems use wireless communication between locomotives to coordinate traction and/or braking efforts. For example, a driving locomotive can issue commands to remote locomotives. The remote locomotives receive the commands and implement the traction efforts and/or braking efforts directed by the commands. The remote locomotives may communicate responsive messages to the driving locomotive to notify the driving locomotive that the remote locomotive has received the command and/or to report the current status of the remote locomotive.

[004] Before a route, an operator can climb onto each locomotive and adjust the remote locomotives so that they are remotely controlled by the driving locomotive. The operator can then climb onto the driving locomotive to connect the driving locomotive to remote locomotives. If the wireless devices on board one or more of the remote locomotives are not functioning, are not turned on (for example, due to a circuit breaker being in an off position), or otherwise do not have the ability to communicate with the driving locomotive, then the operator may need to return to the locomotive, or remote locomotives, to diagnose and correct any problems.

[005] For example, a common complaint is the inability to connect a driving locomotive to remote locomotives due to a failure of a radio system on either the driving or remote locomotive (transmitter, receiver, antenna, cables, etc.), or simply due to the fact that a circuit breaker for the radio system is in the off or on position. In such a situation, an operator can tune the remote locomotives and then go to the driving locomotive to tune the driving locomotive for DP operations. The operator can then attempt to link the remote locomotives to the driving locomotive. If the radio circuit breaker is off on the remote locomotive, or there is some type of hardware failure, the operator may need to go back to the remote locomotive and diagnose the problem. Due to the length of some trains, this can result in considerable time and effort before the train is ready for departure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[006] In one embodiment, a method (e.g., for testing communication in a vehicular system) includes wirelessly communicating a first message onboard a first communication device onboard a first vehicle to a second communication device. communication that is also on board the first vehicle. The first communication device and the second communication device are configured to communicate, wirelessly, with one or more other communication devices disposed on board one or more second vehicles in a vehicular system that includes the first vehicle and the one or more more second vehicles for remote control of at least one of the first vehicle or the one or more second vehicles. The method may also include determining receipt of the first message on board the second communication device, wirelessly communicating a second message on board the second communication device to the first communication device, determining receipt of the second message on board the first communication device and determining a first operational state of the first communication device and a second operational state of the second communication device of the first vehicle based, at least in part, on receipt of the first message on board the second communication device and the receiving the second message on board the first communication device.

[007] In another embodiment, a system (e.g., a communication system of a vehicular system) includes first and second communication devices and one or more processors. The first communication device is configured to be disposed on board a first vehicle in a vehicular system that also includes one or more second vehicles. The second communication device is configured to also be disposed on board the first vehicle. The one or more processors are configured to be disposed on board the first vehicle. The first communication device and the second communication device are configured to communicate, wirelessly, with one or more other communication devices disposed on board of the one or more second vehicles for remote control of at least one of the first vehicle. or one or more second vehicles. The first communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate a first onboard message to the second communication device and the second communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate a second onboard message from the second communication device to the first communication device. The one or more processors are configured to determine receipt of the first message on board the second communication device and receipt of the second message on board the first communication device. The one or more processors are also configured to determine a first operational state of the first communication device and a second operational state of the second communication device of the first vehicle based, at least in part, on receipt of the first message on board the second device. communication device and upon receipt of the second message on board the first communication device.

[008] In another embodiment, another system (e.g., another communication system) includes first and second transceiver devices, and one or more processors. The first transceiver device may be configured to be disposed on board a first vehicle in a vehicular system that also includes one or more second vehicles. The first transceiver device includes a first transmitter and a first receiver. The second transceiver device may be configured to also be disposed on board the first vehicle. The second transceiver device includes a second transmitter and a second receiver. The first transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a first onboard message to the second receiver and the second transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a second onboard message to the first receiver. The one or more processors may be configured to be disposed on board the first vehicle and to determine operational states of the first transceiver device and the second transceiver device based on receipt of the first message on board the second receiver and receipt of the second message on board. of the first receiver. Responsive to determining that the first on-board message and the second on-board message have been received, the one or more processors are configured to communicatively link one or more of the first transceiver device or the second transceiver device to one or more third devices. transceivers arranged on board the one or more second vehicles.

[009] In another embodiment, a system (e.g., another communication system) includes one or more processors configured to be disposed on board a first vehicle in a vehicular system that also includes one or more second vehicles. The one or more processors are further configured to determine receipt of a first message on board a first communication device on board the first vehicle on a second communication device on board the first vehicle and receipt of a second message on board the first vehicle. second communication device on the first communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device may be configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other communication devices disposed on board one or more second vehicles for remote control of at least one of the first vehicle or one or more second vehicles. The one or more processors may also be configured to determine a first operational state of the first communication device and a second operational state of the second communication device of the first vehicle based, at least in part, on receipt of the first message on board the second. communication device and upon receipt of the second message on board the first communication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[010] Reference is now briefly made to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a communication system of a vehicular system; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a propulsion generating vehicle according to one embodiment; Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the communication system shown in Figure 1 according to one embodiment; Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method for testing communication in a vehicular system according to an embodiment; and Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a flowchart of a method for testing communication in a vehicular system according to another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[011] One or more embodiments of the present invention described herein provide systems and methods for testing wireless communication devices on board vehicles of a vehicular system. Although the description in this document is focused on rail vehicle systems that have two or more locomotives, not all embodiments are limited to rail vehicles or locomotives. For example, vehicular systems formed from other types of vehicles, such as automobiles, vessels, mining vehicles, other off-road vehicles (e.g., vehicles that are not designed or not legally permitted to travel on public roads), or similar, can be used. The vehicles in the vehicular system may be mechanically coupled together with at least one vehicle (e.g., a driver vehicle) that remotely controls the operations of the other vehicles (e.g., remote vehicles). Optionally, the vehicles may not be mechanically coupled. For example, a driving vehicle can communicate wirelessly with remote vehicles to coordinate vehicle movements with each other without any mechanical coupling between the vehicles.

[012] For vehicular systems that rely on wireless communication for command messages (which remotely control the operations of other vehicles) and status messages (which report the situations of remote vehicles) to be exchanged between driving and remote vehicles, Communication reserves (e.g., transceivers or other types of devices) can be used to increase communication reliability. With redundant or backup communications devices in vehicles, spatial and/or frequency diversity can be used to ensure that at least one of the communications devices is functioning properly on board each vehicle.

[013] In one embodiment, during an adjustment process to communicatively link vehicles in a distributed power (DP) arrangement in which a driver vehicle remotely controls operations of one or more remote vehicles, a communication system could perform a test, automatically or manually initiated, in which a first transmitter of a first transceiver on board a vehicle sends a radio message that is received by a second receiver of a second transceiver that is on board the same vehicle. A second transmitter of the second transceiver may send another radio message that is received by a first receiver of the first transceiver. Both messages can be checked for accuracy by one or more processors. The success or failure of these messages to be transmitted and received properly may be communicated to an operator and/or registrant. Receipt of these messages by the transceivers may indicate that the transceivers are in good functional order.

