Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring
First Claim
1. A system for measuring a property at a surface, the system comprising:
- a plurality of survey probes, each having a unique identifier; and
a survey controller configured to automatically poll the survey probes to obtain respective identifiers and determine a relative order of the probes,each survey probe configured to;
disconnect a downstream neighbor survey probe and enter an idle state;
report its unique identifier to the survey controller if in the idle state and in response to a polling command from the survey controller; and
change to a state other than the idle state after reporting its unique identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring are presented. In representative embodiments, a system is provided that can perform multiple types of measurements of a surface. For example a single system of survey probes and one or more survey controllers can be used to offer both seismic and electrical measurements. A survey controller can be configured to automatically poll survey probes to obtain identifiers of the probes and determine a relative order the probes. Survey probes can be configured to: (a) collect signals associated with a surface; (b) digitize the signals to form digital data; and (c) store the digital data for later transmission to the survey controller. Relative positions of survey probes can be automatically determined using a transmitting beacon or other techniques. Survey probes can automatically disconnect from a power conduit while measuring a surface property and operate using an internal source of power when disconnected, to reduce noise. The survey controller can be remotely accessible through a computer network for remote control of the survey probes.
32 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for measuring a property at a surface, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes, each having a unique identifier; and a survey controller configured to automatically poll the survey probes to obtain respective identifiers and determine a relative order of the probes, each survey probe configured to; disconnect a downstream neighbor survey probe and enter an idle state; report its unique identifier to the survey controller if in the idle state and in response to a polling command from the survey controller; and change to a state other than the idle state after reporting its unique identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for acquiring geophysical data based on measurements taken using survey probes, the system comprising:
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a plurality of the survey probes, each having a unique identifier and each including data acquisition circuits and storage for measurements acquired thereby, the storage buffering the acquired measurements for subsequent, post-measurement transfer via a data communication interface; and a survey controller communicatively coupled to receive from each of the survey probes its respective unique identifier, to automatically determine at least a relative ordering of the survey probes with respect to each other and to thereafter command individual ones of the survey probes based, at least in part, on the automatically determined relative ordering. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for performing geophysical measurements, the method comprising:
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obtaining a unique identifier from each of plurality of survey probes placed at a surface; automatically determining a relative position of each of the survey probes as placed; commanding individual ones of the survey probes using the obtained unique identifiers and based on the determined relative positions thereof; collecting geophysical data using the survey probes; and storing the geophysical data in digital form at the respective survey probes for later transmission to a survey controller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification