Patent ID: 7806191

Claim:
A drill pipe comprising: a pin end connector comprising a communication contact region having first, second and third communication contacts; and a box end connector to receive the pin end connector to form a connection between drill pipe sections, the box end connector having a body defined between an external surface and an internal surface, the box end connector comprising a complementary contact region having first, second and third complementary communication contacts, such that when the drill pipe sections are connected, first, second, and third isolated communication connections are formed between the complementary communication contacts and the communication contacts, wherein the first, second and third complementary communication contacts are positioned at least partially between the external surface and the internal surface of the box end connector; wherein the communication contact region comprises a communication connector supported by the pin end connector, the communication connector having an insulative body to support at least the first and second communication contacts; wherein the first and third communication connections provide for communication in a first direction along the drill pipe, and the second and third communication connections provide for communication in a second direction along the drill pipe opposite the first direction.