	US 7,596,433 B2
	System and method for computing rail car switching solutions in a switchyard with partially occupied classification track selection logic
Kari Muinonen, Roxboro (Canada); Anshu Pathak, Dollard-des-Ormeaux (Canada); Matthew Barker, Sherwood Park (Canada); Vincent Morency, Montreal (Canada); and Gordon Doyle, Markham (Canada)
Assigned to Canadian National Railway Company, Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/388,062.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/754601, filed on Dec. 30, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0156308 A1, Jul. 05, 2007
Int. Cl. G06F 7/00 (2006.01); G06F 17/00 (2006.01); B61L 17/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 701—19 [701/1; 246/2 R; 246/167; 246/176; 246/182; 246/219; 246/220; 705/7; 705/8]

25 Claims

1. A method for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard containing a plurality of classification tracks wherein a first classification track holds a first train block and a second classification track holds a second train block, said method comprising:

a) computing with a computing entity an available space in the first classification track for receiving cars from a third train block that is different from the first and second train blocks;

b) computing with the computing entity available space in the second classification track for receiving cars from the third train block;

c) using the computed available space in the first classification track and in the second classification track as a factor in selecting among the first and the second classification tracks for holding cars that belong to the third train block;

d) computing switching solutions for cars of the third block on the basis of the selecting;

e) releasing data conveying one or more of the car switching solutions.