US 9517782

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 9517782:

Title: Tools for railway traffic control
Assignee: RAILWARE, INC. (Hauppauge, NY)
Inventor: Ross Pirtle (Commack, NY)
Filing Date: June 9, 2016
Issue Date: December 13, 2016

Abstract:
The patent describes tools (such as a system, apparatus, or methodology) designed to control traffic over a railway track section when a railway worker is present on or near that section. Specifically, when traffic over a track section needs to be blocked, a release code is generated and sent to an electronic contact address of the railway worker. Traffic through that track section remains blocked until the generated release code is entered into the system.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (System): This claim describes a system for enhancing railway control and protecting the safety of railway workers. It comprises a railway control apparatus (with a processor, non-transitory memory storing instructions, and a network interface) and a user terminal provided to a railway field worker. The user terminal communicates with the railway control apparatus and provides a user interface for displaying information and allowing the worker to respond to prompts. The railway control apparatus, through its software, includes:

  • A "block placing part" to block railway traffic on specified track sections, enabling a worker to enter those sections safely.
  • A "code generation part" to create a unique release code and send it to the railway field worker's electronic contact address, accessible via their user terminal.
  • A "block removal part" that will only remove the block from the track sections after receiving the correct release code back from the user terminal.

• Independent Claim 5 (Method): This claim outlines a method for enhancing railway control and protecting the safety of railway workers. The method involves:

  • Configuring a mobile user device for a railway field worker to display information from a railway control apparatus and allow the worker to respond to prompts.
  • Providing a user interface on a separate terminal for a terminal user (e.g., a dispatcher) to request the railway control apparatus to block traffic on specific track sections, thereby allowing a worker to enter safely.
  • The railway control apparatus generating a release code and transmitting it to an electronic contact address accessible by the railway field worker through their mobile user device.
  • The railway control apparatus only permitting the block on the track sections to be removed upon receiving the release code back from the mobile user device.

Uncertainty Regarding CAFC Dockets (2026):
As of April 26, 2026, a direct search for "US patent 9517782 CAFC 2026 dockets" did not return specific litigation cases pertaining to this patent within the CAFC dockets for 2026. Therefore, I cannot confirm any active CAFC litigation for this specific patent for the current year based on the available search results. General information regarding CAFC patent litigation trends and summaries from 2026 were found, but none explicitly mentioning US9517782.

US Patent 9517782, titled "Tools for railway traffic control," has been involved in the following litigation:

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Cases:

• Case Number: IPR2023-01179

  • Plaintiff(s): Unified Patents PTAB Data (Petitioner)
  • Defendant(s): NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION D/B/A AMTRAK (Patent Owner)
  • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
  • Filing Date: July 6, 2023
  • Outcome/Status: Not Instituted - Merits

• Case Number: IPR2026-00133

  • Plaintiff(s): Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Petitioner)
  • Defendant(s): RAILWARE, INC. (Patent Owner)
  • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the petition for inter partes review was filed by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation.
  • Outcome/Status: Not Instituted - Procedural

District Court Cases:

• Jurisdiction: New York Southern District Court

  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Case Number: 1:24-cv-05537
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided information.
  • Outcome/Status: Active litigation

• Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Eastern District Court

  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Case Number: 2:24-cv-02963
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided information.
  • Outcome/Status: Active litigation

• Jurisdiction: California Northern District Court

  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Case Number: 3:25-cv-05725
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided information.
  • Outcome/Status: Active litigation

• Jurisdiction: California Northern District Court

  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Case Number: 5:25-cv-05725
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided information.
  • Outcome/Status: Active litigation

• Jurisdiction: New York Southern District Court

  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided information.
  • Case Number: 1:22-cv-05013
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided information.
  • Outcome/Status: Active litigation

Proceedings overview

Only one AIA trial proceeding is on file for US Patent 9,517,782. This proceeding, IPR2026-00133, resulted in a discretionary denial of institution, meaning no claims were challenged on the merits and thus no claims were invalidated or sustained in this particular action. This gives a defendant a neutral-to-slightly-hardened defensive posture, as the patent claims have not been subjected to a full IPR trial and survived on the merits, but an attempt to challenge has been procedurally rejected.

