Synchronization of Modules in a Wireless Array

Abstract

Presented are systems and methods for wireless data acquisition. The wireless data acquisition may involve synchronizing modules within a data acquisition array. The synchronized data acquisition array may be used to facilitate a seismic survey. Synchronization may be facilitated by receipt of a reference time event such that a clock is synchronized based on the reference time event.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A wireless data acquisition module for use in a seismic survey, comprising:
 a clock for producing a timing signal having a phase and a frequency;   a transceiver operative to receive a reference time event;   a microprocessor operative to interpret the reference time event to calculate a compensation value; and   a clock adjustment module operative to interpret the compensation value and modify the timing signal to be in synchronization with the reference time event;   a seismic data acquisition module including a sensor to sense seismic activity and output seismic data, wherein the seismic data includes a time reference from the clock.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The wireless data acquisition module of  claim 17 , wherein the clock adjustment module is in operative communication with a voltage controlled oscillator to modify the timing signal. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless data acquisition module of  claim 19 , wherein the voltage controlled oscillator is a voltage controlled crystal oscillator. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless data acquisition module of  claim 17 , wherein the clock is a 16 MHz timer-counter that is operative to increment a 1 ms software managed clock. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless data acquisition module of  claim 17 , wherein the reference time event includes source metadata. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless data acquisition module of  claim 22 , wherein the processor utilizes the source metadata to calculate a time of transmission for the reference time event at least partially used to calculate the compensation value. 
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for correlating image information obtained by wireless modules in a seismic data acquisition system, the method comprising:
 providing a first wireless module and a second wireless module;   synchronizing the second wireless module to the first wireless module;   operating the first wireless module at a first time to obtain first image information;   operating the second wireless module at a subsequent time to obtain additional image information; and   correlating first image information to second image information.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the synchronizing may comprise:
 transmitting from the first module to the second module a time reference event;   receiving at the second module the time reference event   determining at the second module a delay value at least partially based on a transit time of the time reference event from the first module to the second module; and   adjusting a second clock at the second module based in the time reference event so that the second clock is synchronized to a first clock of the first module.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first image information includes first data about the first time and the second image information includes second data about the second time and the first data and the second data are used in the correlating. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the correlating includes a normal move-out process.