Claims
- 1. A method of upgrading control software on a first locomotive having a first locomotive interface, wherein a first computer is coupled to the first locomotive interface, and a first communicator is coupled to the first computer, and wherein the first computer is programmed for operation on the first locomotive, said method comprising:
loading a first version of control software onto the first computer; loading a second version of control software onto the first computer; and using data included in a link message to determine whether the first version or the second version of the control software is used.
- 2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the link message is received from a second locomotive having a second locomotive interface, a second computer coupled to the second locomotive interface, and a second communicator coupled to the second computer, with the second computer programmed for operation on the second locomotive.
- 3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the link message comprises a specification of the two versions of the control software present on said second computer on the second locomotive.
- 4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first computer on the first locomotive selects a version of the control software in response to said specification.
- 5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first computer on the first locomotive displays a message indicating which version of the control software has been selected.
- 6. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first computer operates on the first locomotive using the first version of the control software or the second version of the control software.
- 7. A system for controlling a first locomotive, said system comprising a first locomotive interface, a first computer coupled to said locomotive interface, and a first communicator coupled to said first computer, said first computer programmed to control the first locomotive, said first computer further programmed to use at least one of a first version of control software and a second version of control software.
- 8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first computer is programmed to receive a link message from a second locomotive, said system further comprising a second locomotive interface, a second computer coupled to said locomotive interface, and a second communicator coupled to said second computer, said second computer programmed to control the second locomotive, said second computer further programmed to use a first version of control software or a second version of control software.
- 9. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said link message comprises a specification of the versions of the control software present on the second computer.
- 10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said first computer selects a version of the control software in response to said specification.
- 11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first computer displays a message indicating which version of the control software has been selected.
- 12. A system according to claim 10 wherein said first computer operates on the first locomotive using the first version of the control software or the second version of the control software.
- 13. A fleet of locomotives comprising at least one locomotive equipped with a system for controlling said at least one locomotive, said system comprising a first locomotive interface, a first computer coupled to said locomotive interface, and a first communicator coupled to said first computer, said first computer programmed to control said at least one locomotive, said first computer further programmed to use a first version of control software and a second version of control software.
- 14. A fleet of locomotives in accordance with claim 13, wherein said first computer is programmed to receive a link message from a second locomotive, said system further comprising a second locomotive interface, a second computer coupled to said locomotive interface, and a second communicator coupled to said second computer, said second computer programmed to control the second locomotive, said second computer further programmed to use a first version of control software or a second version of control software.
- 15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said link message comprises a specification of the versions of the control software present on the second computer.
- 16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said first computer selects a version of the control software in response to said specification.
- 17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said first computer displays a message indicating which version of the control software has been selected.
- 18. A system according to claim 16 wherein said first computer operates on the first locomotive using the first version of the control software or the second version of the control software.
- 19. A method of upgrading control software on a first locomotive having a first locomotive interface, a first computer coupled to the first locomotive interface, and a first communicator coupled to the first computer, the first computer programmed for operation on the first locomotive, said method comprising:
providing the control software with functionality to operate with a plurality of locomotive control system configurations; and using data included in link messages to determine which version of the control software is used.
- 20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the link messages are received from a second locomotive having a second locomotive interface, a second computer coupled to the second locomotive interface, and a second communicator coupled to the second computer, wherein the second computer programmed for operation on the second locomotive.
- 21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein the link messages comprise a specification of two versions of the control software present on the second computer on the second locomotive.
- 22. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein the first computer on the first locomotive selects a version of the control software in response to the specification.
- 23. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein the first computer on the first locomotive displays a message indicating which version of the control software has been selected.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/258,666, filed Dec. 29, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60258666 |
Dec 2000 |
US |