Crossing safety system

Abstract

A system is described that provides redundant communication at a railway crossing. The system comprises a first communication unit for transmitting information associated with a railway vehicle approaching or near the railway crossing on a railway track. A first active warning sign located at or near the railway crossing receives and transmits information associated with the railway crossing. The system includes an onboard equipment unit located on a roadway vehicle approaching or near the railway crossing, the onboard equipment unit comprising a second communication unit for receiving information from the first communication unit and the active warning sign; a processor for processing the received information to determine a first threat indicator indicative of a potential collision, and a user interface for communicating the threat indicator to a user. The system may include sensors to detect and communicate the presence of a train.

1 . A communication system for redundant communication at a railway crossing, the system comprising:
 a first communication unit for transmitting information associated with a railway vehicle approaching or near the railway crossing on a railway track;   a first fixed communication unit located at or near the railway crossing for receiving and transmitting information associated with the railway crossing; and   an onboard equipment unit located on a roadway vehicle approaching or near the railway crossing, the onboard equipment unit comprising:
 a second communication unit for receiving information from the first communication unit and the fixed communication unit; 
 a processor for processing the received information to determine a first threat indicator indicative of a potential collision, and 
 a user interface for communicating the threat indicator to a user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first communication unit comprises:
 a sensor system located at or near the railway crossing for sensing information associated with the railway vehicle and 
 a second fixed communication unit adapted to transmit the information sensed by the sensor system, wherein in use the information is received by the first fixed communication unit and the onboard equipment unit. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first communication unit is located on the railway vehicle and transmits information about the railway vehicle that in use is received by the first fixed communication unit and the onboard equipment unit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a sensor system located at or near the railway crossing for sensing information associated with the railway vehicle; and 
 a second fixed communication unit adapted to transmit the information sensed by the sensor system. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  or  4  wherein the onboard equipment unit communicates information about the roadway vehicle to the first communication unit located on the railway vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of any one of  claims 3 - 5  wherein the onboard equipment unit communicates information about the roadway vehicle to the first fixed communication unit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the information comprises one or more of the following: a position of the railway or roadway vehicle, a direction of the railway or roadway vehicle, a speed of the railway or roadway vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of any one of  claims 3 - 7  wherein the first communication unit located on the railway vehicle comprises:
 a receiver for receiving information; 
 a railway-vehicle processor programmed to process the received information to determine a second threat indicator indicative of a potential collision; and 
 a human-to machine interface to alert a human operator if the railway-vehicle processor has determined a second threat indicator. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the first fixed communication unit comprises:
 a receiver for receiving information;   a railway-sign processor programmed to processing the received information to determine whether to close the railway crossing; and   a transmitter that in use transmits a crossing-closed indicator if the railway-sign processor determines that the crossing should be closed.   
     
     
         10 . The system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the onboard equipment unit comprises a first navigation satellite system to monitor a position of the roadway vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of any one of  claims 3 - 13  wherein the first communication unit comprises a second navigation satellite system to monitor a position of the railway vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . An active warning sign for a railway crossing, the sign comprising:
 a first communication link operable to receive sensor information from a sensor system located at or near the railway crossing for sensing the approach or presence of a railway vehicle;   a second communication link operable to receive a crossing-close request (CCR) from onboard equipment located on the railway vehicle;   a warning-sign processor programmed to monitor the first and second communication links and to generate a crossing-closed indicator (CCI) based on received sensor information and/or a received crossing-close request; and   a transmitter to transmit the crossing-closed indicator.   
     
     
         16 . The active warning sign of  claim 15  further comprising at least one warning light, wherein the warning-sign processor activates the at least one warning light if the crossing is closed. 
     
     
         17 . The active warning sign of  claim 15  or  16  wherein the railway crossing comprises a physical barrier and the warming-sign processor initiates closure of the physical barrier if the crossing is closed. 
     
     
         18 . The active warning sign of any one of  claims 15 - 17  wherein the first communication link is a hard-wired link between the warning sign and the sensor system. 
     
     
         19 . An on-board communication system for redundant communication at a railway crossing, the system comprising:
 an onboard equipment unit for use by a roadway vehicle approaching or near the railway crossing, the onboard equipment unit comprising:
 a communication unit for receiving information from a plurality of sources, said sources comprising (a) an active warning sign that transmits a crossing-closed indication (CCI) if the crossing is closed and (b) a railway communication unit that transmits information indicative of the presence or approach of a railway vehicle at the railway crossing; 
 a processor for processing the received information to determine a threat indicator indicative of a potential collision, and 
 a user interface for communicating the threat indicator to a user. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the communication unit transmits roadway vehicle information indicating at least one of a position, direction and speed of the roadway vehicle, 
     
     
         21 . A method of operating an active warning sign for a railway crossing, the method comprising:
 monitoring for sensor information from a sensor system located at or near the railway crossing for sensing the approach or presence of a railway vehicle;   monitoring for receipt of a crossing-close request (CCR) from on-board equipment located on the railway vehicle;   generating a crossing-closed indicator (CCI) based on received sensor information and/or a received crossing-close request; and   transmitting the crossing-closed indicator,   
     
     
         22 . A method of operating an on-board communication system for a roadway vehicle approaching or near a railway crossing, the method comprising:
 monitoring for information from an active warning sign that transmits a crossing-closed indication (CCI) if the railway crossing is closed;   monitoring for information from a railway communication unit that transmits information indicative of the presence or approach of a railway vehicle at the railway crossing;   processing received information to determine a threat indicator indicative of a potential collision, and   communicating the threat indicator to a user.