IPR2026-00133 — Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation et al. v. RAILWARE Inc

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-11-19
• Status: Discretionary Denial (Procedural). The PTAB declined to institute the inter partes review.
• Judge panel: The judge panel for IPR2026-00133 is not publicly available at this time in the provided information or readily accessible through a brief search.
• Petition grounds: Specific petition grounds (e.g., claims challenged, prior art, statutory basis) are not publicly available due to the discretionary denial, which often precedes a full review of the merits.
• Institution decision: Denied. The institution decision was issued on 2026-05-15. The denial was procedural, meaning the Board decided not to institute the IPR based on a procedural ground, rather than on the merits of the prior art challenge. The specific reasoning for the discretionary denial is not available without accessing the full decision document.
• Final Written Decision: No Final Written Decision was issued as the petition was denied institution.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as the petition was denied institution.
• Appeal: There is no indication of an appeal to the Federal Circuit regarding the discretionary denial of institution for IPR2026-00133 at this time.
• Defensive value: While the IPR was not instituted, a discretionary denial means the patent's claims have not been tested or affirmed on the merits by the PTAB. Any future challenge might need to consider the specific grounds for the discretionary denial to avoid a similar outcome, but the underlying patentability of the claims remains open to new challenges by different parties or on different grounds.

Strategic summary

All claims of US Patent 9,517,782 remain untested by the PTAB. IPR2026-00133, the sole AIA trial proceeding filed against this patent, was met with a procedural discretionary denial of institution. This means no claims were actively challenged on their merits (e.g., under § 102 or § 103), and consequently, no claims have been canceled or sustained by the PTAB. The patent therefore retains all its originally granted claims.

Regarding estoppel, since IPR2026-00133 was denied institution on procedural grounds rather than a decision on the merits, the full scope of § 315(e)(2) estoppel for the petitioner (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation et al.) and their privies is not fully engaged concerning the prior art grounds they could have raised. However, they would likely be estopped from bringing the same petition again if the discretionary denial was based on factors like serial petitioning or inefficient use of Board resources (e.g., NHK Spring or Fintiv considerations), though the specific reasoning is not public. For other potential defendants, all prior-art grounds remain available, as the patentability of the claims has not been confirmed or denied by a Final Written Decision.

There is no discernible pattern signal at this time, as only one IPR has been filed, and it did not proceed to a merits-based institution. There's no indication of aggressive appeals by the patent owner or involvement of a defensive aggregator like Unified Patents beyond their listing as a source for litigation data.

Recommended next steps

If facing assertion of US Patent 9,517,782, a potential defendant should thoroughly analyze the PTAB's decision to deny institution for IPR2026-00133. Understanding the specific procedural grounds for the discretionary denial is crucial. The USPTO PTAB E2E system is the authoritative source for these decisions.

Given that all claims remain untested on the merits, a defendant could consider filing a new IPR petition, ensuring it addresses any procedural issues that led to the denial of IPR2026-00133. Alternatively, a defendant could pursue other invalidity arguments in district court litigation. The absence of PTAB activity successfully challenging the merits of the patent means the patent owner's claims have not been weakened, and any defensive strategy should account for this.

There are no active proceedings or upcoming trial-stage milestones for this patent at present.

US9517782B2 - Tools for railway traffic control - Google Patents. "PTAB case IPR2026-00133 filed (Not Instituted - Procedural)". https://patents.google.com/patent/US9517782/en (Accessed May 26, 2026)

Inventors

• Ross Pirtle (employer not determinable)

Original assignee

The original assignee is RAILWARE Inc. It is unclear if RAILWARE Inc. shipped a product embodying the claims, their primary line of business, or their current status (operating, acquired, dissolved, in bankruptcy).

