Patent ID: 8751073
Filing Date: 2014-06-10
Classification: B61C,B61L,G05B

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a first element configured to determine first travel parameters of a first vehicle traveling along plural route segments during a trip in a route network, the first vehicle traveling towards a first route segment in the plural route segments, the route segments having signals that change states to indicate whether the route segments are clear of occupancy by one or more other vehicles or are occupied by one or more other vehicles; a second element configured to determine second travel parameters of a second vehicle traveling in the first route segment ahead of the first vehicle, the first and second elements including at least one of a locator element, a track characterization element, or a sensor associated with the first and second vehicles, respectively; and one or more processors configured to receive the first travel parameters from the first element and the second travel parameters from the second element, the one or more processors also configured to determine a probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle by examining the first and second travel parameters, the first travel parameters including current states of one or more other upcoming signals of the route segments to be traveled by the first vehicle, the second travel parameters including a current location of the second vehicle, a current speed of the second vehicle, a time of arrival of the second vehicle, and a direction of travel of the second vehicle, wherein the one or more processors are configured to at least one of generate or modify a trip plan that designates a speed trajectory for the first vehicle to travel in the route network for the trip, wherein the speed trajectory is based on the probability that the state of the signal of the first route segment will indicate that the first route segment is clear of the second vehicle when the first vehicle arrives at the signal of the first route segment.