Systems and Methods for Monitoring and Validating Status of Switch Devices

The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/658,386, filed on May 8, 2024, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

The present invention relates generally to maintenance monitoring systems, and more particularly to tools for monitoring and validating the status of switch devices in a classification yard.

Innovation in the railroad industry has allowed for widespread and efficient transportation of freight and passengers across distances using trains. A typical train may include one or more locomotive engines that may be configured to pull and/or push one or more train cars. The trains may be put together or assembled in a classification yard, which may include a hump yard. A hump yard may refer to an area configured to route the train cars along a network of marshalling tracks using gravity to respectively-assigned trains. In this manner, the hump yard may enable operators to assemble trains by routing the train cars to their assigned train. Typically, hump yards consist of an elevated area (e.g., a hump, which may be artificial or natural, such as a hill, mount, etc.) along which a track section is run. The track section may include an approach section, a top of the hump or crest, and a release area, which typically branches out into multiple marshalling tracks. Each of the marshalling tracks may eventually lead to a destination train to which the various train cars may be routed using the marshalling tracks.

In typical operations of a hump yard, a rolling stock train including the train cars to be marshalled to their assigned train may be pushed by a hump push engine at a set speed along the approach section to the crest of the hump. As the train cars roll past the apex (e.g., the crest) of the hump, gravity may begin pulling the railroad cars towards the bottom of the hump causing individual railroad cars, or groups of railroad cars, also referred to as a cut, to separate from the stock train and to coast to the release area at a release speed. The separated railroad cars, or cut, may coast (and may decelerate or accelerate depending on the layout of the marshalling tracks) through the marshalling tracks to reach the coupling point at their respectively assigned train. The operations continue with additional cuts being routed through the hump yard marshalling tracks as appropriate or necessary. Once the train is fully assembled, the train is pulled out of the marshalling tracks and eventually travels to its destination.

In a hump yard, controlling the movement of a cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks is exceedingly important. For example, controlling the route of each cut is important to ensure that each cut is routed to the respectively assigned destination train, to avoid potential collisions between the various cuts, and/or to load-balance the use of the marshalling tracks as the cuts are released onto the marshalling tracks.

Additionally, controlling the speed of each cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks is important in order to avoid accidental damage to equipment, train cars, and/or the freight itself. For example, an overly high coupling speed may cause the cut to couple with the destination train at a high speed and may cause damage to the existing train cars (e.g., the train cars already coupled to the destination train), to itself, or to the freight (e.g., the freight being carried by one or more of the train cars in the cut or the freight in the existing train cars of the destination train), whereas an overly low release speed may not be sufficient to ensure that the cut reaches the coupling point, as the only source of power to the cut during the marshalling process is gravity and as such, the cut is not able to accelerate beyond what gravity provides. In addition, controlling the speed of each cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks is important to ensure that the separation between the various cuts is sufficient to avoid collisions between cuts. Ensuring an appropriate separation between cuts may also ensure that any switches in the route of the cuts may be reset in time to marshal the next cut to the appropriate train. For example, if two consecutive cuts assigned to different marshalling tracks are released from the top of the hump too close together, there may not be sufficient time to reset the switch after the first cut is diverted to its respective marshalling track to ensure that the second cut is diverted to the appropriate marshalling track.

In typical implementations of a classification yard, various mechanisms and devices are implemented to control the route and/or speed of the various cuts as these various cuts travel through the marshalling tracks of the classification yard. Typical implementations include switches that may be configured to route a cut to a target track, detectors that may be configured to detect the speed of a cut, and/or retarders that may be configured to remove energy from a cut. A typical detector may be configured to detect a speed of a cut by detecting the presence of a first wheel of the cut at a first time, detecting the presence of a second wheel of the cut at a second time, and determining a speed from the difference between the first and second times over the distance between the first wheel and the second wheel. In this manner, a detector may be used to measure the speed of a cut.

Typical retarders operate by slowing down a train car as it traverses over the retarder. A typical retarder applies a pressure against one or more wheels of a train car (e.g., using a braking element, such as a brake pad, etc.), which may cause the train car to slow down. Put another way, the retarder may remove energy (e.g., potential energy) of the train car as it moves through a marshalling track, which may cause the train car to slow down. The amount of energy, or speed, removed from a cut by a retarder may depend on the amount of pressure applied by the retarder. For example, a higher pressure may cause more energy, or speed, to be removed from a cut than a lower pressure. In this manner, retarders may be used to further control the speed of a cut as it travels through the marshalling tracks.

