Syntron, Inc.

Loring C Chien

Richard August Falzone

A variable length data packet in a seismic system includes a fixed-length data portion and a variable-length data portion, the amount of data in the variable-length portion depending on the number of active channels. The data packet identifies the number channels which are in operation in the system, which may be the same or fewer than the number of installed channels. This signals the central recorder as to the length of the block of data in the data packet which includes seismic data. This feature permits the scaling of the system to accommodate varying numbers of channels, without reconfiguring the system. In another aspect, a method of sending data in a data system having a plurality of installed channels includes the steps of determining the number of active channels; assembling a packet of data comprising a fixed-length field and a variable-length field, the number of data bytes in the variable-length field being a function of the number of active channels; and sending the packet of data.

Variable length data field in a seismic data stream

A connector for fiber optics provides a means for eliminating a receiver in a redundant communications channel. The connector receives at least two optical fibers in side-by-side contact and positions the optical fibers in close proximity but not abutting contact with a photo detector imbedded in the connector. The connector further provides a method and a system for redundant data communications.

Optical combiner for redundant optical paths in seismic data transmission

A technique and a system provide control and monitoring of devices external to a marine seismic streamer by segmenting the conductor to which the external devices are coupled. The module which connects sections of the seismic data telemetry cable is modified to include a switch. The switch is controlled by a command signal on the seismic data telemetry cable to segment the twisted pair bus into a plurality of dedicated busses, each dedicated to a subset of the external devices, such as one or two such devices. In this way, the external devices can be communicated with in parallel, rather than in series as in conventional systems.

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Katy, TX, United States of America

Loring C Chien