Patent ID: 7805227
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
1. A method for tracking assets within a rail yard, the method comprising: creating a track layout database for the rail yard on a machine readable storage medium, the track layout database providing a map of rail tracks and switches within the rail yard, wherein the track layout database includes machine readable data identifying discrete locations of the rail tracks and switches of the rail yard, each discrete location corresponding to a geographical position of a portion of a rail track or switch; associating rail yard processing steps with portions of the, track layout database; receiving a geographical position signal corresponding to a location of an asset within the rail yard; comparing the geographical position signal to the machine readable data of the track layout database in order to identify the location of the asset within the map; and displaying on a computer monitor, the map with a graphical presentation of the location of the asset and an indication as to the rail yard processing steps conducted on the track occupied by the asset, wherein the geographical position signal is received within a time period to allow the graphical presentation to be used in a management decision corresponding to the asset.