Remote railway crossing programmable device and methods thereof

A railway crossing programmable device includes a communication module in signal communication with a central server for authentication of a user to use the programmable device to modify the railway system circuit. The programmable device further includes a circuit modification module configured for electrical coupling to a railway system circuit for modifying an electrical connection of the railway system circuit in a programmed manner. The programmable device further includes a user interface configured to receive user data and display output information related to at least one of a user, a device, and a circuit modification.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a programmable electronic device, and more particularly, to a programmable device that carries out operational control of a railway crossing system, railway signal system, or other safety critical applications where impairment to safe operation of such systems can have undesired outcomes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Railroad companies are often responsible for maintaining electromechanical features of rail crossing stations, including rail crossing traffic systems and related equipment. Railroad maintenance personnel or contractors can be responsible for human errors that arise in the context of testing, maintaining or diagnosing functions of rail crossing traffic systems or other life critical systems or equipment, leading to significant undesirable outcomes. For example, it is customary to change or disable the rail crossing traffic close to a track maintenance site, and by human error the rail crossing traffic system might not be reset or enabled after maintenance is complete. This could result in vehicle collisions, or personal injury. These and other shortcomings are addressed in the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the following general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not as restrictive as claimed. The present invention is related to remote railway crossing programmable device and methods thereof. A railway crossing programmable device includes a communication module in signal communication with a central server for authentication of a user to use the programmable device to modify the railway system circuit. The programmable device further includes a circuit modification module configured for electrical coupling to a railway system circuit for modifying an electrical connection of the railway system circuit in a programmed manner. The programmable device further includes a user interface configured to receive user data and display output information related to at least one of a user, a device, and a circuit modification.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of modifying a railway circuit using a programmable device includes coupling a plurality of electrodes of the programmable device to correspondent maintenance terminals of the railway circuit intended to be modified. A user authentication information is inputted via a user interface of the programmable device. A request code for modification of the railway circuit is generated. An authorization code is received upon a third party verification. A circuit modification is set via the programmable device.

These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the methods and systems of concern here may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, and magnetic storage devices. The computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce computer-readable instructions for implementing certain functions. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process.

FIG. 1illustrates various aspects of an exemplary system100in which the present methods and systems can operate. One skilled in the art will appreciate that a functional description is provided herein and that the respective functions can be performed by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

The exemplary system100includes a remote programmable device102configured to communicate with the central server104via a network106. The programmable device102is configured for electrical coupling to a railway system circuit108and for modifying (e.g., disabling) the electrical connection of the railway system circuit108in a programmed manner. The programmable device102is configured such that the modification (e.g., disablement) of the railway crossing system circuit108can only be activated via user authentication from the central server104(e.g., a third party server). The central server104allows the programmable device102to interact with remote resources, such as data, devices, and files.

The programmable device102includes a communication module110in signal communication with the central server104for authentication of a user to use the programmable device102to modify a railway system circuit108. As an example, the communication module110can include a wireless transceiver, a connector to the Ethernet a cellular transceiver, a telephone connector, a modem, and the like, to communicate with the central server104. The central server104can communicate with the communication module110via a variety of transmission paths, including wireless links (e.g., radio frequency, satellite, Bluetooth) and/or physical links (e.g., fiber optic cable, coaxial cable, ethernet cable) capable of carrying communications, media content, and the like. The central server104can be in communication with the communication module110via a private and/or public network, such as the Internet or a local area network.

The programmable device102also includes a user interface112to receive user information and display output information related to at least one of a user, a device, and a circuit modification. As an example, user authentication information includes user login information, user name, user number, user password, and the like. As another example, device information includes a device identification number. As another example, circuit modification information includes a request code, an authentication code, and the like. The user interface112can also be configured to change (e.g., extend, reduce) the time and/or duration of the modification before or after modification is activated. The user interface112can be configured to receive manual command and/or voice command from the user. Once a modification is activated, the date, time, circuit status related to the modification can be displayed on an output panel of user interface112in real-time. The circuit modification will be automatically restored upon expiration of the entered amount of time at the designated date. The user interface112can also be configured to select or specify a specific jumper circuit to be modified. The user interface112can also be configured to set specific durations of modification for each of a plurality of jumper circuits.

