Wireless network system

• US 6,985,750 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2000
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BJ Energy Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: BJ Services Company
• Inventors: Carlson, Bradley T., Vicknair, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thien D
• Application Number:
  US09/558,890
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 370/277, 370/278, 370/279, 370/280, 370/282, 370/293, 370/294, 370/295, 370/320, 370/389, 370/441, 370/338, 370/252, 370/310, 370/335, 166/65.1, 166/66, 166/250.1, 375/132, 455/519
• US Class Current: 455/519
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Wireless local area networks (“wireless networks”) used to interrelate individual mobile nodes, and having the capability of automatically establishing and/or modifying functionality of a network in response to the characteristics and/or identity of the nodes connected to the network at a given time. The wireless networks may be mobile, and may be employed in applications using service vehicles, such as truck, skid and trailer mounted equipment used in the well servicing industry, delivery or maintenance trucks, railroad service vehicles, aircraft, or off-shore service vehicles.

Claims

1. A wireless network, comprising:

at least two nodes in wireless communication with each other, each of said nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic;

wherein at least a first node of said two or more nodes is capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least a second node of said two or more nodes; and

wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on respective node functionality characteristics of said first and second nodes, respective node identity characteristics of said first and second nodes, or a combination thereof; and

wherein said first node comprises at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment operable to perform at least one well treating or well servicing action; and

wherein said second node is configured as a master node capable of controlling said first node using said wireless communication by directing said at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment to perform said at least one well treating or well servicing action.

2. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein said second node is capable of transmitting information at least partially defining said network functionality to said first node.

3. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on human input or control.

4. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network automatically without human input or control.

5. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein said wireless network is capable of accepting additional nodes into said wireless network as said additional nodes come into communication with said second node, and wherein said wireless network is capable of releasing existing nodes that terminate communication with said second node, each of said additional or existing nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic and being capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least said second node;

and wherein said second node is capable of modifying an established functionality of said wireless network based the addition of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics or respective node identity characteristics of said additional node, on the deletion of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics or respective node identity characteristics of said exiting node, or a combination thereof.

6. The wireless network of claim 5, wherein said second node is capable of modifying an established network functionality of said wireless network based on at least one of respective node functionality characteristics of each node communicating in said wireless network or respective node identity characteristics of each node communicating in said wireless network, and on total number of nodes communicating in said wireless network.

7. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein said second node is in signal communication with a remote location;

wherein said second node is capable of transmitting network data to said remote location, said network data comprising node functionality characteristics, node identity characteristics, data acquired by one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof; and

wherein said remote location is capable of transmitting network instructions to said second node to modify a network functionality of said wireless network, modify the node functionality of one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof.

8. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein each of said first node and said second node comprises a vehicle capable of assembling with other vehicles at a wellsite.

9. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second nodes is dynamically configurable within said network.

10. A mobile wireless network for conducting well treatment or well servicing operations, comprising:

at least two nodes in wireless communication with each other, each of said nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic;

wherein at least a first node of said at least two nodes is capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least a second node of said at least two nodes;

wherein each of said at least two nodes are mobile nodes coupled to well treating or well servicing equipment capable of assembling at a wellsite to perform a well treatment or well servicing operation;

wherein each of said at least two nodes comprises a roaming radio transceiver; and

wherein each of said first node and said second node comprises a vehicle capable of assembling with other vehicles at a wellsite to perform said well treatment or well servicing operation.

11. The wireless network of claim 10, wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on respective node functionality characteristics of said first and second nodes, respective node identity characteristics of said first and second nodes, or a combination thereof;

and wherein said second node is capable of transmitting information at least partially defining said network functionality to said first node.

12. The wireless network of claim 10, wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on respective node functionality characteristics of said first and second nodes, respective node identity characteristics of said first and second nodes, or a combination thereof;

and wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on human input or control, automatically without human input or control, or a combination thereof.

