Remote area Sensor System

• US 20090027227A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Measurement Limited
• Original Assignee: Wireless Measurement Limited
• Inventors: Wilson, James Nicholas, Atherton, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,111,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/853.200
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communications system comprises a primary wireless network and at least one secondary wireless networks, the primary and secondary wireless networks differing in at least one characteristic, at least one sensor unit comprising a means for sensing a parameter and a node of that secondary network adapted to transmit data relating to the parameter via that secondary network, at least one local data gathering point associated with the at least one secondary wireless network, incorporating a node of that secondary wireless network, a node of the primary network, and a control unit adapted to receive data signals from the at least one sensor unit via the secondary network, construct an outgoing data signal incorporating information from the received data signal, and transmit the outgoing data signal via the primary network, the primary wireless network being a multipoint radio network. The primary wireless network is optimised for relatively long distance communications, of the order of 10 km, and the secondary network or networks are optimised for relatively short distance communications of the order of 100 m, the radio power of each network being different and appropriate for each transmission distance required. This means that the secondary wireless network can have a restricted power output suitable for use proximate to wellheads, with the result that the range is unlikely to be greater than 1 km. The at least one sensor can be an oil or gas wellhead pressure sensor, preferably self powered. The nodes of the primary network may contain GPS receivers, to synchronise the sensors with which the nodes communicate, and aid routing performance of the primary wireless meshing network.

Claims

1. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system comprising;

a primary wireless network and at least one secondary wireless networks, the primary and secondary wireless networks differing in at least one characteristic,

at least one sensor unit comprising a means for sensing a parameter and a node of that secondary network adapted to transmit data relating to the parameter via that secondary network;

at least one local data gathering point associated with the at least one secondary wireless network, incorporating;

a node of that secondary wireless network,

a node of the primary network, and

a control unit adapted to receive data signals from the at least one sensor unit via the secondary network, construct an outgoing data signal incorporating information from the received data signal, and transmit the outgoing data signal via the primary network;

the primary wireless network being a multipoint radio network.

2. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the outgoing data signal includes the data of the received data signal together with at least a time stamp.

3. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the at least one local data gathering point is arranged to receive instructions for the at least one sensor unit via the primary network and re-transmit the instructions to the at least one sensor unit via the secondary network.

4. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the primary wireless network has a range of at least 10 km.

5. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the at least one secondary network has a useful range of approximately 100 m.

6. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the primary wireless network has a range of at least ten times the range of the at least one secondary network.

7. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the radio power of the at least one secondary network is limited to provide a maximum range of 1 km.

8. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the at least one sensor is an oil or gas wellhead pressure sensor.

9. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the at least one sensor is self powered.

10. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 9, in which the at least one sensor is powered by an internal battery.

11. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 9, in which the at least one sensor is powered by a solar cell.

12. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 11 in which the at least one sensor has a battery back-up for the solar power source.

13. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the at least one sensor is adapted to switch off its secondary wireless network node when not in use.

14. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the at least one sensor is a video camera.

15. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the local data gathering point includes a video camera communicating with the control unit.

16. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the nodes of the primary network contain GPS receivers.

17. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 16 in which the at least one nodes of the primary network use GPS timing information to synchronise sensors with which they communicate.

18. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 16 in which the nodes of the primary network retain location information and shares this information with other nodes of the primary network to aid routing performance of the primary wireless meshing network.

19. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 18 in which the nodes of the primary network obtain the location information from the GPS receiver.

20. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which one or more nodes of the primary network are self powered.

21. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 20 in which the node(s) of the primary network are battery powered.

22. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 20 in which the nodes of the primary network are solar powered.

23. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 22 in which the nodes of the primary network have a battery back-up for the solar power source.

24. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the primary network is self-configuring.

25. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the node of the secondary wireless network is within the housing of the sensor.

26. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 25 in which the housing of the sensor encloses an aerial of the node.

27. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the sensor contains an internal data store in which sensor data is retained.

28. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which a main data gathering point is located proximate to one of mains power and communications infrastructure.

29. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 28 in which the main data gathering point includes a data storage means for retaining data prior to onward transmission or display.

30. An integrated sensor and wireless data transmission system according to claim 1 in which the characteristic that differs as between the primary and secondary wireless networks is the signal frequency.

31. (canceled)