Fast Pulse Telemetry Multi-Frame Encoding for Downhole Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telemetry systems in downhole tools face challenges in transmitting high-quality data at increased rates due to signal attenuation and decreased signal-to-noise ratios as well depth increases, limiting the ability to accurately and efficiently drill wells.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for encoding and decoding telemetry data using multiple symbol-frames to vary pulse width and spacing, employing a 'skip' concept to maintain signal integrity and increase data rates by altering codes when pulses are too close, allowing for higher data transmission without sacrificing quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data transmission rate is increased, then productivity is improved, but signal integrity deteriorates due to attenuation and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission into multiple symbol-frames, each carrying a portion of the telemetry data. This segmentation allows the system to transmit data in manageable units that can be individually encoded and transmitted, improving overall data rate while maintaining signal integrity through distributed transmission across multiple frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary encoding actions to the telemetry data before transmission, where multiple symbol-frames are prepared with encoded information in advance. This preliminary encoding includes positioning pulses within specific slots of symbol-frames and preparing alternative codes, enabling the system to handle signal degradation proactively rather than reactively.
Solution Approach 3:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiver detects pulse positions in received symbol-frames and decodes the original codes based on these detected positions. The system uses the relationship between transmitted and received symbol-frames to verify and correct data, ensuring signal integrity even at higher transmission rates.
2Measurement precision
If pulse width is increased to maintain signal quality, then measurement precision is improved, but data transmission rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from varying pulse width as the primary means of encoding to using pulse position within symbol-frame slots as the encoding dimension. By moving to a time-positioning dimension rather than width-modulation, the system can maintain precise signal detection while increasing the rate at which information is transmitted through multiple positioned pulses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic symbol-frames with regular slot structures, where pulses are positioned at specific intervals within each frame. This periodic arrangement allows the receiver to anticipate pulse positions and detect them more reliably, maintaining signal quality while enabling faster transmission through the structured repetition of encoding patterns.
3Productivity
If multiple symbol-frames are used to increase data rate, then productivity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for encoding from pulse width to pulse position within standardized symbol-frame slots. This parameter change simplifies the encoding process by using discrete slot positions rather than continuous width adjustments, and simplifies decoding by detecting pulse positions against known slot patterns, reducing overall system complexity despite using multiple frames.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a method and system for multiple symbol-frames to encode and decode each symbol-frame code value in contrast to current schemes of encoding and decoding the symbol-frame code based on evaluating single symbol-frames code for each bitstream value. By evaluating multiple symbol-frames and their relationship to each other to encode and decode each symbol-frame code value, the relationship between the pulse width and symbol-frame width can be varied. The description of the exemplary embodiment maintains the same symbol-frame width with a much wider pulse and encoding and decoding multiple symbols-frames to achieve higher data rate telemetry while maintaining the integrity of a signal. The method and associated software to code and decode multiple symbol-frames and their relationship to each other has demonstrated multiples of increased speed that significantly increases the capability of telemetry communication.