13. The wireless network of claim 12, wherein said wireless network is capable of accepting additional nodes into said wireless network as said additional nodes come into communication with said second node, and wherein said wireless network is capable of releasing existing nodes that terminate communication with said second node, each of said additional or existing nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic and being capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least said second node;

and wherein said second node is capable of modifying an established functionality of said wireless network based the addition of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics or respective node identity characteristics of said additional node, on the deletion of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics or respective node identity characteristics of said exiting node, or a combination thereof.

14. The wireless network of claim 13, wherein said second node is capable of modifying an established network functionality of said wireless network based on at least one of respective node functionality characteristics of each node communicating in said wireless network or respective node identity characteristics of each node communicating in said wireless network, and on total number of nodes communicating in said wireless network.

15. The wireless network of claim 12, wherein said second node is in signal communication with a remote location;

wherein said second node is capable of transmitting network data to said remote location, said network data comprising node functionality characteristics, node identity characteristics, data acquired by one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof; and

wherein said remote location is capable of transmitting network instructions to said second node to modify a network functionality of said wireless network, modify the node functionality of one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof.

16. The wireless network of claim 12, wherein said node functionality characteristics comprise well treatment or well servicing operation equipment type, well treatment or well servicing operation equipment characteristics, or a combination thereof;

wherein said node identity characteristics comprise an identity code; and

wherein said network functionality comprises at least one network algorithm related to a well treatment or well servicing operation.

17. The wireless network of claim 12, further comprising at least one third node in wireless communication with said first and second nodes, wherein said first and third nodes are capable of exchanging directly between each other at least one of network information, network instructions, acquired data, or a combination thereof.

18. The wireless network of claim 10, wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on respective node functionality characteristics of said first and second nodes, respective node identity characteristics of said first and second nodes, or a combination thereof;

wherein each of said nodes are mobile nodes, and wherein said wireless network is a mobile wireless network.

19. The wireless network of claim 18, wherein said nodes are in communication via spread spectrum radio frequency.

20. The wireless network of claim 19, wherein said nodes are in communication via frequency hopping spread spectrum radio frequency.

21. The wireless network of claim 10, wherein said well treatment or well servicing operation comprises at least one of a well stimulation operation, a well cementing operation, a coiled tubing operation, a sand control operation, or a combination thereof.

22. The wireless network of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first and second nodes is dynamically configurable within said network.

23. The wireless network of claim 22, wherein said first node is coupled to at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment operable to perform at least one well treating or well servicing action;

and wherein said second node is dynamically configurable to become a designated master node capable of controlling said first node using said wireless communication to direct said at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment to perform said at least one well treating or well servicing action.

24. A mobile wireless network for conducting well treatment or well servicing operations, comprising:

at least two nodes in wireless communication with each other, each of said nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic;

wherein at least a first node of said at least two nodes is capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least a second node of said at least two nodes;

wherein each of said at least two nodes are mobile nodes coupled to well treating or well servicing equipment capable of assembling at a wellsite to perform a well treatment or well servicing operation;

wherein each of said at least two nodes comprises a roaming radio transceiver; and

wherein one or more of said secondary nodes comprises a data storage device, said data storage device capable of containing acquired data; and

wherein said secondary node comprising said data storage device is capable of automatically downloading said acquired data to another secondary node, master node or remote location when said secondary node comprising said data storage device comes into signal proximity with said another secondary node, master node or remote location.

