Patent ID: 6789004
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
A system for remotely controlling a train having a first locomotive and a second locomotive separated from one another by at least one car, said system comprising:a) a first controller module for mounting in the first locomotive; b) a second controller module for mounting in the second locomotive; c) a remote control module; d) each of said modules having a machine readable storage medium for storage of an identifier, the identifier allowing to distinguish said modules from one another; e) each module being operative to transmit messages to another one of said modules over an RF communication link, a message sent by any one of said modules over the RF communication link being sensed by each of the other ones of said modules, each message including an address portion for holding the identifier of the module to which the message is directed; f) said remote control module and said first controller module being operative to engage in a first data exchange transaction over a communication link other than the RF communication link such that said remote control module acquires and stores in the machine readable storage medium of said remote control module the identifier of said first controller module and said first controller module acquires and stores in the machine readable storage medium of said first controller module the identifier of said remote control module; g) said remote control module and said second controller module being operative to engage in a second data exchange transaction over a communication link other than the RF communication link such that said remote control module acquires and stores in the machine readable storage medium of said remote control module the identifier of said second controller module and said second controller module acquires and stores in the machine readable storage medium of said second controller module the identifier of said remote control module and the identifier of said first controller module; h) said first controller module and said second controller module being operative to engage in a third data exchange transaction over the RF communication link such that said first controller module acquires and stores in the machine readable storage medium of said first controller module the identifier of said second controller module.