A typical switch operates by routing a cut from a source track into one of a plurality of destination tracks. For example, a switch may be connected to a single source track and a plurality of destination tracks. A signal may be configured the throw the switch into a target position (e.g., which may correspond to a target track to which a cut is to be routed) to route a cut to a target track, which may be one of the plurality of destination tracks, in which case a cut traveling over the source track may be automatically routed to the selected target track.

However, hardware devices, such as switches, are subject to wear down and degradation over time and usage. As time passes by, the performance of the various hardware devices may deteriorate and the efficiency or effectiveness of the various devices may degrade. In addition, switches may be subject to failures, such as due to mechanical, electrical, software failures, etc. As switches include mechanical operations, the hardware devices may bind, break, bend, or otherwise may experience failure events. This may cause operations of the classification yard that rely on the operations of the hardware devices to also fail, or to suffer degradation. switches may degrade or fail. For example, a switch operates by being “thrown” from one position to another position (e.g., from a first position to a second position). However, the switch throw may not be as fast as expected, in which case the cut may arrive at the switch before the switch has been thrown to the target position, causing a misrouting of the cut, which may cause problems if the misroute is into an occupied track (e.g., may cause a collision). A switch may also fail due to a kickback event (e.g., the switch is thrown from a first position (e.g., left or right) to a second position but is thrown back to the first position), a no movement event (e.g., the switch is signaled to throw from a first position to a second position but fails to move), a lost position event (e.g., the switch's current position may be lost), or any number of other potential failures. In some cases, the switch may have a shelf life of a certain number of throws, which may be reached or may be close to being reached. In these cases, the poor operations of a defective switch may cause problems with operations that rely on accurate and fast operations to control the movement cuts through the classification yard.

Currently, determining a status of a switch may include manual inspections of the switch. However, this presents a great burden on operators, and may become very expensive due to the number of switches used in classification yards. In some cases, software tools may be used to determine the status of switch. However, current tools may not be able to effectively determine the status of switch due to the complexity of the switch operations. In some cases, current tools may not be able to identify the degradation of a switch even when the switch may provide a requested operation (e.g., a switch throw from a first position to a second position), but may not be operating as efficiently or effectively as before. In this case, the degradation of the switch may indicate that the switch is close to failing, and currently, systems lack functionality to determine these situations.

The present disclosure achieves technical advantages as systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media that provide functionality for determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard. In particular embodiments, a set of switch event data associated with a switch may be analyzed to determine the performance of the switch to actuate to route cuts from their current tracks to a target track. A status of the switch may be determined from analysis of the performance of the switch to actuate to route cuts from their current tracks to a target tracks. In embodiments, the status of the switch may be used to ensure corrective actions are taken on the switch (e.g., deploy maintenance personnel, report the status of the switch, send a control signal to the switch to deactivate, etc.)

The present disclosure provides for a system integrated into a practical application with meaningful limitations as a system with functionality for determining a status of switch devices that are used for controlling operations of a classification yard. In embodiments, determining the status of switches may be critical to operations in a classification yard, as switches wear down and degrade over time, and may be prone to failure events. As switches degrade, the performance of the switches may also degrade and may be even more prone to failure events. A degraded switch may not be able to switch from a first position to a second position as fast as before, may be more prone to kickback events, no movement events, and may cause more lost position events. These may cause operational problems as the route of cuts in a classification yard may not be as efficiently or effectively controlled due these problems. The present disclosure provides features that may be used by a system to monitor, track, and/or control the performance of a switch while actuating (e.g., being thrown from a first position to a second position). In embodiments, features described herein may allow a system to generate alert and/or control signals that may be used by field personnel to perform corrective actions on the switch or may be used by the system to send automatic control signals to deactivate or adjust a defective, or degraded, switch.

