FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
Title of Application:
A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING RAILWAY LEVEL
CROSSINGS
Applicant:
TATA Consultancy Services Limited A company Incorporated in India under The Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Nirmal Building, 9th Floor,
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021,
Maharashtra, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION
This application generally relates to a system and method for managing railway crossings. More particularly the application relates to a system and method for managing a manned or unmanned railway level crossing where alarms in forms of alerts such as SMS may be sent to people around said railway level crossing when a running train is approaching.
BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION
One of the issues involved in railway industry worldwide is ensuring the safety in railway operations in general and especially at railway level crossings. The number of fatal accidents has been significantly increasing over the years in particular at unmanned level crossings. Accidents at unmanned level crossings are the result of complex interactions between factors arising from the design and operations of level crossings. An important step towards eliminating the causes of such accidents is by providing appropriate notifications to the people around an unmanned level crossing when a running train is approaching.
At present the systems available for providing notifications regarding a train approaching a level crossing depend heavily on sensors/detectors. Generally, such sensors are placed on the rail-line track or at level crossing. There are certain available systems where the train approaching a level crossing may automatically sound the hooter/horn after detecting proximity of a level crossing. However, such a general sound alarm of a train may not to create sufficient alert, enough to avoid major accidents. Implementation and maintenance of the sensors stationed at the rail-line track or at level crossing incur high costs and thus may not be feasible. Along with this, such sensors are liable to be stolen or damaged. The prior art suggests a plurality of systems based on RF signaling, Rail line-sensors or sensors placed at the level crossing but such sensors are difficult to deploy and maintain.

In view of the aforementioned problems, there is a need for a managing system and method for railway crossing that may automatically trigger an alert notification using an inexpensive computing system or any mobile computing platform that may be programmable.
Moreover, there exists a need for providing notification regarding a train approaching a level crossing using cheaper and widely available means. Mobile communication network may be utilized in such a scenario as the mobile communication networks have reached almost all corners of the world and mobile phones are available to almost all the people.
In order to solve the above mentioned problems, the present application broadly proposes a method and system for sending personal alarms in form of an SMS or the like on the mobile phones that may be within a pre determined range of an unmanned level crossing. Further, the present application does not require any costly hardware to be maintained at said unmanned level crossing.
Other features and advantages of the present application will be explained in the following description of the application having reference to the appended drawings.
OBJECTIVES OF THE APPLICATION
It is a primary objective of the present application to provide a solution for managing a plurality of level crossings without any need of costly hardware to be maintained at said level crossings.
It is another objective of the application to provide a system and a related method for sending personal notifications on a plurality of mobile phones that may come within a particular range of a manned or unmanned level crossing.

Another objective of the present application is to facilitate detection of the sound of train horn assembly and thereby automatically trigger an alarm system that may be present at a level crossing, by employing an inexpensive computing system or any mobile computing platform.
Yet another objective of the present application is to facilitate triggering automatically an alarm system that may be already present at a level crossing, using an inexpensive computing system or any mobile computing platform that is programmable and may be able to receive SMS.
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION:
The present application is related to a design and implementation of an alarm system for a railway level crossing where alarms in forms of SMS or the like can be sent to people around a railway crossing where a running train is approaching. In an aspect, the railway level crossing may be an unmanned railway level crossing.
In an embodiment, the system and method of the present application may enable a train to transmit information regarding its respective position, speed, acceleration, train id and the like to a server by employing on-board sensors and utilizing an available connectivity. Such on-board sensors may be one or more dedicated devices on the train or may be a mobile phone with requisite sensors made available in the driver cabin / guard cabin of the train. The server is enabled to determine location information regarding a level crossing that is in proximity to the approaching train based on predictive analysis and level crossing position data. The server may query a plurality of servers employed by a plurality of telecom operators. By employing the location based services provided by said telecom operators, cell phones/mobile phones active in the vicinity of the level crossing may be sent a high-priority alert notification thereby notifying that a train is approaching. In another related embodiment, another alert notification ma y be sent to all mobile phones in the vicinity of the level crossing after the train has passed, notifying that the level crossing is clear. The alert notification may be a text message such as an SMS or a

