Acoustic communication and control for seismic sensors

A method for wireless communication in a seismic sensor network is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first acoustic device having at least one seismic sensor with communication and control data to communicate over an acoustic energy wave on a first communications channel. The first acoustic device generates the acoustic energy wave with a first wave intensity. The first acoustic device is configured to receive a reflection of the generated wave at a prescribed signal sensitivity level based on a network configuration. If the first wave intensity is below the prescribed signal sensitivity level, the first wave intensity of the acoustic energy wave is tuned to the prescribed signal sensitivity level to interpret the communication and control data provided by the first communications channel.

BACKGROUND

By design, seismic sensors detect seismic activity as waves of acoustic energy that travel through or on the surface of the Earth. Networks of these surface and sub-surface seismic sensors are deployed for a variety of applications where detection and processing of seismic activity is required. For example, the sensor network will communicate recordings of seismic activity at a remote location to a recording device through wired connections such as electrical and fiber optic cables.

As the functions and capabilities for seismic sensor networks increase, communication between these seismic sensor networks is often desired. Moreover, in environments where wired communications between seismic sensors is not feasible or not a suitable option, alternate transmission mediums are desired, including wireless communications. To date, providing any form of wireless communications between seismic sensor networks is susceptible to detection and disruption.

SUMMARY

The following specification discloses at least one embodiment of acoustic communication and control for seismic sensors. Particularly, in one embodiment, a method for wireless communication in a seismic sensor network is provided. The method comprises providing a first acoustic device having at least one seismic sensor with communication and control data to communicate over an acoustic energy wave on a first communications channel. The first acoustic device generates the acoustic energy wave with a first wave intensity. The first acoustic device is configured to receive a reflection of the generated wave at a prescribed signal sensitivity level based on a network configuration. If the first wave intensity is below the prescribed signal sensitivity level, the first wave intensity of the acoustic energy wave is tuned to the prescribed signal sensitivity level to interpret the communication and control data provided by the first communications channel.

The various described features are drawn to emphasize features relevant to the embodiments disclosed. Like reference characters denote like elements throughout the figures and text of the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to acoustic communication and control for seismic sensors that provide a concealed or secure form of communication in a seismic sensor network. In at least one embodiment, the seismic sensors use at least one form of acoustic communication over a communications channel for control and communication data. The communications channel disclosed here operates concurrently and without disruption during standard seismic detection. For example, the channel enables the sensors to communicate control and communication data related to, without limitation, sensor synchronization, sensor timing, or sensor health monitoring between the sensors of the seismic sensor network.

The embodiments disclosed here address at least one method of transmitting acoustic energy waves to provide wireless communication between the seismic sensors. In one implementation, patterns of the energy waves will use a communications protocol to provide the communication data. For example, generating an acoustic energy wave includes, but is not limited to, inserting a tuned rod into the ground where the tuned rod is coupled to a transmitter of a first seismic sensor. The rod is configured to emit at least one frequency within the acoustic energy wave specifically “tuned” for the transmitter. The at least one tuned frequency is detectable by a receiver of at least a second seismic sensor. Moreover, the tuned energy wave provides a unique identity for each of the sensors in the network. The unique identity allows each of the seismic sensors to communicate substantially simultaneously. At least one alternate implementation uses an un-tuned rod and transmitter that emits random frequencies. The un-tuned transmitters are identifiable by the pattern of waves for a serial form of communications over at least one of the random (un-tuned) frequencies.

The acoustic energy waves disclosed here comprise electrical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical seismic energy waves. In one or more implementations, the distance between the sensors, the makeup and density of the material the sensors are buried in, intended monitoring applications, and the complexity of the communication will dictate a required intensity of each energy wave. In addition, the amount of communication data transmitted on each energy wave depends upon (1) the seismic transmitter generating the energy wave and (2) the precision and speed of the seismic receiver detecting and processing each of the energy waves.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of an electronic system100having an acoustic device102. The system100further comprises a central data unit104in communication with the acoustic device102. For ease of description, a single acoustic device102is shown inFIG. 1. It is understood that the system100is capable of accommodating any appropriate number of acoustic devices102(for example, one or more acoustic devices102) in communication with the central data unit104, as further disclosed below with respect toFIG. 2.