[014] In one embodiment, after the vehicle system is set in a DP arrangement, these remote vehicles may send messages from transmitters of the remote vehicles to another transceiver, such as a receiver on board the driving vehicle. The transceiver on board the driving locomotive can receive the message and respond with a message that is received by receivers on the remote vehicles. This test could be repeated with other transceivers on the remote and driver vehicles. Optionally, transceivers onboard the vehicle system may communicate messages with one or more external transceivers to test operation of the transceivers, such as with tower systems, roadside repeaters, or the like. Receipt of these messages by the transceivers may indicate that the transceivers are in good functional order.

[015] Communicating these messages, or test messages, and confirming receipt may allow operators to ensure that communications systems on remote vehicles are functioning properly and can communicate with the driving vehicle before operators engage. drive to the driver vehicle, thus saving time and energy.

[016] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a communication system 100 of a vehicular system 102. The illustrated vehicular system 102 includes propulsion generating vehicles 104, 106 (e.g., vehicles 104, 106A, 106B, 106C) and non-propulsion generating vehicles 108 (e.g., vehicles 108A, 108B) mechanically coupled together. Propulsion generating vehicles have the capability of self-propulsion, while non-propulsion generating vehicles do not have the capability of self-propulsion. The propulsion generating vehicles 104, 106 are shown as locomotives, the non-propulsion generating vehicles 108 are shown as cars on rail, and the vehicular system 102 is shown as a train in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, the vehicles 104, 106 may represent other vehicles, such as automobiles, vessels or the like, and the vehicular system 102 may represent a grouping or coupling of these other vehicles. In one embodiment, the vehicles 104, 106 may not be mechanically coupled together. For example, vehicles 104, 106 may be separate from each other, but may communicate with each other to coordinate operations of vehicles 104, 106. For example, vehicle 104 may wirelessly communicate operational command messages to vehicles 106 that it controls or remotely direct the operational adjustments of the vehicles 106 so that the vehicles 104, 106 can remain at designated distances from each other or otherwise travel together. The number and arrangement of vehicles 104, 106 in vehicular system 102 are provided as an example and are not intended as limitations on all embodiments of the present invention described herein.

[017] Vehicles 104, 106 can be arranged in a distributed power (DP) arrangement. For example, vehicles 104, 106 may include a driver vehicle 104 that issues command messages to other vehicles 106A, 106B and/or 106C that are referred to herein as remote vehicles. The designations “driver” and “remote” are not intended to denote spatial locations of vehicles 104, 106 in vehicular system 102, but rather are used to indicate which vehicle 104, 106 is communicating (e.g., transmitting, broadcasting or a combination of broadcast and broadcast) command messages, and which vehicles 104, 106 are being remotely controlled using the command messages. For example, the driver vehicle 104 may or may not be disposed at the front end of the vehicular system 102 (e.g., along a direction of travel of the vehicular system 102). Additionally, the remote vehicles 106A to C need not be separated from the driver vehicle 104. For example, a remote vehicle 106A to C may be directly coupled to the driver vehicle 104 or may be separated from the driver vehicle 104 by one or more other remote vehicles 106A to C and/or vehicles 108. In one embodiment, the driving vehicle 104 may wirelessly send command messages to a remote vehicle 106 in a composition, wherein command messages to other remote vehicles 106 in the same composition are communicated from another manner. A composition may include two or more vehicles 104, 106 directly coupled together. For example, the remote vehicles 106A, 106B may be in a composition with the driver vehicle 104. Command messages communicated from the driver vehicle 104 to the remote vehicle 106A may be communicated with the other remote vehicle 106B via a wired connection ( for example, over a multi-unit cable or other cable) and/or a wireless connection.

[018] Command messages may include directives that direct operations of remote vehicles. Such directives may include propulsion commands that direct propulsion subsystems of the remote vehicles to move at a designated speed and/or power level, brake commands that direct the remote vehicles to apply brakes at a designated level, and/or other commands. The driving vehicle 104 issues the command messages to coordinate the traction efforts and/or braking efforts provided by the vehicles 104, 106 in order to carry out propulsion of the vehicular system 102 along a route 110, such as a road, road, etc. water route, or similar. The remote vehicles 106 may respond to the driving vehicle 104 with replica or status messages that confirm receipt of the command messages and/or report a current operational status or situation of the remote vehicles 106.

[019] Communication system 100 may include various communication devices (described below) arranged on board vehicles 104, 106. These communication devices may communicate messages, such as test messages, with themselves and/or with each other in order to of testing the operation of communication devices and determining operational states of communication devices.

[020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a propulsion generating vehicle 200 according to one embodiment. Vehicle 200 may represent one or more of the vehicles 104, 106 shown in Figure 1. Vehicle 200 includes a communication assembly 202 that has a plurality of communication devices 204 (e.g., devices 204A, 204B). Communication devices 204 may represent wireless transceivers, such as radio transceivers, or other devices that have the ability to transmit, broadcast and/or receive messages wirelessly. The communication devices 204 may be arranged in a common (e.g., the same) housing, but may be separate devices 204, each having the ability to communicate separately with another wireless device. For example, each communication device 204 may include a transmitter 206 (e.g., “TxA 206A” and “TxB 206B” in Figure 2), a receiver 208 (e.g., “RxA 208A” and “RxB 208B” in Figure 2). ), associated transceiver circuit assembly (which may include or represent one or more processors, filters, amplifiers, or the like) 210, and an antenna 212 (e.g., antennas 212A, 212B in Figure 2) to communicate wirelessly with another device 204. Although the communication devices 204 may be arranged within the same housing, the antennas 212 of the communication devices 204 may be separated and spaced apart. Although the term “transmitter” is used to describe a component of the communication device 204, the transmitter 206 may not be limited to only transmitting messages to other devices 204. Instead, the transmitters 206 may optionally broadcast messages to other devices 204.

[021] At least one of the communication devices 204 can be used during movement of the vehicular system 102 (shown in Figure 1) to send and/or receive command messages and/or status messages. If the communication set 202 is disposed on board the driving vehicle 104, then the communication device 204A may be used to wirelessly communicate command messages to the communication sets 202 of one or more remote vehicles 106 and/or to receive wireless status messages from the communication sets 202 of the one or more remote vehicles 106. If the communication set 202 is disposed on board a remote vehicle 106, then the communication device 204A can be used to wirelessly receive status messages. command of the communication set 202 of the driving vehicle 104 and/or to wirelessly communicate status messages to the communication set 202 of the driving vehicle 104. The other communication device 204B may be a backup or redundant communication device 204 that is used as a replacement for the 204A communication device if the 204A communication device does not have the ability to communicate.

[022] In one embodiment, communication devices 204 disposed on board the same vehicle 200 may communicate wirelessly with each other via antennas 212 to determine the operational states of the communication devices 204. For example, the transmitter 206A of the communication device communication 204A can wirelessly communicate an on-board message via antenna 212A to the receiver 208B of the other communication device 204B via antenna 212B. This on-board message may not be communicated to any device located outside the vehicle 200 in one embodiment. Alternatively, this on-board message may be received by one or more devices disposed outside the vehicle 200. The on-board message may optionally be called a test message.

