Patent ID: 8208478

Claim:
A system for enabling communication between an underwater fluid extraction facility and a remote location, comprising: communications carrying means connected between the facility to the remote location; signal transmission means at the remote location for transmitting signals to a first end of the communications carrying means; and a distribution hub located at the facility for receiving signals from a second end of the communications carrying means and at least one secondary hub located at the facility, wherein communication between the facility and the remote location is effected using a Local Area Network, and the at least one secondary hub is in communication with the distribution hub so that signals from the second end of the communication carrying means received by the distribution hub are output from the distribution hub to the at least one secondary hub and the at least one secondary hub is connected, for Ethernet communication therewith to a subsea electronics module for a fluid extraction means, the subsea electronics module comprising: an Ethernet hub for linking the subsea electronics module to the secondary hub connected thereto, data acquisition and control electronics, and an Ethernet enabler interfacing with the data acquisition and control electronics and connected to the Ethernet hub.