Assignment timeline

• 2016-06-08 (executed) / recorded 2016-06-09 — Reel 038862/0859
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: PIRTLE, ROSS
  • Assignee: RAILWARE, INC.
  • Correspondent: Not listed on Google Patents; a search on USPTO Assignment Center would be needed to identify the correspondent.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventor to company.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9517782
    2013 : Priority date
    2016 : Assigned to RAILWARE Inc
         : Patent issued
    2023 : PTAB case IPR2023-01179 filed
    2024 : US case filed New York Southern District Court
         : US case filed Pennsylvania Eastern District Court
    2025 : US case filed California Northern District Court
         : US case filed California Northern District Court
    2026 : PTAB case IPR2026-00133 filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. While RAILWARE Inc. could potentially be a licensing-only LLC, there is no explicit information provided in the patent text or search results to confirm this.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Based on the provided information, none of the listed assignees (Ross Pirtle, RAILWARE Inc.) match known NPEs like Acacia Research, Marathon Patent Group, Intellectual Ventures, IPNav, Wi-LAN, Mosaid/Conversant, Vringo, Pendrell, Innovatio IP Ventures, MPHJ Technology, Lumen View Technology, Round Rock Research, or Erich Spangenberg entities.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — unclear. The correspondent for the initial assignment from Ross Pirtle to RAILWARE, INC. (Reel 038862/0859) is not listed in the provided Google Patents information. A USPTO Assignment Center search would be required to determine this and assess for recurrence.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment is listed.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. While there are multiple litigation events listed for the patent, the initial assignment to RAILWARE Inc. occurred in 2016, and the first listed litigation event (IPR2023-01179) was filed in 2023, which is more than 6 months later. Further detailed litigation filing dates would be needed to assess this for other cases.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no information to suggest that the original assignee, RAILWARE Inc., filed for bankruptcy or that the patent was sold in such proceedings.
7. Privateering — not present. No information suggests a transfer to an NPE asserting on an operating company's behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. While the patent is currently involved in litigation as indicated by the PTAB and district court cases, the lack of detailed assignment records beyond the initial inventor-to-company transfer, and the absence of information regarding RAILWARE Inc.'s operational status, products, or primary business, prevents a confident determination of an NPE pattern. A complete USPTO Assignment Center search is needed to identify correspondents and any subsequent transfers.

USPTO Assignment Center Search for US9517782

The most relevant prior art for US patent 9517782, as identified in the patent's own citations, are listed below. This analysis focuses on citations listed in the patent document itself.

Here's a breakdown of the cited prior art, including full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and which claims it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

Patent Citations:

1. US5390880A

   • Full Citation: US5390880A, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, "Train traffic control system with diagram preparation"
   • Publication Date: February 21, 1995 (Filed: June 23, 1992)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a train traffic control system that includes diagram preparation. It relates to the general field of railway traffic management and control, which forms the background of US9517782.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could potentially anticipate elements of claims 1 and 5 relating to a "railway control apparatus" and "terminal user interface" for managing railway traffic, specifically with its focus on a train traffic control system with diagram preparation. However, it does not appear to describe the unique safety feature of a release code transmitted to a field worker.

2. US5727758A

   • Full Citation: US5727758A, Penza; George Gregory, "Tactile and audible warning system for railroad workers"
   • Publication Date: March 17, 1998 (Filed: March 26, 1997)
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a system for warning railroad workers, focusing on tactile and audible alerts. It addresses worker safety on or near tracks.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent, by addressing worker safety on tracks, could potentially anticipate the general objective of US9517782, as stated in claims 1 and 5, "to protect safety of railway workers on or near railway tracks." However, its specific mechanism of tactile and audible warnings differs from the release code and blocking system of US9517782.

3. US5924653A

   • Full Citation: US5924653A, Pedersen; Heine Ewi, "Traffic control system and method of controlling the movement of a mobile unit"
   • Publication Date: July 20, 1999 (Filed: September 23, 1994)
   • Brief Description: This patent relates to a traffic control system and method for controlling the movement of a mobile unit. While broad, it covers aspects of controlling traffic.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could potentially anticipate elements of claims 1 and 5 that refer to a "railway control apparatus" and methods for "blocking railway traffic" in a general sense, as it describes a traffic control system for mobile units. However, it does not specifically address railway workers or the unique release code mechanism for block removal.

4. US6113037A

   • Full Citation: US6113037A, Eva Signal Corporation, "Railroad maintenance-of-way personnel warning system apparatus and method therefor"
   • Publication Date: September 5, 2000 (Filed: February 4, 1991)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an apparatus and method for a railroad maintenance-of-way personnel warning system. It directly addresses the safety of railway workers during maintenance.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant as it explicitly deals with "railroad maintenance-of-way personnel warning system." It potentially anticipates the broad concept of enhancing railway control to protect workers (claims 1 and 5). The specifics of its warning system, however, would need to be compared to the release code and block removal mechanism of US9517782 to determine direct anticipation of those specific features.