The present disclosure solves the technological problem of a lack of functionality in current systems to dynamically monitor, track, and/or control the performance of switches when actuating to route cuts from their current tracks to a target track during operations of the classification yard. For example, in current systems, a bad or degraded switch may not be identified until it is too late (e.g., after the switch has failed), which may result in catastrophic and/or expensive consequences. A system implemented in accordance with the present disclosure may be flexible and responsive to these situations may identify these bad/defective/degraded switches, even when the problem may be masked by control software compensating. The technological solutions provided herein, and missing from conventional systems, are more than a mere application of a manual process to a computerized environment, but rather include functionality to implement a technical process to replace or supplement current manual solutions or non-existing solutions for determining the status of switches. In doing so, the present disclosure goes well beyond a mere application of the manual process to a computer. Accordingly, the claims herein necessarily provide a technological solution that overcomes a technological problem. Accordingly, the claims herein necessarily provide a technological solution that overcomes a technological problem.

In various embodiments, the system comprises one or more processors interconnected with a memory module, capable of executing machine-readable instructions. These instructions include, but are not limited to, the steps outlined in any flow diagram, system diagram, block diagram, and/or process diagram disclosed herein, as well as steps corresponding to any functionality detailed herein. In embodiments, the execution of these machine-readable instructions may involve initiating multiple concurrent computer processes. Each process of the concurrent computer process may be configured to handle or process a designated subset or portion of the of the machine-readable instructions. This division of tasks enables parallel processing, multi-processing, and/or multi-threading, enabling multiple operations to be conducted or executed concurrently rather than sequentially. This functionality for spawning a plurality of concurrent processes to manage separate portions of the machine-readable instructions markedly increases the overall speed of execution of the machine-readable instructions. By leveraging parallel or concurrent processing, the time required to complete a set or subset of program steps is substantially reduced (e.g., when compared to execution without concurrent or parallel processing). This efficiency gain not only accelerates the processing speed but also optimizes the use of processor resources, leading to an improved performance of the computing system. This enhancement in computational efficiency constitutes a significant technological improvement, as it enhances the functional capabilities of the processors and the system as a whole, representing a practical and tangible technological advancement. The result of this concurrent processing functionality results in an improvement in the functioning of the one or more processor and/or the computing system, and thus, represents a practical application.

In embodiments, the present disclosure includes techniques for training models (e.g., machine-learning models, artificial intelligence models, algorithmic constructs, etc.) for performing or executing a designated task or a series of tasks (e.g., one or more features of steps or tasks of processes, systems, and/or methods disclosed in the present disclosure). The disclosed techniques provide a systematic approach for the training of such models to enhance performance, accuracy, and efficiency in their respective applications. In embodiments, the techniques for training the models may include collecting a set of data from a database, conditioning the set of data to generate a set of conditioned data, and/or generating a set of training data including the collected set of data and/or the conditioned set of data. In embodiments, that model may undergo a training phase wherein the model may be exposed to the set of training data, such as through an iterative processes of learning in which the model adjusts and optimizes its parameters and algorithms to improve its performance on the designated task or series of tasks. This training phase may configure the model to develop the capability to perform its intended function with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency. In embodiments, the conditioning of the set of data may include modification, transformation, and/or the application of targeted algorithms to prepare the data for training. The conditioning step may be configured to ensure that the set of data is in an optimal state for training the model, resulting in an enhancement of the effectiveness of the model's learning process. These features and techniques not only qualify as patent-eligible features but also introduce substantial improvements to the field of computational modeling. These features are not merely theoretical but represent an integration of a concepts into a practical application that significantly enhance the functionality, reliability, and efficiency of the models developed through these processes.

In embodiments, the present disclosure includes techniques for generating a notification of an event that includes generating an alert that includes information specifying the location of a source of data associated with the event, formatting the alert into data structured according to an information format, and/or transmitting the formatted alert over a network to a device associated with a receiver based upon a destination address and a transmission schedule. In embodiments, receiving the alert enables a connection from the device associated with the receiver to the data source over the network when the device is connected to the source to retrieve the data associated with the event and causes a viewer application (e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI)) to be activated to display the data associated with the event. These features represent patent eligible features, as these features amount to significantly more than an abstract idea. These features, when considered as an ordered combination, amount to significantly more than simply organizing and comparing data. The features address the Internet-centric challenge of alerting a receiver with time sensitive information. This is addressed by transmitting the alert over a network to activate the viewer application, which enables the connection of the device of the receiver to the source over the network to retrieve the data associated with the event. These are meaningful limitations that add more than generally linking the use of an abstract idea (e.g., the general concept of organizing and comparing data) to the Internet, because they solve an Internet-centric problem with a solution that is necessarily rooted in computer technology. These features, when taken as an ordered combination, provide unconventional steps that confine the abstract idea to a particular useful application. Therefore, these features represent patent eligible subject matter.