The acoustic device102further comprises a processing unit106and a seismic sensor108communicatively coupled to the processing unit106. In the example embodiment ofFIG. 1, the processing unit106comprises at least one of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a field-programmable object array (FPOA), a programmable logic device (PLD), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The seismic sensor108is operable to generate and receive an acoustic energy wave110with a first wave intensity. The central data unit104is operable to provide communication and control data for the acoustic device102to communicate using the seismic sensor108. In one implementation, the central data unit104is communicatively coupled to the processing unit106by a data interface112. In one embodiment, the central data unit104is configured to further process the communication and control data provided by the data interface112. The data interface112comprises, without limitation, an electrical connection such as Ethernet or twisted pair copper wiring, a fiber optic connection, and a wireless network connection similar to a wireless area network (WIFI) or a metropolitan area network (WIMAX) connection.

The processing unit106is further operable to configure the seismic sensor108to receive a reflection of the generated wave at the prescribed signal sensitivity level for monitoring configurations. For example, the communication and control data can comprise sensor synchronization, sensor timing, or sensor health messages for monitoring a network of acoustic devices102having the seismic sensors108in a concealed environment. Moreover, if at least one acoustic device102in the network indicates an inability to send and receive data, the disabled acoustic device102will re-route further messages to alternate acoustic devices102within the network to avoid any disruptions in communication traffic. In one implementation, the synchronization monitoring disclosed here comprises issuing a periodic “power-up” message between each of the seismic sensors108in the sensor network to conserve operating power. The decreased energy consumption provided by the synchronization monitoring extends operating cycles of the sensor network. In addition, the processing unit106can time stamp the communication and control data to monitor sensor timing.

In operation, the acoustic device102configures the seismic sensor108to communicate over the acoustic energy wave110on a first communications channel, as further described below with respect toFIG. 2. In one implementation, the first communications channel comprises at least one secure communications channel for sensitive control and communications data. The acoustic device102tunes the first wave intensity of the seismic sensor108to interpret the communication and control data provided by the first communications channel based on a prescribed signal sensitivity level. In the example embodiment ofFIG. 1, the prescribed signal sensitivity level is configured for a seismic sensor network comprising a plurality of acoustic devices102having the seismic sensor108. Moreover, the acoustic devices102are positioned to monitor seismic activity for a predetermined monitoring area based on the prescribed signal sensitivity level.

In one implementation, the first communications channel is operable to provide substantially simultaneous communications over the acoustic energy wave110between a plurality of seismic sensors108in a seismic sensor network, as further disclosed below with respect toFIG. 3. The acoustic energy wave110transmits the communications and control data on the first communications channel at a first frequency using an acoustic communications protocol. The first frequency comprises a unique identifier for the acoustic device102. In one implementation, the acoustic communications protocol comprises at least one form of binary data transmission of the communications and control data encompassing, but not limited to, asynchronous transmission, synchronous transmission, streaming data transmissions with message redundancy, data compression, data encryption, device handshaking, and the like. In at least one alternate implementation, the first communications channel is operable to provide serial communications over the acoustic energy wave110, as further disclosed below with respect toFIGS. 4A to 4C.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of one embodiment of a seismic sensor network200. The network200comprises a plurality of acoustic devices2021to202Nconfigured for generating and receiving control and communications data over a wireless communications channel that is part of an acoustic energy wave210. In the example embodiment ofFIG. 2, the wireless communications channel comprise a first channel portion2041responsive to the acoustic devices2021and2022, a second channel portion2042responsive to the acoustic devices2022and202N, and a third channel portion204Mresponsive to the acoustic devices202Nand2021. It is understood that additional communications channel portions (for example, three or more communications channel portions) are suitable for use in the network200. As shown inFIG. 2, the acoustic devices202are acoustically connected to provide the wireless communications channel204with control and communication data that can operate concurrently and non-disruptively during standard seismic detection.