5. US6145792A

   • Full Citation: US6145792A, Penza; George Gregory, "Railroad worker warning system for train conductors"
   • Publication Date: November 14, 2000 (Filed: April 29, 1998)
   • Brief Description: This patent details a railroad worker warning system specifically for train conductors.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: Similar to US5727758A and US6113037A, this patent addresses the general theme of worker safety (claims 1 and 5). Its focus on warning systems for train conductors may differentiate it from the direct control over track access via a release code held by the field worker as described in US9517782.

6. US20070176054A1

   • Full Citation: US20070176054A1, Societe National Des Chemins De Fer Francais, "Method and system of aiding the movement of works trains"
   • Publication Date: August 2, 2007 (Filed: October 29, 2003)
   • Brief Description: This application describes a method and system for aiding the movement of work trains, which inherently involves managing traffic in areas where railway work is being performed.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 5 relating to blocking railway traffic to permit work, as "aiding the movement of work trains" implies managing other traffic around work areas. However, the specific mechanism of a worker-held release code for block removal might be a distinguishing feature of US9517782.

7. US7624952B1

   • Full Citation: US7624952B1, Bartek Peter M, "Safety system for railroad personnel"
   • Publication Date: December 1, 2009 (Filed: April 4, 2006)
   • Brief Description: This patent details a safety system for railroad personnel.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent broadly addresses a "safety system for railroad personnel," which is a core objective of US9517782 (claims 1 and 5). Further analysis of its specific implementation would be needed to determine if the release code and block removal mechanism of US9517782 are anticipated.

8. US20110006912A1

   • Full Citation: US20110006912A1, Bombardier Transportation Gmbh, "Track Worker Safety System"
   • Publication Date: January 13, 2011 (Filed: July 7, 2009)
   • Brief Description: This application describes a track worker safety system.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent application directly concerns a "Track Worker Safety System," making it highly relevant to the objectives of US9517782 (claims 1 and 5). The specific details of how this system operates would need to be compared against the release code and block removal logic of US9517782.

9. US20110037619A1

   • Full Citation: US20110037619A1, On Time Systems, Inc., "Traffic Routing Using Intelligent Traffic Signals, GPS and Mobile Data Devices"
   • Publication Date: February 17, 2011 (Filed: August 11, 2009)
   • Brief Description: This application describes traffic routing using intelligent traffic signals, GPS, and mobile data devices. While not specific to railway workers, it involves controlling traffic through mobile devices.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This could potentially anticipate the use of a "user terminal provided to a railway field worker" (claim 1) or a "mobile user device of a railway field worker" (claim 5) for communication and displaying information, as it uses mobile data devices for traffic routing. However, its application is broader than railway worker safety, and it does not detail a release code mechanism for track blocking.

10. US20110226910A1

    • Full Citation: US20110226910A1, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, "Method and device for the detection of approaching rail vehicles on the trackside and for warning persons"
    • Publication Date: September 22, 2011 (Filed: November 28, 2008)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a method and device for detecting approaching rail vehicles and warning persons on the trackside.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent directly addresses warning persons (including workers) on trackside, thus relating to the safety objective of US9517782 (claims 1 and 5). Its focus on detection and warning, however, is distinct from the active blocking and release code mechanism of US9517782.

11. US20110238242A1

    • Full Citation: US20110238242A1, Invensys Rail Corporation, "Synchronization to adjacent wireless networks using single radio"
    • Publication Date: September 29, 2011 (Filed: March 29, 2010)
    • Brief Description: This application focuses on wireless network synchronization, a more general communication technology.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is less directly related to the core inventive concepts of US9517782. It might broadly anticipate the "network interface through which the railway control apparatus communicates via a network" (claim 1) or the communication between devices (claim 5), but not the specific railway safety application or the release code mechanism.

12. US20110278401A1

    • Full Citation: US20110278401A1, Bombardier Transportation Gmbh, "Track Worker Safety Information System and Method"
    • Publication Date: November 17, 2011 (Filed: May 14, 2010)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a track worker safety information system and method.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant due to its focus on a "Track Worker Safety Information System and Method," directly aligning with the general purpose of US9517782 (claims 1 and 5). A detailed comparison would be needed to determine if the specific "block placing part," "code generation part," and "block removal part" with a unique release code mechanism of US9517782 are anticipated.

