Computer system for railway maintenance

Patent 5978717 Issued on November 2, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 17, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Lane image processing system for vehicle
Patent #: 5790403
Issued on: 08/04/1998
Inventor: Nakayama

Scheduling system and method
Patent #: 5794172
Issued on: 08/11/1998
Inventor: Matheson, et al.

Microprocessor controlled railway car accounting and communication system Patent #: 5815823
Issued on: 09/29/1998
Inventor: Engle

Inventors

Assignee

Optram, Inc.

Application

No. 784044 filed on 01/17/1997

US Classes:

701/19, Railway vehicle340/435, Of relative distance from an obstacle340/937, With camera701/28, Having image processing701/117Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle

Examiners

Primary: Cuchlinski, William A. Jr.
Assistant: Hernandez, Olga

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C.

International Classes

G06F 007/70
G08G 001/01
G08G 001/052
G01C 003/00

Abstract

Track maintenance management is defined by the present invention as the integration of all the maintenance engineering tasks which ensure that optimum levels of availability and overall performance of the track infrastructure are achieved in order to meet business objectives. The present invention provides the tools for effective track maintenance management and ensures that an economic balance between resource input and condition of the track infrastructure is maintained while still providing a competitive transport service. The present invention incorporates an essential database and a means of keeping it current. The present invention also provides a means for visualizing and interrelating the sets of data to improve maintenance decisions. The present invention also represents track condition by moving calculation which helps identify problems areas.

Other References

Hide et al., "B1.8 The TM$ Track Management System," track Maintenance Planning on the Burlington Northern Railroad, Track Infrastructure Maintenance Management 1994, University of Pretoria Railway Engineering
Eberson et al., "Track Infrastructure Maintenance Management Cource Notes, "University of Pretoria Railway Engineering, South Afrida, Appendix B, 1994
Ecotrack Project by European Rail Research Institute, "Decision Support System for Permanent Way Maintenance and Renewal," brochure, 1996
Shenton, Dr. Mike, "Review of British Rail Systems," British Rail Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal Planning System, Track Infrastructure Maintenance Management, 1994, University of Pretoria
"What's the Purpose of RailDirect?", http://www.ironwoodtech.com/rdgenerl.htm,(1996, Mar. 23