Jeffrey H Golowner

US Patent:

20100287421, Nov 11, 2010

Filed:

May 5, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/435516

Inventors:

Jeffrey H. Golowner - Great Neck NY, US
Gerhard F. Meyer - Oceanside NY, US

Assignee:

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G06F 11/07

US Classification:

714 55, 714E11025, 714 48

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for train control utilizing virtual lock stepping are disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, an improved method of train control utilizes identical software applications executing on redundant processors. The redundant processors are maintained in virtual lock step to ensure the safety integrity of the overall system being controlled. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, one software process is a master and one software process is a slave. The master and the slave both independently execute application logic based upon detected events (e.g., input data, etc.). In order to ensure that any anomalies that might result in a hazard are detected in the timeliest manner, and that false anomalies are minimized, the redundant software processes must process the same event within a specified time frame.