Seismic signal transmission system using relay radios

• US 4,815,044 A
• Filed: 06/01/1987
• Issued: 03/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole (IFP Energies Nouvelles)
• Original Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole (IFP Energies Nouvelles)
• Inventors: Oliveres, Andre, Deconinck, Bernard, Thierry, Gerard, Rialan, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Moskowitz, Nelson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US07/057,518
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 367/766, 367/77, 367/80, 455/17, 455/7, 455/21, 455/12, 340/870.12
• US Class Current: 367/77
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/223 Radioseismic systems

Abstract

A system is provided for radio transmission between a central control and recording laboratory and spaced apart acquisition boxes in which relay transmission units are used for communicating with boxes which are directly inaccessible. It includes a centralization unit adapted for managing the exchanges of orders or data from the central laboratory with directly accessible boxes by means of a radio link in a first frequency band (f2), on the one hand and with the relay units by means of a radio link in another frequency band (f1). These latter manage the radio links with the inaccessible boxes by means of radio links at a frequency (f3) distinct from (f2). The relay units and the centralization unit are programmed for automatically managing the links between the central laboratory and any one of the boxes, whether they are direct or indirect, and, on the other hand, for reserving a part of the interrogation time of each box for the transmission of service data indicative of their correct operation.

Claims

1. In a system for transmission of seismic signals to a central control and recording laboratory from two groups of data acquisition boxes, each box being adapted for collecting signals from at least one seismic receiver and for digitizing and storing said signals as data;

one of said groups being in direct radio communication with said central laboratory without passing through a radio relay unit and the other of said groups being located where radio communication with the central laboratory is only through a path which includes at least one radio relay unit;

said central laboratory including a communications centralizing unit comprising a first radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at a first frequency (f₂) for direct communication with said one group and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for operation at a second frequency (f₁) for direct communication with said radio relay unit;

said radio relay unit having a first radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at said second frequency (f₁) for direct communication with said centralizing unit and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at a third frequency (f₃) for direct communication with the other of said groups;

said communications centralizing unit further comprising a control assembly having a programmable processing means for managing the transfer of data from each of said data acquisition boxes by controlling operation of said first and second radio transmission and reception assemblies belonging to said centralizing unit; and

said radio relay unit including a control assembly with a separate programmable processing means responsive to a signal from said centralizing unit second radio transmission and reception assembly operating at said second frequency (f₁) for managing the transfer of data to the central laboratory from the data acquisition box of said other of said groups as selected by the processing means of the centralizing unit, said transfer of data between said selected data acquisition box and said radio relay unit being at said third frequency and the transfer of the same data between said radio relay unit and said centralizing unit being at said seconf frequency;

wherein each relay unit includes test signal measurement means and means for translating the test signals into signals for modulating said first frequency, the control assemblies of the centralization unit and of each relay unit being adapted for controlling the transmission of the test signals in time intervals between the data and control signal transmissions.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, including means for detecting a carrier wave signal amplitude and connection means for applying said carrier wave signals and supply voltages to be controlled to converters adapted for changing said voltages under control or the amplitudes measured into variable frequency signals.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said programmable processing means include microprocessors.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said programmable processing means include means for storing lists of acquisition boxes and access addresses to these acquisition boxes.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processing means of said centralization unit include instruction display and introduction means.

6. In a system for transmission of seismic signals to a central control and recording laboratory from two groups of data acquisition boxes, each box being adapted for collecting signals from at least one seismic receiver and for digitizing and storing said signals as data;

one of said groups being in direct radio communication with said central laboratory without passing through a radio relay unit and the other of said groups being located where radio communication with the central laboratory is only through a path which includes at least one radio relay unit;

said central laboratory including a communications centralizing unit comprising a first radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at a first frequency (f₂) for direct communication with said one group and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for operation at a second frequency (f₁) for direct communication with said radio relay unit;

said radio relay unit having a first radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at said second frequency (f₁) for direct communication with said centralizing unit and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at a third frequency (f₃) for direct communication with the other of said groups;

said communications centralizing unit further comprising a control assembly having a programmable processing means for managing the transfer of data from each of said data acquisition boxes by controlling operation of said first and second radio transmission and reception assemblies belonging to said centralizing unit; and

said radio relay unit including a control assembly with a separate programmable processing means responsive to a signal from said centralizing unit second radio transmission and reception assembly operating at said second frequency (f₁) for managing the transfer of data to the central laboratory from the data acquisition box of said other of said groups as selected by the processing means of the centralizing unit, said transfer of data between said selected data acquisition box and said radio relay unit being at said third frequency and the transfer of the same data between said radio relay unit and said centralizing unit being at said second frequency;

including programmable frequency synthesis radio transmission means.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said radio transmission means include a voltage controlled oscillator and a looped circuit including a frequency synthesizer with predivider applying to a reference frequency supplied by a quartz a division factor depending on the selection means.