[023] The onboard message may include data such as identification data indicating which communication device 204 sent the message, indicating that the message is used to test the functionality of a communication device 204, or the like. The receiver 208B and/or the transception circuitry 210 of the communication device 204B may examine the content of the received on-board message to determine whether the data included in the on-board message corresponds (e.g., is compatible) with designated data. For example, a designated pattern or other identifying data may be stored in an onboard memory device 214, such as one or more random access memories, read-only memories, hard drives, compact disc (CD) drives, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk drives, magnetic tapes, or other memory components. The receiver 208B and/or transception circuitry 210 of the communication device 204B may examine the identification data in the received on-board message and compare the data to the stored data. If the received identification data is compatible with or otherwise matches the stored data, then the receiver 208B and/or the transceiver circuitry 210 of the communication device 204B may determine that the on-board message was received with success by the communication device 204B from the other communication device 204A. On the other hand, if the received identification data is not compatible with or otherwise does not match the stored data, then the receiver 208B and/or the transceiver circuitry 210 of the communication device 204B cannot determine that the onboard message was successfully received by the communication device 204B from the other communication device 204A.

[024] Before, subsequent to, or during the same instant that the transmitter 206A of the communication device 204A sends the onboard message to the receiver 208B of the communication device 204B, the transmitter 206B of the communication device 204B may wirelessly communicate another onboard message via antenna 212B to receiver 208A from communication device 204A via antenna 212A. This onboard message may not be communicated to any device located outside the vehicle 200 in one embodiment. Alternatively, this on-board message may be received by one or more devices disposed outside the vehicle 200. The on-board message may optionally be called a test message.

[025] This onboard message may be similar or identical to the onboard message sent from the transmitter 206A of the communication device 204A to the receiver 208B of the communication device 204B. Alternatively, on-board messages may differ from each other. The receiver 208A and/or transception circuitry 210 of the communication device 204A may examine the identification data in the received on-board message and compare the data to the stored data. Similar to what was described above, if the received identification data is compatible with or otherwise matches the stored data, then the receiver 208A and/or the transceiver circuitry 210 of the communication device 204A may determine that the onboard message was successfully received by the communication device 204A from the other communication device 204B. On the other hand, if the received identification data is not compatible with or otherwise does not match the stored data, then the receiver 208A and/or the transceiver circuitry 210 of the communication device 204A cannot determine that the onboard message was successfully received by the communication device 204A from the other communication device 204B.

[026] Communication devices 204A, 204B may report successful and/or unsuccessful communication of on-board messages to a control unit 216 of vehicle 200. Control unit 216 represents set of hardware circuit or circuits that include and /or are connected to one or more processors, such as one or more microprocessors, controllers or similar, to carry out the operations described in this document. Communication devices 204A, 204B may communicate acknowledgment messages to control unit 216 to indicate successful or unsuccessful receipt of messages on board. The control unit 216 may determine receipt of onboard messages by the communication device 204A and/or the communication device 204B based on these acknowledgment messages.

[027] The control unit 216 determines the operational states of the communication devices 204A, 204B of the vehicle 200 based, at least in part, on whether the communication devices 204A, 204B have received the onboard messages. If no communication device 204A, 204B has received the message on board, then the control unit 216 may determine that the communication set 202 is not operational and does not have the ability to communicate wirelessly. If one of the communication devices 204A or 204B has received the onboard message, but the other communication device 204B or 204A has not, then the control unit 216 may determine that the corresponding communication device 204A or 204B that has not received the message on board is not operational and cannot communicate wirelessly, while the other communication device 204A or 204B is operational and has the ability to communicate wirelessly. If both communication devices 204A, 204B have received the onboard message sent to the corresponding communication device 204A, 204B, then the control unit 216 can determine that the communication set 202 is operational.

[028] Optionally, the communication set 202 may include more than two communication devices 204. The communication devices 204 may send two or more onboard messages between different combinations of the communication devices 204 to determine operational states of the communication devices 204 as described above. Based on the successful or unsuccessful receipt of messages, the control unit 216 may determine which communication devices 204 are operational and which are not operational as the operational states of the communication devices 204.

[029] The operational states of communication devices 204 may depend on a variety of factors. For example, old age, wear and tear, damage, or the like, may cause a communication device 204 to fail and no longer have the ability to communicate wirelessly. This can be called a miscommunication. In one embodiment, a communication failure may occur, and the communication devices 204 may not have the ability to communicate wirelessly in response to cutting power to the communication devices 204. The communication devices 204 may be powered by electrical current supplied by an on-board power source 218, such as a generator, alternator, battery, flywheel, capacitor or the like. This power source 218 may be powered by a propulsion system 220 of the vehicle 200. The propulsion system 220 may represent one or more drive mechanisms, motors (e.g., traction motors), or the like, that generate tractive effort. for propulsion of the vehicle 200. The power source 218 may include a generator, an alternator, or the like, which generates electrical current from a shaft that is rotated by a motor mechanism of the propulsion system 220. Optionally, the power source 218 may include a battery, catenary, or similar, which supplies current. The power source 218 may generate or obtain current to power various components of the vehicle 200, including the communication devices 204. Switches 222 (e.g., circuit breakers or the like) may be disposed between the communication devices 204 and the power source. 218 to protect communication devices 204 (e.g., against power surges). Switches 222 may open to prevent current from being conducted to a corresponding communication device 204 and may close to conduct current to corresponding communication device 204. If a switch 222 is open without an operator being aware, then the operator may not be aware that the corresponding communication device 204 does not have the ability to communicate. By communicating onboard messages between communication devices 204 of the same communication set 202 while the operator is onboard vehicle 200, the operator can quickly determine whether an open switch 222 is causing a communication failure for one or more of the communication devices 204. Otherwise, the operator may not be aware of the open switch 222 until the operator exits the vehicle 200 (e.g., and returns to the driving vehicle 104).

[030] The control unit 216 is connected to an input device 226 and an output device 228. The control unit 216 may receive manual input from an operator of the vehicle 200 through the input device 226, such as a touch screen. touch, a keyboard, an electronic mouse, a microphone, or similar. For example, the control unit 216 may receive instructions to initiate communication of one or more wireless messages (e.g., on-board and/or external messages), manually enter changes in tractive effort, braking effort, speed, power output, and the like, from the input device 226. The control unit 216 may present information to the operator using the output device 228, which may represent a display screen (e.g., touch screen or other screen), speakers, printer or similar. Such information may include information communicated from another vehicle to vehicle 200, indications of which communication devices 204 are operational or non-operational, recommended corrective actions to repair or inspect non-operational communication devices 204, or the like.