In embodiments, one or more operations and/or functionality of components described herein can be distributed across a plurality of computing systems (e.g., personal computers (PCs), user devices, servers, processors, etc.), such as by implementing the operations over a plurality of computing systems. This distribution can be configured to facilitate the optimal load balancing of traffic (e.g., requests, responses, notifications, etc.), which can encompass a wide spectrum of network traffic or data transactions. By leveraging a distributed operational framework, a system implemented in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure can effectively manage and mitigate potential bottlenecks, ensuring equitable processing distribution and preventing any single device from shouldering an excessive burden. This load balancing approach significantly enhances the overall responsiveness and efficiency of the network, markedly reducing the risk of system overload and ensuring continuous operational uptime. The technical advantages of this distributed load balancing can extend beyond mere efficiency improvements. It introduces a higher degree of fault tolerance within the network, where the failure of a single component does not precipitate a systemic collapse, markedly enhancing system reliability. Additionally, this distributed configuration promotes a dynamic scalability feature, enabling the system to adapt to varying levels of demand without necessitating substantial infrastructural modifications. The integration of advanced algorithmic strategies for traffic distribution and resource allocation can further refine the load balancing process, ensuring that computational resources are utilized with optimal efficiency and that data flow is maintained at an optimal pace, regardless of the volume or complexity of the requests being processed. Moreover, the practical application of these disclosed features represents a significant technical improvement over traditional centralized systems. Through the integration of the disclosed technology into existing networks, entities can achieve a superior level of service quality, with minimized latency, increased throughput, and enhanced data integrity. The distributed approach of embodiments can not only bolster the operational capacity of computing networks but can also offer a robust framework for the development of future technologies, underscoring its value as a foundational advancement in the field of network computing.

To aid in the load balancing, the computing system of embodiments of the present disclosure can spawn multiple processes and threads to process data traffic concurrently. The speed and efficiency of the computing system can be greatly improved by instantiating more than one process or thread to implement the claimed functionality. However, one skilled in the art of programming will appreciate that use of a single process or thread can also be utilized and is within the scope of the present disclosure.

It is an object of the disclosure to provide a system for determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard. It is a further object of the disclosure to provide a method of determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard, and a computer-based tool for determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard. These and other objects are provided by the present disclosure, including at least the following embodiments.

In one particular embodiment, a method of determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard is provided. The method includes compiling a plurality of switch events associated with a switch in a classification yard. In embodiments, each switch event may represent a request to throw the switch device from a first position to a second position, and each car event may include real-world metrics including actual measurements associated with the switch device during each switch event of the plurality of switch events, utilization metrics including measurements associated with a usage of the switch device, and/or failure metrics including indications of failure events incurred during one or more switch events of the plurality of switch events. The method also includes generating a set of deviation metrics associated with the switch device based on the plurality of switch events associated with the switch device, applying thresholding analysis to the set of deviation metrics associated with the switch device to determine a status of the switch device, and generating a corrective action signal including an indication of the status of the switch device and/or a corrective action to be taken on the switch device.

In another embodiment, a system for determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard is provided. The system comprises at least one processor and a memory operably coupled to the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, is configured to perform operations. The operations include compiling a plurality of switch events associated with a switch in a classification yard. In embodiments, each switch event may represent a request to throw the switch device from a first position to a second position, and each car event may include real-world metrics including actual measurements associated with the switch device during each switch event of the plurality of switch events, utilization metrics including measurements associated with a usage of the switch device, and/or failure metrics including indications of failure events incurred during one or more switch events of the plurality of switch events. The operations also include generating a set of deviation metrics associated with the switch device based on the plurality of switch events associated with the switch device, applying thresholding analysis to the set of deviation metrics associated with the switch device to determine a status of the switch device, and generating a corrective action signal including an indication of the status of the switch device and/or a corrective action to be taken on the switch device.

