Seismic Collector Network Timing Precision Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seismic data acquisition systems face challenges in achieving precise timing due to limitations in GPS-based and network-based time services, particularly in environments where GPS signals are unavailable, and the high costs and hardware requirements of Precision Time Protocol (PTP) networks, which are not compatible with general network hardware.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize software algorithms to improve network timing precision in seismic collectors by employing an interrupt mode for data packet transfer and optimal network delay calculation, allowing for precise timestamping and error correction without requiring changes to existing hardware, using the NTPV0 protocol for compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based time service is used for seismic data collectors, then time synchronization can be achieved, but it becomes impossible to receive GPS signals in special environments such as mines and buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces network-based time synchronization (NTP and PTP protocols) as an intermediary solution to replace GPS-based time service. This allows seismic data collectors to obtain time synchronization through network infrastructure instead of direct GPS signal reception, enabling deployment in environments where GPS signals are blocked such as mines and buildings.
2Measurement precision
If Precision Time Protocol (PTP) network time protocol is used to achieve high time service precision, then timing precision can be improved to the microsecond level, but implementation costs increase and special network hardware is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs NTP protocol which can be implemented on general network hardware without requiring special PTP hardware. This uses readily available, inexpensive network infrastructure to achieve acceptable timing precision for seismic data acquisition, avoiding the need for costly specialized hardware while still meeting the requirements of less than 10K sampling rate for active source seismic acquisition.
3Ease of operation
If NTP-based time service is used on general network hardware, then ease of operation is improved, but timing precision deteriorates to the millisecond level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic time synchronization strategy that can adapt between NTP and PTP protocols based on environmental conditions and precision requirements. The system can switch between millisecond-level NTP for general operations and microsecond-level PTP when higher precision is needed and hardware is available, providing both ease of operation and improved measurement precision when required.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a method and system for controlling network timing precision of a seismic collector, and a terminal device. The method includes: using an interrupt mode to transmit a data packet; calculating an optimal network delay; and correcting a transmission error in a network timing process according to the optimal network delay, after which the physical layer of a server receives the data packet and sends the data from the physical layer of the server to the application layer of the server using the interrupt mode thereby timing the data packet.