[031] The control unit 216 may communicatively link the vehicle 200 to one or more other vehicles 104, 106 in the vehicle system 102 based, at least in part, on the operational state of the communication devices 204 of the vehicle 200 For example, in one embodiment, in response to determining that at least one of the communication devices 204 is operational (e.g., has the ability to wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast to another vehicle 104, 106 and/or has the ability to wirelessly receive messages from another vehicle 104, 106), the control unit 216 may communicatively link the communication set 202 of the vehicle 200 to one or more other vehicles 104, 106 in the same vehicular system 102 The vehicle communication link may involve the communication set 202 of a first vehicle sending a link message to the communication set 202 of a second vehicle. The second vehicle may receive the link message and respond with a replica message that is sent from the communication set 202 of the second vehicle to the communication set 202 of the first vehicle. Upon receipt of the replica message, the first and second vehicles can be linked communicatively. The first vehicle may then remotely control the operations of the second vehicle (or the second vehicle may remotely control the operations of the first vehicle). Prior to the communicative linking of vehicles, a vehicle may not have the ability or permission to remotely control the operations of another vehicle.

[032] In response to and/or after communicatively linking vehicles 104, 106 into vehicular system 102, driving vehicle 104 may wirelessly communicate command messages to remote vehicles 106. As described herein, these command messages commands may direct throttle positions, brake settings, speeds, or the like, to be used by the remote vehicles 106. The command messages may be received by control units 216 of the remote vehicles 106. The control units 216 may carry the command messages. command or generate other messages for communicating with the propulsion system 220 and/or a braking system 224 of the vehicle 200. For example, if a command message directs a change in a throttle position, pedal position, speed, or the like Then, the control unit 216 may generate or communicate an instruction message to the propulsion system 220 to cause the motor mechanism, motors, or the like, of the propulsion system 220 to change the throttle position, pedal position , speed or similar. As another example, if the command message directs a change in the braking effort of the vehicle 200, then the control unit 216 may generate and communicate an instruction message to the braking system 224. The braking system 224 may represent brakes air brakes, friction brakes, dynamic brakes (e.g., traction motors), or the like, which generate braking effort to reduce or stop the movement of the vehicle 200. In response to receipt of the instruction message, the braking system 224 can generate the instructed braking effort.

[033] During the course of the vehicle system 102 along the route 110, one or more communication devices 204 of the vehicle 200 may fail (herein referred to as a communication failure). For example, the communication device 204A in use to wirelessly send and/or receive messages may no longer have the ability to send and/or receive messages. The control unit 216 may determine when the communication device 204A fails and, in response thereto, switch to using the communication device 204B to wirelessly send and/or receive messages with other vehicles in the vehicular system 102.

[034] The vehicles 104, 106 in the vehicular system 102 may self-test the communication sets 202 disposed on board the vehicles 104, 106 by communicating on-board messages between the communication devices 204 of the communication sets 202 being tested to determine the operational states of the communication devices 204. Optionally, one or more of the communication sets 202 may be tested or examined by communicating test messages with one or more other communication sets 202 disposed on board another vehicle 104, 106.

[035] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 according to one embodiment; The communication system 100 shown in Figure 3 includes three communication assemblies 302 (e.g., communication assemblies 302A to C), which may each be disposed on board a different vehicle 104 and/or 106 of the vehicular system 102 1. Alternatively, the communication system 100 may include a smaller or greater number of communication sets 302. Each of the communication sets 302 may represent the communication set 202 shown in Figure 2. The communication sets 302 may include communication devices 304 (e.g., communication devices 304A, 304B), which may be similar or identical to the communication devices 204 shown in Figure 2. Communication devices 304 may include transmitters 306 (which may be similar or identical to the transmitters 206 shown in Figure 2), the receivers 308 (which may be similar or identical to the receivers 208 shown in Figure 2), circuitry 310 (which may be similar or identical to the circuitry 210 shown in Figure 2), and the antennas 312 (which may be similar or identical to the antennas 212 shown in Figure 2). In one embodiment, the communication devices 304A of the communication sets 302 may be the primary communication devices and the communication devices 304B may be the backup or redundant communication devices of the communication sets 302. Alternatively, the communication devices 304B of the communication sets 302 may be the primary communication devices and communication devices 304A may be the backup or redundant communication devices of the communication sets 302.

[036] Alternatively, in order to test communication between communication sets 302 of different vehicles 104, 106, different communication devices 304 of different communication sets 302 may communicate external messages with each other. For example, in the analysis of communication sets 302A, 302B, the transmitter 306 of the communication device 304A in the communication set 302A of a first vehicle 104, 106 may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a first external message 314 to the receiver 308 of the communication device 304A in the communication set 302B on board a second different vehicle 104, 106. The transmitter 306 of the communication device 304A in the communication set 302B of the second vehicle 104, 106 may wirelessly transmit and/or receive a second external message 316 to the receiver 308 of the communication device 304A in the communication assembly 302A. In order to test the other communication devices 304B of these communication sets 302A, 302B, the transmitter 306 of the communication device 304B in the communication set 302A of the first vehicle 104, 106 may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a third message external 318 to the receiver 308 of the communication device 304B in the communication set 302B on board the second vehicle 104, 106. The transmitter 306 of the communication device 304B in the communication set 302B of the second vehicle 104, 106 can transmit and/or receive wirelessly a fourth external message 320 to the receiver 308 of the communication device 304B in the communication set 302A. As described above in conjunction with onboard messages, the content of external messages may be examined to determine whether external messages have been successfully received. Successful receipt of the contents of external messages may indicate that a corresponding communication device 304 has an operational state that indicates that the communication device 304 is in operation and has the ability to wirelessly communicate messages.

[037] This process can be repeated for other vehicles 104, 106. For example, the communication set 302A can represent the communication set 202 of the driver vehicle 104 and the other communication sets 302 can represent the communication sets 302 arranged to onboard other remote vehicles 106 in the vehicular system 102. The transmitter 306 of the communication device 304A in the communication set 302A on board the driving vehicle 104 may communicate a fifth external message 320 to the receiver 308 of the communication device 304A in the communication set. 302C on board a third vehicle (e.g., another remote vehicle 106) and the transmitter 306 of the communication device 304A in the communication set 302C on board the third vehicle 106 may communicate a sixth external message 322 to the receiver 308 of the remote vehicle 106. communication 304A in the communication set 302A on board the driver vehicle 104. Similarly, the transmitter 306 of the communication device 304B in the communication set 302A on board the driver vehicle 104 may communicate a seventh external message to the receiver 308 of the communication device 304B in the communication set 302C on board the third vehicle 106, and the transmitter 306 of the communication device 304B in the communication set 302C on board the third vehicle 106 may communicate an eighth external message to the receiver 308 of the communication device 304B in the third vehicle 106 communication 302A on board the driver vehicle 104.

[038] As described above in conjunction with on-board messages, communication sets 302 may examine received external messages to determine whether external messages were received successfully. Depending on which external messages are received, the operational states of the communication sets 302 can be determined, as described above, in conjunction with the onboard messages.

