Advanced preemption

Abstract

An advanced preemption system may comprise at least one motion detector and at least one advanced preemption processing system in communication with the at least one motion detector. The at least one motion detector may be configured to detect motion within at least one motion detection zone, the at least one motion detection zone containing a section of railroad track outside of a track circuit containing a railroad crossing where a thoroughfare crosses the railroad track. The at least one advanced preemption processing system may be configured to receive, from the at least one motion detector, an indication that motion has been detected within the at least one motion detection zone and activate at least one traffic control element for the thoroughfare before a train enters the track circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An advanced preemption system comprising:
 at least one motion detector configured to detect motion within at least one motion detection zone, the at least one motion detection zone containing a section of railroad track outside of a track circuit containing a railroad crossing where a thoroughfare crosses the railroad track; and   at least one advanced preemption processing system in communication with the at least one motion detector and configured to:
 receive, from the at least one motion detector, an indication that motion has been detected within the at least one motion detection zone; and 
 activate at least one traffic control element for the thoroughfare before a train enters the track circuit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motion detector comprises at least one camera. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one advanced preemption processing system comprises an event recorder configured to receive the indication and generate an advanced preemption output in response to the indication. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the event recorder is further configured to log the indication in a memory. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one advanced preemption processing system comprises train detection equipment configured to generate a preemption output in response to the indication. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the train detection equipment is further configured to generate the preemption output in response to the track circuit detecting a train on the track circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic control element comprises crossing access control equipment configured to selectively control access to the railroad crossing from the thoroughfare, the system further comprising crossing activation equipment configured to activate the crossing access control equipment in response to the indication. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic control element comprises at least one traffic signal for the thoroughfare, the system further comprising traffic signal control equipment configured to control the at least one traffic signal in response to the indication. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the least one advanced preemption processing system is further configured to start a timer in response to a train leaving the track circuit; and   activate the at least one traffic control element in response to both the indication and an expiration of the timer.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the least one advanced preemption processing system is further configured to start a timer in response to the indication; and   activate the at least one traffic control element in response to both the indication and an expiration of the timer.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the track circuit, the at least one traffic control element, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . An advanced preemption method comprising:
 detecting, by at least one motion detector, motion within at least one motion detection zone, the at least one motion detection zone containing a section of railroad track outside of a track circuit containing a railroad crossing where a thoroughfare crosses the railroad track;   receiving, by at least one advanced preemption processing system in communication with the at least one motion detector, an indication from the at least one motion detector that motion has been detected within the at least one motion detection zone; and   activating, by the at least one advanced preemption processing system, at least one traffic control element for the thoroughfare before a train enters the track circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, by an event recorder of the at least one advanced preemption processing system, the indication; and   generating, by the event recorder, an advanced preemption output in response to the indication.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising logging, by the event recorder, the indication in a memory. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 generating, by train detection equipment of the at least one advanced preemption processing system, a preemption output in response to the indication.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising generating, by the train detection equipment, the preemption output in response to the track circuit detecting a train on the track circuit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one traffic control element comprises crossing access control equipment configured to selectively control access to the railroad crossing from the thoroughfare, the method further comprising activating, by crossing activation equipment of the at least one advanced preemption processing system, the crossing access control equipment in response to the indication. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one traffic control element comprises at least one traffic signal for the thoroughfare, the method further comprising controlling, by crossing activation equipment of the at least one advanced preemption processing system, the at least one traffic signal in response to the indication. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 starting, by the least one advanced preemption processing system, a timer in response to a train leaving the track circuit; and   activating, by the least one advanced preemption processing system, the at least one traffic control element in response to both the indication and an expiration of the timer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 starting, by the least one advanced preemption processing system, a timer in response to the indication; and   activating, by the least one advanced preemption processing system, the at least one traffic control element in response to both the indication and an expiration of the timer.