Claims
- 1) A lead controller for a locomotive, comprising:
a) an input for receiving a signal containing speech information; b) a processing unit receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results and using the speech recognition results to produce a command for execution by the locomotive; c) a communication link interface for transmitting the command to be executed by the locomotive over a communication link.
- 2) A lead controller as defined in claim 112, wherein the communication link is a wireless link established between said communication link interface and a follower controller in the locomotive.
- 3) A lead controller as defined in claim 2, including a microphone connected to said input.
- 4) A lead controller as defined in claim 2, wherein the signal containing speech information is derived from a spoken utterance, said processing unit has a speech recognition engine.
- 5) A lead controller as defined in claim 4, wherein said processing unit includes a speech recognition dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the spoken utterance.
- 6) A lead controller as defined in claim 4, wherein said processing unit is operative to communicate to a human operator information allowing the operator to ascertain if the processing unit has correctly recognized the speech information.
- 7) A lead controller as defined in claim 6, wherein the information allows the human operator to ascertain the speech recognition results generated by said processing unit.
- 8) A lead controller as defined in claim 7, wherein the information allows the human operator to ascertain the at least one vocabulary item identified by said speech recognition engine as being a match to the spoken utterance.
- 9) A lead controller as defined in claim 7, wherein said processing unit communicates the information to the human operator audibly.
- 10) A lead controller as defined in claim 9, wherein said processing unit communicates the information to the human operator visually.
- 11) A lead controller as defined in claim 9, wherein the information is conveyed to the human operator by using synthetic speech.
- 12) A lead controller as defined in claim 6, wherein said processing unit is responsive to a confirmation signal indicative of a confirmation by the human operator that said processing unit has correctly recognized the speech information to allow the locomotive to execute the command.
- 13) A lead controller as defined in claim 12, wherein said processing unit is responsive to the confirmation signal indicative of a confirmation by the human operator that said processing unit has correctly recognized the speech information to cause transmission of the command over the communication link.
- 14) A lead controller as defined in claim 12, wherein the confirmation signal includes speech information.
- 15) A lead controller as defined in claim 14, wherein said processing unit is operative to perform speech recognition on the confirmation signal.
- 16) A lead controller as defined in claim 13, wherein the confirmation signal is a signal derived from manual actuation of a control on said lead controller.
- 17) A lead controller as defined in claim 12, wherein said processing unit prevents execution of the command by the locomotive unless the confirmation signal has been received within a predetermined time period.
- 18) A lead controller as defined in claim 12, wherein said processing unit negates the speech recognition results when no confirmation signal has been received within a predetermined time period.
- 19) A lead controller as defined in claim 2, wherein said speech recognition engine is speaker dependant.
- 20) A lead controller as defined in claim 2, including a speaker verification unit.
- 21) A remote control system for a locomotive, comprising:
a) a lead controller remote from the locomotive; b) a follower controller for mounting on the locomotive; c) said lead controller operative for wirelessly transmitting information to said follower controller; d) an input on said lead controller for receiving a signal containing speech information; e) a processing unit receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results and using the speech recognition results to produce a command for execution by the locomotive.
- 22) A remote control system as defined in claim 21, wherein said follower controller is responsive to the command for generating local signals for application to the locomotive to cause the locomotive to execute the command.
- 23) A remote control system as defined in claim 22, including a microphone at said lead controller.
- 24) A remote control system as defined in claim 22, wherein the signal containing speech information is derived from a spoken utterance, said processing unit has a speech recognition engine.
- 25) A remote control system as defined in claim 24, wherein said processing unit includes a speech recognition dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the spoken utterance.
- 26) A remote control system as defined in claim 24, wherein said processing unit is operative to communicate to a human operator information allowing the operator to ascertain if the processing unit has correctly recognized the speech information.
- 27) A remote control system as defined in claim 26, wherein the information allows the human operator to ascertain the speech recognition results generated by said processing unit.
- 28) A remote control system as defined in claim 27, wherein the information allows the human operator to ascertain the at least one vocabulary item identified by said speech recognition engine as being a match to the spoken utterance.
- 29) A remote control system as defined in claim 27, wherein said processing unit communicates the information to the human operator audibly.
- 30) A remote control system as defined in claim 29, wherein said processing unit communicates the information to the human operator visually.
- 31) A remote control system as defined in claim 29, wherein the information is conveyed to the human operator by using synthetic speech.
