SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING IN A VEHICLE CONSIST

A system and method communicate a command message from a lead vehicle in a vehicle consist having remote vehicles and the lead vehicle. The command message includes a directive for controlling operations of the remote vehicles. The command message is received at the remote vehicles and reply messages are communicated in response thereto. The reply messages include statuses of the remote vehicles. Responsive to determining that the lead vehicle does not receive the reply message from one or more of the remote vehicles, the statuses of the one or more remote vehicles from which the reply messages are not received at the lead vehicle are sent and/or combined into an individual or concatenated relayed message. The individual or concatenated relayed messages are communicated to the lead vehicle such that the lead vehicle receives the statuses of the one or more remote vehicles. 106C 108B 108A 106B 106A 104 Operate and wait for message 202 Communicate command message 204 Receive No command message at remote vehicle? Yes Communicate reply message 208 Receive reply message from remote vehicle(s) 210 Store status and identity 212 Receive Yes reply message from all/designated number of remote vehicles at lead vehicle? No