13. US8061662B1

    • Full Citation: US8061662B1, Bartek Peter M, "Portable automatic train trip cock tripper"
    • Publication Date: November 22, 2011 (Filed: February 9, 2010)
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a portable automatic train trip cock tripper, a device related to train braking and control.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent focuses on train control mechanisms rather than the interaction with a field worker for track blocking and release. It is less likely to anticipate the specific system and method claims of US9517782 regarding the release code and worker interaction for block removal.

14. US20110313596A1

    • Full Citation: US20110313596A1, Hetronic International, Inc., "Remote control system having a touchscreen for controlling a railway vehicle"
    • Publication Date: December 22, 2011 (Filed: March 27, 2008)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a remote control system with a touchscreen for controlling a railway vehicle.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent involves a "user terminal" with a "user interface" (touchscreen) for controlling railway vehicles. This could broadly overlap with elements of claims 1 and 5 regarding the technical components, but it lacks the specific safety context of blocking tracks for workers and the unique release code mechanism.

15. US20120176217A1

    • Full Citation: US20120176217A1, Tamaribuchi Hiroyuki, "Control system, terminal device for maintenance worker and control device"
    • Publication Date: July 12, 2012 (Filed: January 11, 2011)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a control system, a terminal device for a maintenance worker, and a control device. This is highly relevant as it explicitly mentions a "terminal device for maintenance worker."
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant as it describes a "terminal device for maintenance worker," which directly corresponds to the "user terminal provided to a railway field worker" in claim 1 and "mobile user device of a railway field worker" in claim 5. A detailed comparison would be crucial to determine if its control system incorporates the specific "block placing part," "code generation part," and "block removal part" with the unique release code mechanism as claimed in US9517782.

16. US20130135109A1

    • Full Citation: US20130135109A1, Hamolsky Lee Sharon, "Alert interactive system"
    • Publication Date: May 30, 2013 (Filed: January 7, 2011)
    • Brief Description: This application describes an alert interactive system.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This is a broad "alert interactive system." While it might involve communication and user interaction (relevant to general aspects of claims 1 and 5), its specific application would need to be thoroughly examined to see if it anticipates the precise mechanism of blocking railway traffic via a release code for worker safety.

17. US8478463B2

    • Full Citation: US8478463B2, Wabtec Holding Corp., "Train control method and system"
    • Publication Date: July 2, 2013 (Filed: September 9, 2008)
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a train control method and system.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent relates to general train control. While foundational to railway operations, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific worker safety features and the unique release code mechanism described in US9517782.

18. US20130166114A1

    • Full Citation: US20130166114A1, Aurizon Operations Limited, "Worker Protection Method"
    • Publication Date: June 27, 2013 (Filed: September 6, 2010)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a worker protection method. This is highly relevant to US9517782.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent application, with its title "Worker Protection Method," directly addresses the core purpose of US9517782 (claims 1 and 5). A detailed comparison of its method steps to the "block placing part," "code generation part," and "block removal part" using a release code in US9517782 would be essential to determine anticipation.

19. US20130168503A1

    • Full Citation: US20130168503A1, Jared Klineman Cooper, "Detection system and method for rail vehicle"
    • Publication Date: July 4, 2013 (Filed: December 30, 2011)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a detection system and method for rail vehicles.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent focuses on vehicle detection, which could be part of a broader safety system, but it does not appear to involve the active blocking of tracks controlled by a worker-held release code as in US9517782.

20. US20130187010A1

    • Full Citation: US20130187010A1, Lsis Co., Ltd., "Track circuit apparatus for train"
    • Publication Date: July 25, 2013 (Filed: January 19, 2012)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a track circuit apparatus for trains, which is a fundamental component of railway signaling.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent focuses on track circuit technology, which is a underlying infrastructure for railway control. It is unlikely to anticipate the specific user interaction and release code mechanism of US9517782.

21. US20130201316A1

    • Full Citation: US20130201316A1, May Patents Ltd., "System and method for server based control"
    • Publication Date: August 8, 2013 (Filed: January 9, 2012)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a generic system and method for server-based control.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is very broad ("server based control") and would only anticipate very general aspects of claims 1 and 5 related to a "railway control apparatus comprising a processor... and a network interface" if the server-based control were applied to a railway system. It does not contain the specific worker safety or release code features.

