Patent ID: 7796466

Claim:
A seabed sensor unit comprising a base, the base supporting: at least one sensor able to detect signal data selected from seismic signal data, EM signal data, and both types of signal data; an electronics unit comprising one or more electronic components enabling the signal data to be communicated to one or more memory modules in the sensor unit; an autonomous power source for powering the electronics unit; a local data transfer unit allowing communication of at least some of the signal data from the one or more memory modules to a device for retrieving data from the one or more memory modules selected from an underwater hub, an underwater vehicle, and both, the local data transfer unit being adapted to perform a seismic data transfer underwater with the device when the device is temporarily docked to the unit and is electronically connected to the power source and the one or more memory modules; and a clock for synchronizing operation of the seabed sensor unit.