25. A mobile wireless network, comprising:

a plurality of mobile secondary nodes in wireless communication with each other and a mobile master node, each of said secondary nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic;

wherein each of said secondary nodes is capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to said master node;

wherein said master node is capable of establishing a network functionality of said wireless network based on at least one of said respective secondary node functionality characteristics, said respective secondary node identity characteristics, and the number of said secondary nodes communicating in said wireless network;

wherein said master node is capable of accepting additional secondary nodes into said wireless network as said additional nodes enter into communication with said master node, and wherein said master node is capable of releasing existing nodes that terminate communication with said master node, wherein said accepting comprises modifying said established network functionality of said wireless network based on the addition of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics, respective node identity characteristics of each additional node, and revised number of secondary nodes communicating in said wireless network, and wherein said releasing comprises modifying said established functionality based on the deletion of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics, respective node identity characteristics of said exiting node and revised number of secondary nodes communicating in said wireless network; and

wherein said each of said secondary nodes is in signal communication with one or more sensing or control devices coupled to mobile well treating or well servicing equipment and operable to monitor well treatment or well servicing operation conditions, control well treatment or well servicing operation control parameters, or a combination thereof.

26. The wireless network of claim 25, wherein said master node is in signal communication with a remote location via long range communication link;

wherein said master node is capable of transmitting network data to said remote location, said network data comprising node functionality characteristics, node identity characteristics, data acquired by one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof; and

wherein said remote location is capable of transmitting network instructions to said master node to modify a network functionality of said wireless network, modify the node functionality of one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof.

27. The wireless network of claim 26, wherein said node functionality characteristics comprise equipment type, equipment characteristics, or a combination thereof;

wherein said node identity characteristics comprise an identity code; and

wherein said network functionality comprises at least one network algorithm related to a well treatment or well servicing operation.

28. The wireless network of claim 26, wherein said remote location is capable of transmitting network instructions to said master node directing one or more of said nodes of said wireless network to redeploy to a new location, combine with other nodes to form a different wireless network, or a combination thereof;

and wherein said master node is capable of transmitting at least a portion of said network instructions to one or more of said secondary nodes.

29. The wireless network of claim 28, wherein each of said nodes comprises a radio transceiver, and wherein said nodes are in communication with each other via frequency-hopping spread spectrum radio transmission.

30. A method of performing an operational task with at least two mobile units, comprising:

assembling said at least two mobile units at a task location; and

performing said operational task;

wherein said at least two mobile units operate as nodes in a mobile wireless network;

wherein said at least two nodes are in wireless communication with each other, each of said nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic;

wherein at least a first node of said two or more nodes is capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least a second node of said two or more nodes; and

wherein said operational task is a well treatment or well servicing operation;

wherein said task location is a wellsite;

wherein each of said at least two nodes are mobile nodes coupled to well treating or well servicing equipment capable of assembling at a wellsite to perform a well treatment or well servicing operation;

wherein said node functionality characteristics comprise well treatment or well servicing equipment type, well treatment or well servicing equipment characteristics, or a combination thereof;

wherein said node identity characteristics comprise an identity code; and

wherein said first node is in signal communication with one or more sensing or control devices coupled to mobile well treating or well servicing equipment and operable to monitor well treatment or well servicing operation conditions, control well treatment or well servicing operation control parameters, or a combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on respective node functionality characteristics of said first and second nodes, respective node identity characteristics of said first and second nodes, or a combination thereof.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein each of said nodes comprises a radio transceiver, and wherein said nodes are in communication with each other via spread spectrum radio transmission.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said nodes are in communication with each other via frequency-hopping spread spectrum radio transmission.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said second node is capable of transmitting information at least partially defining said network functionality to said first node.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on human input or control, automatically without human input or control, or a combination thereof.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said wireless network is capable of accepting additional nodes into said wireless network as said additional nodes come into communication with said second node, and wherein said wireless network is capable of releasing existing nodes that terminate communication with said second node, each of said additional or existing nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic and being capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least said second node;

and wherein said second node is capable of modifying an established functionality of said wireless network based the addition of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics or respective node identity characteristics of said additional node, on the deletion of at least one of respective node functionality characteristics or respective node identity characteristics of said exiting node, or a combination thereof.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said second node is capable of modifying an established network functionality of said wireless network based on at least one of respective node functionality characteristics of each node communicating in said wireless network or respective node identity characteristics of each node communicating in said wireless network, and on total number of nodes communicating in said wireless network.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said second node is in signal communication with a remote location;