push message. Further, the alert notification sent to the mobile phones in vicinity of the level crossing may be in a regional language. In an aspect, the alert notification sent to the mobile phones may be a call on the mobile phones employing an Interactive Voice response (IVR) system or an SMS based Value-added Services that may provide information about the trains that may be approaching the level crossing in vicinity of the mobile phones.
In another embodiment, the system and method of the present application may enable a train to transmit information regarding its respective position, speed, acceleration, and the like to a server by employing on-board sensors and utilizing an available connectivity. Such on-board sensors may be one or more dedicated devices on the train or may be a mobile phone with requisite sensors made available in the driver cabin / guard cabin of the train. The s erver is enabled to determine location information regarding a level crossing that is in proximity to the approaching train based on predictive analysis and level crossing position data. The server transmits the location information regarding the level crossing to the train using available connectivity. In an aspect, the server may also be enabled to transmit an alert signal to the train to generate a sound signal by the horn assembly using the available connectivity. The train may automatically sound the horn assembly upon receiving the alert signal.
In yet another embodiment, the system and method of the present application may provide an inexpensive horn sound detector unit with very low power intake at the level crossing. Such a horn sound detector unit automatically detects the train horn sound through audio signal processing. Thereupon, the horn sound detector unit may activate a level crossing alert system that may be already available at the level crossing. The level crossing alert system may produce an alert in the form of an audio alert, visual alert, barrier operation, and the like. In an aspect, the level crossing alert system may be reversed after the train has passed the corresponding level crossing.
According to an embodiment of the present application, a mobile computing platform may be employed at the railway level crossing that may be enabled to receive the SMS

sent by the server and activate the level crossing alert system to produce local alerts. In an aspect, the mobile computing platform may access a plurality of necessary sensors to monitor and report the health of the system described herein.
In an embodiment, the system may enable a plurality of trains to transmit to a server, information regarding their respective location along with one or more related sensor data such as GPS position, accelerometer, and the like at some known interval of time. The server may also have information regarding a plurality of mobile numbers in vicinity of the railway crossing. When a train is in proximity of a level crossing the server may be enabled to notify all the mobiles in the region. In an aspect, such a notification may be an SMS to said plurality of mobile numbers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the application, there is shown in the present document example constructions of the application; however, the application is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed in the document and the drawing:
Figure 1 illustrates a system for managing railway level crossings according to an embodiment of the present application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION
Some embodiments of this application, illustrating its features, will now be discussed:
The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the application, which may be embodied in various forms.
Figure 1 describes a system (100) for managing railway level crossings according to an embodiment of the present application. The system (100) may comprise of a plurality of components including but not limited to a train (101), a level crossing (105), a server (109), a plurality of servers (110) employed by a plurality of telecom operators and one or more mobile phones (111) being used by people in the vicinity of the level crossing (105). The train (101) may comprise of a plurality of on-board sensors (102). a communication unit (103) and a horn assembly (104). The on-board sensors (102) may be one or more dedicated devices on the train that are enabled to detect a plurality of factors regarding the train (101) such as the location of the train (101). Moreover, the on-board sensors (102) may be a sensing device such as an accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, and the like. Such sensory data from the on-board sensors (102) is transmitted to the communication unit (103). The communication unit (103) is enabled to receive sensory data from the on-board sensors (102), communicate with the server (109) and activate the horn assembly (104). In an aspect, the on-board sensors (102) and the communication unit (103) may be replaced by a mobile communication device that includes requisite sensors that may detect a plurality of factors regarding the train (101) and may be made available in the driver cabin / guard cabin of the train. The horn assembly (104) is an audible warning device with the primary purpose to alert people about the presence of a train, especially when the train is approaching the level crossing (105). The train (101) transmits the information regarding its respective position, speed, acceleration, and the like to the server (109) by employing on-board sensors (102) and communication unit (103) and by utilizing an available connectivity. The server (109) determines the location information regarding level crossing (105) that is in proximity to the approaching train (101) based on predictive analysis and level crossing position data that may be pre stored. The server (109) may query a plurality of servers (110) employed by telecom operators and obtain contact information regarding the cell phones/mobile phones (111) active in the vicinity of the level crossing (105). In an aspect, the server

