Wireless data acquisition system and method using self-initializing wireless modules
AssigneeWireless Seismic, Inc.
InventorsSteven Kooper, Kaim Elder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Presented are systems and methods for deploying wireless data acquisition modules that facilitate autonomous initialization. The wireless data acquisition modules may initiate a initialization process in response to a stimulus associated with being deployed. The wireless data acquisition module may further conduct a neighbor discovery process and in turn establish a data transfer path among one or more other wireless data acquisition modules. Further, information obtained during a series of autonomous tests may be communicated during the neighbor discovery process and the establishment of the data transfer path may at least in part be based on the information obtained in the autonomous tests.
Claims30
A method of enabling a seismic data acquisition module for use in a wireless array, the method comprising:
- initializing the seismic data acquisition module in response to a sensed change in orientation of the seismic data acquisition module from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the surface of the Earth;
- discovering at least one other seismic data acquisition modules in the wireless array;
- and
- establishing a data transfer path between the seismic data acquisition module and the at least one other seismic data acquisition module.
A method for deploying a plurality of seismic data acquisition modules for use in a seismic data acquisition system, comprising:
- positioning each of said plurality of seismic data acquisition modules in an array;
- initiating said plurality of seismic data acquisition modules in response to a change in orientation of each respective one of said plurality of seismic data acquisition modules from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the surface of the Earth;
- discovering at each of said plurality of seismic data acquisition modules adjacent seismic data acquisition modules;
- establishing a data transfer path between said plurality of seismic data acquisition modules;
- conducting a seismic data acquisition;
- and
- transferring seismic data via said data transfer path.
A seismic data acquisition module, comprising:
- a transceiver;
- an activation sensor capable of sensing a change in orientation of the seismic data acquisition module from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the surface of the Earth and producing an output in response to the change in orientation;
- a microprocessor in operative communication with the activation sensor and operative to interpret the output to determine if the seismic data acquisition module is in a deployed orientation;
- wherein, upon said determining the seismic data acquisition module is in the deployed orientation, the microprocessor is operative to control the transceiver to broadcast a discovery signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.