In yet another embodiment, a computer-based tool for determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard is provided. The computer-based tool including non-transitory computer readable media having stored thereon computer code which, when executed by a processor, causes a computing device to perform operations. The operations include compiling a plurality of switch events associated with a switch in a classification yard. In embodiments, each switch event may represent a request to throw the switch device from a first position to a second position, and each car event may include real-world metrics including actual measurements associated with the switch device during each switch event of the plurality of switch events, utilization metrics including measurements associated with a usage of the switch device, and/or failure metrics including indications of failure events incurred during one or more switch events of the plurality of switch events. The operations also include generating a set of deviation metrics associated with the switch device based on the plurality of switch events associated with the switch device, applying thresholding analysis to the set of deviation metrics associated with the switch device to determine a status of the switch device, and generating a corrective action signal including an indication of the status of the switch device and/or a corrective action to be taken on the switch device.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

The disclosure presented in the following written description and the various features and advantageous details thereof, are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting examples included in the accompanying drawings and as detailed in the description. Descriptions of well-known components have been omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the principal features described herein. The examples used in the following description are intended to facilitate an understanding of the ways in which the disclosure can be implemented and practiced. A person of ordinary skill in the art would read this disclosure to mean that any suitable combination of the functionality or exemplary embodiments below could be combined to achieve the subject matter claimed. The disclosure includes either a representative number of species falling within the scope of the genus or structural features common to the members of the genus so that one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize the members of the genus. Accordingly, these examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any system claims presented herein encompass all of the elements and limitations disclosed therein, and as such, require that each system claim be viewed as a whole. Any reasonably foreseeable items functionally related to the claims are also relevant. The Examiner, after having obtained a thorough understanding of the disclosure and claims of the present application has searched the prior art as disclosed in patents and other published documents, i.e., nonpatent literature. Therefore, the issuance of this patent is evidence that: the elements and limitations presented in the claims are enabled by the specification and drawings, the issued claims are directed toward patent-eligible subject matter, and the prior art fails to disclose or teach the claims as a whole, such that the issued claims of this patent are patentable under the applicable laws and rules of this country.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and techniques that provide functionality for determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard. In particular embodiments, a set of switch event data associated with a switch may be analyzed to determine the performance of the switch to actuate to route cuts from their current tracks to a target track. A status of the switch may be determined from analysis of the performance of the switch to actuate to route cuts from their current tracks to a target tracks. In embodiments, the status of the switch may be used to ensure corrective actions are taken on the switch (e.g., deploy maintenance personnel, report the status of the switch, send a control signal to the switch to deactivate, etc.).

is a block diagram of an exemplary systemconfigured with capabilities and functionality for determining a status of detector devices in a classification yard in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in, systemmay include server, detectors, data collector, user terminal, and network. These components, and their individual components, may cooperatively operate to provide functionality in accordance with the discussion herein. For example, in operation according to embodiments, switchesmay operate to route cuts traveling along a route through the classification yard from current tracks to target cuts. A switch may be actuated via a switch throw signal that may throw the switch from a first position to a second position (e.g., from a right position in which a first track corresponding to the right position is selected to a left position in which a second track corresponding to the left position is selected, or from a left position in which the second track corresponding to the left position is selected to a right position in which the first track corresponding to the right position is selected). A switch event may include an event in which a switch is thrown from a first position (e.g., right or left) to a second position (e.g., right or left). In embodiments, data collectormay operate to collect real-world switch event data associated with a plurality of switch events associated with each of switches. For example, each switch event (e.g., each time a switch is requested to be thrown) may generate switch event data, including an actual throw time (e.g., the actual time taken to throw the switch from the first position to the second position), expected throw time (e.g., the time expected to take to throw the switch from the first position to the second position), switch throw failure data (e.g., including whether the switch event resulted in a switch throw failure, such as a kickback event, a no movement event, a lost position event, etc.), a switch throw count associated with the switch (e.g., the total number of switch throws of the switch), an identification of the switch for which the switch event was generated, and/or other conditions associated with the switch event (e.g., weather, type of train cars in the cut, type of bearings of the cut, identification of the cut, etc.).