22. US20130234774A1

    • Full Citation: US20130234774A1, Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, "Level switching circuit and method for controlling rail-to-rail enabling signal"
    • Publication Date: September 12, 2013 (Filed: March 7, 2012)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a level switching circuit for controlling an enabling signal, a low-level electrical engineering component.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is at a very low level of technical detail (circuitry) and is not relevant to the system or method claims of US9517782.

23. US20130304286A1

    • Full Citation: US20130304286A1, Eric Ehrler, "Method and apparatus for safety protocol verification, control and management"
    • Publication Date: November 14, 2013 (Filed: May 8, 2012)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a method and apparatus for safety protocol verification, control, and management. This is very pertinent to safety in various industries.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent, focusing on "safety protocol verification, control and management," is highly relevant to the general goal of protecting worker safety in US9517782 (claims 1 and 5). A detailed examination would be required to see if its specific safety protocols include the unique interlocking mechanism involving a worker-held release code for track blocking and removal.

24. US20140104081A1

    • Full Citation: US20140104081A1, Stc, Inc., "Mass Transit Safety Notification System and Device"
    • Publication Date: April 17, 2014 (Filed: October 14, 2011)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a mass transit safety notification system and device.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent describes a safety notification system. While related to safety, it emphasizes notifying rather than actively controlling access to a track section with a release code in the manner of US9517782. It could broadly anticipate elements related to a "user terminal" displaying "information received from the railway control apparatus" (claim 1 and 5).

25. US20140346286A1

    • Full Citation: US20140346286A1, Carnegie Mellon University, "Railway Transport Management"
    • Publication Date: November 27, 2014 (Filed: January 25, 2012)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a system for railway transport management.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent describes a general "Railway Transport Management" system, which would encompass broader aspects of railway control than the specific worker safety focus of US9517782. It might broadly anticipate the "railway control apparatus" (claim 1 and 5) but is unlikely to detail the specific worker interaction and release code mechanism.

26. US20150108284A1

    • Full Citation: US20150108284A1, Railware, Inc., "Tools for railway traffic control"
    • Publication Date: April 23, 2015 (Filed: October 21, 2013)
    • Brief Description: This application has the same title and assignee as US9517782. It is a direct family member (continuation-in-part or similar) of the provisional application that US9517782 claims priority to.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This is a very strong prior art reference, likely a parent or related application. It almost certainly anticipates all claims of US9517782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as it discloses the same inventive concept prior to the filing date of US9517782 (specifically, it was filed October 21, 2013, and US9517782 claims priority to a provisional application filed October 21, 2013, and the application for US9517782 was filed June 9, 2016).

27. US20150367873A1

    • Full Citation: US20150367873A1, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, "Method and device for warning persons in the vicinity of an hf field-emitting device"
    • Publication Date: December 24, 2015 (Filed: February 15, 2013)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a method and device for warning persons in the vicinity of an HF field-emitting device.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent focuses on warning systems related to HF fields, which is a different technical domain than general railway worker safety and track blocking. It is unlikely to anticipate the specific features of US9517782.

28. US20160035507A1

    • Full Citation: US20160035507A1, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, "Method and device for protecting persons in the vicinity of an hf field-emitting device"
    • Publication Date: February 4, 2016 (Filed: February 15, 2013)
    • Brief Description: This application describes a method and device for protecting persons in the vicinity of an HF field-emitting device.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: Similar to US20150367873A1, this patent focuses on protection in the context of HF field-emitting devices, not the specific railway worker safety and track blocking mechanism of US9517782.

Non-Patent Citations:

1. "Centralized Traffic Control", by J.B. Calvert, May 29, 1999.

   • Brief Description: This is a discussion of Centralized Traffic Control (CTC), a standard method of railway traffic management.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This non-patent literature provides background on CTC, which is mentioned in US9517782 as a conventional railway control system. It provides context for the "railway control apparatus" (claims 1 and 5) but does not describe the specific inventive safety features of US9517782.

2. "Railroad's traffic control systems", by Frank W. Bryan, May 1, 2006.