[039] Optionally, one or more of the communication sets 302 may be arranged outside of the vehicular system 102. For example, the communication set 302C may be disposed in a tower or other tower communication system that communicates wirelessly with the vehicular system 102. The tower communication set 302C may communicate with the communication sets 202, 302 disposed on board the vehicular system 102 to remotely control the vehicular system 102 and/or to communicate other information with the vehicular system 102. As another example, one or more of the communication sets 302 may be disposed in a stationary device, such as a roadside message repeater device. Such a device may receive a wireless message sent by a vehicle 104, 106 in the vehicular system 102 and repeat the message by wirelessly retransmitting and/or rebroadcasting the message to one or more other vehicles 104, 106 of the vehicular system 102. Such a device Repeater may be used to ensure that wireless communications between vehicles 104, 106 in longer vehicular systems 102, in vehicular systems 102 traveling through tunnels, etc., continue uninterrupted.

[040] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method 400 for testing communication in a vehicular system according to an embodiment. Method 400 may be used to determine operational states of communications devices disposed on board one or more vehicles 104, 106 of the vehicular system 102 shown in Figure 1. In one embodiment, method 400 may be used to test the operation of the assembly. communication port 202 (shown in Figure 2) of a vehicle 104, 106.

[041] At 402, an on-board message is communicated from a transmitter of a communication device on-board a vehicle to a receiver of another communication device on-board the same vehicle. For example, the transmitter 206A of the communication device 204A may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a first on-board message to the receiver 208B of the communication device 204B in the same communication set 202 shown in Figure 2.

[042] At 404, a determination is made whether the onboard message was successfully received. For example, communication assembly 202 may examine the content of the on-board message received by the receiver 208B from the communication device 204B to determine whether the content of the on-board message was received. Optionally, communication assembly 202 may determine whether the on-board message was received subsequent to transmitter 206 sending the on-board message. For example, after the on-board message is sent, the communication set 202 may begin to determine whether any message is received to determine whether the on-board message is received.

[043] At 406, another on-board message is communicated from another transmitter of a communication device to another receiver of another communication device on-board the vehicle. For example, the transmitter 206 of the communication device 204B may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a second on-board message to the receiver 208 of the communication device 204A in the same communication set 202.

[044] At 408, a determination is made whether the onboard message was successfully received. For example, communication assembly 202 may examine the content of the on-board message received by the receiver 208 of the communication device 204A to determine whether the content of the on-board message was received. Optionally, communication assembly 202 may determine whether the on-board message was received subsequent to transmitter 206 sending the on-board message. For example, after the on-board message is sent, the communication set 202 may begin to determine whether any message is received to determine whether the on-board message is received.

[045] At 410, the operational states of the communication devices are determined. For example, if the first onboard message was received by communication device 204A and the second onboard message was received by communication device 204B, then it can be determined that both communication devices 204A, 204B are operational and ready for communication. wireless. As another example, if the first onboard message was received by the communication device 204A, but the second onboard message was not received by the communication device 204B, then it can be determined that the communication device 204A is operational and ready for communication. wirelessly, but it may be determined that the communication device 204B is not operational and/or is subjected to a communication failure. As another example, if the first onboard message was not received by the communication device 204A and the second onboard message was not received by the communication device 204B, then it can be determined that both communication devices 204A, 204B are not operational. and/or are subjected to a communication failure.

[046] At 412, a determination is made whether the determined operational states that have been determined allow communication with other vehicles in the vehicular system. For example, a determination may be made whether at least two or more communications devices 204 on board the vehicle are operational. If only one or none of the communication devices 204 on board the vehicle are operational, then the vehicle may not have the ability to communicate with other vehicles. As a result, the flow of method 400 may advance to 416. If at least two of the communication devices 204 on board the vehicle are operational, then the vehicle may have the ability to communicate with other vehicles. As a result, the method flow 400 can advance to 414.

[047] In another embodiment, a determination may be made whether at least one of the communications devices 204 on board the vehicle is operational. If none of the communication devices 204 on board the vehicle are operational, then the vehicle may not have the ability to communicate with other vehicles. As a result, the flow of method 400 may advance to 416. If at least one of the communication devices 204 on board the vehicle is operational, then the vehicle may have the ability to communicate with other vehicles. As a result, the method flow 400 can advance to 414.

[048] At 414, the vehicle is communicatively linked with one or more other vehicles. For example, communication devices 204A, 204B may be disposed on board a remote vehicle 106. In response to determining that vehicle 106 can wirelessly communicate with another vehicle 104, communication devices 204A and/or 204B may be communicatively linked to the driving vehicle 104. Subsequent to this communicative link, the vehicle 106 may be remotely controlled by another vehicle 104 through command messages received by the communication device 204A and/or 204B, and/or command messages. replica communicated by communication device 204A and/or 204B.

[049] At 416, one or more corrective actions are taken. For example, if one or more of the communications devices 204 are not operational, then the control unit 216 (shown in Figure 2) may present instructions to the output device 228 (shown in Figure 2) to guide an operator how to repair and /or inspect communication devices 204. These instructions may provide additional messages to be communicated to the operator to check the status of switches 222 (shown in Figure 2) or the like.

[050] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a flowchart of a method 500 for testing communication in a vehicular system according to another embodiment. Method 500 can be used to determine operational states of communication devices disposed on board two or more vehicles 104, 106 of the vehicular system 102 shown in Figure 1. In one embodiment, method 500 can be used to test the operation of sets 202 (shown in Figure 2) of two or more vehicles 104, 106 to determine whether the vehicles 104, 106 can communicate with each other.

[051] At 502, parameter values representative of how many remote vehicles 106 are included in the vehicular system 106 (e.g., N) and which remote vehicle 106 is being examined (e.g., i) are defined. For example, if a vehicular system 106 includes the driver vehicle 104 and four remote vehicles 106, then the value of N may be set to four and the value of i may be set to one.

[052] At 504, an external message is communicated from a transmitter of a first communication device on board a first vehicle to a receiver of a first communication device on board the ith vehicle. For example, the transmitter 206 of the communication device 204A on board the vehicle 104 may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a first external message to the receiver 208 of the communication device 204A in the vehicle 106A shown in Figure 1.

[053] At 506, a determination is made whether the external message was successfully received. For example, the communication assembly 202 on board the ith vehicle 106 may examine the content of the external message received by the receiver 208 of the communication device 204A to determine whether the content of the external message has been received.

[054] At 508, another external message is communicated from a transmitter of the first communication device on board the ith vehicle to a receiver of the first communication device on board the driving vehicle 104. For example, the transmitter 206 of the communication device 204A to onboard the remote vehicle 106A may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a second external message to the receiver 208 of the communication device 204A in the driving vehicle 104.

[055] At 510, a determination is made whether the external message was successfully received. For example, the communication assembly 202 on board the driver vehicle 104 may examine the content of the external message received by the receiver 208 from the communication device 204A in the driver vehicle 104 to determine whether the content of the external message has been received.

[056] At 512, an external message is communicated from a transmitter of a second communication device on board the first vehicle to a receiver of a second communication device on board the ith vehicle. For example, the transmitter 206 of the communication device 204B on board the driving vehicle 104 may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a third external message to the receiver 208 of the communication device 204B in the vehicle 106A shown in Figure 1.

[057] At 514, a determination is made whether the external message was successfully received. For example, the communication assembly 202 on board the vehicle 106 may examine the content of the external message received by the receiver 208 of the communication device 204B to determine whether the content of the external message has been received.