- 32) A remote control system as defined in claim 26, wherein said processing: unit is responsive to a confirmation signal indicative of a confirmation by the human operator that said processing unit has correctly recognized the speech information to allow the locomotive to execute the command.
- 33) A remote control system as defined in claim 32, wherein the confirmation signal includes speech information.
- 34) A remote control system as defined in claim 33, wherein said processing unit is operative to perform speech recognition on the confirmation signal.
- 35) A remote control system as defined in claim 32, wherein the confirmation signal is a signal derived from manual actuation of a control on said lead controller.
- 36) A remote control system as defined in Claim 32, wherein said processing unit prevents execution of the command by the locomotive unless the confirmation signal has been received within a predetermined time period.
- 37) A lead controller as defined in claim 32, wherein said processing unit negates the speech recognition results when no confirmation signal has been received within a predetermined time period.
- 38) A remote control system as defined in claim 21, wherein said speech recognition engine is speaker dependent.
- 39) A remote control system as defined in claim 21, including a speaker verification unit.
- 40) A remote control system as defined in claim 21, wherein said processing unit resides in said lead controller.
- 41) A lead controller for a locomotive traveling on a track, comprising:
a) an input interface for receiving a distance command; b) a communication link interface for transmitting the distance command to be executed by the locomotive over a wireless communication link.
- 42) A lead controller as defined in claim 41, wherein the communication link is established between said communication link interface and a follower controller in the locomotive.
- 43) A lead controller as defined in claim 42, wherein the distance command is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 44) A lead controller as defined in claim 43, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up, the distance command conveyed vocally.
- 45) A lead controller as defined in claim 44, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech information.
- 46) A lead controller as defined in claim 45, wherein said lead controller includes a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 47) A lead controller as defined in claim 46, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 48) A lead controller as defined in claim 4.7, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a distance command.
- 49) A remote control system for a locomotive capable of traveling on a track, said remote control system comprising:
a) a lead controller;
(i) said lead controller being remote from the locomotive; (ii) including an input interface for receiving from a human operator a distance command; (iii) including a communication interface for transmitting the distance command over a wireless link; b) a follower controller for mounting on the locomotive, said follower controller being responsive to the command transmitted over the wireless link to cause the locomotive to execute the distance command.
- 50) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 49, wherein the distance command is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 51) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 50, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up the distance command conveyed vocally.
- 52) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 51, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech information.
- 53) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 52, including a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 54) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 53, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 55) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 54, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a distance command.
- 56) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 55, wherein said processing unit resides in said lead controller.
- 57) A remote control system as defined in claim 56, wherein said follower controller includes an input receiving a signal conveying information on distance travelled by the locomotive.
- 58) A remote control system as defined in claim 57, wherein said follower controller uses the signal conveying information on distance travelled by the locomotive to execute the distance command.
- 59) A lead controller for a locomotive, comprising:
a) an input interface for receiving a target location command; b) a communication link interface for transmitting the target location command to be executed by the locomotive over a wireless communication link.
- 60) A lead controller as defined in claim 59, wherein the communication link is established between said communication link interface and a follower controller in the locomotive.
- 61) A lead controller as defined in claim 60, wherein the target location command is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 62) A lead controller as defined in claim 61, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up the target location command conveyed vocally.
- 63) A lead controller as defined in claim 62, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech information.
- 64) A lead controller as defined in claim 63, including a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 65) A lead controller as defined in claim 64, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 66) A lead controller as defined in claim 65, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a target location command.
- 67) A remote control system for a locomotive, said remote control system comprising:
a) a lead controller;
(i) said lead controller being remote from the locomotive; (ii) including an input interface for receiving from a human operator a target location command; (iii) including a communication interface for transmitting the target location command over a wireless link; b) a follower controller for mounting on the locomotive, said follower controller being responsive to the command transmitted over the wireless link to cause the locomotive to execute the target location command.
- 68) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 67, wherein the target location command is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 69) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 68, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up the target location command conveyed vocally.
- 70) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 69, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech information.
- 71) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 70, including a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 72) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 71, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 73) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 72, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a target location command.
- 74) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 73, wherein said processing unit resides in said lead controller.
- 75) A remote control system as defined in claim 74, wherein said follower controller includes an input receiving a signal conveying information on the location of the locomotive.
- 76) A remote control system as defined in claim 75, wherein said follower controller uses the signal conveying information on the location of the locomotive to execute the target location command.
