Abstract: Token authorized packet exchange between a plurality of store-and-forward nodes in a downhole networking environment and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein.

Abstract: Token authorized node discovery between a plurality of store-and-forward nodes in a downhole networking environment and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein.

Abstract: A telephone link for set top box communication between the set top box and a central office is provided. This invention makes use of an AC power line to provide a communication channel between the set top box and the central office. The set top box is configured to include an interface, including coupling and modulation, between the set top box and the AC power line. A base unit, connected to the central office provides another interface configured to facilitate the coupling and modulation of signals between the central office and the AC power line.

Abstract: A transmission system in a downhole component comprises a plurality of data transmission elements. A coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor is disposed within a passage in the downhole component such that at least one capacitor is disposed in the passage and having a first terminal coupled to the inner conductor and a second terminal coupled to the outer conductor. Preferably the transmission element comprises an electrically conducting coil. Preferably, within the passage a connector is adapted to electrically connect the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and the lead wire. The coaxial capacitor may be disposed between and in electrically communication with the connector and the passage. In another embodiment a connector is adapted to electrical connect a first and a second portion of the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and a coaxial capacitor is in electrical communication with the connector and the passage.

Abstract: A tubular component in a downhole tool string has a first end and a second end. The first end includes first and second inductive couplers, and the second end includes third and fourth inductive couplers. The component further has a first conductive medium and second conductive medium. The first conductive medium is connecting the first and third couplers, and the second conductive medium is connecting the second and fourth couplers. The first and second ends may include additional inductive couplers and the component may include an additional conductive medium connecting the additional couplers. A tubular component in a downhole tool string may have a first end and a second end and electronic equipment disposed in the component. The first end may have a first plurality of inductive couplers, and the component may further have a conductive medium connecting each inductive coupler of the first plurality of inductive couplers and the electronic equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a modem intermediate and in communication with a plurality of data sources within the apparatus and a network external to the apparatus. The apparatus further comprises one of a plurality of bandwidth regulators intermediate and in communication with each data source and the modem. Each bandwidth regulator comprises a transmission limit and is adapted to limit data transmission from the data source to the modem. A method for regulating bandwidth usage by data sources in a node in a downhole network along a downhole tool string is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a modem, providing a bandwidth regulator, setting a transmission limit within each bandwidth regulator, and limiting a rate of data transmission. The modem is intermediate and in communication with a plurality of data sources and the downhole network, and the bandwidth regulator is intermediate and in communication with each data source and the modem.

Abstract: A self-latching power supply apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an activation transistor in electrical communication with an input voltage source and a battery-switching transistor. Voltage detection circuitry may be intermediate the input voltage source and the activation transistor. An input port may be intermediate and operably connected to the input voltage source and the activation transistor. The activation transistor is in electrical communication with a battery-switching transistor. The battery-switching transistor is connected to a battery and a power supply node for an electric device. The activation transistor may be configured to activate the battery-switching transistor, enabling voltage from the battery to be available at the power supply node for the electric device. A deactivation transistor is in communication with the battery-switching transistor, and is configured to disrupt power flow from the battery.

Abstract: An optimizer optimizes the configuration of a computer system, such as a web farm. The optimizer makes use of a performance simulator that simulates a cluster of machines running a given workload. A modular architecture allows different optimization modules to be plugged into the optimization system. In addition, the modular architecture also interfaces with different simulators through a simulator interface module. The simulator is decoupled from the optimization module. Simulation data may be filtered to provide and store only relevant objective and parameter values. A unique comparison module also guides the optimization module towards the optimum solution, even if no solutions have yet satisfied the objective completely. By caching simulation and/or optimization results (i.e. as opposed to raw simulation output data from the simulator), the simulations from previous simulation runs and different designers may be reused to reduce the time required for each optimization.

Abstract: A method for remotely managing downhole power consumption in a downhole network system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of monitoring an activation state for each of a plurality of individually activatable electrically-powered modules in a downhole device and determining an optimal activation state for each module according to system demands. The activation state of each module may be selected from the group consisting of activated or deactivated. The method further comprises the step of transmitting a power state switching instruction from a top-hole processing element to a downhole power-consumption state controller over the downhole network. The method also includes the step of switching the selected electrically-powered modules according to the determined optimal activation states.

Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetically connecting surface equipment to a rotating downhole tool string comprises a plurality of electrical conductors, first and second differential interfaces, and at least one electromagnetic shield. The plurality of electrical conductors have first ends terminating at the surface equipment and second ends terminating at the downhole tool string. The first differential interface is electrically connected to the first ends and the second differential interface is electrically connected to the second ends the electrical conductors. The first and second differential interfaces are adapted to transmit and receive a reference-independent differential signal. The electromagnetic shield surrounds and shields the electrical conductors and is connected to ground at one end. The apparatus is stationary relative to rotation of the tool string.

Abstract: A method for identifying properties of a downhole electromagnetic network in a downhole too string, comprising the step of providing an electromagnetic path intermediate a first location and a second location on the electromagnetic network. The method further comprises the step of providing a receiver at the second location. The receiver comprises a known reference. The analog signal comprises a set amplitude, a set range of frequencies, and a set rate of change between the frequencies. The method further comprises the steps of sending the analog signal, and passively modifying the signal. The analog signal is sent from the first location through the electromagnetic path, and the signal is modified by the properties of the electromagnetic path. The method further comprises the step of receiving a modified signal at the second location and comparing the known reference to the modified signal.