[058] At 516, another external message is communicated from a transmitter of the second communication device on board the ith vehicle to a receiver of the second communication device on board the driving vehicle 104. For example, the transmitter 206 of the communication device 204B a onboard the remote vehicle 106A may wirelessly transmit and/or broadcast a second external message to the receiver 208 of the communication device 204B in the driving vehicle 104.

[059] At 518, a determination is made whether the external message was successfully received. For example, the communication assembly 202 on board the driver vehicle 104 may examine the content of the external message received by the receiver 208 of the communication device 204B in the driver vehicle 104 to determine whether the content of the external message has been received.

[060] At 520, the operational states of the communication devices of the ith vehicle are determined. For example, if the first external message is received by the receiver 208 of the first communication device 204A on board the remote vehicle 106A, the second external message is received by the receiver 208 of the first communication device 204A on board the driving vehicle 104, the third external message is received by the receiver 208 of the second communication device 204B on board the remote vehicle 106A and/or the fourth external message is received by the receiver 208 of the second communication device 204B on board the driving vehicle 104, then the communication devices onboard the ith vehicle (e.g., remote vehicle 106A) can be identified as being operational. However, if one or more of the external messages are not received, then one or more of the communication devices on board the ith vehicle (e.g., the remote vehicle 106A) may be identified as not being operational. For example, if the first external message is not received by the receiver 208 of the first communication device 204A on board the remote vehicle 106A and/or the second external message is not received by the receiver 208 of the first communication device 204A on board the driving vehicle 104, then the first communication device 204A of the remote vehicle 106A can be identified as being non-operational (e.g., being subjected to a communication failure). As another example, if the third external message is not received by the receiver 208 of the second communication device 204B on board the remote vehicle 106A and/or the fourth external message is not received by the receiver 208 of the second communication device 204B on board the vehicle driver 104, then the second communication device 204B of the remote vehicle 106A can be identified as being non-operational.

[061] At 522, a determination is made whether communication with remote vehicles in the vehicular system has been completed. For example, a determination can be made whether the current value of i equals the total number of remote vehicles (N). If i = N, then communication with each of the remote vehicles can be completed and the flow of method 500 can advance to 526. However, if the value of i is less than N, then communication with one or more Additional remote vehicles may need to be tested. As a result, the flow of method 500 may advance to 524, where the value of i is increased. The method flow 500 may return to 504 so that communication with the next remote vehicle may be examined.

[062] At 524, a determination is made whether the operational states of one or more, or all, of the remote vehicles indicate a capability for the remote vehicles to communicate with the driving vehicle in the vehicular system. For example, a determination may be made whether at least two or more communication devices 204 on board one or more of the remote vehicles are operational. If only one or none of the communication devices 204 on board one or more of the remote vehicles is operational, then that remote vehicle may not have the ability to communicate with the driving vehicle. As a result, the flow of method 500 may advance to 530. If at least two of the communication devices 204 on board one or more of the vehicles are operational, then these remote vehicles may have the ability to communicate with the driving vehicle. As a result, method flow 500 can advance to 528.

[063] In another embodiment, a determination may be made whether at least one of the communications devices 204 on board one or more of the remote vehicles is operational. If none of the communication devices 204 on board a remote vehicle are operational, then that remote vehicle may not have the ability to communicate with the driving vehicle. As a result, method flow 500 may advance to 530. If at least one of the communication devices 204 on board one or more of the remote vehicles is operational, then that remote vehicle may have the ability to communicate with the driving vehicle. As a result, method flow 500 can advance to 528.

[064] At 528, the remote vehicles are communicatively linked to the driving vehicle. For example, in response to determining that the remote vehicles can communicate wirelessly with the driving vehicle 104, the communication devices 204A and/or 204B of the remote vehicles 106 can be communicatively linked to the driving vehicle 104. Subsequently To this communicative link, the remote vehicles 106 may be remotely controlled by the driving vehicle 104 through command messages received by the communication devices 204A and/or 204B on board the remote vehicles 106 and/or replica messages communicated by the communication devices 204A and/or 204B of the remote vehicles 106.

[065] At 528, one or more corrective actions are taken. For example, if one or more of the communications devices 204 are not operational, then the control unit 216 (shown in Figure 2) may present instructions to the output device 228 (shown in Figure 2) to guide an operator how to repair and /or inspect communication devices 204. These instructions may provide additional messages to be communicated to the operator to check the status of switches 222 (shown in Figure 2) or the like.

[066] In one embodiment, a method (e.g., for testing communication in a vehicular system) includes wirelessly communicating a first message onboard a first communication device onboard a first vehicle to a second communication device. communication that is also on board the first vehicle. The first communication device and the second communication device are configured to communicate, wirelessly, with one or more other communication devices disposed on board one or more second vehicles in a vehicular system that includes the first vehicle and the one or more more second vehicles for remote control of at least one of the first vehicle or the one or more second vehicles. The method may also include determining receipt of the first message on board the second communication device, wirelessly communicating a second message on board the second communication device to the first communication device, determining receipt of the second message on board the first communication device and determining a first operational state of the first communication device and a second operational state of the second communication device of the first vehicle based, at least in part, on receipt of the first message on board the second communication device and the receiving the second message on board the first communication device.

[067] In one embodiment, determining the first operational state and the second operational state includes examining the content of the first onboard message and examining the content of the second onboard message.

[068] In one embodiment, the method may also include communicatively linking the first vehicle to the one or more second vehicles in response to determining the first operational state of the first communication device and the second operational state of the second communication device.

[069] In one embodiment, the method may also include one or more of wirelessly sending and/or wirelessly receiving a command message with one or more of the first communication device or the second communication device to remotely control the movement of the first vehicle or the one or more second vehicles responding to the first vehicle are communicatively linked to the one or more second vehicles.

[070] In one embodiment, the one or more steps of wirelessly sending and/or wirelessly receiving the command message are performed by the first communication device. The method may also include switching to one or more of wirelessly sending and/or wirelessly receiving the command message with the second communication device in response to the first operational state of the first communication device indicating a communication failure.

[071] In one embodiment, the method may also include wirelessly communicating a first external message from the first communication device to one or more third communication devices disposed on board the one or more second vehicles, determining receipt of the first message external message on one or more third communication devices, wirelessly receiving a second external message on the second communication device from the one or more third communication devices, determining receipt of the second external message on the second communication device, and determining one or more third states operations of the one or more third communication devices based, at least in part, on receipt of the first external message on the one or more third communication devices and receipt of the second external message on the second communication device.

[072] In one embodiment, wireless communication of the first external message includes one or more of transmitting or broadcasting the first external message from the first communication device to one or more of a roadside message repeater device or a roadside message repeater system. tower communication.

[073] In one embodiment, wirelessly receiving the second external message includes receiving the second external message from one or more of a roadside message repeater device or a tower communication system.

[074] In one embodiment, the first operational state of the first communication device indicates an ability for the first communication device to communicate wirelessly with the one or more other communication devices, and the second operational state of the second communication device communication indicates an ability for the second communication device to communicate wirelessly with the one or more other communication devices.

