Automated wellbore apparatus

A signal bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by a server node, performs an operation for configuring and communicating between a server node and a plurality of secondary nodes disposed on a modular downhole tool comprising, the operation comprising:

• a) detecting, by the server node, the presence of each secondary node;
• and
• b) at least one of:
• i) requesting, by the server node, information from at least one of the plurality of secondary nodes;
• and
• ii) issuing a control signal from the server node to at least one of the plurality of secondary nodes.

A downhole communications system, comprising:

• a server node, comprising:
• a) a transceiver configured to communicate with a plurality of secondary nodes;
• and
• b) a controller connected to the transceiver and configured to perform an operation, comprising:
• i) detecting the presence of the plurality of secondary nodes;
• and
• ii) at least one of:
• requesting, via the transceiver, information from at least one of the plurality of secondary nodes;
• and
• issuing, via the transceiver, a control signal to at least one of the plurality of secondary nodes.

A downhole tool, comprising:

• at least one secondary downhole tool module equipped with at least a secondary node;
• and
• a server downhole tool module releasably connected to the least one secondary downhole tool module and equipped with at least a server node communicably connected to the secondary node and configured perform an operation, comprising:
• a) detecting the presence of the secondary node;
• and
• b) at least one of:
• i) requesting information from the secondary node;
• and
• ii) issuing a control signal to the secondary node.

A method for configuring and communicating between a server node and a plurality of devices disposed on a modular downhole tool, wherein the server node is disposed on a first module of the modular downhole tool and wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is disposed on a second module of the modular downhole tool;

• and wherein the first and second modules are releasably coupled to one another, the method comprising:
• detecting, by the server, the presence of each device;
• wherein each device is configured for at least one of measuring an environmental parameter and controlling an operation the modular downhole tool;
• and
• transmitting information received from at least one of the plurality of devices to a remote location external to the downhole tool.