Patent ID: 8245983
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
1. A communication system for communicating information between wayside equipment and a passing rail vehicle, wherein the communication system comprises: a wayside monitoring system located at a wayside of a railway, wherein said wayside monitoring system generates wayside system data; and a wayside communication device communicated with said wayside monitoring system to receive said wayside system data, wherein said wayside communication device generates digital wayside data based on the wayside system data, queries the passing rail vehicle to determine if the passing rail vehicle is equipped for digital communication, and transmits said digital wayside data to the passing rail vehicle via a dispatch voice channel, wherein said wayside monitoring system includes at least one wayside sensing device for sensing at least one operational characteristic of the passing rail vehicle, and wherein said at least one wayside sensing device is communicated with said wayside communication device.