Piping assembly control system with addressed datagrams

Abstract

A control system for generating and utilizing at least one or more addressed datagrams that communicate information to and from devices along piping assemblies comprising; one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and one or more controllers, wherein the transmitters transmit information via one or more addressed datagrams encoded within a working medium to one or more receivers among the piping assemblies, is described. Transmitters convert datagrams into signals that are transmitted within the working medium and the receivers receive signals from the transmitters and also convert signals from the working medium which is converted back into datagrams. The controllers receive and decode the datagrams so that the controllers selectively communicate and perform logical operations on piping assembly devices according to directions received from the addressed datagrams. The entire control system can function as a network of controllers, receivers, transmitters, and/or transponders as required by one or more users.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A control system for generating and utilizing at least one or more addressed datagrams that communicate information to and from devices along piping assemblies comprising;
 one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and one or more controllers, wherein said transmitters transmit information via said one or more addressed datagrams encoded to one or more receivers among said piping assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitters convert said datagrams into signals that are transmitted wherein said one or more receivers receive signals from said transmitters and said receivers also convert signals back into datagrams. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more controllers receive and decode one or more datagrams so that said controllers selectively communicate and perform logical operations causing said devices to perform one or more actions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitters, receivers, and controllers transmit information within a medium. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said medium is a mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, electro-magnetic, optical, radioactive, and/or chemical medium. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said actions are measurements and/or movements. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said datagrams send instructions requesting transmission of measurements. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said datagrams create and transmit new or existing datagrams. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said transmitters are utilized by one or more controllable devices being operated between an open position and a closed position wherein operating between said open and closed position provides a measurable quantity of change so that signals are generated and controlled by changes occurring within said medium channeled either directly through said controllable devices or bypassing said devices, or both. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said controllable devices utilize one or more flow restrictors thereby providing a measurable quantity of said signals 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said receivers can cause one or more actions in response to information from said datagrams. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said datagrams contain logic packets of information that include one or more address portions and one or more data portions. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said datagrams also include checksum portions and/or sequencing criteria portions. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said address portions contained within said datagrams are accessible by said controller and provides for communication with individual, collective, groups and/or networks of controllable devices. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said data portions contained within said datagrams allow for controlling controllable devices by providing data portions corresponding with data obtained from making measurements within said medium. 
     
     
         16 . The controllers of  claim 12 , wherein said controllers are capable of computing and are computer programmable, comprising one or more memories, one or more time clocks that keep track of time, and status that is capable of reporting inputs, outputs, and resulting events by using said logic packets of information obtained from datagrams for controlling said controllable devices. 
     
     
         17 . The controllers of  claim 16 , wherein said computing within said controllers includes; retrieving, storing, analyzing, organizing, and disseminating information from measurements obtained within said medium using datagrams capable of providing, storing, and accessing data within said controllers so that said controllers can perform logical operations when actuating said controllable devices. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitters, receivers, and controllers together with said datagrams comprise a mesh network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said datagrams adhere to a common system datagram protocol. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said datagrams contain IP addresses. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said datagrams are encoded and decoded into barcodes. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said controllable devices are well completion devices for wellbores. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said controllable devices exist within tubing and/or casing of said wellbores. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said controllable devices are selected from the group consisting of; valves, switches, transducers, transistors, laser transmitters and receivers, and optical fiber networks. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said controllable devices are completion devices containing at least one of the group consisting of receivers, transmitters, and transponders. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said piping assembly is a downhole assembly within a borehole. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said control system controls multiple devices within multiple zones along a length of said downhole assembly within said borehole.