Method and apparatus for estimating train location

Abstract

A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system. The estimation of the location of trains in track warranty locations where track sensor and GPS indications are not available is made based on the movement planners and the form-based movement authorities issued to each trains. Certain user interactions are interpreted as a specific train location.

1 . A railway scheduling system in which a movement plan is generated by a movement planner to schedule the movement of the trains along the railway system, comprising: 
 (a) issuing a track warrant authorizing the train to occupy a section of track;    (b) releasing a track warrant authority when the train has left the section of track;    (c) estimating the location of the train as a function of the release of the track warrant;    (d) updating the movement plan as a function of the estimated location of the train.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the estimate is based in part of the pattern of form-based movement authorities.  
   
   
       3 . A method of estimating the location of train that is operating pursuant to the issuance of a track warrant authorizing the movement of the train comprising the steps of: 
 (a) building a data base of the historical time required for a train to perform an activity; and    (b) evaluating the release of a track warrant against the historical performance to identify an anomaly in the performance of a train.    
   
   
       4 . In a railroad system in which plural trains are moved along a network of railway tracks pursuant to the issuance of a movement authority under control of a scheduling computer prepared movement plan that assigns resources to activities and considers the cost of each activity and assigned resources in scheduling the movement of trains over the tracks, 
 the improvement comprising:    (a) estimating the position of a train as a function of a the release of the movement authority; and    (b) updating the movement plan as a function of the estimated position.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of releasing the track warrant is communicated electronically to the movement planner.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of issuing the track warrant is communicated electronically to the movement planner.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of estimating the location of a train as a function of a release of a track warrant for another train.