Patent ID: 7187623

Claim:
An underwater wireless data communications and release management system for acquiring data from remote positively buoyant instrumentation packages moored underwater, said system comprising: a topside modem having a transducer adapted to be submerged beneath the surface for transmitting and receiving data and commands via underwater signals; a buoyant instrumentation package for gathering information about its surrounding environment once submerged; a waterproof housing having one end adapted to attach to said buoyant instrumentation package and another to be releasably attached to an underwater mooring; and a remote modem and release system resident at least in part in said waterproof housing, said topside and remote modems being configured and arranged with respect to one another for bi-directional wireless communication of data, status signals, and release commands so that data from said instrumentation package can be sent topside via said remote modem and commands from said topside modem can be sent to said release system via said remote modem to separate said instrumentation package from said mooring so that is ascends to the surface along with said waterproof housing and its contents.