Patent ID: 7663973

Claim:
A method of remotely configuring a network of seismic survey equipment comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first and second plurality of seismic data acquisition modules for generating data signals corresponding to seismic wave values and for performing signal processing and communication functions; (b) serially connecting said first plurality of data acquisition modules within a first receiver line for transmitting respective data signals toward a central recording unit, said first receiver line having a first distal end and a first base line end; (c) serially connecting said second plurality of data acquisition modules within a second receiver line for transmitting respective data signals toward said central recording unit, said second receiver line having a second distal end and a second base line end; (d) serially connecting a first base line module to a second base line module and to said central recording unit via a base line data signal carrier for transmission of said data signals to said central recording unit and for transmission of command signals from said central recording unit toward said data acquisition modules; (e) connecting said first base line end of said first receiver line to said first base line module; (f) connecting said second base line end of said second receiver line to said second base line module; and, (g) connecting said first distal end of said first receiver line to said second distal end of said second receiver line to provide alternative transmission routing of data signals from said first and second plurality of data acquisition modules toward said central recording unit responsive to said command signals transmitted along said base line and receiver lines toward said first and second plurality of data acquisition modules from said central recording unit.