In embodiments, functionality of servermay provide for determining, based on switch events associated with a switch, a status of the switch. In embodiments, servermay include functionality for determining, based on switch events associated with a switch, a status of the switch by compiling data related to switch events associated with the switch, applying threshold analysis to the compiled data to determine a relationship between real-world measurements and expected (e.g., predicted or desired) results with respect to operation by the switch during the switch event, to determine a status of the switch based on the thresholding analysis, and to generate a corrective action signal in response to the determination of the status of the switch. In embodiments, the thresholding analysis may include applying one or more rules that may determine the amount and/or spread of deviations between the real-world measurements associated with the switch event for determining the status of the switch. In some embodiments, the thresholding analysis may include determining, for each switch event associated with the switch, a throw time difference between an expected throw time and the actual throw time (e.g., actual throw time-expected throw time), and analyzing the relationship of the throw time differences against thresholds to determine the status of the switch. In embodiments, a negative throw time difference may indicate that the actual throw time is faster than the expected throw time, and a positive throw time difference may indicate that the actual throw time is slower than the expected throw time. In some embodiments, the thresholding analysis may include determining, for each switch event associated with a switch, utilization metrics, and analyzing the relationship of the utilization metrics against thresholds to determine the status of the retarder.

It is noted that the functional blocks, and components thereof, of systemof embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using processors, electronics devices, hardware devices, electronics components, logical circuits, memories, software codes, firmware codes, etc., or any combination thereof. For example, one or more functional blocks, or some portion thereof, may be implemented as discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or combinations thereof configured to provide logic for performing the functions described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, when implemented in software, one or more of the functional blocks, or some portion thereof, may comprise code segments operable upon a processor to provide logic for performing the functions described herein.

It is also noted that various components of systemare illustrated as single and separate components. However, it will be appreciated that each of the various illustrated components may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single application, server module, etc.), may be functional components of a single component, or the functionality of these various components may be distributed over multiple devices/components. In such embodiments, the functionality of each respective component may be aggregated from the functionality of multiple modules residing in a single, or in multiple devices.

It is further noted that functionalities described with reference to each of the different functional blocks of systemdescribed herein is provided for purposes of illustration, rather than by way of limitation and that functionalities described as being provided by different functional blocks may be combined into a single component or may be provided via computing resources disposed in a cloud-based environment accessible over a network, such as one of network.

As noted above, in typical operations of a classification yard, such as a hump yard, a stock train that includes train cars to be marshalled to their assigned train may be pushed by a hump push engine at a set speed along the approach section of the hump to the crest of the hump. As the train cars roll past the hump crest, gravity may begin pulling the train cars towards the bottom of the hump. In embodiments, the train cars are “cut” from the stock train and the cut is allowed to roll down the hump and is marshalled to the destination train. Ensuring that the cut reaches the assigned destination train at the appropriate coupling speed is very important. As such, in embodiments, a cut may be tracked and controlled as the cut moves along the marshalling tracks of the classification yard. In particular, the route and the speed of the cut from the hump to its destination track or train may be controlled using various components of the classification yard. For example, classification yard may implement switches, detectors, and retarders, among other components. In embodiments, the cooperative operation of the various components of the classification yard may enable the classification yard to ensure that various cuts traverse the marshalling tracks and arrive at the destination coupling point at the appropriate coupling speed.

Switchesmay include one or more switches configured to route a cut to a target track. As switch may be actuated via a switch throw signal that may throw the switch from a first position to a second position (e.g., from a right position in which a first track corresponding to the right position is selected to a left position in which a second track corresponding to the left position is selected, or from a left position in which the second track corresponding to the left position is selected to a right position in which the first track corresponding to the right position is selected). For example, a cut may be traveling along a current track and may come upon the switch. The switch may be configured to route the cut from the current track to a target track according to the route of the cut, which in this case may be scheduled to travel through the second track. The switch may be currently positioned to the right (e.g., which may correspond to the first track). In this case, if the switch is not thrown to the left, the cut may be misrouted from the current track to the first track. In this case, however, a switch throw signal is used to throw the switch from the right position to the left position. After the switch is thrown to the left, the switch may route the cut to the second track. In this manner, the classification yard may control the route of the cut using switchesto ensure the cut moves through the appropriate route.

In embodiments, switchesmay be laid out at different points along the tracks of the classification yard. In particular, each of switchesmay be laid out at points at which a single track may branch out into multiple tracks.