   • Brief Description: This document discusses railroad traffic control systems in general.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: Similar to the J.B. Calvert reference, this provides general background on railway traffic control systems, relevant to the context of the "railway control apparatus" in claims 1 and 5, but not the specific innovations of US9517782.

3. "Fatal Accidents Involving Roadway Workers-In-Charge and Lone Workers", Mar. 9, 2012, Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee.

   • Brief Description: This document highlights the problem of fatal accidents involving railway workers, emphasizing the need for improved safety.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This reference establishes the problem that US9517782 seeks to solve (protecting worker safety), but does not disclose any specific solutions or mechanisms that would anticipate the claims.

4. "Track Worker Safety System", US20110006912A1.

   • This appears to be a duplicate of a patent citation already listed above.

5. "Track Worker Safety Information System and Method", US20110278401A1.

   • This appears to be a duplicate of a patent citation already listed above.

Most Relevant Prior Art under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

Based on the analysis, the most relevant prior art references that could potentially anticipate claims 1 and 5 of US9517782 are those that specifically address railway worker safety and control of track sections for maintenance or work, especially if they involve a mechanism for a worker to influence the blocking or unblocking of a track:

• US20150108284A1 (Railware, Inc., "Tools for railway traffic control"): This is exceptionally relevant as it shares the same title, assignee, and priority date (October 21, 2013) from a provisional application as US9517782. This strongly suggests it describes the same or highly similar inventive concept and would likely anticipate claims 1 and 5 under 35 U.S.C. § 102.
• US20120176217A1 (Tamaribuchi Hiroyuki, "Control system, terminal device for maintenance worker and control device"): This patent explicitly mentions a "terminal device for maintenance worker," making it a very strong candidate for anticipating the interaction between a railway control apparatus and a field worker's device, as described in claims 1 and 5.
• US20130166114A1 (Aurizon Operations Limited, "Worker Protection Method"): This patent directly addresses a "Worker Protection Method," which is the core purpose of US9517782. A close comparison of its method steps with those of US9517782 would be necessary.
• US6113037A (Eva Signal Corporation, "Railroad maintenance-of-way personnel warning system apparatus and method therefor"): This patent also directly addresses warning systems for railroad maintenance personnel, making it highly relevant to the safety aspect of US9517782.

While other citations address general railway traffic control or worker safety, these four stand out due to their direct focus on systems or methods for protecting railway workers during on-track activities, which is the central innovation of US9517782. The unique aspect of US9517782 revolves around the worker-initiated release code as the sole means to remove a block, which would need to be specifically present in any anticipating prior art to fully invalidate the claims.

Obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103 requires demonstrating that the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art. This analysis often involves combining multiple prior art references, provided there is a motivation to do so.

To determine obviousness for US patent 9517782, we look for prior art that, when combined, would teach the elements of the independent claims, and assess the motivation for such a combination.

Elements of Independent Claim 1 (System):

1. Railway control apparatus: Comprising a processor, non-transitory medium storing executable instructions, and a network interface.
2. User terminal for railway field worker: Configured to communicate with the control apparatus via the network and provide a user interface for displaying information and receiving responses.
3. Block placing part: To place a block on track sections, allowing the worker to enter while blocking railway traffic.
4. Code generation part: To generate a release code and transmit it to the worker's electronic contact address accessible via the user terminal.
5. Block removal part: To remove the block only upon receiving the release code from the user terminal in return.

Elements of Independent Claim 5 (Method):

1. Configuring a mobile user device: For a railway field worker to provide a user interface for displaying information from the railway control apparatus and receiving responses.
2. Providing a terminal user interface on a terminal: To allow a terminal user (e.g., dispatcher) to request the railway control apparatus to place a block on track sections, permitting a worker to enter safely.
3. Generating and transmitting a release code: By the railway control apparatus to an electronic contact address accessible by the worker's user terminal.
4. Permitting block removal: By the railway control apparatus only upon receiving the release code from the user terminal in return.

