Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for tracking reporting and recording equipment inventory on a locomotive equipped with a mobile communications package (MCP) operatively connected to on-board intelligent devices and operative to transmit and receive information to and from at least one remote base communications unit, the intelligent devices operatively connected in a local communication network, the apparatus including a processing device operative to broadcast a Query for Health Report to on-board intelligent devices and receive Health Reports Messages from on-board intelligent devices, wherein the Query for Health Report is a request for equipment identification information and the Health Report Messages are the requested equipment identification information. A database in information transmission connection with the processing device is operative to receive and store equipment identification information. A polling device periodically initiates Queries for Health Reports to the on-board intelligent devices, and the updated Health Reports are stored in a temporary information storage database. The equipment identification information in the first database is compared to the most recent equipment identification information stored in the temporary database by a comparison device which determines changes in devices on the locomotive. Finally, reporting and notifying devices in information transmission connection with the processing device report equipment on-board the locomotive and notify an operator of a change of equipment on a locomotive.

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First Claim