- 77) A lead controller for a locomotive pulling a train, comprising:
a) an input interface for receiving:
1. a command for execution by the train; 2. a parameter of the train; b) a communication link interface for transmitting the parameter of the train and the command to be executed by the train over a wireless communication link.
- 78) A lead controller as defined in claim 77, wherein the parameter of the train is selected in the group consisting of a number of cars in the train and weight of the train.
- 79) A lead controller as defined in claim 78, wherein the communication link is established between said communication link interface and a follower controller in the locomotive.
- 80) A lead controller as defined in claim 79, wherein the parameter of the train is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 81) A lead controller as defined in claim 80, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up the parameter of the train conveyed vocally.
- 82) A lead controller as defined in claim 81, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech information.
- 83) A lead controller as defined in claim 82, including a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 84) A lead controller as defined in claim 83, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 85) A lead controller as defined in claim 84, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a parameter of the train.
- 86) A remote control system for a locomotive pulling a train, said remote control system comprising:
a) a lead controller;
(i) said lead controller being remote from the locomotive; (ii) including an input interface for receiving from a human operator:
1. a parameter of the train; 2. a command for execution by the train; (iii) including a communication interface for transmitting the command and the parameter of the train over a wireless link; b) a follower controller for mounting on the locomotive, said follower controller being responsive to the command and the parameter of the train transmitted over the wireless link to cause the train to execute the command by implementing actions conditioned at least in part on the parameter of the train.
- 87) A remote control system as defined in claim 86, wherein the parameter of the train is selected in the group consisting of a number of cars in the train and weight of the train.
- 88) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 87, wherein the parameter of the train is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 89) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 88, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up the parameter of the train conveyed vocally.
- 90) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 0.89, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech information.
- 91) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 90, including a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 92) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 91, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 93) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 92, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a parameter of the train.
- 94) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 93, wherein said processing unit resides in said lead controller.
- 95) A lead controller for a locomotive riding on a track, comprising:
a) an input interface for receiving:
1. a command for execution by the locomotive; 2. a parameter of the track; b) a communication link interface for transmitting the parameter of the track and the command for execution by the locomotive over a wireless communication link.
- 96) A lead controller as defined in claim 95, wherein the parameter of the track relates to an incline of the track.
- 97) A lead controller as defined in claim 96, wherein the communication link is established between said communication link interface and a follower controller in the locomotive.
- 98) A lead controller as defined in claim 97, wherein the parameter of the track is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 99) A lead controller as defined in claim 98, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up the parameter of the track conveyed vocally.
- 100) A lead controller as defined in claim 99, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech 35, information.
- 101) A lead controller as defined in claim 100, including a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 102) A lead controller as defined in claim 101, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 103) A lead controller as defined in claim 102, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a parameter of the track.
- 104) A remote control system for a locomotive riding on a track, said remote control system comprising:
a) a lead controller;
(i) said lead controller being remote from the locomotive; (ii) including an input interface for receiving from a human operator:
1. a parameter of the track; 2. a command for execution by the locomotive; (iii) including a communication interface for transmitting the command and the parameter of the track over a wireless link; b) a follower controller for mounting on the locomotive, said follower controller being responsive to the command and the parameter of the track transmitted over the wireless link to cause the locomotive to execute the command by implementing actions conditioned at least in part on the parameter of the track.
- 105) A remote control system as defined in claim 104, wherein the parameter of the track relates to an incline of the track.
- 106) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in Claim 105, wherein the parameter of the track is conveyed vocally to the input interface by a human operator.
- 107) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 106, wherein said input interface includes a microphone to pick-up the parameter of the track conveyed vocally.
- 108) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 107, wherein said microphone issues a signal containing speech information.
- 109) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 108, including a processing unit for receiving the speech information and performing speech recognition to generate speech recognition results.
- 110) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 109, wherein said processing unit has a speech recognition engine and a dictionary including a plurality of vocabulary items, said speech recognition engine being operative to identify amongst the plurality of vocabulary items at least one vocabulary item that is a match to the speech information.
- 111) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 110, wherein said dictionary includes at least one vocabulary item corresponding to a parameter of the track.
- 112) A remote control system for a locomotive as defined in claim 111, wherein said processing unit resides in said lead controller.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/328,517 filed Dec. 23, 2002 which is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/222,560 filed Aug. 16, 2002 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/653,651 filed Sep. 1, 2000 and issued Oct. 15, 2000 as patent No. 6,466,847. The contents of the above documents are incorporated herein by reference.
Continuations (1)
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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