[075] In one embodiment, the first operational state of the first communication device and the second operational state of the second communication device indicate the closure of a switch conductively coupled to the first communication device and the second communication device.

[076] In another embodiment, a system (e.g., a communication system of a vehicular system) includes first and second communication devices and one or more processors. The first communication device is configured to be disposed on board a first vehicle in a vehicular system that also includes one or more second vehicles. The second communication device is configured to also be disposed on board the first vehicle. The one or more processors are configured to be disposed on board the first vehicle. The first communication device and the second communication device are configured to communicate, wirelessly, with one or more other communication devices disposed on board of the one or more second vehicles for remote control of at least one of the first vehicle. or one or more second vehicles. The first communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate a first onboard message to the second communication device and the second communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate a second onboard message from the second communication device to the first communication device. The one or more processors are configured to determine receipt of the first message on board the second communication device and receipt of the second message on board the first communication device. The one or more processors are also configured to determine a first operational state of the first communication device and a second operational state of the second communication device of the first vehicle based, at least in part, on receipt of the first message on board the second device. communication device and upon receipt of the second message on board the first communication device.

[077] In one embodiment, the one or more processors may be configured to determine the first operational state and the second operational state by examining the content of the first on-board message and by examining the content of the second on-board message.

[078] In one embodiment, the one or more processors may be configured to communicatively link the first vehicle to the one or more second vehicles in response to determining the first operational state of the first communication device and the second operational state of the second device. of communication.

[079] In one embodiment, one or more of the first communication device and/or the second communication device is configured to wirelessly send or wirelessly receive a command message to remotely control the movement of the first vehicle. or the one or more second vehicles responsive to the first vehicle are communicatively linked to the one or more second vehicles.

[080] In one embodiment, the first communication device may be configured to do one or more of wirelessly send or wirelessly receive the command message. The one or more processors may be configured to switch to one or more of wirelessly sending or wirelessly receiving the command message with the second communication device in response to the first operational state of the first communication device indicating a communication failure.

[081] In one embodiment, the first communication device is also configured to wirelessly communicate a first external message to one or more third communication devices disposed on board the one or more second vehicles and the second communication device is also configured to wirelessly receive a second external message on the second communication device from the one or more third communication devices. The one or more processors may be configured to determine receipt of the first external message at the one or more third communication devices and receipt of the second external message at the second communication device. The one or more processors may also be configured to determine one or more third operating states of the one or more third communication devices based, at least in part, upon receipt of the first external message at the one or more third communication devices and receipt of the second external message on the second communication device.

[082] In one embodiment, the first communication device may be configured to wirelessly communicate the first external message by one or more of transmitting or broadcasting the first external message to one or more of a roadside message repeater device or a tower communication system.

[083] In one embodiment, the second communication device may be configured to wirelessly receive the second external message from one or more of a roadside message repeater device or a tower communication system.

[084] In one embodiment, the first operational state of the first communication device indicates an ability for the first communication device to communicate wirelessly with the one or more other communication devices and the second operational state of the second communication device indicates an ability for the second communication device to communicate wirelessly with the one or more other communication devices.

[085] In one embodiment, the first operational state of the first communication device and the second operational state of the second communication device indicate the closure of a switch conductively coupled to the first communication device and the second communication device.

[086] In another embodiment, another system (e.g., another communication system) includes first and second transceiver devices, and one or more processors. The first transceiver device may be configured to be disposed on board a first vehicle in a vehicular system that also includes one or more second vehicles. The first transceiver device includes a first transmitter and a first receiver. The second transceiver device may be configured to also be disposed on board the first vehicle. The second transceiver device includes a second transmitter and a second receiver. The first transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a first onboard message to the second receiver and the second transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a second onboard message to the first receiver. The one or more processors may be configured to be disposed on board the first vehicle and to determine operational states of the first transceiver device and the second transceiver device based on receipt of the first message on board the second receiver and receipt of the second message on board. of the first receiver. Responsive to determining that the first on-board message and the second on-board message have been received, the one or more processors are configured to communicatively link one or more of the first transceiver device or the second transceiver device to one or more third devices. transceivers arranged on board the one or more second vehicles.

[087] In one embodiment, the first transmitter is also configured to wirelessly transmit a first external message to the one or more third transceiver devices and the second receiver is also configured to wirelessly receive a second external message from the one or more third devices. of communication. The one or more processors may be configured to determine one or more third operating states of the one or more third transceiver devices based, at least in part, upon receipt of the first external message at the one or more third communication devices and receipt of the second external message on the second receiver.

[088] In another embodiment, a system (e.g., another communication system) includes one or more processors configured to be disposed on board a first vehicle in a vehicular system that also includes one or more second vehicles. The one or more processors are further configured to determine receipt of a first message on board a first communication device on board the first vehicle on a second communication device on board the first vehicle and receipt of a second message on board the first vehicle. second communication device on the first communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device may be configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other communication devices disposed on board one or more second vehicles for remote control of at least one of the first vehicle or one or more second vehicles. The one or more processors may also be configured to determine a first operational state of the first communication device and a second operational state of the second communication device of the first vehicle based, at least in part, on receipt of the first message on board the second. communication device and upon receipt of the second message on board the first communication device.

[089] It should be understood that the aforementioned description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the embodiments described above can be used in combination with each other. Furthermore, various modifications can be made to adapt a specific situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the present invention, they are in no way limiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other achievements will be apparent to the skilled artisan upon reviewing the above descriptions. The scope of the present invention should therefore be determined with reference to the appended claims, throughout the entire scope of overlap to which such claims are designed. In the appended claims, the terms “which includes” and “in which” are used as the plain English equivalents of the respective terms “which comprises” and “in which”. Furthermore, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so on, are used merely as designations and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their claims. purposes. Additionally, the following claim limitations are not written in a means-plus-function format and are not intended to be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the expression “means for” followed by a statement of suspension of additional function or structure.

[090] This written description uses examples to disclose various embodiments of the present invention and also to allow one skilled in the art to practice the embodiments of the present invention, including making and using any devices or systems and carrying out any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to one skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include equivalent structural elements with non-substantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

[091] The aforementioned description of certain embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. To the extent that the Figures illustrate functional block diagrams of various embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division between the hardware circuitry. In this way, for example, one or more of the functional blocks (e.g., processors or memories) can be implemented in a single piece of hardware (e.g., a general-purpose signal processor, a microcontroller, a random access memory, a hard drive, and the like). Similarly, programs may be independent computing programs, may be incorporated as subroutines in an operating system, may be functions in an installed software package, and the like. The various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and are shown instrumentally in the drawings.

[092] As used herein, an element or step referred to in the singular and preceded with the word “a” should be understood not as an exclusion from the plural of elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly referred to . Furthermore, references to “an embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be incorporated to the exclusion of the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the features referred to. Furthermore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, embodiments "comprising", "including" or "having" an element or a plurality of elements that have a particular property may include as additional elements such as do not have that property .