(109) may employ the location based services provided by the telecom operators and obtain the contact information regarding the mobile phones active in the vicinity of the level crossing (105). The serve r (109) sends a high-priority alert notification to the mobile phones (111) by utilizing the contact information regarding the mobile phones (111) received from the plurality of servers (110). The alert notification thereby notifies the people in the vicinity of the level crossing (105) that a train is approaching. Alternatively, the server (109) may trigger the plurality of servers (110) employed by the telecom operators or some other servers employed by service providers to send the alert notification to the mobile phones (111). In an aspect, the alert notification message may be a SMS or a push message. Further, the alert notification message sent to the mobile phones in vicinity of the level crossing may be in a regional language. In an aspect, the alert notification sent to the mobile phones may be a call on the mobile phones employing an Interactive Voice response (IVR) system or an SMS based Value-added Services that may provide information about the trains that may be approaching the level crossing in vicinity of the mobile phones. For example, the train (101) may transmit to the server (109) that the train is running at 250 km/hand is at certain geographic coordinates. The server (109) may store the geographic coordinates of a plurality of level crossings including the level crossing (105) or alternatively may access said geographic coordinates from a storage resource maintained by the railway department. The server (109) by utilizing the information transmitted by the train and the geographic coordinates of the level crossing (105) determines the distance of the approaching train (101) and the time duration in which the train may reach the level crossing (105). Thereupon, the server (109) queries the plurality of servers (110) and obtains the contact information of the mobile phones in the vicinity of the level crossing (105). The server (109) may then send an alert notification to the mobile phones in the vicinity of the level crossing (105). Such alert notification may include the distance of the approaching train (101) and the time duration in which the train may reach the level crossing (105).
Optionally, another alert notification message may be sent to all mobile phones (111) in the vicinity of the level crossing (105) after the train (101) has passed, notifying that the

level crossing is clear. Further, a de-registration facility may also be provide for people who may not want to receive such an SMS alert.
Additionally, the server (109) upon determining the distance of the train (101) and the time duration for the train to reach the level crossing (105) may transmit the same information to the train using available connectivity. The train (101) may receive said information by employing the communication unit (103). Upon receiving the information the communication unit (103) may automatically transmit a signal to the horn assembly (104) to emit its typical sound. In an aspect, the server (109) may be enabled to transmit an alert signal to the train to sound horn using the available connectivity. The train may automatically sound the horn upon receiving the alert signal.
Further, the level crossing (105) may include a plurality of components including but not limited an inexpensive horn sound detector unit (106), an alert system (107), a mobile computing platform (108), and the like. In an aspect, the horn sound detector unit (106) may be a sound sensor with very low power intake. Moreover, the horn sound detector unit is enabled to actuate the alert system (107). The horn sound detector unit (106) automatically detects the train horn sound through audio signal processing. Thereupon, the horn sound detector unit (106) may transmit a signal to the level crossing alert system (107) that may be already available at the level crossing. In an aspect, the level crossing alert system (107) may trigger an alert in the form of an audio alert, visual alert, barrier operation, and the like in response to the signal received from the horn sound detector unit (106). In an aspect, the alert system may be reversed after the train has passed the corresponding level crossing.
The level crossing (105) may further include a mobile computing platform (108) that may be enabled to receive an alert notification or alert signal sent by the server (109). The mobile computing platform (108) upon receiving the alert notification activates the level crossing alert system (107) to produce local alerts. In an aspect, the mobile computing platform (108) may access a plurality of necessary sensors to monitor and report the health of the system described herein.

In an embodiment, the train (101) employing the horn assembly (304) may transmit one or more train status parameters by using upper audio band frequencies. Upon receiving such one or more train status parameters the horn sound detector unit (106) may decode the train status parameters embedded in the upper audio band frequencies.
In an embodiment, the system described above may enable a plurality of trains to transmit to a server, information regarding their respective location along with one or more related sensor data such as GPS position, accelerometer, and the like at some known interval of time. The server may also have information regarding a plurality of mobile numbers in vicinity of the railway crossing. When a train is in proximity of a level crossing the server may be enabled to notify all the mobiles in the region.
The methodology and techniques described with respect to the exemplary embodiments can be performed using a machine or other computing device within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.
Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other arrangements will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other arrangements may be utilized and derived there from, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this application pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit and scope.

