Patent ID: 8979363
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: B61L,G01K,H04L

Abstract:
1. A system, comprising: a server configured for two-way communication with a plurality of moving consists, each consist comprising at least one rail vehicle, wherein the server: (a) receives over a network, from the plurality of consists, a plurality of sets of collected information, each of the sets of collected information comprising a consist physical location and observed real-time weather conditions and rail temperatures in an area of the respective consist; (b) wherein the server is operable to process a predictive rail temperature algorithm for predicting a rail temperature and/or a trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track; (c) wherein the predictive rail temperature algorithm factors the information provided to it, provides a predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track and determines an instruction for each consist in the plurality of consists, wherein said instruction is calculated to influence the predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track; and (d) wherein the server sends, over the network, the respective instruction to each respective consist in the plurality of consists.