wherein said second node is capable of transmitting network data to said remote location, said network data comprising node functionality characteristics, node identity characteristics, data acquired by one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof; and

wherein said remote location is capable of transmitting network instructions to said second node to modify a network functionality of said wireless network, modify the node functionality of one or more of said nodes, or a combination thereof.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising at least one third node in wireless communication with said first and second nodes, wherein said first and third nodes are capable of exchanging directly between each other at least one of network information, network instructions, acquired data, or a combination thereof.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein one or more of said at least two nodes comprises a data storage device, said data storage device capable of containing acquired data;

wherein said node comprising said data storage device is capable of automatically downloading said acquired data to another node, master node or remote location when said node comprising said data storage device comes into signal proximity with said another node, master node or remote location; and

further comprising downloading said acquired data to said another node, master node or remote location when said secondary node comprising said data storage device comes into signal proximity with said another node, master node or remote location.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said downloading comprises downloading said acquired data to a separate network for purposes of at least one of post job engineering analysis, accounting/billing, preventive maintenance, or a combination thereof.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein said at least two nodes operate as nodes in a first mobile wireless network that is in signal communication with a second mobile wireless network comprising at least two other mobile units operating as nodes;

and wherein said first and second mobile wireless networks are capable of exchanging between each other at least one of network information, network instructions, acquired data, or a combination thereof.

43. The method of claim 30, wherein each of said mobile units comprises a vehicle;

and wherein said method further comprises assembling said vehicles at said wellsite.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising dynamically configuring said second node as a master node within said network.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein said well treatment or well servicing operation comprises at least one of a well stimulation operation, a well cementing operation, a coiled tubing operation, a sand control operation, or a combination thereof.

46. A method of performing an operational task with at least two mobile units, comprising:

assembling said at least two mobile units at a task location; and

performing said operational task;

wherein said at least two mobile units operate as nodes in a mobile wireless network;

wherein said at least two nodes are in wireless communication with each other, each of said nodes having at least one of an individual node functionality characteristic or an individual node identity characteristic;

wherein at least a first node of said two or more nodes is capable of transmitting at least one of its individual node functionality characteristic or its individual node identity characteristic to at least a second node of said two or more nodes; and

wherein said second node is capable of establishing or modifying a network functionality of said wireless network based on at least one of respective node functionality characteristics of said first and second nodes, respective node identity characteristics of said first and second nodes, or a combination thereof;

wherein said first node comprises at least one piece of equipment operable to perform at least one action of said operational task;

wherein said second node is configured as a master node capable of controlling said first node using said wireless communication by directing said at least one piece of equipment to perform said at least one action of said operation task; and

wherein said performing said operational task comprises using said master node to direct that said at least one action of said operational task be performed by said at least one piece of equipment; and

wherein said operational task comprises a well treatment or well servicing operation;

wherein said first node comprises at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment operable to perform at least one well treating or well servicing action;

wherein said second node is configured as a master node capable of controlling said first node using said wireless communication by directing said at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment to perform said at least one well treating or well servicing action; and

wherein said performing said operational task comprises using said master node to direct that said at least one well treating or well servicing action be performed by said at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said first node comprises at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment operable to perform at least one well treating or well servicing action;

wherein said second node is configured as a central control vehicle capable of controlling said first node using said wireless communication by directing said at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment to perform said at least one well treating or well servicing action; and

wherein said performing said operational task comprises using said central control vehicle to direct that said at least one well treating or well servicing action be performed by said at least one piece of well treating or well servicing equipment.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising dynamically configuring at least one of said first and second nodes within said network.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein said second node is configured as a master node capable of controlling said first node using said wireless communication;

and

wherein said performing said operational task comprises using said master node to direct the control of said well treatment or well servicing operation control parameters.