The programmable device102further includes a circuit modification module114configured for modifying (e.g., disabling) an electrical connection of the railway system circuit108in a programmed manner.

In use, the programmable device102is coupled to the corresponding test maintenance terminals of an equipment or railway circuit (e.g., railway circuit108) intended to be affected. A user can verify that the correct time and date are set in the programmable device102. Once the time and date are verified by the user, a date, time and duration of modification is then set via the user interface112. A request code is then generated by the programmable device102and transmitted to a third party (e.g., central server104) for verification. A third party (e.g., central server104) ensures that the programmed data and internal clock of the programmable device102are accurate. After validation, the third party (e.g., central server104) will then generate an authorization code and transmit the authorization code to the user. The user will in turn enter the authorization code into the programmable device102. Once the authorization code is entered, the programmable device102will modify electrical connectivity across its connected circuit or equipment for the time period specified by programming.

Referring toFIG. 2, an exemplary programmable device102is a portable device that can be hand-held or worn or carried in a pocket. The programmable device102can be powered by one or more rechargeable batteries. The programmable device102can be charged with a typical cell phone charger. In use, a plurality of electrodes pairs (e.g.,118A and120A,118B and120B) of the programmable device102are coupled to the correspondent maintenance terminals of an equipment or circuit intended to be affected. The time, date, request code, authorization code related to a circuit modification can be specified, verified, and/or displayed on the user interface112of the programmable device102.

Referring toFIGS. 3-6, the user interface112of the programmable device102includes a plurality of screens designed for input and/or output user information, device information, request code, authorization code, date and time (e.g., staring time, end time, remaining time), and the like, related to circuit modification. For example,FIG. 3shows a user interface112screen displaying fields for setting time and date, activating a diagnostic function, and setting modification function of a jumper circuit.FIG. 4shows a user interface112screen displaying a request code and a keypad for entering an authorization code.FIG. 5shows a user interface112screen displaying current time and a keypad for entering an end time associated with a circuit modification.FIG. 6shows the user interface112screen displaying current time, circuit modification expiration time, and battery voltage after the modification is activated.

FIG. 7is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for using the programmable device102to modify a railway crossing traffic circuit or equipment.

At step702, the programmable device102is connected to corresponding maintenance terminals of a railway circuit or equipment (e.g., jumper circuit108) intended to be modified.

At step704, a user and/or the programmable device is authenticated via the central server104. For example, a user can input user and/device information (e.g., user name, user number, device number) via the user interface112for user authentication. In addition, a user is required to verify that correct time and date is set in the programmable device102.

At step706, a request code is generated by the programmable device102and transmitted to a third party (e.g., central server104) once the time and date are verified, user and/or device is authenticated and/or authorized. The request code can contain information associated to time, date and duration of a requested modification. The third party ensure programmed data and internal clock of the programmable device102is accurate upon receiving the request code.

At step708, after receiving the request code and validated by the third party, the third party (e.g., central server104) will then generate an authorization code and transmit the generated authorization code to the user (e.g., user's smart phone) and/or the programmable device102. The user will in turn enter the authorization code into the programmable device102.

At step710, once the authorization code is input into the programmable device102, the programmable device102will modify electrical connectivity across its connected circuit or equipment for the specified time period in which it was programmed. This process and the programmable device102ensure that an authorized user and/or an authorized device is programming the maintenance event as intended, reducing the possibility of human error and/or limiting the severity of negative outcomes.

The authorization code can be a variant of the request code. For example, the request code can be a function (e.g., sum) of modification duration data and the value of the identification number of programmable device102. The authorization code is a modulus result of the modification duration data and the device identification number in hexadecimal format.

It should be mentioned that the methodological steps outlined above do not necessarily have to be executed in a specific order. For example, the programmable device102can be connected to a jumper circuit after a user is authorized to program the circuit modification.

While the methods and systems have been described in connection with preferred embodiments and specific examples, it is not intended that the scope be limited to the particular embodiments set forth, as the embodiments herein are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The device can also be used in other commercial and industrial applications—both within and beyond the railroad industry—where the described functionality would be advantageous.