Claims (16)

1. METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VEHICLES, characterized by comprising: wirelessly communicating a first integrated message from a first communication device (204) on board a first vehicle (104, 106) to a second communication device (204) which is also on board the first vehicle (104, 106), wherein the first communication device (204) and the second communication device (204) are configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other communication devices (204 ) disposed on board the one or more second vehicles (104, 106) in a vehicle system (102) that includes the first vehicle (104, 106) and the one or more second vehicles (104, 106) to remotely control at least one of the first vehicle (104, 106) or the one or more second vehicles (104, 106); determining reception of the first message integrated into the second communication device (204); wirelessly communicating a second integrated message from the second communication device (204) to the first communication device (204); determining reception of the second message integrated into the first communication device (204); and determining a first operative state of the first communication device (204) and a second operative state of the second communication device (204) of the first vehicle (104, 106) based, at least in part, on the reception of the first message integrated into the second communication device (204) and receiving the second message integrated into the first communication device (204), wherein the first operative state of the first communication device (204) and the second operative state of the second communication device (204) indicate closure of a switch conductively coupled to the first communication device (204) and the second communication device (204), or indicate opening of the switch conductively decoupled with the first communication device (204) and the second communication device (204) communication (204), where closing the switch corresponds to an occurrence of a communication failure and opening the switch corresponds to a non-occurrence of the communication failure. 2. METHOD, according to claim 1, characterized by determining the first operative state and the second operative state includes examining the content of the first integrated message and examining the content of the second integrated message. 3. METHOD, according to claim 1, characterized by additionally comprising communicatively connecting the first vehicle (104, 106) with the one or more second vehicles (104, 106) in response to determining the first operating state of the first communication device (204) and the second operating state of the second communication device (204). 4. METHOD according to claim 3, characterized by further comprising one or more of wirelessly sending or wirelessly receiving a command message with one or more of the first communication device (204) or the second communication device (204) for remotely controlling the movement of the first vehicle (104, 106) or the one or more second vehicles (104, 106) in response to the first vehicle (104, 106) that is communicatively linked with the one or more second vehicles (104, 106). 5. METHOD according to claim 4, characterized in that one or more of wirelessly sending or wirelessly receiving the command message is performed by the first communication device (204), and further comprises switching to a or more of wirelessly sending or wirelessly receiving the command message with the second communication device (204) in response to the first operating state of the first communication device (204) indicating a communication failure. 6. METHOD according to claim 1, further comprising: wirelessly communicating a first non-integrated message from the first communication device (204) to one or more third communication devices (204) disposed on board the one or more second vehicles (104, 106); determining receipt of the first non-integrated message on the one or more third communication devices (204); wirelessly receiving a second message not integrated in the second communication device (204) from the one or more third communication devices (204); determining reception of the second message not integrated into the second communication device (204); and determining one or more third operating states of the one or more third communication devices (204) based, at least in part, on the receipt of the first non-integrated message on the one or more third communication devices (204) and the reception of the second message not integrated into the second communication device (204). 7. METHOD, according to claim 6, characterized by wirelessly communicating the first non-integrated message includes one or more of transmitting or broadcasting the first non-integrated message from the first communication device (204) to one or more of one roadside message repeater device (302) or a tower communication system (302) that is external to the vehicle system. 8. METHOD according to claim 7, characterized by wirelessly receiving a second external message includes receiving the second external message from the one or more of the trackside message repeater device (302) or the system communication tower (302) that is external to the vehicle system. 9. METHOD, according to claim 1, characterized by the first operating state of the first communication device (204) indicating an ability of the first communication device (204) to communicate, wirelessly, with the one or more other communication devices , and the second operating state of the second communication device (204) indicates an ability of the second communication device (204) to communicate, wirelessly, with the one or more other communication devices. 10. SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VEHICLES, characterized by comprising: a first communication device (204) configured to be disposed on board a first vehicle (104, 106) in a vehicle system (104, 106) that also includes one or more second vehicles (104, 106); a second communication device (204) configured to also be disposed on board the first vehicle; and one or more processors (216) configured to be disposed on board the first vehicle, wherein the first communication device (204) and the second communication device (204) are configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other devices communication devices (204) arranged on board the one or more second vehicles (104, 106) to remotely control at least one of the first vehicle (104, 106) or one or more second vehicles (104, 106), wherein the first communication device (204) is configured to wirelessly communicate a first integrated message to the second communication device (204) and the second communication device (204) is configured to wirelessly communicate a second integrated message to the first communication device (204), wherein the one or more processors (216) are configured to determine the reception of the first message integrated in the second communication device (204) and the reception of the second message integrated in the first communication device (204), and in that the one or more processors (216) are configured to determine a first operative state of the first communication device (204) and a second operative state of the second communication device (204) of the first vehicle (104, 106) based, at least least in part, on the reception of the first message integrated in the second communication device (204) and the reception of the second message integrated in the first communication device (204), wherein the first operative state of the first communication device (204) and the second operative state of the second communication device (204) indicate closure of a switch conductively coupled to the first communication device (204) and the second communication device (204), or indicate opening of the switch conductively decoupled with the first communication device (204) and the second communication device (204), wherein the closing of the switch corresponds to an occurrence of a communication failure and the opening of the switch corresponds to a non-occurrence of the communication failure. 11. SYSTEM according to claim 10, characterized in that the one or more processors (216) are configured to determine the first operating state and the second operating state by examining the content of the first integrated message and examining the content of the second integrated message. 12. SYSTEM according to claim 10, characterized in that the one or more processors (216) are configured to communicatively link the first vehicle (104, 106) with the one or more second vehicles (104, 106) in response to the determination of the first operative state of the first communication device (204) and the second operative state of the second communication device (204). 13. SYSTEM according to claim 10, characterized in that the first communication device (204) is also configured to wirelessly communicate the first non-integrated message to one or more third communication devices (204) disposed on board the one or more second vehicles (104, 106) and the second communication device (204) also be configured to wirelessly receive a second message not integrated in the second communication device (204) from the one or more third communication devices (204), wherein the one or more processors (216) are configured to determine receipt of the first non-integrated message at the one or more third communication devices (204) and receipt of the second non-integrated message at the second communication device (204), and wherein the one or more processors (216) are configured to determine one or more third operating states of the one or more third communication devices (204) based, at least in part, upon receipt of the first message not integrated into the one or more third communication devices (204) and receiving the second message not integrated into the second communication device (204). 14. SYSTEM according to claim 13, characterized in that the first communication device (204) is configured to wirelessly communicate the first non-integrated message through one or more of transmitting or broadcasting the first non-integrated message to one or more of a roadside message repeater device (302) or tower communication system (302) external to the vehicle system. 15. SYSTEM according to claim 14, characterized in that the second communication device (204) is configured to wirelessly receive the second non-integrated message from one or more of the wayside message repeater device (302) or tower communication system (302) that is external to the vehicle system. 16. SYSTEM according to claim 10, characterized in that the first operating state of the first communication device (204) indicates an ability of the first communication device (204) to communicate wirelessly with the one or more other communication devices ( 204) and the second operating state of the second communication device (204) indicates an ability of the second communication device (204) to communicate wirelessly with the one or more other communication devices (204).