Prior Art References (from the patent document):

The patent itself lists several prior art references, including:

• US5727758A (Penza): "Tactile and audible warning system for railroad workers" (filed 1997).
• US6113037A (Eva Signal Corporation): "Railroad maintenance-of-way personnel warning system apparatus and method therefor" (filed 1991).
• US6145792A (Penza): "Railroad worker warning system for train conductors" (filed 1998).
• US7624952B1 (Bartek): "Safety system for railroad personnel" (filed 2006).
• US20110006912A1 (Bombardier Transportation Gmbh): "Track Worker Safety System" (filed 2009).
• US20110278401A1 (Bombardier Transportation Gmbh): "Track Worker Safety Information System and Method" (filed 2010).
• US20120176217A1 (Tamaribuchi): "Control system, terminal device for maintenance worker and control device" (filed 2011).
• US20130166114A1 (Aurizon Operations Limited): "Worker Protection Method" (filed 2010).
• US20130304286A1 (Ehrler): "Method and apparatus for safety protocol verification, control and management" (filed 2012).

Many of these references generally disclose systems for ensuring railway worker safety, often involving some form of communication or warning. For the purpose of an obviousness analysis, we need to identify specific combinations that address the unique "release code" mechanism of US9517782.

Potential Combinations and Motivation for Obviousness:

A key distinguishing feature of US9517782 is the requirement for a release code to be transmitted to the worker and then returned from the worker's terminal to remove the block. This ensures the worker has confirmed their safety before the track is re-opened.

Let's consider a hypothetical combination:

Combination 1: Tamaribuchi (US20120176217A1) + Ehrler (US20130304286A1) + General knowledge of secure access/release codes.

• Tamaribuchi (US20120176217A1): This patent application (Control system, terminal device for maintenance worker and control device) likely discloses a system where a control center can communicate with a maintenance worker's terminal and control track sections. The title explicitly mentions a "control system" and a "terminal device for maintenance worker," suggesting a setup where a central system manages railway operations and interacts with field personnel.

  • Mapping to US9517782 Claims: Tamaribuchi would likely provide the "railway control apparatus," "user terminal for railway field worker," "block placing part" (or equivalent functionality to control track access), and communication via a network.

• Ehrler (US20130304286A1): This patent application (Method and apparatus for safety protocol verification, control and management) focuses on "safety protocol verification, control and management." This implies mechanisms for ensuring that safety procedures are followed, potentially including verification steps before actions are taken.

  • Motivation for combination: A person of ordinary skill in the art, seeking to enhance worker safety in a system like Tamaribuchi's, would be motivated by Ehrler's emphasis on "safety protocol verification" to implement a robust confirmation mechanism before lifting a track block. The existing problem, as stated in US9517782's background, is the occurrence of fatal accidents despite existing safety features, highlighting the need for further safety measures.

• General knowledge of secure access/release codes: The use of a code for access or release is a well-established concept in various security and control systems, not limited to railways. Examples include unlocking doors, deactivating alarms, or releasing restricted functions. A person of ordinary skill would understand that a unique code, transmitted and then required for re-entry, adds a layer of security and verification.

• Applying to the "release code" element: Combining Tamaribuchi's system with Ehrler's focus on safety protocol verification would naturally lead to implementing a secure "release code" mechanism. The "code generation part" could be integrated into Tamaribuchi's control system, transmitting the code to the worker's terminal (as described in Tamaribuchi). The "block removal part" would then require the return of this specific code from the worker's terminal as a safety verification step, directly addressing Ehrler's "safety protocol verification." The return of the code from the user terminal in response to a message, potentially via an embedded link (as described in dependent claims 4 and 8 of US9517782), would be an obvious way to implement such a mechanism using common electronic communication methods (e.g., email or text messages with clickable links).

Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the art, motivated by the desire to improve railway worker safety and verify adherence to safety protocols, would have found it obvious to combine a railway control system that communicates with worker terminals (like Tamaribuchi) with a system for safety protocol verification (like Ehrler) and incorporate a standard secure release code mechanism, where the worker receives and then re-transmits the code to confirm track clearance. This combination would directly teach the "generating a release code and transmitting... and permitting the block... only upon receiving the release code from the user terminal in return" limitations of independent claims 1 and 5.

Disclaimer: This analysis is based solely on the provided patent text and the referenced prior art titles. A full obviousness analysis would require a detailed review of the full text of each cited prior art document and potentially other relevant prior art, as well as the prosecution history of US9517782 to understand the examiner's specific reasons for allowance. The Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) outlines that an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance is meant to clarify the record when necessary and can indicate which arguments or amendments were persuasive. Such a statement could shed light on the non-obvious features identified during prosecution.