Seismic Data Retrieval via Distributed Module Reporting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic data acquisition systems face challenges in locating missing data due to cable cuts and changes in concentrator associations, leading to inefficiencies in data retrieval and increased bandwidth usage, as the central unit lacks awareness of data location among concentrators, especially after reconnections or reboots.

Innovation Solution

Each concentrator module maintains a historic of data storage, which is sent to the central unit upon connection, allowing cross-checking with missing data lists to determine storage location and facilitate retrieval without the need for a complex centralized database, enabling efficient data recovery even after system changes or reboots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the central unit maintains a complex centralized database to track data locations across concentrators, then data retrieval reliability improves, but system complexity and bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval reliabilityVSAvoidcentralized database complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the central unit maintain a database of where data is located, the invention inverts the approach by having each concentrator maintain a database of what data it has stored. This reverses the tracking responsibility from central to distributed, simplifying the central unit while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Each concentrator autonomously maintains its own data inventory without requiring centralized tracking. The concentrators self-report their data holdings to the central unit, eliminating the need for complex centralized database management while ensuring accurate data location information is available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the central unit queries all concentrators to locate missing data, then data retrieval completeness improves, but bandwidth usage and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval completenessVSAvoiddata retrieval time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Concentrators pre-report their data inventories to the central unit before data retrieval operations begin. This preliminary action allows the central unit to have immediate knowledge of data locations without needing to query each concentrator during the retrieval process, significantly reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where concentrators automatically report their data holdings to the central unit. This continuous feedback loop ensures the central unit has up-to-date information about data locations, enabling efficient retrieval decisions without exhaustive querying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If concentrators are reassigned or go offline during acquisition, then system adaptability improves, but data location tracking reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentrator reassignment flexibilityVSAvoiddata location tracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each concentrator independently maintains an accurate record of its data inventory. When concentrators are reassigned or come back online, they automatically report their current data holdings to the central unit, ensuring tracking reliability is maintained regardless of reassignment flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically updates data location information as concentrators are reassigned or come online. The centralized database automatically reflects current data locations based on real-time reports from concentrators, maintaining accuracy despite changing system configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If a centralized database tracks all data locations, then data retrieval efficiency improves, but bandwidth usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval efficiencyVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Data location information is reported preliminarily by concentrators before retrieval operations. This allows the central unit to efficiently query only relevant concentrators for missing data, rather than broadcasting queries across the entire network, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining retrieval efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2887100B1Method for downloading data to a central unit in a seismic data acquisition system

Publication Date: 2022.10.26 SERCEL SAS

Figure 1a
Figure 1b~1d
Figure 2a~2f

AI summary

It is proposed a method for downloading data to a central unit (1) in a seismic data acquisition system comprising a network, connected to the central unit and comprising a plurality of modules (4), each module being adapted to generate and/or receive data and to store them. The method comprises the following steps, for a given module: when the given module is connected, via a wired or wireless link, to the central unit, it sends (35) to the central unit a historic, chronological or not, representative of data stored in the given module; the central unit cross-checks (36) the historic with missing data of at least one pending experience, and upon match the central unit obtains (37, 38) at least some of the missing data from the given module.