8. In a system for transmission of seismic signals to a central control and recording laboratory from two groups of data acquisition boxes, each box being adapted for collecting signals from at least one seismic receiver and for digitizing and storing said signals as data;

one of said groups being in direct radio communication with said central laboratory without passing through a radio relay unit and the other of said groups being located where radio communication with the central laboratory is only through a path which includes at least one radio relay unit;

said central laboratory including a communications centralizing unit comprising a first radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at a first frequency (f₂) for direct communicatio with said one group and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for operation at a second frequency (f₁) for direct communication with said radio relay unit;

said radio relay unit having a first radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at said second frequency (f₁) for direct communication with said centralizing unit and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for operating at a third frequency (f₃) different from said first and second frequencies for direct communication with the other of said groups;

said communications centralizing unit further comprising a control assembly having a first programmable processing means for managing the transfer of data from each of said data acquisition boxes by controlling operation of said first and second radio transmission and reception assemblies belonging to said centralizing unit; and

said radio relay unit including a control assembly with a second separate programmable processing means responsive to a signal from said centralizing unit second radio transmission and reception assembly operating at said second frequency (f₁) for managing the transfer of data to the central laboratory from the data acquisition box of said other of said groups as selected by the processing means of the centralizing unit, said transfer of data between said selected data acquisition box and said radio relay unit being at said third frequency determined by said second separate programmable processing means and the transfer of the same data between said radio relay unit and said centralizing unit being at said second frequency.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said radio transmission and reception assembly associated with the boxes, with the centralization unit and with each relay unit includes a frequency synthesis generator and means for selecting from a plurality of separate frequencies a frequency with which reliable communication can be established at the time of each transmission.

10. A system for transmission of seismic signals between an assembly of acquisition boxes provided each with a radio transmission and reception means and a central control and recording laboratory, said acquisition boxes being disposed on the field and being adapted for collecting seismic signals from at least one seismic receiver for digitizing and storing said signals and, on reception of control signals from said central control and recording laboratory, for transferring thereto stored data by radio wave link, said assembly of acquisition boxes comprising:

a first group of acquisition boxes disposed on areas where direct communication with said central control and recording laboratory is possible; and

at least one second group of acquisition boxes disposed on areas where reliable communication with said central control and recording laboratory can be achieved via at least one radio relay unit;

said system comprising;

a communication centralizing unit associated with said central and recording laboratory and including a first radio transmission and reception assembly operating at a first frequency (f₂) for direct communication between said laboratory and said first group of acquisition boxes and a second radio transmission and reception assembly operating at a second frequency (f₁) different from the first frequency for direct communication between said laboratory and each said radio relay unit;

each said radio relay unit including a first radio transmission and reception assembly for communication at said second frequency (f₁) with said communication centralizing unit, and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for communication at a particular third frequency (f₃) with acquisition boxes of said second group of acquisition boxes associated with said radio relay unit, the third frequency (f₃) being different for each said relay unit;

said communication centralizing unit including a control assembly provided with a programmable processing and memorizing means for routing orders from said central laboratory to each of the acquisition boxes of said assembly on said second frequency (f₂) or said first frequency (f₁) depending on their disposition on the field and for dispatching information from the different acquisition boxes;

each said relay unit including a control assembly provided with a programmable processing and memorizing means for managing relay transfers at said third specific frequency with said associated second group of acquisition boxes; and

wherein also each radio relay unit includes test signal measurement means and means for translating the test signals into signals for modulating said second frequency f₁, the control assemblies of the centralization unit and of each relay unit being adapted for controlling the transmission of the test signals in time intervals between the data and control signal transmissions.

11. A system for transmission of seismic signals between an assembly of acquisition boxes provided each with a radio transmission and reception means and a central control and recording laboratory, said acquisition boxes being disposed on the field and being adapted for collecting seismic signals from at least one seismic receiver for digitizing and storing said signals and, on reception of control signals from said central control and recording laboratory, for transferring thereto stored data by radio wave link, said assembly of acquisition boxes comprising:

a first group of acquisition boxes disposed on areas where direct communication with said central control and recording laboratory occurs without passing through a radio relay unit; and

at least one second group of acquisition boxes disposed on areas where reliable communication with said central control and recording laboratory can be achieved only via at least one radio relay unit;

said system comprising;

a communication centralizing unit associated with said central and recording laboratory and including a first radio transmission and reception assembly operating at a first frequency (f₂) for direct communication between said laboratory and said first group of acquisition boxes and a second radio transmission and reception assembly operating at a second frequency (f₁) different from the first frequency for direct communication between said laboratory and each said radio relay unit;

each said radio rely unit includng a first radio transmission and reception assembly for communication at said second frequency (f₁) with said communication unit, and a second radio transmission and reception assembly for communication at a particular third frequency (f₃) with acquisition boxes of said second group of acquisition boxes associated with said ratio relay unit, the third frequency (f₃) being different for each said radio relay unit;

said communication centralizing unit including a control assembly for routing orders from said central laboratory to each of the acquisition boxes of said assembly on said second frequency (f₂) or said first frequency (f₁) depending on their disposition on the field and for dispatching information from the different acquisition boxes;

each said relay unit including a control assembly for managing relay transfers at said third specific frequency with said associated second group of acquisition boxes; and

wherein

said control assembly in said communication centralizing unit includes a microprocessor means, memorizing means for storing lists of serial numbers and acquisition boxes in said first group and lists of serial numbers of acquisition boxes in each said second group to be transmitted respectively to corresponding relay unit and programs of instructions, and interface means providing communication with said central control and recording laboratory and with a control member for direct application of instructions by an operator,

said control assembly in each said relay unit includes a microprocessor means and memorizing means for storing lists of serial numbers of acquisition boxes in said corresponding second group, said lists being received from said control assembly; and

each said radio transmission and reception assembly in said acquisition boxes of the assembly, in said centralizing unit and in each said relay unit includes a frequency synthesis generator and switchable selection means for selecting from a plurality of separate frequencies, a frequency with which reliable communication can be established with said centralizing unit.