Patent ID: 7586934

Claim:
An apparatus for fixing latency of an operation within a deterministic region of a network in a downhole drill string; said drill string comprising a plurality of tubulars configured to form a network when coupled to one another to penetrate a subsurface formation; said tubulars configured with magnetically conductive, electrically insulating elements at both ends thereof for signal passage along each tubular and between coupled tubulars; said apparatus comprising: a network interface modem in communication with the network; a high priority module in communication with the network interface modem, the high priority module configured to recognize packets that contain high priority operations; the high priority module comprising a packet assembler/disassembler, and hardware for performing the high priority operations; and at least one deterministic peripheral device connected to the high priority module; wherein the hardware performs the high priority operations on the deterministic peripheral device according to instructions received and interpreted by the packet assembler/disassembler.