Data collectormay be configured to capture and store (e.g., in a database, such as database) switch event data related to switch events associated with switches. For example, during operations of the classification yard, switchesmay be actuated (e.g., via switch throw signals) to throw the switches from a first position to a second position in order to route various cuts along respective routes. In embodiments, data collectormay operate to generate and collect switch events for each actuation of a switch. In embodiments, a switch event may include real-world switch event data associated with the switch event including an actual throw time (e.g., the actual time taken to throw the switch from the first position to the second position), expected throw time (e.g., the time expected to take to throw the switch from the first position to the second position), a time of the switch throw request, a direction of the switch throw requested (e.g., from left to right, from right to left), switch throw failure data (e.g., including whether the switch event resulted in a switch throw failure, such as a kickback event, a no movement event, a lost position event, etc.), switch throw failure (e.g., a kickback count, a no movement count, a lost position count, etc.), a switch throw count associated with the switch (e.g., the total number of switch throws of the switch), an identification of the switch for which the switch event was generated, and/or other conditions associated with the switch event (e.g., weather, type of train cars in the cut, type of bearings of the cut, identification of the cut, etc.). In embodiments, data collectormay store the switch events associated with each of switchesinto a database (e.g., database) for subsequent analysis.

User terminalmay include a mobile device, a smartphone, a tablet computing device, a personal computing device, a laptop computing device, a desktop computing device, a computer system of a vehicle, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart watch, another type of wired and/or wireless computing device, or any part thereof. In embodiments, user terminalmay provide a user interface that may be configured to provide an interface (e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI)) structured to facilitate an operator interacting with system, e.g., via network, to execute and leverage the features provided by server. In embodiments, the operator may be enabled, e.g., through the functionality of user terminal, to provide configuration parameters that may be used by systemto provide functionality for determining status of switches, as well as to interact with results (e.g., selection, confirmation, verification of results, etc.). In embodiments, user terminalmay be configured to communicate with other components of system. In embodiments, the functionality of user terminalmay include presenting results of switch status determination operations to an operator. In embodiments, the results of switch status determination operations may be presented to an operator via the GIU of user terminal.

In embodiments, server, classification yard(and its various components), and user terminalmay be communicatively coupled via network. Networkmay include a wired network, a wireless communication network, a cellular network, a cable transmission system, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), etc.

Servermay be configured to facilitate operations for determining a status of switch devices in a classification yard in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, functionality of serverto facilitate determination of a status of switch devices in a classification yard may be provided by the cooperative operation of the various components of server, as will be described in more detail below.

Althoughshows a single server, it will be appreciated that serverand its individual functional blocks may be implemented as a single device or may be distributed over multiple devices having their own processing resources, whose aggregate functionality may be configured to perform operations in accordance with the present disclosure. Furthermore, those of skill in the art would recognize that althoughillustrates components of serveras single and separate blocks, each of the various components of servermay be a single component (e.g., a single application, server module, etc.), may be functional components of a same component, or the functionality may be distributed over multiple devices/components. In such embodiments, the functionality of each respective component may be aggregated from the functionality of multiple modules residing in a single, or in multiple devices. In addition, particular functionality described for a particular component of servermay actually be part of a different component of server, and as such, the description of the particular functionality described for the particular component of serveris for illustrative purposes and not limiting in any way.

As shown in, serverincludes processor, memory, database, data compiler, thresholding analysis manager, and results manager. Processormay comprise a processor, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a plurality of microprocessors, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application-specific standard product (ASSP), or any combination thereof, and may be configured to execute instructions to perform operations in accordance with the disclosure herein. In some embodiments, implementations of processormay comprise code segments (e.g., software, firmware, and/or hardware logic) executable in hardware, such as a processor, to perform the tasks and functions described herein. In yet other embodiments, processormay be implemented as a combination of hardware and software. Processormay be communicatively coupled to memory.

Memorymay comprise one or more semiconductor memory devices, read only memory (ROM) devices, random access memory (RAM) devices, one or more hard disk drives (HDDs), flash memory devices, solid state drives (SSDs), erasable ROM (EROM), compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), optical disks, other devices configured to store data in a persistent or non-persistent state, network memory, cloud memory, local memory, or a combination of different memory devices. Memorymay comprise a processor readable medium configured to store one or more instruction sets (e.g., software, firmware, etc.) which, when executed by a processor (e.g., one or more processors of processor), perform tasks and functions as described herein.