We Claim:
1. A system (100) for managing a railway level crossing comprising a train (101), a level crossing (105), and a server (109) wherein
the train (101) transmits sensory information to the server (109) by employing one or more on-board sensors (102) and utilizing an available connectivity;
the server (109) determines the location information regarding the level crossing (105) and queries a plurality of telecommunication servers (110) for obtaining contact information regarding one or more mobile phones (111) active in the vicinity of the level crossing;
characterized in that the server (109) transmits a high-priority alert notification to the one or more mobile phones (111) for notifying that the train (101) is approaching the level crossing (105) by utilizing the sensory information received from the train (101) and the location information regarding the level crossing (105).
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the on-board sensors (102) are one or more dedicated sensors deployed on the train (101).
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the on-board sensors (102) in combination with a communication unit (103) deployed on the train (101) transmit the sensory information to the server (109).
4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the on-board sensors (102) and the communication unit (103) is a mobile device with requisite sensors.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alert notification is a text message or an SMS or a push message.
6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the alert notification is in a regional language.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alert notification sent to the mobile
phones is a call on the one or more mobile phones (111) employing an Interactive
Voice response (IVR) system or an SMS based Value-added Services.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein another alert notification may be sent to the one or more mobile phones (111) notifying that the train (101) has passed the level crossing (105).
9. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a horn assembly (104) deployed in the train (101) wherein
the server (109) transmits the location information regarding the level crossing (105) and an alert signal to the train (101) by using available connectivity;
the horn assembly (104) automatically generates a sound signal upon receiving the alert signal.
10. The system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a horn sound detector unit
(106) with very low power intake and a level crossing alert system (107) deployed
at the level crossing (105) wherein
the horn sound detector unit (106) automatically detects the sound signal generated by the horn assembly (104) and activates the level crossing alert system (107);
the level crossing alert system (107) upon activation produces an alert.
11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the train (101) employing the horn assembly (104) transmits one or more train status parameters by using upper audio band frequencies; and the horn sound detector unit (106) decodes the train status parameters embedded in the upper audio band frequencies.
12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the alert produced by the level crossing alert system (107) is in the form of an audio alert, visual alert, barrier operation.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the level crossing alert system (107) is reversed after the train (101) passes the level crossing (105) notifying that the level crossing (105) is clear.
14. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a mobile computing platform (108) deployed at the level crossing (105) wherein
the mobile computing platform (108) is enabled to receive the alert notification sent by the server (109) and is enabled to activate the level crossing alert system (107) to produce local alerts.
15. A method for managing a railway level crossing comprising
obtaining sensory information by employing one or more on-board sensors (102) deployed in a train (101);
transmitting the sensory information from the train (101) to a server (109);
determining location information regarding a level crossing (105);
querying a plurality of servers (110) employed by telecom operators for obtaining contact information regarding one or more mobile phones (111) active in the vicinity of the level crossing (105);
sending a high-priority alert notification to the one or more mobile phones (111) for notifying that the train (101) is approaching the level crossing (105) by utilizing the sensory information received from the train (101) and the location information regarding the level crossing (105).
16. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the sensory information regarding the train (101) comprise of information regarding train position, train speed, train acceleration, train id.
17. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the location information regarding the level crossing (105) is determined by utilizing predictive analysis and level crossing position data.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein contact information regarding one or more mobile phones (111) active in the vicinity of the level crossing (105) is received by the server (109) by employing location based services provided by telecom operators.
19. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein
transmitting the location information regarding the level crossing (105) and an alert signal to the train (101) by using available connectivity;
triggering a horn assembly (104) to emit its typical sound upon receiving the alert signal.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein
detecting the sound of the train horn assembly (104) and upon detection activating a level crossing alert system (107) by an inexpensive horn sound detector unit (106) with very low power intake;
triggering an alert by the level crossing alert system (107).
21. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the horn sound detector unit (106) detecting the sound of the train horn assembly (104) through audio signal processing mechanism.
22. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein
receiving the alert notification sent by the server (109) by a mobile computing platform (108) deployed at the level crossing (105);
activating the level crossing alert system (107) to produce local alerts upon receiving the alert notification.