Wireless Mesh Network Aggregation for Seismic Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless systems struggle to accommodate the high data rates generated during seismic surveys, as traditional point-to-multipoint or pure mesh systems face limitations in data collection and delivery due to overhead and error correction requirements.
Innovation Solution
A wireless mesh network is implemented with clustering of sensor units into sub-mesh clusters, each with an aggregator that collects and processes data, reducing transmission bandwidth requirements and enabling efficient data aggregation and transmission to a base node through scheduled transmit time slots and optimized aggregator placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional point-to-multipoint or pure mesh wireless systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but data rate accommodation capability deteriorates due to overhead and error correction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless mesh network is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels: sensor units at the lowest level, aggregators at intermediate levels, and gateway nodes at the top level. This segmentation allows data to be aggregated and processed at multiple levels, reducing the data rate burden on individual wireless links while maintaining system simplicity through standardized modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
Aggregator nodes are introduced as intermediary elements between sensor units and gateway nodes. These intermediaries perform data aggregation, processing, and routing functions, effectively mediating the data flow to reduce overhead and error correction requirements on the wireless backbone while maintaining simple sensor unit designs.
2Area of stationary object
If more sensor units are deployed to cover larger areas, then survey coverage is improved, but network congestion and transmission delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into multiple hierarchical levels with aggregators serving as intermediate nodes. Each aggregator handles data from multiple sensor units, processing and aggregating data before transmission to upper levels. This segmentation reduces the number of simultaneous transmissions on any given link, decreasing network congestion and transmission delays while enabling coverage of larger areas through multiple aggregators.
Solution Approach 2:
Data aggregation and preliminary processing are performed at aggregator nodes before transmission to gateway nodes or for storage. This preliminary action reduces the volume of data that needs to be transmitted over long distances, decreasing transmission time and reducing network congestion effects across large survey areas.
3Device complexity
If data is transmitted directly from sensor units to base node, then transmission path is simplified, but data processing efficiency deteriorates due to lack of local aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
Aggregator nodes serve as intermediary processing elements between sensor units and the base node. These intermediaries perform local data aggregation, filtering, and processing functions, significantly improving data processing efficiency by handling data locally rather than requiring all data to traverse the entire transmission path to the base node for processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Data processing operations such as aggregation, filtering, and preliminary analysis are performed at aggregator nodes before data reaches the base node. This preliminary action reduces the data volume and processing burden on the base node, improving overall system processing efficiency while adding only moderate complexity through standardized aggregator units.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of collecting data from wireless sensor units arranged in a mesh network is disclosed, each wireless sensor unit having one or more sensors arranged on or below the ground surface for remote seismic recording, the method comprising: clustering the wireless sensor units into two or more sub mesh clusters, each sub mesh cluster having an aggregator assigned to the sub mesh cluster; acquiring data with the wireless sensor units by sensing one or more physical parameters; within each sub mesh cluster, each of the wireless sensor units transmitting the acquired data directly or indirectly to the respective aggregator; each aggregator aggregating at least a portion of the acquired data received from the wireless sensor units within the respective sub mesh cluster into aggregated data; and each aggregator transmitting the aggregated data to a base node. A wireless mesh network for remote seismic recording is also disclosed.