Memorymay also be configured to facilitate storage operations. For example, memorymay comprise databasefor storing various information related to operations of system. For example, databasemay store analysis models, threshold data, configuration information, etc., to be used for configuring system, etc. In embodiments, databasemay store characteristics of various and different train cars, such as rolling resistance characteristics, weights, aerodynamic characteristics (e.g., drag coefficient, coupler overhang status, articulation status of the etc. In embodiments, databasemay store switch event data related to speed, energy, and/or arrival times measurements of various cuts at various points (e.g., devices and/or segments) of the classification yard.

Databaseis illustrated as integrated into memory, but in some embodiments, databasemay be provided as a separate storage module or may be provided as a cloud-based storage module. Additionally, or alternatively, databasemay be a single database, or may be a distributed database implemented over a plurality of database modules.

Data compilermay be configured to retrieve data related to switch events associated with a switch, and to filter the data according to various configuration parameters for subsequent thresholding analysis (e.g., by threshold analysis manager). In some embodiments, data compilermay include functionality to format and/or present switch event data to an operator.

In embodiments, data compilermay provide a robust mechanism for configuring, controlling, and executing data retrieval and compilation functionality in order to obtain a most appropriate set of switch events and leverage the switch event data to determine a status of a switch or switches. For example, in embodiments, data compilermay be configured to retrieve and compile the switch event data by configuring and scheduling one or more analysis jobs that include configuration associated with the analysis job itself as well as the switch event data against which thresholding analysis is to be performed.

In embodiments, configuring an analysis job may include specifying values for various parameters defining characteristics of the job as well as characteristics of the switch events to be included in the thresholding analysis. In a sense, the configuration of an analysis job may serve to filter switch events in the database so that data compilermay compile those switch events that meet the configuration (e.g., pass the filters). The resulting set of switch events may be used in the thresholding analysis (e.g., performed by thresholding analysis manager) to determine a status of one or more switches. For example, in embodiments, the various parameters defining characteristics of the job may include parameters for specifying attributes of the job, such as a schedule name, a starting time of the job, a minimum time period that the job should run, how often the job is to be scheduled (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.), how often the job is to recur (e.g., re-perform analysis of particular switch events), etc. In embodiments, the various parameters defining characteristics of the switch events to be included in the analysis may include parameters for specifying a switch which switch events are to be compiled (e.g., an identification of the switch), a minimum switch event count (e.g., a minimum number of switch throws, etc.), a type of precipitation associated with the switch events, such as the precipitation status when the switch event was recorded (e.g., dry, wet, rain, snow, rust, all), a maximum temperature at the time of the switch event, a minimum temperature at the time of the switch event, an indication of a time period that each task performing the analysis job may be available after completion, etc.

In some embodiments, data compilermay be configured to provide a user interface (UI) via which an operator may specify values for the various configuration parameters of an analysis job. For example, data compilermay present the UI (e.g., via user terminal) to the operator and may include various fields via which the operator may specify values for respective configuration parameters. In some embodiments, the values for the various configuration parameters of an analysis job may be automatically selected by data compiler, such as by retrieving values stored in database, which may be previously specified by an operator or may be default values.

In embodiments, scheduling an analysis job may include defining a period over which the analysis job may be executed, as well as the recursive configuration of the analysis job. In embodiments, an analysis job may be scheduled, which may make the analysis job available to be executed. The execution of the analysis job may be performed using tasks, in which case the job may be executed against a set of switch events currently available via a task execution. In this manner, a task for an analysis job may execute the analysis job based on the analysis job configuration on switch event data current available. In some embodiments, a second task may be started for the same analysis job, in which case the second task may execute the analysis job (e.g., in accordance with the analysis job configuration) against a set of switch events as available with respect to the second task. In this manner, as switch event data in the database changes (e.g., more data is collected), a task may permit the analysis job to be executed for the data as it changes. For example, an analysis job may be scheduled to be run weekly, in which case, every week, data compilermay compile switch events (e.g., from database) that meet the analysis job configuration into a task which is executed to perform the determination of the status of one or more switches in the classification yard. This functionality may allow data retriever and compilerto ensure that the analysis job for switch status determination may be performed recursively, and in this manner the results of a first iteration of the analysis job may be leveraged in a subsequent execution (e.g., via a second task). In addition, the use of tasks may also enable the analysis to be performed over different sets of switch event data, which may facilitate a diverse thresholding analysis of the data.