Synchronization and positioning of seismic data acquisition systems

A seismic survey network comprising a plurality of data processing modules and a central recording unit;

• a first portion of said data processing modules including seismic data acquisition modules having a first clock means and an assisted global positioning system (GPS) receiver;
• said central recording unit having a second clock means and a master global positioning system (GPS) receiver;
• each of said data acquisition modules having one or more seismic sensors with respective specific identities operatively connected thereto for transmission of seismic data to the respective data acquisition module;
• a communication network connected among said data processing modules and said central recording unit linking said master GPS receiver and said assisted GPS receivers, said master GPS receiver transmitting to said assisted GPS receiver over said communication network satellite tracking assistance data and current best-estimate data of said assisted GPS receiver location;
• said assisted GPS receiver transmitting to said master GPS receiver for processing and storage, over said communication network, satellite data collected by said assisted GPS receiver, said data acquisition modules having operational programs to convert instants of seismic data values at selected time intervals to signal transmissions in the form of digital seismic data packets that are respectively distinguished by the time of the first clock means at the instant that respective seismic data is received by a particular data acquisition module;
• seismic data packets generated by said particular data acquisition module being transmitted along said communication network for receipt and re-transmission by at least one other data processing module prior to receipt by said central recording unit, said central recording unit having means to transmit master clock synchronization signals to said other data processing module and said other data processing module having means for re-transmission of said master clock synchronization signals along said communication network in a transmission direction opposite from said seismic data packets.