초록 ▼

A local area network (LAN) of tracked mobile assets which are temporarily located in an area having a high density of mobile assets, such as a railway yard, employs a stationary master tracking unit that is responsible for communicating with mobile tracking units affixed to the mobile assets and tra

A local area network (LAN) of tracked mobile assets which are temporarily located in an area having a high density of mobile assets, such as a railway yard, employs a stationary master tracking unit that is responsible for communicating with mobile tracking units affixed to the mobile assets and transmitting information to a central station. The stationary master tracking unit may be mounted at an elevation, as on a pole, and single or multiple stationary master tracking units may exist in the same vicinity. Each stationary master tracking unit has a constant supply of power and communicates with the central station by way of either satellites or dedicated land line connection. A protocol is provided for communicating between the Stationary master tracking unit and the mobile tracking units. The protocol provides a mechanism for acquiring new mobile tracking units entering the railway yard and a mechanism for releasing mobile tracking units leaving the railway yard.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of tracking mobile assets which are temporarily located in an area having a high density of mobile assets, comprising the steps of: affixing a mobile tracking unit to each mobile asset to be tracked; installing a stationary tracking unit in said area having a high density of mobile assets;

A method of tracking mobile assets which are temporarily located in an area having a high density of mobile assets, comprising the steps of: affixing a mobile tracking unit to each mobile asset to be tracked; installing a stationary tracking unit in said area having a high density of mobile assets; establishing a local area network of tracked assets between said stationary tracking unit and a plurality of tracking units affixed to mobile assets in close proximity in said area, each of said tracking units constituting a node of the mobile local area network, said stationary tracking unit being assigned to be a “master”unit and each of said mobile tracking units being a respective “slave”unit; and approximately locating assets by their respective connections in the local area network where location of the stationary tracking unit is known.