In operation, the acoustic devices2021to202Nare configured as a first sensor pair to provide acoustic communications for the network200. The network200operates the first sensor pair in a communication monitoring process as further discussed below. In one implementation, the communication monitoring process comprises generating the acoustic energy wave210at the acoustic device2021with a first wave intensity. The first wave intensity is operable to transmit communications data at a first frequency using one or more portions of the wireless communications channel204. For example, the acoustic device2022is configured to receive the acoustic energy wave210and the communications data on the first channel portion2041at a prescribed signal sensitivity level. Based on an acoustic communications protocol, the acoustic device2022communicates on the second channel portion2042to the acoustic device202N. The acoustic device202Nis configured to interpret the data from the acoustic energy wave210at the first wave intensity. At least one alternate implementation ofFIG. 2comprises generating the acoustic energy wave210with the first wave intensity at the acoustic device2022.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating a method for providing acoustic communications and control in a seismic sensor network300, similar to the network200ofFIG. 2. The network300comprises the acoustic devices3021to302Nas shown inFIG. 3. Further, each of the acoustic devices3021to302Ngenerates the acoustic energy waves3101to310N, respectively. In the example embodiment ofFIG. 3, each of the acoustic devices3021to302Nis capable of producing and detecting a unique identifier at an individual frequency value, realizing a full duplex network for communications. Moreover, the full duplex network disclosed here provides substantially simultaneous communications between each of the acoustic devices3021to302Nbased on the unique identifier for each of the acoustic devices.

FIGS. 4A to 4Care block diagrams illustrating a method for providing acoustic communications and control in a seismic sensor network400, similar to the network200ofFIG. 2. As shown in the network400ofFIG. 4A, an acoustic device4021transmits a first polling message over an acoustic energy wave410to acoustic devices4022and402N. The acoustic devices4022and402Ndetect the first polling message and prepare a possible response. For example, as shown inFIG. 4B, the acoustic device402Ncan respond over an acoustic energy wave412to the seismic sensors4021and4022in a serial form of communication (for example, a poll and response type of communication) using the acoustic communications protocol discussed above with respect toFIG. 2. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 4C, the acoustic device4022can respond over the acoustic energy wave414to the seismic sensors4021and402Nwith a serial form of communication using the acoustic communications protocol discussed above. Moreover, in the example embodiments ofFIGS. 4A to 4C, the serial form of communication uses a fixed frequency value to transmit the communication and control data in a half duplex network over the acoustic energy waves410,412, and414.

FIG. 5is a flow diagram of a method500for wireless communication in a seismic sensor network. The method ofFIG. 5addresses implementing an acoustic communication protocol for the seismic sensor network on a wireless communications channel for control and communication data. The method500provides a first acoustic device with at least one seismic sensor (block502), and provides the at least one seismic sensor with communication and control data to communicate over an acoustic energy wave on a first communications channel (block504). In one implementation, the first acoustic device receives and transmits the communication and control data from and to a central data unit configured for data collection. The first acoustic device generates the acoustic energy wave with a first wave intensity (block506). In one implementation, the first acoustic device transmits the communications and control data to at least one second acoustic device having a seismic sensor over the acoustic energy wave at a first frequency. The first frequency comprises a unique identifier for the first acoustic device.

The first acoustic device is configured to receive a reflection of the generated wave from the at least one second acoustic device at a prescribed signal sensitivity level based on a network configuration (block508). In one implementation, the network is configured to provide substantially simultaneous communications between the first acoustic device and a plurality of additional acoustic devices having seismic sensors. In at least one alternate implementation, the first acoustic device communicates sequentially between the plurality of acoustic devices at a fixed frequency value.

If the first wave intensity of the reflected wave is below the prescribed signal sensitivity level (block510), the first acoustic device tunes the first wave intensity of the acoustic energy wave to the prescribed signal sensitivity level to interpret the communication and control data provided by the first communications channel (block512). If the first wave intensity remains substantially at the prescribed signal sensitivity level, the first acoustic device continues to monitor the prescribed signal sensitivity level of the acoustic energy wave at block510.

While the embodiments disclosed have been described in the context of a seismic sensor array for acoustic communications, apparatus embodying these techniques are capable of being distributed in the form of a machine-readable medium of instructions and a variety of program products that apply equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of machine-readable media include recordable-type media, such as a portable memory device; a hard disk drive (HDD); a random-access memory (RAM); a read-only memory (ROM); transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links; and wired or wireless communications links using transmission forms, such as radio frequency and light wave transmissions. The variety of program products may take the form of coded formats that are decoded for actual use in a particular seismic sensor array for acoustic communications by a combination of digital electronic circuitry and software residing in a programmable processor (for example, a special-purpose processor or a general-purpose processor in a computer).

At least one embodiment disclosed herein can be implemented by computer-executable instructions, such as program product modules, which are executed by the programmable processor. Generally, the program product modules include routines, programs, objects, data components, data structures, and algorithms that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The computer-executable instructions, the associated data structures, and the program product modules represent examples of executing the embodiments disclosed.

This description has been presented for purposes of illustration, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Variations and modifications may occur, which fall within the scope of the following claims.