Patent ID: 7209407

Claim:
An apparatus for acquiring seismic survey data comprising: a. a plurality of seismic sensors for receipt of seismic event reflections and for transmission of seismic signals responsive to such reflections; b. a plurality of sensor signal processing modules, each having an independent clock, a digital data transmitter of digital data signals corresponding to seismic signals received from a sensor and an interrogate signal receiver means for receiving, processing and retransmitting interrogate signals; c. a plurality of signal transmission channels respective to each sensor signal processing module, each transmission channel for transmitting the seismic signals of at least one sensor to the respective sensor signal processing module; d. a data recording and control unit having a master clock and an interrogate signal transmitter; e. a first of said sensor signal processing modules connected by first signal conduit means to a second sensor signal processing module for transmission of first digital data signals from said first sensor signal processing module toward said second sensor signal processing module, said second sensor signal processing module having a signal carrier connection to said data recording and control unit that includes a second signal conduit means; f. said interrogate signal receiver means respective to said second sensor signal processing module including means for timing the retransmission of an interrogate signal along said first signal conduit means relative to a time said interrogate signal is received from said data recording and control unit along said second signal conduit means to maximize utilization of digital data transmission capacity respective to said signal carrier connection with said data recording and control unit.