Abstract: A system for setting and adjusting a frequency of electrical output pulses derived from an oscillator in a network is disclosed. The system comprises an accumulator module configured to receive pulses from an oscillator and to output an accumulated value. An adjustor module is configured to store an adjustor value used to correct local oscillator drift. A digital adder adds values from the accumulator module to values stored in the adjustor module and outputs their sums to the accumulator module, where they are stored. The digital adder also outputs an electrical pulse to a logic module. The logic module is in electrical communication with the adjustor module and the network. The logic module may change the value stored in the adjustor module to compensate for local oscillator drift or change the frequency of output pulses. The logic module may also keep time and calculate drift.

Abstract: A high-speed downhole network providing real-time data from downhole components of a drilling strings includes a bottom-hole node interfacing to a bottom-hole assembly located proximate the bottom end of a drill string. A top-hole node is connected proximate the top end of the drill string. One or several intermediate nodes are located along the drill string between the bottom-hole node and the top-hole node. The downhole network is configured to include a data rate adjustment module to monitor network traffic traveling in both uphole and downhole directions. The data rate adjustment module is configured to optimize network settings and efficiency by adjusting the allocation of available network bandwidth for data traffic traveling uphole and downhole.

Abstract: A system for loading an executable code into volatile memory in a downhole tool string component comprises a surface control unit comprising executable code. An integrated downhole network comprises data transmission elements in communication with the surface control unit and the volatile memory. The executable code, stored in the surface control unit, is not permanently stored in the downhole tool string component. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the downhole tool string component comprises boot memory. In another embodiment, the executable code is an operating system executable code. Preferably, the volatile memory comprises random access memory (RAM). A method for loading executable code to volatile memory in a downhole tool string component comprises sending the code from the surface control unit to a processor in the downhole tool string component over the network. A central processing unit writes the executable code in the volatile memory.

Abstract: A system for communication in a downhole tool string comprises an electromagnetic network integrated into the downhole tool string. The electromagnetic network comprises a plurality of band-pass filters and a plurality of network nodes. The plurality of network nodes are along the tool string. The plurality of network nodes is adapted to transmit multiple data bits simultaneously. The system also comprises a server in communication with the electromagnetic network. A method for data transmission in a downhole tool string comprises providing filters in a downhole network and providing a first network node and a second network node. The filters are band-pass filters. The method further comprises modulating a data signal, transmitting multiple bits simultaneously, filtering the data signal, and demodulating the data signal. The data signal is modulated and the multiple bits are transmitted between the first and second network nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in assessing down-hole drilling conditions are disclosed. The apparatus includes a drill string, a plurality of sensors, a computing device, and a down-hole network. The sensors are distributed along the length of the drill string and are capable of sensing localized down-hole conditions while drilling. The computing device is coupled to at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors. The data is transmitted from the sensors to the computing device over the down-hole network. The computing device analyzes data output by the sensors and representative of the sensed localized conditions to assess the down-hole drilling conditions. The method includes sensing localized drilling conditions at a plurality of points distributed along the length of a drill string during drilling operations; transmitting data representative of the sensed localized conditions to a predetermined location; and analyzing the transmitted data to assess the down-hole drilling conditions.

Abstract: A precise downhole clock that compensates for drift includes a prescaler configured to receive electrical pulses from an oscillator. The prescaler is configured to output a series of clock pulses. The prescaler outputs each clock pulse after counting a preloaded number of electrical pulses from the oscillator. The prescaler is operably connected to a compensator module for adjusting the number loaded into the prescaler. By adjusting the number that is loaded into the prescaler, the timing may be advanced or retarded to more accurately synchronize the clock pulses with a reference time source. The compensator module is controlled by a counter-based trigger module configured to trigger the compensator module to load a value into the prescaler. Finally, a time-base logic module is configured to calculate the drift of the downhole clock by comparing the time of the downhole clock with a reference time source.

Abstract: A transmission system in a downhole component comprises a plurality of data transmission elements. A coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor is disposed within a passage in the downhole component such that at least one capacitor is disposed in the passage and having a first terminal coupled to the inner conductor and a second terminal coupled to the outer conductor. Preferably the transmission element comprises an electrically conducting coil. Preferably, within the passage a connector is adapted to electrically connect the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and the lead wire. The coaxial capacitor may be disposed between and in electrically communication with the connector and the passage. In another embodiment a connector is adapted to electrical connect a first and a second portion of the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and a coaxial capacitor is in electrical communication with the connector and the passage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing electromagnetic connectivity in a drill string are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a test signal down a transmission path in a drill string; receiving a reflection of the test signal; and determining from the reflection whether there is an interruption in the electromagnetic connectivity in the transmission path. In general, the apparatus includes a signal generator for generating a test signal into the drill string; a receiver for receiving the reflection of the test signal; and means for determining from the reflection whether there is an interruption in the electromagnetic connectivity in the transmission path. Preferably, a common coil is included through which the test signal generated by the signal generator may be transmitted into a drill string and through which a reflection of the test signal may be received.

Abstract: A swivel assembly for a downhole tool string comprises a first and second coaxial housing cooperatively arranged. The first housing comprises a first transmission element in communication with surface equipment. The second housing comprises a second transmission element in communication with the first transmission element. The second housing further comprises a third transmission element adapted for communication with a network integrated into the downhole tool string. The second housing may be rotational and adapted to transmit a signal between the downhole network and the first housing. Electronic circuitry is in communication with at least one of the transmission elements. The electronic circuitry may be externally mounted to the first or second housing. Further, the electronic circuitry may be internally mounted in the second housing. The electronic circuitry may be disposed in a recess in either first or second housing of the swivel.